Martial Soul Hall's Holy Son, Assembling His Own Faction

The voice of Qian Daoliu echoed across the perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest.

He pressed his hand onto the shoulder of Qian Anci, his grey robes fluttering as his gaze swept over the six titled Douluo present.

"Since you are all gathered here today, this old man has an announcement to make."

The expressions of the six elders turned solemn.

"Upon our return to Martial Soul City, I shall officially confer upon Qian Anci the title of Holy Son of our Martial Soul Hall."

Golden Crocodile Douluo was the first to react, grinning as he said, "The Great Elder is wise! The young master broke through four levels in three days and obtained a ten-thousand-year second spirit ring; with such talent, the position of Holy Son is well-deserved!"

The remaining elders nodded in succession.

Qian Renxue stood to the side, her golden eyes resting on Qian Anci as the corners of her lips curled upward involuntarily.

But immediately, as if remembering something, she let out a soft huff and turned her head away.

Yet, that slightly upturned corner of her mouth refused to be suppressed.

Qian Anci lowered his gaze and bowed.

"Grandson will certainly not fail Grandfather's expectations."

He knew this was merely a verbal promise.

The true conferment would only be finalized upon their return to Martial Soul City, witnessed by the Pope and the assembly of bishops.

The carriage sped along the official road, heading in the direction of Martial Soul City.

Qian Anci and Qian Renxue shared the carriage.

Inside, Qian Renxue sat by the window, her golden eyes watching the scenery flying past, when she suddenly spoke.

"Hey."

"Hmm?"

"Next time..." She paused, her voice dropping lower, "If you dare to do something so dangerous again..."

Qian Anci turned to look at her.

Qian Renxue did not turn back, though the tips of her ears turned red.

"...I will tell Grandfather that you bullied me."

Qian Anci was stunned for a moment, then let out a low chuckle.

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

"Nothing." Qian Anci restrained his smile, though his eyes remained warm, "I just suddenly felt that having a stubborn sister..."

"Is actually quite nice."

Qian Renxue froze.

"Go to hell!"

Immediately, a cushion was slammed hard against his face.

The carriage kicked up dust and sped away, disappearing at the end of the road.

Three days later, Martial Soul City.

The seventy-two clock towers rang out with long, resonant tolls, shrouding the entire holy city in solemnity.

Inside the Pope's Palace, Qian Daoliu stood on the high platform with his hands behind his back, his grey robes billowing without a breeze. The six elders stood in two rows, the red-robed bishops stood solemnly in the hall, and the elders from every branch were all in attendance.

Today was the official Holy Son conferment ceremony.

Qian Anci stepped through the palace gates.

His plain white robes were spotless, and his six-year-old figure cast a long, slender shadow in the morning light.

He raised his eyes to scan the hall, taking in every face.

Qian Xunji sat upon the main throne of the Pope.

Clad in platinum papal robes, his face was handsome, and his spirit power was restrained like an abyss.

At over forty years old, he was in his prime, moving with the composure of one who held the world in his palm.

Those golden eyes rested on Qian Anci, carrying both scrutiny and undisguised appreciation.

Then, Qian Anci saw the purple figure in the shadows of the palace corner.

Bibi Dong.

In a purple dress with a silver hairpin, she wore no crown. She was as quiet as stagnant water, her gaze lowered as if everything in the hall had nothing to do with her.

However, the moment his gaze swept over Bibi Dong, Qian Anci frowned slightly.

There was an aura about that woman that was the exact opposite of the Angel spirit.

The antithesis of holiness; extreme evil.

Qian Anci remained calm on the surface, but he had already reached a conclusion in his heart.

Rakshasa God trial.

At this point in time, Bibi Dong had actually already begun to accept the inheritance of the Rakshasa God.

Though, it had come faster than he had anticipated.

After all, her martial soul was naturally compatible with the Rakshasa God position.

Coupled with her aptitude, as well as her hatred for Qian Xunji and Martial Soul Hall, being chosen by the Rakshasa divine consciousness was only a matter of time.

The waters of Martial Soul Hall were indeed deeper than those of the Star Dou Great Forest.

Angel, Rakshasa, and the Underworld Authority he possessed himself.

Three forces related to gods, all existing within the same great hall.

But so what?

