A faint orange-red glow gradually spread across the horizon, and the newborn dawn seemed soaked in the morning dew.
Morning light pierced through the thin mist over Spirit City, spilling softly across the resplendent golden buildings.
Every ray of light seemed to carry the freshness of night dew, filling the entire city with a cool, crisp air.
The commotion caused by the Worship Hall last night had been earth-shattering, but Spirit Hall's efficiency was equally impressive.
After an overnight emergency response and public guidance, Spirit Hall had barely managed to calm the panic among the city's residents.
Thus, when the first morning bell echoed through the air, the city returned to its usual bustling prosperity.
It was as if nothing had happened last night. Meanwhile, within the Sacred Mountain of Spirit City, inside the spacious main hall of the Worship Hall.
The seven Consecrated Elders, the current Pope, the resurrected Qian Wushuang, and the others sat around a grand dining table.
This breakfast, symbolizing the highest core of authority within Spirit Hall, should have been solemn and dignified, yet the atmosphere was strangely awkward.
"Father, what are you stirring up now?" Qian Daoliu set down his bowl and chopsticks.
He looked at Qian Wushuang, who sat at the head of the table and slowly sliced his roasted meat, his tone carrying a hint of helplessness.
"Today, we're only taking Xiao Heng and Xiao Xue to the Star Dou Forest to hunt for Soul Rings."
"With me, their grandfather, personally leading the team, nothing could possibly go wrong. Why are you joining in the excitement right after coming back to life?"
"Do you not trust me? I'm an Ultimate Douluo. How many are there on the entire Douluo Continent?"
"Hm?" Qian Wushuang paused slightly with his knife and fork in hand, raising a brow with a half-smile.
"What? This old man lay in that pitch-black coffin for so many years and only just came out for some fresh air."
"Now I want to accompany my great-grandchildren to the Star Dou Forest to hunt Soul Rings, and you have objections?"
"Of course not. Your son wouldn't dare!" Qian Daoliu gave a bitter smile and hurriedly explained, "But Father, you should understand."
"The implications of your return from the dead are simply too great. Once your whereabouts are exposed—"
"If the outside world learns that our Spirit Hall is hiding an Ultimate Douluo still at the peak of his strength—"
"And an Ultimate Douluo who returned from the dead at that—the stable balance across the continent will completely collapse. The chain reaction would be unimaginable!"
Qian Wushuang was already so old and had even served as Pope for decades, so naturally he understood the risks if this matter were exposed.
The two great empires would lose sleep over it, while the Upper Three Sects would likely band together completely.
They might even throw in their lot with the two great empires.
"Enough. Put away those groundless worries." Qian Wushuang waved a hand. "This old man knows what he's doing!"
"If an Ultimate Douluo like me can't even conceal his aura, wouldn't I have lived for nothing?!"
Watching this father and son argue their cases.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, the other Consecrated Elders, and Qian Xunji all sat quietly to one side, looking at their noses and then their hearts.
What a joke. When immortals fought, mortals suffered!
Who would dare let out another peep at a time like this? They could only lower their heads and focus on eating. No one dared interrupt.
In contrast, Qian Renheng and Qian Renxue, the brother and sister, paid no attention at all, utterly out of place with the surrounding atmosphere.
"Ah—"
The little girl Qian Renxue opened her mouth wide without the slightest regard for her image and let out a huge yawn, squeezing two sleepy tears from the corners of her eyes.
Beside her, Qian Renheng's eyelids were drooping as well. He held a slice of bread covered in jam, his head bobbing little by little.
It looked as though he could fall face-first into the bread at any moment.
It wasn't their fault. They had stayed up late last night, gone to dig up their great-grandfather's grave, revived him, then watched a whole spectacle unfold before finally falling asleep in the latter half of the night.
For six-year-old children, this was precisely the age when they loved sleeping and needed to grow.
With so little sleep, it would be strange if they had any energy now.
Qian Renheng, the Demon Pill of the Worship Hall, was also listless at the moment, unable to muster any spirit.
