A legendary God-Level Martial Soul, its value no less than their Six-Winged Angel.
"Father," Qian Xunji asked in a low voice, "how does this Martial Soul compare to our Six-Winged Angel...?"
"There's no comparison," Qian Daoliu said, shaking his head. His frankness took Qian Xunji somewhat by surprise. "The Six-Winged Angel symbolizes holiness and light. As for the God of Love, according to the ancient records, Her power doesn't lie in destruction, but in connection. She can sense everyone's emotions and bonds, strengthen or weaken the feelings between people, and even manipulate and rewrite every emotional relationship. Strictly speaking, She isn't a battle-type deity, but no one would dare say that such a deity is inferior to one who is."
Qian Daoliu turned to glance at Qian Xunji, his tone laden with meaning. "Xunji, you must understand that sometimes, in this world, an invisible thread is more terrifying than a sharp sword that can slice through iron like mud."
Meanwhile, Deng Tianxin fell into deep thought, wondering who had hyped the God of Love up so much.
If the God of Love really was that powerful, She couldn't possibly have died.
The novel had said that the God of Love had apparently been betrayed by Her lover and died, but Deng Tianxin didn't think that was very likely. There was a good chance She'd died for some other reason.
After all, the ones who'd described how She died were a bunch of passersby, not some god from the Divine Realm.
Qian Xunji remained silent, but the flicker in his eyes betrayed his thoughts.
As the Pope of Spirit Hall, he understood better than anyone the importance of intelligence and knowing people's hearts.
If the God of Love Martial Soul really could sense and manipulate emotions, as his father had said, then possessing this child would be like owning an indefensible weapon.
Sect secrets, conspiracies, hidden spies—nothing could escape a Martial Soul capable of directly sensing emotions.
What's more, if this child really could grow up and inherit the Godhood of the God of Love...
At that thought, Qian Xunji exchanged a glance with Qian Daoliu. Though father and son said nothing, that moment of eye contact was enough for them to reach an understanding.
They couldn't let any other faction get this child.
Qian Xunji turned to Bibi Dong with a kindly smile. "Dong'er, take him back and have a good rest."
He suddenly felt that it wouldn't be such a big deal if Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang got together. If all else failed, he could have Deng Tianxin inherit the position of Pope instead.
Deng Tianxin represented the God of Love, and his future was limitless.
Qian Xunji was still reluctant to give up on Bibi Dong. It was impossible not to feel something after more than ten years together.
If Bibi Dong still refuses to see reason like before, then I'll give up on her, Qian Xunji thought to himself.
Bibi Dong respectfully agreed, then walked up to Deng Tianxin and beckoned to him. "Come on. I'll take you to rest."
Deng Tianxin obediently followed her. As he stepped out of the Pope Palace, he looked back at Qian Xunji one last time. Qian Xunji stood in the hall, backlit and impossible to read, but his eyes remained fixed on Deng Tianxin until the doors slowly closed, shutting out that scrutinizing gaze.
The moment the doors shut, Deng Tianxin let out a long breath. Finally, the act is over.
Bibi Dong walked ahead at an unhurried pace, always half a step in front of him. Soul Guidance Lamps along both sides of the corridor cast a gentle glow, stretching their shadows long and short. After they'd gone some distance, Bibi Dong suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Little brat, why didn't you show me your Martial Soul earlier?" She folded her arms and looked down at him.
Deng Tianxin raised his head, blinked twice, and replied with righteous indignation, "Because you didn't ask."
"I didn't ask?" Bibi Dong nearly laughed in exasperation. "How many times did I ask what your Martial Soul was when I took you in as my disciple? What did you say? You said, 'What's it to you?'"
"You weren't my teacher back then." Deng Tianxin spread his hands.
"So I'm your teacher now?"
"Of course. You admitted it in front of His Holiness the Pope and the Great Enshrined. You can't take it back now, can you?" Deng Tianxin tipped up his little face, grinning brightly.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, struggling to resist the urge to pick the little brat up and spank him.
Then she thought of something that made her very happy. Starting today, this little brat was her disciple—for real and proper.
With Qian Xunji and Qian Daoliu as witnesses, Deng Tianxin couldn't wriggle out of it even if he tried.
And what did that mean?
It meant that from now on, she could spank Deng Tianxin and be perfectly justified in doing so.
But then Bibi Dong imagined having to face that cheeky little face every day, listen to that mouth that dared to say anything, and deal with the little brat who could send her blood pressure soaring.
Just thinking about the days ahead gave her a headache.
"Behave yourself from now on," Bibi Dong warned Deng Tianxin sternly. "Spirit Hall isn't like the outside world. There are too many people around, and too many eyes. You'd better watch that mouth of yours and stop calling every woman you see 'auntie,' understand?"
"Got it, Teacher~." Deng Tianxin nodded obediently.
That one "Teacher" gave Bibi Dong goosebumps all over again.
The little brat always sounded especially sweet when he called her Teacher, sweet enough to make her feel uncomfortable. She always felt that the next moment he'd say something utterly outrageous.
Seeing that Deng Tianxin and the others had gone far, Qian Xunji asked Qian Daoliu, "Father, what else do you have in mind?"
Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Xunji. "When Deng Tianxin is old enough to marry, find him several women with good talent."
Qian Xunji stared at Qian Daoliu in confusion, unsure what he meant.
He understood why Deng Tianxin should take multiple wives.
His father wanted Deng Tianxin to establish a Soul Master clan within Spirit Hall. With both the Angel Clan and the God of Love Clan, unifying the Douluo Continent would be a piece of cake.
But Qian Xunji didn't understand why Deng Tianxin's wives needed to be talented.
Qian Daoliu said, "Did you notice his horns?"
Qian Xunji nodded to show that he had.
Qian Daoliu explained, "Deng Tianxin is Dragon-kin. Dragon-kin are a very unusual species on the Douluo Continent, and to Soul Masters, they're top-tier dual cultivation furnaces. More importantly, dual cultivating with Dragon-kin can help Soul Masters break through bottlenecks, refine dragon blood essence, and reach for the Titled Douluo realm."
Qian Xunji's pupils contracted sharply.
"Father, you mean...?"
"An owner of the God of Love Martial Soul who also has a Dragon-kin physique," Qian Daoliu said calmly. "You don't need me to spell out what that means, do you?"
Of course Qian Xunji understood.
It meant Deng Tianxin wasn't merely an indefensible weapon. He was also a walking treasure trove that would never run dry.
The God of Love Martial Soul could sense and manipulate emotions, while the Dragon-kin physique could help Soul Masters break through bottlenecks.
With both in one person, the word "genius" no longer did him justice.
This was a grand gift from the heavens to Spirit Hall, a gift great enough to change the balance of power across the entire continent.
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