Fierce Protection, Guardianship of Two Demon Gods
What no one present had expected was that, at the crucial moment of Gan Lin's Martial Soul Awakening, Soul Douluo Thunder Tiger, who was conducting the awakening, would brazenly strike, aiming straight at Gan Lin as his Martial Soul awakened.
Gan Lin and Soul Douluo Thunder Tiger were standing very close together, and no one thought there could be any danger in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace with so many experts and members of the imperial family gathered there. As a result, everyone had let their guard down.
By the time they reacted, Soul Douluo Thunder Tiger's attack was practically in Gan Lin's face.
At that critical moment, golden light suddenly burst from Gan Lin's body, and a talisman appeared before him, blocking the blow.
The next moment, a spear of rock descended from the sky, killing Soul Douluo Thunder Tiger outright before he could react.
When Gan Lin looked up, he saw the God of War in all his murderous might.
Yet to Gan Lin, the sight was extraordinarily gentle.
When the spear of rock dissipated and Morax's gaze returned to Gan Lin, it softened once more.
A voice that only Gan Lin could hear rang out.
"Ganyu misses you very much. Be careful in all things in this world."
"Lord Morax..."
Once again, Gan Lin felt the immense sense of security Lord Morax gave him.
Morax looked up at the sky, a flash of golden light passing through his eyes. The next moment, his figure slowly faded away.
Before Gan Lin knew it, his eyes had begun to sting.
At last, the others present recovered from the shocking scene they had just witnessed.
Dugu Bo was the first to step forward. His Martial Soul possessed him in an instant, and he unleashed the full weight of a Titled Douluo's presence in every direction.
His presence automatically parted around Dugu Yan, Gan Lin, Ye Lingling, and the others, leaving them unaffected.
But the rest were not so fortunate.
Those like Ning Fengzhi, who had a Titled Douluo protecting them, were all right.
Some Soul Masters of slightly lower levels were already on the verge of fainting.
"Xue Ye, I need an explanation!"
The furious Dugu Bo shielded Gan Lin and Dugu Yan behind him as he looked at Emperor Xue Ye, who sat atop the steps.
In his anger, he had even dispensed with "Your Majesty."
Of course, Dugu Bo was qualified to say those words.
Without another Titled Douluo intervening, he could turn the whole of Heaven Dou City into a city of the dead. Not a single person below the Soul Douluo level could hope to remain standing.
Sword Douluo was about to speak, but Ning Fengzhi stopped him.
Dugu Bo was on the edge of a violent rage. Intervening rashly would likely bring the flames down on them.
Besides...
Ning Fengzhi's gaze shifted to Gan Lin, who stood behind Dugu Bo. In the scene he had just witnessed, he had seen another possibility for the future.
For a moment, tension spread through the hall, as if swords had been drawn and crossbows cocked. Xue Ye, seated high above them, looked increasingly grim.
He felt that things had not been going his way lately.
First, his health had suddenly deteriorated without warning, and his sons had died one after another. Although there was no evidence, all suspicion pointed straight at his eldest son, Xue Qinghe.
Fortunately, his eldest son had shown promise, taking the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, as his teacher. He was an excellent choice to inherit the throne, but his youngest son offended a noble every now and then, sending his blood pressure dancing each time.
The Heaven Dou Empire was no place where his word alone was law. His relationships with its subordinate kingdoms were less those of a sovereign and his vassals than those of allies, which was why he had to win over every force he could. Xue Beng's behavior was unquestionably digging up the Heaven Dou Empire by its roots!
He had recently managed, with great difficulty, to recruit a high-level fighter, which had considerably improved his mood.
Yet the man had turned out to be a mole, and at a critical moment had brought a huge problem down on him.
"Your Eminence Dugu, this matter was an oversight on the Heaven Dou Empire's part. The Heaven Dou Empire is willing to offer compensation," Xue Ye said sincerely as he rose to his feet. The most pressing matter now was to placate the furious Dugu Bo as quickly as possible.
Otherwise, one misstep might see Dugu Bo raze his imperial palace to the ground.
"Compensation? Do you think this old man lacks those paltry things?"
Xue Ye took a deep breath. He understood that this matter could not be settled peacefully today without him taking a grievous loss.
"Your Eminence Dugu, as a distinguished Titled Douluo, most treasures surely would not catch your eye. But the Heaven Dou Empire's treasury houses many precious things. Why not let your two juniors go inside and make a selection?" Xue Ye said, pained by the expense. "I shall make the decision: both young friends may enter and each freely choose three... two treasures."
"Three."
"Hoo-very well, three." Xue Ye breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Dugu Bo was willing to relent, that was enough.
When Xue Ye turned his gaze to Gan Lin, standing behind Poison Douluo, he hesitated slightly. Then, recalling the strange sight from earlier, he made up his mind.
"As for young friend Gan Lin, I am eager to nurture talent. Once the selection is over, I also have something to give young friend Gan Lin in private."
Gan Lin was somewhat surprised, though on reflection it made sense. Still, could it be the thing he had in mind?
"Thank you, Your Majesty."
With Gan Lin's words, the drawn-sword tension in the imperial palace eased considerably.
"However, the strange sight during the Martial Soul Awakening just now, and the... talismans around you at present, young friend-might I ask whether you could enlighten us?" Ning Fengzhi asked with his trademark smile. "Even with my learning, I find such a sight hard to comprehend. I am truly very curious."
"Hey, Ning Fengzhi, isn't your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect going a little too far? Don't think this old man is afraid of you just because you have two Titled Douluo!"
Seeing Ning Fengzhi inquire into Gan Lin's secrets, Dugu Bo immediately grew agitated.
Although he was facing a Titled Douluo far stronger than himself this time, he still stepped forward for the sake of his own junior.
"Xiaolin, pay him no mind. If there's anything you can't conveniently say, this old man will shoulder it for you."
"Thank you, Grandpa." Gan Lin did not want to put Dugu Bo in a difficult position either. After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had vast resources, and Sister Yanzi still had to attend the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. "But it isn't anything I can't talk about."
Besides...
Perhaps saying it would deter the villains lurking in every direction.
"I once had a dream. In it, a certain being said these words to me..."
"Across this world, demon gods and deities rise together. Though I have no wish to vie for dominion, I know the suffering of all living things. I wish only to sweep the four corners clean and protect one small corner of this fleeting world."
"In the dream, he led the adepti, swept across the four directions, carved dragons and gave them sight, and subdued the world with spears of rock."
"In the dream, he was a kindly elder who loved nothing more than the lights of countless homes and the well-being of the younger generation."
Gan Lin stopped there and said nothing more.
He seemed not to have understood Ning Fengzhi's question at all, or perhaps he was simply describing a dream he had once had.
If not for the sight they had witnessed during his Martial Soul Awakening, hearing Gan Lin's account alone, everyone would certainly have taken it for a child's dream talk.
But now, no one thought that.