Six years passed.
After that stormy night, Qian Xunji simply settled down in Soul Saint Village. Rather than going to the city to struggle for survival, he returned to the survival philosophy of an overworked office drone from his past life and became a barefoot doctor in the village. The spider cocoon A-Dong had transformed into was placed in a dark, damp cave, in the hope that it would one day hatch.
After the great battle six years ago, Pope Tang Hao returned and died of his injuries. The new Pope, Bibi Yin, took office. At the same time, Haotian Hall attacked the Angel Sect, but Tang Chen, the former Great Worshiper, had made an agreement with Qian Daoliu years ago: Haotian Hall was not to set foot on Angel Sect territory.
Thus, the Angel Sect ultimately sealed off its mountain, and Qian Xunji was expelled from the sect. Meanwhile, its four affiliated sects—the Earth Dragon Clan, Mammoth Clan, Wind Sword Clan, and Fire Leopard Clan—suffered disaster as well, with the Wind Sword Clan suffering the heaviest losses.
Although this body had been left with hidden injuries after desperately unleashing its power before, a starving Titled Douluo was still stronger than a horse. Qian Xunji discovered that when his Six-Winged Angel was not performing Angel Judgment or Divine Sanction, its gentle, sacred light Soul Power was simply exceptional for treating ordinary villagers.
And so, the villagers of Soul Saint Village often witnessed a magical scene:
Inside the clinic at the village entrance, the handsome and gentle Doctor Qian emitted warm, soft golden holy light. Beneath that sacred radiance... Old Jerry, the village chief, comfortably closed his eyes and warmed his aching old knees, while Auntie Wang next door used the holy light to treat years of rheumatic bone pain.
"Doctor Qian's therapy is absolutely incredible! Every time I get a treatment, my back is good enough for three straight days of farm work!"
"A living god descended to earth!"
Faced with the villagers' simple praise, Qian Xunji could only smile and nod while frantically complaining inwardly: If Father found out that the martial soul they were so proud of was being used for work at a rural clinic, he'd probably die of rage.
Other than being the village doctor, Qian Xunji's greatest achievement over the past six years was raising the little bundle he had desperately saved back then—Qian San.
As a modern young man who had thoroughly read the original story, Qian Xunji had a clear bottom line when it came to raising children: he absolutely could not let his son end up like in the original, drinking inferior millet porridge from a broken bowl every day!
Over those six years, he came up with all sorts of nutritious meals for Qian San. He fed the boy medicinal herbs that nourished his qi and blood, hunted wild beasts in the mountains for meat, and even went to the Soul Hunting Forest several times to kill soul beasts for their meat. He stuffed food into the little fellow's stomach as though it cost nothing. As a result, his finances remained fairly decent, and he often robbed the wicked to help himself.
He had forcibly raised Qian San into a child full of vitality, with well-proportioned flesh and bones. He stood a head taller than children his age, his complexion rosy and healthy, and he looked utterly lovable. There was none of the sallow, skinny, pitiful appearance from the original story.
Of course, as the little fellow gradually grew up, Qian Xunji also completely confirmed his true identity.
Every day at first light, the boy would pant his way up the back mountain and stare fiercely at the sun, purple light gleaming in his eyes. When he ran around the courtyard, his footwork was flashy and slippery, impossible to pin down. Whenever he chopped firewood, his hands would occasionally take on a smooth, jade-like sheen.
Purple Demon Eye, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, Mysterious Jade Hand...
Qian Xunji often sat on the doorstep with a cup of tea steeped with goji berries, clicking his tongue in amazement as he watched the back mountain. "No doubt about it. This is Tang San, complete with the Tang Sect outer disciple cheat package. But judging by how he plays with poison now... I wonder whether he'll want to revive the Tang Sect in the future, or establish the Qian Sect with me."
Today was Soul Saint Village's annual martial soul awakening day.
Qian Xunji did not go to the Haotian Hall branch to join the excitement. Instead, he stayed in the clinic's backyard, slowly simmering a pot of pork bone soup. No matter how topsy-turvy this world was, his son was still his son.
At dusk, the wooden courtyard gate creaked open.
Six-year-old Qian San walked in with steady steps. He wore clean, neat clothes of coarse cloth, and his eyes held a thoughtfulness far beyond his age. Yet at that moment, there was a trace of something strange and excited mixed into his calmness.
"Dad, I'm back." Qian San obediently walked over to the stove.
"Finished awakening?" Qian Xunji wiped his hands on a towel and knowingly asked.
"The village chief didn't look down on our family for producing a useless martial soul, did he? Come on, show me."
Qian San nodded, his little face filled with seriousness. "The deacon in charge of the awakening said I have Innate Full Soul Power. As for my martial soul... he said it was a useless beast martial soul."
As he spoke, Qian San slowly raised his right hand.
A faint, dark blue glow gathered in his palm. There were no blades of grass, no vines. Instead, a palm-sized spider suddenly appeared in his hand!
The spider was a deep, dark blue all over. Its round abdomen and eight legs were covered in tiny, delicate silver patterns.
It was not a plant at all, but a vivid, living arthropod that even spun a strand of crystalline spider silk in Qian San's palm!
Blue Silver Spider!
It was a pure martial soul inherited from his mother A-Dong's hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Spider Emperor bloodline!
Though it was only the basic version...
Qian San looked at the spider in his hand, his eyes sparkling. As a former Tang Sect disciple, he felt a natural affinity for venomous creatures. This spider perfectly suited his pursuit of hidden weapons and poisons.
Qian Xunji looked at the Blue Silver Spider obediently crawling around Qian San's hand, and the corner of his mouth could not help twitching twice.
"Not bad. This Blue Silver Spider looks... quite appetizing. No, I mean, quite domineering." Qian Xunji coughed dryly and rubbed his son's head.
Qian San raised his head, glanced around to make sure no one else was in the courtyard, then lowered his voice. With a trace of dependence as though seeking shelter, he said:
"Dad... actually, I have another martial soul. I felt that it was too eye-catching at the time, so I secretly put it away."
Here it came! The gears of fate had begun spinning wildly!
Qian Xunji forcibly suppressed his wildly rising grin and raised an eyebrow with feigned seriousness. "Oh? Twin Martial Souls? Take it out and let your father have a look."
Qian San took a deep breath and slowly spread open his left hand.
In an instant, a sacred, warm, and incomparably majestic golden light suddenly illuminated the entire dim kitchen!
Within that dazzling holy light, a miniature golden phantom emerged in Qian San's left palm. It was a humanoid silhouette with its eyes closed and hands folded over its chest. Behind it, six flawless white wings of light unfurled!
Six-Winged Angel!
The kitchen fell silent at once. Golden holy light and dark blue spider light reflected off one another. Angel in his left hand, spider in his right—the sight was indescribably strange, yet harmonious.
Qian Xunji took a deep breath and slowly crouched down until he was eye level with Qian San.
He stretched out both hands and tightly grasped Qian San's two small hands, each holding a martial soul. Looking into Qian San's clear eyes, he spoke with unprecedented solemnity, as though passing down some supreme faith, enunciating every word:
"Son, remember this well."
"In the future, do not add any soul rings to your Angel Martial Soul. Do not let anyone know you have Twin Martial Souls. Unless it is a moment of life and death... never expose your Angel Martial Soul."
"You must use the angel in your left hand to protect the spider in your right hand!"
Before you continue