Qian Daoliu (Seeking Collection and Follow-up Reads)

Inside the Crown Prince's residence in Heaven Dou Imperial City.

The moment the four of them touched the ground, Yu Tianshuo clutched his chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Although he had controlled a clone to execute the self-destruction, the toll on his consciousness while inhabiting the vessel was immense. Furthermore, this explosion meant he would be unable to manifest his blue clone for the near future; he would have to wait for a slow recovery.

Seeing Yu Tianshuo in such a wretched state, Qian Renxue felt a pang of heartache and hurriedly inquired about his injuries.

Yu Tianshuo merely waved his hand, swallowed the blood in his mouth, and began to sit cross-legged to regulate his breathing.

For the time being, there was no need to worry about Di Tian pursuing them in a fit of rage to finish the job, unless he had lost his mind and wanted to expose the fact that a large number of fierce beasts were hiding within the Star Dou Forest.

That did not align with the Silver Dragon King's plans; she still needed to recuperate, and the wounds inflicted by the Asura God were still healing at a snail's pace.

The parting words left for Di Tian were intended to stall him, and the self-destruction served as a declaration that he would not easily submit.

However, just to be safe, his primary goal now was to recover his state as quickly as possible. If Di Tian truly lacked the brains and came hunting, he would still have the capacity to blow him up one more time.

As Yu Tianshuo regulated his breath, his previously withered state improved visibly to the naked eye.

His originally pale complexion rapidly regained its rosy hue.

Yet, just at that moment, a strange and aged voice suddenly echoed in Yu Tianshuo's ears.

"What terrifying recovery power, little one..."

It happened in a flash. Without waiting for the voice to finish, the seated Yu Tianshuo instantly activated Martial Soul Possession. His second soul ring flared, and a red clone erupted from his body, its form beginning to swell the very instant it appeared.

He flashed backward at high speed, not forgetting to grab Qian Renxue as he fled. Just as the two were about to shatter the glass and escape, a wave of bright, gentle energy enveloped all four of them. In an instant, Qian Renxue and the two Title Douluo recognized the newcomer. The two Title Douluo knelt on one knee, cupping their fists and speaking respectfully to the old man who was gradually revealing his form.

"Snake Lance/Pufferfish, pay respects to the Grand Pontiff!"

Qian Renxue also bowed slightly and said, "Grandfather."

Yu Tianshuo was stunned for a moment, but with no time to think, he stiffly mimicked Qian Renxue's actions and words.

He bowed rigidly and echoed her, "Grandfather."

In an instant, the atmosphere in the room went dead silent.

Snake Lance and Pufferfish Douluo stared at Yu Tianshuo with incredulous eyes, then immediately shifted their gaze to Qian Renxue, as if trying to ask what was going on.

Wait, no? We didn't hear anything while you two were resting after the fight, and you've already reached this stage?

Qian Renxue was equally bewildered, but in the next second, her face flushed crimson. She stomped hard on Yu Tianshuo's foot.

Only then did Yu Tianshuo realize what he had done. Once he processed what he had just said, he became terrified that Qian Daoliu might tear him apart right then and there.

Who calls their partner's elder "grandfather" the very first time they meet? Even if he wanted to explain, he felt he couldn't clear his name.

Just as Yu Tianshuo was brainstorming how to salvage the situation, Qian Daoliu was stroking his beard with a smile, his eyes filled with indescribable satisfaction as he looked at Yu Tianshuo.

A decent lad. Capable, sharp-witted, and didn't forget to protect Xue'er when faced with danger. It would almost be a waste for him to just be a guardian.

With that thought, Qian Daoliu's gaze shifted, and as if struck by a sudden idea, he smiled and spoke.

"A fine lad, though it is a bit early to call me grandfather. Once you obtain your god-level trial, I shall consent to the marriage between you two. Only then will calling me grandfather be truly appropriate."

The room fell silent once more.

Yu Tianshuo had no time to think; he was completely dumbfounded. How did they suddenly fast-forward to marriage? He hadn't even met Qian Renxue that many times.

He looked at Qian Renxue with a blank expression, only to find her looking back at him. Her confusion seemed no less than his own, mixed with a hint of embarrassment and anger, which, combined with her beauty, made her look incredibly adorable.

Seeing the two juniors exchanging glances in front of him, Qian Daoliu's smile deepened.

Little rascal, you think I can't see your little schemes? Though it's a bit unconventional for Xue'er to fancy someone three years her junior, 'a woman three years older is like holding a golden brick.' This kid is getting a bargain.

Thinking this, Qian Daoliu casually grabbed the red clone that was about to explode, channeling holy energy to delay the detonation, and looked at Yu Tianshuo.

"Little one, is it time to retract this technique? If this were to blow up, the biggest topic in Heaven Dou City tomorrow would be the assassination of the Crown Prince."

Seeing the clone in Qian Daoliu's hand, Yu Tianshuo snapped back to reality. He beckoned the clone over and began to withdraw the violent soul power.

Watching this, Qian Daoliu grew quite interested.

A single person who not only mastered four extreme attributes but could control them perfectly—such things were unheard of even in storybooks. Since he had encountered it today, he would have to observe it closely.

The more he watched, the more shocked Qian Daoliu became. This wasn't delicate control; it was brute force overcoming technique. He wasn't separating the energies to absorb them individually; he was devouring them violently. Even the holy soul power he had injected to delay the explosion was swallowed whole, leaving nothing behind.

Furthermore, he completely lost his connection to the absorbed soul power; it was as if it had vanished.

At this thought, Qian Daoliu's eyes narrowed. The only other time he had seen such a phenomenon was with fallen soul masters who devoured the life force of others to cultivate—a behavior that treated commoners as nothing and felt like a blasphemy against the Angel God.

In the past, he would have executed such people without hesitation. But the person standing before him was the guardian chosen by Xue'er. Should he kill him?

While Qian Daoliu was locked in an internal struggle, Yu Tianshuo finished absorbing the volatile clone, though he felt something strange inside—a peculiar power.

With a thought, he forced several wisps of divine power containing a holy aura out of his body.

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu's expression returned to normal, and the complexity in his eyes vanished.

So it was just isolation, not consumption. Then there is no problem.

What Qian Daoliu did not know was that Yu Tianshuo simply hadn't absorbed the Radiant Dragon King and thus lacked the trait to absorb light.

Had he possessed it, that wisp of soul power containing the Angel God's aura would have been the perfect nourishment for Yu Tianshuo.

And what Yu Tianshuo did not know was that his unintentional action had just saved his own life.