Spirit Hall, Fighting Over a Disciple

What use was this soul skill?

It seemed pretty useless.

Yu Xiaogang was not satisfied with Blue Silver Grass's first soul skill, and his already tense face darkened further.

He had thought the dead Mandrake Snake from before had been quite good. It had venom and added a toughness effect, greatly improving Blue Silver Grass.

But the die had been cast. He was the one who had made Tang San absorb the Slug soul ring. No matter how useless it was, he had to praise it.

"Not bad. Blue Silver Grass can spray mucus to slow the enemy's speed. Now you have control without needing to fight others at close range. It seems this Slug has given you a very good soul skill."

Tang San nodded along.

"Teacher is right. Our thoughts coincided."

Yu Xiaogang's guess was not wrong either. This soul skill could indeed slow an enemy's speed, though it was most likely because they did not want to get covered in mucus rather than because of the soul skill's actual effect.

Just imagine it: during a battle, someone covered in mucus themselves held up a Blue Silver Grass and constantly sprayed disgusting, thick slime. Anyone would be distracted trying to avoid getting touched by that stuff, slowing their attacks as a result.

Master and disciple each harbored their own schemes and concealed their thoughts, so the clearing fell into a brief silence.

After a while, Yu Xiaogang was the first to break it.

"Little San, since you've obtained your soul ring, let's head back."

"Mm, all right, Teacher."

The two turned and walked side by side toward the exit at the forest's edge.

Watching Tang San and Yu Xiaogang leave, Xu Peinian said to Qian Jun.

"Teacher, we should leave too. The show is over."

Qian Jun nodded and took Xu Peinian with him, turning into a black shadow that silently vanished into the distance.

Yu Xiaogang trudged along the road with his feet turned inward, moving with great difficulty. He could even feel some mysterious fluid slowly trickling down from between his thighs.

If he took too large a step, Yu Xiaogang could not stop himself from letting out a howl.

If Xu Peinian had been there, even with professional training, he would not have been able to hold back his laughter.

But Tang San, walking beside him, kept his face taut as though he had seen nothing.

Fortunately, for some reason, there were no living soul beasts to be found in Soul Hunting Forest. Otherwise, in Yu Xiaogang's current condition, he would not even have been able to summon Luo Sanpao.

If they encountered a soul beast several hundred years old, it would be hard to say whether the two could leave unscathed.

Because of the injury to his bruised rear, Tang San and Yu Xiaogang did not approach the exit until near evening.

"Uncle, do you know why there have been so few living creatures in Soul Hunting Forest lately?"

Tang San handed Yu Xiaogang's token to the guarding soldier and casually asked the question while pretending to be a child.

"You don't know? Some time ago, orders came from above. Soul Hunting Forest was suspected to contain a dangerous soul beast over ten thousand years old, so people were specially sent to clear it out."

Of course Tang San and Yu Xiaogang did not know. This was a trap Xu Peinian had deliberately arranged through Qian Jun, with the information specifically meant to be spread once they left Notting Academy and traveled through the wilderness.

"So that's what happened... Thank you, Uncle Guard."

As soon as Tang San finished thanking him, Yu Xiaogang pulled him away at a rapid pace.

His bruised rear had been made uncomfortable by the surrounding soldiers' stares the entire time. It felt as though they knew about his injury and were sizing him up with mocking expressions, even though he had long since changed into fresh clothes.

That burning sense of shame made Yu Xiaogang feel miserable. Ignoring the tearing pain coming from his anus, he grabbed Tang San and hurried out of the forest.

He did not want to remain in this place of sorrow for even another second!

Time passed in the blink of an eye.

With Qian Jun's help, Xu Peinian approached his destination after only a few days.

As he looked at the outline of a gigantic city on a gentle slope at the end of the distant horizon, Xu Peinian knew that they had arrived at Spirit City.

The bustling streets and endless crowds flashed rapidly past Xu Peinian's eyes. Xu Peinian and Qian Jun did not stop in the city at the foot of the mountain, instead speeding directly up the mountain.

After passing a magnificent building halfway up the mountain, Xu Peinian followed Qian Jun to a domed building farther above.

Xu Peinian followed behind Qian Jun into the grand hall before them.

