That year, Qian Fan was sixteen.
Outside the Pope's Palace, the sun blazed fiercely, and even the air seemed warped by the heat. The guards stood ramrod straight before the entrance, hardly daring to breathe as they nervously watched a figure approach from afar.
"The Holy Son has arrived!" A shrill announcement pierced the silence.
BANG!!!
Qian Fan smashed the doors open with a single punch. The tremendous impact made even the frame tremble, sending wood splinters flying. Bibi Dong had been sitting elegantly on her elevated seat, reviewing documents. The sudden crash made her jerk her head up, raging flames instantly igniting in her eyes as she glared at the entrance.
With one hand in his pocket, Qian Fan strolled into the hall, casually wiping the hand he had just used to break open the doors. Every movement brimmed with defiance and arrogance.
A mocking smile curled his lips as he said coldly, "Your Holiness, it seems you aren't particularly pleased to see me."
In truth, Qian Fan was somewhat nervous. Although he had stood half a step from the Golden Immortal realm in his previous life, with swordsmanship that bordered on the divine, he was now only a peak Soul Emperor after transmigrating to the Douluo Continent.
Bibi Dong's strength was unfathomable. He had no certainty that he could leave the Pope's Palace unscathed. Yet his proud nature would never allow him to show fear before anyone, especially Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong's chest heaved with fury. She wanted nothing more than to throw this damned Qian Fan out immediately. If his current standing in Spirit Hall had not been second only to hers, she would already have ordered someone to send him packing back to the Worship Hall. Forcing down her anger, she snorted coldly. "Hmph. You brat, you're growing more insolent by the day."
Qian Fan folded his arms, his expression composed. "I only came to tell you that I'm about to break through to Soul Saint."
As he spoke, his gaze sharpened, and his aura surged instantly. His Fallen Angel Martial Soul burst forth, dazzling level-sixty-nine Soul Power spreading like a raging tide. Six Soul Rings slowly revolved around him, each flickering with a light that made hearts tremble.
The hall instantly fell silent as a flock of crows struck dumb. Everyone stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with shock, astonishment, and disbelief. As though caught by an immobilization spell, they stood with their mouths slightly open, unable to utter a sound.
Within the elders' hearts, towering waves crashed and churned, countless cries of Impossible! screaming madly through their minds.
They recalled how, at fourteen or fifteen, they had been mere Four-Ring Soul Ancestors, yet had already strutted about proudly, flaunting their achievements everywhere. But Qian Fan had reached the peak of level sixty-nine Soul Emperor at just sixteen, standing only half a step from Soul Saint.
That gulf was harder to cross than a chasm cleaving heaven itself!
Qian Fan surveyed everyone with interest, taking in the elders' and Bibi Dong's expressions, which looked as ugly as though they had swallowed shit. He sneered inwardly. Interesting... Is this all the strain the weak can bear? If I hadn't spent these years laying my foundations and shaping my physique, I would have reached Titled Douluo long ago.
Even with his current Soul Emperor cultivation, his profound foundation of spiritual power from his previous life gave him confidence that he could fight a Soul Douluo on equal footing. Even against a Titled Douluo, he had enough means to preserve his life.
Just as he was fretting over having nowhere to vent his pride, Qian Fan suddenly fixed his gaze on Bibi Dong, a barely perceptible glint of cunning flashing through his eyes.
He drew a deep breath, his face as still as water, and said solemnly, "Your Holiness, I haven't come over anything particularly major today. It's simply about the finals of the All-Continent Advanced Elite Soul Master Tournament. I will take the field personally, so please make sure you free up a place for me.
"With my strength, I am certain I can ensure that Spirit Hall Academy claims the championship throne. As for everything else, leave it until the Great Enshrined arrives in person to make a decision."
Veins bulged on Bibi Dong's hand as she gripped the Pope's Scepter, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force. Her eyes widened as she stared fixedly at Qian Fan, the fury within her like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
Just as she was about to berate this shameless man and drive him from the hall...
