First, Win Them Over

"Hiss—"

"Easy—"

Qian Mochen lay facedown at the head of the bed, hissing in pain.

Bibi Dong sat beside him, carefully applying medicine. Looking at the bruises across Qian Mochen's back and legs, she found it both amusing and infuriating.

Qian Mochen really forgot the pain as soon as his wounds healed. Qian Daoliu had beaten him up just three months ago, yet he had gone and provoked his own father again.

"Dong'er, easy—"

"Say that again, and your happy life will be over!"

Bibi Dong's cheeks flushed red as she deliberately put more force into her hand. Only after hearing a scream did she release him with satisfaction.

"That's what you get for running your mouth. You're already like this, and you still dare provoke me!"

After fooling around for a while, Bibi Dong could not help but ask curiously.

"Just how did you provoke the Grand Worshipper? This time, I think he was genuinely angry."

At the mention of this, Qian Mochen wore an aggrieved expression. "I didn't provoke Father at all!"

"He was taking forever to read some documents, so I just grabbed some tea leaves and brewed myself a cup!"

"Then, after Father finished reading the documents, he was fine at first, but suddenly flew into a rage."

"There must have been something wrong with that tea. Maybe it was a gift from someone the Grand Worshipper loved."

Bibi Dong's casual remark gave Qian Mochen a flash of inspiration.

"That tea really was different. The brew was pale red. Help me investigate those tea leaves!"

Qian Mochen described the tea leaves' appearance and the flavor of the brew.

After he had lain in bed for quite some time, Bibi Dong returned with the information she had found.

"That tea was probably grown by people at sea. It has rarely been sold on the continent in recent years."

"That explains it!"

Qian Mochen clapped his hands, his voice rising.

"You know why?" Bibi Dong's eyes began to sparkle.

"Come closer. I'll tell you."

Qian Mochen eagerly began recounting Qian Daoliu's past.

Gossip really was etched into human genes. As Qian Mochen spoke of his father's romantic exploits from back then, even his back stopped hurting.

"So, that Bo Saixi from the Sea God Hall liked Tang Chen from the Clear Sky Sect?"

"Hmph, what do you mean, liked? She just looked down on my father's talent!"

Qian Mochen waved a hand grandly. "When Father celebrates his hundredth birthday, I'll tie Bo Saixi up and bring her to him as a gift!"

"Are you sure the Grand Worshipper would be happy about that?"

Qian Mochen was extremely confident.

"Heh heh, Father's hundredth birthday is still twenty years away. By then, he might not necessarily be able to beat me!"

"At worst, I'll get him drunk, give him and Bo Saixi some medicine, and turn the raw rice into cooked rice. Once Bo Saixi is carrying my little brother, she naturally won't be able to leave!"

Seeing Qian Mochen so enthusiastically absorbed in his plans, Bibi Dong did not have the heart to shatter his fantasy.

She had heard of fathers arranging partners for their sons, but this was the first time Bibi Dong had seen a son arranging a wife for his father. It truly turned everything upside down.

If this really happened, the moment the Grand Worshipper sobered up would be the moment Qian Mochen got brutally beaten by his own father. Looking at how things were developing, she should prepare more healing medicine.

After taking that beating, Qian Mochen behaved himself for three days. On the fourth day, he ran to the Worship Hall again. This time, he did not dare rush straight in, instead clinging to the doorframe and peeking inside.

Qian Daoliu sat upright on a meditation cushion beneath the Angel God statue. After completing his daily prayer, he did not even raise his head before saying, "Weren't you quite bold? Why don't you dare come in now?"

Qian Mochen chuckled. "I saw you were busy praying."

"Father, please call the uncles over."

"What mischief are you plotting now?"

"Heh, Father, what I'm about to say is good news!"

Qian Mochen was unconvinced. Was he really only capable of causing trouble for his father in Qian Daoliu's eyes?

"Fine. I'll call them over."

A short while later, several Worshippers entered the hall one after another, greeting the Qian Daoliu father and son.

"Big Brother!"

"Mochen, you're here too!"

Once everyone had arrived, Golden Crocodile Douluo asked curiously, "Big Brother, why did you summon us all today?"

"Don't ask me. He's the one looking for you."

Qian Daoliu stepped aside and yielded the seat of honor.

Under the gazes of the Worshippers, Qian Mochen first bowed to them.

"Uncles, I'm here to bring everyone some benefits today."

"I have Foundation-Cultivating Pills, Limit-Breaking Pills... more than ten types of pills."

"Among them, the Foundation-Cultivating Pill can rapidly raise one's Soul Power Level without any side effects. The Limit-Breaking Pill, meanwhile..."

"Uncles, each of you may choose one type of pill."

Golden Crocodile Douluo stroked his chin. These pills all sounded like good things, but the key was that he could only choose one.

Golden Crocodile Douluo could not be bothered to think it through himself, so he said loudly, "Mochen, since you made these pills, tell me which one I should choose most."

As soon as Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke, the others caught on. They too could not be bothered to think and all asked Qian Mochen to recommend one directly.

Qian Mochen agreed. "Then we'll start with Uncle Golden Crocodile."

"Uncle Golden Crocodile, if I remember correctly, your cultivation has not advanced for several years."

"Beyond level ninety-seven, what matters is no longer bitter cultivation, but the potential of one's martial soul and a soul master's own vitality. You can choose a Foundation-Cultivating Pill."

A crimson Foundation-Cultivating Pill flew into Golden Crocodile Douluo's hand. He did not hesitate at all, swallowing it the moment it reached him.

"Uncle Golden Crocodile, immediately refine the pill with your Soul Power!"

The other Worshippers were in no hurry to claim their own pills and all turned their attention to Golden Crocodile Douluo.

A moment later, Golden Crocodile Douluo opened his eyes and let out a long howl. Behind him, the Golden Crocodile King martial soul manifested at the same time.

Golden Crocodile Douluo felt incomparably refreshed. His old injuries, which had once faintly ached, rapidly healed beneath the pill's effects, while his sluggish Soul Power surged forth once more.

He had a premonition that he could seize this chance and charge straight at the bottleneck that had trapped him for years.

With a sharp crack, his Soul Power broke through the bottleneck in one stroke, and a terrifying Soul Power pressure radiated from Golden Crocodile Douluo's entire body.

Qian Daoliu waved a hand, setting down a barrier that isolated Golden Crocodile Douluo within it.

Golden Crocodile Douluo soon finished his breakthrough. Feeling his body, he strode over to Qian Mochen with a laugh, slapped him on the shoulder, and praised him cheerfully. "You brat, not bad! If you need anything in the future, come to Uncle Crocodile. I won't hesitate!"

Qian Mochen rubbed his aching shoulder. "Uncle Crocodile, your hand got stronger again. Did you make a breakthrough?"

"That's right!" Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded directly under the gazes of his brothers.

"My Soul Power has now entered level ninety-eight, and I have a feeling that even the threshold of Ultimate Douluo won't be able to hold me back!"

"Congratulations, Second Brother!"

"Congratulations, Second Brother!"

"Hahaha, wonderful news! Tonight, we brothers will celebrate together and have a lively time!"

Amid the commotion, Qian Mochen deliberately coughed a few times. "Uncles, if we're celebrating, shouldn't we celebrate together?"

"Uncle Qingluan, you use speed and sound waves to attack, but when you face someone thick-skinned like Uncle Crocodile, you can't do much to him..."

Handing a pill to Qingluan Douluo, Qian Mochen turned his gaze to the next person.