At the entrance of Spirit City.
The last rays of the setting sun bathed the towering city walls in a warm golden glow. The massive gates exuded an imposing presence, with pedestrians and carriages coming and going in an orderly fashion.
Among the crowd, a girl dressed in a light blue knee-length dress stood out.
She looked no older than fourteen or fifteen, her skin as white as snow.
Her smooth chestnut hair was tied into an elegant bun, revealing a smooth, full forehead and a delicate face that resembled a porcelain doll.
Her large, crystal-clear eyes blinked as she curiously surveyed the grand city before her, brimming with wonder and excitement.
The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, carrying a mischievous and triumphant smile, like a happy little deer that had successfully sneaked out of the house.
This girl was none other than the infamous little devil of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect—Ning Rongrong.
It had taken her great effort to slip away from the "airtight" watch of Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone.
Thinking about how she had managed to sneak out, Ning Rongrong proudly lifted her little nose.
She then lowered her head and patted a small embroidered pouch at her waist, adorned with intricate cloud patterns.
Inside, it was bulging with some "travel money" she had stolen from her father, Ning Fengzhi, and a "little gift" that she was supposed to deliver personally to Dai Chengfeng.
Thinking of Dai Chengfeng, Ning Rongrong sniffed softly, muttering under her breath in a voice only she could hear:
"Hmph, Dai Chengfeng, you big liar! You said you'd write to me after returning to Spirit City, but I haven't heard a word from you!"
"You must be having too much fun and forgotten all about me!"
"Just wait until I show up unexpectedly and give you a scare!"
As she muttered, Ning Rongrong tried to sound mature and commented: "So this is Spirit City?"
"It looks pretty good, not much worse than Tian Dou City."
Then, puffing out her barely developed chest, she attempted to appear worldly and strolled confidently into Spirit City with the flow of people.
The sights within Spirit City dazzled Ning Rongrong.
Wide, clean streets lined with buildings of various styles, all exuding an air of solemnity, especially the majestic Pope's Hall atop the distant mountain peak, shimmering with sacred light under the sunset, evoking awe.
There were many soul masters walking along the streets, their soul power levels generally high, and the air seemed to carry a faint aura of oppressive soul force.
"Hmm, first, I'll find a place to stay, then ask around for where that bad guy is."
Ning Rongrong planned, her large eyes scanning the streets for a decent-looking inn.
...
On the other side, inside the Spirit Hall.
Dai Chengfeng, Zhu Zhuqing, and Hu Liena had returned to Dai Chengfeng's residence in the Spirit Hall after finishing their training at the Great Spirit Battle Arena.
After enjoying a relaxed dinner with Dai Chengfeng's mother, Zhu Hongxiu, Zhu Zhuqing and Hu Liena retired to their rooms to reflect on the day's battles.
Meanwhile, Dai Chengfeng helped his mother clear the dishes and said:
"Mother, I'm too full. I'm going out for a walk to clear my mind."
Zhu Hongxiu looked lovingly at her son, noticing a hint of urgency in his expression that was hard to detect, but thought nothing of it.
Assuming he was frustrated by a training bottleneck, she gently reminded him:
"Alright, go ahead, but don't wander too far, and come back early."
"I know, Mother."
Dai Chengfeng nodded, trying to make his expression look natural.
After leaving his residence, Dai Chengfeng didn't linger in the Spirit Hall.
Instead, using the cover of night and his familiarity with the terrain, he stealthily moved towards the quiet palace area behind the Pope's Hall, belonging to Pope Bibi Dong.
His heart raced uncontrollably, his mind echoing with Bibi Dong's whisper from earlier in the hot spring—soft as a mosquito's hum, yet enough to ignite his blood.
Just thinking about those words and Bibi Dong's shy, charming demeanor, so different from her usual authoritative self, made a wave of heat rise from Dai Chengfeng's lower abdomen.
He took several deep breaths, barely suppressing his inner turmoil, and quickened his pace.
Carefully avoiding patrolling guards, Dai Chengfeng slipped into the outer hall of Bibi Dong's palace like a ghost, familiar with every step.
Holding his breath, he gently pushed open the ornate door and slipped inside.
However, the interior of the palace was not as he expected—Bibi Dong alone waiting under dim lighting.
Instead, near the dressing table, a slender figure was seen facing away, seemingly organizing something.
The figure was graceful, with short chestnut hair appearing both efficient and charming. Who else could it be but Hu Liena?
"Why is Hu Liena here?"
Dai Chengfeng's heart sank as if doused with cold water, his burning anticipation instantly cooled by half.
He instinctively froze at the doorway.
Perhaps hearing the door open, Hu Liena turned around. Seeing Dai Chengfeng standing at the door with a somewhat unnatural expression, a flicker of surprise passed through her enchanting eyes:
"Dai Chengfeng? So late, why are you here?"
Dai Chengfeng's heart pounded, his brain racing, as he forced a casual smile onto his face.
Stepping into the inner hall, he spoke in as calm a tone as possible: "So it's you, Nana."
"I… I came to see Teacher. I have some questions about cultivation I want to ask her."
He paused, taking the initiative to ask: "What about you? Why are you here in Teacher's chambers so late?"
As he spoke, his eyes quickly scanned the room, failing to spot Bibi Dong, causing a mix of anxiety and confusion in his heart.
Bibi Dong had clearly invited him tonight. Why wasn't she here?
Did something urgent come up?
Or… was Hu Liena's appearance unexpected even to Teacher?
Hu Liena suspected nothing; after all, it was normal for Dai Chengfeng, as a disciple, to seek guidance.
She waved a small jade bottle in her hand, explaining: "I just got some calming incense and thought Teacher might need it since she's been busy lately, so I brought it over."
"I didn't see Teacher when I came in. She might be in the private study or bathing?"
As she spoke, she also looked curiously at the empty inner chamber. "I was planning to leave after placing this down."
Hearing this, Dai Chengfeng felt slightly reassured.
It seemed Hu Liena didn't know he was coming tonight—it was just a coincidence.
He needed to find a way to send her away quickly. If Bibi Dong came out later and saw them both, the situation would become awkward.
He didn't even know if Bibi Dong might use this as an excuse to change her mind.
"Oh, I see."
Dai Chengfeng pretended to understand and sighed, displaying the perfect amount of distress. "Sigh, the main issue is still the problems I encountered during today's training."
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