In the main sanctuary of the Worship Hall, there was a hidden chamber.
The chamber had been quiet for a long time. Flames crackled in a stone basin, illuminating the outlines of the successive Angel God Statues on the walls.
Qian Daoliu sat upright on a raised platform, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest. The image in his mind was still Jing Shanshan's departing back.
"Although Bibi Dong hates Xiao Xue, judging by our conversation today, I can be certain she isn't particularly concerned about the Nation-Stealing Plan, much less doing anything to Xiao Xue."
"Xiao Xue... what happened to you?"
That sense of familiarity, as though it came from their bloodline, could not be faked.
But...
Qian Daoliu looked at the flame representing Qian Renxue's life. Together with Bibi Dong's attitude, it indicated that the granddaughter he had such high hopes for had not been harmed and was currently well.
Then why had Xiao Xue's consciousness appeared inside a six-year-old child's Martial Soul?
This went beyond Qian Daoliu's understanding.
He had lived for over a hundred years and had never seen a Martial Soul house another person's consciousness.
The best solution would be to seize that arrogant, haughty child outright.
But the truth was that he was not completely certain he could subdue him instantly.
If he pushed him too far, judging by the child's observed temperament, he might just blow himself up along with him.
That would not matter much to Qian Daoliu and would not cause much harm, but what about his granddaughter's consciousness residing in that child's Martial Soul?
His head hurt-even more than when he had managed Spirit Hall and handled its administrative affairs himself.
He closed his eyes, pulling his thoughts away from Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong and turning them to another matter that concerned him.
There was something wrong with the number of Martial Souls possessed by that child who called himself "this king."
He could confirm that the form and presence of one of those Martial Souls had some connection to the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.
But what about those chains and shackles?
At the time, anger over "Qian Renxue being harmed" had clouded his mind, and his attention had been entirely on the child.
Had the child not displayed a means of suppressing him that exceeded his understanding, he would have struggled to recover even a shred of reason from his rage and let his attention linger briefly on those chains and shackles.
Now that he recalled them carefully, both their presence and form had resembled Martial Souls.
Qian Daoliu was uncertain.
If they really were Martial Souls, that meant the child possessed Triple Martial Souls, something never recorded in Spirit Hall's ten thousand years of existence.
The child's potential far exceeded Bibi Dong's Twin Martial Souls and might even surpass Xiao Xue, the successor to the Angel Inheritance who had awakened with rank twenty Soul Power.
Moreover, those chains and shackles could suppress even him, a rank ninety-nine Titled Douluo.
Even if it lasted only a few breaths, that was enough to show how terrifyingly monstrous the quality of those Martial Souls was.
Given more time to develop, the child might make it difficult for even him to break free of those chains and shackles.
Qian Daoliu opened his eyes and looked out the window, muttering to himself without the slightest uncertainty on his face.
"This presence... is that Ghost Douluo from Bibi Dong's side?"
That Titled Douluo at Bibi Dong's side concealed his presence very casually, as though deliberately telling him, "I'm here."
Qian Daoliu watched for a while before finally withdrawing his gaze.
"What a nuisance!"
Qian Daoliu knew very well what Ghost Douluo had come here for. The matter of Qian Renxue had yet to be resolved, and he did not want the child's situation exposed to Bibi Dong so soon.
Having anticipated this and tidied up some loose ends, he should be able to stall until he figured out Qian Renxue's situation.
Finally, Qian Daoliu released some information to the outside to help him buy time and lay his plans.
Now he only needed to wait until he obtained the official documents before meeting Xiao Xue again.
Presumably, Xiao Xue would find it easier to accept having twelve years of effort go to waste.
A little earlier.
At the entrance to Spirit Hall headquarters, the four Soul Kings guarding the gate instinctively shrank back when they saw that child emerge.
If there was one humiliating memory in their lives, it would surely be what had happened not long ago.
They were dignified Soul Kings above rank fifty, yet a child with rank ten Soul Power had beaten them down without even giving them room to resist.
