Appointment and Soul Skill

The next day—

After compulsively smoothing out the last tiny imperfection on his clothes, Qian Mo was about to leave home and begin the day's training.

But the instant he opened the door, someone was already standing in his path.

It seemed the person had been waiting for him since early morning.

The moment Qian Mo saw him, his pupils abruptly contracted.

Because Qian Mo knew this man!

Just as the future Bibi Dong, as Supreme Pontiff, had two Title Douluo directly under her command, Qian Xunji likewise had two Title Douluo who were inseparable from him in daily life.

(PS: This book mainly adopts the novel, drama, and comic settings. In the original work, one of the two Title Douluo following Qian Xunji died and the other was severely injured, but it never explicitly stated who they were. The comic version identified them as Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

But that was even more absurd. With their Martial Soul Fusion Technique capable of practically freezing time, plus a level-95 Qian Xunji, they still got counter-killed? That was bizarre beyond belief, so this version makes some secondary adjustments to those two NPC Title Douluo.)

Qian Mo had once seen this man beside Qian Xunji during an important festival.

Title Douluo Golden Bell.

Yet Qian Mo found it strange. He and Qian Renxue should not have done anything particularly out of line when they were together, right?

Why had such a big shot been sent to find him?

Though puzzled inside, Qian Mo's outward manners were flawless. He clasped his hands in greeting and asked gently,

"Greetings, Your Excellency Golden Bell. May I ask why Your Excellency has come to this junior's home so early in the morning?"

Seeing Qian Mo's attitude, Golden Bell Douluo's expression softened somewhat, despite his annoyance at having to work overtime early in the morning.

But his tone remained cold and stiff.

"By decree of His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff.

Qian Mo, although your Martial Soul underwent a malignant mutation, you are diligent, eager to learn, knowledgeable, and well-read. You are a rare talent of our Martial Soul Hall, and leaving you idle in Martial Soul City is truly a waste of your abilities.

You are hereby appointed deputy bishop and Priest of the Spirit Sub-Hall in Golden Ear City, where you shall spread the holy name of the Angel God."

After saying that, Golden Bell Douluo took out a scroll containing the appointment documents from his Storage Soul Guidance Device and handed it to Qian Mo before turning to leave.

Qian Mo did not mind Golden Bell Douluo's rudeness. After all, the difference in their status was right there.

Rather, it was far stranger for a Title Douluo to personally deliver an appointment notice to a Grand Soul Master like him.

Opening the document, Qian Mo read through its contents.

The procedures were complete and the format was correct. It truly looked as though Qian Xunji thought it wasteful for him to remain idle in Martial Soul Hall.

If he had not thoroughly read the original work, Qian Mo might actually have believed it.

Putting away the document, Qian Mo stood where he was for a long time, deep in thought. Then he slowly shook his head and muttered,

"Forget it. If I can't figure out why Qian Xunji suddenly pulled this, I shouldn't overthink it.

Since he sent someone to appoint me in such an official manner, it means he isn't after my life. In that case, I'll take things one step at a time."

With that, Qian Mo went straight back inside.

At this point, he had no mood for training today. He ought to pack his luggage and get out of here as quickly as possible.

Since Qian Xunji did not want him staying in Martial Soul City, and the enemy was stronger while he was weaker, it was better to go along with the other party.

Back in his room, Qian Mo quickly packed his belongings.

Although Qian Mo was not short on money now, he was not the sort to be extravagant or squander it recklessly. Thus, in his brief fifteen years of life, he had not accumulated a great many possessions in this home.

But after thinking it over, Qian Mo still took a Western-style rapier with an ornate hollow thorn-pattern guard from his Storage Soul Guidance Device and fastened it at his waist, if only to feel safer.

As for why he needed to do that, Qian Mo was rather speechless himself.

He had read quite a few Douluo fanfics. Which transmigrator in those stories did not possess a heaven-defying Martial Soul and terrifying combat power? Yet not only had his first Martial Soul suffered a malignant mutation, bad news had come one after another.

Before obtaining his first Soul Ring, Qian Mo had studied carefully and selected meticulously, hoping to acquire a light-element augmentation Soul Skill for himself.

And it indeed was a light-element Soul Skill.

It indeed was an augmentation Soul Skill.

But it was a support Soul Skill!

Yet that was not even the worst news!

A support Martial Soul was a support Martial Soul. At worst, he could follow Oscar's example and obtain a Soul Ring from a Mirror Beast, gaining a replication Soul Skill. He could still use his Martial Soul in battle then.

What truly left Qian Mo speechless was this.

After obtaining his first Soul Skill, the bloodline within his body seemed to have awakened even further. Besides the information about his first Soul Skill, he had received another piece of information.

That was, he only had one Soul Skill!

No matter how many Soul Rings he acquired, he would only ever have one Soul Skill!

Soul Skill: Holy Light's Grace.

Effect: Share one's sacred attribute with allies and grant sustained healing.

Judging solely by its effects, it was undeniably a divine group-battle skill against Evil Spirit Masters.

But on the Douluo Continent, the Angel Clan was the most ruthless in hunting Evil Spirit Masters, and sacred attributes were practically standard for Angel Martial Souls.

As for the remaining sustained healing effect—

Qian Mo had tested it. Among those of the same level, it was certainly above average.

But that was all.

Because Qian Mo's cultivation was right there.

As a result, this unique Soul Skill, whose potential rivaled the complete healing of the Nine-Star Begonia, seemed utterly useless.

However, after the initial blow, Qian Mo quickly pulled himself together.

Because Qian Mo understood very clearly.

Soul power was already the path beyond mortals. Why rely on the might of Soul Skills?

So Qian Mo spent a hefty sum of one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins to commission the master craftsman Lou Gao, far away in Gengjin City, to forge this rapier, which was capable of confronting a Soul Emperor head-on.

Afterward, he sought instruction in swordsmanship from skilled swordsmen in his clan and observed the circulation paths of their Soul Skills.

With a mindset far beyond this era, Qian Mo truly managed to develop a self-created Soul Skill of his own: Holy Light Swordsmanship.

Finally, through sparring with the old man from the Awakening Hall, Qian Mo was judged to possess comprehensive strength sufficient to contend with some ordinary Soul Ancestors—those without the optimal Soul Ring configuration.

In terms of results, Qian Mo's efforts had undoubtedly succeeded.

But Qian Mo was not satisfied with that.

After all, Soul Ancestors merely barely counted as mid-level Soul Master powerhouses, and ordinary Soul Ancestors at that. That made it even less impressive.

If he encountered even a Soul King or Soul Emperor, he would likely be in danger.

However, as a pragmatist, Qian Mo had considered this possibility long before putting in the effort.

Touching the Storage Soul Guidance Device on his wrist, Qian Mo's lips curled into a faint smile. Inside, in the location closest to his senses, rested two shotguns.

Qian Mo had also commissioned Lou Gao to make the barrels for the shotguns.

Though Lou Gao had found it strange that Qian Mo wanted such things made.

But making money was nothing to be ashamed of.

Once he had high-strength barrels and no longer had to worry about the most troublesome problem with firearms—barrel explosions—Qian Mo merely increased the amount of black powder a little. Thus, he cobbled together a primitive shotgun.

After comparing it with the records in the library, Qian Mo was confident that even a Soul Saint, so long as he did not activate his Martial Soul True Body—

Would be seriously wounded on the spot by a single blast!