As for why he didn't secretly contact the Enshrined Ones...
Well, what could be more satisfying than poaching them right in front of the old man?
That was what this unfilial son, Qian Xunji, thought.
Qian Daoliu was a gentleman. His rebellious son, Qian Xunji, had never taken a beating he didn't deserve.
When Did It Start to Change?
Although Qian Xunji was unreliable, he at least knew where Spirit Hall Academy was.
Turn left out the door, then right, then left...
Hmm... He'd run into someone he knew.
It was Bibi Dong, just back from an assignment. She was covered in injuries.
After being given the cold shoulder so many times, even Bibi Dong could tell that Qian Xunji was deliberately making things difficult for her.
He ignored her and kept walking.
When they met, Bibi Dong never managed to say the word "teacher" that had been on the tip of her tongue.
Instead, she stepped aside, bowed formally, and called out, "Your Holiness the Pope!"
She watched the man pass her by, still as young as ever, if anything more divine and dignified than before.
For a moment, she seemed to see the past: the girl who had once been the darling of heaven, at the peak of her youth and beauty, following the Pope, her teacher, and accepting everyone's bows as a matter of course.
Even Titled Douluo had looked at her with affectionate, expectant eyes, addressing her as Her Highness the Saintess.
Everyone had surrounded her and indulged her, giving her whatever she wanted. She had even gained the position of heir to Spirit Hall, passed down through the Qian Clan for generations. Her teacher, Qian Xunji, had made her the Saintess of Spirit Hall despite some people's objections.
Her Saintess token could command nearly everyone in Spirit Hall except those in the Worship Hall. She could read any classified text she wanted. Her teacher had gone to great lengths to find doctors and support-type Soul Masters to examine her and help her find a way to cultivate Twin Martial Souls. Titled Douluo had protected her while she hunted Soul Beasts, and no one dared covet the precious External Soul Bone she possessed...
Even the princesses and princes of the imperial families couldn't compare to her!
The flowers had all withered...
The sound of footsteps faded into the distance, and everything returned to reality. The past could never be reclaimed; she had severed that former glory with her own hands.
Facing the cold, empty hall, Bibi Dong looked forlorn. The confidence and elegance she once possessed were gone.
The Saintess of Spirit Hall was dead.
The wise Pope paid no mind to that poor soul still suffering from the aftereffects of a love affair. He strolled leisurely to Spirit Hall Academy just as classes were letting out.
From far away, he spotted the four little ones surrounded by a crowd.
To better manage students of different levels, Spirit Hall Academy was divided into the Junior Academic District, the Intermediate Academic District, and the Senior Academic District.
Qian Renxue and the other talented youngsters had skipped ahead to the Intermediate Academic District. They were just one year below Hu Liena and her classmates.
Beautiful, powerful people and things always drew attention.
Whether it was Qian Renxue, Dongfang Jing, Xiang Yu, or Arthur, each had a different kind of beauty. Their gleaming golden hair stood out in the crowd, making them impossible to miss.
"Daddy!" When she saw Qian Xunji approaching from a distance, Qian Renxue couldn't help calling out.
Halfway through, she realized it wasn't polite, and that revealing Qian Xunji's identity might bring trouble. The little girl's voice grew small and hesitant.
But the children around her had already heard. They saw Qian Xunji too, and since they hadn't yet learned the etiquette adults observed, they cried out with admiration and delight, "Your Holiness!"
Following Spirit Hall's tradition, Qian Xunji smiled warmly and greeted the children. He asked their names and their Soul Power Levels, showed concern for their progress, and even patted a few on the head. They felt wonderful to touch: round skulls, soft hair. Good heads, those. They were sure to grow up clever.
By the time he took the four little ones home, nearly half an hour had passed.
Only after Qian Xunji and the others had left did Bibi Dong dare appear at the academy gates.
Hu Liena and Xie Yue had been waiting for her for a long time. Bibi Dong looked at them guiltily. "I'm sorry, teacher was late today."
"It's okay, teacher. Do you know who I saw today?" Before Bibi Dong could answer, Hu Liena blurted it out.
