The flames were not the crimson of ordinary fire, but an almost transparent, glasslike hue, dancing and flickering with a judgment that pierced the soul.
"Young mistress, feel it out. What is your first Soul Skill?"
Ling Yuan Douluo could not help feeling curious.
At Ling Yuan's question, Qian Renxue lifted her little face with some excitement.
With a thought, the deep purple thousand-year Soul Ring beneath her feet suddenly blazed with light!
Hum!
Centered on the six-winged angel Martial Soul behind her, a scorching wave of heat abruptly spread in all directions!
There seemed to be nothing unusual about the heat wave as it swept across the ground, but the instant it passed through Ling Yuan Douluo's body, this supreme expert of rank ninety-one actually felt an inexplicable trace of agitation and unease rise in her heart.
It was simply inconceivable!
The young mistress's first Soul Skill could actually affect a Titled Douluo like her. Even if the effect was only slight, that was already astonishing!
"What is it called?"
Qian Renxue withdrew her Soul Power and said earnestly:
"The books said angels burn away the world's sins with flames. These flames have no physical form, but they ignite the distracting thoughts and sins deep within those being punished. I'll call it 'World-Purifying Flame'!"
"World-Purifying Flame? A fine name."
Ling Yuan Douluo repeated it, a glimmer of amazement crossing her eyes. With such an astonishingly gifted young mistress at its helm in the future, how could Spirit Hall fail to flourish? She had to report this directly to the Great Enshrined.
Not far away, Chen Qianqiu, who had just eaten his fill, also nodded in approval.
Now that's more like it!
How could an angel possibly have no fire?
A noble, sacred archangel should use flames of the soul like these to burn enemies to ashes!
Among all the countless beings in this world, from commoners without Soul Power to lofty Titled Douluo, who didn't harbor a little selfish desire and darkness in their heart?
As long as there was filth in their heart, these flames could cling like an ulcer eating into the bone, setting it all ablaze and burning it away! This was the divine punishment a god-level Martial Soul ought to wield. This first Soul Ring had been an absolute steal!
Of course, Qian Renxue's angel Martial Soul could not completely abandon its ability to wield a sword, either. He could slowly plan that out later. As the saying went, there were still plenty of days ahead.
Spirit City, deep within the Worship Hall.
The enormous Angel God Statue radiated a faint golden glow. The entire hall was empty and solemn, truly resembling a place where a god rested.
In the center of the hall, Qian Xunji stood below, bowed at the waist in his papal robes.
Although he had long since held great power, serving as Spirit Hall's most exalted public figure, the Supreme Pontiff, with authority over life and death, Qian Xunji knew full well that the person all of Spirit Hall relied on most was still the man before him, Qian Daoliu.
"Father, I have something to discuss with you."
Qian Xunji lowered his head slightly and was the first to break the silence in the hall:
"There has been a resolution to the incident a few days ago, when those two juniors from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect attacked Xiao Xue at the outer city's market."
Standing before the statue with his hands behind his back, Qian Daoliu did not turn around. His gaze remained calmly fixed on the wings of the Angel God Statue as he waited for his son to continue.
"As for the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, I personally led a party there. Yu Yuanzhen knew which way the wind was blowing. He apologized for failing to discipline his juniors and sent a large quantity of rare medicinal herbs as compensation. Whether he meant it or not, he at least bowed his head."
At this point, a trace of cold severity flashed through Qian Xunji's eyes.
"But the Clear Sky Sect has acted as though nothing happened from beginning to end. They haven't sent so much as a message or expressed any position."
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu still said nothing. It seemed no emotion could stir again within his fathomless eyes.
Qian Xunji had already anticipated his father's reaction. He drew a deep breath:
"There's another urgent matter. The transformed hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast we were hunting earlier has finally shown signs of her whereabouts again in recent days."
"That vile beast is exceedingly cunning. She seems intimately familiar with our arrangements, escaping our watchers and trackers again and again, and even erasing every last trace along her route."
"Given Spirit Hall's intelligence network, covering every detail so flawlessly is simply not something a Soul Beast could accomplish alone. I suspect someone is helping protect her."
Killing intent lay bare in Qian Xunji's eyes as he said coldly:
"And that helper is very likely Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect!"
"Tang Hao..."
Qian Daoliu's lips moved slightly as he softly repeated the name.
The instant he heard that name, the imposing figure of a man wielding a massive hammer, unmatched in divine might, involuntarily surfaced in Qian Daoliu's mind.
Tang Chen of the Clear Sky Sect.
That domineering might, unrivaled beneath the heavens, remained as vivid as yesterday even after decades. His strength had been so great that he could even faintly suppress Qian Daoliu.
He had thought he would never have any further connection with that man in this lifetime, yet their juniors had become entangled again.
Seeing his father lost in thought, Qian Xunji felt ambition and anger intertwine in his chest, and spoke with some urgency:
"Father! All these years, the Clear Sky Sect has styled itself the world's greatest sect and opposed our Spirit Hall at every turn."
"Now their shadow is behind every single one of these damned incidents! If we let them continue acting so brazenly, where will Spirit Hall's dignity stand? Why don't we take this opportunity to capture the hundred-thousand-year Soul Beast and..."
"Xunji."
Qian Daoliu interrupted him mildly.
At last, he slowly turned around. His pale golden eyes were utterly calm as he merely gave Qian Xunji a glance.
That single look made Qian Xunji feel the air around him freeze instantly. His throat felt as though an invisible hand had clamped tightly around it, forcibly choking off the rest of his words. A fine sheen of cold sweat appeared at his temples.
"You are Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff, the man at the helm of all of Spirit Hall today."
Neither pleasure nor anger could be heard in Qian Daoliu's voice.
"As for disputes between sects and the state of the continent, decide such trivial matters yourself. You need not report everything to me. Just remember one thing: do not underestimate the people of the Clear Sky Sect, and do not let it come to the fish dying and the net breaking."
"Now I only wish to devote myself to serving the Angel God. From now on, unless it concerns Xiao Xue, do not disturb me again."
"...Yes, Father. Your son will remember."
Qian Xunji's heart trembled. He wanted to speak, but hesitated. Looking at Qian Daoliu's air of having long since withdrawn from worldly affairs, he could only swallow all his words in the end and let out a long, unwilling sigh.
He dared not voice any objection. Though he was already the exalted Supreme Pontiff, outwardly the most distinguished person in all of Spirit Hall, he still felt like an ant whenever he faced his father.
Rank ninety-nine, invincible in the skies.
Those few words carried immense weight. Qian Xunji knew that the fundamental reason Spirit Hall had remained so powerful for nearly a century was Qian Daoliu's presence at its helm. As for the papal throne, Qian Daoliu could, in effect, give it to whomever he pleased.