The Holy Son of Spirit Hall Builds His Own Faction

Qian Daoliu's voice echoed across the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.

He rested a hand on Qian Anci's shoulder. His gray robe fluttered as his gaze swept over the six Worship Elders present.

"Since you're all here today, I have something to announce."

The six Worship Elders straightened, their expressions turning solemn.

"Once we return to Spirit City, I will officially invest Qian Anci as the Holy Son of Spirit Hall."

Golden Crocodile Douluo was the first to react. He grinned and said, "The Grand Worship Elder is wise! The young master broke through four levels in three days, and his Second Soul Ring is ten thousand years old. With talent like that, he deserves the position of Holy Son!"

The other Worship Elders nodded in agreement.

Qian Renxue stood to one side, her golden eyes fixed on Qian Anci. The corners of her lips lifted despite herself.

Then, as if remembering something, she gave a soft huff and turned her face away.

But those slightly upturned lips refused to settle back down.

Qian Anci lowered his eyes and bowed.

"Your grandson will not disappoint you, Grandfather."

He knew this was only a verbal promise.

The formal investiture would have to wait until they returned to Spirit City. Only with the Pope and a host of bishops as witnesses would it be official.

The carriage sped along the main road toward Spirit City.

Qian Anci and Qian Renxue rode together.

Inside, Qian Renxue sat by the window, her golden eyes following the scenery as it rushed past. Suddenly, she spoke.

"Hey."

"Hmm?"

"Next time..." She paused, her voice dropping. "Next time, if you dare do something that dangerous again..."

Qian Anci turned to look at her.

Qian Renxue didn't turn around, but the tips of her ears had gone red again.

"...I'll tell Grandfather you bullied me."

Qian Anci froze for a moment, then chuckled softly.

"What are you laughing at?" Qian Renxue whipped around, glaring at him with her golden eyes.

"Nothing." Qian Anci's smile faded, though warmth still lingered in his gaze. "It just suddenly occurred to me that having a stubborn older sister..."

"Is pretty nice, too."

Qian Renxue stared at him for a moment.

"Go to hell!"

Then a cushion smacked him squarely in the face.

The carriage kicked up a cloud of dust and disappeared at the end of the road.

Three days later, in Spirit City.

The Seventy-Two Bell Towers rang out with long, sonorous peals. A grave solemnity enveloped the entire holy city.

Inside Pope's Palace, Qian Daoliu stood on the dais with his hands clasped behind his back, his gray robe stirring despite the lack of wind. The six Worship Elders stood in two lines on either side, the red-robed cardinals stood at attention in the hall, and elders from every branch hall had gathered.

Today was the formal investiture ceremony for the Holy Son.

Qian Anci stepped through the hall's entrance.

His pure white robe was immaculate, and his six-year-old figure cast a long, slender shadow in the morning light.

He looked across the hall, taking in every face.

Qian Xunji sat in the Pope's seat of honor.

Dressed in his white-and-gold papal robes, he was handsome, his Soul Power hidden deep within him like an unfathomable abyss.

In his prime at over forty, he carried the ease of a man who held dominion over the world in every gesture.

His golden eyes settled on Qian Anci, appraising him with undisguised admiration.

Then Qian Anci noticed the figure in purple standing in the shadows at the corner of the hall.

Bibi Dong.

She wore a purple dress and a silver hairpin, without a crown. She stood as still as a pool of stagnant water, eyes lowered, as if nothing in the hall had anything to do with her.

Yet the instant his gaze swept past Bibi Dong, Qian Anci's brow furrowed slightly.

There was an aura about that woman utterly opposed to the Angel Martial Soul.

The opposite of holiness—the very essence of evil.

Qian Anci kept his expression still, but he had already reached a conclusion.

The Rakshasa God Trial.

At this point in time, Bibi Dong had already begun receiving the Rakshasa God's legacy.

It had come sooner than he'd expected.

After all, her Martial Soul was naturally suited to the Rakshasa Godhood.

With her talent, and her hatred of Qian Xunji and Spirit Hall, it was only a matter of time before the Rakshasa Divine Sense chose her.

The waters of Spirit Hall truly ran deeper than those of the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Angel, the Rakshasa, and the Underworld Authority within him.

Three powers tied to gods, gathered under one roof.

But so what?

Death would never bow to any divine throne.

Qian Anci strode forward.

Qian Daoliu raised a hand. A token descended from above and landed steadily in Qian Anci's palm.

