Definition

"Young friend, wearing someone else's face is probably not a good idea, is it?" The Golden Middle-aged Man looked at Chen Xilin with a rather imposing expression.

Chen Xilin was greatly shocked. He had actually been discovered. This man was at least a Peak Douluo. With that head of golden hair and a seventy-percent resemblance to Qian Xunji, there could only be one person.

"Since you've said so, Senior, then this junior will show you his true face." Chen Xilin removed the scalp mask from his face.

His original appearance was revealed. He looked around fifteen or sixteen years old. His handsome features carried a touch of wickedness, his jet-black hair hanging loosely over his shoulders. His black eyes were like an abyss, impossible to see through at a glance.

"Young Friend Feng, I'll take Young Friend Chen for a walk. There is no need for you to worry. My name is Qian Daoliu; you may rest assured regarding my reputation," Qian Daoliu said gently to Feng Qingyu.

"Yes, Your Excellency." Feng Qingyu looked as though he had witnessed something utterly terrifying. Qian Daoliu was one of the two great mountains of the spirit master world.

With a wave of his hand, Qian Daoliu took Chen Xilin away. They moved so quickly that Feng Qingyu could not see them clearly at all.

Spirit Hall's back mountain, "May I ask why Your Excellency has brought me here? Could it be that you intend to avenge your hall's Saintess?" Chen Xilin asked calmly.

"Hehe, I am not from the Clear Sky Sect. I would not have the older generation bully the younger after the younger one was beaten. I merely wished to inspect your background, boy!"

As he spoke, Qian Daoliu reached out a hand. An incomparably vast and sacred wave of Soul Power descended upon Chen Xilin, who immediately felt tremendous pressure.

"Bone age: fourteen and a half. Soul Power: level sixty-three. Your Soul Power is pure, without the slightest impurity, and contains no one else's Soul Power. Strange."

Qian Daoliu had directly probed Chen Xilin's age and Soul Power, yet it was different from what he had imagined.

"What is strange about it?" Chen Xilin asked in confusion. Had he never seen a genius before?

"Of course it is strange. Who could reach Spirit Emperor at fourteen? At your age, I had only been close to becoming a Spirit King. And I had the support of my family, while you were merely a civilian spirit master. How could that not be strange?

"By my understanding, there are only two possibilities. One is that a Fallen Spirit Master used evil methods to rapidly raise their cultivation, but you carry no evil whatsoever. My Angel martial soul sensed only darkness as deep as an abyss and as oppressive as a prison within you.

"Your darkness is exceedingly pure, completely unlike that of a Fallen Spirit Master. It seems you truly are exceptional, boy. The Chen Family's Dark Holy Dragon bloodline has not gone to waste after all. At the very least, your branch still has you."

Qian Daoliu spoke inscrutably. As an old man, he naturally knew quite a few things.

"Oh? Could it be that Your Excellency knows of my family?" Chen Xilin asked.

"Of course I do. Why?" Qian Daoliu had restrained his aura by then and looked like an ordinary middle-aged man. He no longer possessed his initial majesty and instead seemed quite approachable.

"My biological parents were killed when I was born. My surname Chen came from an official of the Spirit Hall Main Hall who took me in. Could it be that my father shared your surname, Old Master?"

Qian Daoliu glanced at Chen Xilin and slowly said, "Naturally. Your father was called Chen Tianjue. His martial soul was a subspecies of the Dark Holy Dragon—the Dark Earth Dragon. Your martial soul can be considered an atavistic return of the bloodline.

"Several centuries ago, your Chen Family was also a great clan, known as the Dark Holy Dragon Clan, enemies of the Light Holy Dragon Clan.

"However, several centuries ago, the Dark Holy Dragon Clan at the height of its prosperity was jointly destroyed by the Light Holy Dragon Clan, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Holy Dragon Sect.

"Afterward, the Light Holy Dragon Clan suffered severe losses and merged with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan through marriage. The Holy Dragon Sect also lost its inheritance, and its original White Armored Holy Dragon martial soul became the White Armored Earth Dragon."

Qian Daoliu told Chen Xilin an old tale. As a descendant of Spirit Hall's founder, Qian Daoliu naturally knew such secrets.

