"Huh? A wish? My wish is for Mom to get better... Other than that, I don't have any..."
Faced with the sudden question, Xie Xie scratched his head, somewhat bewildered. Right now, other than wanting to save his mother, he had no other wishes.
"Are you sure there's nothing else? Think carefully."
Xuan Zi grabbed his shoulders and urged him to think again. Xie Xie felt an incredibly strong stench of alcohol hit him in the face. Having his shoulders gripped by those grease-covered hands made him rather uncomfortable, but he still gave the same firm answer.
"There's really nothing else. Other than having Mom get better, I don't have any other wishes..."
Hearing that utterly certain tone, the peerless experts were all thrown into confusion. Xie Xie's mother wiped her tears. Her child was so filial... Ya Li also felt he was a good child.
While the experts pondered the reason, Leng Yaozhu noticed a photograph of a family of three on the bedside table.
She had not seen the man in the photograph, only Xie Xie and his mother. By all rights... when a wife was gravely ill, her husband should have been by her side...
She soon thought of scenes from storybooks, such as Snow White needing a prince's kiss to break a curse, and immediately asked through voice transmission.
"Child, may I ask where your father is?"
Hearing this, Xie Xie looked blank for a moment and instinctively turned toward the beautiful woman with long, fiery-red hair. His face immediately fell as he replied:
"That guy is still working in Skysea City... Mom is seriously ill, but because of work, he won't even come back to see her."
That answer abruptly brought everyone to their senses. They understood in an instant. The next moment, Leng Yaozhu, Qiangu Dongfeng, and Zang Xin took out their communicators in perfect unison and issued orders almost simultaneously.
[Find the head of Eastsea City's Xie Family for me. He's currently in Skysea City. Immediately, right now!]
The Tang Sect and the Spirit Pagoda sprang into action. With the highest orders from the Pagoda Master and Hall Master issued, Skysea City was about to be turned upside down...
Now, back at the Xie Family, Ya Li came before Xie Xie, crouched down, and gently asked:
"Little one, I'd like to ask, did your mother's complexion grow worse by the day because her husband worked away from home all year?"
"Yes, that's right. Ever since that guy... my dad stopped coming home for long stretches, Mother's health has gotten worse by the day. Now he only comes home once every six months or more..."
Hearing his answer, everyone knew how to complete the mission: bring Xie Xie's father back to keep his wife company!
"So it was an ailment of the heart. No wonder it wasn't marked complete..."
Ya Li suddenly understood. So it was an ailment of the heart. No wonder the treatment progress had not shown completion earlier. Unless they resolved this burden on her heart, her illness could not be cured.
"An ailment of the heart? Why not let this old man try?"
Hearing that it was an ailment of the heart, Qian Daoliu had some thoughts. If that was the case, perhaps he had a way to alleviate it somewhat.
"Your Excellency Angel Douluo, I'd be glad to hear the details."
Hearing that Qian Daoliu had a treatment method, Ya Li grew interested. She always maintained an attitude of seeking knowledge when it came to medical insights.
Although Qian Daoliu was an old fossil from twenty thousand years ago, wasn't a Peerless Douluo who had broken through in that era twenty thousand years ago even more worthy of admiration?
Meanwhile, Xuan Zi could no longer sit still. He sprang to his feet and said:
"We just need to bring your husband back, right? Wait here! This old man will personally go find him for you! For Shrek Academy!"
Xuan Zi roared, then unleashed his Soul Power and shot into the sky, flying away as a streak of brown light. The experts neutralized the force of his outburst.
Looking at the floor covered in cracks, Ya Li pressed a hand to her forehead. Why did this senior from ten thousand years ago seem so unreliable?
Qiangu Dongfeng looked at the reckless Xuan Zi with even greater disdain. He was merely a brainless fool. So what if he was a Limit Douluo? To him, he still posed little threat.
Qian Daoliu lightly pressed his forehead, puzzled inwardly. That man had already become a Limit Douluo, so why was his temperament still so poor? Rushing about in such a hurry-with such an impatient disposition, how exactly had he broken through to level 99?
