Kicking Down the Door to Report In, While Dad Acted His Age

The renovation project for the Mimicry Training Grounds at Spirit City's Advanced Martial Soul Academy had come to a flawless conclusion.

The training grounds, which the elders had originally estimated would need at least half a year to fully stabilize and return to peak condition, had been completed in just ten days by Qian Xunzong. With several Immortal-Grade Herbs, he had forcefully accelerated the process severalfold and even surpassed the original facilities in every aspect.

The spiritual aura of the immortal herbs permeated the entire site, nourishing and reshaping the underground formation patterns while transforming the spiritual properties of every inch of soil.

The Mimicry Training Grounds were now shrouded in spiritual mist. Their spiritual energy density, the realism of their illusory mimicry environments, and the stability of their formations all surpassed the old grounds by several times. Calling it a complete rebirth or even a newly created secret realm would not have been an exaggeration.

The elders responsible for inspection held the assessment files in their hands and trembled with excitement as they looked at the strings of off-the-chart figures. Their gazes upon Yun Yan were practically those of mortals looking upon a god.

As for Qian Xunzong himself, he remained utterly carefree throughout. Both hands were tucked into the pockets of his black robe, his posture loose and lazy as he casually swept his gaze across the training grounds without the slightest change in expression.

To him, with Yun Yan overseeing the formations and Immortal-Grade Herbs serving as a safeguard, repairs on this level were effortless. They were so easy that there was no challenge to them at all.

"There's nothing wrong with the data. Just water the plants on schedule, calibrate the formations regularly, and don't get lazy."

After casually brushing off the respectful elders, Qian Xunzong tucked away the core assessment files and strolled toward the Papal Palace.

Whenever others sought an audience with the Pope, the highest authority in Spirit Hall, they would bathe, change clothes, and proceed with utmost caution. Qian Xunzong alone remained relaxed and unrestrained, swaying as he walked all the way to the entrance of the Papal Palace.

Before this grand and solemn hall, the most sacred place in all of Spirit City—a place no one dared offend recklessly—Qian Xunzong could not even be bothered to raise a hand and push open the doors. His right leg drew back slightly, and with a muffled bang, he kicked the heavy doors wide open.

The grand, weighty doors flew open in response. The wind carried daylight in from outside, instantly breaking the stuffy, deathly silence of the hall.

Qian Xunzong walked into the hall with loose, unhurried steps, swaggering forward with an arrogant yet casual air. He showed none of the restraint expected when meeting an elder, looking instead like an idle young master dropping by his own home.

Inside the hall, the scene was as familiar as ever—and just as absurd.

Seated to one side of the main seat was the current Pope, Qian Daoliu. He wore a snow-white, gold-trimmed sacred robe, his silver hair like frost and his face solemn and imposing. Faint sacred Soul Power lingered around him, and his aura was vast and majestic. Sitting there like an ancient pine that had endured for millennia, he naturally exuded the overwhelming pressure of someone who looked down upon the entire continent. Every gesture carried the bearing of a peerless expert.

In reality, he was simply slacking off. He had originally been a level ninety-seven Peak Douluo and had remained at that stage for years. His Soul Power had long been saturated, and his comprehension had reached its limit. With the aid of Immortal-Grade Herbs, he had broken through to level ninety-eight in only six days.

Meanwhile, Qian Xunji, Spirit Hall's eldest young master, who should have been enjoying supreme authority and overseeing the central administration, had now been reduced to a miserable laborer.

He sat in the Pope's main seat, with mountains of official documents piled before him. Memorials from branch halls across the land, student assessment reports, sect rules, and regulations were stacked layer upon layer, nearly burying him alive.

Several days of hunching over documents had filled his eyes with bloodshot veins. His complexion was dark and gloomy, his brows tightly furrowed, and the wolf-hair brush in his hand flew rapidly across the papers. His entire body radiated the exhausted aura of someone who had lost all will to live and stood on the verge of collapse.

Qian Daoliu called it: "Heaven is about to place great responsibility upon the dead!"

The future ruler of Spirit Hall had been completely pinned down by a mountain of dull paperwork. He buried himself in endless reviews every day and labored from morning till night, while his little brother fished around, lazed about, caused trouble with ease, and lived free and carefree. The difference between them was simply heaven and earth.

Hearing the thunderous crash of the doors, Qian Daoliu merely lifted his eyelids. He had long grown accustomed to his youngest son's outrageous behavior, and there was no ripple in his heart beyond a trace of helplessness.

In all of Spirit Hall, only Qian Xunzong dared kick down the doors of the Papal Palace. If it had been anyone else, they would have already been dragged out and beaten to death.

Qian Xunji's brush paused. A trace of resentment squeezed onto his numb face as he silently looked up at his carefree younger brother. Envy surged wildly in his heart, and his bitterness nearly overflowed.

