The Library Pavilion, Record of the Angel God

Mighty Lion Douluo leaned in, slinging an arm around Ji Ye's shoulder as he steered him toward the exit.

"Come on, come on, little Ye, us old fogies are treating you to dinner tonight! Name whatever you want to eat!"

"Don't get too carried away, all of you," Qian Daoliu's voice drifted from behind.

"Ji Ye, you mentioned wanting to enter the Library Pavilion earlier?"

Ji Ye halted and turned to face him.

"Yes, Senior. I wish to enter the Martial Soul Hall Library Pavilion to look up some information regarding cultivation."

He dared not mention that he actually wanted to research information concerning deities.

Qian Daoliu looked at him, falling silent for a moment.

"Very well," he paused. "Furthermore, I have decided that, starting today, I am conferring upon you the status of Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall."

Ji Ye was stunned.

Holy Son? The Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall held a status equivalent to the heir of the Pope, second only to the Pope and the various High Priests within the organization.

He opened his mouth, nearly blurting out his thoughts.

Would Bibi Dong agree to this?

Qian Daoliu seemed to see right through him and spoke indifferently.

"As for the Pope, you need not worry. Since I am the Chief High Priest, I still possess the authority to appoint a Holy Son."

Azure Phoenix Douluo let out a huff, his tone laced with envy.

"Holy Son? This little guy Ji Ye hasn't been here long, and he's already become the Holy Son."

Feather Douluo chuckled and said, "Old Qing, if you want to be the Holy Son, you can go find us old fogies a few immortal herbs, too."

Azure Phoenix Douluo glared at him.

"Shut up."

Mighty Lion Douluo pulled Ji Ye even closer, laughing heartily.

"Alright, alright! Holy Son or not, little Ye is one of our own now! Let's go, let's go, time to eat!"

Demon Subduing Douluo crowded in on the other side as well.

"Exactly, exactly! We must have a proper drink tonight! Little Ye, you'll have to share a few cups with us old fogies. Don't worry, we won't use our Soul Power to sober up!"

Ji Ye was ushered outside by the group, though his mind remained fixed on the Library Pavilion.

He didn't care much about being the Holy Son, but the opportunity to enter the Library Pavilion was truly rare.

He needed to find information about deities; since gods existed, why not create his own godhood?

That night.

The old fogies kept Ji Ye drinking for the entire night.

They drank from the dining hall to the courtyard, and from the courtyard to the side hall of the Worship Hall. A row of wine jars stood ready, while empty ones rolled all over the floor.

There was not a shred of dignity left for these High Priests.

Mighty Lion Douluo, caught up in the excitement, insisted on performing a lion dance.

He sprawled on the ground, twisting and turning.

It was truly a sight to behold.

Ji Ye was equally bold, choosing not to use his Soul Power to sober up.

He held his cup, drinking glass after glass with them until his head felt heavy by the end.

As for what he had said, he couldn't even remember.

He woke up the next day.

Ji Ye rubbed his temples, feeling as if his head were stuffed with cotton.

He turned his head to glance at the High Priests lying scattered about nearby.

It was impossible to imagine that this bunch were Title Douluo.

Ji Ye shook his head and left the area.

By the time he stepped outside the hall, the news of his appointment as Holy Son had already spread throughout the entirety of Martial Soul Hall.

As Ji Ye walked along the path, everyone he encountered stole glances at him, their eyes filled with curiosity, awe, envy, and a hint of scrutiny that was difficult to define.

He paid no mind to these gazes and headed straight toward the direction of the Library Pavilion.

Qian Daoliu was already waiting at the palace entrance.

"Are Lion and the others still not awake?"

"Uh, yes."

Qian Daoliu let out a cold snort, clearly dissatisfied with Lion and his companions.

Those old fellows just couldn't stop drinking once they started.

Did they have any regard for their image as titled elders?

"Let's go. I will take you to the Library Pavilion."

Ji Ye nodded and followed in his footsteps.

The two traversed several corridors and passed two gardens before stopping in front of an ancient, three-story pavilion.

The pavilion was not tall, constructed entirely of grey-green stone bricks, with dark green vines crawling over the walls, revealing only a heavy stone door.

Four bishops dressed in red stood at the entrance; upon seeing Qian Daoliu, they bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Great Elder."

"Open the door."

The four bishops turned and simultaneously pressed their palms into the grooves on either side of the stone door.

As Soul Power was injected, the stone door slowly slid open to both sides, emitting a low, grinding sound.

Behind the door lay a deep corridor, with glowing crystals embedded in the walls on both sides, casting a soft, dim blue light.

Qian Daoliu stepped inside, and Ji Ye followed closely behind.

Once their figures disappeared behind the door, the four bishops straightened up and exchanged glances.

The one on the far left lowered his voice.

"Who is that youth behind the Great Elder? He looks very unfamiliar."

The bishop beside him lowered his voice as well.

"Haven't you heard? Last night, the Great Elder appointed a youth as the Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall. That must be him."

"The Holy Son?" Another bishop gasped.

"Martial Soul Hall hasn't had a Holy Son in many years. Doesn't this mean... he is the next Pope?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down! That is not something we should be discussing." The fourth bishop glared at them, though he couldn't help but sneak a glance into the doorway himself.

"Still... we certainly cannot afford to be negligent when we see that youth in the future."

Inside the Library Pavilion, Qian Daoliu walked in front, his tone unhurried.

"The Library Pavilion was built at the founding of Martial Soul Hall and has a history of twenty thousand years. The books collected here cover every aspect, including martial soul theory, soul skill analysis, soul beast encyclopedias, continental history, and the customs of various regions. Among them are many precious unique copies and manuscripts."

Ji Ye nodded.

"Understood."

The two walked forward along the corridor, the bookshelves on both sides growing taller and the books becoming increasingly dense.

The air was permeated with the scent of aged paper and ink, mixed with the distinct, crisp fragrance of the wooden shelves.

When they reached the third floor of the Library Pavilion, Ji Ye suddenly paused.

His gaze fell upon an independent bookshelf nearby.

That shelf was shorter than the others, crafted entirely from golden wood, its surface carved with intricate patterns.

Only one book rested on the shelf, with a line of golden ancient characters embossed on its spine.

Record of the Angel God.

Ji Ye's gaze lingered on the ancient characters for two seconds. He did not reach out to take it, simply standing there quietly.

Qian Daoliu also stopped. He turned around and followed Ji Ye's gaze to the shelf; when he saw the Record of the Angel God, a subtle change flickered in the depths of his eyes.

He did not speak immediately, remaining silent for two breaths before slowly opening his mouth.

"That was recorded personally by the first Angel God. It documents the process by which the first Angel God created their own godhood, as well as some... past events involving the first Sea God."

Ji Ye tilted his head to look at Qian Daoliu, noticing a hint of scrutiny in the old man's gaze toward him.

"What, are you interested in this?"

Ji Ye smiled.

"Just a little curious."

Qian Daoliu watched him for several seconds before withdrawing his gaze.