"I saw Your Holiness at school today! He's so young and kind. He even asked me what my Soul Power Level was, and patted me on the head. He told me to work hard and help more people. Teacher, you know..."
The little girl chattered on and on beside her, but Bibi Dong's thoughts drifted away once more. At first, she had been just like this...
Happy whenever her teacher praised her...
Working hard at her cultivation every day...
Wanting to help more people...
A simple, innocent little girl who was easily made happy.
When had she started to change?
Another Day of Fatherly Love and Filial Piety!
Early the next morning, Qian Xunji took the four little ones and hurried over to the Worship Hall.
Qian Daoliu smiled when he saw Qian Renxue. But when Qian Xunji came in right after her, his face instantly darkened.
After years of "training," Qian Daoliu had learned that whenever his rebellious son came to see him, it was bound to be trouble.
Qian Xunji didn't feel awkward at all. He strolled in naturally, as if he were entering his own home.
Ignoring his moody, child-beating old father, Qian Xunji looked around and found...
Nobody?
Where were the Enshrined Ones?
Where had they gone?
Weren't they permanent residents of the Worship Hall?
Shouldn't they be here twenty-four hours a day?
How could they slack off like this? So unprofessional. Super Douluo didn't even need to sleep.
He made another circuit, refusing to believe his eyes.
Qian Daoliu, who had been watching him the whole time, finally lost patience. "What exactly do you want in my Worship Hall?"
"Chrysanthemum Douluo took Ghost Douluo to the Alchemy Hall. I'm short on people, so I wanted to ask a few of my uncles to help out."
When he didn't need them, Qian Xunji called them the Enshrined Ones. When he did, he remembered that they were the uncles who had watched him grow up.
Just as expected, his stingy, hot-tempered father flew into a rage.
"Rebellious son! Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo became Super Douluo, and you didn't transfer them to the Worship Hall as the rules required. Fine. But now you're setting your sights on my brothers too?" Qian Daoliu had already considered speaking with Qian Xunji about this. But after thinking about his rebellious son's sharp tongue for a long time, he'd decided to leave it for another day.
Who would've thought? He hadn't gone to demand his people back, and now his rebellious son had come right to the Worship Hall to poach them!
This was outrageous—turning everything upside down!
Poaching his own father's people. What a fine son he had!
If Xiao Xue weren't here, Qian Daoliu would've already brought out the Seven Wolves.
Qian Xunji swiftly pulled his daughter in front of him for protection.
After using Poison Douluo's granddaughter to hold him in check last time, Qian Xunji was now an old hand. His movements were practiced and fluid, without a hint of a flaw.
Poison Douluo must be pleased, right? After all, he'd been treated on the same level as Limit Douluo Qian Daoliu.
Losing to Limit Douluo Qian Daoliu for the same reason was something he could brag about, too.
Seeing his rebellious son put Xiao Xue in front of himself without hesitation, Qian Daoliu held himself back again and again.
He didn't strike.
Then he decided to double the beating and save it for that evening.
"Today, for Xiao Xue's sake, I'll let this go. Leave Xiao Xue here and get out," Qian Daoliu said, doing his best to keep his temper.
Seeing that his old father had managed to hold back, Qian Xunji once again marveled at his own extraordinary wisdom.
He'd decided. He'd do it again next time.
"No way. You have to tell me where Uncle Golden Crocodile and the others went." With a hostage on hand, Qian Xunji pushed his luck again.
"Get out!!"
With a roar, the Pope of Spirit Hall was thrown out by the Great Enshrined of the Worship Hall.
Qian Renxue watched everything unfold, wide-eyed and confused.
She knew why Grandpa had suddenly gotten angry.
Had Daddy upset him?
Thinking that, the sweet, filial granddaughter ran to Qian Daoliu on her little legs.
"Grandpa, don't be angry."
The adorable, obedient little granddaughter's words dispelled most of Qian Daoliu's anger.
But what she said next nearly made him choke.
"Daddy probably didn't mean to. Please forgive him."
Yes, Qian Renxue was a sweet and filial daughter too.
What a lovely day of fatherly love and filial piety!
Before you continue