Death would never bow beneath any divine throne.

Qian Anci stepped forward.

Qian Daoliu raised his hand, and a token descended from the sky, landing steadily in Qian Anci's palm.

The front of the token was engraved with the totem of a Six-Winged Angel, while the back bore the character for "Saint."

Saint Son Token.

"Saint Son of Martial Soul Hall, Qian Anci."

Qian Daoliu's voice echoed throughout the hall.

"From this day forth, you shall attend the Elder Council, enjoy the core resources of Martial Soul Hall, and hold the position of Judgment Inspector. To see the Saint Son Token is to see This Seat."

The hall fell silent.

Immediately, the six high-ranking priests were the first to kneel on one knee.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Saint Son!"

The red-robed cardinals and branch elders knelt in unison.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Saint Son!"

Qian Xunji sat on the main throne; he merely looked at Qian Anci, a satisfied smile appearing at the corners of his mouth as he nodded slightly.

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

As gray-white death energy swirled, two soul rings rose slowly from beneath his feet.

Purple, Black.

An uproar broke out in the hall.

The expressions of the red-robed cardinals changed drastically, and several branch elders exchanged horrified glances.

Clear ripples finally stirred in Bibi Dong's eyes.

Her gaze fell upon Qian Anci, lingering for a long time on that black soul ring.

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

"A ten-thousand-year second ring." His voice was clear and bright. "Anci, you are even more astonishing than Bibi Dong was in her day. Martial Soul Hall has a worthy successor; This Seat is greatly gratified."

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

He did not pay much heed to Qian Xunji's attitude.

After all, according to the current progression of the plot, it wouldn't be long before he went out to hunt down Tang Hao and Ah Yin.

Then, he would return to Martial Soul Hall severely wounded, only to be killed by Bibi Dong and suffer the fate of having even his soul devoured.

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

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

"Your Highness, this is the deployment order for the Judgment Inspector."

Azure Luan Douluo paused, then continued.

"The Judgment Inspector normally only takes orders from the Judgment Elder, responsible for purging all forces hostile to Martial Soul Hall and exterminating evil soul masters.

However, the Great High Priest has decreed that with the Saint Son Token, Your Highness may bypass the Judgment Elder and directly mobilize the inspectors."

Qian Anci took the jade slip and glanced over it briefly.

He discovered that twelve people on the list had been specially marked.

The marked content was very brief: name, Soul Power Level, martial soul, and each person's area of expertise.

Qian Anci's gaze swept over these names one by one.

The highest-ranked individual was at level 87 soul power, with a Dark Crow martial soul.

The lowest-ranked individual was at level 63 soul power, with a Ghost Vine martial soul.

The remaining ten individuals all possessed cultivation levels between the Soul Saint and Soul Douluo realms.

Among the twelve, not a single one was below level sixty.

Furthermore, these people's Martial Souls all shared a common trait: they were either of the darkness attribute or related to death.

Qian Anci stared at this list, silent for a long moment.

He finally understood.

At a single glance, it was clear that these subordinates had been meticulously handpicked by Qian Daoliu.

The Judgment Hall only took orders from the Judgment Elder; that was the rule on the surface.

But as the Saint Son, he could use the Saint Son Token to bypass the Judgment Elder and mobilize these people directly. What this implied was self-evident.

These twelve people were the foundation Qian Daoliu had prepared for him.

A six-year-old Saint Son with nothing but a title was useless; he needed a few pairs of capable hands to handle the dirty work that couldn't see the light of day...

Qian Daoliu was telling him that he had provided both the status and the foundation. Whether he could hold onto them depended on his own ability.

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

"Many thanks to the Azure Luan Douluo for conveying this."

Azure Luan Douluo nodded slightly and turned to leave.

The hall doors closed.

Qian Anci walked to the window, overlooking the entirety of Martial Soul City.

The Holy City in the morning light was magnificent and glorious, the lingering echoes of the seventy-two clock towers still reverberating.

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

Twelve people.

The lowest was a Soul Emperor, the highest a Soul Douluo. Martial Souls of darkness and death attributes.

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

"Since Grandfather values me so highly, it seems I should also make some preparations in advance—at the very least, I cannot let Martial Soul Hall be destroyed by the hands of Bibi Dong!"