[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]
===
Back when Dugu Bo had just broken through to the Titled Douluo realm, he had been hunted down by Yue Guan.
The two had a grudge.
But Yue Guan had his own principles—he never teamed up with Ghost Mei to ambush Dugu Bo.
At this moment, Dugu Bo's eyelids twitched as he looked at Yue Guan with a gaze full of pity.
Does a Rank 95 really think he can challenge Zhongli?
This is a man who can move mountains and fill seas!
Zhongli had personally moved the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well right before his eyes!
"Good, good, good…"
Dugu Bo couldn't help but mutter. A spar was great!
If Zhongli just happened to kill Yue Guan in the fight, wouldn't that mean his revenge would be served right then and there?
Yue Guan and Zhongli stood about fifty meters apart—a distance that meant nothing to a Titled Douluo, who could close it in an instant.
"Yue Guan, Rank 95 Power Attack-Type Titled Douluo, Title: Chrysanthemum."
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—nine soul rings rapidly rose from beneath Yue Guan's feet.
A dazzlingly beautiful chrysanthemum bloomed in his hand.
Paimon, watching from a distance, froze. That floating chrysanthemum in Yue Guan's hand… she felt like she had seen it somewhere before!
After releasing his spirit and soul rings, Yue Guan spoke expressionlessly, "Elder Zhongli, I seek your guidance!"
Before Zhongli could even summon his "spirit," several figures rushed over, appearing beside Paimon.
"Huh? Qinghe, what are you doing here?"
Paimon blinked in surprise.
The newcomer was none other than "Xue Qinghe." As Zhongli was a guest elder of her residence, how could she not come to witness his spar with a Spirit Hall elder?
No matter the reason, she had to be here.
Beside her were experts arranged by the imperial family to protect the "Crown Prince's" safety.
"Paimon, I heard that Elder Zhongli was sparring with a Spirit Hall elder. I was worried the Spirit Hall might have ulterior motives and harm His Excellency Zhongli, so I rushed over…"
"Xue Qinghe" said without batting an eye.
Yue Guan, Ghost Mei: "..."
Zhongli, Paimon: "..."
Paimon glanced at "Xue Qinghe." If she remembered correctly, wasn't "Xue Qinghe" from the Spirit Hall?
How could she say that with a straight face?!
"Uh… Zhongli is really strong, so there's no need to worry about him…"
Paimon crossed her arms, pretending not to be concerned—but in truth, she was worried.
She knew Zhongli was incredibly powerful, capable of suppressing even a being like Osial with ease.
But Zhongli was her only anchor in this world!
If something happened to him, how could she not worry?
"Your Highness, Elder Yue Guan and Elder Zhongli are merely sparring. Our Spirit Hall would never resort to such underhanded tactics."
Hu Liena's expression darkened as she spoke to "Xue Qinghe."
She didn't know "Xue Qinghe's" true identity, nor was she aware of a certain young master named Qian Renxue.
If someone slandered the Spirit Hall in front of her and she didn't retaliate, what kind of Pope's disciple would she be?
This was her first time meeting "Xue Qinghe," but she knew who the Heaven Dou Crown Prince was.
From Paimon and "Xue Qinghe's" conversation, it wasn't hard to deduce that this person was the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire!
"Who knows if you would or not?"
"Xue Qinghe" scoffed, proving herself to be the Spirit Hall's number one anti-fan.
The "guards" beside her nodded approvingly. This was their Crown Prince!
This was exactly the attitude they should have toward the Spirit Hall.
Aside from protecting the Crown Prince's safety, they were also here to gather intelligence.
A guest elder of the Crown Prince's residence dining with a Spirit Hall elder—wasn't that bound to raise suspicions?
"You—!"
Hu Liena was furious, pointing at "Xue Qinghe."
She couldn't shake the feeling that "Xue Qinghe" harbored some inexplicable hostility toward her, though she couldn't figure out why.
Normally, few people below her level could resist her charm.
Yet not only had "Xue Qinghe" resisted it, but she also seemed to hold a grudge against her.
This was their first meeting, right?
Why would "Xue Qinghe" have any animosity toward Hu Liena?
Bibi Dong had poured all the love she should have given her daughter into this disciple—how could "Xue Qinghe" not resent her?
The fact that she hadn't killed Hu Liena on the spot was already her exercising restraint for the sake of the bigger picture.
"Insolence! Know your place!"
"This is the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire! How dare you, a mere girl, question him?!"
The guards flared their auras, berating Hu Liena.
Since when could any random nobody point at the Crown Prince and yell?
This was unacceptable!
"You—you all—!"
"Nana is the Pope's disciple! How dare you treat her like this?!"
Picking on Hu Liena?
Yan would not stand for it!
He immediately stepped forward, ready to argue with the guards.
When he mentioned "Pope's disciple," a flash of killing intent flickered in "Xue Qinghe's" eyes.
That traitor, flaunting her status as the Pope's disciple!
If she hadn't let Tang San escape back then…
Hearing this, the guards paused. The Pope's disciple?
That was a notable status… but not that notable.
"Hah! The Pope's disciple? Until her strength surpasses ours, she's just a disciple!"
"Of course, if she were the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, then she'd have the right to speak to His Highness as an equal."
This was reality!
The strong ruled. Either you had power, or you had status.
As just a disciple, Hu Liena couldn't represent the Spirit Hall!
"Hey, hey, stop arguing! Zhongli and the old man are about to fight!"
Paimon flew between the two groups, flustered.
If things kept going like this, they might start fighting before Zhongli and Yue Guan even began!
"Yes, Lady Paimon!"
The guards glanced at Paimon and responded solemnly.
Hu Liena and the other two twitched. These guys really did change faces faster than flipping a book!
They showed no respect to the Pope's disciple, yet they addressed Paimon—a spirit—with utmost reverence.
Didn't they hear them call her Lady Paimon?
But when they thought about it… they really should call her that!
Paimon might look small and harmless, but she was Zhongli's spirit!
Once she started absorbing soul rings…
"Yes, Lady Paimon!"
The three quickly cupped their hands toward Paimon, their expressions filled with awe.
"Me?"
"Lady Paimon?"
Paimon blinked in confusion.
This was the first time she'd ever been addressed like this!
"Xue Qinghe" smiled faintly but didn't comment. There was no point in tormenting Hu Liena and the others.
The hidden observers also looked at Paimon with reverence.
Unlike those who relied on connections, Paimon was the spirit of a Titled Douluo—she did have power.
People like Hu Liena, who got by on connections, only received surface-level respect out of consideration for Pope Bibi Dong.
Behind her back?
Who would really respect her?
No strength, no real status.
"I hope I live long enough to see Lady Paimon adorned with nine soul rings, each at least fifty-thousand-year level."
"If I could witness such a miracle, I could die without regrets!"
Indeed, twin spirits were already a miracle in themselves. Nine soul rings above fifty-thousand years?
That was something they wouldn't even dare to dream of.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 135 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 20 power stones I will publish the next chapter.