Clarifying Doubts, The Truth Revealed

After hearing the introduction of Qian Renxue's fifth soul skill, even the calm, ripple-free face of Qian Daoliu showed a hint of being moved.

"Both of these soul skills are quite excellent."

Two life-saving soul skills were enough to guarantee Qian Renxue's safety to the greatest extent possible in the future. She was the only granddaughter Qian Daoliu had left in this world, yet he could not protect her at every moment; the arrival of these two skills happened to compensate for that.

"However, why did this beast not offer the soul bone to Little Xue directly?"

Qian Daoliu used his soul power to draw the soul bone from the ground into his hand, asking with a puzzled expression.

"I was the one who asked it to keep the soul bone. Sister Xue's Angel Divine Suit is already reserved; even a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone does not have the same compatibility with Sister Xue as the Angel Divine Suit."

Su Zhen interjected.

Qian Daoliu remained skeptical of Su Zhen's words, as he had never encountered such a situation in all his years of living.

"Xiao Zhen, since Little Xue has no use for this soul bone, you should absorb it."

Qian Daoliu tossed the soul bone in his hand toward Su Zhen.

"Teacher, I already have a right leg bone. I will keep this one for now; it might have other uses in the future."

Su Zhen caught the soul bone and stored it directly into his Ruyi Hundred Treasure Pouch.

Hearing Su Zhen's words, Qian Daoliu recalled what Guang Ling had told him upon returning about the events of those few days.

"Big Brother, where are Little Xue and Xiao Zhen? Didn't we see them return just now? Where did they go?"

At this moment, the rough voice of Lion echoed from outside the secret chamber.

The three of them walked out of the chamber and discovered that several of the elders had arrived at the Worship Hall.

"Little Xue, come, let Second Grandfather give you a hug."

Seeing Qian Renxue's figure, Golden Crocodile walked straight up to her and opened his arms to embrace her, but his arms circled only empty air. Looking up, he saw that Qian Renxue was already being held in a princess carry by Azure Luan.

"Second Brother, Little Xue is so cute, how could you treat her so roughly?"

Azure Luan's flippant words drifted over.

"Azure Luan!"

"Third Brother, hurry and put Little Xue down, this old man wants to hug her too."

"I want to as well, nobody better fight me for her."

Inside the Worship Hall, several Titled Douluo powerhouses—who could make the soul master world tremble just by stomping their feet outside—were bickering over a young girl.

Watching the chaotic scene before him, Su Zhen suddenly felt that he wasn't actually that important after all.

"Teacher, where is Fifth Grandfather? How come I don't see him?"

Shaking his head to clear his wandering thoughts, Su Zhen realized that the most lively figure in Qian Renxue's entourage of loved ones was missing.

"Fifth Elder set off for Heaven Dou City this morning to find you. Did you not cross paths?"

Qian Daoliu asked.

"I see. It seems we missed each other perfectly. It's just that Little Ao is going to have a rough time now."

Su Zhen said, rubbing his forehead.

"Teacher, how did you know there was a deity behind Tang Hao?"

Su Zhen changed the subject, asking the question that had been buried in his heart for these past few days.

"That matter actually starts with you."

"Me?"

Su Zhen was very confused by Qian Daoliu's words. What did the deity behind Tang Hao have to do with him?

"Six years ago, when I was hunting down Tang Hao, I happened to encounter you awakening your martial soul."

"The natural phenomena triggered by your awakening were immense. Logically speaking, no one being hunted would head toward a place that would attract the attention of powerhouses."

"Tang Hao intended to flee in the opposite direction at first, but he suddenly turned and flew toward your direction. At that moment, I sensed the aura of a deity."

"Furthermore, that strike Tang Hao used to destroy your village was not something a severely wounded level 91 Titled Douluo could have unleashed."

"Later, when I sent you to the trial in Martial Soul City, that century-old Spirit Tiger that killed Otto also carried the aura of that same deity."

"It wasn't until Di Tian gave you that Dragon Scale that the deity's aura stopped appearing."

Su Zhen was already numb; he found it hard to believe what Qian Daoliu was saying. He stared fixedly at Qian Daoliu, hoping the other man would laugh and say it was all just a joke.

