Azure Divine Dragon

An hour later, Xiao Qing's aura gradually settled.

Xiao Qing slowly opened her eyes. The azure Soul Power swirling around her had changed, carrying a faint oppressive presence. The phantom of the Azure War Dragon had vanished, replaced by a more sacred and imposing divine dragon.

This was the Azure Divine Dragon.

Xiao Qing rose to her feet, sensing the surging power within her. She immediately walked over to Qian Xunji and bowed. "Thank you, Uncle Qian, for granting me this new life."

Qian Xunji closed his eyes and sensed her condition before nodding. "Level forty-six. Not bad. That blood bead contained immense energy. You have only absorbed part of it; the rest will gradually alter your physique. Go back and consolidate your gains properly. I have something to tell you all tomorrow."

"Yes." Xiao Qing nodded obediently, then flashed away and vanished into the woods.

Qian Xunji remained where he was, gazing at the moonlight in the distance as he began making plans. On this return to the Surface World, he would certainly bring his son, Qian San. Xiao Qing, as a top-tier fighter, would come as well. As for Dai Zhuqing, that girl's temperament and potential were both quite good, making her a suitable candidate too. As for the others, he would ask Qian San what he thought tomorrow, since he had never even met them.

Another hour passed.

Dugu Bo's voice came from nearby. "Senior, Gu Xin of the Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect has arrived."

Qian Xunji's figure flickered, and he instantly returned to where Yu Fengzhi had previously been kneeling.

Under the moonlight stood a gaunt old man, sword in hand, his entire body radiating a heavy sword intent. He was Gu Xin, whose martial soul was the Bone Sword. More than a dozen blood-soaked cloth bundles lay at his feet, and the thick stench of blood filled the air.

Gu Xin had nothing to say at this moment. After receiving the secret letter, he had practically raced without stopping to slaughter every talented seedling of Haotian Academy except for the Platinum Generation. Those were more than a dozen hopefuls who might one day have become Soul Douluo or even Titled Douluo, yet he had chopped them down one by one with his sword.

He raised his head to look at Qian Xunji, then glanced at Yu Fengzhi kneeling on the ground and Chen Rong, who had lost an arm. What pained him most was seeing Yu Rongrong, the sect's treasured jewel, buried in the earth with only her head exposed as she sobbed.

Gu Xin tightened his grip on the Bone Sword, but he did not make a move. Yu Fengzhi's earlier message had made it perfectly clear: the visitor was a Peerless Douluo. If they dared resist, the sect would be destroyed.

"Senior." Gu Xin lowered his head, his voice hoarse. "The task has been completed. All the core talents of Haotian Hall's younger generation, aside from the Platinum Generation, are here."

Yu Fengzhi spoke tremblingly. "Senior, we have done what you demanded. Now... can you let us go?"

Qian Xunji glanced over the heads, his tone calm. "Not bad. Sect Master Yu, you were quite decisive."

He waved a hand, directly pulling Yu Rongrong from the ground while also releasing the pressure on Yu Fengzhi and Chen Rong.

"Enough. Get up," Qian Xunji said.

"Go back and dispose of these heads properly. Do not let outsiders learn that I ordered you to do this, but do not let Haotian Hall fail to trace it back to you either."

Yu Fengzhi and Chen Rong supported each other as they stood. Chen Rong's face was frighteningly pale. Although the wound where his arm had been severed had stopped bleeding, the humiliation came with searing pain.

The moment Yu Rongrong was freed, she threw herself into Yu Fengzhi's arms and sobbed. She wanted to cry loudly but did not dare. Since childhood, she had never endured such suffering, much less witnessed a scene where an entire family was slaughtered at the slightest disagreement.

Qian Xunji looked at Yu Fengzhi and smiled. "Sect Master Yu, I will say it again: the Three Upper Sects should stand united. This time, you were the one at fault first. I was merely teaching you a lesson. Now, let this matter be considered settled."

Suppressing the hatred in his heart, Yu Fengzhi bent low and replied, "Yes, Fengzhi understands. Thank you, Your Eminence, for your magnanimity."

"What do you plan to do next?" Qian Xunji asked.

Yu Fengzhi wiped away a cold sweat and answered honestly, "I plan to take everyone back to the sect and hold our ground for now while increasing our intelligence gathering. Haotian Hall has lost an entire tier of talented disciples. They will surely go mad searching everywhere for the culprit. We must prepare for them to come demanding answers."

Qian Xunji nodded slowly. "Fine. This is what your Seven Treasure Overlord Pagoda Sect does best."

He paused, looked at Yu Fengzhi, and added, "Tomorrow night, come here alone to see me again."

Yu Fengzhi froze. Instinctively, he assumed Qian Xunji found the compensation just now insufficient and wanted even more resources. He did not dare refuse and could only hurriedly agree. "I will certainly arrive on time. Fengzhi will surely satisfy Your Eminence."

"Enough. Get lost." Qian Xunji waved his hand.

As though granted a pardon, Yu Fengzhi took the one-armed Chen Rong, Gu Xin carrying the heads, and the still-crying Yu Rongrong, and left the grounds of Kelaishi Academy overnight.

The back mountain returned to silence.

Dugu Bo jumped down from a tree, watching the direction in which they had departed. Somewhat puzzled, he asked, "Senior, since you have already made them submit a token of loyalty, why not simply bring them under your command?"

Qian Xunji gazed at the moon and said blandly, "Bring them under my command? Old Poison, even a cornered dog will jump over a wall. No rush. They fear me now, and they have thoroughly offended Haotian Hall. Their days ahead will not be easy. As for tomorrow... we shall see."

And now, it was time for him to return and absorb that Angel Right Arm Bone. It was a Divine Level Spirit Bone. Even as a Peerless Douluo, he needed to devote his full concentration to it.

Late at night.

Under the cover of darkness, Qian Xunji left Kelaishi Academy alone and arrived at a cave.

At the center of the cave lay a blue-silver spider cocoon. Qian Xunji slowed his steps as he approached and silently watched it for a while.

He stretched out a hand and gently pressed it against the silk. With a sigh, he said softly, "You have suffered."

At the sound of his voice, the once-still spider cocoon trembled faintly, as though responding to him.

Qian Xunji smiled and withdrew his hand. He turned and walked to the other side of the cave, mobilizing his Soul Power to set up a sturdy barrier around the area. Then he sat cross-legged and took out the Divine Level Angel Right Arm Bone bestowed by the Angel God King.

The golden-red Spirit Bone hovered in the air. Qian Xunji did not hesitate, directly guiding it toward his right arm and beginning the absorption.

Three hours passed.

The golden glow in the cave gradually receded. Qian Xunji opened his eyes, rose to his feet, and flexed his right arm. The absorption process had gone very smoothly. The original Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone had been replaced by this Divine Level Spirit Bone.

He could clearly sense that the life level of his right arm had already pulled far ahead of the rest of his body. His right arm was filled with divine power, but for his entire body to completely reach the Divine Level, he would need to accumulate it gradually. It could not be achieved in a single step.