Qian Xunji

In the end, Lin Beiya still couldn't refuse Little Angel.

Qian Renxue finally returned to her residence, satisfied, wearing the Aries Gold Cloth.

When not in use, the Sacred Cloth could turn into a gold card in someone else's hands, making it easy to summon and put away.

The twenty-percent boost to cultivation speed was quite substantial, further fueling Lin Beiya's enthusiasm for cultivation.

The next day, at Spirit Academy, Shi Nuo looked delighted when he saw Lin Beiya already seated.

"Bei Ya, did you get your Second Soul Ring?"

"Yeah. How did you know?"

"Didn't you ask the school for leave? Our homeroom teacher even used it to spur us on. A lot of people didn't believe it at the time."

Lin Beiya nodded. It seemed he'd become the kind of kid other people's parents pointed to as an example. He didn't pay it much mind, though. Here, on Spirit Hall's own turf, his safety was assured.

"What's there to envy? Keep working hard, and you'll get your Second Soul Ring soon, too."

"Ah, it's not that simple. I'm only level 15."

That was right. After a year and a half of hard training, the chubby Shi Nuo had reached level 15. Though he couldn't compare to a monster like Lin Beiya, he was still a rare talent among his peers.

The gap in their natural talent, combined with the Sacred Cloth's boost to cultivation speed, was what had allowed Lin Beiya to open up such a huge lead.

They'd grown up together, after all. Seeing his chubby friend so dejected, Lin Beiya couldn't help feeling a little sorry for him.

"From now on, do your Soul Power training after lunch."

"Huh? I always train at night..."

"You'll see in a bit. For now, let's get to class."

"Okay."

Shi Nuo hadn't been the least bit upset at being interrupted. He trusted that his childhood friend wouldn't say something without reason.

After the morning classes ended, Lin Beiya and Shi Nuo finished lunch and returned to their dorm room.

"After absorbing my Second Soul Ring, my Martial Soul gained a twenty-percent boost to cultivation speed. I'll be using the Sacred Cloth to train at night, so let's take turns using it. We'll keep doing this until I get my Third Soul Ring."

"Really?"

The chubby boy looked delighted. It turned out the gap between them wasn't as wide as he'd imagined. His hope rekindled, Shi Nuo no longer felt that he was gradually falling behind.

"Of course."

Lin Beiya nodded firmly and summoned the Taurus Gold Card, handing it over.

"Try channeling your Soul Power into it."

The chubby boy hurriedly nodded. He took the gold card and poured his Soul Power into it. In an instant, the Taurus Gold Cloth appeared on his body.

Under the Sacred Cloth's enhancement, the plump, adorable boy immediately looked sturdy and resolute, giving off a dependable air.

"Wow, I can wear the Sacred Cloth too!"

"Quit staring at it and try cultivating."

"Okay."

Shi Nuo promptly sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating his Soul Power.

Half an hour later, the chubby boy opened his eyes, looking delighted.

"It really works, Bei Ya! Thank you so much."

"It's fine. Since it works, go ahead and train. I'll head back to Douluo Hall. I can summon the Sacred Cloth back whenever I want, so I'll lend it to you again tomorrow when we meet at the academy."

"Okay, I'll train hard and try not to let you leave me too far behind!"

Lin Beiya smiled and nodded. He had no doubt Shi Nuo would work hard. Otherwise, his current cultivation wouldn't be on par with the few children in their class who had Innate Soul Power at level nine. That was the result of hard work.

Not wanting to disturb Shi Nuo's training, Lin Beiya closed the door behind him and headed back to Douluo Hall. He and the two girls, Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong, were going to meet in the garden before heading to the Training Ground. He'd spent a little extra time with Shi Nuo today and wondered if he'd get an earful.

Lin Beiya was clearly overthinking it. When he arrived at the garden, he spotted Little Angel from a distance, talking with a handsome, middle-aged blond man.

The man wore ornate clothes and a crown. If Lin Beiya's guess was right, this was the current Pope of Spirit Hall—and Qian Renxue's father, Secret Room Douluo Qian Xunji.

He'd been in Douluo Hall for nearly two years, yet this was the first time Lin Beiya had seen the Pope. Little Angel had told him that Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji had a strained relationship, so the latter rarely came to Douluo Hall. Father and daughter usually met in Pope Hall.

It wasn't hard to understand why their relationship was strained. Qian Daoliu hadn't stopped his son from acting as he pleased, but as the owner of the sacred, radiant Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, he still deeply despised his son's conduct.

As for what could make Qian Xunji endure that contempt and come to Douluo Hall to negotiate, Lin Beiya could think of only one thing.

Not wanting to disturb the father and daughter as they chatted, Lin Beiya turned to head to the Training Ground and wait for Little Angel.

But as soon as he turned, a voice filled with authority reached his ears.

"Since you're here, come over."

Following his father's gaze, Qian Renxue noticed Lin Beiya's arrival. She happily waved him over.

Lin Beiya sighed inwardly. If he could help it, he truly didn't want to deal with this man who was already halfway into his grave. But since the other man had called out to him, simply walking away wouldn't do. He could only steel himself and go over.

"Lin Beiya pays his respects to Your Holiness."

"Oh? You recognized me? We haven't met before, have we?"

Qian Xunji raised an eyebrow, curious that Lin Beiya had identified him at a glance.

"Someone allowed to move freely in Douluo Hall, with a face somewhat like the Grand Pontiff's—I could only think of Your Holiness."

Qian Renxue was also curious how he'd recognized her father. Hearing Lin Beiya's explanation, she suddenly understood and stuck out her tongue at him.

Qian Xunji nodded slightly, then smiled.

"You're quite clever. Little Xue and the Grand Pontiff have both mentioned you to me. You're very capable!"

"Thank you for your praise, Your Holiness."

"Mm. Train hard, and in the future, help Little Xue manage Spirit Hall. That way, you won't have wasted Spirit Hall's investment in you."

Lin Beiya's thoughts stirred. Was he already testing him? Had he become wary after that Little Blondie with half a level of Innate Soul Power had gotten close to her?

"Don't worry, Your Holiness. I'll do my best."

"Mm. You two still have training this afternoon, right? I won't keep you."

After stroking Little Angel's hair, Qian Xunji glared resentfully in the direction of Angel Temple, then left Douluo Hall with a cold snort.

Watching Qian Xunji's retreating figure, Lin Beiya asked Little Angel in puzzlement:

"Did he have a fight with the Grand Pontiff?"

Qian Renxue shook her head, showing that she didn't know either.

"I don't know. I asked, but Father wouldn't tell me. Judging by his expression, though, it seems things didn't go well."

After thinking it over, Lin Beiya had a good idea of what had happened between the father and son. Most likely, Qian Xunji had heard about the Hundred-Thousand-Year Transformed Soul Beast and wanted to capture Ah Yin so Bibi Dong could absorb her Soul Ring, hoping that would ease the tension between them.

But Ah Yin had people from the Clear Sky Sect around her. The forces at Pope Hall alone might not be enough, so he'd come to Douluo Hall to ask for help.

But judging from Qian Xunji's reaction, Qian Daoliu must have refused.