Black Lotus Suppresses Angel

On the empty Martial Arts Arena, the Obsidian Floor gleamed with a cold, hard sheen.

Qian Renxue took a deep breath, suppressing the intense doubt and pride stirred within her by her grandfather Qian Daoliu's claim that the World-Destroying Black Lotus stood above the Six-Winged Angel.

A pair of enormous pure-white wings suddenly unfurled behind her. Every feather flowed with Divine Radiance like Liquid Sunlight, and a blazing, luminous aura swept across the entire arena like a tide.

Two yellow and one purple Soul Rings rose beneath her feet—her Soul Elder-level might was unmistakable.

Her purple eyes sharpened as she fixed her gaze on the Youth across from her. "Little Jing, use all your strength! Let me see why your so-called World-Destroying Black Lotus can surpass the radiance of the Angel God!"

"Alright." Lu Jing's reply was calm and crisp.

His gaze focused, and the air above his head silently warped. A pitch-black lotus phantom, like a Jade-carved Lotus, instantly appeared—the World-Destroying Black Lotus had emerged! Its lotus platform was as deep as a dark abyss, while its petals flowed with the Will of Destruction that could end all things.

A deep purple Soul Ring, almost demonic in its hue, slowly pulsed beneath his feet, forming a stark contrast with his Soul Power level of only a little over twenty.

Without another word, the clash of light and darkness erupted in an instant!

"Hah!" Qian Renxue gave a clear cry as her figure turned into a streak of light.

She did not use any Soul Skills. Just as Qian Daoliu had said, this was a contest meant to test the origins of their Martial Souls.

The sacred brilliance of the Six-Winged Angel surged forth like a tangible tide, carrying the supreme will of purification and judgment as it bore down upon Lu Jing from all directions!

Wherever the Golden Light passed, the air itself seemed to ignite. Carrying scorching purifying power, it sought to completely disperse that strange darkness.

Lu Jing likewise did not use any Soul Skills!

He merely stirred his thoughts, and the phantom of the World-Destroying Black Lotus hovering above his head gently turned once.

Silently, an astonishing scene unfolded!

The vast tide of sacred light, enough to purify evil and burn darkness, met the Extreme Darkness rolling along the edge of the World-Destroying Black Lotus phantom—and vanished like a clay ox entering the sea. The light did not disperse the darkness. Instead, it was greedily swallowed and assimilated by that utterly pure darkness!

The brilliant golden radiance seemed to plunge into a bottomless abyss. It could not even stir a single ripple before disappearing before everyone's eyes!

"What?!" Qian Renxue's beautiful purple eyes suddenly widened, the confidence in them instantly replaced by shock!

She could feel it with absolute clarity: the sacred power of her Six-Winged Angel, born from the Angel God bloodline and the source of her pride, seemed to have encountered its natural Nemesis!

It felt like using a Spear of Light to stab at a Black Hole that devoured all light. Any power sent into it vanished without a trace, entirely futile! What her Martial Soul origin conveyed was an instinctive Trembled born from the difference in Life Level—the natural unease of light when facing destruction and chaos of a higher order!

"I don't believe it!" The pride in her bones would not allow her to accept this. With a sharp cry, she drove her Soul Power to its limit!

The light of her six wings surged dramatically, and her Soul Rings shone brilliantly. Even more torrential sacred flames of light erupted once more, nearly boiling with intensity. This time, with stubborn determination, they shot straight at the motionless Black Lotus, attempting to forcefully tear open that domain of darkness.

World-Destroying Black Lotus, Impervious to All Techniques!

Faced with this stronger assault, the World-Destroying Black Lotus merely continued to rotate in silence.

The surging darkness seemed to come alive. Carrying an ancient, desolate Aura of Annihilation, it dismantled and absorbed the incoming divine light inch by inch, without the slightest strain or leakage.

Not only could the golden light not advance a single inch, it was continuously pulled apart and annihilated by the darkness's attraction!

An eerie yet immensely striking image formed in the arena—the brilliant torrent of light was devoured by the immovable dark lotus platform, as though night were silently swallowing day!

After only a few breaths of confrontation, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

"Sss—"

The dazzling golden radiance covering the entire Martial Arts Arena seemed to have had its spine pulled out. It dimmed, contracted, and dissipated at a Visible to the Eye speed.

The holy wings of light behind Qian Renxue struggled unwillingly once before finally folding and dispersing weakly, her Martial Soul phantom vanishing completely.

Only she remained standing where she was, her Delicate Body slightly stiff, as if nailed in place.

Sunlight once again spilled over the Obsidian Floor, illuminating her despondent figure.

Within those beautiful purple eyes, like a gathered Milky Way, the flames of pride that had once burned fiercely were completely extinguished. Only indescribable shock and defeat remained as she blankly stared at the still-calm Lu Jing opposite her and the Black Lotus that remained suspended in the air, seeming capable of swallowing all light.

She... had lost.

And she had lost so completely, so directly!

They had not even exchanged Soul Skills. In a clash of the most primal Martial Soul origins alone, the sacred power of her Six-Winged Angel, inherited from the Angel God, had seemed so weak and powerless before that strange World-Destroying Black Lotus!

What her grandfather had said... had actually been true!

With a thought from Lu Jing, the phantom of the World-Destroying Black Lotus silently faded and merged into his body.

The Martial Arts Arena returned to silence. Only the morning breeze blew past, along with Qian Renxue's slightly hurried breathing and the undisguised turmoil and confusion in her eyes.

