The improvement brought by his Soul Ring's age was a delightful surprise to Lin Chuan.
Having also absorbed a piece of Whale Rubber that was nearly two thousand years old a couple of days ago, he now had no weaknesses anywhere in his body.
Even against the Clear Sky Hammer, the so-called number one tool Martial Soul under heaven, he was confident he could fight it head-on.
But he would not be foolish enough to fight an enemy entirely in close quarters.
After all, the most cheat-like ability of their angel bloodline at low levels was flight. He could kite his opponents.
His most important gain during this period, however, was that he felt much more proficient when using his Soul Bone Skill, Light Wing Blade.
Combined with the Qian Family Sword Technique taught to him by the Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu, he was now an all-round warrior.
He could deal damage and take it. He really had no idea how an opponent could defeat him.
He felt despair on his opponents' behalf.
Looking back, it had only been a little over ten days since he awakened his Martial Soul, less than twenty, yet his Soul Power Level had already reached fifteen.
It was outrageous.
Still astonished by the speed of his own progress, Lin Chuan left the secret chamber.
Outside, he saw two familiar figures. One was his teacher, Qian Xunji, with blond hair falling over her shoulders and a broad bosom.
The other was Haji Dong.
When she saw Lin Chuan emerge, Bibi Dong gave a little hop in his direction and said:
"Hey, stinky junior brother."
Seeing Bibi Dong's impish manner, Lin Chuan said:
"Don't tell me you came back to show off after Teacher took you to absorb Soul Beasts."
Bibi Dong blinked and said:
"How did you know? My Soul Power has already risen to level nineteen."
"Oh, I didn't want to say my Soul Power had reached level nineteen, but it seems Junior Brother is very curious."
"So I'll just tell you, my Soul Power has reached level nineteen."
Listening to Bibi Dong repeat herself like a broken record, Lin Chuan could not help but feel black lines appear on his forehead.
He decided to ignore Bibi Dong and let her enjoy herself on her own.
He looked at Qian Xunji on the other side and asked, "Teacher, did everything go smoothly this time?"
Qian Xunji shared what had happened on the trip with Lin Chuan.
After all, Lin Chuan had proposed the method.
This time, they had absorbed a three-hundred-year-old Entering Face Demon Spider and a three-hundred-and-fifty-year-old Swamp Demon Spider.
The effect was obvious.
Bibi Dong had risen another level, reaching level nineteen.
But while the effect was clear, there were also some side effects.
Bibi Dong was plainly affected by the stray thoughts of the Soul Beasts she absorbed, making her emotions unstable.
For now, though, she could still control it. She was just a little flighty.
Lin Chuan looked at Haji Dong, who seemed a little silly today.
No wonder Bibi Dong had turned goofy again today.
He concluded:
"It seems that to cultivate the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor, it would be best to use a spiritual cultivation method alongside it."
"Otherwise, one day, her spiritual power won't be able to keep up with the growth of her Soul Power, and she'll very likely lose control."
Hearing Lin Chuan's analysis, Qian Xunji nodded:
"As expected of Chuan'er. You saw the problem at a glance."
"Therefore, Dong'er's cultivation must include a spiritual cultivation method from now on, so she can improve her spiritual power."
Just as Qian Xunji finished speaking,
she sensed a powerful presence approaching.
At the same time, a voice rang out: "Brother Qian, an old acquaintance has come to visit. Why not come out and talk?"
The voice resounded throughout Spirit Hall like a war hammer crashing down.
The next moment,
another peerless presence soared into the sky.
A streak of golden light interrupted the imposing pressure that had shaken everyone.
It was Qian Daoliu.
The two presences collided, plunging all of Spirit Hall into a clash of overwhelming might.
Lin Chuan and the others walked out of the Pope's Palace and watched two distinct, immensely powerful streams of Soul Power collide in the sky.
Bibi Dong exclaimed:
"Is this the strength of a Level 99 Limit Douluo?"
"Stinky junior brother, do you think we can become Level 99 Limit Douluo too?"
Lin Chuan said little and merely nodded.
But compared with Tang Chen, it was actually his grandmaster Qian Daoliu who surprised Lin Chuan more.
He had always had a preconceived notion that Qian Daoliu would probably be much weaker than Tang Chen in a head-on clash.
Yet unexpectedly, he could hold his own. That was already far beyond Lin Chuan's expectations.
After all, a contest of strength was Tang Chen's forte. Grandmaster Qian Daoliu was using his weakness against the other man's strength.
He had not expected him to manage this much.
By now, Lin Chuan had sat down to watch the battle between the two powerhouses and draw insights from it.