They would probably never forget that child's face for the rest of their lives.
And now, after being taken away by an elder of the Worship Hall, that child had actually walked out completely unharmed.
Attacking the Supreme Pontiff Hall and slapping Spirit Hall in the face-had those things simply been brushed aside?
Did this child have some unfathomable background?
Jing Shanshan did not spare the four Soul Kings a glance, as though his gaze would never linger on defeated opponents.
The four Soul Kings flushed crimson, yet there was nothing they could do.
Jing Shanshan finally walked out of Spirit Hall headquarters, his gaze settling on a direction in the distance.
There was a deserted spot that way, where he used to practice a "king's" words and conduct alone without worrying about ruining his image.
He walked that way expressionlessly, his strides firm and his back unusually straight, looking even more imposing than when he had left the Worship Hall.
After turn upon turn, the passersby around him grew fewer and fewer, and he rounded the last corner.
This was Spirit City's abandoned old warehouse district. Miscellaneous junk that someone had discarded lay piled in a corner, including a dust-covered full-length mirror.
Most importantly, no one passed through here!
His legs could no longer hold him up and went weak.
Leaning against the cold wall, he slowly slid down into a sitting position, curling up in the shadows of the corner.
His breathing unconsciously grew heavier, his chest heaving violently, like a long-suppressed volcano erupting in that instant.
"Hah, hah, hah, hah..."
He raised a hand and touched his neck. His head had not come off!
His hands began trembling uncontrollably. Looking down at his shaking hands, he hugged his knees, buried his face in them, and murmured quietly.
"A king would never be afraid..."
By the third repetition, his voice was already choked with tears.
He abruptly raised his head, slapped his cheeks hard, and stood before the abandoned, person-height mirror, giving it a smile that belonged to a king.
"No crying."
"A king would never cry over something like this."
The smile in the mirror was so strained that anyone could tell at a glance he was putting on a brave face!
He crouched down again and buried his face in his knees, the fear of death following him like a shadow.
The image of Qian Daoliu drawing his sword would not leave his mind.
The tip of that great sword, burning with golden flames, had been less than ten inches from his throat. He could even feel the scorching heat from its blade wash over his skin.
Had the image of his own head being severed by that sword not suddenly appeared in his vision, like a glimpse of the future, he could never have reacted to the speed of Qian Daoliu's attack.
Much less anticipated it and placed the Chains of Heaven and the Chains of Heaven's Punishment in the path of Qian Daoliu's strike.
If he had hesitated for even an instant then...
Jing Shanshan's shoulders drew inward slightly. He simply sat there, processing this enormous event like a real six-year-old child.
He did not know how much time passed.
Jing Shanshan slowly raised his head. There were no tear tracks on his face, no contorted expression. He was merely a little paler than usual, with surging emotions reflected in his golden eyes.
"This king didn't die."
"A king would never sink into despair over a setback like this!"
He leaned against the wall, tilted his head back to look at the dim ceiling, and exhaled a turbid breath.
He was in a sorry state now, but no one had seen him like this! That meant he had not disgraced a king's dignity!
"Mm. Today's performance was acceptable."
To avoid ever ending up in such a sorry state again, he had to work hard to grow stronger!
Most of Jing Shanshan's fear of death had dissipated. As he considered what Soul Beast he should hunt to obtain his First Soul Ring, a hearty voice came from behind him.
"Hu Liena, you've come to this deserted spot again. If you want somewhere empty to practice your Martial Soul, you can just tell the Supreme Pontiff."
"Yan, there's no need. There's no need to trouble Teacher over something so small."
"Huh? Why is there another child here?"
Hearing the puzzled voice behind him, Jing Shanshan's entire body stiffened, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.
Why was someone here?
How long had they been here?
Had they seen his sorry state? Was a king's dignity about to be lost at his hands?!
What should he do?
How could he protect this secret that outsiders must never know?!
Golden ripples silently spread through the space in front of Jing Shanshan. He had now made his decision!