Upon entering, the nearly thirty-meter-high vaulted dome was the first thing to catch his eye. At night, one could see the starry sky at a glance.

But the most eye-catching sight was a ten-meter-tall Seraphim statue made of pure gold, standing at the very back of the vast hall.

That must be the Angel God's statue... Xu Peinian lowered his gaze and happened to see two people standing beneath it.

A lean man with an aura similar to Qian Jun's stood half a step behind another elderly man with silver hair and white robes. The two subtly treated the old man in white as their leader.

Qian Jun clasped his fists and bowed to the elder ahead of him.

"Grand Priest, this is the disciple I have newly accepted, Xu Peinian, the genius with Innate Full Soul Power."

Xu Peinian instantly realized that this elder was the Grand Priest of Elder Hall, as well as one of the only three Peerless Douluo on Douluo Continent: the Angel Douluo, Qian Daoliu.

He immediately bowed as well and spoke respectfully.

"Xu Peinian greets the Grand Priest."

Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod. His voice was imposing, yet carried a trace of kindness.

"There is no need for such formality. Child, since you have become Qian Jun's disciple, you are one of Elder Hall. If you have any questions in the future, you may consult these grandfathers of yours."

"Can't I consult you?"

"Hahaha, of course you can."

Qian Daoliu had not expected this child to remain unafraid before so many Titled Douluo, nor had he expected him to question him in return. His evaluation of Xu Peinian immediately rose another level.

"Child, release your martial soul and let your grandfathers have a look."

Xu Peinian obediently did as instructed, and the Netherworld Blade appeared in his hand.

After examining it, Qian Daoliu did not recognize the Netherworld Blade, but he knew about martial soul mutations. He could also clearly sense that this was a beneficial mutation. It was likely even somewhat stronger than the Clear Sky Hammer.

The lean man behind Qian Daoliu could no longer restrain himself and immediately complained to Qian Jun.

"Qian Jun, you old bastard! You actually took in such an outstanding disciple while I was in seclusion."

His tone made it clear that he and Qian Jun had a very good relationship.

Qian Jun rolled his eyes and retorted.

"Jiang Mo, you chose to enter seclusion at that time. Who can you blame for missing such a good seedling? I think your skin is itching and you're looking for a beating."

"Ahem. Teacher, and you two grandfathers, there is something else I need to tell you."

After careful consideration, Xu Peinian spoke up and interrupted their argument.

Everyone's attention instantly turned to Xu Peinian.

They saw Xu Peinian slowly channel Soul Power into his waist. The dark silver belt, originally thought to be an ordinary Soul Tool, suddenly lit up, and a yellow soul ring emerged along with it.

Qian Jun and Jiang Mo's eyes widened at once. Even Qian Daoliu, who had seen countless storms, could not help revealing a look of astonishment.

"Little Peinian, you... this is?"

"Teacher, you're not mistaken. This is my other martial soul, the Qili Belt."

Xu Peinian explained to the speechless Qian Jun, while also making sure the others heard.

Xu Peinian had not revealed his second martial soul in Dihun Village before because he feared that someone with ulterior motives would target him.

After all, he had merely been an orphan from a small village at the time. He already possessed Innate Full Soul Power and a super martial soul. If he had also exposed the fact that he had Twin Martial Souls, it would have been too much and might very well have brought about his death.

But now, he had already decided to stick with Spirit Hall from this point onward. With people who were practically the top powerhouses on the entire continent standing before him, he naturally had to display as much of his talent as possible in exchange for more resources and attention.

The three were so shocked by Xu Peinian's display that they stood frozen in place.

A moment later, Jiang Mo could no longer sit still. He furiously shouted at Qian Jun.

"Qian Jun, give my disciple back!"

As soon as he spoke, Jiang Mo summoned his Panlong Staff and immediately swung it at Qian Jun in a powerful overhead strike.

"You missed out on him yourself, and now you want to steal my disciple? In that case, don't blame me for being rude!"

Qian Jun's temper flared as well. In the blink of an eye, the two flashed outside the hall and began fighting.

The two priests fought fiercely outside Elder Hall over a disciple, determined to settle who was superior.

Stop fighting already. I just want to be a quiet, handsome man... Xu Peinian watched the spectacle from inside the hall. If he had a bag of sunflower seeds in hand, he would definitely have been happily cracking them.