Dark Emperor Douluo

Although the people from the other three factions all found Qi Ji's choice to join the War God Temple deeply regrettable, none of them said much.

The Titled Douluo from the Eastsea Legion appeared quite composed. They knew their own limits—after all, the military demanded absolute obedience, enforced ironclad discipline, and required soldiers to rise before dawn for drills every day, through wind, sun, and rain alike.

Though the child before them seemed far more mature and sensible than others his age, military life was grueling in the end. Not everyone could endure that monotony and hardship.

Compared with the Eastsea Legion, the War God Temple, which likewise had military roots but was not part of the regular military establishment, was clearly more suited for a gifted child like Qi Ji to grow freely.

The Skysea Alliance representative felt rather miserable.

He stood there with a strained smile on his face, feeling increasingly bitter inside.

Other than money, the Skysea Alliance truly had nothing worth showing off.

Without enough top-tier resources, they could not keep genuine geniuses. Without genuine geniuses, they could not produce true powerhouses. Without true powerhouses, they could not attract more geniuses.

The Skysea Alliance was currently trapped in this vicious spiral, turning in circles with no way out.

He looked at Qi Ji's young yet resolute face, then at the gift in his hand that he had not yet had a chance to take out, and silently tucked it back into his sleeve.

As for the Spirit Pagoda representative, the Pagoda Master of the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda, he maintained a proper smile while his mind was already turning to other matters.

Although he had missed out on a heaven-defying talent like Qi Ji today, according to the information that had just come in from next door...

At this very moment, in a small city called Aolai City near Eastsea City, there was a girl with Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls: the Golden Dragon and the Soft Bone Rabbit, waiting to be recruited.

Though Qi Ji's martial soul looked incomparably imposing and might not necessarily be weaker than the Golden Dragon, that was the Golden Dragon, ancestor of strength!

Among the known Dragon Clan martial souls, the Golden Dragon's name had echoed throughout the ages. It was a bona fide legendary existence.

Compared to an unknown True Dragon martial soul, the Golden Dragon was more tempting, more reliable, and easier to explain to his superiors.

The Pagoda Master's lips twitched almost imperceptibly as he desperately suppressed the urge to laugh on the spot.

No... I can't laugh yet. I can't laugh here.

Once the people before him had dispersed and gone their separate ways, he would immediately set out for Aolai City in secret to recruit that girl.

When he brought back a genius with Innate Full Soul Power and a Golden Dragon Martial Soul, today's loss would amount to nothing.

Just then, Qi Ji suddenly turned and looked at the dejected Skysea Alliance representative before speaking.

"Uncle... although I didn't join the Skysea Alliance, I grew up in Eastsea City. I will always be a person of Eastsea City."

His voice was soft, yet his words were like a pebble tossed into a lake.

There had never been any fundamental conflict among the Federation's major factions. Qi Ji's words both made his stance clear and earned him some goodwill from everyone present.

"Th-this... good child, you are the pride of the Skysea Alliance!" The Skysea Alliance representative's eyes actually reddened slightly.

Unable to resist, he reached out and gently rubbed Qi Ji's head. The warmth of his palm passed through Qi Ji's hair, carrying an elder's affection for a junior.

Who would not like such a clever, sensible, and promising child?

Looking into Qi Ji's clear eyes, a thought suddenly arose in his heart—perhaps one day, the Skysea Alliance really could produce a Limit Douluo.

If a Limit Douluo powerhouse truly emerged from the Skysea Alliance, from Eastsea City, then all the humiliation and disdain they had suffered in the Federation over the years would finally be washed away.

He took a black card from his sleeve and offered it to Qi Ji with both hands. "Child, this was originally the gift I prepared for you. I hope that after you become an unrivaled powerhouse one day, you will still remember to return to Eastsea City and come home in glory."

After a pause, he added, "This is an unlimited black card. The Skysea Alliance will cover all your expenses within the alliance. Food, lodging, travel, cultivation resources, Soul Tools—so long as it is one of the Skysea Alliance's businesses, use it however you like."

Qi Ji accepted the black card. It was light in his hand, with a cool, smooth metallic texture.

He froze for a moment, then carefully put the card away and nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Uncle. I definitely will."

The Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda and the Eastsea Legion representative exchanged a glance. Their faces remained calm, but inwardly they were both cursing—damn it, since when had that miserly old cheapskate become so generous?

That was an unlimited black card! The Skysea Alliance had only issued a few in total, yet today he had casually handed one to a six-year-old child?

The two of them gritted their teeth. If they left empty-handed like this, they would never be able to save face.

In the end, the Pagoda Master of the Eastsea City Spirit Pagoda coughed dryly and promised, "Little friend Qi Ji, on behalf of the Eastsea Spirit Pagoda, I promise to provide the first Soul Spirit for both of your martial souls free of charge. Once you reach the level where you need to add Soul Spirits, come to the pagoda at any time. You may choose the type and age of the Soul Spirits yourself."

The Eastsea Legion representative stepped forward as well, thumping his chest. "Our Eastsea Legion will make a statement too. If you are ever willing to enlist, we can directly grant you the starting rank of Major, skipping all the junior ranks and years of seniority-building."

Qi Ji thanked them one by one, committing every promise to heart.

After that, the three representatives promptly turned and left. They were all people of high status, with mountains of work waiting for them. The fact that they had taken the time to come personally was already a great show of respect.

Before leaving, the Skysea Alliance representative turned back with a smile and reminded Qi Ji to visit the Skysea Alliance whenever he had time. Qi Ji naturally agreed at once, his smile obedient and sincere.

Only after the three figures disappeared at the end of the corridor did Qi Ji turn around and look at the War God Temple representative, who had been standing quietly to one side.

The Titled Douluo clad in dark silver armor had remained silent throughout, yet simply standing there made him seem like a silent mountain. His imposing presence made even the air within several meters feel heavier.

"Shall we go to the Soul Tool car outside first?" The War God Temple representative reached out and patted Qi Ji's shoulder. The force was light, carrying the gentle warmth of an elder.

He took Qi Ji's hand and led the small child through the Spirit Pagoda's hall, out through the revolving doors, and toward a sleek, luxurious Soul Tool train parked outside.

The door slid open soundlessly, revealing genuine leather seats and warm lighting that gave the interior a restrained yet luxurious feel.

Qi Ji obediently sat inside, and the soft seat swallowed nearly half his body.

The door closed, and a soundproof barrier automatically rose, instantly shutting out all noise from the outside world.

The War God Temple representative sat across from him. Once he had confirmed that the surroundings were completely safe, his formerly cold and stern face finally softened, and some of the sharpness between his brows faded.

"Do you know who I am?" he asked.

Qi Ji shook his head and answered honestly, "I don't know."

Yet he thought, I've only read the novel. How could I possibly know who you are? Still... a Titled Douluo sent by the War God Temple to recruit people must hold a high position.

"But Your Excellency should be one of the War God Temple' War Gods, right?" After all, the man before him was a Titled Douluo and should be one of the War God Temple' eighteen War Gods.

"Correct." He nodded, and a trace of approval flashed through his eyes.

"You are very intelligent and mature for your age. Perhaps life in the orphanage tempered you early. My name is Luo Yuhang. I am the Third War God of the War God Temple, a Rank 96 Titled Douluo. My martial soul is the Dark Emperor Dragon, and my title is Dark Emperor."