[Host: Qian Xunzong Identity: Fourteenth-generation member of Spirit Hall's Qian Family Age: Six Martial Soul: None (not awakened) Level: None (not awakened) Soul Bone: None Assessment: An "utterly ordinary" young master System Space: One binding gift pack]
No parents, no home, no money. Got it...
[Ding! Host, would you like to open the binding gift pack?]
"Open it."
[Ding! Successfully opened. The host has received automatic cultivation. You no longer need to cultivate on your own. You can cultivate while idle, steadily increasing your Soul Power, which is guaranteed to be absolutely pure.]
"Well, look at that. Cultivation while idle? Not bad. I'm quite pleased. You may withdraw, System~"
[Yes, sir!]
While Qian Xunzong was communicating with the system, things looked rather different outside.
"You unfilial son, kneel!!!"
"You unfilial son! That's your brother who hasn't even married into the... Ahem. That's your own little brother, whose martial soul hasn't even awakened yet! How could you hit him so hard?!"
"You're a Four-Ring Soul Ancestor, and you picked a fight with a six-year-old? What were you thinking?!"
Outside a room, Qian Xunji knelt on the floor. Before him stood a man in a gold-embroidered robe. Handsome and refined, with sharp eyes, striking brows, and long golden hair flowing down his back, he cut a dashing figure.
He was Qian Daoliu, the current pope of Spirit Hall. Right now, he was giving Qian Xunji a furious dressing-down. Qian Xunji knelt there looking miserable. He knew he had hit too hard.
"You unfilial son, let me tell you—"
"Your Holiness, the young master is awake!" Just as Qian Daoliu was about to continue, the healing-type Soul Douluo treating Qian Xunzong emerged and spoke to him.
"Zong'er is awake?" Qian Daoliu brightened, then turned to Qian Xunji. "You unfilial son, get up and come see your brother with me!"
"Yes, Dad." Relieved that his brother was all right, Qian Xunji got up and followed Qian Daoliu inside.
Inside the room.
Qian Xunzong rubbed his head. He had just sat up when Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji came in.
"Zong'er, how do you feel? Does anything still hurt?"
Qian Xunzong looked at his father, Qian Daoliu. He was much as Qian Xunzong remembered from the anime in his previous life. But he had just called the man a thickheaded fool in his thoughts, and now he was the man's son. How awkward was that?
"Ahem. Dad, I'm fine."
Qian Daoliu nodded, then turned to Qian Xunji. "You unfilial son, hurry up and apologize to your brother!"
Qian Xunji stepped forward and said gently, "Little Zong, I'm sorry. I hit you too hard."
"Uh..." Seeing Qian Xunji apologize so sincerely, Qian Xunzong remembered that the body's original owner had pestered his brother into a duel. Qian Xunji had refused again and again before finally giving in. That was how Qian Xunzong had ended up knocked out.
Frankly, he'd had it coming. What was a brat whose martial soul hadn't even awakened doing challenging a Soul Ancestor? Was he that bored?
"Brother, it wasn't your fault. I insisted on sparring with you."
"True. And Zong'er, I have to say, why did you go looking to spar with your brother? The gap between you is far too great. Even using only his physical strength, he couldn't easily control how hard he hit you. Don't be so reckless next time, understand?"
Qian Daoliu gave Qian Xunzong a mild scolding as well. After all, Qian Xunji and Qian Xunzong were both his sons. He couldn't favor one over the other.
"I understand, Dad." Qian Xunzong turned to Qian Xunji. "Brother, I'm sorry. I was too reckless this time."
"Heh, it's fine, little brother... It's not the first time Dad's scolded me. I'm used to it..." Qian Xunji grinned and scratched his head.
Seeing his sons behave so sensibly, Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction and said:
"All right. What matters is that you're fine, Zong'er. Your martial soul will awaken first thing tomorrow morning, so get some good rest today."
"Got it, Dad."
Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji then left the room.
Watching them go, Qian Xunzong couldn't help smiling. "Heh. Having a family feels pretty nice."
In his previous life, he had lost both parents when he was little and had barely known what family affection felt like. He could make up for that in this life, even if his family consisted of two stubborn thickheads... Ahem. Family.
There were still forty-six years until the story began. By then, he would probably have become a god.
Whatever. I'm here now, so I might as well enjoy being the second young master...
The next day, in the Awakening Hall.
Qian Xunji brought Qian Xunzong to the Awakening Hall. Inside, Qian Daoliu sat on the high seat at its center.
Beside him stood a burly man with a resolute face, dressed in golden armor. This was Golden Crocodile, currently the Fifth Worship of the Worship Hall. Yes, the very same Golden Crocodile Douluo from the original story. For now, though, he was only a Level-97 Peak Douluo and had yet to become the Second Worship.
Golden Crocodile was considerably older and more senior than Qian Daoliu. He possessed the top-tier Golden Crocodile King martial soul; even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon fell a notch short of it.
"Your Holiness, Zong'er has been lively and clever since he was little. I expect he'll give us a pleasant surprise today."
"Haha, I hope you're right, Fifth Worship. Let's wait and see." Qian Daoliu chuckled. Golden Crocodile was a generation his senior, but as pope, Qian Daoliu held equal standing with him. Even so, Qian Daoliu treated him with great respect.
(In the original story, Golden Crocodile had said himself that even Tang Chen would have to bow to him and address him as "senior." Qian Daoliu belonged to Tang Chen's generation, so he was naturally a generation junior to Golden Crocodile as well.)
Several elders were also present in the hall: Azure Luan, Lion, Guang Ling, Qian Jun, Jiang Mo, and others. Five of them would later become Pontiff Elders of the Worship Hall. They were all Titled Douluo already, with Azure Luan the strongest at Level 95, a Super Douluo. Though he was only two levels short of his Level 97 strength in the original story, closing that gap would take years of training and insight. Being stuck there for decades would be perfectly normal.
"Dad, Fifth Worship, elders." Qian Xunji led Qian Xunzong in greeting Qian Daoliu and the others.
Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile nodded, while the other elders returned the greeting with cupped hands. Qian Xunji and Qian Xunzong might not be powerful yet, but they were the pope's sons. Their status was hardly lower than the elders', so none of them put on airs as Titled Douluo.
"Good. Since Zong'er is here, let's begin. Azure Luan, you'll preside over this Awakening Ritual!"
"Yes, Your Holiness." Azure Luan saluted with cupped hands.
Qian Xunji stepped aside. Azure Luan approached Qian Xunzong and said with a smile, "Young master, I'll awaken your martial soul now."
"All right. Sorry for the trouble, Elder Azure Luan."
Azure Luan nodded and raised a hand. Several Awakening Stones appeared and circled Qian Xunzong, forming a magic array that shone with golden light.
[Ding! Host detected in the Awakening Hall. Would you like to sign in?]
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