Durandal

Holy Sword Durandal, a weapon forged in the Honkai universe by the MOTH of the previous civilization to master the technology of altering macroscopic properties by manipulating microscopic particles. Durandal can change the structure and physical properties of objects by manipulating these microscopic particles.

And now, this sword was resting quietly inside Qian Ningshuang.

Qian Ningshuang looked inward at the Western-style sword inside her body, which featured a golden hilt and a crossguard shimmering with seven-colored light.

Indeed, it made sense; if the Abyss Flower could become a martial soul, there was no reason why Durandal—a holy sword that played such a vital role in Bianka's growth—wouldn't. It seemed her character template for Bianka Durandal was a complete replication.

However, for some unknown reason, the holy sword had not become her martial soul. It simply stayed within her, unresponsive to any attempts at resonance.

"Shuang'er, come quickly and test your Innate Soul Power!"

The urgent words interrupted Qian Ningshuang's thoughts. Tian'e stood before her, looking excited as he held a Testing Crystal.

"That's right, hurry and test your soul power. Big sister was so excited I completely forgot."

Looking at the equally excited Qian Renxue, Qian Ningshuang silently reached out and placed her hand on the Testing Crystal.

She had worried about her martial soul, but she had never worried about her Innate Soul Power. After all, the Bianka character template wouldn't nerf her peerless talent! Without that terrifying talent, could she even be called Bianka Durandal?

But as a dazzling blue light spread across the Testing Crystal in her hand, Tian'e's expression slowly shifted from excitement to astonishment.

"How is this possible? How can it only be level ten? How could a martial soul that caused a greater commotion during awakening than the Angel martial soul only be level ten!"

Watching Tian'e shout, Qian Ningshuang curled her lip.

You scared me to death, old man. I thought my Innate Soul Power was poor. What's wrong with level ten? In this world, only a few people reach that level every few years! It's not like everyone is Qian Renxue with a God-given Innate Soul Power; level ten is already the human limit in the Douluo world.

Besides, there are differences even among those with Innate Full Soul Power. Some have it because that is their limit, while others have it because that is all the scale can measure.

However, seeing Qian Renxue looking as if her worldview had collapsed just like Tian'e, Qian Ningshuang decided not to voice her thoughts.

"Innate Full Soul Power is already a talent many can only dream of. Xue'er, she is different from Shuang'er. Don't force it, Second Brother."

Qian Daoliu stroked his beard with a smile as he looked at Qian Ningshuang. His tone lacked the disappointment Tian'e showed; on the contrary, he seemed to have expected her soul power level all along.

"Sigh, Big Brother, I was just being presumptuous."

Sighing, Tian'e gave a bitter smile. He had realized that not every powerful martial soul came with a god-ascended ancestor.

Although they shared the surname Qian, Qian Ningshuang was not truly of the Angel clan.

"Alright, Shuang'er, retract your martial soul. Tomorrow, I will have Second Brother take you to obtain your soul ring. Then go find Xiao Yue to play; I have something to discuss with Xue'er, and I'll have her go find you later."

"Understood, Grandfather."

Hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Qian Ningshuang retracted her martial soul, responded obediently, and turned to walk toward the gates of the Douluo Hall.

She had always been self-aware; she didn't listen to things she shouldn't. It wasn't about closeness or distance, but knowing too much was simply a waste of brain cells.

Knowing the original plot, she could roughly guess what it was about. As a goddaughter and younger sister, interfering would only leave a bad impression on both Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue, and she wasn't good at counseling or persuading others anyway.

Watching Qian Ningshuang's figure disappear outside the Douluo Hall, Qian Renxue, who had recovered from the shock of the martial soul, grew cold in expression. She had already guessed what Qian Daoliu wanted to say.

"Xue'er, it's not easy for you to come back. Would you like to go see that person in the Pope Hall?"