Qian Daoliu paused here, then turned to stare at the stunned Su Zhen, slowly revealing an unbelievable truth.

"Therefore, all of these tragedies were caused by the martial soul you awakened—the Thunder Prison Qilin."

"No, no, this isn't true, it isn't! Teacher, you're lying to me, right? There isn't actually a deity behind Tang Hao, you just don't want me to go find him, right? He was just trying to use Hound Village to distract you that day, right? That strike was his full-power blow, which is why it was so terrifying, right? That Spirit Tiger just stumbled into the village by accident, right?"

"Teacher, say something! You're lying to me, you're joking. Say something!"

Hearing the conclusion Qian Daoliu had reached, Su Zhen let out a laugh, his mouth rambling as he threw a barrage of questions at Qian Daoliu, his voice growing louder and louder.

Qian Daoliu watched the crumbling Su Zhen before him, remaining silent for a long time, his eyes fixed steadily upon him.

"Xiao Zhen, I..."

"Shut up, just shut up! Qian Daoliu, you made all of this up. You're just afraid of Tang Chen, afraid of the Clear Sky Sect!"

Qian Daoliu's scorching gaze tore away the final layer of Su Zhen's defenses. His emotions collapsed instantly, and he began to roar at his teacher, Qian Daoliu, at the top of his lungs.

As he shouted, Su Zhen's eyes were stained a blood-red, and the sound of beastly howls erupted from within his body. Countless bolts of black lightning surged out to envelop him completely, transforming him into a humanoid bolt of lightning.

"Xiao Zhen!"

Qian Renxue and the others on the other side of the Worship Hall noticed the situation and rushed to Qian Daoliu's side, watching the humanoid lightning before them with eyes full of concern.

Qian Renxue approached Su Zhen and reached out to take his hand, only to be repelled by the black lightning.

"Grandfather, what is happening to Xiao Zhen? Please, you have to save him."

Qian Renxue stood before Qian Daoliu, pleading with her grandfather to save Su Zhen.

Looking at his granddaughter, who was so worried she was on the verge of tears, Qian Daoliu shook his head slightly and spoke in a calm voice.

"This is Xiao Zhen's own heart-trial. No one can help him; he must wake up on his own. If he cannot overcome this step, he will never become a true powerhouse."

Qian Daoliu's tone was extremely calm, as if the collapsing Su Zhen before him were not his own disciple, though no one noticed the trace of worry deep in his eyes.

It all started with you. The weather anomaly you awakened was too massive, and Tang Hao turned and charged toward you. You are the one who caused all of this tragedy.

Qian Daoliu's words echoed incessantly in Su Zhen's mind, tormenting his heart like the whispers of a demon.

He felt his entire world collapsing. Having used revenge as his motivation for cultivation, he discovered in the end that he had caused everything himself; he had become a true clown.

The humanoid lightning formed by Su Zhen began to slowly levitate in place, and the beastly roars from within his body grew louder and more realistic.

"Awoo—roar—"

A terrifyingly realistic beastly roar erupted from the floating Su Zhen. The thunderous sound left everyone in the Worship Hall, including Qian Daoliu, dizzy and ringing in their ears.

Boom!

Su Zhen, suspended in the air, suddenly turned and flew toward the outside of the hall, his speed momentarily exceeding that of an ordinary Titled Douluo.

"Xiao Zhen!"

Seeing Su Zhen fly away, Qian Renxue ignored her own discomfort and unfurled her six wings to follow. Despite being only a Spirit King, she flew at the speed of a Titled Douluo in that moment.

"Xiaoxue!"

Guang Ling was the first to react. His terrifying spirit power surged, and he chased after the two figures flying away.

The moment the three departed, Qian Daoliu stood straight as if nothing had happened. He walked out of the Worship Hall and gazed at the three streaks of light in the distant sky with deep, heavy eyes.

With a casual wave of his hand, he swatted away two figures that had just risen from the Pope Hall, then turned and entered the Worship Hall. The massive doors slammed shut, and a majestic voice reached the Pope Hall just before they closed.

"This is a private matter of the Worship Hall!"

The single sentence stifled all of Bibi Dong's intentions. The sound of her grip tightening on the Pope Scepter hissed, sounding exceptionally crisp in the empty Pope Hall.