Chapter 29: Gu Qiu'er
The next day, well past sunrise, the training grounds of Spirit City bustled with quiet anticipation.
Surrounding the arena were only the elders and Hall of Offerings members—along with their families and disciples. No outsiders were present.
This was by strict decree of the Hall of Offerings. While the battle for the Saintess title was usually public spectacle for the entire continent, anything involving Qian Ningshuang had to remain secret.
It had been confidential before—but now that the Hall knew Qian Ningshuang intended to travel to Tien Dou City, secrecy was more critical than ever.
Even those from the Pope's faction who were permitted to attend understood the stakes. Anyone foolish enough to gossip would receive a swift and stern warning from the Hall itself.
Amidst murmurs and hushed conversations, Tian E arrived with four children in tow.
Qian Ningshuang and Tian Yao walked side by side, followed closely by Gu Yuena and another golden-haired little girl.
"I told you, Second Grandpa, is this really necessary?" Qian Ningshuang groaned, her tone dripping with reluctance. "I've said it a hundred times—I don't care about the Saintess title."
She crossed her arms. "Besides, I'm about to head to Tien Dou to find Sister Xue. What would I even do with that title?"
Her disinterest was genuine—and repeated for good measure.
Before Tian E could respond, Tian Yao chimed in.
"Grandpa, same here! I'm going with Xiao Shuang to Tien Dou City. Why would I want the Saintess title?"
The night before, Qian Ningshuang had brought Tian Yao to Qian Chongling and explained her wish to accompany her to Tien Dou. Qian Chongling had simply waved a hand and said, "Go. Both of you may go. As for your martial souls—I'll handle the concealment."
Even in his current state—having only recently reformed a physical body and not yet restored to full power—a former First-Grade God could mask a martial soul with ease.
"Both of you, shut up!" Tian E snapped, glaring at his granddaughters. "This isn't just about the Saintess title anymore. It's about the dignity of the Hall of Offerings! If not you two, who else should I send?"
"Oookay…"
The two golden-haired girls simultaneously ducked their heads, pouting.
"Come now," Gu Yuena said with a playful smile. "It's just one fight. Are you two really afraid of losing?"
She was only here for the show.
"Mmm-hmm! Na-jie suh duh!"
The other golden-haired girl mumbled through a mouthful of bread, clutching a bag she'd swiped from Qian Ningshuang's kitchen.
Her name was Gu Qiu'er—the Three-Eyed Golden Lioness, Sovereign Beast of Star Dou Great Forest.
How she ended up in Spirit City was a story in itself.
When Qian Ningshuang first visited Star Dou Great Forest, Gu Qiu'er had been out hunting. By the time she returned to the Lake of Life, both Gu Yuena and Di Tian were gone.
From Bi Ji—the Jade Swan Qian Ningshuang had met at the lake—she learned they'd left for the human world, specifically Spirit City.
That was unacceptable to the ever-social Three-Eyed Golden Lioness. If everyone stayed put, fine—but to go off adventuring without her?
She immediately demanded to leave. But without Di Tian or Gu Yuena's permission, none of the other Fierce Beasts dared let the Sovereign Beast wander off. They could only stall and soothe her tantrums.
Gu Qiu'er knew she shouldn't leave without approval—but that didn't stop her from making life miserable for the entire forest. For days on end, she caused chaos: small ruckuses every three days, major ones every five.
Then, during Qian Ningshuang's quest for her second spirit ring, she returned to Star Dou Great Forest with Gu Yuena.
The moment Gu Qiu'er sensed Gu Yuena's presence, she sprinted over and begged to come along to Spirit City.
Faced with a rolling, wailing Sovereign Beast and a forest on the verge of collapse, Gu Yuena relented. One more wouldn't hurt.
After transforming Gu Qiu'er into human form and giving her the name Gu Qiu'er, they brought her back to Spirit City.
Since then, it had been Qian Ningshuang walking with Gu Yuena, and Gu Yuena trailed by Gu Qiu'er—who quickly revealed her true nature as a bottomless pit of hunger, especially when it came to raiding Qian Ningshuang's kitchen.
"Lose? Don't make me laugh," Tian Yao scoffed. "The only one in the Pope Palace worth mentioning is that sly fox. If I actually lost to her, I'd find a tofu block and bash my head in right then and there."
"So don't bother fighting today, Jie Jie Yao," Qian Ningshuang said suddenly, stopping at the base of the arena and tapping her chin. "I'll handle it myself."
"Why?"
"Because sparring with you lot every day is boring. I finally get a new opponent—I want to test her myself."
Boredom was just an excuse. She was genuinely curious how strong the leader of the original Golden Generation truly was.
"Fine by me. We're winning either way. Doesn't matter who fights."
Tian Yao snatched a bun from Gu Qiu'er's bag and took a big bite, utterly indifferent.
"Ahhh! My bread!"
Gu Qiu'er wailed a second too late. Her hands were too full to retaliate.
"What do you mean 'your' bread?" Tian Yao said with mock confusion. "You stole it from Xiao Shuang's kitchen. That makes it hers. And what's hers is mine. So really, I'm just eating my own bread."
"Oh… I guess that makes sense."
Gu Qiu'er blinked, seemingly convinced.
Gu Yuena covered her face with one hand. Embarrassing. No—*beast*-barassing.
"Ow! Ow ow! Xiao Shuang, what are you doing?!"
Qian Ningshuang had just pinched Tian Yao's soft waist, delivering swift justice on Gu Qiu'er's behalf.
She genuinely pitied Gu Qiu'er—the sweet, naive girl who'd been cruelly betrayed by the so-called "pure and noble" Tang God-King in the original timeline.
More than that, this current version—lazy, cheerful, and perpetually snacking—hit all her cute buttons.
As for Tian Yao? Abandoned without a second thought. Qian Ningshuang had always been the type to favor the new over the old. She was simply that straightforward.
Watching the group bicker, Tian E, who'd quietly arrived behind them, pinched the bridge of his nose. Could they at least act serious for a match?
"How lively these young ladies are."
On the spectator stands, Fourth Offering Qing Yu chuckled.
"Old Four," asked Seventh Offering Jiangmo Douluo beside him, "who do you think will win?"
"Old Seven, did you just wake up? Is that even a question? Tell me—how exactly could Yao'er or Shuang'er lose?"
"Of course they'll win. I was just making conversation. Speaking of which… where's the Pope?"
Clearly, Jiangmo Douluo never doubted the outcome. He'd already moved on.
"She's here."
Following Qing Yu's nod, they saw Bibi Dong approaching the training grounds, flanked by Hu Liena and Xie Yue.