"Hmph, stubborn words!"
Qian Renxue's eyes sharpened, her wings fluttering slightly as she suddenly dashed in front of Hu Liena.
Her fist, enveloped in a faint golden light, mercilessly struck toward Hu Liena's shoulder.
Hu Liena only saw a blur before her eyes—the opponent's fist was already right in front of her, leaving no time to dodge.
"Thud!"
A dull sound echoed, but it wasn't the expected sound of a fist hitting flesh.
Hu Liena opened her eyes in surprise to see Su Yu, who had somehow appeared in front of her, blocking Qian Renxue's punch with his arm.
Su Yu grunted, his arm instantly going numb as the impact sent him stumbling back two steps.
"Brother Su Yu!"
Hu Liena gasped in shock and urgency, quickly stepping forward to support him. Seeing his slightly trembling arm, her eyes instantly reddened.
"Are you okay?"
Su Yu gently moved Hu Liena's arm aside and spoke with feigned ease:
"I'm fine, don't worry!"
Qian Renxue frowned slightly at Su Yu's sudden appearance, a flicker of impatience in her light purple eyes:
"Meddling in others' business."
"If you want to fight, I'll oblige!"
Su Yu endured the numbness and pain in his arm, meeting Qian Renxue's gaze as he swiftly circulated his Soul Power.
Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow, a cold smirk curling her lips:
"Oh? So you're the so-called Innate Full Soul Power genius everyone's been hyping up? Let's see what's so special about you!"
Before her words faded, the first yellow Soul Ring around her lit up again, golden energy enveloping her fists once more:
"First Spirit Ability—Angel Assault!"
In a flash, she charged at Su Yu like a golden bolt of lightning, faster than before, her fist cutting through the air with a sharp whistle.
"Wood Release: Wood Interlocking Wall!"
Su Yu shouted low, forming hand seals.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—
Rows of thick wooden pillars erupted from the ground, instantly weaving into a sturdy semicircular arch in front of him and Hu Liena.
"Boom!"
Qian Renxue's fist slammed hard into the Wood Interlocking Wall, producing a heavy, dull thud.
The arch shuddered violently, wood chips flying as cracks appeared on its surface.
Qian Renxue stared at the unmoving wooden wall, a trace of surprise in her eyes:
"This Wood Release's defense is stronger than it looks."
Leaning against the wall, Su Yu could clearly feel the impact transmitted through the wooden pillars.
Knowing the Wood Interlocking Wall wouldn't hold for long, he quickly whispered to Hu Liena:
"Nana, get ready to use your Spirit Ability to restrain her!"
Hu Liena nodded, the Soul Ring beneath her poised for action!
Outside the wall, Qian Renxue, seeing her strike hadn't broken through, narrowed her eyes, gathering denser golden energy in her fist:
"If it can block one hit, then try this!"
Just as Qian Renxue's fist was about to descend, the Wood Interlocking Wall opened from within.
Hu Liena's figure emerged from the gap, her faintly pink eyes locking directly with Qian Renxue's.
Qian Renxue stiffened, her movement halting.
"Wood Release: Great Forest Technique!"
Numerous Wooden Vines shot toward Qian Renxue, binding her in just three short seconds.
"Heh."
Regaining her senses, a flicker of astonishment crossed Qian Renxue's eyes, quickly replaced by deep disdain.
"You think such tricks can control me?"She raised an eyebrow, abruptly unleashing her Soul Power in an attempt to break free from the Wooden Vines' restraint."
But the next second, she sensed something wrong—the wooden vines wrapped around her seemed to possess a devouring force, slowly absorbing her Soul Power.
The color of the wooden vines themselves deepened visibly to a darker purple, their toughness increasing accordingly.
"Interesting."
Qian Renxue savored the strange sensation of her Soul Power being slowly drained, a cold smirk curling at the corner of her lips.
"Trying to weaken me this way? Unfortunately, too naive."
"Second Spirit Ability—Angel's Blessing!"
With her low shout, the massive Angel Avatar behind her slowly spread its arms.
A brilliant golden light descended from the Angel's palm, entering Qian Renxue's body.
"Break for me!"
Qian Renxue exerted force abruptly, the golden radiance around her blazing like flames.
Under the impact of this sacred power, the resilient wooden vines emitted crisp cracking sounds.
"Bang!"
The restraints shattered instantly, the broken wooden vines flung away and disintegrating into fragments mid-air.
Qian Renxue flexed her wrist, her gaze fixed on Su Yu and Hu Liena, the fighting spirit in her eyes burning fiercer:
"Show me whatever else you've got! With skills like these, you're barely enough for my warm-up."
"Nana, step back."
Su Yu whispered, Wood Release gathering secretly in his palm.
Qian Renxue watched Su Yu's tense figure, a trace of disdain flashing in her eyes:
"What? Out of tricks? Weren't you quite brave just now?"
She advanced step by step, golden Soul Power swirling around her:
"So what if you have Innate Full Soul Power? Without sufficient strength to back it up, it's ultimately just a joke. Third Spirit Ability—Angel..."
The third Soul Ring at Qian Renxue's feet had already lit up, clearly preparing to unleash her third Spirit Ability.
At that moment, a cold female voice cut through the air, interrupting Qian Renxue's action.
"Who gave you permission to cause trouble in my Papal Hall!"
The voice wasn't loud, yet carried a heart-palpitating authority.
Qian Renxue's gathered Soul Power faltered abruptly, the golden radiance around her dimming slightly.
She paused, looking up toward the source of the voice, a complex expression flickering across her face.
Bi Bidong stood unknowingly at the courtyard entrance, her purple-black robe swaying lightly in the wind.
Her amber eyes were icy cold, her gaze fixed on Qian Renxue with undisguised displeasure.
Bi Bidong slowly walked to stand before Su Yu and Hu Liena, staring at Qian Renxue as she spoke in a frigid tone:
"Didn't I tell you not to come to my Papal Hall!"
Hearing Bi Bidong's tone, Qian Renxue's face darkened, lifting her head stubbornly:
"What's wrong with me coming to the Papal Hall? Spirit Hall belongs to my Qian family, not you!"
At Qian Renxue's words, a flash of hatred appeared in Bi Bidong's eyes, her hand subconsciously clenching.
"If I hadn't come, I wouldn't have seen you taking in two useless disciples, not even a fraction of my worth!"
"You heartless, ungrateful woman! You only sit on the Pope's throne because Grandfather helped you!"
"You'll never obtain what is rightfully yours in this lifetime—"
"Enough!"
Bi Bidong's voice suddenly rose sharply, laden with suppressed fury.
Slap!
A sharp, resounding slap echoed abruptly through the courtyard.
Qian Renxue's head snapped to the side, a clear handprint instantly blooming on her pale cheek.
Her eyes widened in disbelief, light purple pupils filled with shock and grievance.
Bibi Dong watched as the red mark swiftly appeared on Qian Renxue's face, and her heart trembled abruptly.
"Xiao Xue..."
Bibi Dong's voice was hoarse, carrying a faint, almost imperceptible tremor as she reached out to touch the red mark.