Chapter 61: Qian Gu Dongfeng and Qian Gu Zhangting

After Jing Shaoyu had eaten three pieces of the deep-sea dragon meat, Leng Yaozhu moved the remaining red-braised dragon meat to her side.

"Try this dish," Leng Yaozhu said, placing a tofu-like stew in front of Jing Shaoyu.

"Sure!" Jing Shaoyu eagerly took a bite.

The taste was smooth and tender, a sensation that made his eyes light up with surprise. As it went down, he felt a coolness rush up to his mind, sharpening his senses and making his awareness extremely sensitive. He could even feel the subtle movements of elemental energy in the air around him.

A faint green glow radiated from his eyes.

"This dish is called Steamed Fish Brain, made from a 30,000-year-old Black Ice Sea Bass. It clears the mind, enhances perception, and boosts spiritual power," Leng Yaozhu explained.

"Black Ice Sea Bass? What kind of soul beast is that?" Jing Shaoyu asked curiously.

"As the name suggests, it's a type of black sea bass soul beast that lives in the freezing seas of the far north," Leng Yaozhu said, moving another dish over to him. "This is also made from Black Ice Sea Bass meat. Go on, give it a try."

"Alright!" Jing Shaoyu picked up a piece of the fish, placing it in his mouth. His eyes lit up with delight at the incredibly fresh and flavorful taste.

The two of them ate with mutual enjoyment, Leng Yaozhu explaining each dish while Jing Shaoyu savored every bite.

However, as always, their meal was soon interrupted.

Knock, knock.

The sound of knocking broke their peaceful meal. Jing Shaoyu turned his head toward the door with curiosity, while Leng Yaozhu frowned. "Come in," she said coldly.

The door opened, and a young man, around twenty years old with a respectful smile, walked in. He glanced at Jing Shaoyu with mild curiosity, then looked at Leng Yaozhu with admiration and familiarity.

"Aunt Leng, it really is you! I thought I was seeing things," the young man said happily. "When did you come back?"

"Do I need to report my schedule to you?" Leng Yaozhu responded, her tone frosty.

"Of course not!" The young man's smile faltered slightly, but he kept his composure. "I just wanted to greet you, to show my respect…"

"If that's all, you can leave now," Leng Yaozhu interrupted, her expression still cold. "Don't interrupt my meal with my disciple. You're as annoying as your grandfather!"

The young man's face flushed with a bit of embarrassment, but he managed to hide his irritation. Bowing politely, he gave a nod of acknowledgment to Jing Shaoyu before leaving the room.

"Annoying," Leng Yaozhu muttered, clearly displeased.

"Teacher, who was that? And why did he call you Aunt?" Jing Shaoyu asked with a curious expression.

"His name is Qian Gu Zhangting, grandson of the current Spirit Pagoda Master, Qian Gu Dongfeng," she replied.

Qian Gu Zhangting! Jing Shaoyu's eyes widened. He knew this name—the tragic, obsessive admirer of Gu Yue Na from the later parts of the original story. The memory alone made him cringe.

"Though he's as irksome as his grandfather, his talent is respectable," Leng Yaozhu continued, oblivious to Jing Shaoyu's reaction. "He's twenty now, which makes him ten years older than you, and his spirit power has already reached Soul Sage level, about seventy-five ranks. In less than two years, he'll likely become a Soul Douluo."

"Twenty and already seventy-five ranks!" Jing Shaoyu couldn't help but be amazed. No wonder Qian Gu Dongfeng cherished him so much.

"Don't feel inferior," Leng Yaozhu reassured him with a smile, mistaking his surprise for envy. "You're already much stronger than he was at your age, despite the resources he's had. When he was ten, he was only around Soul Elder level, like you are now. By the time you're twenty, Teacher believes you'll far surpass him."

"Teacher, I'm not jealous," Jing Shaoyu said with a chuckle. "I was just wondering… does this mean he might become the next Spirit Pagoda Master?"

At this, Leng Yaozhu's expression darkened, a flicker of anger in her gaze. "If it had been before I met you, there's a high chance he would have. But now that I have you, their Qian Gu family won't hold that title so easily!"

Jing Shaoyu could tell she held little affection for the Qian Gu family.

"Teacher, does that mean the Qian Gu family has controlled the Spirit Pagoda for multiple generations now?" he asked.

"Two generations," Leng Yaozhu replied. "The previous Pagoda Master, Qian Gu Dieting, and the current Master, Qian Gu Dongfeng, are father and son. Both are Level 99 Limit Douluos and four-word battle armor masters, counted among the Federation's most powerful.

"Qian Gu Dongfeng's only son passed away young, leaving him with only one grandchild, Qian Gu Zhangting, his pride and joy and the family's top talent. Qian Gu Dongfeng plans to groom him as his successor."

"I see." Jing Shaoyu pondered this before adding, "But, Teacher, why does he call you Aunt?"

"That would be because of his meddlesome grandfather!" Leng Yaozhu replied, her eyes flashing with irritation. "His grandfather, Qian Gu Dongfeng, pursued me when he was young. And ever since his wife passed, he's been trying to entangle me in his life again. It's beyond irritating!"

Hearing her recount the story firsthand, Jing Shaoyu felt a sense of satisfaction he hadn't anticipated. Smiling innocently, he asked, "Teacher, if Qian Gu Zhangting is twenty, then his grandfather must be quite old by now. And you—"

"Brat!" Leng Yaozhu's face twisted with exasperation, and she reached out to smack him on the head. "Your teacher is forever eighteen! Got it?"

"Got it, got it!" Jing Shaoyu replied quickly, forcing back a laugh. He mentally reminded himself not to bring up a woman's age.

"Alright, let's keep eating," Leng Yaozhu said, brushing it off.

"Right!" Jing Shaoyu eagerly returned to his meal.

Meanwhile, after leaving the thirty-third floor, Qian Gu Zhangting went straight to the top-floor office of the Pagoda Master.

Inside, a middle-aged man with refined features, bearing a striking resemblance to Qian Gu Zhangting, stood gazing out the window. His eyes focused on the drifting clouds, his gaze lingering on the distant, illustrious academy across the way.

"Grandfather, Aunt Leng has returned," Qian Gu Zhangting announced.

This middle-aged man was none other than Qian Gu Dongfeng, the current Spirit Pagoda Master, a Level 99 Limit Douluo and four-word battle armor master known as the Spirit Douluo.

"Is that so?" Qian Gu Dongfeng turned around, his face showing a hint of surprise. "When did she return?"

"Seems like just today," Qian Gu Zhangting replied. "And it appears she's taken on a disciple."

"A disciple?" Qian Gu Dongfeng looked even more intrigued. "What sort of disciple?"

"A young boy, not more than fifteen. Quite the handsome little thing," Qian Gu Zhangting replied, recalling his encounter.

"Interesting," Qian Gu Dongfeng murmured. "For Yaozhu to finally take on a disciple, the boy must be quite remarkable. Zhangting, I have a task for you. Find out everything you can about this new disciple of your Aunt Leng's, then report back to me."

"Understood, Grandfather!" Qian Gu Zhangting nodded and left.

Once alone, Qian Gu Dongfeng turned back to the window, his gaze drifting toward the dista

nt academy with a somber expression.

"If he were gone… would you finally say yes?" he whispered.

-Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/GodofTL236

Thanks!