Qian Renxue looked down at the Gold Cloth she was wearing like a curious child.
From time to time, she ran her fingers over the pair of horns unique to the Aries Gold Cloth. Now and then, she even spun around to show off to Lin Beiya, having completely forgotten her earlier disheveled state.
Looking at Little Angel proudly showing off her new treasure, Lin Beiya smiled knowingly. His guess had been right: the Gold Cloth could indeed be used by someone else. What was more, he could sense that, through the Athena Statue's summons, the Cloth would immediately return to the statue whenever he wished.
After a while, Qian Renxue finally got used to the novelty of the golden armor. Her big, bright eyes gazed at Lin Beiya as if asking whether she could keep wearing the Cloth from now on.
But Lin Beiya clearly wasn't focused on that. Instead, he asked in a low voice:
"Xiao Xue, try to see if you can use the battle technique that comes with the Sacred Cloth."
"Huh?"
The sudden change in how he addressed her caught Qian Renxue off guard. In Douluo Hall, only her grandfather and the other elders called her that. But her cheeks merely flushed slightly; she didn't object to Lin Beiya calling her Xiao Xue. She didn't find it unpleasant.
"Battle technique? Do you mean that wall you used just now?"
"Exactly. Try to feel it out."
"Okay."
At his words, Qian Renxue slowly closed her still-swollen eyes and began to communicate with the Gold Cloth she wore.
After a while, Little Angel broke into an excited smile.
"Bei Ya, I really can! Look."
"Crystal Wall!"
A wall appeared between the two of them. Lin Beiya knew the technique all too well: it was the Crystal Wall he had unleashed while wearing the Gold Cloth. It seemed his guess had been right. Anyone wearing a Gold Cloth could use the battle techniques that came with it.
The test wasn't over yet. Before Qian Renxue had much time to celebrate, Lin Beiya recalled the Aries Gold Cloth with the statue, and Little Angel was once again left looking disheveled.
The Crystal Wall before them vanished into thin air as well.
"Huh... huh?!"
"What happened? Where did my clothes go?"
In a panic, Qian Renxue looked at Lin Beiya with tears in her eyes.
"Bei Ya, what happened to that golden armor? I haven't had enough time to wear it!"
"Don't worry about that for now. First, try to see if you can still use the Crystal Wall!"
"Oh... okay, I'll try!"
Lin Beiya's question snapped Qian Renxue out of her fixation on the Gold Cloth. The little girl quickly closed her eyes and tried using the technique.
But things didn't go as hoped. No matter how hard Little Angel strained until her face turned red, the Crystal Wall showed no sign of appearing.
"What's going on? Can I only use the Crystal Wall while wearing that armor?"
"Yeah. The battle technique comes with the Sacred Cloth. Maybe wearing it for a long time will let you learn the technique yourself, but clearly that hasn't happened yet."
Qian Renxue glared at Lin Beiya in displeasure, as if blaming him for taking back the Sacred Cloth before she had learned such a powerful technique.
"Then what are you waiting for? Give me the Sacred Cloth!"
Lin Beiya rolled his eyes and slapped away the small, fair hand Qian Renxue had reached out.
"I haven't even figured out my own Martial Soul yet. Give me some time."
"Ah!!"
When she heard that she couldn't wear such beautiful clothes, Qian Renxue immediately protested. Was he trying to leave her in agony?
"Just let me wear it for a few days!"
"How about I trade you a Soul Tool for it? My grandfather gave it to me."
Qian Renxue pointed to the necklace bearing an angel design around her neck and gazed at Lin Beiya with her big, bright eyes, hoping to win his approval. Far away, Qian Daoliu had been secretly watching the two children, and the corner of his mouth twitched as he silently cursed his granddaughter for being so wasteful.
Little Angel's bribe did nothing to sway Lin Beiya. He raised his hand and waggled the ring on his finger.
"No need. I already have a Soul Tool. As it happens, your grandfather gave it to me too."
"Lin Beiya!"
When her attempt failed, Little Angel stomped her foot and glared angrily at him.
Lin Beiya felt helpless. He could only try to reassure her.
"I'll study it for a few days first. I'll definitely let you wear it afterward. And if my guess is right, my second Soul Skill will give me another whole new Sacred Cloth. Wouldn't it be great if we each had one?"
"R-really?"
At that, Qian Renxue immediately put away her angry expression. Having two Sacred Cloths would be even better.
"Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and cultivate. Then we'll have Sacred Cloths to wear!"
As she spoke, Qian Renxue began pushing Lin Beiya home to cultivate, leaving him feeling utterly helpless.
"Please, young lady, I haven't even had lunch yet!"
He'd slept until midday, and before he'd even had a chance to wake up properly, Qian Renxue had dragged him to the Training Ground. Now so much time had passed that his stomach was already rumbling.
Besides, reaching Soul Grandmaster rank wasn't something he could do in a day or two. What was she thinking?
Fortunately, Qian Renxue realized that what she was doing was a little absurd. She gave an awkward cough and said:
"Ahem... then go eat first. Don't neglect your cultivation, either. This young lady will also work hard to reach Soul Elder rank. Then I'll smash that Break Clan wall of yours head-on!"
"Sure, sure. Xiao Xue is the strongest. How about this: I'll study the Sacred Cloth at night, and you can wear it during the day?"
"Really?"
Qian Renxue immediately dropped her threatening attitude at the wonderful suggestion and gazed at Lin Beiya with hopeful eyes.
"Why would I lie? What would I get out of it? All right, I'm going to eat. You should be practicing Sword Art this afternoon, right? Let's meet tomorrow morning at the garden pavilion."
"Okay, but if you sleep in again, I'll..."
She had been about to say that she'd beat him up, but then Qian Renxue remembered that she probably wasn't a match for Lin Beiya anymore. The words stuck in her throat, leaving her horribly frustrated.
As if on cue, Lin Beiya looked at her teasingly and said:
"You'll what?"
"Ugh, go eat already! You're so annoying!"
Her pride wouldn't let her say, "I'll get my grandfather to beat you up." So she could only shoo Lin Beiya away like an annoying fly. At the same time, she stewed with frustration, determined to defeat him through her own strength no matter what.
After eating his very late lunch, Lin Beiya returned to his room and began meditating and cultivating. Whether he wanted to unlock the Gold Cloths that came later or use the ultimate techniques of the Gold Saints, Soul Power was crucial.
Today's experiment had also shown him just how terrifying the Statue Martial Soul was. In his view, once he advanced further, he might even be able to fight like an army by himself. It wouldn't be impossible to face enemies with the Twelve Gold Saints at his side.
He just didn't know whether a Soul Master wearing a Gold Cloth could still use their original Martial Soul. Lin Beiya planned to run another test with Little Angel tomorrow. If the wearer could use their original Martial Soul and Soul Skills while still retaining access to the Gold Battle Techniques, then the Sacred Cloths would offer even more possibilities.
And he hadn't forgotten Fatty and Shi Tou, who had grown up with him in the orphanage. Shi Tou's Martial Soul was the Great Strength Demon Bull, and, as expected, the next Gold Cloth he would unlock was the Taurus Gold Cloth.
With a goal to work toward, sitting still to cultivate no longer felt so tedious. With the Gold Cloth boosting his cultivation speed by ten percent, Lin Beiya cultivated his Soul Power until late into the night before stopping. Then he went to sleep, ready to welcome a new day.
Before you continue