He did not understand. Or perhaps the suppression imposed by the world's laws had diminished, making it easier to break through to Limit Douluo. But that would prove that the world's laws were weakening. Never mind; it had nothing to do with him.
"I'm sorry. We'll compensate you for the damage."
"No, no, no. Your Excellency, you treated me. How could I possibly ask for compensation as well?"
"One matter is one matter; another is another."
Ya Li apologized awkwardly, while Xie Xie's mother waved her hands repeatedly. Their Shrek Academy was not unreasonable.
Next came Qian Daoliu's treatment for the ailment of the heart. He sat cross-legged on the floor without minding the dirt, then began explaining at an unhurried pace.
"Our Qian Family has treatments specifically for one's state of mind, such as praying before a statue of the Angel God."
As Qian Daoliu spoke, he spread his spiritual power outward. Xie Xie's mother, Xie Xie, and Ya Li all felt a vast, holy radiance envelop them, purifying the impure thoughts within their hearts.
The three could not help sitting cross-legged together as well, imitating Qian Daoliu and beginning to pray under his guidance.
Xie Xie and his mother directed their prayers to the God of Games. They both knew that, without the God of Games, they could never have invited so many powerful Excellencies to come provide treatment.
Under Qian Daoliu's guidance, two streams of incomparably pure power of faith slowly flew out, drifting toward the heavens and landing in Lin Huan's hand.
"Interesting. Such pure faith."
He examined the two streams of power of faith in his hand. The one from Xie Xie's mother was extremely pure, showing that she was grateful from the bottom of her heart for everything Lin Huan had given her.
Power of faith also came in different grades. The lowest grade was the power of faith from those beaten into submission, such as that produced ten thousand years ago after he and the Demon Empress had beaten the entire ocean into submission.
This kind of power of faith belonged to false faith. It was power of faith produced when believers feared Lin Huan's overwhelming strength and submitted to him.
If he fell, these believers would switch sides like turncoats. That was false faith.
Next came true faith, power of faith on the level of what Xie Xie's mother had just provided. It belonged to devout believers with heartfelt gratitude and thanks. This faith was purer, with one measure worth ten measures of false faith.
He only had a few hundred true believers, namely the believers over on Joy Island.
Last was fanatical faith, namely the strand of power of faith Xie Xie had provided. This strand shone even brighter, with one measure worth a hundred measures of false faith.
These believers were akin to the obsessed, willing to die for the deity they worshipped. They were true fanatics who placed the deity they believed in above their own lives.
At present, he had pitifully few of these as well: only Xie Xie, the Demon Empress, and Joy Island's high priest, three in total.
"Little fellow, you've opened up quite a road for yourself."
He had not expected to gain a fanatical believer so easily. As everyone knew, people were greedy. Once given benefits, they would want more.
If you stopped giving to them, they might attempt to slay their god. Of course, he did not need to worry about any of that. He was a genuine peak First-Level God, an existence infinitely close to a God King.
Even all the power of the entire Douluo Star combined was no match for him. He had no need to worry about suffering a backlash or anything of the sort.
At the same time, he cast his gaze elsewhere and saw Xuan Zi blundering about like a headless fly.
Xuan Zi had originally intended to go to Skysea City, but halfway there, he realized that he did not seem to know where Skysea City was. Douluo Continent had undergone enormous changes ten thousand years later, and he did not know the way at all.
Moreover, he could not even figure out how to use a phone and had brought no map. He was just wandering the fuck around the coastal cities and ended up over in Aolai City. Hilarious. As expected of the Holy Spirit Cult's supreme elder, he really had never disappointed me.
Also, the other experts seemed to have hurried over, such as Sword Douluo Chen Xin of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, along with Yu Tianwei, the current sect master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Sect, who was also a level 98 Super Douluo and Three-Word Battle Armor Master.
Of course, that included the Holy Spirit Cult! Several powerful, evil presences silently arrived in Eastsea City.
