Deep within Angel God Mountain, in a cultivation chamber.
The heavy stone doors slowly slid apart to either side, letting out a dull grinding sound.
A dense ripple of Soul Power poured from the gap, carrying the dry scent unique to long-term seclusion as it spread through the corridor.
A tall figure stepped out from within, standing against the light on the threshold, his shadow cast long by the Soul Guidance Lamps inside the chamber.
Qian Yaoting rolled his shoulders and neck, his joints letting out a series of crisp pops.
He had spent nearly a year inside the chamber. He had grown a little taller than before his seclusion, and more of his youthful immaturity had faded from his face. There was a faint resemblance to Qian Shengyuan in his features, though his lines were gentler. Only deep within those eyes lingered a clear, sharp edge.
Level sixty.
He had spent three full years advancing from level fifty-three to level sixty. Such speed would draw attention anywhere on the continent, but to Qian Yaoting, it had merely barely met the minimum goal he had set for himself.
The Soul Guidance Array inside the chamber slowly went dark behind him, the lights of its wicks dimming section by section. He did not look back and headed down the mountain along the corridor.
The corridors of Angel God Mountain twisted and turned, with portraits and inscriptions of past Qian Clan ancestors embedded along both walls.
Qian Yaoting did not walk quickly. His gaze occasionally swept over the writing on the walls, but more often, he simply stared blankly ahead.
He had not breathed the outside air for a year. The mountain wind, carrying the scent of grass and trees, rushed toward him and slightly refreshed his spirits.
When he reached the foot of the divine mountain, two attendants were already waiting at the exit. The moment they saw him emerge, they bowed, then handed him the prepared change of clothes and food and water.
Qian Yaoting took the outer robe and draped it over himself, casually asking, "Did anything major happen outside over the past three years?"
The attendant hesitated for a moment before answering, "In reply to Young Lord, everything was normal during the first two years. However, several major events occurred in the past year. The most important was that His Holiness the Pope accepted a personal disciple over half a year ago, who was officially named Spirit Hall's Holy Son three days ago."
Qian Yaoting's hand paused as he was about to lift the bowl of water.
"Holy Son?" He repeated the title. There was no obvious displeasure in his tone, but his brow rose slightly. "As I recall, Spirit Hall has not established a Holy Son in several decades."
Not every Pope appointed a Holy Son or Holy Maiden, nor did every generation have one.
Otherwise, Li Long would not have been merely the thirteenth Holy Son.
"Yes. This Holy Son is named Li Long. He came from the Notting City branch hall and is ten and a half years old this year. His Soul Power is currently level thirty-four, making him a three-ring Soul Elder."
Qian Yaoting raised the bowl and took a sip, then set it down and looked at the attendant. "Ten and a half? A three-ring Soul Elder was named Holy Son?"
"Yes. His soul ring configuration... is somewhat unusual. His first soul ring is five hundred years, his second is one thousand years, and his third is six thousand five hundred years. All three soul rings surpassed the limits of their respective ranks. His Holiness the Pope personally took him to obtain the third soul ring. It was said to be a Titan Giant Ape subspecies, with strength-type abilities exceeding ten thousand years."
Qian Yaoting said nothing.
He sat on a stone bench, fingers resting on his knee, his eyes fixed on the distant mountain ridge as though digesting the information.
After a moment, he finally spoke. "A five-hundred-year first ring, a thousand-year second ring, a six-thousand-five-hundred-year third ring... level thirty-four with three rings. That configuration is indeed rather interesting."
He paused, then asked, "What is his Martial Soul?"
"An ordinary iron rod."
"An ordinary iron rod?" Qian Yaoting's brow lifted again before the corner of his lips curved slightly. It was hard to tell whether he was surprised or intrigued. "With an Iron Rod Martial Soul, his Innate Soul Power should not be high, right?"
"It is said to be level three."
Qian Yaoting fell silent for a moment, then gave a soft laugh. "Innate level three, an Iron Rod Martial Soul, all three soul rings beyond the limit, ten and a half years old, level thirty-four, Holy Son... In the single year I was in seclusion, this person accomplished things others might not achieve in ten years. No wonder Father was tempted to accept him as a disciple."
