Chapter 48 – Qian Renxue Goes to the Academy
"Huh? You want me to tell a story?"
Qian Renxue blinked in confusion. Listening to stories was one thing, but telling one herself? She had no idea where to begin.
Qi Tian smiled faintly. Judging from her bone age, she was only about nine years old. At that age, there were still many things she hadn't yet experienced.
Though people in this world tended to mature early, there were still limits to how much a child could understand.
"If you don't know what to tell," Qi Tian suggested, "then just talk about where you're headed this time and what you're planning to do."
"Otherwise, if we run into someone you know, I might accidentally give us away."
Qian Renxue nodded lightly. "Alright then."
"I'm on a mission to Heaven Dou City. This task will prove my worth—prove that I'm capable of becoming the next Pope!"
Qi Tian froze. "The Pope? Isn't that your father? Don't tell me… he's stepping down?"
Qian Renxue's voice softened. "My father is dead."
"My senior sister, Bibi Dong, avenged him. Her achievements earned her enough prestige to become the new Pope."
Qi Tian was momentarily stunned. So Qian Xunji still died?
He had advised Bibi Dong to ally with Golden Crocodile Douluo and hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast overseas. Didn't she listen?
"How did the Pope die?" Qi Tian asked solemnly.
Qian Renxue's tone grew cold. "He was killed by Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Clan—while hunting a hundred-thousand-year soul beast for my mother's soul ring and bone."
Qi Tian's heart sank. So after all that, fate still circled back to its original point?
Even without Bibi Dong's involvement, Qian Xunji had still gone to hunt Ah Yin? How strange…
If Qi Tian remembered correctly, Ah Yin had already reached maturity when she married Tang Hao. How did Qian Xunji discover she was a soul beast?
Sometimes, Qi Tian suspected that Tang Hao himself had revealed it deliberately. Perhaps he wanted Ah Yin's sacrifice to grant him her soul ring and bone.
Or maybe… this was the handiwork of some god in the God Realm. After all, the timing was far too convenient—Tang San transmigrated right around then.
"Condolences," Qi Tian said gently. "You're still so young. Your senior sister really lets you go on missions alone?"
"Why not?" Qian Renxue retorted proudly. "My sister once wandered the world when she was young. That's how she built the reputation to become Pope!"
"If she can do it, so can I!"
"My current mission is to impersonate the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince—Xue Qinghe—and gradually replace him. Once the Spirit Hall's army moves in, I'll open the gates from within and help conquer Heaven Dou Empire from the inside!"
Qi Tian listened quietly, unsure whether to call Qian Renxue naïve… or accuse the Spirit Hall of being delusional.
In a world where Soul Masters ruled, did they truly believe they could infiltrate and usurp an empire through deception?
Wouldn't it be easier to decapitate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—the only real threat—and then just march through their gates?
'Still… this world really is different,' Qi Tian mused.
In the original timeline, Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong's relationship was strained—almost hostile.
But here, Qian Renxue practically idolized Bibi Dong. She wanted to follow her example, to become the next Pope of Spirit Hall.
"I understand," Qi Tian said finally. "When we meet someone you know, remind me how you normally address them. I don't want to slip up."
Though in truth, he wasn't too worried. Even Qian Daoliu hadn't noticed when he'd possessed Bibi Dong's body. What chance did anyone else have of seeing through him?
"No need," Qian Renxue replied coolly. "You don't have to talk to them at all."
Qi Tian couldn't help but chuckle. So this is her famous arrogance in person.
As the carriage continued down the road, Qi Tian sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.
After all, his system allowed him to channel soul power gained through possession back to his original body. There was no reason to waste time.
Qian Renxue's innate soul power was rank twenty—an impressive talent by any standard.
Although her cultivation speed was somewhat hindered by her extreme light-and-fire attributes, she was still far from slow.
"Carefully sense the route of my soul power circulation," Qi Tian instructed. "Memorize this cultivation method well."
"This technique is a secret. Don't share it with anyone or display it carelessly—if others notice something strange, it could cause trouble."
He was teaching her the Mysterious Heaven Skill. Passing it to Qian Renxue didn't bother him much; after all, she was now technically his cultivation vessel.
"This cultivation method… is it from your world?" Qian Renxue asked curiously.
Qi Tian shook his head. "No."
He didn't elaborate. Mostly because, well… he had tricked someone else out of it. Saying that aloud would ruin his image.
Qi Tian steadied his mind, focusing his soul. He meditated on the martial soul while guiding his power through the twelve main meridians, circulating it through the proper cycle.
In essence, the Mysterious Heaven Skill's "holding the One" referred to maintaining the unity of spirit and essence—concentrating on the core of one's inner light. In this world, however, it was the martial soul itself that took that central role.
Hmm… this Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul—shouldn't it count as a body-type martial soul? Or is it classified as a beast martial soul?
The key difference lies in their connection to the body.
A body-type martial soul was deeply linked to the user's own being, both feeding and strengthening each other. In contrast, a beast-type martial soul merely enhanced the body through external influence.
'Once I finish developing a blood and body cultivation method for my body martial soul,' Qi Tian mused, 'I'll test it using Qian Renxue's body. If it works, her martial soul could qualify as a body-type variant as well.'
'After all, Ghost Douluo's martial soul—the ghost demon—was considered part of his extensions of the self.
Qi Tian focused once more, maintaining his meditative rhythm as the carriage rolled steadily forward.
When his consciousness finally left Qian Renxue's body and returned to his own, he immediately immersed himself in cultivation again.
His daily routine had become extremely disciplined— Morning, he studied methods for refining his body; Afternoon, he trained his Blue Silver King Martial Soul; Night, he went to the Great Soul Arena for battle experience and gold soul coins.
Each day was filled with purpose.
Days passed in this rhythm. By the third time Qi Tian possessed Qian Renxue's body, she had already arrived secretly in Heaven Dou City.
"You again?" Qian Renxue's tone carried a mix of alarm and exasperation. Today was her first day officially executing her mission—she couldn't afford any mistakes.
"What? You don't want me here?" Qi Tian chuckled. "Funny, last time you were the one pestering me for another story."
Qian Renxue sighed helplessly. "But today I'm on a mission!"
"Relax. I'll help you with it," Qi Tian replied casually. "Now, tell me exactly what you're supposed to do."
Too young and earnest to be wary, Qian Renxue quickly began explaining.
Her current identity was that of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's classmate. Her task was to observe him closely—his habits, speech, and behavior.
In a few days, she would infiltrate the prince's mansion to fully master his routines and mannerisms.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Junior Soul Master Division was where she had taken the place of a noble's child, posing as an ordinary student beside Xue Qinghe.
Qi Tian glanced around the classroom and couldn't help but feel a strange sense of nostalgia.
What a cycle…
Had he stayed in Nuoding Academy, he'd be a fourth-year student right now. Yet here he was again—back in a fourth-year classroom, but at the empire's most prestigious academy.
The Royal Academy's resources, instructors, and mimesis training ground were leagues above Nuoding Academy's.
Many minor noble families sent their children here precisely because they couldn't afford to maintain their own training facilities. Using the academy's mimesis training ground was simply the most cost-effective option.
"Look," Qian Renxue whispered suddenly, her tone sharp with attention.
"Xue Qinghe is here!"
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End of Chapter