Seeking a Suitable Match

In this life, Qian Xunji's Martial Soul had not only evolved into the Twelve-Winged Original Sin Fallen Angel, but he had already reached rank ninety-three.

Not only that, Grand Pontiff Qian Daoliu and all the worshippers in the Elder Hall had shared in the Immortal Herbs. Their strength had now surged across the board.

With a lineup like this, capturing Tang Hao and Ah Yin would be a piece of cake. They could even flatten the mountain where the Clear Sky Sect stood without breaking a sweat.

But...

Qian Xunji slapped his forehead. At last, his memories of the original story and the current timeline had clicked into place.

It was now the 2605th year of the Douluo Calendar.

By the timeline, the future Sun-Sky Douluo, Tang Hao, had only just turned eighteen. He was probably still training hard on the Clear Sky Sect's mountain.

As for the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin... Forget taking human form and falling in love; she was probably still a Soul Beast in the Blue Silver Forest.

Just as Qian Xunji was calculating where to stir up trouble and earn Subversion Points now that the Ah Yin route was temporarily a dead end, the door to his bedchamber swung open without warning.

In all of Spirit Hall, there was only one person who would dare enter the Pope's bedchamber without knocking. You didn't need more than your toes to count him.

"Ji'er, you're still awake?"

Qian Daoliu looked rosy-cheeked, the smile at the corners of his mouth impossible to suppress.

"Father, what brings you here?

"It's so late. Why aren't you resting? Have you finished absorbing the Immortal Herb I picked out for you and consolidating your gains?" Qian Xunji rose and poured the old man a cup of tea.

"I've absorbed it, I've absorbed it. And it's not just me. Your uncles have all been rejuvenated; they've practically found a second spring."

Qian Daoliu took the teacup and savored a sip, then sank onto the sofa with a heartfelt sigh.

"Ji'er, I came to have an honest talk with you."

Qian Daoliu gazed at his son, his eyes filled with pride and affection.

"These past couple of days, I've been truly happy. Our Spirit Hall not only stumbled upon a fortune big enough to rival a nation, but all my old brothers have broken through together, doubling their strength.

"Most importantly, you've even awakened a Martial Soul that surpasses the God Ancestor's..."

Qian Daoliu sighed, a note of relief creeping into his voice.

"I'm old. I've long since lost the desire to fight and conquer the continent.

"In this life, I've served the God Ancestor faithfully, and I've done what little I could for Spirit Hall.

"I used to worry every day about the mess with the Upper Three Sects, but now..."

Qian Daoliu patted Qian Xunji on the shoulder.

"Now, I'll leave Spirit Hall's future and this continent's realm in your hands. I'll stay in the Elder Hall and guard your home base.

"Run things however you see fit. If the sky falls, your father and your uncles will hold it up for you."

Hearing Qian Daoliu's heartfelt words—his little speech of "abdication"—Qian Xunji felt a stir in his heart.

People might have their doubts about Qian Daoliu, but when it came to his son, he truly couldn't have asked for more.

"Don't worry, Father. In my hands, Spirit Hall will endure for thousands upon thousands of generations." Qian Xunji nodded solemnly.

"Mm. I trust your abilities completely. But..." Qian Daoliu abruptly changed tack. "You can build your realm, but you still need to carry on the family line, don't you?"

"Huh?" Qian Xunji froze. Wasn't that a bit of a leap?

"What do you mean, 'huh'?" Qian Daoliu glared at him, his beard bristling.

"You're thirty-four this year. Thirty-four!

"In an ordinary Soul Master's family, their kids would be running around hunting their First Soul Ring at that age. Look at you—you don't even have a Papal Lady in sight!"

Qian Daoliu grew more agitated with every word.

"I'm old. I don't want to build a realm anymore. All I want now is to hold my grandson.

"Especially now that your bloodline has evolved. This is an incredible lineage that surpasses even the Angel God's God Level!

"If you don't hurry up and find a fertile, talented partner to pass it on, and your wife has enough talent, your child might even inherit the God Ancestor's Divine Throne."

