Leaving Seclusion

In the Douluo Continent, within Judgment Hall.

A handsome man sat cross-legged, seemingly contemplating something.

Suddenly, a pitch-black longsword appeared before him out of thin air, radiating terrifying power and endless killing intent.

Even a Title Douluo would tremble before it.

Lin Mian opened his eyes without the slightest ripple in them, casually tossing the longsword aside.

"Why is there another divine artifact? And it belongs to a Second-Level God.

"The standards are dropping pretty fast these days. Any random nobody wants me to inherit their godhood. At least before, they were either God Kings or First-Level Gods."

If anyone else had been present and heard those words, they would certainly have thought him ungrateful.

To others, any godhood was an opportunity that could only be encountered by chance, yet to this man, it was not worth mentioning.

If anyone from the God Realm had been in this room, they would surely have been astonished.

For lying together with the Sword of the Killing God were the Asura God's Asura Demon Sword, the Rakshasa God's Rakshasa Ghost Scythe, and even the Evil God's Scales of Judgment.

Compared to them, the Sword of the Killing God was rather inconspicuous.

"I haven't gone out in a long time. I wonder what the continent is like now. I should go take a look."

"Creating my own godhood can't be rushed. First-Level and Second-Level godhoods are meaningless. At the very least, it has to be godhood above that of a God King."

If those words spread outside, someone would surely claim that Lin Mian was all talk. But if they knew his identity, they would certainly shut their mouths.

Because he was the founder of Judgment Hall.

A continental legend known as the Arbiter.

A Soul Sage at sixteen, a Title Douluo at eighteen, and a Limit Douluo at twenty.

After turning twenty, he challenged the strongest experts in the world.

He defeated Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen at the Clear Sky Sect, Angel Douluo Qian Daoliu above Spirit Hall, and Sea God Douluo Bo Saixi outside Sea God Island.

He was truly the strongest person of the age.

Later, he razed the City of Slaughter and founded Judgment Hall upon its foundations, maintaining order throughout the land and overseeing every Soul Master on the continent.

Its purpose was to protect commoners.

Those who committed evil deeds, beheaded!

Those who committed crimes, beheaded!

Those who massacred commoners without cause, beheaded!

Together with Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Sect, and Sea God Island, it was known as the Two Halls, One Sect, and One Island, one of the world's most powerful factions.

Everyone believed that he was the person most likely to become a god in the current age.

If even His Excellency the Arbiter could not become a god, then no one in this world could.

Lin Mian stood up, preparing to leave the room, when a voice suddenly rang out in his mind.

[Host detected. Apprentice-Recruitment Strengthening System activated.]

[Name: Lin Mian]

[Age: 18]

[Cultivation: Level 10 Innate Soul Power]

A system? Interesting.

Lin Mian had not expected a system to emerge at this point.

Wasn't it a little too late?

And judging by the age listed, it should have appeared when he was eighteen?

[This system is the Apprentice-Recruitment Strengthening System. Simply accept the geniuses designated by the system as disciples to receive rewards. Increases in a disciple's Soul Power can also be fed back to the host.]

[Novice gift pack issued. Please check it promptly.]

[Thousand-Year Soul Ring x1. Can be perfectly absorbed while ignoring all side effects. Soul skill may be chosen freely. Can be used as the first Soul Ring. (Host only.)

[Level 99 Peak Experience Card x1. Instantly grants all the power of a top Limit Douluo for one hour. (Host only.)]

[Mission: Accept Zhu Zhuqing as a disciple.]

[Zhu Zhuqing's location: Outer region of the Star Dou Great Forest. Please proceed there promptly.]

[Reward: One Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, Level 95 Title Douluo Experience Card x1]

The rewards were decent, though they were not of much use to him.

Without giving it much thought, he walked out of the room.

"His Excellency the Arbiter!?"

The moment he stepped outside, a crisp, pleasant voice reached him. The speaker was a girl with golden hair and skin as white as snow.

Her face was filled with delight, and her eyes lit up when she saw Lin Mian.

"You are?"

Lin Mian had not left seclusion for more than ten years, so it was normal that people in the hall did not recognize him.

"My name is Qian Renxue. My grandfather, the Grand Priest of Spirit Hall, brought me here more than ten years ago.

"At that time, Your Excellency had not yet entered seclusion. We had met before."

Lin Mian thought for a moment. That had indeed happened.

Back then, after he had finished dealing with the matters involving Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect, that old man Qian Daoliu had brought his granddaughter to Judgment Hall.

He had said something about leaving his granddaughter at Judgment Hall to be trained.

Although Lin Mian had once beaten that old man Qian Daoliu badly, their relationship was not bad, so he had agreed.

He had not expected that after more than ten years, the little girl from back then would have grown so much.

"That did happen. Back then, you were still a shy little girl, hiding behind your grandfather. Now you've grown into such a beauty. Time really flies."

"I wonder how that old man Qian Daoliu is doing these days. If he's still healthy, I should find a chance to fight him."

Lin Mian said this with complete casualness. Qian Daoliu had ceased to be his opponent decades ago, and he certainly would not be one now.

Still, it would be fine to show the old man some concern and loosen his stiff bones a little.

Hearing the legendary His Excellency the Arbiter praise her beauty, a faint blush appeared on Qian Renxue's small face.

"Grandfather is still in good health, but he is definitely no match for Your Excellency."

When Grandfather spars with His Excellency the Arbiter, I have to go watch. I've never seen His Excellency fight before.

His Excellency is so handsome. When he fights, he must be just as decisive and graceful.

The first time Qian Renxue had seen Lin Mian, she had been utterly stunned. There was actually such a handsome man on the continent, and he was so powerful as well.

She had been captivated then.

Over the past ten years, Qian Renxue had occasionally wandered around this area just to catch a glimpse of Lin Mian.

Today, her wish had finally come true, and she felt content.

However, if her grandfather knew that his own granddaughter was siding with an outsider just to see Lin Mian make a move, who knew what expression he would wear.

"He's doing all right, I suppose. I haven't fought him in decades, so he should have improved somewhat. At least enough to let me warm up."

"All right, stay here. I'm heading out for a while, but don't tell anyone that I've left seclusion."

"Don't worry, Your Excellency. I'll keep it secret. But where are you going?" Qian Renxue asked nervously.

"To the Star Dou Great Forest to find someone."

"Until next time, little beauty."

After bidding Qian Renxue farewell, Lin Mian flew toward the Star Dou Great Forest.

Qian Renxue remained where she was, savoring the way he had called her little beauty.

So many people had praised her beauty before. Why did it sound so much nicer when His Excellency the Arbiter said it?

Meanwhile, in the God Realm.

"God of Slaughter, get out here! You actually dared to steal my inheritor?"

The Rakshasa God stormed into the place where the God of Slaughter lived, his face filled with murderous fury.

Back then, he had noticed someone in the lower realm who was perfectly suited to inherit his godhood, so he had thrown down the Rakshasa Ghost Scythe.

Who could have expected that the person would first catch the attention of the Asura God? As a result, he had been beaten viciously by the Asura God.

Ever since then, he had been holding back his anger, wanting to vent it on someone but finding no outlet.

Now that he saw the God of Slaughter had also taken an interest in that person, he knew his chance had come.

I can't beat the Asura God, but can't I beat a Second-Level God like you, God of Slaughter?

The God of Slaughter's voice came from inside.

"Rakshasa God, I truly didn't know you had your eye on that person too. I won't look for him anymore. Can you let me go?"

"No. This matter isn't over today."

He had to vent his anger today.