At long last, breakfast came to an end.
Qian Renxue rubbed her bleary eyes and looked at her Great-Grandfather and Grandfather, asking in a soft childish voice, "Great-Grandfather, Grandfather, when are we leaving?"
"Xiao Xue is sleepy to death. I want to get my Soul Ring early, then come back and catch up on sleep."
As for obtaining her first Soul Ring and becoming a respected Soul Master, the little girl would be lying if she said she was not excited.
Sleepy as she was, important matters could not be delayed.
"We're leaving now, we're leaving now." Hearing his great-granddaughter's soft, sweet voice, the dignity on Qian Wushuang's face instantly melted into an indulgent smile.
"Tch—" Seeing this, Qian Daoliu gave a disdainful snort, though he did not know why his heart felt a little sour.
Go ahead and spoil them. When they climb onto your head someday, you'll suffer for it.
Back when those two siblings had just been born... they had both been so adorable. But then there was Qian Renheng, that Demon Pill!
If he went two days without being scolded, he'd climb a tree to steal bird nests. If he went three days without being beaten, he'd tear tiles off the roof. If he went five days without a thrashing, his whole body would itch!
A moment later...
Qian Wushuang and Qian Daoliu led the two little ones out of the Worship Hall.
The first thing they saw was the White Jade Plaza, still unrepaired and retaining the miserable aftermath of last night's battle.
Standing at the edge of a massive pit, Qian Wushuang took a deep breath of the damp morning air and sighed, "Being alive is still better!"
As he spoke, he perked up. "Liu'er, this old man lay down there for so long that I don't know whether my body has rusted."
Hearing that, Qian Daoliu jolted. What, did he want revenge for last night?
The Consecrated Elders beside them immediately grew excited, as though chanting, Fight! Fight!
"Father, what do you mean?"
"It means nothing. I simply got the urge." The corners of Qian Wushuang's mouth lifted. "Why don't we father and son take this opportunity to compete today?"
"We're both Angel Douluo, both known as invincible in the sky. Let's see who can reach Soul Hunting Town first!"
The words "invincible in the sky" were not merely Qian Daoliu's title on the Douluo Continent!
They were the shared glory of every generation of Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul inheritors within Spirit Hall!
Although the most obvious traits of the Qian Clan's Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul were its overwhelmingly domineering sacred, light, and fire attributes.
In the field of speed, it likewise stood above all others and reigned supreme.
There was a rumor on the continent that the Sharp-Tailed Swift Martial Soul of the Speed Clan had abandoned all attack and defense.
Unable to attach any offensive Soul Rings, they had instead developed their speed to the utmost limit, earning the title of the fastest on the continent!
But among true high-level experts, that so-called rumor was really nothing more than a rumor.
Before the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, the so-called fastest speed was merely a firefly before the moon, not worth mentioning!
Not to mention the Sharp-Tailed Swift Martial Soul of the Speed Clan—even within the Worship Hall, where powerful experts gathered.
Qingluan Douluo, the Third Consecrated Elder who excelled in speed and wind attributes, was the same. His Qingluan Divine Bird Martial Soul was no exception.
Before a Six-Winged Angel flying at full speed, it was still a step inferior.
If an Ultimate Douluo erupted with all his power and pushed his speed to its limit, relying on the terrifying flight ability of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.
He could make dozens of round trips from Spirit Hall to the Star Dou Forest in a single day.
In two days, he could fly from the southernmost edge of the continent to the Far North at its northernmost edge!
Their speed was unmatched beneath the heavens!
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu straightened his chest, his face full of confidence. "Then let's compete. I'm not the man I was back then, and Father, you're not the father you were back then either. When it comes to speed, I'm not afraid of you!"
"Father, you activated Angel's Seven Trials back then, but I activated Angel's Eight Trials. I am the Angel High Priest!"
"The difference in our foundations—who is stronger and who is weaker? Today, we'll let speed reveal the truth!"
Before you continue