"Little brother~"

Ignoring their differing expressions, Qian Xunzong walked straight to the center of the hall and casually tossed the thick stack of assessment files onto the jade table. His movements were casual and perfunctory.

"Dad, the job's done. The Mimicry Training Grounds have been repaired, and they're several times better than before. The data's all here. See for yourself."

His tone was loose and disrespectful. It did not sound like a work report at all, but rather like someone casually handing in a completed task, brimming with the attitude of someone who could not be bothered to care.

Qian Daoliu shook his head helplessly and reached for the files, slowly flipping through them. At first, he merely skimmed them as a matter of routine. Yet as page after page of data entered his sight, his previously tranquil eyes changed abruptly, and his solemn expression was completely replaced by intense shock.

Three times the saturation of ambient energy, four times the stability of the formations, one hundred percent realism in the Mimicry Illusion Realm, an immortal plant secret-realm environment capable of continuously nourishing Soul Masters' physiques... Every figure far exceeded expectations and directly rewrote the highest records since the Martial Soul Academy's founding.

Qian Daoliu had lived for centuries and seen countless prodigies, yet even he could not suppress the shock in his heart. He immediately began praising Qian Xunzong without pause.

"Excellent! Absolutely excellent!"

After Qian Daoliu saw something else, his eyes lit up. He closed the files and stared intensely at Qian Xunzong, his gaze filled with astonishment and satisfaction.

"Your father originally believed that a safe restoration without damaging the foundation would already have been a tremendous achievement. I never expected you to create an entirely new secret realm! You used immortal spiritual plants to nourish the land and stabilize the formations, then linked the formations to the spiritual essence of heaven and earth, forcefully transforming an ordinary training ground into a top-tier secret realm!"

"At such a young age, you possess orderly command, extraordinary vision, and exceptional methods. You have mastered engineering, spiritual plants, and formations alike. Across the entire continent, none among your peers can compare! As expected of the Qian bloodline, a genius Spirit Hall has not seen in ten thousand years!"

The chain of praise from this top-tier powerhouse was worth its weight in gold. Every word was sincere, without even a trace of perfunctoriness.

Qian Xunzong's lazy posture subtly straightened. The corners of his lips rose quietly, and he pulled his hands from his pockets before clasping them in front of himself. His back straightened slightly. Though he maintained a calm expression on the surface, he was thrilled beyond measure inside.

Being praised so extravagantly by one of the continent's strongest experts—his own father, no less—would have made anyone secretly pleased. A floating sense of pride immediately welled up in his heart.

Beside them, Qian Xunji silently put down his brush and became a professional spectator, his gaze sharp with understanding.

The one involved was confused, while the bystander saw clearly!

He knew his father's tricks far too well. The fiercer the praise, the deeper the pit being dug. There was definitely an ulterior motive behind such unexpected kindness.

Something was wrong!!!

Sure enough, Qian Daoliu praised Qian Xunzong's abilities, vision, and talent for the time it took to drink a cup of tea. Just as his youngest son was about to float into the heavens, his tone abruptly changed, and the whole matter took on a completely different flavor.

"However, the greatest contributor to this project's success is Yun Yan at your side, the one proficient in formations and spiritual plant cultivation."

The admiration in Qian Daoliu's eyes instantly shifted, replaced by an intense eagerness for talent. His tone was full of regret.

"That person is truly gifted. At such a young age, he already understands formation layouts and pattern restoration, and he is even skilled at cultivating spiritual plants and channeling spiritual energy. More than half the credit for the Mimicry Environment's transformation belongs to him."

"A top-tier talent proficient in both fields should not be left to handle such errands. That would be a terrible waste of his abilities."

In an instant, all joy in Qian Xunzong's heart vanished. Alarm bells rang loudly as he saw through the entire scheme.

Good heavens! So all that praise had been setup! The real purpose had never been to acknowledge his abilities—his old man had his eyes on Yun Yan, the capable subordinate Qian Xunzong had painstakingly discovered, carefully cultivated, and obtained through signing in!

This old fox, who had lived for decades, was truly devious! The dignified Pope of Spirit Hall was actually scheming against his own son and trying to poach his people!

Qian Daoliu continued tirelessly laying the groundwork, attempting to persuade Qian Xunzong while his guard was lowered.

"Zong'er, now that the project has ended, Yun Yan has little use remaining at the academy. Our Spirit Hall Engineering Division has suffered from a shortage of talent for years. The fields of formations and spiritual plants are lacking successors, and we are in dire need of a top-tier talent like him who can take charge on his own."

"Why not transfer him to the Papal Palace? He can oversee the entire hall's formation repairs and spiritual plant cultivation. That would allow him to make full use of his talents while strengthening Spirit Hall's foundation. It would benefit both him and the sect."

The map had been revealed, and the dagger was finally exposed. His purpose was completely laid bare.