He stood and rotated his wrist. "Where is he?"
"The Holy Son currently resides in the East Courtyard of the Papal Palace."
"Then let's go see Father first." Qian Yaoting turned and headed toward Spirit City, his steps several degrees quicker than before. "I've already broken through to Soul Emperor, and I need to obtain my sixth soul ring. I can discuss soul beasts with him while I'm there, and incidentally..."
He paused, turning his head toward the attendant. That curve remained on his lips. "Incidentally, I'll see what this Holy Son actually looks like."
The attendant hurried after him, not daring to say more.
The journey from Angel God Mountain to the Papal Palace was not far. Qian Yaoting walked quickly and entered the inner city in less than half an hour.
The lower-ranked members he encountered along the way all stepped aside for him, their eyes carrying respect and a measure of curiosity.
The Young Lord had emerged after a year of seclusion. His aura was much deeper and heavier than before. Although the fluctuations of his level-sixty Soul Power were restrained, they still allowed others to feel that tangible pressure.
Qian Yaoting strode straight through the long corridor and stopped at the entrance to Qian Shengyuan's study, raising his hand to knock twice.
"Enter."
Qian Yaoting pushed the door open and walked in.
Qian Shengyuan sat behind a long desk. When he looked up and saw who had entered, the brush in his hand paused. He then set it down, leaned back in his chair, and studied him twice.
"Level sixty already?"
"Just broke through." Qian Yaoting walked to the desk and sat in a chair beside it, his posture natural and relaxed. "Half a month slower than I estimated."
"You call half a month slow?" Qian Shengyuan snorted. "You were level fifty-three when you entered seclusion three years ago. You gained seven levels in three years and reached level sixty, yet you still think it's slow? How are others supposed to live?"
Qian Yaoting did not continue that topic. Leaning back in his chair, he looked at Qian Shengyuan and casually shifted the conversation. "I heard you accepted a disciple?"
Qian Shengyuan's posture straightened slightly, then relaxed again.
He glanced at Qian Yaoting, a trace of understanding in his eyes. "You found out the moment you emerged from seclusion?"
"The servants told me on my way down the mountain." Qian Yaoting said, "Innate level three, an Iron Rod Martial Soul, level thirty-four with three rings, Holy Son. Father, your standards are rather different this time."
"What were my standards before?"
"Innate Soul Power starting at level nine, a Martial Soul with at least an attribute, a clean background, and outstanding aptitude." Qian Yaoting counted them off on his fingers before looking at Qian Shengyuan. "This Li Long meets none of them. You made an exception."
Qian Shengyuan looked at his son. After several breaths of silence, he spoke, his tone more serious than before. "His path is different from yours. Your path was paved by the Qian Clan bloodline. Innate Soul Power, Martial Soul, resources—you lacked nothing, so you were able to progress smoothly from childhood until now. His path was forged one strike at a time. I give him resources, and he gives me results. You have heard about his soul ring configuration yourself. No one in the entire soul master world has accomplished that in tens of thousands of years."
Qian Yaoting did not immediately respond. He lowered his head and thought for a while before saying, "I really do want to meet him."
Qian Shengyuan did not object. He nodded. "He's in the East Courtyard. Don't scare him when you go over, though I doubt you can scare him."
Qian Yaoting smiled and rose to leave. At the doorway, he turned back and added, "Right, I've broken through to level sixty. I still need to obtain my sixth soul ring. After I meet him, will you accompany me to the Star Dou Great Forest?"
"We'll discuss it then." Qian Shengyuan picked up his brush again. "Go on first."
Qian Yaoting left the study and headed along the corridor toward the East Courtyard.
His level-sixty Soul Power flowed steadily within him, but his steps were lighter than usual, carrying the excitement of someone released from a cage and eager to see something new.
Innate level three, an Iron Rod Martial Soul, Holy Son.
He was starting to grow curious.
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