A Person in Douluo, but the System is in *Shrouding the Heavens*

Douluo Continent, Martial Soul City.

Within a side hall behind the Pope Palace, a vast yet subtle aura currently shrouded the area.

"Hoo..."

Lin Qiu sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and steady.

In the region of his Bitter Sea, it was far from a place of deathly silence.

If anyone were to peer inside his body, they would be shocked to discover a golden ocean.

Golden waves surged within him, and every crest crashing against the barriers of his Bitter Sea emitted a faint, thunderous roar.

His life force, like a coiled dragon, lay dormant within that seemingly youthful frame.

This was the Shrouding Heavens cultivation method.

A tyrannical system entirely incompatible with this Douluo Continent.

As Lin Qiu completed his final cycle, the golden phenomenon slowly receded and returned to tranquility.

He opened his eyes slowly, a flash of golden light flickering in their depths before vanishing.

Lin Qiu let out a long breath, stepped off the bed, and stretched his limbs.

His bones popped and cracked with a rhythmic sound, like roasting beans.

He had been in this Douluo world for several years now.

Not only had he become the adopted son of Bibi Dong, but he was also deeply cherished.

Within this Martial Soul Hall, even the several titled elders had to treat him with three parts courtesy.

Such a start could be called perfect.

Lin Qiu shifted his thoughts.

A pale blue light screen slowly unfolded before his eyes.

[Covering Sky System]

[Host: Lin Qiu]

[Current Environment: Desolate Ancient Waste Star - Unknown Minor Sect]

[Recent Evaluation: You were born into a minor sect called Martial Soul Hall. Although resources are scarce and spiritual energy is thin, you have successfully obtained a basic cultivation technique through astonishing perseverance.]

"..."

Looking at the evaluation on the panel, the corners of Lin Qiu's mouth curled upward slightly.

A minor sect.

If Qian Daoliu or Bibi Dong knew that the Martial Soul Hall they took such pride in was merely an unknown minor sect in the eyes of the system, he wondered what they would think.

As for the lack of resources and thin spiritual energy.

That wasn't entirely wrong.

Compared to the Shrouding Heavens World, where one could shatter stars with a flick of a finger, the energy level of the Douluo Continent was indeed pitifully low.

Lin Qiu was somewhat curious.

The basic cultivation technique determined by the system was the nameless ancient scripture he was currently circulating within his body.

Merely reaching the entry level had granted him physical strength far exceeding his peers, even without awakening a Martial Soul.

If he were to unlock higher-tier rewards in the future, what kind of scene would that be?

Just as Lin Qiu was pondering the system's mechanism for growth.

In the main hall of the Pope Palace, the atmosphere was exceptionally oppressive.

High upon the papal throne, Bibi Dong wore her magnificent papal robes and the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown.

She was born with extreme beauty.

It was a nobility and majesty that time could not erode; her fair skin was as flawless as mutton-fat jade, and her perfect face lacked even a single blemish.

Yet at this moment, that beautiful face was covered in frost.

She gripped her scepter, her gaze indifferent as she stared at the small figure below the steps.

Qian Renxue kept her head lowered, her hands clutching the hem of her dress tightly.

She was eight years old this year.

Dressed in a small golden dress, her long golden hair draped smoothly behind her, and her skin was as delicate as a porcelain doll.

But at this moment, the porcelain doll's eyes were slightly red, appearing somewhat aggrieved.

Bibi Dong's voice echoed through the empty hall.

"Is this your cultivation result for the week?"

"Your soul power has increased slowly, and your control over your Martial Soul is a complete mess."

"As a member of the Qian family, possessing the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, is this all you are capable of?"

Qian Renxue bit her lip, wanting to defend herself.

She had already worked so hard.

Training day and night, without even a moment to spare for play.

But as the words reached her lips, she met Bibi Dong's cold gaze and swallowed them back down.

Bibi Dong stood up, not sparing Qian Renxue another glance, and left only a cold remark behind:

"Look at Lin Qiu. He hasn't even awakened his Martial Soul yet, and his comprehension of power is already stronger than yours."

"If you haven't made any progress by next time, there is no need to come see me again."

"..."

Having said that, Bibi Dong turned and walked away, leaving behind a resolute silhouette.

Qian Renxue stood rooted to the spot, tears swirling in her eyes, yet she stubbornly refused to let them fall.

It was Lin Qiu again.

It was Lin Qiu again!!

I am your own flesh and blood, so why are your eyes only fixed on that adopted child?

Why won't you even spare a single smile for me?

Jealousy spread through Qian Renxue's young heart.

She wiped her eyes fiercely, turned, and ran toward the side hall.

Qian Renxue refused to accept this.

She wanted to see exactly what was so remarkable about this Lin Qiu.

In the small courtyard of the side hall.

Lin Qiu was sitting on a stone bench, studying the exchange list of the System Mall.

Suddenly, the courtyard gate was shoved open.

The force was so great that the door panel slammed with a loud bang.

Lin Qiu looked up instinctively.

He saw a small, golden figure storming in.

It was none other than Qian Renxue.

The little girl's eyes were red, as if she had just been crying, but her small face was taut, struggling to maintain a fierce expression.

Lin Qiu was just about to greet her.

In his mind, the system's emotionless, mechanical voice suddenly exploded.

[Ding!!]

[Alert! A powerhouse of the Dao Palace Realm has been detected!]

[Life-and-death crisis!]

[Mission issued: Survive for one hour under the pressure of a Dao Palace powerhouse.]

[Reward: Unknown]

Lin Qiu was stunned.

He stood up instinctively, his gaze scanning his surroundings with vigilance.

A Dao Palace powerhouse?

That was a master from the Shrouding Heavens World who had unlocked the five visceral divine vaults; they could shatter mountains and split rocks with a mere gesture. To him right now, it was an absolute dimensional strike.

However.

The courtyard was empty.

Aside from the rustling of leaves in the breeze, there was only the pouting little girl in front of him.

Lin Qiu's gaze slowly landed on Qian Renxue.

The Dao Palace powerhouse the system mentioned...

Could it be her?

Lin Qiu felt a sense of absurdity.

He examined Qian Renxue carefully.

Eight-year-old Qian Renxue, with Innate Full Soul Power of level twenty.

If following the Douluo system, she should have already obtained her soul rings and be a Soul Grand Master.

According to the system's outrageous conversion logic.

A level twenty Soul Grand Master is equivalent to the Dao Palace Realm?

The contrast was, frankly, a bit too jarring.

One was a Dao Palace Cultivator capable of soaring through the heavens and burrowing into the earth, having cultivated into a deity.

The other was a little girl who could only toss out two soul skills and possessed a physique only slightly stronger than an ordinary person.

Lin Qiu looked at the adorable face of Qian Renxue, which was written all over with "I am very angry," and the tension he had originally felt instantly vanished into thin air.

This was no life-or-death crisis.

This was clearly a freebie.

Seeing Lin Qiu staring at her without saying a word, Qian Renxue's internal fire burned even brighter.

She strode up to Lin Qiu, pointed at his nose, her voice laced with a hint of tears and fury:

"It's all your fault!"

"Lin Qiu, it's all your fault!"

Lin Qiu looked at the older sister before him, feeling somewhat helpless.

Although he knew the reason, he still tentatively called out:

"Sister Xue'er?"