"Very well!"
Upon hearing Qian Renxue answer, Dugu Bo gave a faint nod.
He then withdrew his aura.
"Whoosh~"
Qian Renxue body relaxed, and only then did large beads of sweat start rolling down her forehead.
"Li Yu didn't choose wrong. Since she's willing to support you, I'll take a gamble with her!"
Dugu Bo gaze was calm as he spoke. "Having lived for so long, it's a nice change to follow the younger generation's passion!"
As he spoke, he suddenly shot a sharp glare at Qian Renxue. "Remember, I'm here because of Li Yu, not you!"
"If I find out you've been bullying Li Yu, I'll certainly seek justice for her!"
"Moreover..."
He paused before continuing, "I know you must have support behind you, but I don't care about that. As long as you don't associate with the current Spirit Hall and its people, it's fine."
Qian Renxue heart tightened upon hearing this, but she didn't show any signs of it on her face.
She was well aware of the grudges between Dugu Bo and Spirit Hall, and she understood why he was close to Prince Xue Xing—it was partly because of this.
Now, with Dugu Bo support, albeit without revealing his true identity, it was clearly something important.
But this request from Dugu Bo caught her off guard.
At the same time, she recalled the subtle hints Li Yu had given about her attitude toward Spirit Hall.
From what she understood, Li Yu had both positive and negative views about Spirit Hall.
The positive views mostly revolved around Spirit Hall's large-scale free soul awakening ceremonies for civilians and the allowances given to registered soul masters. She also praised its role in managing and regulating soul masters, elevating their status, fostering the development of the soul master world, and ensuring the protection of ordinary people from soul beasts.
In summary, Li Yu saw Spirit Hall as playing a vital role in stabilizing the continent.
But the negative views were focused on the high concentration of power within the inner circles, the growing ambition, and the corruption among the different levels of authority, leading to a series of problems.
Qian Renxue also agreed with this.
The Elder Hall members, who were always in closed-door training, could be called reclusive, and worse, they were seen as enjoying the perks without doing any real work.
After Bibi Dong ascended as the Supreme Pontiff, her strategies were something Qian Renxue completely disagreed with.
So internally, Qian Renxue felt uncertain.
From a purely positional standpoint, she was undoubtedly part of Spirit Hall.
But emotionally, she resisted it.
"Maybe I should just inherit the throne of Tiandou and establish my own power?"
She had entertained this thought before, but her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had shaken her resolve multiple times.
Now, in light of Li Yu and Dugu Bo attitudes, she found herself finally letting go of that "floating" thought.
There is no perfect solution in this world, but I, Qian Renxue, will try!
As her thoughts calmed, her gaze became more determined.
Dugu Bo had been watching 'Xue Qinghe,' wanting to see her reaction to his words.
Now, he saw nothing but determination.
He nodded, his suspicions about 'Xue Qinghe' finally easing.
"Good!"
Dugu Bo stood up. "Prepare a guest room for me.. I've just break through and need some time to stabilize my cultivation. Your courtyard has a nice environment, and I don't want to go looking for another place."
Qian Renxue let out a quiet sigh of relief, knowing that she had passed Dugu Bo "test."
Prepare a place for him was nothing difficult.
The East Palace, of course, wasn't just a single hall; there were many halls within, and the environment was excellent.
Normally, she and Li Yu lived in her main residence.
The hall where she was receiving Dugu Bo, though fully equipped, was primarily a place for receiving guests.
"Your Majesty, how is Yu'er? Where is she now?"
Qian Renxue asked again, the question she had been holding in, her patience wearing thin.
"She's doing very well!"
Dugu Bo answered directly this time without playing games. "Her soul power has already reached level 60. At the speed she's progressing, she'll probably reach the Star Dou Forest by tomorrow..."
Level 60!
Qian Renxue eyes widened in disbelief.
She couldn't help but interrupt Dugu Bo. "Your Majesty, she's at level 60? Are you sure?"
She was stuck at level 69 herself, while Li Yu had gone from level 21 to 60 in just over four months!
How was this possible?
Could someone really have such terrifying cultivation speed?
Even though she had witnessed Li Yu talent before, she couldn't bring herself to believe it now.
Three months ago, when Li Yu left, her soul power was only at level 44.
The "speed" of her progress was something she could accept before, especially since Li Yu had told her she had taken some kind of rare herb.
That meant it was an opportunity that couldn't be replicated.
But now, just three months later, she had jumped from level 44 to 60!
Had she somehow replicated that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
She didn't believe it!
She didn't believe it even a little!
"Heh heh."
Dugu Bo smiled dismissively. "What's so surprising? She reached level 60 two months ago. Add in the two months of grounding, and once she absorbs a soul ring, her soul power will probably rise even further!"
"…"
Qian Renxue was stunned.
She wanted to ask Dugu Bo: Do you know what you're talking about?
You're saying that she went from level 44 to 60, not in three months, but in one month?
Is this something a person can just say?
"Your Majesty, did you go to visit Prince Xue Xing before coming here?"
Qian Renxue tentatively asked.
Her tone was polite, but the meaning was clear: Have you been drinking too much? How many dishes did you have?
But when she looked up, she saw that Dugu Bo eyes weren't joking.
Qian Renxue face instantly changed.
She turned and walked away, not bothering with Dugu Bo anymore.
"Hey!"
Dugu Bo looked at 'Xue Qinghe' retreating figure with a confused expression.
Wait a minute, this little brat, what kind of identity and status does he have to dare ignore me?
I'm a 93rd-level Title Douluo!
People normally bow to me, trembling in fear! How dare he?
"You can choose wherever you want to stay, Your Majesty. The East Palace is large, so feel free to take your time. I have some things to attend to!"
Qian Renxue spoke without turning back.
What else could she do? In three months, Li Yu cultivation was nearly catching up to hers. The pressure was enormous!
She didn't want to be overtaken by her own wife!
Wait a minute…
Qian Renxue suddenly paused, then recalled Dugu Bo later words—
"At her current speed, she'll probably reach the Star Dou Forest by tomorrow…"
Her face changed dramatically.
The Star Dou Forest contained soul beasts at the 100,000-year level!
Moreover, in the core areas, soul beasts of 50,000 years and above were common, and there were plenty of 80,000 to 90,000-year-old ones!
Li Yu had reached level 60, but going to Star Dou alone was like sending a little rabbit into a tiger's den.
How could Dugu Bo, this old man, who keeps calling her "Li Yu," allow her to go alone to Star Dou Forest?
Qian Renxue was seething with anger and ran off.
"Absurd!"