Refusing Qian Daoliu

"How did you know?" Qian Daoliu asked with a puzzled expression.

"My Martial Soul told me." Ye Qifeng looked at Qian Daoliu.

"I see," Qian Daoliu said. "A God-level Martial Soul does indeed come with information about itself, which it directly feeds back to its awakener after awakening. It works on the same principle as an inherited talent."

After a brief pause, Qian Daoliu changed the subject and asked:

"Kid Ye, how about joining the Worship Hall?"

Ye Qifeng said, "Well..."

At this point, Qian Daoliu continued, "As long as you agree to join the Worship Hall, I can satisfy whatever you desire—power, status, wealth, cultivation resources."

But Ye Qifeng was not tempted by Qian Daoliu's offer. With his talent, he could obtain all those things from Bibi Dong as well.

So he remained silent and waited for Qian Daoliu to continue.

Qian Daoliu added, "I can also make you the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. What do you think? Consider it."

"The Holy Son?" Ye Qifeng was surprised. This condition was rather tempting.

To be honest, he was a little moved.

If he possessed the Holy Son's status, it would greatly help with what he intended to do in Spirit Hall later on.

But after giving it some thought, Ye Qifeng ultimately decided to refuse Qian Daoliu.

"Grand Consecrator, I'm sorry, but I've already made up my mind. I intend to join the Pope Palace and serve under the Pope."

Qian Daoliu's expression stiffened upon hearing that, but he still tried to persuade him.

"Won't you reconsider?"

"You should know that the Worship Hall under my command holds a status even higher than the Pope Palace. Some things the Worship Hall can give you may not necessarily be available from the Pope Palace."

Ye Qifeng still shook his head.

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu felt helpless. He had even promised him the position of Holy Son, yet he still could not persuade Ye Qifeng.

After thinking for a moment, Qian Daoliu decided to take a different approach.

"You seem to know my granddaughter?"

"Yes." Ye Qifeng nodded in reply.

Qian Daoliu said, "Xiao Xue thinks highly of you. The books you've read these past two years were all specially ordered by Xiao Xue to be delivered to you from Spirit Hall's Archives."

"Moreover, Xiao Xue has written several times to inquire about you."

Ye Qifeng raised his head in surprise at that. Ever since Qian Renxue had left, apart from writing him one letter to say that she had successfully absorbed a Ten-Thousand Year Spirit Ring as her Fourth Spirit Ring, he had received no further news from her.

He had not expected Qian Renxue to still be keeping an eye on him.

Seeing his reaction, Qian Daoliu added, "If you join the Worship Hall, Xiao Xue will definitely be very happy."

"Do you think Xiao Xue is pretty?" Qian Daoliu suddenly asked.

"She is." Ye Qifeng glanced at him, unable to understand why he was suddenly asking that.

A crafty smile curled across Qian Daoliu's lips as he patiently coaxed him.

"Xiao Xue is just like you. She has a God-level Martial Soul and innate level-twenty Soul Power. I think you two are quite well matched. If you join the Worship Hall, I'll bring the two of you together. How about it?"

"Huh?!" Ye Qifeng was instantly stunned. After saying all that, was he trying to make him his granddaughter's husband?

Feeling speechless, he could not help grumbling inwardly.

Qian Daoliu, only you would start selling off your granddaughter this early.

If Qian Renxue finds out, she'll probably come at me with a sword.

Ye Qifeng's mouth twitched as he said:

"Grand Consecrator, I'm still a child. I'm only six."

"It doesn't matter. Xiao Xue is only five years older than you. A mere five years is completely negligible for Spirit Masters."

Qian Daoliu smiled. "You may not know this, but on Douluo Continent, because Spirit Masters cultivate, their bodies develop far earlier than normal. With your aptitude, in another six to eight years at most, your body will have fully matured..."

"Stop, stop, stop." Ye Qifeng's mouth twitched violently as he hurriedly cut him off. "Grand Consecrator, I'm sorry. I've already thought it through. I still choose the Pope Palace."

"Actually, the Worship Hall and the Pope Palace are both part of Spirit Hall. Why draw such a clear distinction? Either way, I can serve Spirit Hall."

"As for Xue'er, please thank her for taking care of and looking out for me over the past two years. I'll repay her someday."

"And tell Xue'er to stay safe and protect herself. When I have the chance, I'll go see her."

After saying that, Ye Qifeng bowed to Qian Daoliu.

"Very well. Since you've made your decision, I won't force you."

Qian Daoliu was somewhat disappointed that he had failed to make Ye Qifeng willingly join the Worship Hall, but he could not use force either. It would be troublesome if that provoked Ye Qifeng's rebelliousness.

"However, I hope you can promise that once your cultivation reaches fruition, you will protect Spirit Hall's foundation and never do anything that harms its roots."

Qian Daoliu's gaze turned sharp as he said, "Spirit Hall will ultimately be handed over to Xiao Xue. You must promise that you will not stand against Xiao Xue in the future. You must also do your utmost to assist and protect her. If you can do that, then go to the Pope Palace as you wish."

Listening to Qian Daoliu's words and looking at his stern face, Ye Qifeng thought, So this is Qian Daoliu's true nature, huh?!

Under Qian Daoliu's blade-sharp gaze, he answered solemnly:

"Of course."

"Spirit Hall is my home too. I will not allow anyone to destroy it."

"I will protect Xue'er as well. I won't let anyone hurt her."

Even if Qian Daoliu had not said so, he would have done exactly that.

From the moment Bibi Dong and Yue Guan brought him back to Spirit City, he had made up his mind.

Protect our Spirit Hall—duty bound!

Upon hearing this, the sharpness in Qian Daoliu's eyes softened once more. Slightly satisfied, he said inwardly, Since that is the case, then leave. Someone is already waiting for you outside.

After saying that, Qian Daoliu turned around to face the thirty-meter-tall Angel Statue and said no more.

Ye Qifeng bowed to Qian Daoliu once again.

Then his gaze shifted to the enormous Angel Statue.

Ye Qifeng suddenly narrowed his eyes slightly. He had a feeling that something was wrong with that Angel Statue. It seemed as if a pair of hostile eyes behind it were watching everything within the Worship Hall with malicious intent.

After thinking it over, he felt it was very likely some filthy thing up in the heavens.

Ye Qifeng walked out of the Worship Hall and arrived at its entrance.

That feeling of being watched instantly vanished.

He turned back to look inside, his eyes dark. It seems to be limited to the Worship Hall.

"His Holiness the Pope requests your presence."

At that moment, Gui Mei, who had been waiting outside for a long time, walked over to Ye Qifeng's side and said in a muffled voice.

Gui Mei's entire body was shrouded beneath a broad black hooded robe, constantly radiating a chilling aura.

Ye Qifeng knew that this chill came from Gui Mei's Martial Soul, not from anything he did deliberately.

Because he had awakened the God-level Shadow Martial Soul, Ye Qifeng did not feel much from that chill and was not uncomfortable.

Ye Qifeng looked at Gui Mei, somewhat curious about what he looked like.

Rumor had it that Gui Mei's body had partially transformed into that of a ghost due to his Martial Soul, which was why he wore a large black hooded robe all day.

Gui Mei looked icy and unsmiling, as though he kept everyone at arm's length. Yet Ye Qifeng rather liked him.

Loyal, absolute in carrying out orders, ruthless, and a man of few words.

Ye Qifeng greatly admired people like that.

"Alright." He nodded at Gui Mei.

Immediately afterward, Gui Mei used Soul Power to lift Ye Qifeng.

The two of them flew swiftly toward the Pope Palace halfway down the mountain.