Back to the Worship Hall, Several Extremely Enthusiastic Worshippers

Qian Renxue looked down at the jade box in her sleeve, silent for a moment.

"Elder Pufferfish, Elder Snake Lance."

"I must go into seclusion for a time. Handle the matters outside yourselves."

Snake Lance Douluo nodded.

"Understood. We shall say His Highness the Crown Prince has caught a cold and requires quiet recuperation."

Pufferfish Douluo gave a slight nod, remaining silent as he retreated back into the shadows.

Qian Renxue turned and walked toward the inner palace, her steps measured and calm.

The next day, news spread from the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.

His Highness the Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe, had fallen ill with a cold due to the strain of state affairs and was confined to his bed, temporarily declining all court business and visitors.

By the time the news went out, Ji Ye was already seated in a carriage leaving Heaven Dou City.

The next step.

It was time to find a way to obtain a god's inheritance.

Three days later, Martial Soul City.

Ji Ye jumped down from the carriage, looked up at the familiar, towering city walls, and let out a breath.

This trip had taken him to the Star Dou Forest, then the Sunset Forest, and finally Heaven Dou City; after tossing and turning for nearly half a month, he had finally returned.

He walked along the main street toward the Worship Hall, his pace unhurried.

The maids and guards he passed stopped to bow, and a few of the maids blushed, stealing extra glances at him.

Ji Ye was already used to it and walked on without looking aside.

The moment he pushed open the doors to the Worship Hall, the people inside swarmed him as if they had been waiting for a long time.

Mighty Lion Douluo was the first to rush over, throwing an arm around Ji Ye's shoulders with such force it nearly knocked the wind out of him.

"Little Ye! You've finally returned! Come, come, let this old man get a good look at you!"

He looked him up and down, slapping Ji Ye's back twice with a heavy hand, the sound echoing like drumbeats.

"Good lad! After I consumed that Infernal Delicate Apricot, I went straight from level ninety-seven to ninety-eight! Level ninety-eight! Do you know how many years I've been stuck at ninety-seven? Twenty years! Twenty whole years!"

As he spoke, Mighty Lion Douluo's eyes practically glowed, and his grip on Ji Ye tightened.

"You've done me a great favor on this trip!"

"Hahaha, then I would like to visit the Martial Soul Hall's library," Ji Ye said casually.

But before he could finish his thought, Demon Subduing Douluo squeezed in from the side, bumping Mighty Lion Douluo away, and leaned in with a grin.

"What about me, what about me! Little Ye, you don't know, but after I ate that Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, my Soul Power broke through to level ninety-seven! And I'm not far from level ninety-eight now! The pure yang energy inside me feels absolutely incredible!"

He patted his own chest, chin held high. "Now, in our Worship Hall, I can consider myself upper-middle tier!"

Feather Douluo stood nearby, a smile on his lips, his voice light and airy.

"Little Ye, the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass you gave me was also excellent. I've broken through to level ninety-seven, and it happens to align perfectly with my martial soul's attributes; it's incredibly smooth to use."

Golden Crocodile Douluo stood behind the other titled douluo, not pushing his way forward.

He waited until the others had finished before walking slowly to Ji Ye, looking down at him with a rare softness on his usually stern face.

"Ji Ye."

"Senior Golden Crocodile," Ji Ye said, looking up slightly.

Golden Crocodile Douluo was silent for a moment, then reached out to pat his shoulder.

"I have been stuck at level ninety-eight for over sixty years," he said, his voice so low that only Ji Ye could hear him clearly.

"I thought there was no hope for level ninety-nine in this life. That Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum helped me cross that threshold."

Ji Ye looked at him, the corners of his mouth curving slightly.

"Congratulations, Senior."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded and said nothing more, but the hand resting on Ji Ye's shoulder lingered for two seconds longer than usual.

The titled douluo surrounded him, everyone speaking at once, the atmosphere as lively as a festival.

However, in the corner, three people looked less than pleased.

Azure Phoenix Douluo leaned against a pillar with his arms crossed, watching the excited old men and letting out a cold huff.

Qianjun Douluo stood beside him, his face expressionless, though his fingers tapped rhythmically against the back of his hand.

Qian Daoliu sat at the head of the hall, holding a cup of tea and sipping it slowly. His expression was calm, but his eyes were narrowed slightly.

Azure Phoenix Douluo finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He walked up to Ji Ye and looked down at him, his tone carrying a hint of resentment.

"Little Ye, I haven't treated you poorly in the past, have I?"

Ji Ye looked up at him and blinked.

"Of course, Senior Azure Phoenix has been very good to me."

"Then why didn't I get a share of those immortal herbs?" Azure Phoenix Douluo's voice wasn't loud, but the sheer mournfulness of it made the other titled douluos nearby burst into laughter.

"Lion is at level ninety-eight, Demon Subduing is at ninety-seven, Guang Ling is at ninety-seven, and Golden Crocodile is charging straight for ninety-nine. I'm still stuck at level ninety-seven—how am I supposed to keep them in check as the Third Elder?"

Before Ji Ye could answer, Qianjun Douluo walked over as well.

He was more direct than Azure Phoenix; he stood beside Demon Subduing Douluo and stared expressionlessly at his "younger brother."

"Little Ye, Demon Subduing and I may not be blood brothers, but we are as close as kin. After he consumed that immortal herb, he surpassed me, his own brother."

Qianjun Douluo's voice was neither cold nor warm. "Maybe I should just be his younger brother instead."

Demon Subduing Douluo scratched his head and shifted a step to the side.

"Actually, that wouldn't be impossible..."

"Get lost." Qianjun Douluo shot him a look.

"Don't think that just because you've broken through, I wouldn't dare beat you up."

The other elders nearby laughed even harder.

Qian Daoliu finally set down his teacup, rose from his seat, and walked slowly toward Ji Ye.

The moment he spoke, everyone fell silent.

"Ji Ye, Demon Subduing says you discovered a place called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. How did you find it?"

His voice was not loud, but the pressure belonging to a level ninety-nine peerless douluo made the air feel several degrees heavier.

The smiles on the elders' faces faded, and their gazes fell curiously upon Ji Ye.

Ji Ye stood his ground, meeting Qian Daoliu's gaze without flinching.

"It really was discovered in a dream."

"A dream?" Qian Daoliu's brows twitched slightly.

"Yes." Ji Ye remained composed.

"In the dream, I became a deity, known as the Archon of Time and the Archon of Void, ranking above the God of Law Enforcement, governing the laws of space and time in the world. My spiritual power enveloped the entire continent, and everything was within my perception." He paused.

"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was something I saw in that dream."

Qian Daoliu stared into Ji Ye's eyes, his gaze as sharp as two blades.

The hall remained silent for several breaths, save for the faint crackling of the Soul Power lamps.

Ji Ye stood there, his eyes calm and without the slightest flicker of hesitation.

Qian Daoliu watched him for a long time before finally withdrawing his gaze.

"Fine, let's drop this subject."

He did not fully believe him, but he did not press the matter further.