Holy Son's Challenge, Qian Daoliu Attends!

Three days later, Spirit Hall prepared to hold an internal coronation ceremony for the Holy Son.

At the same time, before that, there would also be a match: anyone who was unconvinced by Ning Yuan could challenge him, as long as they were a Soul Master under fifteen years old.

The moment this news came out, every eligible Soul Master in Spirit Hall began itching to try.

If they could defeat Ning Yuan in public, then wouldn't the upcoming Holy Son coronation ceremony be held for them instead?

[Little Ning Yuan, you're famous now. Look, everywhere you've gone these past few days, people have been staring at you. Could it be because Venom is too handsome?]

[So that's how you understand being famous, huh?]

Ning Yuan was speechless.

The moment that piece of news broke—

wherever Ning Yuan went, people stared at him, each looking eager to have a go.

It left him feeling more than a little miserable.

From the looks of it, these people had taken him for an easy target.

Still, he only hoped these people wouldn't be defeated by him too easily when the time came.

Otherwise, it would be boring.

"I'm not exactly unable to compete for the position of Holy Son. Last time I lost to Ning Yuan because I underestimated him too much. Ever since then, I've trained hard every single day, all for the sake of one day defeating Ning Yuan head-on and avenging that loss!"

When Hu Liena heard this, she couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

"Hu Liena, what do you mean by that? Are you laughing at me?"

A trace of displeasure appeared on Yan's face.

Hu Liena forced back her smile.

"Ahem... nothing. I just suddenly remembered something happy."

"Go on, go on."

Yan stopped paying attention to her and turned to Xie Yue.

"Xie Yue, tell me. You've always had sharp judgment. I trust you. Do you think I can wash away my humiliation and defeat Ning Yuan?"

Xie Yue drawled, "You're dreaming of getting a wife."

"What does that mean?"

Yan was puzzled after hearing it.

Xie Yue paused for a moment.

"Nothing. With your intelligence, it'd be hard to explain clearly."

Hu Liena, who was standing to the side, finally couldn't hold it in anymore and laughed out loud.

Yan was left completely baffled by their laughter.

"Brother, what do you think about this?"

"Before Ning Yuan appeared, if Spirit Hall were to choose a Holy Son, you would have been the first and only choice."

"Now that Ning Yuan has appeared, don't you have any other thoughts at all?"

After Xie Yue heard this, his eyes lowered slightly.

"Ning Yuan's talent is very strong."

His words said Ning Yuan was strong, but Xie Yue's tone was full of confidence.

Ning Yuan was strong, but did that mean he, Xie Yue, wasn't strong?

A twelve-year-old three-ring Soul Venerable, and one who was about to become a Soul Ancestor at that.

The position of Holy Son truly might not belong to anyone for certain yet.

Three days later, at that moment, the largest plaza in Spirit Hall was filled with the blare of gongs and drums, the crackle of firecrackers, fluttering red flags, and a sea of people.

A high platform had been erected in the center of the plaza, built specifically for this Holy Son coronation ceremony.

In the middle of the crowd stood a huge arena.

At that moment, the viewing stands were surrounded by people who had come to watch the excitement, as well as Soul Masters who met the age requirement.

Luo Lie and Lin Xiao from Heaven Class were impressively among them.

At that moment, the two of them looked toward the high platform, their eyes filled with guilt.

Half a month ago, they had been ordinary students just like Ning Yuan. Yet half a year later, the two of them were still students, while Ning Yuan had become the Holy Son of Spirit Hall.

If they hadn't gone on that mission with Ning Yuan last time, the two of them would have gone up to challenge Ning Yuan today no matter what.

But the two of them still had some self-awareness. Today, they had only come to watch the show.

Because they had seen Ning Yuan make a move before. The others, however, had not.

The thought of a crowd going up to challenge Ning Yuan in a moment, only to have Ning Yuan slap them in the face one after another, made the two of them unable to keep from laughing.

The ceremony host was the dean of Spirit Hall Primary Soul Master Academy.

"Please welcome His Holiness the Pope of Spirit Hall."

The next moment, the noisy venue instantly fell silent.

Pope Bibi Dong attended in full ceremonial dress, her graceful, noble bearing on full display. Her long, shapely legs appeared and disappeared with each step she took.

Behind her followed the two Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost.

Bibi Dong walked to the papal throne, turned, and sat down.

"Please welcome the Grand Elder of Consecrated Hall."

"Grand Elder Qian Daoliu is here too?"

Unexpectedly, even Qian Daoliu of Consecrated Hall had actually attended this time.

His frost-white hair was neatly tied, and though his face was aged, there was not the slightest hint of decline. His golden eyes were calm and unruffled.

Every movement he made radiated the aura of a Limit Douluo.

"Please welcome the Holy Son, Ning Yuan."