"Alas..." A soft sigh sounded as Qian Daoliu, who had been observing the entire time, slowly stepped forward.

His aged yet still sharp golden eyes looked deeply at Lu Jing, as though trying to see through him inside and out.

"The suppression of pure Martial Soul origins... is even greater than this Old Man imagined."

His gaze finally fell upon the purple Soul Ring beneath Lu Jing's feet, whose glow had already faded, and he asked the most crucial question. "Child, if this Old Man is not mistaken, your Soul Ring... is a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? You absorbed it when you were only around six years old? How did you do it?"

Lu Jing met Qian Daoliu's scrutiny, his expression showing not the slightest ripple.

He had already prepared an explanation. "In reply to the Great Enshrined, this Soul Ring was obtained Ten Thousand Years Later. This junior's Martial Soul Attribute is special, giving me natural restraint and protection when absorbing Soul Rings. Besides..." He paused before calmly adding, "

Ten Thousand Years Later, the Soul Master World had already developed mature Secret Methods for strengthening the physique and expanding the limits of Soul Ring absorption."

He only mentioned the advantages of his Martial Soul and the "methods" of Ten Thousand Years Later, attributing everything to them. As for the existence of Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, he naturally kept it hidden.

"That's not right. You're only six years old—how can your Soul Power already be over Level 20?" Qian Renxue keenly caught that information and Suddenly Looked Up, the defeat in her eyes temporarily replaced by incredulous shock.

A sharp gleam flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes. His hawk-like gaze locked onto Lu Jing's face, and his tone carried unprecedented gravity and inquiry. "Your Innate Soul Power... how much is it?"

Lu Jing's expression remained Unchanged Expression as he calmly spoke the answer destined to stir up a storm. "Level 20."

"Level 20!"

"Innate Level 20?!"

Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue cried out in shock almost simultaneously! Their voices echoed through the empty Martial Arts Arena, filled with utter astonishment!

Qian Daoliu's golden pupils contracted sharply, his dignified face filled with disbelief!

He had lived for over a hundred years, studied countless ancient records, and witnessed innumerable geniuses, yet he had never heard of anything so horrifying!

Innate Full Soul Power of Level 10 was the universally acknowledged limit of the Douluo Continent!

Even his own granddaughter, Qian Renxue, had only reached Level 20 after awakening because of the gift of the Angel God Inheritance!

Qian Renxue herself seemed to have been struck by lightning. She instinctively took half a step back, staring at Lu Jing's childish yet extraordinarily composed face. Her heart churned like stormy seas, and the frustration of her earlier defeat was instantly overwhelmed by an indescribably complicated emotion—curiosity, the urge to investigate, and a trace of attention drawn to stronger talent that even she herself had not noticed.

He really was... a genuine Innate Level 20? Through his own Martial Soul, rather than a divine gift?

"That's right." Lu Jing nodded, confirming this fact that was enough to overturn all Common Sense.

The arena fell into dead silence.

Yet within Qian Daoliu, monstrous waves were crashing.

His golden eyes stared fixedly at Lu Jing, his gaze shifting between him and his granddaughter beside him, who was still despondent but whose eyes had become complicated.

Innate Level 20!

What did that represent?

This surpassed so-called genius. It was a taboo-like existence capable of challenging the laws of the world! This child's existence alone was a miracle!

Two possibilities instantly took shape in the mind of Qian Daoliu, the shrewd Great Enshrined:

Just as the Angel God had granted Xue'er Level 20, could this child also possess the favor of some supreme existence?

Or, even more terrifyingly, was the talent of his World-Destroying Black Lotus simply too heaven-defying? Had its essence already transcended the rule-bound limitations of the Douluo Continent's plane, making it a terrifying existence that even the laws of the continent could not define?

No matter which possibility it was—

This child's future was immeasurable!

His value far surpassed any known genius or rare treasure!

A bold, even wildly ambitious idea began to grow and spread within Qian Daoliu's heart like maddened vines.

He glanced at Qian Renxue beside him, whose expression was complicated and who remained immersed in immense shock and intense curiosity, then at Lu Jing, the Youth before him who had come from Ten Thousand Years Later, possessed world-shaking talent, a terrifying Martial Soul, and mastery of future Secret Methods.

Since Spirit Hall had an Angel inheritor with Innate Level 20, and Ten Thousand Years Later had produced such a rule-defying prodigy... what if these two stars could meet?

Cultivate them!

He had to let Xue'er spend more time with him, perhaps even...

Deep within Qian Daoliu's dignified, profound eyes flashed a barely perceptible glint, as though some plan had succeeded.

He did not say it aloud, but the thought that flashed through his mind was crystal clear: if these two could become cultivation partners, it would have unimaginable consequences not only for Xue'er, but for the entire Angel lineage, the future Spirit Hall, and even the whole landscape of the Douluo Continent!

This was not merely to win over a future Strong Person with limitless potential. It was also because this child, whether in talent, value, or the rank of his mysterious World-Destroying Black Lotus Martial Soul, was more than qualified—and worthy—to become the partner of Qian Renxue, bearer of the Angel God bloodline!

Under the morning light, Qian Renxue's despondent expression was gradually replaced by a stronger urge to investigate. Her Milky Way-like eyes gathered their light anew and fixed intensely on Lu Jing.

Meanwhile, Qian Daoliu, the Limit Douluo who had controlled Spirit Hall for many years, had silently laid out a far-reaching game for Spirit Hall's future.