Three months later, a series of knocks sounded outside Qian Chongling's residence in Douluo Hall, Spirit Hall.
"Ah, Douluo Bai Yun. What brings you here?" Qian Chongling asked with a smile.
"Great Enshrined, His Holiness the Pope has invited you to Elder Hall. There is something he wishes to discuss with you."
"All right."
"I look about fifty now, don't I? But if they ask, how should I explain it?" After Douluo Bai Yun left, Qian Chongling looked at the mirror nearby and muttered to himself.
Wait, why should a grandfather have to explain himself to his grandson?
As though something had suddenly clicked, Qian Chongling grumbled inwardly.
When Qian Chongling arrived in the hall, he found Qian Bufan already there. Beside him sat a beautiful woman who looked about thirty, her belly swollen with what appeared to be a four- or five-month pregnancy.
"Second Grandfather, you're here. Your appearance..."
Qian Bufan suddenly noticed Qian Chongling's new appearance, and the words died on his lips.
"Oh, over the past few days, I developed a Soul Skill that makes me look younger," Qian Chongling said.
Whether you believe it or not, you have to believe it. Why should a grandfather have to explain himself to his grandson?
"Uh..."
"Uh..."
Qian Bufan and the beautiful woman were both left speechless.
"We invited you here today, Second Grandfather, because we'd like you to name Ying'er's and my child."
Qian Bufan smiled. His normally piercing eyes were now infinitely tender, brimming with affection as he looked at the woman beside him-the Ying'er he had mentioned.
Qian Chongling rolled his eyes, feeling as though he had been stuffed full of cheap dog food. What was a man supposed to do when his own grandson force-fed him displays of affection?
Waiting online for an answer. It's urgent!
With no answer forthcoming, Qian Chongling could only swallow this mouthful of poisonous weeds. He said:
"Just follow the family genealogy. Your generation uses 'Bu,' and the next uses 'Xi.' If it's a boy, call him Qian Xiye; if it's a girl, Qian Xilan. What do you think, Qingying?"
"Xi Ye, Xilan. They sound lovely. Second Grandfather certainly chooses better names. Brother Fan came up with something like Spiral Roar Second Form-"
"Ahem, ahem, ahem!"
Before Yao Qingying could finish, Qian Bufan interrupted her. Although he thought his chosen name was excellent, he could hardly withstand opposition from everyone, young and old.
Sensing another serving of dog food coming his way, Qian Chongling hurriedly found an excuse and slipped away.
"If there's nothing else, your grandfather will head back for a nap."
The years flew like a shuttle, time rushing past. Before long, fifty years had passed.
Today, red lanterns hung throughout Spirit City, and a long red carpet stretched from the Papal Palace on the Sacred Mountain all the way to its foot.
Inside Spirit Hall's Book Repository, a handsome young man in black lay lazily on a wicker chair, basking in the sunlight that streamed through the glazed tiles at the center of the roof.
Soft footsteps sounded outside the Book Repository, followed by an aged voice. "Second Grandfather, tomorrow is Little Ye's wedding. Do you need to make any preparations?"
"Is he marrying that young girl from the Yang Family, Yang Youxue?"
"Yes, Second Grandfather."
"Understood, Xiao Fan. Besides, in everyone else's eyes, this old man has been dead for decades. No one would ever imagine I look like this, so I can simply attend as I am," the young man said mildly.
Qian Bufan fell silent at that. As the younger full brother of his grandfather, Qian Chongguang, the thirteen-hundred-year-old Qian Chongling had certainly lived a long life. In recent years, even his white hair had turned black, as though he had begun a second lifetime.
If he went out with Qian Bufan and Qian Xiye, they would look exactly like three generations of a family together-except Qian Bufan would be the grandfather, the fifty-year-old Qian Xiye the son, and Qian Chongling, the actual grandfather-generation elder, would look the youngest.
Who could Qian Bufan possibly appeal to about that?
