The Soul Douluo slapped both hands out at lightning speed, sending Soul Power toward the six stones. Golden light shimmered across them, forming a golden barrier that enveloped Li Jiutian as he stood in their midst.
Li Jiutian swallowed nervously. Just then, the familiar voice rang out in his mind again.
[Top-tier God-tier Spirit detected: Six-Winged Angel. Host, would you like to copy it?]
"I have to copy it!"
[Martial Soul Six-Winged Angel copied successfully and evolved into Eight-Winged Angel. It has been added to the system panel.] [Friendly reminder: Host, you possess Twin Martial Souls and can copy one more Martial Soul. Would you like to choose one now?]
Li Jiutian thought it over again and again before finally replying in his mind, Not for now.
The Martial Soul Replication System had an effective range of only five hundred meters. Beyond that, it couldn't sense other people's Martial Souls.
On Douluo Continent, the only Martial Soul stronger than the Six-Winged Angel was the Clear Sky Hammer. So Li Jiutian decided he'd find an opportunity to get close to Tang San and copy the Clear Sky Hammer as his second Martial Soul!
After all, the Martial Soul Replication System could copy only two primary Martial Souls. Once both had been copied, copying other people's Martial Souls would come with a limited number of uses and a time limit.
Just then, Li Jiutian felt an immense power fill his body. A towering Eight-Winged Angel suddenly appeared behind him, dozens of meters tall!
It blazed with golden light, four pairs of wings spread as it floated in midair. Though it hadn't yet taken physical form, the sacred aura pouring from it made everyone feel compelled to bow in worship!
The weather above Spirit Hall suddenly changed, and powerful gusts of wind began to howl.
A dazzling pillar of light descended from the heavens and fell upon Li Jiutian. A shimmering shield enveloped his body, and his pupils slowly turned gold.
Apart from Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong, and the others, everyone who saw the dozens-of-meters-tall Holy Angel dropped their weapons, fell to their knees, and prayed devoutly.
After all, Spirit Hall worshipped the Six-Winged Angel as their god, while Li Jiutian had awakened an Eight-Winged Angel. How could they not be thrilled?
"Could this child also have the bloodline of the Angel Clan? Elder Ju, investigate his background thoroughly!"
Bibi Dong spoke to the man beside her, a barely perceptible glint of malice flashing in her eyes.
"I remember Grandpa once saying that no one without the Angel Clan's bloodline could possibly awaken a Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul. And he awakened an Eight-Winged Angel, no less. Th-this can't be possible!"
Qian Renxue was so shocked that it took her a long while to come back to her senses. She could hardly believe it.
About ten minutes later, the Eight-Winged Angel's radiance gradually faded, then vanished into thin air.
Li Jiutian opened his golden eyes and said, "Shouldn't we test my Soul Power next?"
"Just place your palm on this crystal ball!"
The Soul Douluo stood up, sounding somewhat excited.
"Whoosh!"
A rush of wind sounded in the distance.
A moment later, three golden figures swept toward them.
"Grandpa, what are you doing here too?"
Qian Renxue greeted the middle-aged man at the front with delight.
The newcomers were none other than Great Enshrined Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship, and Demon Subduing Douluo.
"Granddaughter, you've brought back an unparalleled genius! I don't know how he awakened an Angel Martial Soul, but with proper nurturing, this child is sure to become a great talent!"
"If I'm not mistaken, his Soul Power should be just like yours: innate full-twentieth-level Soul Power. I came here to take him as my first personal disciple!"
Qian Daoliu rarely showed such excitement. His gaze lingered on Li Jiutian with a touch of fervor.
When Li Jiutian placed his hand on the crystal ball, it instantly blazed with dazzling light!
The crystal ball shone for a long time, then finally went BANG! and exploded!
"Good heavens! Innate full-twentieth-level Soul Power! Aside from the young lady, I've never seen a talent like you!"
The Soul Douluo finished speaking, then became so emotional at the sight before him that tears filled his eyes.