The Six-Winged Angel's emblem was carved into the front, and a single character—"Saint"—was engraved on the back.

The Saint Son Token.

"Qian Anci, Holy Son of Spirit Hall."

Qian Daoliu's voice echoed through the hall.

"From this day on, you will sit in on the council of elders, enjoy access to Spirit Hall's core resources, and hold the office of Judgment Inspector. Whoever sees the Saint Son Token sees me."

Silence filled the hall.

Then the six Worship Elders were the first to drop to one knee.

"We pay our respects to Your Highness the Holy Son!"

The red-robed cardinals and branch hall elders knelt as one.

"We pay our respects to Your Highness the Holy Son!"

Qian Xunji remained seated in the place of honor. He simply looked at Qian Anci, a satisfied smile on his lips, and gave a slight nod.

Qian Anci raised his right hand, and the Scythe of Death took shape in his palm.

Gray-white Death Qi curled around him as two Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath his feet.

Purple. Black.

The hall erupted in an uproar.

The red-robed cardinals' expressions changed drastically, and several branch hall elders exchanged stunned glances.

At last, clear ripples stirred in Bibi Dong's eyes.

Her gaze rested on Qian Anci, then on the black Soul Ring, lingering there for a long time.

Qian Xunji's pupils contracted, then his smile deepened.

"A ten-thousand-year Second Soul Ring." His voice rang clear. "Anci, you're even more astonishing than Bibi Dong was at your age. Spirit Hall has a worthy successor. This pleases me greatly."

Qian Anci lowered his eyes in a bow, taking in everyone's reactions.

He didn't care much about Qian Xunji's attitude.

After all, judging by how things were unfolding, it wouldn't be long before Qian Xunji went after Tang Hao and Ah Yin.

Then he would return to Spirit Hall gravely wounded, only to be killed by Bibi Dong, his soul swallowed along with him.

After the ceremony, Qian Anci was escorted to a side hall.

Azure Luan Douluo stood by the door and handed him a jade slip.

"Your Highness, these are the orders for the Judgment Inspectors."

Azure Luan Douluo paused, then continued.

"The Judgment Inspectors answer only to the Judgment Elder. They're responsible for eliminating all forces hostile to Spirit Hall, as well as hunting down Evil Soul Masters.

"But the Grand Worship Elder has ordered that Your Highness may use the Saint Son Token to bypass the Judgment Elder and command the inspectors directly."

Qian Anci took the jade slip and gave it a cursory glance.

He found that twelve names had been specially marked.

The notes were brief: name, Soul Power Level, Martial Soul, and each person's area of expertise.

Qian Anci's gaze passed over the names one by one.

The strongest had a Soul Power Level of eighty-seven, and a Dark Crow Martial Soul.

The weakest had a Soul Power Level of sixty-three, and a Ghost Vine Martial Soul.

The other ten were all between Soul Saint and Soul Douluo.

Twelve people, not one below level sixty.

And all their Martial Souls shared a common trait: they had either dark attributes or some connection to death.

Qian Anci stared at the list for a moment, silent.

He understood now.

These men had clearly been carefully selected by Qian Daoliu.

The Judgment Hall answered only to the Judgment Elder. That was the rule on the surface.

But he, as the Holy Son, could use the Saint Son Token to bypass the Judgment Elder and command these people directly. What that meant was obvious.

These twelve men were the faction Qian Daoliu had prepared for him.

A six-year-old Holy Son couldn't get by on a title alone. He needed a few pairs of hands—dark gloves capable of doing the dirty work...

Qian Daoliu was telling him: I've given you the title, and I've given you the foundation. Whether you can hold on to it is up to you.

Qian Anci put away the jade slip, his expression calm.

"Thank you for informing me, Azure Luan."

Azure Luan Douluo nodded slightly, then turned and left.

The doors closed.

Qian Anci walked to the window and looked down over the whole of Spirit City.

The holy city was magnificent in the morning light, and the lingering peals from the Seventy-Two Bell Towers still echoed.

He looked down at the Saint Son Token in his palm, then touched the jade slip in his robes.

Twelve people.

The weakest was a Soul Emperor, and the strongest a Soul Douluo. Their Martial Souls had dark or death attributes.

The starting point Qian Daoliu had chosen for him was far better than he had expected.

"Since Grandfather thinks so highly of me, it seems I should start making preparations ahead of time. At the very least, I can't let Spirit Hall be destroyed in Bibi Dong's hands just like that!"