After Qin Yao finished speaking, everyone's gaze instinctively shifted from the tall figure in the center of the arena to the woman seated on the high platform—the most powerful person in all of Spirit Hall.
"Am I qualified now?"
It was both a challenge and a declaration.
Bibi Dong's fingertips brushed lightly over the ornate armrest. Her body tensed beneath her robes for an instant, then slowly relaxed.
She had lost.
Her disciple, the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall, had been thoroughly defeated by a twelve-year-old boy in an almost crushing display, despite her having had the highest hopes for them.
Was she angry? Of course!
But she couldn't show it.
She was the Pope, the face of Spirit Hall.
With all eyes upon her, she had to display the magnanimity and dignity expected of her.
And Qin Yao was indeed a monster of talent.
This time, the Worship Hall had placed its bet well.
Bibi Dong slowly rose to her feet.
She didn't look at the boy in the arena who had left her with such tangled feelings. Instead, she turned her dignified gaze toward the crowd.
"Excellent!"
Bibi Dong's voice rang across the arena, cool and imposing.
"As expected of someone chosen by the Worship Hall. You're truly powerful."
"In Spirit Hall, strength reigns supreme!"
"I hereby announce that the investiture ceremony will be held on a chosen date, and Qin Yao will officially be named the Holy Son of Spirit Hall!"
The moment the words fell, the entire Soul Fighting Arena was silent as the grave. Then a tidal wave of cheers erupted!
"Holy Son!"
"His Highness the Holy Son!"
No matter what they had thought of this match before, in that moment they cheered from the bottom of their hearts for the birth of a powerful fighter.
On the high platform, Qian Daoliu watched Bibi Dong announce the result with composure, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes.
Though this woman wasn't on their side, her bearing truly suited the position of Pope.
With that, the battle for the Holy Son's title had finally come to an end.
On the other side of the arena,
several healing-type Soul Masters hurried over. Gentle green light settled over Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan.
Cool Soul Power flowed into their bodies, easing the burning pain left by the Purple Fire and the shock from the griffin's charge. The three slowly came to their senses.
Yan was the first to sit up. He touched his singed, curled hair, then looked at his tattered clothes. His face burned with embarrassment.
"Cough, cough... That kid's flames are damn fierce."
Yan muttered under his breath, but there was no anger left in his voice, only helplessness.
With Xie Yue supporting her, Hu Liena slowly got to her feet. She looked at her slightly trembling hand. Her usually alluring, confident face was now filled with bitterness and bewilderment.
"He really is so strong," she murmured. "So the three of us really were nothing in front of him."
"Nana, don't say that! He just had the advantage of a better Martial Soul and Soul Rings!" Yan retorted, still unwilling to accept it.
Xie Yue patted his shoulder, his expression more solemn than ever.
"Yan, a loss is a loss. There's nothing frightening about failure."
"But if we don't even have the courage to admit we've failed, how can we ever become stronger?"
His words left both Yan and Hu Liena silent.
That was right. They were the Golden Generation, the cream of Spirit Hall's younger generation. They had their pride.
But today, one person had shattered that pride completely.
Just then, a calm voice sounded above them.
"Well said."
The three jerked their heads up and saw that Qin Yao had somehow come to stand before them.
He looked down at them, his dark purple eyes free of any victor's gloating, perfectly calm.
"If you don't even have the courage to admit you've failed, what right do you have to be called the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall?"
The words struck deep, but Xie Yue couldn't refute them.
Qin Yao didn't look at them again. He turned and left them with only his back.
"Keep working hard."
"When you can defeat me, this title of Holy Son will be yours."
With that, he walked away without looking back.
The three stood there, stunned.
Watching Qin Yao's retreating figure, they were overcome by tangled emotions.
That guy!
Was he arrogant—or confident?
Hu Liena stared blankly at his back, her thoughts in disarray.
Not far away, Bibi Dong, who had yet to leave, had heard every word of their conversation.
She looked toward Qin Yao's retreating figure, a hint of approval flashing in her purple eyes.
So this was the person the Worship Hall valued.
Qin Yao walked out of the Soul Fighting Arena.
At the end of the passage, seven figures had been waiting for him.
They were the Seven Great Worshippers, led by Qian Daoliu.
"Grandpa! Great-grandpa! Second Grandpa..."
Qin Yao walked over and respectfully greeted them one by one.
"Ha ha ha ha! What a fine lad! You fought beautifully! That was damn satisfying!"
The Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, was the first to rush over. He clapped Qin Yao hard on the shoulder, making it thump loudly.
"Second Brother, go easy! Don't knock my grandson to pieces!"
Qin Xiong shoved Golden Crocodile Douluo aside. His face was flushed with delight, and he grinned from ear to ear as he circled Qin Yao several times, muttering nonstop:
"Good, good, good! Just what I'd expect of my grandson!"
