Qian Daoliu didn't answer at once. Instead, he closed his eyes and sensed the situation for a moment.
A few seconds later, he opened his eyes and gave a slight shake of his head.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's brow furrowed even more deeply.
He hadn't received a god's inheritance.
That meant the child's talent was innate, not something built up with outside help.
He'd never seen a monster like this before.
Qian Daoliu descended the last step and stood in front of Ji Ye.
White hair, white robes. His Soul Power was at rank ninety-nine, yet he released none of it. Still, just standing there, he was like a mountain.
Ji Ye looked up at him.
The two stared at each other for three seconds.
Qian Daoliu spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but every word was crystal clear.
"What's your name?"
"Ji Ye."
"How old are you?"
"Twelve."
Qian Daoliu nodded.
"Twelve years old, four rings, two Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, and your first two Soul Rings were already a thousand years old. Not bad."
Immediately afterward, Qian Daoliu released the pressure of his Soul Power.
Soul King level.
Ji Ye's body sank, as if something were pressing down on him.
Not bad. He could take it.
Qian Daoliu glanced at him, then raised the pressure to Soul Emperor level.
Ji Ye's breathing grew ragged, and sweat began to bead on his forehead.
Fine cracks appeared in the stone tiles beneath his feet.
This old geezer was testing him!
Ji Ye gritted his teeth.
Qian Daoliu's brow twitched slightly.
The pressure continued to climb.
Soul Saint.
It was like an entire mountain crashing down on him.
The pressure doubled.
Ji Ye's knees buckled, and his body pitched forward. He braced himself with one hand on the ground while the other clutched the Void Sword tightly.
The tip of the sword pierced the stone tiles, carving a deep groove.
His whole body trembled, from his fingers to his shoulders.
Just then.
Qian Daoliu stopped.
The pressure receded like the tide.
Ji Ye gasped for breath. The clothes on his back were soaked through with sweat, as if he'd just been hauled out of the water.
Not a soul in the Worship Hall spoke.
The expressions of several worshippers changed.
Mighty Lion Douluo, Feather Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, Qianjun Douluo, and Demon Subduing Douluo.
They exchanged glances, each seeing the same word in the others' eyes.
Monster.
Twelve years old, and he'd endured Soul Saint-level pressure.
Even if only for a short while.
But holy hell, he was only twelve!
Qian Renxue stood behind them, silent.
She was thinking about something.
At twelve, could she have endured her grandfather's Soul Saint-level pressure?
The answer made her deeply uncomfortable.
No.
This masked little thief was more talented than she was.
Ji Ye finally caught his breath and looked up at Qian Daoliu.
"Senior, finished testing me?"
The corners of Qian Daoliu's mouth lifted slightly. He walked over and patted Ji Ye on the shoulder.
"Kid, what do you think of my Spirit Hall?"
Ji Ye glanced around.
Mighty Lion Douluo was waggling his eyebrows at him, Feather Douluo had his head cocked, Azure Luan Douluo's expression was blank but his eyes had softened considerably, and the Qianjun and Demon Subduing brothers were grinning like a pair of honest country bumpkins.
Qian Renxue stood at the very back, her blue eyes fixed on him.
Ji Ye withdrew his Martial Soul, and the four Soul Rings vanished into the air.
"Very good."
"Except someone still thinks I'm a tomb robber."
The corner of Qian Renxue's mouth twitched slightly, but she said nothing.
Qian Daoliu burst into laughter. His laughter echoed through the Worship Hall several times before fading.
Then his smile vanished in an instant.
His expression changed, and his eyes turned sharp as knives.
"Kid, if you join Spirit Hall, we'll be on the same side."
"If you don't..."
He paused.
"Hmph. Trespassing in Spirit Hall's forbidden grounds is a capital offense. Think carefully."
Ji Ye's eyes widened.
How did this old geezer change faces so fast?!
He'd just been smiling and patting his shoulder, and now he was holding a knife to his throat?
Qian Renxue couldn't keep a straight face after her grandfather's little performance. The corner of her mouth curved upward, then quickly settled again.
Ji Ye looked at her, then at Qian Daoliu, then at the six worshippers around them.
A bunch of old geezers were waiting for his answer.
Mighty Lion Douluo was still waggling his eyebrows, his meaning obvious.
Kid, hurry up and agree. Don't be ungrateful.
Ji Ye sighed.
"Do I have a choice?"
Qian Daoliu smiled. This time, he really meant it.
"No."
"...Then I'll join."
"Good!" Demon Subduing Douluo was the first to rush over. He slung an arm around Ji Ye's shoulders again.
"I knew it! How could such a handsome kid be a tomb robber?"
Ji Ye shot him a sidelong glance.
"That's not what you said earlier."
"That was a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding." Demon Subduing Douluo laughed it off, then leaned closer.
"Come on, kid, take off your mask and let us old geezers have a look. I didn't get a good look just now."
Ji Ye glanced at Qian Renxue.
She said nothing. She'd seen Ji Ye before.
Mm, he was very handsome.
Ji Ye reached up and took off his mask.
The Worship Hall fell silent again.
The hand Demon Subduing Douluo had around his shoulder froze once more.
The other worshippers were stunned too.
Demon Subduing Douluo struggled to find words for a long moment before finally managing to blurt out, "You little rascal! I was just being polite when I called you handsome, but damn, you really are!"
Mighty Lion Douluo folded his arms and nodded seriously.
"Definitely handsome. If I'd looked like that when I was young, I wouldn't have stayed a bachelor until I was eighty."
Feather Douluo circled Ji Ye once.
"That skin, those features, that little face. Even I'm smitten."
Azure Luan Douluo shot him a cold glance.
"Wipe your mouth before you speak."
Feather Douluo hurriedly wiped his face again.
Qianjun Douluo came over and patted Ji Ye on the other shoulder. He didn't say anything, but his expression clearly said:
Kid, you've got a bright future.
Qian Daoliu stood on the steps, his gaze lingering on Ji Ye's face for a while before turning to Qian Renxue.
Then back to Ji Ye.
Then to Qian Renxue again.
His gaze swept back and forth several times.
Golden Crocodile Douluo stood behind him. Noticing his big brother's gaze, he frowned slightly.
"Big brother, isn't this too soon? The kid just got here."
Qian Daoliu didn't turn around. His lips moved, and only Golden Crocodile could hear his voice.
"No rush. A talent like this comes around once in several centuries. Let's have him stay in Spirit Hall for now and take things slowly."
"If the two of them hit it off, ahem..."
Golden Crocodile Douluo said nothing more.
Qian Renxue noticed her grandfather's gaze. A faint blush rose on her face, but quickly disappeared.
She knew her grandfather too well.
She'd seen that look before.
He used to look at the sons of those great clans like that.
Only before, it had been disapproval. This time, it seemed... approval?
Qian Renxue snorted inwardly.
He was only twelve, and he hadn't even grown his first whisker. What was there to approve of?
But she didn't let it show.
Qian Daoliu spoke.
"Xiao Xue, take him downstairs and find him a room."
"Yes, Grandpa."
Ji Ye wriggled free of Demon Subduing Douluo's embrace and followed Qian Renxue outside.
As they walked out through the Worship Hall's doors, he heard Mighty Lion Douluo's voice behind him.
"Seventh, how many girls do you think this kid will ruin when he grows up?"
He couldn't make out Demon Subduing Douluo's reply, but Feather Douluo's laughter came through loud and clear. It sounded wicked.
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