Qian Lingche nodded. "I'm fine, Sister. Don't worry. I've been very happy since leaving Spirit Hall."
When he finished, his gaze fell on Xue Qinghe, concern in his eyes. "What about you, Sister? How have you been all these years?"
It had been so, so long since he'd seen his sister, and he didn't know when they'd meet again.
Even though he knew her identity, there was no proper reason for him to see her often. After all, his sister was currently living as a man.
At his words, a trace of complexity flashed across Xue Qinghe's expression, but she soon managed a faint smile. "I... I'm all right."
"Although my identity in the Heaven Dou Empire forces me to hide who I am, I expect it'll all be over soon."
Qian Lingche looked at Xue Qinghe, concern and heartache in his eyes. "Sister, it must be hard for you to be all alone in the Heaven Dou Empire. If there's anything I can do to help, just tell me."
Xue Qinghe shook her head, her tone firm. "No, little brother. You don't need to worry about me. I chose this path, and I'll keep walking it."
"But what about you? Have you run into any trouble since leaving Spirit Hall?"
Qian Lingche replied easily, "I've run into a little trouble, but I've dealt with all of it. Don't worry, Sister. I'm not the child you had to look after anymore."
Xue Qinghe looked at Qian Lingche, her eyes full of relief. "That's right. You've grown up, and you're even stronger than your sister. I'm so happy to see you like this."
In the blink of an eye, all these years had passed. Her little brother had gone from a boy to a graceful young man.
Qian Lingche held Xue Qinghe's hand. "Sister, no matter what happens in the future, I'll stand by your side. Spirit Hall may not be able to act, but I can."
At that moment, Ji Lin appeared atop the city wall. The instant he showed up, both the Heaven Dou and Star Luo armies took notice.
Marshal Ge Long had met Ji Lin before, but didn't know he'd reached the rank of Titled Douluo. He assumed the Eternal Night Frost Song Hall had sent reinforcements.
Though severely wounded, hope flared anew in his eyes. Meanwhile, the Star Luo soldiers grew wary.
Ji Lin remained composed and raised a hand to signal the Heaven Dou army to retreat. Marshal Ge Long was puzzled, but quickly gave the order. The army gradually fell back, clearing a space for Ji Lin to fight.
Standing atop the city wall, Ji Lin swept his gaze across the Star Luo army below, then slowly raised his hand and said softly, "It's time to end this."
Before the words had even faded, Soul Power surged around him, and a star-streaked harp appeared in his hands.
Then nine Soul Rings emerged one after another: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!
"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring! A Titled Douluo!" Soldiers from both the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo army cried out in shock.
Ji Lin remained calm. He gently plucked the strings and said quietly, "Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Soul Avatar."
As his voice fell, the Flowing Light Harp suddenly expanded, transforming into a colossal phantom that hovered behind him.
Then Ji Lin's fingers began to dance across the strings. "Ninth Spirit Ability—Soul Suppressing Song."
The melody of the Soul Suppressing Song rang out softly, its notes spreading across the battlefield like invisible ripples.
At first, the music seemed no more than a breeze brushing past. But in the next instant, it became a terrifying force that swept through the Star Luo Empire's army.
Before the Star Luo soldiers could react, invisible sound waves blasted them into the air.
Their bodies crashed heavily to the ground, their life force fading at once. Not one of them managed to let out a scream.
The Star Luo army's formation crumbled under the music's assault. Soldiers fell in droves, and the battlefield fell silent.
The disciples of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan weren't spared, either. Though their Soul Power was considerable, the moment the Soul Suppressing Song rang out, their heads felt ready to split apart, as if countless blades were churning through their minds.
Clutching their heads, they writhed on the ground in agony, their cries rising one after another.
But the cries didn't last long. As the melody of the Soul Suppressing Song shifted, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's disciples also lost their breath and collapsed, never to rise again.
The entire battlefield became a silent graveyard. Heaven Dou soldiers stared at the scene in utter shock, their hearts filled with awe.
They had never witnessed such terrifying power. A single song had wiped out the enemy army.
Standing atop the city wall, Marshal Ge Long had witnessed the dreadful might of Ji Lin's Soul Suppressing Song with his own eyes.
Terror filled his gaze, and his face was as pale as paper. A tidal wave of shock surged through him.
For years, the greatest reason the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire had been able to stand against Spirit Hall was their million-strong armies.
Even a Titled Douluo would be hard-pressed when facing a force that vast.
Yet only today had Marshal Ge Long truly witnessed the terrifying power of a Titled Douluo.
"Th-this... is this the true strength of a Titled Douluo?" Marshal Ge Long murmured, his voice trembling.
In just a short while, that one song had wiped out tens of thousands of elite Star Luo soldiers and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's disciples.
"If he faced a million-strong army, he might not be able to kill them all, but as long as his music kept playing, who could get close?" Marshal Ge Long was utterly shaken.
At last, he understood that a million-strong army was nothing but a joke.
The balance between the empires and Soul Masters had finally been broken.
Snake Lance and Pufferfish had watched Ji Lin perform the Soul Suppressing Song from the shadows. The two exchanged stunned looks.
"Th-that's far too powerful," Snake Lance whispered.
And a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, too... He couldn't see through Ji Lin's level. Ji Lin probably had a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone as well, which would put his level above Snake Lance's.
Pufferfish nodded, his expression grave. "Yes. The Star Luo army and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's disciples didn't even have a chance to resist before they were wiped out."
"With strength like that, the two of us might not be able to pull it off even if we joined forces, would we?"
Snake Lance sighed and said quietly, "The last time we saw Ling Yuan and Ji Lin, they were both Soul Douluo. Now they've surpassed us."
If they'd chosen the Young Master instead of the Pope back then, would things be different now...?
Pufferfish gave a bitter smile. "We used to worry about the Young Master. Who would've thought that not only would he become powerful himself, but his subordinates would be so formidable too?"
Neither of them had expected Qian Lingche to break through to Soul King in the few short years since leaving Spirit Hall. What incredible talent.
Pufferfish asked softly, "But now, how are we supposed to explain this to His Holiness the Pope when we return? The Young Master's strength and influence have far exceeded our expectations."
Snake Lance fell silent for a moment, then said, "We'll report it honestly. Her Holiness must have expected this, after all. The Young Master is her son."