A booming voice rolled in from afar like thunder. "The Great Enshrined has arrived!"
Upon hearing it, all the elders present immediately grew solemn. They dropped to one knee in unison and called out together, "Greetings, Great Enshrined!"
Qian Daoliu entered through the doorway with steady steps. Each seemed to carry boundless pressure, making the entire space tremble faintly with his footfalls.
He wore a smile, but it sent chills down everyone's spines, like the bared fangs of a colossal beast lurking in the abyss. Upon reaching the center of the hall, Qian Daoliu stopped and nodded slightly. "Please rise, everyone."
"Thank you, Great Enshrined!" the elders answered in unison. They rose and stood respectfully to one side with their hands lowered, hardly daring to breathe or show the slightest negligence.
Qian Daoliu keenly noticed Bibi Dong's unusual mood. His brows furrowed slightly, and he immediately ordered everyone except Qian Fan and Pope Bibi Dong to leave.
Once everyone had withdrawn, Bibi Dong could no longer contain her fury. "Enough! Qian Daoliu, you old bastard! This is the Pope's Palace, not that so-called Worship Hall of yours. I am the rightful Pope! Who are you, an old man with one foot in the grave, to interfere?"
Qian Fan shuddered at those words, the anger within him instantly catching fire.
The pride and dignity of his previous life were fully awakened in that instant. His six powerful Soul Rings erupted with dazzling light at once, and six dark-purple wings unfurled from his back, mysterious, powerful patterns flowing across them.
The surging Soul Power within him erupted like floodwaters bursting through a dam, and the entire hall shook violently beneath his aura.
Qian Daoliu clearly noticed that Qian Fan was gradually losing his reason. His gaze hardened, and without hesitation, he unleashed his immense Soul Power. Like a towering mountain, it firmly sealed the Soul Power around Qian Fan.
Then he turned to look at Bibi Dong, a hint of warning in his voice. "Bibi Dong, surely you can see the terrifying strength young Fan possesses. A genius who could shake the world like this might not appear even once in a hundred thousand years.
"Do you still remember... the promise you made back then? Don't forget who put you in that seat."
At that moment, Qian Daoliu suddenly formed seals rapidly with both hands and unleashed his powerful Soul Power, forcibly tearing space apart. A portal radiating mysterious light appeared before them, its glow seeming to connect to another mysterious world.
He turned to Qian Fan, his voice carrying unquestionable authority. "Young Fan, come with me. Now." Before his words had finished sounding, he stepped inside without hesitation.
At that moment, Qian Fan cast his gaze toward Bibi Dong, his heart filled with contempt and disgust.
He thought to himself, I can't let such a perfect opportunity slip by! He viciously spat toward her and cursed, "Pah! What fucking rotten luck!"
Then, without looking back, he followed closely behind Qian Daoliu into that mysterious doorway through space.
As expected, fewer than three seconds passed before the system's familiar notification sounded in Qian Fan's mind.
Sensing that Bibi Dong's towering Rage Points had soared to an astonishing level, Qian Fan curled his lips into a smug smile. Immediately afterward, the system generously rewarded him with one level of Soul Power.
The instant he stepped out of the spatial doorway, Qian Fan sensed an unprecedented opportunity to break through. His gaze sharpened, and without the slightest hesitation, he swiftly sat cross-legged, formed seals with both hands, and devoted himself entirely to absorbing the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy permeating his surroundings.
His breathing grew deep and powerful. With every inhalation, the surrounding spiritual energy rushed madly into his body, as though drawn by an invisible vortex.
As time passed, the bottleneck that had once been solid as iron gradually began to loosen. Fine beads of sweat covered Qian Fan's forehead, and veins bulged faintly across his face. Gritting his teeth, he hurled all his strength against that barrier. Drop by drop, thread by thread...
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