Win Some Over, Take Some Down-Qian Xunji: Would You Be Willing to Accept Me as Your Master?

"I know I was wrong! I was foolish!" Wilson dropped to his knees with a thud, trembling like a leaf.

When he'd accepted Yu Xiaogang's bribe, he'd thought the man was just a down-and-out disciple of a clan looking for somewhere quiet to read. He'd never imagined there was more to it.

Bibi Dong looked down at him, her voice chilling.

"Good. You know your crime. Guards! Take Wilson to Judgment Hall and punish him according to the law!"

Two red-robed Soul Masters appeared without a sound, hoisted the limp Wilson up, and dragged him away.

His pleas gradually faded, disappearing beyond the end of the bookshelves.

Bibi Dong slowly turned her gaze to Yu Xiaogang, who instinctively took half a step back.

"Seize this 'Grandmaster' and throw him in the dungeon. Interrogate him thoroughly."

"Make him spit out every single thing he's read and memorized during this time."

"W-wait!" Yu Xiaogang's face turned deathly pale. His retreat was stopped by the bookshelf behind him.

He raised a hand, his fingers trembling. "Y-you're making all this up! You have no real evidence!"

"How can you convict me of being a spy just because I come from a clan?"

He drew a deep breath and tried to straighten his back, but his trembling voice gave him away.

"I'm the second young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan! If you dare torture me, my father will never let this go!"

"Do you want to start a war between the clans and Spirit Hall?!"

"Take him away!" Bibi Dong didn't move an inch, her gaze utterly unwavering. "I'll report this matter truthfully to His Holiness the Pope."

"If His Holiness the Pope holds me responsible, I'll bear all the blame!"

"Yes!"

The two red-robed Soul Masters immediately stepped forward and firmly restrained the struggling Yu Xiaogang.

At the same time, a cold notification rang out in Zhao Linchuan's mind.

[You successfully prevented a future catastrophe and saved a young woman who was about to fall into the abyss.]

[Reward: Second Martial Soul—Primordial Spirit Beast • Merciful Spirit of All Things' Growth...]

After a long while.

At a tavern somewhere in Spirit City.

Bibi Dong and Zhao Linchuan sat down at a table by the window.

She beckoned a waiter over and ordered two glasses of fruit wine.

Bibi Dong pushed one glass toward Zhao Linchuan, then raised her own and looked at him sincerely.

"Thank you so much for today." Her voice was earnest, without the slightest trace of a Holy Maiden's airs. "If you hadn't warned me, Spirit Hall might have suffered an irreparable loss."

"I'm part of Spirit Hall," Zhao Linchuan replied casually as he took the glass. "This is what I should be doing."

Bibi Dong watched his calm, unruffled manner, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.

They clinked glasses and chatted idly.

Before long, their glasses were empty.

"That's about enough." Bibi Dong set down her glass and was about to get up. "We—"

"Your Highness, Holy Maiden."

A deep voice suddenly came from beside them.

They both turned to look. A black-robed Soul Master had appeared beside their table at some point.

"His Holiness the Pope requests that you and Administrator Zhao come see him."

Bibi Dong's brows twitched, and she nodded. "Understood."

She looked at Zhao Linchuan, a hint of speculation in her eyes. "My teacher wants to see you. He may have a reward for you."

Zhao Linchuan's expression didn't change. He simply nodded. "Let's go."

About a quarter of an hour later, at Pope Hall.

Qian Xunji stood in the center of the hall with his hands behind his back, his posture straight. Golden patterns on his papal robes shimmered in the shifting light.

At the sound of footsteps, he slowly turned around.

His gaze fell on Zhao Linchuan. He studied him calmly at first, then his eyes sharpened like a hawk's.

After a long moment, he looked away and gazed toward the entrance. His voice was low and imposing.

"Zhao Linchuan, sixteen years old. Martial Soul: Supreme Ease Golden Edge. Rank sixty-seven Battle Soul Emperor. Family background..."

"These are the details you provided when applying to become a Martial Soul administrator." He looked back at Zhao Linchuan. "I want to know if they're true."

Zhao Linchuan met his gaze. Everything he'd said was true. He had come to this world ten years ago, and in all that time, he'd spent almost all of it cultivating in the mountains.

Only after some changes had occurred a few days earlier had he emerged from the mountains.

His expression calm, he replied, "Of course."

He held out his right hand, and a streak of golden light suddenly blazed into being.

As the light faded, a slender golden sword appeared in his hand.

Its entire body seemed forged from gold, and a pale yellow gemstone was set into its hilt, gleaming with a soft sheen.

Then six Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet—purple, purple, black, black, black, black—and slowly revolved around him.

Bibi Dong's pupils contracted, and she instinctively covered her lips.

Rank sixty-seven... He really was a Rank 67 Battle Soul Emperor?!

And that Soul Ring configuration—two purple and four black. What astonishing depth!

"A weapon-type Martial Soul with the Ultimate Attribute of divine gold?" A glimmer of delight flashed in Qian Xunji's eyes, and his voice softened. "Put it away."

Zhao Linchuan turned his wrist. The sword vanished, and his Soul Rings sank back into his body.

Qian Xunji turned his gaze toward the entrance again. After a moment's silence, he suddenly asked, "What's your view of the situation on the continent?"

The question came out of nowhere. Zhao Linchuan's brows shifted slightly, and he glanced at Bibi Dong standing nearby. She looked just as surprised.

After a moment of thought, he spoke slowly. "The current situation on the continent is very unfavorable for Spirit Hall."

"Oh?" Qian Xunji seemed interested and turned around. "Go on."

Zhao Linchuan continued, "Several years ago, our former Pope, Qian Daoliu, was defeated by Clear Sky Douluo Tang Chen. Since then, the balance of power on the continent has changed."

"They seem to have seen a chance to oppose Spirit Hall. The clans have begun forming alliances with one another, while the Two Great Empires are recruiting troops and dragging their feet on Spirit Hall's orders."

Zhao Linchuan's words carried a pointed meaning. "Worse still, a clan leader actually sent his own son to infiltrate Spirit Hall, hoping to pry information from the Holy Maiden."

"It's clear the outside world no longer takes Spirit Hall seriously."

"If this goes on, the clans may well join forces with the Two Great Empires and try to overthrow Spirit Hall."

The hall fell into a brief silence.

Qian Xunji closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "Father... shouldn't have lost..."

He opened his eyes and fixed them on Zhao Linchuan. "If you were in my position, what would you do?"

Zhao Linchuan didn't answer at once. He lowered his head slightly, as if choosing his words carefully.

A moment later, he raised his head and spoke, each word clear. "Win some over, take some down."

"Set about building an army of Soul Masters. Organize a dedicated intelligence department. Find a way to control public opinion and subtly win the people's hearts."

"Win some over, take some down?"

Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong repeated the words almost at the same time.

Qian Xunji's eyes lit up. The gloom on his face vanished, replaced by delight.

He took a step forward, his voice brimming with excitement. "Would you be willing to accept me as your master and become my student?"

Just then, a deep voice came from outside the hall.

"Wait—!"

--

(Someone's bound to ask, "Streamer, streamer, wasn't there no such thing as an Ultimate Attribute in Douluo I?" The answer: I'm saying it for you guys.)