Bibi Dong, meanwhile, was still standing there, giggling foolishly.
Qian Xunji looked at her speechlessly and flicked Bibi Dong on the forehead:
"Why aren't you hurrying to study it seriously like your junior brother?"
This was clearly such a good opportunity to gain insight from a battle between powerhouses and temper her spiritual power, yet she was still giggling foolishly.
Bibi Dong said "Oh," then sat down cross-legged.
After a long while, Qian Daoliu snorted:
"Tang Chen, after all these years, your temper hasn't changed one bit."
Tang Chen replied:
"Brother Qian, you're no better yourself."
"But we aren't the main characters this time. Our juniors are."
"This era no longer belongs to us."
If Qian Daoliu had heard that before, he would not have felt much about it.
After all, although Bibi Dong was a genius, she had not made him feel old enough to admit it.
Only when he met Lin Chuan did he truly feel that way.
He nodded, feeling the same way.
He knew that for Tang Chen to voice such a sentiment, the genius of the Clear Sky Sect's younger generation had to be extraordinary.
This match would not be a dull fight. It should be a struggle between dragon and tiger.
Tang Chen added:
"I came ahead of them just now. The others may arrive a little later."
Hearing Tang Chen's words, Qian Daoliu nodded.
That was also entirely in keeping with Tang Hao's temperament.
Although Tang Hao was strong, he was also just as hasty by nature.
Qian Xunji then received a voice transmission from Qian Daoliu, telling her to go and receive the people from the Clear Sky Sect.
Seeing the two children, a boy and a girl, following Qian Xunji, Tang Chen feigned surprise and asked:
"Brother Qian? Those two beside your Qian Xunji couldn't be your grandson and granddaughter, could they?"
At those words, Qian Daoliu, who had been all smiles a moment ago, instantly let his face fall.
This fellow was at it again.
He had thought Tang Chen would not bring it up this time.
Yet unexpectedly, that damned Tang Chen had brought it up again to poke at his sore spot.
But when he thought of Lin Chuan's talent, Qian Daoliu felt much calmer this time. He said:
"Alas, my Qian Xunji has given me cause to worry for a long time."
"Fortunately, she took in two good disciples, both with Innate Full Soul Power."
"Now I'm torn over whom to pass my position to in the future. Which one should I make Pope of Spirit Hall?"
Hearing Qian Daoliu begin to humblebrag, Tang Chen's mouth twitched.
He was clearly showing off.
It seemed the child he had taken in, Lin Chuan, really had pleased Qian Daoliu greatly.
Tang Chen said:
"It seems those two are Spirit Hall's most outstanding members of the younger generation."
"Two with Innate Full Soul Power?"
"As it happens, my Clear Sky Sect has also produced one with Innate Full Soul Power. This is the perfect chance to see who comes out on top."
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu narrowed his eyes.
So that was why Tang Chen had personally led the group.
He had not expected the Clear Sky Sect to have produced someone with Innate Full Soul Power too.
Unlike in Spirit Hall, no matter how good Bibi Dong and Lin Chuan were, they still bore different surnames.
But if someone from the Clear Sky Sect had Innate Full Soul Power, that person was certain to be surnamed Tang.
Qian Daoliu sighed inwardly. That damned Tang Chen had won a round back again.
A short while later, at Spirit Hall's training ground.
The Clear Sky Sect's party, several dozen strong, stood proudly.
Beside Tang Wei, who led them, Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and Tang San stood in a row.
On Spirit Hall's side, Jin Kuang and Qiangu Feiyun stood beside Qian Xunji, while Lin Chuan and Bibi Dong stood on the other side.
The two sides faced off, needle against wheat awn.
Seeing that even Lin Chuan, a healing-type Soul Master, had joined the team for this contest, Tang Hao showed a trace of scorn at the corner of his eye.
Spirit Hall really had run out of people!
Tang San was also sizing up the opposing team.
Of those around his age, Lin Chuan and Bibi Dong naturally drew the most attention.
Tang San already possessed level fourteen Soul Power.
As he saw it, no one his age should have cultivated faster than him.
But Bibi Dong was a year older than him, so it was only natural that her Soul Power presence was stronger.
Then what about Lin Chuan?
He could sense that Lin Chuan's Soul Power presence was stronger than his.
Tang San did not take it seriously, however.
He knew Lin Chuan was a healing-type Soul Master, so he had only one goal on this trip: to defeat Bibi Dong.
Sensing Tang San's gaze, Lin Chuan's expression turned peculiar.
Why did this kid look so much like Little Scumbag?
That couldn't be right!