Mighty Lion Douluo sidled up again, slung an arm around Ji Ye's shoulders, and started walking him outside.
"Come on, come on, Little Ye! Tonight, us old fogeys are treating you to dinner! Just say what you want to eat!"
"Don't get carried away celebrating," Qian Daoliu's voice came from behind them.
"Ji Ye, did you just say you wanted to go into the Library Pavilion?"
Ji Ye stopped and turned to look at him.
"Yes, senior. I'd like to consult some cultivation-related materials in Spirit Hall's Library Pavilion."
He didn't dare say he wanted to look up information about gods.
Qian Daoliu looked at him and fell silent for a moment.
"You may." He paused.
"Also, I've decided that, starting today, you will be granted the status of Holy Son of Spirit Hall."
Ji Ye froze.
Holy Son? Spirit Hall's Holy Son held a position equivalent to the Pope's successor, second only to the Pope and the several pontiffs within Spirit Hall.
He opened his mouth, nearly blurting out:
Would Bibi Dong agree?
Qian Daoliu seemed to see right through him and spoke calmly.
"You don't need to worry about the Pope. Since I'm the Grand Pontiff, I have the authority to appoint a Holy Son."
Azure Luan Douluo snorted, his tone sour.
"Holy Son? Little Ji Ye hasn't even been here long, and he's already become the Holy Son."
Feather Douluo giggled.
"Old Qing, if you want to be Holy Son too, you can go find a few Immortal Herbs for us old fogeys."
Azure Luan Douluo glared at him.
"Shut up."
Mighty Lion Douluo pulled Ji Ye even closer and burst out laughing.
"All right, all right! Holy Son or no Holy Son, Little Ye is one of us now! Come on, let's go eat!"
Demon Subduing Douluo came over too, following on Ji Ye's other side.
"Exactly! We have to drink properly tonight! Little Ye, have a few drinks with us old fogeys. Don't worry, we won't use Soul Power to sober up!"
Surrounded by the group, Ji Ye was led outside, but his mind was still on the Library Pavilion.
He didn't care much about being Holy Son, but the chance to enter the Library Pavilion was truly rare.
He needed to find information about gods. Since gods existed, why not create a godhood of his own?
That evening.
The old fogeys kept Ji Ye drinking all night.
They drank from the dining hall to the courtyard, then from the courtyard to a side hall in the Worship Hall. Wine jars lined the floor, and empty ones rolled everywhere.
They had none of the dignity of pontiffs.
Once he was in high spirits, Mighty Lion Douluo insisted on performing a lion dance.
He sprawled on the ground, wriggling this way and that.
It was simply unbearable to watch.
Ji Ye was just as hearty and didn't use Soul Power to sober up.
He raised his cup and drank with them, one cup after another. By the end, his head was starting to swim too.
As for what he'd said, he couldn't remember.
The next morning.
Ji Ye rubbed his temples, feeling as though his head were stuffed with cotton.
He turned to look at the pontiffs sprawled all around him.
It was hard to imagine these people were Titled Douluo.
Ji Ye shook his head and left.
By the time he stepped outside the hall,
word of his appointment as Holy Son had already spread throughout Spirit Hall.
As Ji Ye walked along, everyone he passed secretly sized him up, their eyes filled with curiosity, awe, envy, and an appraisal he couldn't quite put his finger on.
He paid their gazes no mind and headed straight for the Worship Hall.
Qian Daoliu was already waiting at the entrance.
"Those fellows, Mighty Lion and the others, still haven't woken up?"
"Uh, no."
Qian Daoliu gave a cold snort, displeased with Mighty Lion and the others.
Those old fogeys drank whenever they got together.
Had they no sense of a pontiff's dignity?
"Come. I'll take you to the Library Pavilion."
Ji Ye nodded and followed him.
They passed through several corridors and two gardens before stopping in front of an old-fashioned, three-story building.
The building wasn't tall. Its walls were made entirely of blue-gray bricks and covered in dark green vines, leaving only a heavy stone door exposed.
Four red-robed bishops stood at the entrance. When they saw Qian Daoliu, they all bowed in greeting.
"Greetings, Grand Pontiff."
"Open it."
The four bishops turned and placed their palms into the recesses on either side of the stone door.
As they poured in Soul Power, the door slowly slid open with a deep grinding sound.
Beyond it lay a long, shadowy corridor. Glowing crystals set into the walls cast a soft, blue light.
Qian Daoliu stepped inside, and Ji Ye followed close behind.
Only after the two had disappeared beyond the door did the four bishops straighten up and exchange looks.
The one on the far left lowered his voice.
"Who's that young man behind the Grand Pontiff? I don't recognize him."
The bishop beside him lowered his voice too.
"You haven't heard? Last night, the Grand Pontiff appointed a young man as Spirit Hall's Holy Son. It must be him."
"The Holy Son?" Another bishop sucked in a breath.
"Spirit Hall hasn't had a Holy Son in many years. Doesn't that mean... he'll be the next Pope?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down! This isn't something we can discuss." The fourth bishop glared at them, though he couldn't help sneaking a glance through the doorway himself.
"Still... we really can't afford to slight that young man from now on."
Inside the Library Pavilion, Qian Daoliu walked ahead, speaking at an unhurried pace.
"The Library Pavilion was built when Spirit Hall was founded, and it has stood for twenty thousand years. Its collection covers all kinds of subjects: Martial Soul Theory, analyses of Soul Skills, Soul Beast bestiaries, continental history, local customs from every region, and more. Some of the books and manuscripts here are priceless, unique copies."
Ji Ye nodded.
"Understood."
They continued down the corridor. The bookshelves on either side grew taller, and the books packed more densely together.
The air carried the musty scent of old paper and ink, mingled with the crisp smell of the wooden shelves.
When they reached the third floor of the Library Pavilion, Ji Ye suddenly paused.
His gaze fell on a freestanding bookshelf beside him.
It was shorter than the other shelves and made entirely of golden wood, its surface carved with intricate patterns.
Only one book rested on it. A line of ancient golden characters had been stamped onto its spine.
Record of the Angel God.
Ji Ye's gaze lingered on the ancient characters for two seconds. He didn't reach for the book, simply standing there quietly.
Qian Daoliu stopped as well. He turned and followed Ji Ye's gaze to the bookshelf. When he saw Record of the Angel God, something flickered ever so faintly in his eyes.
He didn't speak right away. After a couple of silent breaths, he finally said, "That was written by the First Generation Angel God herself. It records how the First Generation Angel God created her own godhood, as well as some... past events involving the First Generation Sea God."
Ji Ye turned his head toward Qian Daoliu, noticing a hint of scrutiny in the old man's gaze.
"What, are you interested in this?"
Ji Ye smiled.
"I'm just a little curious."
Qian Daoliu watched him for several seconds, then looked away.
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