"Such a genius, and yet I can't make use of him. What a pity!"
Bibi Dong let out a long sigh, glanced at Qian Daoliu, then turned away and left in frustration.
I didn't expect to get an unexpected bonus. After awakening my Martial Soul, I also gained an incredibly powerful ocular skill: Shining Golden Eyes!
The Shining Golden Eyes has three levels. I'm only at the first level now, but it's already incredibly powerful!
First, nothing within five kilometers can escape my sight! I can even see through the disguises of Soul Beasts and Soul Bone Skills. It's a little like the Fiery Golden Eyes.
Li Jiutian was so thrilled he could barely stop grinning.
"I didn't expect you to have innate full-twentieth-level Soul Power too, just like me. Congratulations, you're officially a Soul Master now!"
Just then, a somewhat cool voice came from behind him. It was Qian Renxue.
"I didn't expect my talent to be this good either. By the way, can I call you big sister?"
Li Jiutian put on a modest expression, then asked tentatively.
"Sure. Wait... call me big sister?"
Qian Renxue came back to her senses and looked at Li Jiutian in confusion.
Chapter 3: Obtaining the First Soul Ring, One-Shotting the Sharp-Clawed Hunting Falcon!
"Ever since my parents died in an accident on the road that night, I haven't had any family. Would you be willing to be my big sister—my first family?"
Li Jiutian blinked his big eyes and spoke earnestly.
"Sure. Then I'll take you on as my little brother."
Qian Renxue felt her nose sting. Perhaps the little boy reminded her of her own similar misfortune, and she felt a connection with him.
"Okay, sis. What are we going to do next?"
Li Jiutian spoke softly, then thought to himself:
First, I'll get closer to Qian Renxue. I can work on winning her over later.
Since Heaven let me be reborn on Douluo Continent, I won't let tragedy happen again!
Tang San, you may be an out-and-out cheat, but in this life, you're destined to be beneath my feet!
Anyone who had read the original Douluo story knew that Qian Renxue was among the very highest tier of goddesses in Douluo. Yet she ended up with her divinity shattered, all because of the hypocritical Tang San!
The Tang San in the original story was no good guy. When Li Jiutian first read the novel, he'd wondered why so many people liked Tang San. Take the simplest example.
Ning Rongrong and Oscar lost all their Soul Power to bring Tang San back to life. After Tang San won, Ning Rongrong's two grandfathers died for his sake, but Tang San didn't bring them back to life.
Tang San forbade Spirit Hall from killing Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts, yet he'd killed plenty himself: the three ants, the Evil Orca King, the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King, and so on.
Wasn't that the very definition of a scoundrel and a hypocrite?
Qian Renxue ruffled Li Jiutian's hair and said gently:
"Come on. I'll take you to see my grandfather first. You're going to be his first disciple."
"Also, Soul Masters are divided into ranks. You're already a Soul Grandmaster."
"Levels one to nine are called Soul Scholars, levels ten to nineteen are called Soul Masters, levels twenty to twenty-nine are called Soul Grandmasters, levels thirty to thirty-nine are called Soul Elders, levels forty to forty-nine are called Soul Ancestors, levels fifty to fifty-nine are called Soul Kings, levels sixty to sixty-nine are called Soul Emperors, levels seventy to seventy-nine are called Soul Saints, levels eighty to eighty-nine are called Soul Douluos, and levels ninety to ninety-nine are called Titled Douluos."
"After breaking through the level-ninety-nine limit and reaching level one hundred, you become a true god. But so far, no one on Douluo Continent has ever broken through to level one hundred."
"I see. I'll definitely become a god one day!"
Li Jiutian said with a serious expression.
"Then you'd better work hard. I hope you become a god soon."
Qian Renxue spoke fondly, then took Li Jiutian by the hand and headed toward Elder Hall.
In front of Elder Hall.
Elder Hall was far more magnificent than Pope Hall, resplendent and dazzling.
Qian Renxue suddenly stopped, as though she were thinking something over.
