Chapter 34

After returning to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, Xue Qinghe immediately began to write a letter.

She knew in her heart that this matter was far too significant to be kept hidden.

Even if she didn't report it, word would eventually reach Martial Soul Hall. Rather than being caught off guard, it was better to confess proactively; at least that way, they could prepare.

She started from the moment she met Xuan Qing, detailing every major event with great precision.

She wrote of Xuan Qing's strength, the spear that came with his martial soul, the trail of Tang San, son of Tang Hao, Zi Ji's soul ring configuration, and the intelligence regarding a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear king with cultivation exceeding a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.

She also included Xuan Qing's ability to predict fortune and misfortune, as well as his capacity to sense malice.

She speculated that the quality of the Azure Dragon Martial Soul was absolutely not inferior to the Six-Winged Angel, and might even be higher.

As she reached the end, she hesitated.

Should she write down the part where Xuan Qing called her grandfather a "two-bit idiot"?

After a moment of thought, she gritted her teeth and wrote it down exactly as it happened, including the line:

"If I were the ancestor of the Qian family, I would absolutely crawl out of my coffin and drag him in with me. Why would you keep such an unfilial descendant?"

Finally, Qian Renxue added a postscript to the end of the letter.

"Grandfather, what on earth are you thinking! Your granddaughter hasn't even finished her mission, and I'm being scolded by a child to the point where I feel like hanging myself."

"I wanted to retort, but I didn't even have a reason. You really ought to find some proper work to do."

"Snake Lance, deliver this letter to my grandfather. You must hand it to him personally; no third party may touch it."

Snake Lance Douluo took the letter and bowed solemnly.

"Rest assured, Young Mistress, this subordinate understands."

He departed that very night for Martial Soul City; the speed of a Title Douluo traveling at full tilt was quite remarkable.

He arrived in Martial Soul City the next morning and headed straight for the Worship Hall.

Inside the Worship Hall, Qian Daoliu was praying beneath the Angel Statue. He appeared to be in his thirties, but given the long lifespan of a peerless Douluo, he was still in his prime.

"A letter from Xue'er?"

Snake Lance Douluo respectfully presented the envelope.

"The Young Mistress ordered me to deliver this to you personally. She said the matter is of great importance and asks that you treat it with the utmost gravity."

Qian Daoliu took the letter and broke the seal. As he read, his expression grew increasingly solemn, and his brows furrowed tighter.

After finishing, he remained silent for a long time before handing the letter to Golden Crocodile.

Golden Crocodile took the letter and read it, his expression turning quite colorful.

Then, Azure Luan Douluo, Mighty Lion Douluo, Guang Ling Douluo, Thousand Jun, and Falling Devil took turns reading it.

A deathly silence filled the hall after they finished. Every person wore the same expression—one of utter bewilderment.

How many years had it been?

This was the first person who dared to point at Qian Daoliu's nose and curse him, yet they found themselves unable to refute a single word.

Every point was reasonable. Qian Daoliu was the Great Priest of Martial Soul Hall, the one at the helm.

Martial Soul Hall bore the surname Qian; regardless of the reason, this was his responsibility.

But what had he been doing all these years?

Internal divisions in Martial Soul Hall? He ignored them.

External enemies not purged? He allowed the tiger to grow strong.

He never stepped out of his doors; was there any difference between his presence and his absence?

The expression on Guang Ling Douluo's youthful face was incredibly complex.

"Big Brother! Is... is this true? Did that brat really say that?"

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"It shouldn't be false. Xue'er wouldn't lie about something like this."

Mighty Lion Douluo frowned and said, "Then what do we do? Recruit this kid? A thirty-seventh-level Soul Elder under the age of ten with a ten-thousand-year third ring—this talent is too terrifying."

Azure Luan Douluo shook his head.

"Unlikely. The forces behind him are not inferior to ours, perhaps even greater. To be able to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast for a subordinate and cultivate such a monster, their strength is unfathomable."

A murderous glint flashed in Golden Crocodile's eyes.

"Then we strike early and cripple him. If such a genius cannot be used by us, he cannot be left for others."

Guang Ling Douluo poured a bucket of cold water on him.

"Second Brother, it's not that I'm being disrespectful, but with his ability to predict fortune and misfortune, do you believe he wouldn't sense your killing intent the moment you stepped out of Martial Soul City?"

Golden Crocodile fell silent. Though the words were harsh, they were the truth.

Predicting fortune and misfortune... this ability was simply a bug!

To go with killing intent is equivalent to tipping him off in advance.

Qian Daoliu pondered.

"Guang Ling Douluo is right. If we are to go, we cannot carry killing intent, otherwise, no matter how fast we are, we won't be able to catch up to his escape speed."

Thousand Jun Douluo sighed.

"It takes time for us to rush over. For a level 97 super powerhouse, running away is far too simple. Even if Big Brother burns his soul power to rush over, it would still be too late. As for the rest of us..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear—there was no hope.

Falling Devil Douluo was more direct.

"Going with killing intent will be sensed in advance, but how can we kill someone without it? Are we going there for a social visit?"

Ugh!!!!

The hall fell into a dead silence.

This was the first time they had encountered such a... bizarre person?

Fight? They definitely couldn't fight him.

Kill? They couldn't kill him either.

Recruit? He was even less likely to be recruited.

It seemed that other than staring blankly... there was absolutely nothing they could do.

Qian Daoliu finally made the call.

"Observe first, befriend him, and within a safe range, extract as much intelligence as possible. That kid knows so much; it is useful to us. As for the matter of him scolding me..."

He paused, a complex smile appearing on his face.

"He is right. Over these years, I have indeed failed to fulfill my responsibilities. The internal division of Martial Soul Hall and the failure to eliminate external enemies are all my fault. It is time for Martial Soul Hall to be reorganized."

His eyes sharpened, and his aura shifted.

He was no longer the Qian Daoliu who remained aloof from the world, but the decisive Judgment Elder of the past.

"Internal divisions should be purged, and external enemies should be killed—leave none alive. As for Tang Hao..."

"I promised Tang Chen that I would not step foot into the Clear Sky Sect, but I never said I wouldn't hunt down Tang Hao. Pass down the order: hunt Tang Hao with full force, dead or alive."

The great elders were invigorated; this was the Big Brother they knew.

Guang Ling Douluo smiled.

"We should have done this long ago. That brat Tang Hao has been jumping around for too long. This time, we must finish him off."

Azure Luan Douluo asked a question.

"Do we need to notify Bibi Dong? After all, she is the Pope now."

Qian Daoliu hesitated for only a moment.

"Tell Bibi Dong to hunt down Tang Hao and Tang San, father and son, with full force. If any accidents occur because of that useless woman..."

"I don't mind slaughtering her and having Xue'er return to inherit the Papacy. Even if Xue'er doesn't return, I, the former-former Pope, am not dead yet. It is not her place to cover the sky with one hand in Martial Soul Hall."

He looked at Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan.

"You two are responsible for this matter. Tell her that as long as I am alive, Martial Soul Hall remains the same Martial Soul Hall. No matter who is missing, Martial Soul Hall will not fall."

Golden Crocodile and Azure Luan bowed solemnly.

"Yes! Rest assured, Great Elder, we will go and notify her now."

The two left the Worship Hall and headed toward the Pope Palace.

The other elders also dispersed.

Qian Daoliu picked up the letter again and read it one more time, especially the part where Xuan Qing scolded him.

He read it for a long time, and in the end, he smiled—a smile of relief.

"Xuan Qing... an interesting kid. It seems I must find an opportunity to meet you in person. I hope you won't disappoint me."