Qian Renxue looked at Lin Gu's worried gaze, which also gave her a sense of security. Somehow, she no longer wanted to suppress the thoughts in her heart, so she said:
"I'm not very willing, but..."
Before Qian Renxue could finish, Lin Gu interrupted her. "That's enough, Xiao Xue. Just watch from the sidelines."
Lin Gu cupped his hands very politely and bowed to Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu before saying calmly:
"Since Spirit Hall trusts me so much, naming me Holy Son and entrusting its future to me, I will have Spirit Hall unify the continent. But I don't really want to be Holy Son. I want to be Hall Master!"
At these words, Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong exchanged a glance, and Qian Daoliu asked:
"Xiao Gu, Hall Master? What do you mean?"
"I don't agree with Master's plan to have Xiao Xue and me work, one in the shadows and one in the open. My plan is simply to unify it through my absolute martial might alone."
Lin Gu spoke so casually that those present could not help laughing. Only Qian Renxue, Thousand Jun Douluo, and Demon Subduing Douluo did not.
They had witnessed Lin Gu's strength firsthand. Perhaps he really could do it.
Everyone else's understanding was still limited to Lin Gu having a shield with absolute defense. His Second Soul Skill was reportedly a hundred-thousand-year one, which was already shocking enough.
But every Martial Soul had flaws, and they believed Lin Gu's flaws were weak attack power and a lack of speed, control, and so on.
All he had was an absurd shield.
It would be enough to intimidate the entire continent in the future, but unifying it through martial might, as Lin Gu proposed, was simply a tale from the Arabian Nights.
Qian Daoliu hurriedly spoke to soothe Lin Gu:
"Xiao Gu, I know you can't bear to part with Xiao Xue. I'm even more reluctant. After all, once she leaves, who knows how many years it will be before we see her again? But it's worth it for Spirit Hall. Hardship comes first, blessings afterward. Xiao Gu, stop indulging in wild fantasies. With Spirit Hall devoting all its resources to nurturing you, perhaps you will grow to possess a defense no one can break. But that alone won't let you conquer the continent through martial might."
Lin Gu smiled quietly at this and explained:
"Master, you ought to reassess my strength. How about this? Let strength do the talking. I'll take on Spirit Hall alone. If I lose, I'll follow your arrangements. If I win, you'll listen to me!"
At these words, everyone behind them could not help laughing, while Qian Daoliu nodded, thinking that it was time to knock some arrogance out of this disciple of his. Otherwise, he would never know how high the heavens were. The world of Soul Masters was not so simple.
"All right, fine. Let's go outside. Let your master see just how powerful your Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring is."
"Wait!"
Lin Gu stopped him on the spot.
"What? Have you thought it through? You should have done so long ago. Follow Spirit Hall's plan..."
Before he could finish, Lin Gu took a breath and slowly explained:
"Master, I didn't mean fighting you one-on-one. I meant taking on all of Spirit Hall by myself."
"Oh, all of Spirit Hall."
"What? All of Spirit Hall?"
Qian Daoliu froze, thinking he had misheard. Some arrogance was normal in a genius, but this was far too much. The Titled Douluos behind him broke into discussion upon hearing this, all believing that he simply did not know the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth.
"Lin Gu, aren't you being far too arrogant? Do you know how many people in Spirit Hall are above rank ninety-five alone? Taking all of us on by yourself? That's nothing but a fool's dream!"
Golden Crocodile spoke. He had also sparred with Lin Gu over the past year. His shield was formidable, but it had not reached the point of being absolute.
"That's right, Lin Gu. Just spar with the Great Enshrined. You're his disciple. He won't let you suffer."
Chrysanthemum Douluo also tried to smooth things over from the side. After all, he had previously benefited from receiving a Soul Bone from Lin Gu and was very favorably disposed toward him.
Qian Renxue clenched her fists nervously, gazing at him in a daze. Was he doing all of this for me?
At this moment, Lin Gu's figure seemed so tall and imposing in her eyes. Her imagination could not help running wild, and her cheeks flushed faintly.
Qian Renxue quickly shook her head, thinking, What nonsense am I imagining? He's only seven years old!
Seeing this, Lin Gu smiled quietly. Qian Daoliu, fighting me one-on-one?
My shield has now more than doubled in strength. I'm afraid he doesn't even have the strength to break it anymore.
Thus, he slowly said:
"Master, I'm serious. I'm not being arrogant. You need to reassess me. Not to put too fine a point on it, Master, but you alone are no match for me. If all twenty-one of you Titled Douluos come at me together, you might have a little-no, no, a tiny sliver of a chance of winning! If that still won't do, you can call in the Soul Douluos, Soul Saints, Soul Emperors, and everyone else too..."
Everyone was angered by Lin Gu's words. He was far too arrogant!
Upon hearing this, Elder Pufferfish pointed at Lin Gu and said furiously:
"You brat, Lin Gu, you're far too arrogant! You're only at rank twenty-something. Although your talent is extraordinary, aren't you looking down on everyone a little too much? Enshrined ones, elders, there's no need for you to act. I'll teach him a lesson on your behalf first."
He sprang forward and threw a heavy punch.
But Lin Gu neither dodged nor evaded. He did not even activate his shield, taking it head-on.
His HP dropped by one hundred million, but that was merely one hair from nine oxen. Lin Gu now had 2,522,000,186,000 HP.
With his shield included, he had over three trillion HP. Moreover, as long as he had enough Soul Power, he could keep casting the shield. He could basically cast it again every three minutes.
Elder Pufferfish's gaze froze. Although that punch had not been an all-out strike, surely it should at least have knocked him back a step.
It felt as though he had struck an indestructible iron wall, leaving it completely unscathed.
"Good brat, your defense really is astonishing. Again!"
At this moment, the scepter in Bibi Dong's hand shifted. She slowly rose and said to Elder Pufferfish:
"Elder Pufferfish, stand down. Lin Gu, do you truly intend to do this?"
Lin Gu nodded. "Of course!"
Seeing this, Bibi Dong nodded too and exchanged a glance with Qian Daoliu. The two made their decision, and finally, Bibi Dong said:
"Very well, Lin Gu. We'll do as you wish. Don't worry, we know our limits and won't hurt you. However, being so young and ignorant of the height of the heavens and the depth of the earth, you do need a lesson. Come, let's go outside and fight as you suggested!"
Lin Gu nodded and said:
"Master, let's go to your grounds. They're spacious, we won't damage any buildings, and we can fight without holding back."
Seeing how seriously Lin Gu spoke, Qian Daoliu thought that he truly was young and hot-blooded, then said:
"Fine, we'll do as you wish. But when you lose, you must stop being so arrogant and ignorant. You'll have to listen to us, cultivate diligently, and accept our training."
Lin Gu nodded, thinking, Who loses is still up in the air.
Arrogant?
I've already been very low-key. My strength simply won't allow it. Twenty-one Titled Douluos, with more than ten above rank ninety-five. I should be able to use my full strength, right?
I hope you can withstand it. This will also be a good chance to test my Second Soul Skill: Bloodthirsty Firmament Slash!
Qian Daoliu rose and led everyone to his Worship Hall.
"Follow me!"
"Xiao Gu! Are you serious?"
Qian Renxue still carried Xiao Gu into the air, but she flew very slowly and questioned him along the way.
"Of course, Xiao Xue. You're in for a good show. Watch how I teach them a lesson and vent your anger for you!"