Spirit Hall's Transformation

Several days passed like this.

Qian Daoliu still had not found a suitable opportunity to ask about Spirit Hall's future. Fortunately, he was relieved that Bibi Dong had grown accustomed to living at Senior's residence.

Qian Xunji came to the Worship Hall. "Father, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has been investigated again. Let Gui Mei tell you the details."

Gui Mei stepped out of the shadows. "Gui Mei greets Your Holiness and the Great Enshrined."

Qian Daoliu waved a hand. "There are no outsiders here, so there's no need for formalities. Speak freely, Elder Gui Mei. Tell us about the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

"Yes." Gui Mei gathered his thoughts. "Over the past few days, I personally infiltrated the outskirts of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to investigate. Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul did indeed undergo a reverse mutation. The clan wasn't concealing his abilities."

Qian Xunji rubbed his brow. "His Innate Soul Power really was below level one?"

Gui Mei nodded. "Not only that, I'm afraid Yu Xiaogang will never break through level twenty-nine in his lifetime."

Hearing Gui Mei confirm it, Qian Xunji nearly lost his composure. "No... could Dong'er's taste really be that bad? This is outrageous!"

Now even Qian Daoliu could not defend Bibi Dong.

A talented young woman with Innate Full Soul Power, a Holy Maiden raised with all of Spirit Hall's resources, had fallen for a waste who would never break through level twenty-nine.

Only a god could have kept his composure at that.

Qian Xunji took a deep breath. "Father, do you think we should nip this Yu Xiaogang in the bud?"

Qian Daoliu was also considering whether it was possible.

He had acted openly and honorably all his life, but with Spirit Hall's destruction at stake, all morality could be set aside for the time being.

The thought of Spirit Hall's destruction made Qian Daoliu struggle to keep his composure again.

He simply could not imagine how Spirit Hall could be destroyed with a Limit Douluo like him there.

After a moment's thought, Qian Daoliu shook his head. "Don't act rashly for now. Find a chance to sound Senior out. I have a feeling he doesn't much like Yu Xiaogang either."

"Father, surely killing a waste won't have any repercussions?"

"Who would do the killing? Do you want Spirit Hall to openly fall out with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan now? That would only hasten the day the Upper Three Sects joined forces. Even if Spirit Hall won in the end, don't forget the Heavens Dou Imperial Family, watching us like a tiger eyeing its prey."

Qian Xunji lowered his head. "Sorry, Father. I was too hasty."

Qian Daoliu scolded him. "You're the Pope now! Any decision you make could send Spirit Hall plunging into the abyss. Think thrice before you act!"

Then Qian Daoliu snorted. "No wonder Dong'er was lured away by some good-for-nothing wild boy. She learned to act without considering the consequences from you!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo still refused to believe it. "Come on, big brother. That fellow just told a story. Is there any need to take it so seriously?"

He rose from his chair. "I hear he's been teaching that Soul Beast to cultivate in the Mimicry Training Ground lately. I'll go meet him!"

Qian Xunji hurriedly said, "Uncle Jin, don't do anything reckless!"

"Don't worry, I know my limits. I won't offend him." Golden Crocodile Douluo scoffed. "It's perfectly normal for Soul Masters to spar. It'll be a good chance to probe his strength."

This time, Qian Daoliu did not stop him. Lu Jin's strength was already beyond ordinary understanding, and only a Limit Douluo like Qian Daoliu could sense the irresistible power within him.

There were indeed many voices of doubt in Spirit Hall now; they simply did not speak openly for fear of the Pope. If Golden Crocodile suffered a crushing defeat, Spirit Hall would be more willing to acknowledge Lu Jin.

Otherwise, if some blind fool grew greedy and set his sights on that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, Spirit Hall might well be gone by tomorrow.

Seeing that Golden Crocodile Douluo had already left the Worship Hall, Qian Xunji grew anxious. Having sensed signs that he could escape his fate, he had not the slightest doubt about Lu Jin's strength.

"Father, aren't you going to stop Uncle Jin? Something will go wrong!"

"You're the Pope! You need to take a broader, longer view. Golden Crocodile is helping Spirit Hall!"

Qian Xunji froze. Only after he calmed down did he understand the deeper meaning behind Golden Crocodile Douluo's actions.

If Golden Crocodile proved evenly matched with Lu Jin, or even won their spar, Spirit Hall would have to reconsider its attitude toward Lu Jin.

If Lu Jin won, the opposition within Spirit Hall would disappear, making it much easier to help him sculpt divine statues in the future.

Qian Daoliu also stood. "Come on, let's go take a look too. Golden Crocodile knows his limits, but I'm worried that temper of his might flare up."

Inside the Mimicry Training Ground.

Ah Yin sat cross-legged, breathing in and out. Unlike when she had first taken human form, she was now a three-ring Soul Elder.

When a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast took human form and cultivated anew, she did not need to hunt for her first six Soul Rings, so she would face no major obstacles until she became a Soul Emperor.

Ah Yin opened her eyes and pouted at the three Soul Rings around her. "These Soul Rings aren't as pretty as Brother Lu's."

Lu Jin comforted her. "There's no rush. Once you become a god, I have a way to increase the age of your Soul Rings."

"Can I really become a god?" Uncertainty flashed in Ah Yin's eyes. "It's very hard for Soul Beasts to become gods, and I heard a senior in the Star Dou Great Forest say that the divine positions in the Divine Realm are fixed..."

Lu Jin smiled without explaining. Who said becoming a god required obtaining one of the Divine Realm's existing divine positions?

