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Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince's bedchamber in the Eastern Palace.
In a hazy sleep, Qian Renxue instinctively reached out to her side, but only touched a cool brocade quilt. She suddenly opened her eyes, and her golden pupils flashed with a hint of confusion in the dim bedchamber. Forcing herself to sit up despite her sore and weak body, her silk nightgown slipped from her shoulders, revealing faint, ambiguous red marks.
"At this hour..." she murmured softly, her voice still hoarse from just waking up. She casually pulled the Crown Prince's usual attire from the screen, her slender fingers trembling slightly as she tied the sash. The morning light filtered through the carved window, casting mottled shadows on her delicate collarbone.
Barefoot, she stepped onto the cold golden bricks, frowning as she endured the discomfort between her legs and walked towards the outer hall. Her unbound golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, shimmering with a soft glow in the morning light.
Qian Renxue stepped into the hall. The morning light filtered through the carved window, casting a soft halo on her golden hair. Feng Xiao was already sitting impeccably dressed at the table, elegantly having his breakfast. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, "Why are you up so early today?"
Feng Xiao's hand, holding the chopsticks, paused slightly. When he looked up, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes. He lightly patted the seat beside him, and after Qian Renxue gracefully sat down, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Daily intimacy is certainly wonderful..." His warm breath brushed her reddened earlobe, "But if it delays Young Master's cultivation progress—"
He deliberately drew out his words, his fingertip gently tracing the jade pendant at her waist, "I'm afraid Grandfather Qian and Supreme Pontiff will make me suffer." Despite his words, his eyes were filled with a mischievous smile, clearly hinting at the absurdity of last night.
Qian Renxue's cheeks flushed crimson at his words; she had indeed neglected her cultivation these past few days. But then she recalled the blush-inducing sweet nothings whispered in her ear every night, and couldn't help but glare at him in annoyance, "The Eastern Palace clearly has a cultivation room; it's clearly your own..." Before she finished speaking, her slender finger had poked Feng Xiao's chest.
Feng Xiao chuckled softly, and naturally pulled her into his arms. The morning light filtered through the window screen, casting a soft halo over them. "With such a peerless beauty like Xue'er by my side..." He lowered his head and lightly sniffed her hair, his voice carrying a hint of laziness, "Who would still care about cultivation?"
Qian Renxue shot Feng Xiao an exasperated look, deciding not to argue with him about who was right or wrong. She gracefully picked up the teacup, took a light sip, and said, "You suddenly have to return to the Academy; is there something important?" Her fingertip gently rubbed the rim of the cup, "Since your appearance has changed now, why don't you just stay in the Eastern Palace..."
"Not cultivating anymore?" Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow, his tone playful.
Qian Renxue's ear tips were slightly red, but she feigned composure, "The Eastern Palace... naturally also has a place for cultivation." Her words were subtle, yet held a deeper meaning.
Feng Xiao chuckled at her words, reaching out to brush away the loose golden hair from her forehead, "What?" He deliberately lowered his voice, with a hint of teasing, "Is my Young Master... reluctant to let me go?"
The sunlight filtered through the window screen, casting scattered light spots on Qian Renxue's reddened cheeks. She turned her face away, but couldn't hide the slight upward curve of her lips. Qian Renxue, whose thoughts had been exposed, suddenly turned her face away, her golden hair tracing an arrogant arc in the air, "Who, who is reluctant to let you go!" She deliberately emphasized her words, "I think you're returning to the Academy... with another motive, aren't you?"
Feng Xiao couldn't help but chuckle and nod, "Indeed, there's another important matter."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Renxue abruptly turned back. Her golden eyes, which usually held such authority, now shimmered with a hint of moisture, and even her voice trembled slightly, "Are you in such a hurry... to go find your little girlfriends?"
The morning light filtered through the carved window, casting mottled shadows on her delicate profile. Only then did Feng Xiao notice that her fingertips, clutching her sleeve, had turned slightly white. Her forced pride made her all the more endearing.
Feng Xiao froze at her words, his heart clenching as he looked at Qian Renxue's reddened eyes and slightly trembling lips. He quickly pulled her into his arms and gently explained, "Xue'er, how could I be for anyone else—"
"Hmph, besides your female confidantes, what other important matters could there be at the Academy?" Qian Renxue turned her face away from him, but her voice softened a little.
Feng Xiao chuckled, holding her tighter, his fingertips stroking her golden hair, "Do you remember the question I asked you when I broke through to Spirit Emperor?"
Qian Renxue's body stiffened slightly, and a hint of confusion flashed in her golden eyes, "Power of faith?" She looked up at Feng Xiao's serious expression, puzzled, "But how much help can the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's meager faith be to you now—"
"Xue'er," Feng Xiao chuckled, taking her soft hand, "Then do you know what is most needed to develop faith?"