Qian Xunzong was so angry that he laughed. He raised a hand in a clean stopping gesture, directly cutting off Qian Daoliu's grand promises. The back he had just straightened immediately relaxed, and he returned to his careless appearance as he retorted without the slightest politeness.

"Stop! Dad, you fucking... pfft, you're seriously acting beneath your age."

He complained openly, giving his top-tier father no face at all. His resentment was palpable.

"I paid for the materials and herbs, coordinated the whole operation, watched the schedule like a hawk, and worked myself half to death for more than ten days. I finally turned that mess into a top-tier Mimicry Environment. You spent the whole time lying around and watching the show, then turned around and wanted to pick the fruit by poaching my people?"

"Other people poach their rivals' foundations or steal outside talent. You, on the other hand, specialize in screwing over your own son! If word gets out, how am I, Qian Xunzong, supposed to get by in Spirit City? The dignified second young master can't even protect his own subordinates and gets his people snatched away by his own father. That's humiliating!"

His blunt and down-to-earth complaints instantly filled the solemn Papal Palace with the cheerful atmosphere of watching drama unfold.

Qian Xunji's shoulders shook violently as he lowered his head and desperately held back his laughter. He felt utterly delighted inside.

For so many years, he had been relentlessly exploited by his father. He worked without complaint but dared not voice his anger. Now, someone had finally confronted their father head-on and ruthlessly called him out. It was genuinely satisfying!

Having his scheme exposed by his own son in public and being accused of acting beneath his age, Qian Daoliu's dignified old face heated slightly. Half his imposing aura collapsed at once. He coughed awkwardly twice, forcibly trying to recover his dignity.

"Your father is not stealing anyone. I merely cherish talent," Qian Daoliu argued solemnly, trying his best to maintain the Pope's dignity.

"Yun Yan's talent is rare. Keeping him trapped in one corner of the academy would be a waste. If he enters my Papal Palace, his status, resources, and authority will all be first-rate. This is for the sake of his future, not out of selfishness."

"Stop making empty promises. I'm not buying it." Qian Xunzong waved his hand, completely unmoved and firm in his stance.

"He's my person. There's such a thing as first come, first served. The resources, respect, and authority I give him aren't the slightest bit worse than what you can offer. He won't suffer by following me. You're the Pope of Spirit Hall and one of the continent's strongest experts, yet you're poaching your own son's people. It's honestly embarrassing."

Qian Daoliu looked at his youngest son, who was determined to protect his own and refused to budge, and completely lost his temper.

He could not bear to hit him, scolding did not work, and reasoning only got him countered until he had nothing to say. He had lived for centuries and intimidated the world, yet he could do nothing about this rebellious, carefree youngest son of his.

After a brief stalemate, Qian Daoliu could only helplessly compromise and take the initiative to back down.

"Fine. Your father will not forcibly transfer him. But the lack of talent in the Engineering Division is a fact. We cannot simply ignore it forever. Since you refuse to let him go, then have Yun Yan teach the Engineering Division's disciples some basic methods of formation repair and spiritual plant cultivation in his spare time. He can help Spirit Hall cultivate reserve talent. Surely that is not too much to ask?"

Qian Xunzong raised a brow and considered it for two seconds before reluctantly nodding.

This compromise was reasonably fair. It kept his core subordinate, prevented his father from getting his way, and gave the old man enough room to save face. He was not losing out. If he continued pushing back, he would only seem petty.

After all, his father was the kind of man who would never act without profit in sight.

"Fine." He wore the expression of someone who had suffered a tremendous loss as he solemnly set his bottom line. "He'll only teach the basics. His core techniques and unique skills are absolutely off limits. No negotiation."

"Agreed." Qian Daoliu immediately accepted, and a faint gleam of triumph flashed through his eyes.

With his objective achieved, Qian Xunzong did not want to remain for even another second. He was afraid his old fox of a father would come up with another scheme to take advantage of him.

He could not be bothered to say anything more. Turning around, he left while continuously muttering complaints under his breath. His voice was neither loud nor soft, just enough for Qian Daoliu to hear every word clearly.

"Unbelievable. So all that praise was just a scheme. The dignified Pope doesn't think about important matters all day and instead keeps plotting against his own son. Seriously acting beneath his age, not a bit like an elder..."

His complaints echoed through the solemn Papal Palace. Qian Xunzong walked out with carefree steps and a relaxed posture, grumbling as he went. Before leaving, he even casually gave the doorframe a light kick, fully displaying his laid-back, unbothered nature.

The hall instantly fell silent again.

Qian Daoliu looked at the empty doorway and shook his head with a helpless smile. His eyes were full of indulgence and resignation, without the slightest hint of anger.

Beside him, Qian Xunji looked at his father's defeated expression, then at the mountain of documents before him. Suddenly, the dull and irritating official work seemed far more entertaining, and even the speed at which he reviewed the papers quietly increased by several degrees.