As the words fell, Ning Yuan appeared from the passage in the distance, dressed formally for the occasion.

After more than half a month of adjustment, Ning Yuan's appearance had changed from the sallow, scrawny look he'd had back in the fishing village to something normal.

On top of that, the six-year-old Ning Yuan had a little boy's cute face, yet carried himself with an aloof, cold air.

The instant he appeared, he captured the girlish hearts of countless female Soul Masters.

After Ning Yuan walked to his seat and sat down, he raised his head and glanced at Qian Daoliu.

Logically speaking, after Qian Daoliu had stepped down, he should not have shown his face so casually.

Who knew what he was really up to?

But none of that mattered. Right now, he still had to deal with the upcoming challenge for the position of Holy Son.

Still, Ning Yuan was very confident. And he had to take the position of Holy Son for himself.

Leaving aside the fact that becoming Holy Son would grant him more resources...

Just for his next plan alone, he needed to have enough status within Spirit Hall to put it into motion.

Otherwise, with a low position, his words would carry no weight.

At precisely that moment, Qian Daoliu also looked toward him, and their gazes met.

[This old man is very strong!]

Venom was rarely this serious and proper.

After their eyes met, Qian Daoliu moved his gaze away, though the corner of his mouth revealed a smile of considerable interest.

"Next, the challenge segment for the Holy Son officially begins."

"Any Spirit Hall Soul Master who meets the requirement of being under fifteen may participate."

No sooner had the words fallen than someone in the crowd raised a hand.

"I'll do it!"

That person quickly came to the arena.

"Student of Spirit Hall Primary Academy, martial soul Iron-Faced Ape, rank twenty-nine assault-type Battle Soul Master, Zhang San, here to seek guidance from the Holy Son!"

Someone in the crowd recognized him. This person was Ning Yuan's senior from the previous year, with very strong strength and talent, and his power in the primary academy could rank within the top hundred.

"The Pope has certainly put on quite the display."

Qian Daoliu spoke calmly, his words carrying an implication.

"But be careful. The higher you lift him, the harder he falls—and the Pope's reputation may be dragged down with him."

Bibi Dong's fingertips rested on the armrest of the throne. Her red lips parted slightly, and her tone yielded not an inch.

"Grand Worship may rest easy. Anyone able to stand on this stage naturally has some ability. That is still better than hiding behind the scenes for years, ignoring worldly affairs, only to go poaching someone else's people."

Hearing this, Qian Daoliu turned his face sideways, swept her with a glance, then spoke indifferently.

"A young man's future is unknown. A moment's limelight cannot be taken as certainty."

Bibi Dong also turned her head, meeting his gaze for an instant, the smile in her eyes cold and thin.

"However unknown the future may be, it is still better than being trapped in an old game, turning things over and over until only stale obsessions remain."

With a single leap, Ning Yuan landed steadily on the arena.

It immediately drew a wave of cheers from his mom-fans.

Ning Yuan's expression was calm, neither sorrowful nor pleased. He extended one hand forward and made a gesture inviting his opponent to begin.

The dean was also serving as the referee for the match.

"Let the match begin!"

The moment the words fell, Zhang San did not get overconfident. He directly summoned his martial soul, and an enormous giant ape appeared behind him, its face gleaming with a metallic sheen. At the same time, two yellow soul rings surfaced around him.

"Second Soul Skill! Savage Ape Descends the Mountain!"

With the Iron-Faced Ape martial soul possessing him, Zhang San's body suddenly grew larger. His forearms lengthened and became extremely thick and powerful as he dropped to all fours, charging toward Ning Yuan at tremendous speed.

In contrast, on Ning Yuan's side, the hand he had stretched out still had not been withdrawn. When Zhang San came before him, he actually blocked Zhang San's charging face with one hand, then slammed it downward, pinning Zhang San firmly onto the arena.

The force was so great that cracks even spread across the stone surface of the arena beneath Zhang San's head.

Zhang San also passed out on the spot from that single blow.

He was carried off the stage.

"He won?"

"That fast?"

The crowd below the stands had thought Ning Yuan might win, but they had never expected him to win so easily. He had not even used soul power, crushing Zhang San with his physical strength alone.

It was as effortless and casual as a father beating his son.

In the stands, Qian Daoliu's eyes, which had originally been as still as an ancient well, narrowed slightly.

Then they returned to calm.

"Somewhat interesting."

"Next. Anyone else?"

For a moment, the audience below the stage was utterly silent.

There had originally been many people who wanted to challenge Ning Yuan, but the strength Ning Yuan had just displayed made them snap wide awake.

They asked themselves honestly and realized they might not even be able to beat Zhang San.

Going up now would be nothing but asking for humiliation.

Just then, a burly red-haired youth walked onto the arena.

"I'll do it!"