This matter had been told to Qian Daoliu by his great-grandfather. After all, the two True Dragon Species martial souls, the Light Holy Dragon and Dark Holy Dragon, were truly no weaker than the Angel martial soul of their own lineage.

"Thank you for clearing up my confusion, Senior." Chen Xilin cupped his hands toward Qian Daoliu.

"It is nothing. Young friend, I invite you to join Spirit Hall. What do you think?" Qian Daoliu suddenly thought of something and spoke slowly.

"Join Spirit Hall? I'd better not. Your hall's Saintess was humiliated by me like that. If I joined Spirit Hall, I fear she might torment me to death one day, or make things difficult for me after inheriting the position of Pope.

"This junior longs for freedom. There are still countless sights I have yet to see, and I do not wish to be bound by any faction. Thank you for your kind intentions, Your Excellency," Chen Xilin said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Is that so? Fair enough. In that case, I shall warn you once more: do not recklessly harm your own kind. As for that human-skin mask of yours, I do not wish to see it again." Qian Daoliu became imposing once more.

"You mean this? That fellow was a minor noble who bullied commoners. I could not stand it, so I killed him on the spot. If anyone is to blame, blame him for doing things I could not tolerate.

"Just as Your Excellency cannot tolerate my peeling a man's face off, the truth of this world depends on the size of one's fist.

"Take the Clear Sky Sect, for example. When Tang Chen was around, they were arrogant and overbearing. After Tang Chen disappeared, they became much more low-key. I imagine they feared that you would go and cause them trouble.

"Even if Your Excellency acts openly and honorably, those rats still judge you with the foulest of thoughts. The human heart is unfathomable. Just like whether my reputation is good or bad, it is merely defined by others."

Chen Xilin smiled freely.

"Whether a reputation is good or bad is merely defined by others... I have learned something. Young friend, simply remain true to your heart. I'll be going."

Qian Daoliu had lived for so many years, yet this was the first time someone had spoken to him like this. He needed time to reflect on it.

Chen Xilin also knew that Qian Daoliu had left. This was his first time meeting the strongest person currently attainable on Douluo Continent.

Afterward, Chen Xilin also departed and returned to find Feng Qingyu.

Inside the Pope's Palace, Qian Xunji was waiting for his father to return, as he was also quite curious about Chen Xilin.

Before long, a figure appeared within the Pope's Palace.

"Father, you're here!" Qian Xunji stood up and followed Qian Daoliu to a lounge in the side hall.

"Father, what did you find? What is the situation with that boy?" Qian Xunji asked.

"That child is not a Fallen Spirit Master. He is a pure Dark Holy Dragon spirit master, and his Soul Power has already reached level sixty-three, Spirit Emperor.

"It can be said that his talent surpasses mine, and even Tang Chen's. Moreover, the strength of his character moved even this old man somewhat," Qian Daoliu answered truthfully.

Qian Xunji asked, "Then did Father try to recruit him into Spirit Hall?"

Qian Daoliu replied, "I invited him, but that child refused."

Qian Xunji's gaze turned cold and sharp. "If he refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit, then he won't live to see tomorrow's sun."

Qian Daoliu frowned. "Xunji, your hostility is far too heavy. You've lost your composure! We of the Angel Clan are the embodiment of light and justice, and it is our duty to protect the continent. Protecting the continent and sheltering humanity are both the mission and honor of the Angel Clan. He is one of humankind as well—why do you wish to kill him?"

Qian Xunji froze for a moment, then seemed to think of something. "His talent is too great. In the future, he will surely become a great enemy of Spirit Hall. Dong'er may not necessarily be his match."

Qian Daoliu glanced at Qian Xunji. "If you don't go looking for trouble with him, he won't bother with you. I can more or less see what kind of person he is—he longs for a peaceful, free life. He has no intention of fighting for power or profit. What you're doing will only push him to the side opposing us. Just as he said, there will always be people who, with the filthy thoughts of rats, casually speculate about others. Whether one's reputation is good or bad is also defined by others. Xunji, ponder those words carefully."

With that, Qian Daoliu left, while Qian Xunji remained where he was, his eyes bloodshot.

"Daring to call me a rat... I may not be able to touch you, but someone else always can! We'll see!"