Qian Daoliu, "I'll go to the Seven Kill Sect myself."

"In Star Luo City, Chen Jianjun killed two Title Douluos with three sword strikes?"

In Martial Soul City, inside the Pope Palace.

Qian Xunji sat in the main seat, clutching a secret report that had just arrived, his brows knitted into a deep furrow.

He read the report over and over three times, put it down, picked it up again, and then put it down once more. The expression on his face shifted from initial nonchalance to uncertainty, finally settling into a look of incredulous gravity.

"Are you certain... this information is reliable?"

Finally, he raised his head to look at Demon Bear Douluo, who was standing below, his voice carrying an undisguised tremor.

"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope!"

Demon Bear Douluo knelt on one knee, head bowed, a fine layer of sweat beading on his forehead. "This information was transmitted from Star Luo City and has been cross-verified through three separate channels. It is absolutely reliable."

He paused, swallowed hard, and his voice trembled slightly. "There was more than one person in the Taihe Hall that night. Several officials present witnessed the entire event with their own eyes."

"According to their description, Chen Jianjun only used three strikes."

"The first strike killed Zhu Buchun, a level 95 agility-attack system Title Douluo, piercing his throat in one blow."

"The second strike shattered Dai Renfeng's eighth soul skill, the White Tiger Light Shield, and crippled both of his hands."

"The third strike... directly severed Dai Renfeng's head!"

As Demon Bear Douluo finished the last few words, his voice was shaking slightly.

It wasn't as if he hadn't seen Title Douluos in action before, but killing two Title Douluos in three strikes... and one of them was a level 96 peak power-attack system master!

This was completely beyond his scope of comprehension!

Even he had never seen such a monstrously powerful Title Douluo!

Did the Douluo Continent truly allow such a terrifying Title Douluo to exist?

Qian Xunji remained silent for a long time.

His fingers tapped rhythmically on the tabletop, his gaze shifting restlessly. After a long while, he finally spoke, "Chen Jianjun... how old is he this year?"

Demon Bear Douluo was stunned for a moment, then replied, "According to the Martial Soul Hall archives, he should be one hundred and eight years old this year."

"One hundred and eight years old..."

Qian Xunji repeated the words under his breath, the wariness in his eyes deepening.

A one-hundred-and-eight-year-old Title Douluo was nothing unusual; one might even call it unremarkable.

But!

For a one-hundred-and-eight-year-old to kill a level 96 peak master in three strikes—that was an entirely different concept!

This was likely someone at least at the peak of level 98, a being three parts stronger than even Golden Crocodile Douluo!

Furthermore!

Qian Xunji had a premonition that this was far more than just a peak level 98; it was highly probable that he had already stepped into the realm of a level 99 Limit Douluo, or perhaps even... a peerless level 99 peak Douluo!

At this thought, Qian Xunji could no longer sit still. He stood up, then paced back and forth in the hall under Demon Bear Douluo's puzzled gaze. Finally, he stopped, gritted his teeth, and headed toward the exit.

"No, this matter must be reported to Father!"

The Worship Hall was located within the Pope Palace, separated by a gate crafted entirely from massive white stone.

Qian Xunji walked quickly, and the guards at the Worship Hall gate bowed as he approached. He ignored them, striding directly into the deepest part, the Douluo Hall.

That is to say, the Angel Temple!

"Father!"

The light inside the temple was bright, with large pieces of colored glass embedded in the dome, filtering the sunlight into a soft golden halo that bathed the massive Angel Statue in the center.

The statue was carved entirely from white jade, its six wings unfurled in overlapping layers. Its face was exquisitely sculpted, eyes cast downward as if watching the mortals below.

Before the statue stood a figure.

He wore a simple gray robe, his long black hair draped behind him, combed very neatly.

His hands hung naturally at his sides, and there was no fluctuation of Soul Power around him. Despite his simple appearance, he gave off an aura that compelled one to prostrate in worship.

It was none other than one of the three peerless Douluos of the Douluo I era, known as the Invincible of the Sky, Qian Daoliu!

"Father!"

The hurried Qian Xunji, upon entering the temple's domain, could not help but be calmed by the peaceful, serene aura emanating from Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu turned around slowly.

He appeared to be only in his early thirties, his face quite handsome; standing next to Qian Xunji, he looked even younger than his son.

However, his eyes were exceptionally bright, like two bottomless cold pools, yet they seemed to hold the vicissitudes of all things, revealing a depth that contradicted his youthful appearance.

"I have already stepped down as the Adjudicator Elder, and all matters have been handed over to you."

Qian Daoliu's voice was flat, carrying a faint hint of displeasure at being disturbed from his meditation. "I have also said that unless it concerns the survival of the Martial Soul Hall, do not disturb me."

"Have you been treating my words as nothing but wind?"

Qian Daoliu was, in truth, quite dissatisfied with his son, Qian Xunji. Despite nearing the age of sixty, he had yet to even cross the threshold of a level ninety-six Super Douluo.

It was simply...

If not for the fact that this was his only son and he had no desire to start over with a new heir, he would have discarded him long ago.

"Uh..."

Sensing that his father's "paternal love" was about to manifest as a beating, Qian Xunji's expression stiffened, and he hurriedly recounted the contents of the secret report.

"...He slew Dai Renfeng and Zhu Buchun with three strikes of his sword!"

Qian Daoliu's expression remained unchanged until he heard this, at which point his gaze sharpened.

"It is said that when he killed Zhu Buchun with a single strike, a layer of frost appeared on the ground!"

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu's eyes narrowed slightly. "Frost?"

He then looked up to stare at Qian Xunji, his tone filled with surprise. "Are you certain... it was frost?"

"That is what the message says."

Qian Xunji nodded. "After the incident, several sword marks were discovered on the floor tiles of the Taihe Hall. A thin layer of ice covered the area around the marks, and it did not melt until the following morning."

Qian Daoliu did not respond immediately.

He turned around to face the Angel Statue once more, remaining silent for a long while before speaking slowly. "The Seven Kill Sword... it should be a blade of pure slaughter, devoid of any elemental attributes."

"Does Father mean..."

"It must be an epiphany triggered by a Martial Soul mutation, allowing him to break through and become a Limit Douluo."

Qian Xunji opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed his words instead.

He felt that in front of his own father, Qian Daoliu, he was nothing more than a child in every conceivable way...

"Then Father, what shall we..."

"I will pay a personal visit to the Seven Kill Sect."

"Father?!"

Hearing this, Qian Xunji was shocked. "Did you not say you were going into seclusion to seek enlightenment soon?"

"Enlightenment can be postponed."

Qian Daoliu's tone was indifferent. "But a suspected level ninety-nine Titled Douluo is worth a visit!"