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After leaving the Pope's Palace, Li Luochen and Qian Renxue reflected on the surreal events that had just transpired. First, there was the tender moment between mother and daughter, followed by a cascade of emotional outbursts. *Sigh*, what a pair of stubborn mother and daughter.
However, it was Li Luochen who bore the brunt of the conflict. Damn it! Being a son-in-law sure comes with no rights!
Next, they were off to see Qian Daoliu. In fact, back in the Pope's Palace, when Li Luochen had activated his Asura Blood Armor, he had sensed a powerful gaze directed at him. That presence undoubtedly belonged to Qian Daoliu.
How could he just sit back and watch the drama unfold between his granddaughter and her husband-to-be? No wonder no one would take care of him in his old age!
"Xue'er, I think I've figured out our mother's personality."
Li Luochen suddenly remarked.
"Huh? What do you mean? Wait—she's not my mother!"
The Stubborn Angel, now safely out of the sight of the Terrifying Spider Mother, resumed her defiance.
"Well... your mother has a very complicated personality. She's a classic strong woman—her methods are harsh, but her heart is soft.
She was probably bullied by your father, that bastard. Didn't you say she abused you when you were little? It's likely that your father abused her, and you just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, so she took out her anger on you."
Li Luochen "rationally" analyzed the situation, careful not to directly tell her that her father was a beast in human form who had forced himself on her mother.
"What? Is that true? Why has no one ever told me?"
Qian Renxue's small brain was filled with big question marks. Pregnancy seemed to have dulled her senses—pregnancy brain, as they say. She was starting to act more stubborn than ever.
"According to rumors, your mother used to be the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, and your father was the Pope. They were originally master and disciple. As for how they ended up together and had you—that remains a mystery.
But the previous Pope was several decades older than your mother. Talk about an old man preying on a young flower!"
Li Luochen shared what he could, and Qian Renxue finally began to understand.
Right! Her mother had once been her father's disciple—how did they end up as husband and wife? Moreover, her mother had often referred to the Angel Clan as beasts and bastards, vowing to make them pay for their sins.
Li Luochen had opened a door for Qian Renxue, leaving the rest for her to piece together herself. This way, she could mentally prepare for the truth.
"Cough, don't overthink it. At least your mother now wants to shower you with love. She realizes that the distance between you two grew too large because of how she treated you when you were younger.
She wants to make amends, but she's too prideful to admit it easily. She's afraid that if she says something, you'll mock her, and they'll start arguing again.
That girl in the Pope's Palace must be Hu Liena, your mother's disciple. Your mother seems to dote on her—perhaps she sees her as an adopted daughter.
In my opinion, your mother couldn't give her maternal love to her own daughter, so she poured all of it into her disciple instead. It's her way of releasing those emotions."
Li Luochen's analysis was spot-on, and Qian Renxue found herself unable to refute his words.
"Chen, you're right. If she suddenly started being nice to me, I'd definitely think she'd changed. I'd probably lash out at her, and then we'd start fighting again."
Qian Renxue now understood the logic behind his words. "So how should I reconcile with her?"
"Just let things develop naturally. Since you'll be staying at the Spirit Hall for a while, she won't let you leave anyway. Eventually, she'll come to check on you out of concern.
All you need to do is wait for her to approach you. Don't provoke her, and avoid saying hurtful things. Give it a few days, and you'll see results. Hmm, look at the strategist you've recruited—he's not only talented in military matters but also excels in giving advice on personal issues.
Aren't you going to reward me?"
Li Luochen cheekily pointed to his cheek, and Qian Renxue planted a quick kiss on it.
"It's all thanks to my good judgment. I picked you the first time I saw you. But I'm tired now, Xiao Chenzi. Carry me to the Elders' Hall."
"Got it!"
Li Luochen hoisted Qian Renxue onto his shoulders, holding her legs securely as they made their way to the Elders' Hall. (Can a pregnant person sit like this? Who knows? Let's assume it's fine since soul masters have exceptional physical resilience.)
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The Elders' Hall
As they approached the entrance, the guards immediately opened the doors. The guards stationed at the Elders' Hall were members of the Angel Clan, and even the lowest-ranking among them possessed Soul Sage-level strength.