"Sis, aren't you coming in with me?" Li Jiutian asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"I have to go to the Heaven Dou Empire now, so I won't be going in."
After saying this, Qian Renxue spread her Angel Wings and hurried off.
I almost forgot. She's currently undercover in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, playing the role of Xue Qinghe. If she gets back late, won't people get suspicious?
Li Jiutian suddenly saw the light. He pushed open the main hall's doors and met the Peerless Douluo who stood at level ninety-nine.
Qian Daoliu wore a suit of bright golden armor and had long white hair. Yet his face looked to be that of a man in his forties; there was no way to tell he was already over a hundred years old. Even just standing there, he exuded an imposing presence.
"Greetings, Great Enshrined!"
Li Jiutian greeted him first. He was going to be his grandfather one day, after all; he couldn't afford to be careless.
"Mm. I was there when you awakened your Martial Soul. You truly are a genius to have awakened an Eight-Winged Angel Martial Soul."
"With a little nurturing, you may well surpass my precious granddaughter one day. I called you here to ask whether you'd like to become my personal disciple."
Qian Daoliu spoke coolly. If Li Jiutian dared say no, he would kill him on the spot without hesitation.
"I'm willing! Master, please accept your disciple's bow!"
Li Jiutian knelt and knocked his head against the ground three times.
"Ha! My good disciple, get up. Spirit Hall has gained another pillar of the nation!"
"I hope I'll soon see you enter Elder Hall!"
After helping Li Jiutian to his feet, Qian Daoliu looked more and more delighted.
"By the way, Master, I haven't obtained a Soul Ring yet. Could you come with me to hunt a Soul Beast?"
Li Jiutian asked, puzzled.
Qian Daoliu smiled. "You really can't sit still, can you? There's no time to waste. I'll take you to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Soul Beast right now. We'll be there in two minutes!"
With that, Qian Daoliu released his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, and Li Jiutian sat in the angel's palm.
They reached the center of the Star Dou Great Forest in less than half a stick of incense.
As expected of Qian Daoliu. They weren't kidding when they said he was the fastest. On Douluo Continent, the strong are respected. I have to grow stronger as soon as possible!
Once I've absorbed my first and second Soul Rings, I'll have to get to Notting Academy soon and hurry up and copy the Clear Sky Hammer!
Li Jiutian thought as he followed behind Qian Daoliu.
The Star Dou Great Forest was a vast, primeval forest with rugged terrain, including wetlands and swamps.
The two of them were now in the heart of the forest, surrounded by powerful Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts. But with a Peerless Douluo like Qian Daoliu present, they didn't dare act up.
Qian Daoliu withdrew his Martial Soul and said:
"The Six-Winged Angel is already a top-tier God-tier Spirit. In principle, no one without the Angel Clan's bloodline should be able to awaken it, yet you awakened an Eight-Winged Angel."
"Though I don't know how you awakened an Eight-Winged Angel, its quality must be higher than that of the Six-Winged Angel!"
"My granddaughter's first Soul Ring was a Hundred-Year Soul Ring. I want you to absorb a Thousand-Year Soul Ring as your first and a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as your second. Are you confident you can absorb them successfully?"
"Of course I am!"
Li Jiutian answered, then let a faint golden light gleam in his eyes. Everything within five kilometers came into view.
"Little fellow, your first Soul Ring has just been taken care of!"
A smile appeared at the corner of Qian Daoliu's mouth.
"Master, I don't see any Soul Beasts nearby that are suitable for me!"
Li Jiutian asked, confused.
Just then, Qian Daoliu pointed toward the sky.
Li Jiutian looked up and spotted a huge eagle, five meters long, flying through the air.
Its claws were extraordinarily sharp, and its feathers looked as hard as iron plates.
"This is a Sharp-Clawed Hunting Falcon with a thousand years of cultivation. It's just right for your first Soul Ring!"
"I'll knock it out of the sky. You'll deliver the killing blow!"