Just then, Golden Crocodile Douluo arrived. "Senior, there are a few things about cultivation I don't understand. Could I trouble you for some guidance?"

A group of Spirit Hall's upper echelon followed close behind, led by Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu hurried forward to smooth things over. "Please don't take offense, Senior. That's just how Golden Crocodile is. He likes challenging people stronger than himself; he means nothing else by it."

"Is that so?" Lu Jin gave Qian Daoliu a meaningful look. "Then I'll take it as the truth."

Lu Jin was no fool. Qian Daoliu had brought Spirit Hall's upper echelon here in force, and his purpose was obvious: he wanted to quiet the lot of them down.

Lu Jin had also heard plenty of talk about himself lately, but he could not be bothered to argue with them. Now that Golden Crocodile Douluo, currently Spirit Hall's second-strongest fighter, had come knocking, he could put some of the clamor to rest.

"Ah Yin, go wait over there for a moment." Lu Jin looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo. "My time is precious. Let's begin."

Although Bo Saixi had left the sea, Lu Jin still had to check on her from time to time. Heaven knew whether the Sea God would seek help from another god.

Golden Crocodile Douluo assumed a stance. "Don't worry, I won't waste much of your time!"

"Seventh Soul Skill, Golden Crocodile King: Martial Soul Avatar!"

In an instant, Soul Rings descended around Golden Crocodile Douluo, and a massive Golden Crocodile King filled almost the entire Mimicry Training Ground.

He looked at Lu Jin. "Senior, aren't you going to release your Martial Soul Avatar?"

Lu Jin shook his head. "This will do."

His Martial Soul Avatar was the true body of an Ancient God. If it descended, anyone on the bottom rung of the fantasy power scale who looked directly at it without going mad would be someone extraordinary.

Lu Jin was looking out for Spirit Hall's upper echelon, but they did not see it that way, especially those who had already doubted him.

"He's far too arrogant! The Second Worship is a Super Douluo, yet he dares face him without releasing his Martial Soul!"

"Unheard of! I've never heard of a Soul Master fighting without using his Martial Soul!"

"I knew it. He must be bluffing! I have a friend who likes reading popular storybooks. They have fellows like this who gain strange phenomena of heaven and earth but have no strength at all!"

"You believe storybooks?"

"Didn't the Great Enshrined believe the story this fellow made up?"

The quiet muttering of Spirit Hall's upper echelon reached Qian Daoliu and his son.

Qian Xunji was a little worried too. "Father, could Senior be underestimating him? Uncle Jin is a level ninety-eight Super Douluo, after all..."

Qian Daoliu opened his mouth, then finally shook his head with a wry smile. "Remember to thank Senior for showing mercy afterward."

Never mind the Soul Skills of million-year Divine Rings; the boost they gave to physical strength alone was beyond conventional understanding.

And Senior had nine Divine Rings of that level!

Forget Golden Crocodile's Martial Soul Avatar-even if Qian Daoliu released his own, if he could withstand one punch from Lu Jin, it would only be because Lu Jin was holding back.

"Good! I like arrogant fellows!" Golden Crocodile remained oblivious, feeling only his face burn. He bellowed, "Sixth Soul Skill, Fierce Golden Crocodile!"

As the words fell, Golden Crocodile Douluo turned into a golden streak and hurtled toward Lu Jin, accompanied by explosive cracks as friction from his extreme speed scorched the air.

Boom!

A muffled impact rang out, dust surged, and cracks spread through the entire Mimicry Training Ground.

Before the dust had even settled, everyone was already staring slack-jawed.

The enormous Golden Crocodile King Martial Soul Avatar was dissolving, bit by bit, into specks of golden light.

"Your momentum was decent, but your strength was lacking."

Lu Jin's calm voice rang out, and the sound waves instantly pressed the dust to the ground, revealing a clear view of the scene.

Lu Jin had merely raised a hand to block Golden Crocodile Douluo's attack. Without even striking back, he had shattered his Martial Soul Avatar.

"Th-this... this..." Broken stammers echoed across the Mimicry Training Ground.

Only Qian Daoliu had been prepared for this sight. No one else, not even Qian Xunji, had imagined Lu Jin would win so easily.

Lu Jin released his hand, and Golden Crocodile Douluo dropped straight to one knee.

He was not physically injured. Rather, in that instant, he had felt fear from the depths of his soul.

It was like... facing a god.

Lu Jin glanced around. With a thought, nine amber-gold Soul Rings circled him. "Now, does anyone still doubt my strength?"

Qian Daoliu was the first to bow. "Spirit Hall is willing to follow Senior's lead!"

The others hurried to follow suit. None dared utter the slightest word of dissent.

Lu Jin gave no response. When they raised their heads, they discovered that he had already left with Ah Yin, leaving only Bibi Dong standing in the middle with her hands on her hips.

She cleared her throat. "Senior said, 'That Secret Chamber Douluo...!'"

Secret Chamber Douluo?

Qian Xunji's eyes widened, and he pointed at his own nose. Is she talking about me?

"Where are you looking? He means you!" Bibi Dong finally understood what it felt like to be a dog swaggering under its master's protection. Delighted, she said, "Senior told you to keep your people in line. There won't be a next time!"

The fear in Qian Xunji's heart gave way to bewilderment, and he stared at Bibi Dong in disbelief.

What on earth have I walked into? Is Dong'er still my obedient, well-behaved student?

I'm Angel Douluo, not Secret Chamber Douluo!