Of course, the guards recognized the current young master of the Angel Clan, so they opened the gates without hesitation. The young master had brought back a man—was he her chosen one?
Li Luochen carried Qian Renxue into the Elders' Hall. Inside, the air was thick with light and sacred elements. Any light-attribute soul master training here would experience accelerated progress.
As they entered, Li Luochen spotted seven figures. Among them, the ones he was most familiar with were his two masters and his grandfather, Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo was the eighth elder of the hall, though his strength—at level 97 with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring—made him qualified to be the third elder. However, he didn't care much for titles and was content with his position.
Qian Jun Douluo and Jiang Mo Douluo were the elders Li Luochen knew best. Their Coiling Dragon Staff techniques had greatly inspired him, contributing significantly to the creation of his Six Battle Techniques.
Next was Qing Luan Douluo, the middle-aged golden-haired gentleman who was You Tianshang's great-uncle. Li Luochen had met him several times and considered him familiar. Qing Luan Douluo had also led the hunt for Li Luochen's eighth soul ring—the Titan Ape.
Across from Qing Luan Douluo stood a burly, orange-haired middle-aged man—the Lion King Douluo. Li Luochen could sense that his soul power was at level 97, comparable to Qing Luan Douluo's, and slightly stronger than his own masters.
Finally, the shortest figure in the room—a white-haired youth—was Guang Ling Douluo. Qian Renxue had once mentioned that Guang Ling Douluo was her favorite grandfather. He often took her out to play, unlike the other rough-and-tumble grandfathers. Guang Ling Douluo knew exactly what she liked and always surprised her. Truly, a playful old soul—Guang Ling Douluo!
However, the figure that caught Li Luochen's attention the most was the golden-haired middle-aged man standing with his back to them.
He appeared to be in his thirties or forties, handsome with a faint smile. His calm and serene demeanor exuded comfort. Though tall, he wasn't overly muscular, dressed in a simple white robe with neatly combed golden hair cascading down his back.
Despite his plain attire, his mere presence commanded reverence.
The former Angel Douluo, now Sky Douluo—renowned as the invincible ruler of land, sea, and sky—the Great Elder of the Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu!
"Grandfather!"
Qian Renxue leapt off Li Luochen's shoulders and rushed toward her grandfather.
Qian Daoliu turned around, his face breaking into a warm smile as he opened his arms to embrace his long-absent granddaughter.
"Be careful, Xiaoxue. You're pregnant now—don't be so reckless."
"Aww, isn't it because I missed you, Grandpa? Did you miss me too?"
"Of course I missed you. Why didn't you return to the Spirit Hall sooner after getting pregnant? Did this wretched boy fear I'd punish him?"
Qian Daoliu's gaze sharpened as he stared at Li Luochen.
Months earlier, Qian Daoliu had received news that his granddaughter was pregnant!
He had immediately risen from his meditation cushion, read the letter, and learned that the father was the disciple of the sixth and seventh elders—talented enough to match his granddaughter. Satisfied, he sat back down.
Typical temper tantrum from a loving grandfather!
Still, Qian Daoliu was far from pleased. How dare this boy impregnate his precious granddaughter! And to make matters worse, the boy was related to the eighth elder's granddaughter. How could he not be furious?
When Dugu Bo first arrived at the Elders' Hall, he was "tested" by Qian Daoliu—a polite way of saying he got beaten up. Afterward, Dugu Bo's face was bruised and swollen. However, Qian Daoliu rewarded him with a high-quality snake-type torso bone, over ninety thousand years old.
It was the finest snake-type soul bone in the Elders' Hall's collection—a gift worthy of the Great Elder.
After absorbing it, Dugu Bo's soul power surged halfway to level 98. His battle against a Limit Douluo gave him new insights, and within five years, he was confident of breaking through to level 98!
Qian Daoliu had secretly observed Qian Renxue in Shrek City and noticed how well Li Luochen and Dugu Bo's granddaughter cared for her. He meticulously examined the stabilizing medicine and nutritious meals she consumed—all made from rare herbs rich in vitality and nourishment.
Considering how well Li Luochen treated his granddaughter, Qian Daoliu decided to go easy on him. Instead of severely injuring him, he'd just beat him enough to keep him bedridden for two days.
After all, he was a magnanimous man!
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