Qian Xunji Arrives

"Grandpa, haven't you heard the saying? If you want to become a god, start early. Since Spirit Hall has the means and knows where certain gods left their legacies on the Douluo Continent, we can't waste the opportunity," Huang Tieyi said, his face solemn. "Who cares whether I actually become a god? According to the records in the Library Pavilion's Golden Books Section, every time you complete a Divine Trial, the ages of your Soul Rings increase accordingly.

"Even if I don't inherit the Asura God's legacy in the end, raising the ages of my Soul Rings would still be worthwhile! Imagine me standing there with nothing but red Soul Rings. People's jaws would hit the floor. Just think what a magnificent sight that would be!"

"You have a point. Grandson, you've got more ambition than your grandpa," Huang Batian said, his spirits soaring. "Go for it. If anything goes wrong, I'll have your back."

"A Yi, if you can get me a suitable Soul Bone, I'll have your back too," Lei Zhenyun said, thumping his chest.

"Stop dreaming and let's get back," Ling Yuan said impatiently. "I need a proper bath. I'm filthy."

"All right. Let's make good time," Lei Zhenyun said reluctantly.

Ling Yuan activated her Martial Soul Avatar, transformed into a spirit kite, and tossed Bibi Dong onto her back. "Take your time. I'm going ahead." With that, she beat her wings and flew off.

Huang Batian watched Ling Yuan leave, then turned to Lei Zhenyun.

"Big brother, what's that look for?" Lei Zhenyun asked, instinctively taking a step back at the eager look in Huang Batian's eyes.

"Little brother, use your Martial Soul Avatar too. We'll ride you back," Huang Batian said with a chuckle.

"I can do that, big brother, but aren't you afraid of getting your backsides shocked if you ride me in Thunder Leopard form?" Lei Zhenyun asked.

"That's fine. We can take it," Huang Batian said evenly.

With a helpless sigh, Lei Zhenyun released his Thunder Leopard Martial Soul and activated his Martial Soul Avatar, becoming a black leopard three meters tall and five meters long, with lightning patterns across his body.

Huang Batian and Huang Tieyi climbed onto the leopard's back, and it sped through the woods.

In Star Dou Town, Zhao Xingyun, the Red-Clad Deacon who headed the Spirit Hall Branch, felt as though his head had swollen to twice its size.

A few days ago, Huang Batian, the Elder Council's Heavenly Tyrant Douluo, and Lei Zhenyun, the Thunderbolt Douluo, had arrived. Later, Ling Yuan had come with the Saintess.

Now His Holiness the Pope had arrived with the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo; the Sixth Worship, Thousand Jun Douluo; and the Seventh Worship, Demon Subduing Douluo.

"Greetings, Your Holiness, and honored Worships," Zhao Xingyun said with the utmost respect.

"You may rise," Qian Xunji said calmly to the kneeling Zhao Xingyun. "Have Ling Yuan, Heavenly Tyrant Douluo, and Thunderbolt Douluo returned?"

"Your Holiness, the three Douluo took the Saintess and Heavenly Tyrant Douluo's grandson to obtain Soul Rings. They haven't returned yet," Zhao Xingyun said, rising to his feet.

"In that case, we'll rest here for a few days. Once they return, we'll enter the Star Dou Great Forest," Qian Xunji said.

"Your Holiness, you can leave obtaining a Ninth Soul Ring and hunting a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to us," Demon Subduing Douluo said with absolute confidence.

"I'm not waiting for those three old fellows. I'm waiting for young A Yi." Qian Xunji took a sip of tea. "The boy loves reading and thinking, but his mind also leaps in unexpected directions. Tradition doesn't bind him. He was the one who noticed Dong'er's problem.

"I don't want to obtain my Ninth Soul Ring by following the records of our Angel Clan's Qian Family. I want to see whether his unconventional thinking can offer me a different suggestion."

"Then, Your Holiness, why don't we go meet them?" Thousand Jun Douluo asked, puzzled. "If we run into them in the Star Dou Great Forest, we can simply turn aside."

"There's no rush. We have another friend to wait for," Qian Xunji said with a mysterious smile.

At dusk, Qian Xunji emerged from his room and was about to head to the dining hall when he saw a spirit kite descend swiftly into the courtyard.

"Greetings, Your Holiness!" Ling Yuan said. "Greetings, Teacher!" Bibi Dong added. Both spoke with great respect.

"Rise. I'm glad you made it back safely." Qian Xunji's gaze settled on Bibi Dong. "There's much less purple in your hair. It seems Huang Tieyi's advice was sound."

"Teacher, you won't believe how interesting this trip to get Soul Rings was!" Bibi Dong skipped forward and took Qian Xunji's arm, her face alight with delight.

Chattering away, Bibi Dong told him about meeting people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the Star Dou Great Forest, and about the Octagonal Shield Turtle and the Blood Rhinoceros Steel-Armored Bull.

Ling Yuan added how Bibi Dong had faced a Ring Fusion crisis while absorbing her Fifth Soul Ring, then recounted how Huang Tieyi had been struck by lightning after compressing his Soul Power into liquid. As for the lecher Ping Weihaxiong, she mentioned him only in passing.

Qian Xunji listened quietly. He had never expected so many interesting things to happen while they were finding Bibi Dong's Fifth Soul Ring.

"All right, go have a bath. We'll meet in the dining hall shortly—" Before Qian Xunji could finish, a black leopard leaped into the courtyard. Moving too fast to stop in time, it charged straight at him.

Qian Xunji raised a hand and stopped the leopard. The sudden halt sent Huang Batian and Huang Tieyi flying, and grandfather and grandson slammed into the wall of a room.

Thud! Thud! "Ow..." "Ow..." The two hit the wall almost in unison, and their cries came just as closely together.

"Greetings, Your Holiness..." Lei Zhenyun said respectfully, struggling to contain his amusement at Huang Batian's and Huang Tieyi's sorry state.

"Elder Thunderbolt, you're old enough to know better than to rush around like that," Qian Xunji said helplessly. He did not tell Lei Zhenyun to rise just yet; he was waiting for Huang Batian and Huang Tieyi to collect themselves and pay their respects.

"Greetings, Your Holiness." Huang Batian and Huang Tieyi scrambled to their feet and dropped to one knee beside Lei Zhenyun.

"You may all rise. A Yi, you're a Soul Saint now. You can join the Elder Council," Qian Xunji said. "The youngest Soul Saint in the history of the Douluo Continent, and Spirit Hall's youngest elder. No one before you has known such glory, and it will be hard for anyone after you to match it."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Holiness." Huang Tieyi scratched his head bashfully.

"Go and bathe, all of you. Come to the main hall afterward. There are things we can discuss over dinner..."