"Then your grandson will take his leave." Having confirmed that his Second Grandfather would attend tomorrow, Qian Bufan left.
At noon the following day, Qian Chongling stood atop the Sacred Mountain with his hands behind his back. His robes fluttered, his long black hair stirred in the wind, and a smile touched his lips as he gazed at the bright red bridal sedan outside Spirit City.
The bridal sedan, carried by eight bearers, brought the bride from afar amid music and drums. It reached Spirit City and followed the red carpet to the Papal Palace.
Today was the wedding of Spirit Hall's reigning Pope, Qian Chongling's great-grandson, Qian Xiye. Countless sects had come to offer their congratulations. Under the sweep of Qian Chongling's immense spiritual perception, even the shadows lurking in secret to investigate had nowhere to hide.
After all, the Clear Sky Hammer's ponderous, unadorned weight, the explosive lightning of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and the White Tiger's murderous aura stood out among the guests like enormous light bulbs. Qian Chongling could not have missed them even if he tried.
Of course, these people were merely investigating which family was becoming related to Spirit Hall's Pope through marriage, and whether that family had any geniuses or the like. They had no intention of making trouble for Qian Xiye at such a moment.
Making trouble now would not be making trouble-it would be courting death!
Just imagine: on your wedding day, a crowd of uninvited guests came and wreaked havoc at your ceremony. Wouldn't you want to kill them?
Thus, today's wedding could be called a joyous occasion for all the guests! Everything went exceedingly smoothly!
After three rounds of drinks, the guests dispersed, and the newlyweds finally breathed a sigh of relief. All that remained was to pay their respects to their elders, and then they could enjoy a world belonging only to the two of them.
Two figures sat in the inner hall of the Papal Palace: Qian Xiye's father, Qian Bufan, and Yang Youxue's father, Yang Yu. Each held a cup of fragrant tea.
The newlyweds, Qian Xiye and Yang Youxue, were kneeling on both knees, holding tea trays in both hands.
The Master of Ceremonies smiled and continued, "We now proceed to the second part of the ceremony: paying respects to the gods!"
"Please turn around. First, bow to the Divine Ancestor!"
The two froze for a moment before coming to their senses and hurriedly bowing toward Douluo Hall.
"Second, bow to your parents!"
The two turned to face Qian Bufan and Yang Yu.
"Now, husband and wife, bow to each other!"
They exchanged a smile and bowed deeply.
"The ceremony is complete. Escort them to the bridal chamber!"
"All right, the wedding is over, and it's getting late. Go back and get some rest," the Master of Ceremonies teased.
Both newlyweds blushed. They exchanged a glance, then turned around. "Fathers, elders, everyone, we'll take our leave."
"Go on," Qian Bufan and Yang Yu said.
Once the two had left, the family members watching also departed, laughing and chatting.
With everything concluded, Qian Chongling returned to Douluo Hall. Today's traditional Chinese wedding had satisfied his nostalgia for his previous life. Although he had witnessed his descendants' weddings more than once, he still found them deeply nostalgic.
Lost in these thoughts, Qian Chongling closed his eyes and flopped onto his bed, only to sit bolt upright an instant later.
A familiar system chime had sounded in his mind. "Ding! Today's check-in was successful. Reward: lifespan +1 year. The cumulative 100-year check-in gift pack has been issued."
"Ding! Check-in gift pack opened automatically. Obtained: Planetary Annihilation Cannon Blueprint ×1!"
At this notification, Qian Chongling's unruffled expression finally changed-into one of utter bewilderment!
A! Planetary! Annihilation! Cannon! That sounds ridiculously powerful! Judging by the name, it's a weapon of mass destruction that can blast a planet apart in one shot!
But why the hell is it a blueprint?!
A blueprint? In this world of the Douluo Continent, where technology is practically nonexistent, who am I supposed to find to build it?
Even an airplane blueprint would be better than this thing. At least there'd be some chance of building one!
Before you continue