Refusal

"This... is actually an Eight-Winged Angel!!!"

The Worship Hall's elders all cried out in shock.

Even the Angel God, far away in the Divine Realm, naturally sensed her descendant's Martial Soul Evolution and smiled knowingly.

"Interesting."

With a casual wave of her hand, a stream of exceptionally pure divine power from the Angel God crossed through space and manifested upon the Angel God Statue...

At that moment, Qian Daoliu's hands trembled slightly. He hurriedly took out a crystal ball, then gently tapped Qian Renxue's forehead with his finger, sending a strand of Angel Soul Power into her body.

"Xiao Xue, carefully sense this strand of Soul Power, then place both hands on the crystal ball in front of you."

"Mm-hmm, okay."

Qian Renxue steadied herself and closed her eyes once more, sensing that strand of sacred Soul Power. Her hands instinctively rested on the crystal ball.

The crystal ball's light then surged, instantly breaking past the level-ten mark!

"Level ten!!!"

"Innate Full Soul Power!!!"

Before everyone could recover, the enormous Angel God Statue behind Qian Daoliu blazed with brilliant light. A dazzling beam of golden light shot down and sank between the brows of Qian Renxue, who still had her eyes closed.

At that moment, the crystal ball beneath Qian Renxue's hands blazed even brighter, its pure white glow turning fiery gold!

"This is divine-gifted Soul Power!!!"

"Innate Soul Power... level twenty!!!"

The entire hall fell silent.

Only Bibi Dong, standing to the side, wore an increasingly dark expression.

"Hahaha, Xiao Xue, it's done. You can open your eyes now." Qian Daoliu could barely contain his excitement.

Qian Renxue slowly opened her eyes, a sweet smile spreading across her face. She stepped out of the Hexagram Array, and the Eight-Winged Angel above her vanished in a flash.

She bounced over to Lie Xu, giving Bibi Dong a soft huff as she passed. Bibi Dong tightened her grip on the scepter.

"Brother Xu, am I amazing?"

Qian Renxue tipped her head back, gazing up at Lie Xu with wide, sparkling eyes, like a victorious general returning from battle.

Lie Xu smiled gently, held Qian Renxue's still-chubby, rosy cheeks in both hands, and said, "Amazing. Our Xue'er is the best."

Then he ruffled Qian Renxue's little head.

As the two of them played around, Qian Daoliu's icy voice rang out from the steps.

"Bibi Dong, now that Xiao Xue has awakened her Martial Soul, why are you still here?"

Bibi Dong raised her chin slightly and looked up at Qian Daoliu on the steps. She snorted. "There's still one person who hasn't awakened. As the Pope of Spirit Hall, it's my duty and responsibility to care about the talents and growth of the Hall's new generation!"

Qian Daoliu could only let her stay. As long as Bibi Dong didn't cause trouble, it would be fine. He took a deep breath and turned his gaze to Lie Xu.

"Xiao Xu, it's your turn."

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on him. Lie Xu straightened his robes and walked toward the Awakening Array, one step at a time.

He knew his moment had come.

"Xiao Xu, you've seen the process from Xiao Xue's awakening, so I won't go into detail. Just focus on sensing it."

Lie Xu stood at the center of the Awakening Array. The surroundings were so quiet that even breathing could be heard.

Qian Daoliu formed a seal with his hands, pouring Soul Power into the crystal Awakening Array.

Light enveloped him.

Lie Xu slowly closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking deep into his soul as he carefully sensed the stirring within it.

In a boundless void, there was no light, no sound, only endless silence.

After who knew how long, suddenly—

Hum—!

A bell tolled, accompanied by a series of ancient, desolate lion roars that erupted from the depths of the void!

Then, a speck of light rapidly swelled in the distance. The boundless void melted away like snow meeting boiling water.

Nine lion shadows of different colors came thundering toward him. Wherever they passed, life blossomed: plants sprouted, trees flourished, and flowers filled the air with their fragrance.

The nine lions drew closer and closer, then finally merged before him, becoming a massive golden lion with nine heads.

Majestic, sacred, fiery, domineering.

The Nine-Headed Lion raised its heads and roared, then charged straight into the depths of his soul...

Outside.

Boom—!!!

The Awakening Array's light burst apart!

The Hexagram Array's light curtain faded, revealing a gigantic golden Nine-Headed Lion phantom hovering behind Lie Xu, its body wreathed in crimson flames.

It looked down on everyone, unleashing an aura that seemed to lord over the world. With a furious roar, its terrifying pressure swept through the entire Worship Hall, forcing every Titled Douluo present to manifest their Martial Souls!

"What kind of Martial Soul is this?!"

"Its pressure is so powerful that it made us all release our Martial Souls?!"

"This is absolutely beyond the realm of divine-grade Martial Souls!!"

Everyone was stunned, unable to believe what they were seeing.

Lie Yan trembled with excitement. At last, the Lie Clan had produced a prodigy. It had been so long since he'd felt this thrilled.

Ten years? Or twenty...

Bibi Dong's face turned deathly pale, her pupils contracting sharply as she stared at that figure. Waves of shock crashed through her heart.

"What a loathsome aura..."

Lie Xu slowly opened his eyes. The Nine-Headed Lion phantom behind him gradually faded, and the pressure brought by his Martial Soul vanished completely.

Qian Daoliu held the crystal ball, his hand trembling again. What had happened today had shaken him no less than the first time he'd encountered a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone.

"Xiao Xu, come and have your Soul Power tested."

Qian Daoliu spoke gently to Lie Xu, placing the pristine white crystal ball in front of him.

Lie Xu placed both hands on the crystal ball before him.

Hum—!

The crystal ball between Qian Daoliu and Lie Xu rapidly changed color.

Gray...

Milky white...

Pure white...

Pale gold...

Rose gold...

Gold...

Fiery gold!!!

His Soul Power rose along with it.

Level one...

Level five...

Innate Full Soul Power!!!

The crystal ball's light continued to surge wildly.

Level eleven...

Level fifteen...

It kept climbing until it broke through the limit. Qian Daoliu drew in a sharp breath, his voice trembling:

"Innate Soul Power, level twenty!"

"No divine gift! This is entirely innate Soul Power granted by his Martial Soul!"

Silence.

Once again, the entire hall fell silent.

After three seconds of silence, the Worship Hall erupted!

"Innate Soul Power at level twenty, without a divine gift?!"

"This is absolutely the greatest genius in the history of the Douluo Continent!"

"This child... will have an absolutely limitless future!!!"

Bibi Dong took a deep breath, suppressing the waves of shock in her heart. She stepped forward, fixing her gaze on Lie Xu, her voice carrying an irresistible force:

"Lie Xu, I wish to take you as my personal disciple and appoint you the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. You will be the next Pope."

At these words, the entire hall changed color.

Mighty Lion Douluo Lie Yan instantly stepped in front of Lie Xu, glaring at Bibi Dong. "Bibi Dong, don't you dare go too far! You've crossed the line!!!"

At that moment, Lie Xu gently pushed his grandfather aside and stepped forward to face the cold, stunning Pope.

His expression was calm, but his resolve was beyond question.

"Your Holiness, the offer is tempting..."

"But I refuse!!!"