The Man Who Robbed My Father's Tomb

"Grandpa Lion."

"Xiao Xue." Azure Luan Douluo opened his eyes and smiled at her.

"Grandpa Azure Luan."

Feather Douluo got up from his chair and brushed the melon seed shells off his hands.

"Xiao Xue, your grandfather was just asking after you. He said you came all this way back without even seeing him first."

"I came to see Grandpa after visiting Father's grave." Qian Renxue paused.

"Grandpa Feather, you've got a melon seed shell at the corner of your mouth."

Feather Douluo hastily wiped his face.

Qianjun Douluo set down his chess piece and looked up at Qian Renxue.

"Xiao Xue, you've lost weight again."

"Grandpa Qianjun, I haven't lost weight."

Demon Subduing Douluo burst out laughing.

"Brother, every time you see Xiao Xue, you tell her she's lost weight. You said the same thing the last time she came back, and then she weighed herself and found she'd gained five pounds."

Qianjun Douluo glared at him. "You're always running your mouth."

The corners of Qian Renxue's lips lifted slightly. It was a tiny curve, but she really was smiling.

Ji Ye stood three paces behind her, watching the scene with some surprise.

He'd thought the Spirit Hall Worshippers would be the kind of aloof, icy old monsters who held themselves above everyone else.

He hadn't expected this kind of atmosphere.

Demon Subduing Douluo was the first to notice Ji Ye.

He walked straight over, looked the gray-clad, masked youth up and down, then casually slung an arm around Ji Ye's shoulders.

"Hey, who's this little guy?" Demon Subduing Douluo turned to Qian Renxue.

"Not bad-looking, either. He's wearing a mask, but you can tell from his eyes and brows that he's a handsome young fellow. Xiao Xue, when did you meet this friend?"

Demon Subduing Douluo's arm was squeezing the breath out of Ji Ye. He was about to introduce himself when Qian Renxue's voice rang out first.

"He's the one who robbed my father's tomb."

Demon Subduing Douluo's arm froze around Ji Ye's shoulders.

The entire Worship Hall fell silent.

Mighty Lion Douluo, Feather Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, and Qianjun Douluo all turned to stare at Ji Ye.

Demon Subduing Douluo slowly lowered his head and looked at Ji Ye in his arms. The smile was still on his face, but it had gone completely rigid.

"...What?"

"The one who robbed my father's tomb." Qian Renxue repeated herself, her voice calm.

Demon Subduing Douluo let go and took a step back.

He looked Ji Ye over again, from head to toe, then toe to head.

"You robbed a tomb?" Demon Subduing Douluo's voice went up an octave.

"And it was the tomb of Spirit Hall's former Supreme Pontiff?"

"You've got some nerve!"

Ji Ye opened his mouth.

"If I said I was just passing by, would you believe me?"

"Passing by?" Mighty Lion Douluo strode over. His huge frame loomed in front of Ji Ye like a wall.

"Passing by doesn't take you inside a tomb!"

"I got lost."

"Lost?" Feather Douluo came over too, tilting his head as he looked at Ji Ye. "You didn't see that huge sign saying 'Spirit Hall Restricted Area'?"

"I didn't notice it."

Ji Ye felt so wronged.

He really hadn't robbed any tomb.

He hadn't even touched the coffin lid.

But these Worshippers clearly weren't going to doubt Qian Renxue.

If Qian Renxue said he was a tomb robber, then he was a tomb robber.

No evidence needed, no interrogation, no process to follow.

Azure Luan Douluo walked over and looked down at Ji Ye. His gaze wasn't particularly fierce, but that oppressive presence was even more unbearable than anger.

"If Xiao Xue said it, it must be true."

Qianjun Douluo stood up too. He and Demon Subduing Douluo took up positions on either side, their brotherly coordination making them seem like one person.

Five Worshippers had surrounded Ji Ye.

None released a Soul Ring. None summoned a Martial Soul.

But the invisible pressure had already made Ji Ye break out in a cold sweat.

Titled Douluos.

Five Titled Douluos.

Any one of them could pin him to the ground and grind him into the dirt.

Ji Ye took a deep breath.

"I didn't rob any tomb."

Nobody paid him any attention.

"I'm telling the truth."

Still, nobody paid him any attention.

"Do none of you people from Spirit Hall listen to anyone?"

Mighty Lion Douluo grinned. "We listen, but only to our own people."

Ji Ye's mouth twitched.

Forget it. There was no point explaining.

The more he tried, the angrier he got.

Qian Renxue stood a few paces away with her arms folded, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She wanted to see how long this masked little thief could keep insisting he was innocent.

Mighty Lion Douluo moved first.

He reached for Ji Ye's collar. His movements weren't especially fast, but his strength and imposing presence alone were enough to make an ordinary person's legs buckle.

Ji Ye was getting angry.

He'd been in a decent mood today, but now he'd somehow been mistaken for a tomb robber and brought before a crowd of Titled Douluos. He'd explained himself over and over, and no one believed him. And now they were going to attack?

Fine.

Even if he couldn't win, he'd fight.

At least he wouldn't stand there and take a beating.

The instant four Soul Rings rose from beneath Ji Ye's feet, the light throughout the Worship Hall seemed to twist.

Purple, purple, black, black.

The four Soul Rings turned slowly, purple and black intertwined, radiating an oppressive force that was entirely unlike that of a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor.

Mighty Lion Douluo's hand stopped in midair.

Feather Douluo's mouth fell open in an O.

Azure Luan Douluo's eyes flew wide.

The Qianjun and Demon Subduing brothers drew in sharp breaths at the same time.

The five Titled Douluos wore eerily identical expressions.

Stunned.

Mighty Lion Douluo was the first to react, but all he did was rub his eyes.

"I'm not seeing things, am I? Purple, purple, black, black?"

Feather Douluo crouched and tilted his head, staring at the Soul Rings beneath Ji Ye's feet for a long while.

"That Soul Power fluctuation doesn't seem fake."

Qianjun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo exchanged a glance.

How the hell was this possible?

Demon Subduing Douluo swallowed. "He's reached the fourth ring at twelve, and his Soul Ring Configuration is this ridiculous. What did this kid grow up eating?"

Qian Renxue stood a few paces away. At last, her expression changed.

She'd thought he was just a gutsy little thief, perhaps with a little cleverness at most.

But now, he seemed to be a monstrously talented youth.

Purple, purple, black, black.

This Soul Ring Configuration—

Even she couldn't achieve it.

No. No one on the entire continent could.

Qian Renxue looked at Ji Ye, her gaze growing complicated.

Just who was this young man?

Just as everyone was still reeling from the shock, the door at the top of the steps opened.

Two people emerged.

The one in front was an elderly man with white hair and white robes. His face was lean and refined, his figure tall and slender. He was like a peerless sword sheathed in its scabbard.

His edge was hidden, but no one could afford to ignore him.

Behind him followed a black-haired, middle-aged man with a sturdy build. His expression was stern, and his gaze was as sharp as an eagle's.

The Grand Pontiff, Qian Daoliu.

The Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo.

The two descended the steps, their gazes falling at the same time on the four Soul Rings beneath Ji Ye's feet.

Qian Daoliu's brows drew together slightly.

Golden Crocodile Douluo's brows furrowed too.

The Worship Hall was so quiet that they could hear people breathing.

Golden Crocodile Douluo turned to Qian Daoliu, his eyes questioning.