Indeed, the old man before her could only be the First Elder of the Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji Qian Renxue's grandfather, Qian Daoliu! Only he could make Qi Ling feel this overwhelming sense of power that she was simply unable to contend with.
No wonder the Divine Court, knowing someone would come, made no preparations. With him here alone, he's better than any number of troops! Qi Ling would rather face a thousand armies alone than face such a terrifying opponent.
Hearing Qi Ling's words, Qian Daoliu slowly smiled and said, "Oh? You know me? That's rare. I never thought there would be anyone in this world who could recognize me! I thought I had long since disappeared from people's memories."
"Unfortunately, you know me, but I don't know you," Qian Daoliu continued. "I originally thought you were from the Night Clan, because this setup we've created today was for them."
"But now it's clear that you aren't, otherwise you wouldn't have come just to take Bibi Dong away. Who exactly are you?"
" Qi Ling, the Dragon Splendor Alliance Leader," Qi Ling said slowly, "Shouldn't that be a name you all remember?"
Upon hearing Qi Ling's name, Qian Daoliu's pupils visibly contracted, and a solemn expression appeared on his face.
"So you are the Dragon Splendor Alliance Leader. Truly, heroes emerge from among the young." Qian Daoliu said slowly, "The loss of our 40,000 troops forced us to postpone our plans from the very beginning. To be so young and single-handedly protect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is truly beyond my expectations."
"I originally thought that catching a big fish like the Night Clan was already lucky enough, but now that it's your turn, I think it's still a worthwhile investment!"
Qi Ling Lingling replied, "Admittedly, I am no match for you, but it won't be that easy to keep me here like this."
"Furthermore, Qian Daoliu, there's one more thing you shouldn't forget: this place is directly beneath the temple. If you and I were to fight, this place would absolutely be lost! The symbol of the Divine Court, the temple, being destroyed—you wouldn't want to see that happen, would you?"
"Even if the temple is made of special, indestructible materials, I can still destroy the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Destroying a mere hall is no difficult task for me! You should think this through."
Upon hearing Qi Ling's words, Qian Daoliu frowned immediately, because what Qi Ling said did indeed make some sense. How could he capture Qi Ling while also protecting this place from destruction?
After a moment's thought, Qian Daoliu made up his mind. He smiled and said, " Qi Ling, although you are indeed our enemy, I heard that you once protected Qian Renxue! As her grandfather, I cannot leave you without repaying that favor."
Qi Ling frowned and said, " Qian Renxue was clearly someone you wanted to kill. Now that I've saved her, you still want to repay my debt?"
"Sigh, let's keep things separate. It's true we wanted to kill her, but it's also true you saved my granddaughter! I'm the kind of person who hates owing favors," Qian Daoliu said.
"How about this? I won't make things difficult for you. If you can withstand one of my sword strikes and survive, then I'll let you go! What do you think of this offer?"
After listening to Qian Daoliu's words, Qi Ling pondered silently for a moment. A level 99 Limit Douluo, someone who was almost a god—could she withstand a single sword strike from such a person?
Looking at Qi Ling's appearance, Qian Daoliu couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. Qian Daoliu was confident that he had figured out the psychology of such arrogant young people, and they would definitely choose to take his sword in order to show off!
Was his sword strike so easy to withstand? Let alone a mere Soul Emperor like him, Qian Daoliu believed that there were very few people in this world who could withstand his sword strike.
More importantly, even if he takes a sword strike, so what? He did say he could let him go, but can't he go back on his word?
Betrayal is something that can be tolerated as long as it goes unnoticed. In other words, as long as he leaves Qi Ling here, no one will know that he has betrayed his promise!
"Have you thought it through, Qi Ling?" Recalling his triumphant moment, Qian Daoliu couldn't help but laugh. "Just withstand one of my sword strikes, and I'll let you go! That's the biggest concession I can offer you!"
"Very well, since that's the case, then I'll take your sword!" Qi Ling said. "Let me see just how sharp the sword of the strongest person in the Divine Court really is!"
"Hehe, good, indeed youthful spirit! I have high hopes for you, Qi Ling." Qian Daoliu said, drawing his Angel Sword from his waist. As the standard equipment for Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, Qian Daoliu's Angel Sword was undoubtedly more powerful than Qian Renxue's.
Qi Ling then slowly walked towards Qian Daoliu until she stood before him. Qian Daoliu raised his Angel Sword, his smugness almost impossible to conceal.
If Qi Ling is hit by this attack, she will definitely be seriously injured and will not have the strength to fight me anymore. Then the temple will naturally be saved! This is a double win!
Others might find this too despicable, but for Qian Daoliu, it's nothing. He's done the dirtiest and most sordid things to achieve his current level of cultivation, which is why all his enemies died while he survived.
This world is one where strength reigns supreme; all talk of loyalty and morality is utter nonsense! Qian Daoliu has always believed in this, and he has taught Qian Xunji in the same way, which is why Qian Xunji has grown into the person he is.
And now, another person is about to pay the price for their youth! Every time he sees a young person like this die at his hands, Qian Daoliu feels a strange sense of satisfaction.
So what if you're young? You still died at my hands. This world ultimately belongs to the strong!
"Hurry up, what are you waiting for?" Qi Ling urged, seeing that Qian Daoliu hadn't made a move yet.
"Hehe, don't be in such a hurry, young man! I'll do it now!" Qian Daoliu said, thrusting his Angel Sword toward Qi Ling. He could almost see his sword piercing Qi Ling's chest, blood gushing out, and Qi Ling screaming in agony amidst the blood.
But the moment Qian Daoliu's sword pierced Qi Ling's chest, Qian Daoliu's expression changed, because the sensation from his sword was quite strange, not at all like the feeling of piercing a human body!
Does that mean that exceptional people have different physical compositions than normal people? No, that's impossible, because Qian Daoliu's difference isn't in the sensation of stabbing an object, but rather in the feeling that he hasn't stabbed anything at all!
The next instant, Qi Ling in front of him vanished into thin air, while the real Qi Ling was already outside the room!
" True Dragon Secret Technique: Cicada Shell!"