A month slipped quietly by.
That morning, the sunlight was just right, filtering through the parasol tree leaves beside the courtyard wall and scattering dappled light and shadow.
Gui Yuan had just finished his morning lesson. Not long after Wang Mozhu packed up his lesson plans and left, a figure appeared at the courtyard entrance.
It was Qian Daoliu.
Gui Yuan froze briefly at the sight of him, then hurried forward and bowed respectfully. "Great Enshrined."
Qian Daoliu waved a hand, his expression kindly. "Calling me Great Enshrined is too distant. If you don't mind, call me Grandpa Qian."
Gui Yuan was immediately taken aback.
As though he hadn't noticed his surprise, Qian Daoliu walked over to a stone stool in the courtyard and sat down, raising a hand to motion for him to sit as well.
"I came this time to thank you."
"You had your teacher send the Soul Core Theory to the Worship Hall. Over this past month, every enshrined in the Worship Hall has condensed a Soul Core of his own."
He paused, undisguised gratification in his voice. "Because they condensed attribute Soul Cores, all of them have made breakthroughs in strength. This is a tremendous improvement for Spirit Hall."
Gui Yuan sat down opposite Qian Daoliu and listened attentively.
Qian Daoliu looked at him with a measure of appraisal and appreciation. "You really know how to keep your composure, child. Anyone else would have let success go to his head by now."
Gui Yuan smiled shyly. "Grandpa Qian, it's all what I should do."
He said "Grandpa Qian" so naturally and smoothly that it sounded as though he had already said it countless times.
The corners of Qian Daoliu's eyes curved slightly.
Half a month earlier.
Inside the Worship Hall.
Golden light rose and fell throughout the hall, like six bright lamps flashing in turn.
Qian Daoliu stood at the center of the great hall with his hands behind his back, his calm gaze sweeping over the six enshrined sitting cross-legged.
Golden Crocodile Douluo was the first to show a change.
A low rumble came from within him, and golden light burst from the surface of his body, carrying a heavy sense of pressure.
A moment later, the light receded.
Golden Crocodile slowly opened his eyes and lowered his head to look at his hands, a momentary daze flickering deep in his pupils.
"I... I did it..."
He felt the golden crystalline core in his dantian slowly revolving. His Soul Power circulated several times faster, as though fresh fuel had been poured into it.
Immediately afterward, the Soul Power within him began to climb uncontrollably.
The bottleneck at Level 98 shattered with a boom at that moment.
His Soul Power surged like floodwater bursting through a dam, finally settling firmly at a realm he had dreamed of reaching: Level 99!
Peerless Douluo!
Golden Crocodile stood stunned for a long time, then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Level 99! I've been stuck at Level 98 for decades!"
He rose to his feet, clenching his fists, his eyes slightly moist. "Decades! I've finally broken through today!"
His voice echoed through the Worship Hall, shaking dust loose from the roof.
Azure Luan and Lion exchanged a glance, envy in both their eyes.
From the side, Qian Daoliu said evenly, "Don't celebrate too soon. Stabilizing your realm is what matters most."
Golden Crocodile restrained his smile a little, but the corners of his mouth still wouldn't stop rising. "Big Brother, I know. I'm just too happy."
A few days later, the other enshrined finished condensing theirs in succession.
Azure Luan and Lion had improved in strength, but they stopped at the peak of Level 97, never quite managing that final push.
Both looked deeply disappointed. They had thought they could charge straight to Level 98 in one sustained effort, just like Golden Crocodile.
Azure Luan sighed. "What a pity. I don't know if it's because my foundation isn't deep enough, but I'm stuck at Level 97."
Lion's expression was gloomy as well. "Same here. It feels like there's only a sheet of window paper between me and the next level, yet I just can't pierce it."
Qian Daoliu looked at the two of them and said calmly, "What's the hurry? Soul Cores have merely provided you with a step. Whether you can climb it still depends on your own accumulation."
"Golden Crocodile was stuck at Level 98 for decades. How many years has it been for you?"
"Reaching the peak of Level 97 already makes you a great deal stronger than before."
Although Azure Luan and Lion still felt some regret, they had to admit that Qian Daoliu had a point.
As for Guang Ling, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo, those three enshrined successfully broke through from Level 96 to Level 97.
Over that month, the Worship Hall's overall strength underwent a qualitative leap.
After hearing Qian Daoliu's account, Gui Yuan smiled shyly.
"Grandpa Qian, it's all what I should do. Besides, it might just have been good luck. The idea suddenly popped into my head."
"It only succeeded because you were all strong enough, too."
Seeing how neither arrogant nor impatient he was, Qian Daoliu showed a trace of satisfaction in his eyes.
Gui Yuan continued, "And by doing this, Spirit Hall has grown stronger and can secure its position as the continent's number one power even more firmly."
"But I actually have a little selfish wish, too."
Qian Daoliu smiled at that. "What selfish wish? As long as it's something your Grandpa Qian can do, I can help you."
Gui Yuan chuckled and scratched his head. "It's just... I hope the relationship between the Pope's Palace and the Worship Hall won't be so strained."
"I don't know the exact reason, but I can tell that Teacher and the grandpas in the Worship Hall seem to harbor hostility toward each other."
"Also, even as the Pope of the Pope's Palace, Teacher actually can't mobilize any elders in the Elders' Hall besides my First Dad and Second Dad."
He lowered his eyes, his voice growing a little softer. "I... I don't want my First Dad and Second Dad to be so tired, and I don't want to see Teacher so short-handed, either."
Qian Daoliu was taken aback.
He hadn't expected a child not yet eight years old to see so much through everyday details.
His expression grew somewhat complicated.
He said nothing about the "strained relationship between the Pope's Palace and the Worship Hall." Only after a moment of silence did he speak. "As for this matter, it's simple."
"Once your Grandpa Qian returns, I'll order two elders transferred from the Elders' Hall to help your teacher and follow your teacher's orders."
"That way, your First Dad and Second Dad can have an easier time, too."
Gui Yuan's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Qian Daoliu nodded. "Yes. Grandpa Qian keeps his word."
He paused, as though something had occurred to him. "By the way, I hear your First Dad and Second Dad are already Peak Douluo?"
Gui Yuan nodded. "Yes. Second Dad broke through to Level 96 after condensing his Soul Core. First Dad is currently Level 96, too."
Qian Daoliu considered for a moment. "You can ask them whether they'd be willing to join the Worship Hall."
"Join the Worship Hall?" Gui Yuan looked a little troubled. "Grandpa Qian, wouldn't that be a bit inappropriate? First Dad and Second Dad belong to the Pope's Palace. I'm afraid Teacher might object."
P.S. Please keep reading this new book. Letting chapters pile up will kill it~~