Truth

Inside Spirit Hall's Worship Hall

A girl who was about to turn six was reading a book.

The girl's name was Qian Yuling. She was the adopted granddaughter of Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall's Grand Worshipper, with no blood relation between them. She had actually been picked up five years ago. When Qian Daoliu had first taken Qian Yuling in, his only requirement had been that she serve as Qian Renxue's companion outside of cultivation. But five years had passed, and for certain special reasons, Qian Daoliu had come to regard Qian Yuling as his own granddaughter. That was why he had specially permitted her to enter the Worship Hall. Before that, she had been cared for by Spirit Hall's elders.

"Ling'er, tomorrow is the day of your Spirit Awakening. It will be the most important day of your life." While Qian Yuling was still reading, a woman's voice sounded from outside.

Hearing the familiar voice, Qian Yuling quickly looked up and snapped her book shut. In her childish voice, she said, "Sister, you're here."

The newcomer was a girl of around seventeen. She was Qian Renxue, the biological granddaughter of Grand Worshipper Qian Daoliu.

Five years ago, Qian Renxue had been cultivating when Qian Daoliu interrupted her. Opening her eyes, Qian Renxue saw him carrying a baby girl less than a year old and asked in confusion, "Grandfather, who is she?"

Qian Daoliu waved a hand. "I picked her up on the way back. From now on, she'll be your companion. Tell everyone she's my granddaughter and your little sister. Her name will be Qian Yuling. I'll leave her in the care of the other elders for now. When you're bored, you can go see her."

Qian Renxue nodded. "Understood, Grandfather."

Over the next five years, Qian Renxue took excellent care of this "little sister." Qian Daoliu had truly come to regard Qian Yuling as his granddaughter because of Qian Renxue. Thus, Qian Yuling and Qian Renxue both came to see each other as extremely important family.

Back in the present, after hearing Qian Renxue's words, Qian Yuling asked, "Sister, what kind of Spirit will I awaken tomorrow?" She was greatly looking forward to discovering her own Spirit.

Qian Renxue burst into laughter. "Ling'er's Spirit will definitely be very powerful. Maybe even Sister won't be able to compare to you." Although Qian Renxue knew that was impossible, she still encouraged Qian Yuling. When Qian Renxue had awakened her Spirit, she possessed the unprecedented Innate Soul Power Superiority, and her Spirit had been the god-grade Six-Winged Angel. But she said it to fill Qian Yuling with fighting spirit. Moreover, only in front of Qian Yuling would Qian Renxue reveal a truly heartfelt smile.

"Hehe, then I'm relieved now that Sister says so." Two little dimples appeared on Qian Yuling's cheeks.

"Oh, right, Sister. Aren't you leaving in a few days to carry out some special mission?" Qian Yuling seemed to suddenly remember something.

At her words, a trace of gloom surfaced in Qian Renxue's eyes, but she swiftly concealed it. "Yes. But Sister will come see you often."

Hearing that, the worry in Qian Yuling's heart vanished, and the two began to play together.

As night fell, Qian Yuling was preparing to rest in the Worship Hall when a glimmer of light in the distance caught her attention. She slowly walked toward it.

It was a golden crystal, radiating golden light. Qian Yuling reached out and picked it up. Suddenly, the crystal emitted a dazzling flash and flew into her mind, while the crystal in her hand gradually dissipated.

Qian Yuling closed her eyes, and scene after scene appeared in her mind.

In one scene, a man was saying something in the sky. "Is that... Father?" Qian Yuling was quite familiar with this man. He was Qian Xunjie, the former Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu's son, and Qian Renxue's biological father. He was also Qian Yuling's father, though not by blood.

"With only eight Spirit Rings, why seek your own destruction? Tang Hao, Spirit Hall has no wish to make an enemy of the Clear Sky Sect. Hand her over to us, and we'll spare your life." In the sky, Qian Xunjie's Six-Winged Angel Spirit appeared behind him.

"If you want to hurt her, you'll have to step over my corpse first." Soul Power surged around another man standing on the ground.

"Stubborn fool. Angel's Light Blade." Qian Xunjie unleashed a spirit skill, but it did not strike Tang Hao.

"Clear Sky Hammer, Chaotic Wind!" Tang Hao shouted. The great hammer in his hand expanded once more before smashing fiercely toward Qian Xunjie.

But Qian Xunjie refused to be outdone. The Angel Spirit behind him wielded the Angel Holy Sword and slashed toward Tang Hao as well.

"I never expected the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer to possess such power. As expected of the Clear Sky Sect's rare genius of the past century." Qian Xunjie retreated several steps.

Tang Hao pressed his advantage, raising the Clear Sky Hammer and continuing to smash it toward Qian Xunjie.

But Qian Xunjie would not be so easily injured. "Two Extremes Prohibition..."

The scene suddenly shifted. On the ground, a woman holding an infant used a sacrifice on Tang Hao.

"Ah Yin, no!" Tang Hao roared. But he had no way to stop her.

A ninth Spirit Ring appeared around Tang Hao, a blood-red Spirit Ring.

"A Titled Douluo... a Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Ring." Qian Xunjie spoke.

The scene shifted again. Qian Xunjie dragged his heavily wounded body back to Spirit Hall.

"I never expected Tang Hao to possess such strength after breaking through to Titled Douluo. But it doesn't matter. Once I become the God of Angels, I will wash away this humiliation with your blood." Qian Xunjie spoke with unwavering resolve.

"You have no chance. Die, Qian Xunjie." Suddenly, a sinister voice rang out.

Qian Xunjie looked at the Spider Leg that had pierced through his chest and murmured, "Bibi Dong, you!"

Bibi Dong did not waste a moment. She swiftly killed Qian Xunjie.

The scenes vanished, and Qian Yuling collapsed to the ground in shock. Soon after, she passed out.

She had always believed Qian Xunjie had died at someone else's hands. She had never imagined that he had died at the hands of the current Pope, Bibi Dong—the woman Qian Xunjie had told her to call Mother.

This matter had stirred memories she did not wish to recall, and it had revealed the truth behind the most painful matter in her life. Unable to accept it all at once, Qian Yuling fainted. Yet as she lost consciousness, she murmured, "Tang Hao, Bibi Dong..."

Early the next morning, Qian Renxue came to Qian Yuling's room as usual. But when she found Qian Yuling collapsed on the floor, she hurriedly ran over. "Ling'er, Ling'er, what's wrong?"

Qian Yuling slowly opened her eyes. "Sister."

"Ling'er, what happened? Why were you lying on the floor?" Qian Renxue asked anxiously.

Qian Yuling recalled what had happened the night before. After calming herself, she smiled. "Sister, I'm fine. Maybe I was sleepwalking." She did not want anyone to know what she had learned last night.

Qian Renxue clearly did not believe her, but since Qian Yuling did not want to talk about it, she did not press further.

"Come on. Today is the day of your Spirit Awakening. I'll take you to awaken your Spirit. Grandfather and Spirit Hall's elders are all waiting for you." Qian Renxue took Qian Yuling's hand and led her outside.

"Okay," Qian Yuling answered. Yet what had happened the night before had planted a seed deep within her heart.