The Fifth Worship, Light Feather Douluo, still looked like a young boy. He curled his lip.
"What's so impressive? You only beat three juniors. If I'd gone up, I could've sent them flying with a single finger."
"Oh, give me a break."
The Sixth Worship, Thousand Jun Douluo, immediately called him out.
"Have you forgotten that you lost a bet with me last time? You still haven't given me that jug of Fire Cloud."
"That's different!"
Watching the old men act so utterly undignified, Qin Yao could only smile helplessly.
In the end, Qian Daoliu had to clear his throat to bring the commotion to an end.
"All right. You're all getting on in years. Have some dignity."
He walked over to Qin Yao, a gentle smile appearing on his dignified face.
"Xiao Yao, you did very well today."
Hearing the First Worship praise him in person warmed Qin Yao's heart.
"It's all thanks to what you grandpas taught me."
Qian Daoliu nodded with satisfaction, then changed the subject.
"You mentioned before that you wanted to go out and gain experience, to broaden your horizons."
Qin Yao's heart stirred. Had they agreed?
If he wanted to change the future and alter Spirit Hall's fate, going out to gain experience was essential.
The Immortal Herbs at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, the Heart of the Sea God in the Heaven Dou Empire's treasury—even if Qin Yao wasn't compatible with the Sea God's attributes, he couldn't let Tang San get it.
Qian Daoliu noticed the change in his expression and continued:
"We old fellows discussed it, and we all agreed. Once the Holy Son's investiture ceremony is over, you can go."
Qin Yao's heart leapt with joy.
"However,"
Qian Daoliu continued,
"you're now the Holy Son of Spirit Hall, and you represent its dignity. Going out alone would be rather shabby. Someone will have to accompany you and keep you safe."
As soon as he finished, the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, chimed in:
"Exactly! Big Brother's right! You should take a guard detail of at least a hundred or so! Let everyone on the continent see the kind of retinue our Holy Son travels with!"
The Fifth Worship, Light Feather Douluo, also cut in. "A guard detail would attract too much attention. I say we send two Titled Douluo to follow him in secret."
The Sixth Worship, Thousand Jun Douluo, and the Seventh Worship, Falling Devil Douluo, exchanged a glance and said in unison:
"We're the most suitable for the job!"
The moment Qin Xiong heard that, he immediately objected:
"Get out of here, all of you! I'm his real grandpa, so of course I should protect him! Who dares to fight me for it?"
Watching the old men practically itching to protect him like he was made of glass, Qin Yao felt a headache coming on.
If he went out with a guard detail of a hundred or so, would that still count as gaining experience?
"Grandpas, please listen to me."
Qin Yao stepped forward, cutting off their argument.
"I'm going out to grow stronger and temper myself, not to sightsee, and certainly not to throw my weight around under Spirit Hall's name."
He paused, his tone turning serious.
"Great trees don't grow in greenhouses. If I rely on guards for everything and depend on all of you to protect me, I'll never become a true powerhouse."
"So for this trip, I have to go alone."
After he finished speaking, silence fell over the Worship Hall.
The worshippers looked at one another, their hesitation plain to see.
They knew Qin Yao was right, but reason was one thing; their feelings were another.
He was the precious boy they had watched grow up, and the future hope of Spirit Hall. What if something went wrong out there...
In the end, Qian Daoliu was the one to settle the matter.
He gazed at Qin Yao for a long while before finally nodding.
"Very well."
"It's good that you have this resolve."
"Since you've made up your mind, we'll let you go. But your safety must come first. Don't act recklessly."
Qin Yao felt a weight lift from his heart and bowed again. "Thank you, Great-grandpa. Thank you, Grandpas!"
"All right. Go back and get some rest. You've been working hard these past few days." Qian Daoliu waved a hand.
Qin Yao nodded and turned to leave the Worship Hall.
Watching him walk away, Qin Xiong couldn't hold back any longer. He blurted out anxiously:
"Big Brother! You're really going to let him go alone? People out there are treacherous. What if he runs into danger he can't handle?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo also furrowed his brows.
"That's right, Big Brother. The boy's too proud. He needs to take a few knocks to learn there's always a bigger sky above him—but what if he takes too hard a knock?"
Qian Daoliu could only shake his head in exasperation. His brothers really had strength to spare and brains to spare none.
"Who said we were letting him go alone?"
Qin Xiong froze. "But didn't you agree to it?"
Qian Daoliu looked at Qin Xiong, his tone flat.
"Fourth Brother, follow him in secret."
"Remember, don't show yourself unless he's in mortal danger. He's going to gain experience, not go on an outing. He has to get hurt and suffer hardship when the time comes—none of it can be spared."
Qin Xiong understood at last.
"Don't worry, Big Brother! I understand!"
Before you continue