Qian Xunji couldn't argue with that. He could only nod again and again. "Yes, yes, Father, you're right. I'll put it on the agenda and give you a healthy baby boy as soon as possible..."

"That's more like it," Qian Daoliu snorted.

"Don't just humor me. I'm giving you a year. You'd better bring someone back to Spirit City by then. If I haven't met my daughter-in-law, I'll have your second uncle and the others tie someone up and bring her back for you."

With that, Qian Daoliu clasped his hands behind his back and strolled away, thoroughly satisfied, leaving Qian Xunji alone to reel in disbelief.

Thirty-four... An aging bachelor getting hounded to marry?

Just as Qian Xunji rubbed his temples and grumbled, a crisp ding rang in his mind.

[Ding! The host is facing a 'Legacy Crisis.' Subversion Mission triggered—Seeking a Suitable Match]

[Mission: To ensure the perfect passing on of the host's transcendent God Level bloodline, find a high-quality partner as soon as possible.]

[Reward: A random reward will be issued based on the chosen partner's potential, her standing in the original story's destiny, and the depth of your bond.]

Qian Xunji sucked in a cold breath as he read the mission prompt on the system panel.

Good grief, even the system was nagging him to get married?

And the reward system sounded pretty exciting. The better his wife, the greater the upheaval to the original story, and the more outrageous the reward? No upper limit?

If I find someone at the God King level, won't you go bankrupt on the spot, system? Qian Xunji grumbled inwardly, but he immediately got serious.

Since the old man wanted a grandson and the system had issued a mission, he really ought to give this some proper thought.

Qian Xunji went to his desk, spread out a sheet of parchment, and frantically sifted through the eligible, high-quality single women on the Douluo Continent.

"First, she needs talent and strength, or she won't be able to withstand the bloodline of my Twelve-Winged Original Sin Fallen Angel.

"Second, her history has to be clean. Preferably, she hasn't been tainted by any of those disgusting romantic entanglements from the original story.

"And lastly, she can't be a lunatic."

Qian Xunji stroked his chin and wrote the first name on the paper:

The hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit, Ah Rou.

"Hmm... A hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast, with decent talent, I suppose. And since she took human form and started over, she's practically a young mother." Qian Xunji pondered for a moment, then drew a huge red X over Ah Rou's name.

"No, no. Rabbits are ridiculous. They can have several litters a year. What if her genes mutate and she gives birth to a whole warren of white rabbits running wild through Pope Hall? Qian Daoliu would probably draw his sword on the spot. And bringing the extra baggage of Xiao Wu along would be a hassle. Next."

Qian Xunji shook his head and wrote down a second name: Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena.

"That dragon's talent is unquestionably the best on the whole continent. A God King-level bloodline paired with mine would be an absolute match."

But then Qian Xunji smiled wryly and shook his head.

It was a beautiful idea, but reality was harsh. At this point in time, the Silver Dragon King was still languishing at the bottom of the Lake of Life, nursing her wounds.

To marry her, he'd have to take on the responsibility of the Soul Beasts, and she might not even agree. There was no easy way to get things started...

"Bo Saixi of Sea God Island?"

The thought popped into Qian Xunji's head. He shuddered and quickly crossed her off.

She was the first love both the old man and Tang Chen had fought over. If he brought her back to Spirit Hall, wouldn't that turn into a family melodrama? The generations would be so tangled even a dog would shake its head.

One candidate after another was rejected. Qian Xunji stared at the blank parchment, his brows knitted tight.

Among human Soul Masters, aside from the older generation, none of the younger ones currently seemed suitable.

Finding someone with the right identity, talent, and background was simply too difficult...

He'd already packaged Bibi Dong off and sold her to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. As for the other four single-attribute clans, they were even more hopeless.

Qian Xunji's fingers tapped absently on the desk.

Suddenly, his hand stopped. A bolt of lightning seemed to split across his mind.

The Far North!

There was someone there who met all his requirements.

"Snow Empress, the seventy-hundred-thousand-year leader of the Three Great Heavenly Kings of the Far North—the Heavenly Snow Woman!"