Qian Renxue answered without hesitation, "Naturally, it's strength that surpasses all under heaven, like my ancestor." A hint of pride flashed in her eyes.
Feng Xiao, however, smiled and shook his head, his fingertips gently stroking the back of her hand, "Strength?" He asked meaningfully, "Is there any force on the continent now more powerful than Spirit Hall? Or rather, is there any existence stronger than Senior Qian Daoliu?"
Qian Renxue froze at his words, her long eyelashes trembling, "This..." Her voice unconsciously lowered, "Indeed, there isn't."
The morning light outside the window cast a soft halo over them. Feng Xiao gazed at her thoughtful profile, knowing that she had begun to understand his intentions.
Feng Xiao said softly, "Strength is indeed the foundation, but developing faith goes far beyond that. This is precisely the profound meaning behind your ancestor's establishment of Spirit Hall."
"Stop playing coy!" Qian Renxue glared at him reproachfully, her casually pinned golden step-shake gently swaying with her movement.
Feng Xiao unhurriedly asked in return, "Then do you know why your ancestor established Spirit Hall?"
"Naturally, it was to—" Qian Renxue blurted out, "save the common people of the continent, and bring light and hope to the World—" Before she finished speaking, she suddenly froze. In the morning light, a hint of trance appeared on her exquisite face—at this moment, wasn't she lurking in the Heaven Dou imperial family, doing many unspeakable things?
Feng Xiao gazed at Qian Renxue's bewildered expression, his voice soft as water, "Xue'er, in life, who can be without fault?" His slender fingers gently caressed her furrowed brow, "What's important is how we choose after realizing our mistakes."
Qian Renxue looked up at him, her golden eyes filled with confusion, like a lost golden canary. Feng Xiao tenderly embraced her, continuing to gently guide her, "You must understand, even the most perfect conspiracy is ultimately just a conspiracy." His fingertip lightly tapped her heart, "When people see the beneficiaries, the seeds of doubt will take root and sprout." His voice grew softer, "And once doubt arises, how can there be true faith?"
The morning light outside the window gradually brightened, casting a soft halo over them. Qian Renxue stared blankly at the flickering candlelight on the table. Feng Xiao's words were like a clear spring, gradually washing away the confusion in her eyes.
Qian Renxue gently shook her head, a hint of realization flashing in her golden eyes. The morning light filtered through the window screen, casting mottled shadows on her exquisite face.
"So that's how it is..." she murmured, her voice as light as a sigh. At this moment, she finally understood why her ancestor's faith had gradually waned on this continent—any force wanting to grow strong would inevitably resort to various competitive means. And those unspeakable, dirty schemes were like poison corroding the foundation of faith, gradually eroding people's reverence for the Angel God.
Qian Renxue raised her bright eyes, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum, "Xiao Feng... what should I do?"
Feng Xiao's fingertips gently brushed her eye corner, his voice steady and firm, "Xue'er, from now on, whenever you face a choice—" He took her soft hand and placed it over his own heart, "—just follow your true feelings and choose the path you believe is right."
Feng Xiao gazed into her golden eyes and continued, "Perhaps not every choice will be correct, but..." His fingertips gently traced her eyebrows, "as long as you make a choice that doesn't go against your true feelings at the most important crossroads, that's enough."
He leaned down and kissed her forehead, "After all, who can foresee the future?" His voice was gentle enough to melt ice and snow, "But I know, I will always... always be by your side."
Qian Renxue looked at his resolute gaze, and in a trance, saw countless possible futures flickering in the morning light. She clutched his lapel, as if grasping an anchor for destiny, nodding gently but still with confusion, "But I still don't know how to develop faith—"
Feng Xiao's fingertips gently stroked her golden hair, and he said softly, "Xue'er, faith is like a spiderweb under the moonlight," He pointed to the dew drops shimmering in the morning light outside the window, "woven from thousands of threads of trust. To make the World believe in the existence of the Angel God, miracles are not necessarily needed—"
"Without miracles, how can the World believe in the existence of my ancestor?" Qian Renxue lowered her head in disappointment.
Feng Xiao suddenly picked up the teacup on the table, the amber tea reflecting both their faces, "Look, though the bright moon is not seen, there is a moon's reflection in the cup." He gently shook the teacup, "Writing scriptures is the best medium, allowing faith to flow naturally like the fragrance of tea."
"Writing?" Qian Renxue slightly furrowed her delicate brows, her golden step-shake gently swaying with her head shake, "Xiao Feng, ordinary books might fool commoners, but this is a World dominated by Spirit Masters." Her fingertip condensed a wisp of holy light, "Spirit Masters only believe in strength and benefit."
