Raiden Ei

Qian Qizhou took one last look at the Spirit Hall where he had lived for six years. His gaze swept over every corner before finally settling on Guang Ling's pale face.

He spoke softly. "Don't look for me."

Then Qian Qizhou slowly closed his eyes.

At the same time, the sky suddenly darkened. Dark clouds began spreading at a breakneck pace, blanketing the entire horizon in an instant.

Thunder boomed, and bolts of lightning tore across the sky, turning the dim world bright and dark in flickering bursts.

Watching the sudden change in the heavens and earth, Guang Ling froze for a moment.

Even after living for decades, he had never seen anything like this.

If it had been the Great Enshrined, that would have been one thing, but Xiao Zhou had only just awakened his Martial Soul...

But a commotion like this was bound to draw attention.

The guards stationed at the palace were the first to notice something was wrong. They tightened their grips on their weapons and looked up at the sky.

Lights began coming on throughout Spirit City. The residents who had woken up leaned out of their windows, all gazing toward the sky above the Pope Palace.

The clouds gathered most thickly there, while lightning surged through them like giant serpents, shrouding the entire Pope Palace in an eerie glow.

Just then, the heavy doors of the Pope Palace burst open.

Qian Xunji strode out in his magnificent papal robes, with Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei following behind him.

All three immediately fixed their eyes on the figure at the entrance.

But once they got a clear look, the three of them—Qian Xunji included—felt their pupils contract.

Just as Guang Ling had said, the Martial Soul behind Qian Qizhou had indeed changed.

It was no longer a Six-Winged Angel. The three wings on his left side now bore dark purple lightning patterns, arcs of violent electricity dancing across them.

The three wings on his right side remained crimson gold, suffused with a sacred radiance.

Such a change should have been a positive sign, proof that his Martial Soul had advanced. But no one cared about that just then.

That was because terrifying purple lightning coiled around Qian Qizhou. It posed no threat to a Titled Douluo, but he had only just awakened his Martial Soul. How was this possible?

What's more, anyone with half a brain could tell that the roiling thunderstorm in the sky radiated the same aura as the boy before them.

Looking at the scene, fury blazed in Qian Xunji's eyes. "You little bastard! What do you think you're doing?!"

Had he exhausted himself right after awakening his Martial Soul and created such a vast phenomenon just to declare his dissatisfaction with his own father?!

Chrysanthemum Douluo called out at once, "Your Highness! You've only just awakened your Martial Soul. Stop!"

This would not only cause irreversible damage to his body, but if the thunderstorm struck the Pope Palace today, who knew what rumors would spread outside?

Listening to their reproaches and pleas, Qian Qizhou did not open his eyes or answer. Only a self-mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Just then, several powerful auras descended from the sky. Qian Daoliu and several Enshrined Elders landed together, their robes snapping in the storm.

Azure Luan frowned as he looked at Guang Ling, whose whole body was tense. "Fifth, what's going on?"

Guang Ling sighed as he looked at them and explained the whole story.

After hearing what had happened, all the Enshrined Elders except Qian Daoliu fell silent.

At that very moment, a deafening hum suddenly rang out between heaven and earth.

Qian Qizhou's voice followed. "The Pope Palace, already steeped in hypocrisy, might as well be wiped out in this rain of lightning."

As soon as the words fell, several terrifying bolts of purple lightning ripped through the clouds. Before anyone could react, they shot toward the Pope Palace at astonishing speed!

Qian Daoliu was the only one who could have stopped them, but he was still reeling from Qian Qizhou's power.

By the time he came to his senses, it was too late. He could only watch as the lightning crashed down.

The next second, deafening explosions erupted one after another.

A tremendous cloud of dust rose over the Pope Palace and the surrounding area, while shock waves spread outward like solid walls.

Qian Xunji and the other two, closest to the blast, bore the brunt of it and were hurled backward by the raging gale.

As the dust slowly settled, everyone stared in shock.

The once magnificent and imposing Pope Palace had vanished, replaced by a scene of utter devastation and crumbling ruins.

A gigantic crater occupied the site where the main hall had stood, its edges still collapsing as soil and rubble fell away.

Qian Xunji glared at Qian Qizhou, his eyes bloodshot. "You little bastard!"

A powerful surge of Soul Power erupted around him, and he shot toward Qian Qizhou in a streak of golden light. "I'll teach you a lesson today, you unfilial son!"

Qian Qizhou had just unleashed his attack. His face was pale, but he still looked mockingly at the man rushing toward him. "Heh. You've suddenly started caring now."

Usually, his father treated him like he was invisible and never gave him a second thought. But now he remembered that he had a son?

Guang Ling hurried between them and blocked their attacks.

He raised a hand to restrain Qian Xunji's trembling shoulder and urged him, "Your Holiness, don't hit the child!"

"Xiao Zhou didn't mean to do it. He's only six; he was just acting on impulse."

Qian Xunji shook off his hand, his fury burning even hotter. "Fifth Enshrined Elder, stand aside!"

"He dared to destroy the Pope Palace. How can we just let him get away with it?"

Qian Qizhou watched the farce in silence, his lashes lowered.

When he raised his eyes again, a flash of purple glimmered deep in his pupils and vanished.

He slowly turned and spoke to those behind him. "There's no need to trouble yourselves with teaching me a lesson. As of today, I'm leaving Spirit Hall."

With that, he walked straight toward the outskirts of Spirit Hall.

"You unfilial son! Stop right there!" Qian Xunji roared from behind him.

Guang Ling and the others called after him as well, trying to stop him.

But Qian Qizhou did not even look back. He stubbornly continued toward the city gates.

His Soul Power was exhausted, however, and his body swayed as he staggered forward.

At last, just as he was about to collapse to his knees, Qian Daoliu appeared before him. With a complicated look in his eyes, he reached out. "Now that you've had your fun..."

Before he could finish, the sky split open.

A purple rift stretching across the heavens burst wide, and terrifying lightning poured down like a waterfall.

Raiden Ei's phantom stepped out of the rift, her eyes filled with lightning sweeping indifferently over Qian Daoliu.

"Stand aside."

She flashed to Qian Qizhou's side.

With just a slight wave of her hand, a streak of purple lightning flashed past. Qian Daoliu had no time to defend himself before he was blasted hundreds of meters back, carving deep trenches into the earth.

At the same time, Raiden Ei's other hand caught Qian Qizhou as he fell.

She lowered her eyes to the boy, barely conscious in her arms. "So stubborn..."

Meanwhile, Qian Daoliu steadied himself, golden light flaring in his eyes.

The sacred Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul appeared behind him.

Nine Soul Rings surfaced one after another: black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, and red. The immense pressure made the rubble on the ground tremble.

At the same time, several powerful auras erupted, locking firmly onto Raiden Ei and Qian Qizhou.

"Who are you?" Qian Daoliu demanded, pointing the Angel Holy Sword at Raiden Ei.

Though she was powerful, the attack she had just unleashed did not feel like the power of a god.

Besides, she had attacked him outright. She was more likely an enemy than an ally...