Spirit City, Douluo Worship Hall.
A tall figure sat upright on the throne. Judging by his face, he appeared to be only in his thirties or forties, handsome, with a faint smile on his lips.
The peaceful, tranquil air he naturally exuded gave people a deeply comfortable feeling.
This man was Qian Daoliu, Hall Master of Spirit Hall's Douluo Worship Hall, a level ninety-nine Power Attack System Peerless Douluo, and one of the three great Peerless Douluo, nicknamed "Sky Invincible"!
Though Qian Daoliu was tall, he was not muscular. He wore a plain gray robe, his long golden hair hanging neatly combed down his back.
Despite his simple clothing, merely sitting there, Qian Daoliu inspired an urge to prostrate oneself in worship.
That was the entirety of the impression Qian Daoliu made on Lu Qian, who stood below the dais.
Even as the personal disciple of Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall's Pope, Lu Qian dared not behave with the slightest impropriety before Qian Daoliu.
In truth, before transmigrating, Lu Qian had never had any profound understanding of Qian Daoliu's strength-not until he stood before him now.
Even though Qian Daoliu had already reached a realm of returning to simplicity, the pressure he inadvertently let slip still occasionally sent a shiver through Lu Qian, a mere Soul Elder.
"Lu Qian, as a member of Spirit Hall, and more importantly, Pope Bibi Dong's personal disciple, it is time you made some contributions to Spirit Hall."
Qian Daoliu addressed Lu Qian with a somewhat stern expression.
Although Lu Qian had already sensed this coming, hearing the words from Qian Daoliu's mouth still made him feel that it could not be anything good. It would very likely be an extremely difficult and dangerous mission.
At that thought, an idea suddenly occurred to Lu Qian. This old fellow isn't going to have me impersonate Xue Qinghe, is he?
Lu Qian looked up at Qian Daoliu in slight surprise.
Qian Daoliu paid no attention to his gaze, however, and continued:
"Suotuo City lies in the southern Heaven Dou Empire. It is one of the Balak Kingdom's two major cities, as well as the most prosperous city within Barak's borders, known as Barak's granary."
Suotuo City?
As a Douluo fan in his previous life, Lu Qian could not have been more familiar with that name!
Isn't that where the Shrek Seven Devils came together?
Seeing Lu Qian's expression, Qian Daoliu paused and asked:
"Lu Qian, you know Suotuo City?"
Lu Qian hurriedly composed himself and replied quietly:
"Great Enshrined, I merely know of the place."
"That is where you will be going this time. There is a Shrek Academy there, and I need you to wait there for someone."
"Wait for someone?"
The first person who came to Lu Qian's mind was Tang San.
"This person's name is Tang San, and he should be around your age. He is the son of Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Sect's outcast disciple. I need you to keep an eye on him."
It really is him!
But Lu Qian could not understand why Qian Daoliu would send him to keep watch over Tang San. Could he have transmigrated here too?
Does he know Tang San will destroy Spirit Hall in the future?
Then why doesn't he just kill Tang San outright?
Seeing the confusion filling Lu Qian's eyes, Qian Daoliu explained:
"I once made an agreement with a powerful member of the Clear Sky Sect that I would not exterminate the sect to the last man. That is why I turned a blind eye to Tang Hao, until his son awakened his Martial Soul-with innate full soul power, no less."
"Tang Hao and his son have always been under surveillance. Judging by the information sent back from Nuoding City's Junior Soul Master Academy over the past few years, Tang San is highly talented. He may become an unpredictable factor in the future."
"Therefore, Spirit Hall has decided to send you to keep an eye on him. Aside from sending back regular reports, you must interfere with him when the time is right and hinder Tang San's growth as much as possible. Do you understand?"
By the time Qian Daoliu finished speaking, cold sweat had broken out on Lu Qian's forehead.
You old bastard, your schemes run far too deep!
To eliminate the possibility of Tang San becoming a future threat to Spirit Hall, he was actually planting Lu Qian at Tang San's side more than a decade in advance to interfere with his growth.
What a move-pulling the firewood out from under the cauldron!
"I-I understand."
Frightened by Qian Daoliu's deeply calculating nature, Lu Qian stammered a little.
"All right. You may go."
"Yes, Great Enshrined."
With that, Lu Qian swiftly left the Douluo Worship Hall.
Yet just as he stepped outside, he unexpectedly saw Qian Renxue, whom he had not seen in a long time, walking toward him.
"Sister Xue, what brings you here?"
"Oh, it's you, Little Qian. I just returned to Spirit City. Grandpa summoned me, saying he had a mission for me."
"Oh, I see."
"Hm? Little Qian, what's wrong? You don't look very happy."
"Not at all. I was just too nervous about meeting the Great Enshrined."
Lu Qian made up an excuse at random.
"All right, then, Little Qian. I'll go see Grandpa first."
"Okay."
Lu Qian looked back at Qian Renxue's retreating figure, suddenly feeling that they were both fallen souls wandering the ends of the earth.
After all, Qian Renxue's current mission was to spend a long time undercover within the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, impersonating Xue Qinghe.
He, too, was about to head to Shrek Academy in Suotuo City for a long-term mission undercover behind enemy lines.
But when Lu Qian compared the two, his mission seemed a little easier. At least he could be himself!
Soon, Lu Qian returned to Bibi Dong's Papal Hall, and the moment he entered, he saw Bibi Dong in the seat of honor.
Fair skin, pale purple hair, and an almost flawless face.
Bibi Dong's beauty was so stunning-noble, elegant, tranquil. Every lovely word seemed suited to this woman.
Although she was no longer young, the passing years seemed to have left not the slightest trace on her.
"You're back?"
Bibi Dong's ethereal voice carried a hint of authority.
"Yes, Master."
"What mission did the Great Enshrined assign you?"
"To go to Suotuo City and hinder the growth of someone named Tang San."
"Tang San?"
"Tang Hao's son. According to the Great Enshrined, he's highly talented. If he's allowed to keep growing, he may become an unpredictable factor in the future."
After Lu Qian finished speaking, Bibi Dong fell silent.
Not daring to leave without permission, Lu Qian stood quietly where he was.
Only after a long while did Bibi Dong look straight at Lu Qian and ask:
"Little Qian, do you want to go?"
Hearing Bibi Dong ask this, and so seriously at that, Lu Qian understood. Bibi Dong treated both him and Hu Liena extremely well. If he said he did not want to go, his master would likely go fight Qian Daoliu.
But the consequences of a clash between those two might not be something Spirit Hall could bear. No matter what, Lu Qian would not cause trouble for his master, Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall's Pope.
So Lu Qian simply smiled at Bibi Dong and said:
"Yes, of course I want to go! Staying in Spirit City all this time has nearly bored me to death."
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