Looking at his cold-faced granddaughter, Qian Daoliu bit the bullet and said the words. As expected, Xue'er was always sharp; how could she not guess what he was going to say?

But there was nothing his old bones could do. Mother and daughter couldn't be like this forever. He always tried to ease the relationship between them, even though it was always in vain.

"No need. Why go to the Pope Hall and make myself uncomfortable? I don't want to see Xiao Shuang's good mood ruined by anger. Grandfather, you don't need to keep trying these futile efforts in the future. I'm going to find Xiao Shuang. I'll go with her tomorrow when she gets her soul ring."

Watching Qian Renxue walk away, Qian Daoliu gave a bitter smile. As expected, it was the same as always...

"Big Brother, don't worry. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. Xue'er's affairs ultimately depend on her own choices. If she doesn't want to, there's nothing we can do."

Tian'e scratched his white hair and stepped forward to comfort Qian Daoliu.

"Sigh, Second Brother, you should go prepare as well. The Soul Hunting Forest cannot provide the soul beast Shuang'er needs; we will have to make a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest."

As Tian'e's figure disappeared from the Douluo Hall, Qian Daoliu turned to look at the sacred statue of the Angel God in the hall.

At the same time, a powerful voice echoed in Qian Daoliu's mind.

"Stop overthinking it. This matter cannot be solved by one side lowering their head. If what you said, Little Liuer, is correct—that the current Pope, Bibi Dong, has inherited the Rakshasa God position—then this matter cannot be resolved peacefully. Eventually, it will come to blades drawn. I know exactly what kind of thing Rakshasa is."

"Ancestor, you are awake? Is your condition better now? And what is this about Rakshasa?"

After the voice echoed in his mind, Qian Daoliu's expression was startled for a moment before becoming incredibly respectful. To outsiders, however, his reverence appeared directed entirely at the Angel statue in the hall.

"Thanks to the blessing of Shuang'er's martial soul awakening, most of my soul's injuries have recovered. At least I am no longer in that muddled state from before. As for Rakshasa, tsk tsk tsk, those bastards in the God Realm have really reached out far. Because I didn't have much time awake before, I couldn't tell you much, Little Liuer. Now I can finally explain it fully. The God Realm has been eyeing the Martial Soul Hall like a piece of fat meat for more than a day or two. Rakshasa, a god who holds a deep grudge against the God Ancestor, has already reached into the Martial Soul Hall. Do you think our Martial Soul Hall can end up with anything good?"

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu maintained his respectful expression, but his heart was filled with bitterness and grievance as he accused the mysterious voice in his mind.

"Why? The God Ancestor has already fallen because of them; do these gods not even spare the Martial Soul Hall? We haven't preached the Angel faith for so many years; do they have to drive us to extinction?"

"It is precisely because the God Ancestor fell that they want to destroy my Martial Soul Hall. The amount of faith power flowing into my Martial Soul Hall from across the continent—even if you don't preach the Angel faith, this faith power will still flow toward the vacant Angel God position. Just imagine how much those trash, who only know how to inherit god positions or become gods through faith, covet this power, Little Liuer."

"Enough, saying all this is useless. When it's time to act, those so-called gods won't be a second slow. We will meet force with force; we are not without means of counterattack."

"Tomorrow, Little Liuer, give the Setting Sun Bracelet to Shuang'er. With her, I will recover faster, and within half a year, I should be able to condense a body and return to this world. At the same time, with the power of fate concealment on her, there is no need to worry about the God Realm finding me. Once I have the freedom to act, I can slowly cultivate back to my strength as a First-Class God. That should be enough to hold them off until Xue'er and Shuang'er grow up."

"Moreover, that person in the Star Dou Forest probably needs Shuang'er more than I do. By using this to reach an alliance with them, the God Realm will have no way to deal with my Martial Soul Hall unless they descend personally."

"Yes, Ancestor."

Qian Daoliu composed his fluctuating emotions and replied respectfully in his mind.