Golden light shot into the sky.
A sacred, majestic Six-Winged Angel appeared behind Qian Daoliu.
Six golden wings slowly unfurled.
Golden radiance enveloped the entire Pope's Hall.
The oppressive might of a level ninety-nine Peerless Douluo erupted in full.
Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor had only just manifested when the Six-Winged Angel's power suppressed it head-on.
Her body abruptly sank, and the black-purple Soul Power she had released rapidly contracted.
Bibi Dong stared at Qian Daoliu, shock appearing in her eyes for the first time.
She had always known Qian Daoliu was powerful.
But Qian Daoliu had always exercised restraint in the past, never truly displaying his full strength before her.
Today, not only did Qian Daoliu act completely differently from before, but even his aura was more terrifying than she remembered.
Qian Daoliu turned around and withdrew the pressure enveloping Qian Renxue.
"Xue'er."
"From today onward, you no longer have to follow Bibi Dong."
Qian Renxue raised her eyes to her grandfather.
Qian Daoliu reached out and gently ruffled her hair.
"I want to take you as my direct disciple."
"From now on, you'll cultivate by my side."
"As long as I'm alive, Bibi Dong will never bully you again."
Bibi Dong's expression darkened.
"Qian Daoliu, don't you dare!"
Qian Daoliu did not even look at her.
"Xue'er."
"Are you willing to accept me as your master?"
Qian Renxue froze where she stood.
She looked at Qian Daoliu's outstretched hand, then at the sacred, majestic Six-Winged Angel behind him.
Before today, she had always longed for her mother's approval.
But all she had received in return was disgust, punishment, and hurt after hurt.
Now, her grandfather stood in front of her.
Qian Renxue pressed her lips together and finally nodded.
"Grandpa."
"I'm willing."
Qian Daoliu's heart jolted.
The system panel burst into dazzling light.
[Congratulations to the host on successfully accepting your first direct disciple] [Disciple binding successful] [Disciple: Qian Renxue] [Martial Soul: Six-Winged Angel] [Innate Soul Power: level twenty] [Talent rating: god level] [Potential rating: god level] [Congratulations to the host on accepting your first disciple] [Beginner reward package issued]
Qian Daoliu willed it with a thought.
"Open."
The golden panel unfolded.
[Congratulations to the host on obtaining: God-Bestowed Soul Ring] [Soul Ring age: two hundred thousand years] [Soul Ring attributes: sacred, light, angel] [The God-Bestowed Angel Soul Ring possesses three exclusive Soul Skills] [Soul Skill one: Sacred Shield] [A permanently active passive Soul Skill. Sacred power automatically protects its master and can withstand all external damage]
Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted slightly.
Permanently active and passive.
Invincible defense.
This meant that Sacred Shield would remain active without him having to consciously channel his Soul Power.
Even if someone launched a sneak attack while he was completely unprepared, they would be unable to break through Sacred Shield.
Qian Daoliu continued reading.
[Soul Skill two: Suppress Evil] [Condenses supreme divinity to sweep away all evil, with an absolute suppressive effect against the evil, darkness, and death attributes] [Soul Skill three: Angel Sanctuary] [Seals off a region of heaven and earth with Angel Divine Power. Within the domain, the host can control everything and extinguish enemies' vitality]
A sharp gleam flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes.
Sacred Shield handled defense.
Suppress Evil handled offense.
Angel Sanctuary could seal off a region of heaven and earth.
Working together, the three Soul Skills had virtually no weaknesses.
Especially Suppress Evil.
This Soul Skill had an absolute suppressive effect against the evil attribute.
Bibi Dong had secretly undertaken the Rakshasa God Trial, and dense Rakshasa Divine Power had long since accumulated within her.
Rakshasa governed evil thoughts.
It happened to be countered by Suppress Evil.
Qian Daoliu had thought that accepting his first disciple would, at most, earn him some cultivation or a decent-quality Soul Bone.
He had never expected the system to give him a Two-Hundred-Thousand-Year God-Given Soul Ring outright.
And it was an exclusive Soul Ring perfectly suited to the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.
This reward had far exceeded his expectations.
Golden light surged into Qian Daoliu's body.
The God-Bestowed Angel Soul Ring rapidly fused with the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.
A sacred aura far stronger than before flowed through his meridians.
The hidden injuries accumulated over many years also eased somewhat under the nourishment of the sacred power.
Although he had not fully recovered, at least his body would no longer continue deteriorating.
Qian Daoliu's spirits lifted.
Qian Renxue alone had brought him such generous rewards.
If he took in a few more disciples with God Level talent in the future, never mind changing Spirit Hall's fate—even confronting the Divine Realm head-on would no longer be merely a distant dream.
"Qian Daoliu!"
Bibi Dong looked at the grandfather and granddaughter standing before her, her expression utterly grim.
As the pope of Spirit Hall, she had been ignored to her face by Qian Daoliu.
What she found even more unacceptable was that Qian Renxue had actually accepted Qian Daoliu as her master.
"This is the Pope's Hall."
"You attacked the pope in public, then took it upon yourself to take away someone Spirit Hall is focusing on nurturing."
"Are you trying to trample on the pope's dignity?"
Bibi Dong stared at Qian Daoliu.
"Leave the Pope's Hall immediately."
"Otherwise, I will drive you out myself."
Qian Daoliu raised his eyes and met her gaze.
His expression did not change in the slightest.
"Today, I insist on protecting Xue'er."
Bibi Dong's brows knitted tightly.
Qian Daoliu took a step forward.
"You hold the position of pope, yet lack the breadth of mind a pope should possess."
"Xue'er is your own flesh and blood."
"She's still young, and she cultivates tirelessly day and night, just to hear a single word of approval from you."
"But what have you done?"
"You've taken all the suffering you endured and all the resentment in your heart and vented it on a child."
Standing behind Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue stared blankly at his tall figure.
She had never heard her grandfather say these things before.
In the past, when Bibi Dong punished her, her grandfather rarely intervened directly.
Even though her grandfather would treat her injuries afterward and patiently comfort her, he had always been mindful of the balance between the pope and the Worship Hall.
Today was different.
Her grandfather no longer backed down.
He had stormed into the Pope's Hall for her.
He had slapped Bibi Dong.
And now, right in front of Bibi Dong, he was defending her without giving an inch.
Qian Renxue's eyes gradually reddened.
She had always thought she could only endure all of this alone.
Only now did she truly feel what it was like to have someone stand in front of her.
Qian Daoliu pointed at the shattered stone tiles on the floor.
"From now on, I will teach Xue'er myself."
"If you dare lay another finger on her, don't blame me for disregarding our past ties."
Bibi Dong's face abruptly turned pale.
She looked at Qian Renxue, sheltered behind Qian Daoliu, and memories of the past surfaced one after another.
The secret chamber.
Imprisonment.
Humiliation.
And the man who had destroyed her life.
She, too, had once had a bright future.
She had once been Spirit Hall's most dazzling holy maiden and one of the most outstanding geniuses on the continent.
If not for Qian Xunji, how could she have become what she was today?
"Who will repay me for the suffering I endured?"
Bibi Dong's hand slowly tightened.
"Now you stand here, telling me not to let hatred devour me."
"But every one of these tragedies originated with your Qian Family!"
Her papal robes fluttered with her Soul Power.
The hem parted at the side, revealing long legs wrapped in black stockings that made her figure look even taller.
But that captivating beauty was now completely shrouded by intense killing intent.
Before you continue