Ye Qing calmly met Qian Daoliu's gaze. "May I ask what the Grand Pontiff has in mind?"
Qian Daoliu smiled and spoke with utter confidence. "It's simple. Spirit Hall will provide the people and resources to help you get justice. But if we manage to reclaim that transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, it will belong to Spirit Hall."
That was right. He did like Bo Saixi, but that didn't mean he would hand a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast over to Sea God Island.
Especially not a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
They could obtain the other's Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone whenever they wished, if they so chose.
Unless Bo Saixi agreed to marry him, bringing about an alliance between Sea God Island and Spirit Hall, he, as Spirit Hall's supreme leader, would never do such a thing.
Especially since Qian Renxue had perfectly inherited the talents of Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong.
"Don't even think about it!"
Sea Dragon Douluo nearly blew his top as soon as he heard the demand.
He slammed a hand on the table and shot to his feet, his face flushed red with anger. "We on Sea God Island had our eyes on it first! What gives you the right to take it?"
Ye Qing gently tugged at Sea Dragon Douluo's sleeve, signaling him to calm down.
He understood that Sea Dragon Douluo's reaction was only natural.
Their main purpose in coming here was to reclaim Ah Yin. If the Soul Beast went to Spirit Hall, what would be the point of seeking its cooperation?
Not just Sea Dragon Douluo—he wouldn't have agreed either.
Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji, and the others watched Sea Dragon Douluo's agitation without so much as a ripple in their expressions.
They had already seen that this child was the one truly calling the shots. Sea Dragon Douluo was merely there to fill out the picture.
Otherwise, given Sea God Island's animosity toward Spirit Hall, Sea Dragon Douluo would never have set foot in Spirit City.
"Senior, that's impossible."
Ye Qing's voice remained calm, yet it carried an unshakable resolve. "You should understand that the reason we were willing to set aside our differences and seek Spirit Hall's cooperation was to get that Soul Beast. If we can't even achieve that, we might as well return to Sea God Island and ask Big Sister Bo Saixi to come here herself."
At this, Qian Daoliu couldn't help laughing. "Child, I'm afraid you don't know. Your Big Sister Bo Saixi doesn't have the freedom I do. As Sea God Island's Grand Pontiff, she's bound by the Sea God Prohibition. Unless she receives the Sea God's express permission, she can't leave the island—not even by half a step. Do you think the Sea God would make an exception for a single Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"
Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were indeed precious and rare, but only to human Soul Masters.
To the gods, they were no better than trash.
Ye Qing shook his head, his expression earnest. "No. She'll come."
Qian Daoliu sighed helplessly. "I have no reason to lie to you. If you don't believe me, ask Sea Dragon. As Sea God Island's Second Worship, he should know the rules, shouldn't he?"
Sea Dragon Douluo's lips moved. Though reluctant, he still nodded through gritted teeth. "What Qian Daoliu said... is true. The Grand Pontiff cannot leave the island. That's an ironclad rule set by Lord Sea God."
Ye Qing acted as if he hadn't heard and repeated, "I said she'll come."
"You child..." Qian Daoliu was about to say more when he suddenly sensed an immense, sacred aura erupt from Ye Qing's body.
Ye Qing's gaze sharpened. Soul Power surged within him, and golden light gathered in his right hand like a rising tide.
With a flick of his wrist, a divine weapon appeared in midair, its body shimmering with a deep blue glow and three sharp prongs branching from its tip.
It was none other than the Sea God Trident, the island-guarding divine weapon that symbolized the authority of the Sea God!
The instant the divine weapon appeared, it was as if the entire reception hall had been submerged.
A vast, imposing aura swept through the room like the raging waves of the deep sea. Even the Angel Divine Power around Qian Daoliu was suppressed.
"Is that... the Sea God Trident?!"
Qian Daoliu sprang to his feet. For the first time, shock appeared on his face, and his eyes filled with disbelief.
Qian Xunji and the Worships all paled, instinctively releasing their Soul Power in alarm.
That was the Sea God's divine weapon!
How could it be in the hands of a child?
Sea Dragon Douluo was dumbfounded too.
He had indeed known that the Sea God had given Ye Qing the trident for protection. But he never expected the child would dare reveal it in Spirit Hall, right in front of Qian Daoliu!
It was practically a naked declaration of his identity!
Ye Qing held the floating Sea God Trident and looked across the room at the varied expressions. Then he spoke slowly. "Now, Grand Pontiff, do you think Big Sister Bo Saixi will come?"
Qian Daoliu stared fixedly at the trident.
Only after a long while did he slowly sit back down. The shock gradually faded from his face, replaced by deep solemnity.
At last, he understood that this child was no ordinary disciple of Sea God Island.
To be bestowed the trident by the Sea God, he had to be the Sea God's personal heir!
And not an ordinary heir, either.
As the Angel God's representative, Qian Daoliu knew full well what an heir had to do to wield a divine weapon.
He had to pass the trials—and this was the Seventh Trial.
For the Sea God's heir, Bo Saixi would do everything in her power to obtain the Sea God's permission and come to the mainland in person. It wouldn't matter if it was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast or something far greater.
In fact, Bo Saixi wouldn't even need to ask. The Sea God would send her here himself.
After all, what was the difference between striking Ye Qing and slapping Sea God Island and the Sea God in the face?
He wasn't foolish enough to think that the gods didn't care about their own dignity.
"What a Sea God Island... What a Bo Saixi..." Qian Daoliu murmured, his gaze at Ye Qing utterly changed.
Was this really a plea for help?
He was clearly acting with impunity!
Ye Qing waved his hand lightly. The Sea God Trident turned into a streak of golden light and sank back into his body. Its vast aura faded along with it.
Ye Qing's tone returned to calm, but now carried greater confidence. "Senior, we can each give a little. Spirit Hall helps us reclaim the Soul Beast, and afterward, we'll leave everything in the Clear Sky Sect to you. But the Soul Beast itself must belong to us."
Qian Daoliu fell silent.
He knew this was the greatest concession they could make.
With the Sea God Trident in his hands, this child had all of Sea God Island—and even the exalted Sea God—standing behind him.
Making an enemy of the Sea God would be no wise move.
"Tell me, besides that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, what does the Clear Sky Sect have that my Spirit Hall would want?" Qian Daoliu countered.
The meaning was clear: the only thing they wanted was the transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Everything else was worthless.
"Exactly. If you want revenge, you can only offer that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in exchange." Qian Xunji nodded, stating what Spirit Hall required to intervene.
"What Senior says is right. The Clear Sky Sect doesn't have anything particularly valuable. But that doesn't mean you'd be happy to see it grow stronger."
Ye Qing smiled and spoke bluntly. "Don't forget, the Clear Sky Sect also has a Peerless Douluo at level ninety-nine. Without us, it would be difficult for you to make a move against the Clear Sky Sect. Unless you think that transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast is worth making a mortal enemy of a Peerless Douluo."