Feng Xiao unhurriedly picked up the teapot, and the amber tea swirled in the cup, "Precisely because of this, I must return to the Academy." When he looked up, his eyes sparkled with wisdom, "To compile a scripture that can shake the foundation of the Spirit Master's world."
Qian Renxue's slender fingers, holding the teacup, paused slightly, "Is that feasible?" She looked at their reflections in the tea, "There have been many Grandmasters of theory, but no one has ever gained faith through it—"
Feng Xiao suddenly dropped a gold coin into the tea, creating ripples, "Because they only saw the surface." He pointed to the rippling waves, "And what I want to write is something that will allow all Spirit Masters to see the bright moon at the bottom of the water."
Feng Xiao gently shook the teacup in his hand, watching the tea leaves unfurl in the amber tea, "Xue'er, have you ever thought about why those Grandmasters of theory failed to gain faith?" His fingertip lightly tapped the rim of the cup, making a crisp sound, "Because whether it's Spirit Hall or the various Sects, they all treat hard-won knowledge as a treasure, locking it away layer by layer."
The morning light outside the window gilded his profile, but his voice carried a hint of coolness, "They fear that the outflow of knowledge will strengthen their enemies, and even more, that their weaknesses will be exposed. But spreading knowledge and educating all beings is not without benefits."
Qian Renxue thoughtfully rubbed the rim of the cup, "Then what do you say are the benefits behind this?"
Feng Xiao's voice was like a babbling brook, slowly flowing in the morning light, "When you impart all your lifelong learning..." His fingertip lightly tapped Qian Renxue's heart, "what you gain is not just people's hearts, but also the attraction of heroes from all over the World, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea."
Outside the window, a golden canary landed on a branch, its chirping clear and pleasant. Feng Xiao's gaze seemed to pierce through time and space, seeing a figure from a distant time remembered by history: "At that time, other forces will be forced to share their treasures," He gently held Qian Renxue's hand, "When countless sparks of wisdom collide and merge, it will surely advance the entire Spirit Master civilization." His voice gradually became distant, "And the one who first opened the treasure trove of knowledge will forever be remembered in Spirit Master history."
Qian Renxue nodded seriously, gazing at his star-like eyes, and suddenly broke into a smile. She clasped his hand, her golden step-shake tracing a brilliant arc in the morning light, "Mm..." Her voice was as light as a feather's brush, "Whatever you want to do, I will stand by your side."
The sunlight filtered through their clasped fingers, casting intertwined shadows on the ground.
Feng Xiao's eyes held a mischievous smile, and his fingertips gently twirled a strand of Qian Renxue's golden hair, "Just now, who was it that stubbornly refused to let me leave the Eastern Palace?"
Qian Renxue let out a soft snort, her golden step-shake jingling as she lifted her head, "I don't care!" She extended a slender finger and poked Feng Xiao's chest, "Anyway, your spirit power level isn't as high as mine yet."
"Oh?" Feng Xiao raised an eyebrow, suddenly leaning close to her reddened earlobe, "Are you going to ignore strength now?"
Qian Renxue's ears burned from his teasing, but she still feigned composure, "We haven't fought yet, how do you know you're definitely stronger than me? Anyway... I'll personally go to the Academy every day to supervise your cultivation." By the end, she couldn't help but laugh herself.
Feng Xiao shook his head dotingly, leaning down to lightly kiss her rosy cheek, "As you wish, my Young Master." His warm breath brushed her sensitive earlobe, "But at that time... don't let me 'lead you astray' in your cultivation again."
Qian Renxue's face instantly flushed red at his words, her golden step-shake gently swaying as she turned her head, "Hmph, now you say it so nicely..." Her slender finger poked Feng Xiao's chest, "I wonder who it was these past few days, always finding excuses to delay my cultivation, either feigning sleep while chatting with me, or just giving hugs..."
Feng Xiao smiled and covered Qian Renxue's small mouth with his hand, then pulled her into his arms, "You can't blame me for this." He whispered in her ear, his warm breath causing the person in his arms to tremble slightly, "Blame my Xue'er for being too charming..."
The morning light filtered through the screen, casting a soft halo over them. Qian Renxue, embarrassed and annoyed, tried to break free, but he held her tighter. Feng Xiao looked at her reddened ear tips and couldn't help but add, "Especially when you're dripping with sweat during cultivation..."
"You!" Qian Renxue was exasperated, her golden eyes shimmering with moisture, but when she met his smiling eyes, she finally couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. Outside the window, morning birds chirped and flew by, adding more life to this warm morning.