Heavy footsteps sounded as a burly man in golden armor, nearly two meters tall, strode into the hall.
Qian Xunji hurried to greet him and bowed slightly. "Second Worship? What brings you here?"
His tone was respectful and humble, utterly devoid of a Pope's authority.
That was because the man before him was one of Spirit Hall's most senior experts, a Level 98 Super Douluo: Golden Crocodile Douluo!
Golden Crocodile Douluo waved a hand and looked past Qian Xunji at Zhao Linchuan.
"I was passing by and overheard your conversation."
He chuckled and walked up to Zhao Linchuan, sizing him up.
"Young friend, I am the Second Worship of Spirit Hall, a Level 98 Super Douluo."
"I just sensed that your Martial Soul contained the attribute of ultimate gold, so I'd like to take you as my disciple."
"Are you willing?"
At these words, Qian Xunji's expression turned strange in an instant.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he stayed silent.
Zhao Linchuan raised his eyes to the imposing old man before him, sturdy as a mountain, his thoughts racing.
He did need an identity—one that would let him reach more of Spirit Hall's inner circle.
Becoming Golden Crocodile Douluo's disciple meant having the entire Worship Hall at his back.
Besides, the Second Worship outranked the Pope in both seniority and influence.
He didn't hesitate for long. Bowing slightly, he said, "This student greets his teacher."
"Hahaha! Good!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo burst into laughter, pulled a storage ring from his robes, and pressed it into Zhao Linchuan's hand without giving him a chance to refuse.
"I came in a hurry and didn't prepare a gift. Take this for now."
"I'll make it up to you with a proper apprenticeship gift later."
Zhao Linchuan accepted it with both hands, making no attempt to refuse. "Thank you, Teacher."
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded with satisfaction and patted his shoulder, the force making Zhao Linchuan sway slightly.
"Carry on with your conversation." He waved a hand and turned toward the hall's exit. "I'll be heading back. There's a token of mine in that ring. If you run into any trouble, come see me at the Worship Hall anytime."
"This student respectfully sees you off, Teacher!" Zhao Linchuan cupped his hands toward Golden Crocodile Douluo's retreating back.
Only after the burly figure disappeared beyond the hall doors did Qian Xunji look away.
He took a deep breath, his expression complicated. A flicker of regret crossed his eyes. He regretted putting on airs and talking too much, failing to recruit Zhao Linchuan before Golden Crocodile Douluo could.
Standing with his hands behind his back, he let his gaze drift between Bibi Dong and Zhao Linchuan.
One was a genius Soul Master; the other was a rare talent.
He desperately needed a successor like this—or rather, someone like him to assist the successor he had chosen.
But how could he keep Zhao Linchuan in Spirit Hall for good?
His gaze lingered on Bibi Dong, then shifted back to Zhao Linchuan. A plan that had never failed him gradually took shape in his mind.
"All right, that's enough for today." His tone was warm. "Dong'er, show Linchuan around Spirit City and find him somewhere to live. Young people should spend more time together."
He pointed at Zhao Linchuan. "From now on, you don't need to work as a librarian anymore. In your spare time, spend more time with Dong'er and discuss the direction of your future cultivation."
Zhao Linchuan and Bibi Dong exchanged glances, then answered in unison. "Yes."
They left the hall, their footsteps gradually fading into the distance, and the vast Pope Hall fell silent once more.
The smile slowly faded from Qian Xunji's face. He stared toward the doors, his brow furrowing.
Suddenly, a bewitching voice rang in his mind, like a venomous snake crawling out of an abyss and coiling around his thoughts.
"Are you really going to hand over the student you worked so hard to cultivate?"
"Don't you want the glory of the angels to once again envelop the continent?"
"Take her back! She can bear you a child capable of inheriting the Angel God's divine position!"
"Bastard!" Qian Xunji growled, veins bulging at his temples. "You won't corrupt my will!"
He shut his eyes and panted heavily, both hands clenched into fists.
That voice had tormented him for far too long. Now, it was beginning to erode his will.
He had to find a suitable successor as soon as possible—someone who could take over Spirit Hall before he was completely consumed.
For that reason, he decided to make Bibi Dong and Zhao Linchuan fall for each other.
There was no need to force anything. He only had to lend a hand at the right moment...
By afternoon, Bibi Dong had led Zhao Linchuan down several streets. At last, they stopped outside a manor.
"You can stay here for now." Bibi Dong pushed open the half-shut gate and stepped aside to let Zhao Linchuan enter.
The two crossed the front courtyard side by side as Bibi Dong spoke.
"I'll send some servants over later. If you need anything, just let me know."
Zhao Linchuan looked around and gave a slight nod. "Thank you."
"No need to be polite. You did Spirit Hall a great service today. This is nothing."
They chatted in the courtyard for a while, and Bibi Dong reminded him about a few everyday matters before taking her leave.
Zhao Linchuan watched her disappear through the manor gate, then pushed open the door to the main room and went inside.
He sat in the seat of honor, closed his eyes, and sank his consciousness into his sea of knowledge.
The system interface appeared in his mind, with an unread message quietly blinking.
[You stopped a farce of master and disciple turning against each other, saving countless people from disaster.] [Reward: Character Summoning Card—Yan Lingji]
"Yan Lingji?" Zhao Linchuan opened his eyes and, with a thought, summoned a card into his palm.
The card depicted a woman with a graceful figure and cascading dark hair. Her eyes seemed to hold autumn waters, yet flames flickered within them.
In the image, she was trapped inside a crystal tank like a fishbowl, her body veiled in a few wisps of gauze. Ripples swirled around her, yet they could not conceal her breathtaking beauty.
The image was so lifelike that she seemed about to step right out of the card.
[Please choose a summoning method:] [One: Travel to the Nine Songs of the Sky world and bring her back (time limit: ten minutes).] [Two: Summon her directly.]
I can actually travel to the world Yan Lingji lives in?
Zhao Linchuan stared at the small line of text, his eyes flickering slightly. He silently thought, Travel to the Nine Songs of the Sky world.
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, the card suddenly burst into dazzling light.
Space rippled. Zhao Linchuan's vision blurred, and the scenery around him began to twist and dissolve.
The beams, lattice windows, and table in the main room—all of it melted away before his eyes, streaming backward in a kaleidoscope of light.
The next moment, darkness swallowed his vision.
When his feet touched solid ground again, a damp, chill air washed over him.
Zhao Linchuan opened his eyes. Before him was a dungeon.
The dim yellow lamplight flickered on the walls, throwing the surroundings into shifting light and shadow.
The air reeked of mold and rust, and he could faintly hear water dripping.
And right in front of him stood a huge crystal tank.
Note: This is a harem novel (I'm watching that Chao Tianxiang...)
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