Qian Daoliu immediately frowned. His Martial Soul had sensed a foul presence, and the one emitting it was a level 99 expert. There was more than one, too!
The instant that frightening thought occurred to him, Qian Daoliu immediately reined in his Martial Soul's presence and began concealing himself.
Qian Daoliu was no reckless brute. Just one Underworld Emperor had been so difficult to deal with back then. If another came, he would certainly perish as well. Thus, he planned to catch them off guard. If he could suddenly erupt and kill one of them, that would be best.
Even he could not help growing wary of this era. He had never imagined there would be so many Limit Douluos in this age! Were they being sold wholesale here?
Across from him, after imitating Qian Daoliu and praying to the deity they believed in, the God of Games, Xie Xie and his mother both felt considerably more relaxed.
They felt as though their spiritual power had made something of a breakthrough. Ultimately, prayer was a form of cultivating one's state of mind. In Douluo Continent's terms, it was a spiritual power cultivation method. That was why Qian Daoliu's spiritual power was so strong, and why it had also acquired a touch of divinity.
This was the benefit of bathing in the Angel's light for years. Now, Xie Xie's mother's complexion had also improved considerably. Under Qian Daoliu's guidance, her attention had been diverted, and she missed her husband far less. The lovesickness that had burdened her heart also dissipated.
Then there was Ya Li beside them. Under Qian Daoliu's guidance, she too had gained a great deal. When it came to studying the Angel Martial Soul, Qian Daoliu was the foremost expert in the world.
Someone like Yue Zhengen, a level 99 Limit Douluo, had only set foot in that realm by relying on the Soul Core method and being nurtured with all manner of heavenly treasures.
Not only did Qian Daoliu possess a god-given ten levels of Innate Soul Power, he also enjoyed the privilege of having his Soul Rings' ages increased through the Angel God Trial. More importantly, his achievement of reaching level 99 through his own insights alone carried tremendous weight.
His state of mind was certainly above that of most Limit Douluos in this era. When it came to researching the Angel Martial Soul, Spirit Hall was professional. Ya Li had grown up in the Federation, and the Federation's research into the Angel Martial Soul certainly lacked Spirit Hall's depth.
"Your Excellency Angel Douluo, thank you for your guidance."
"No need for such courtesy. As fellow possessors of Angel Martial Souls, we naturally ought to help each other."
Ya Li thanked Qian Daoliu, who waved his hand, unconcerned with such things. Just as the two were exchanging courtesies, a streak of dark-green light came charging through the sky, accompanied by a shout.
"Get out of the way, get out of the way! All you nuisances, move aside!"
The voice resounded throughout Eastsea City, and an incomparably powerful presence erupted. In an instant, Qian Daoliu, Qiangu Dongfeng, Leng Yaozhu, Zang Xin, and Ya Li all cast their gazes toward it.
A dark-green figure flew straight toward the Xie Family estate, then smashed directly through its roof and landed heavily on the ground.
The entire room collapsed in an instant. Three pairs of golden wings sprouted from Qian Daoliu's back to protect everyone. At the same time, he looked over and saw a figure whose dark-green skin was as smooth as a baby's.
"Finally found you! Boy, come with us!"
The newcomer instantly locked his gaze onto Xie Xie and thrust out a hand to grab him. With only one Soul Ring, Xie Xie had not even registered what was happening before he heard a bang.
A large hand seized that outstretched dark-green hand. Du Busi, whose arm had been grabbed, instantly flew into a rage.
"Who dares ruin my business!"
He whipped his head around and met a pair of imposing golden eyes. His pupils immediately contracted, and he cried out in surprise.
"You're that Angel Douluo, Qian Daoliu!"
"Indeed. It is this old man."
Qian Daoliu looked at the impetuous expert before him. The man's strength had reached level 98, and he was even stronger than Spirit Hall's Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Seeing Qian Daoliu, Du Busi's eyes filled with wariness. He hastily withdrew his hand and retreated to put distance between them, only to suddenly feel a chill behind him and a stabbing pain in his head. Then an azure sword came to rest against his neck.
"People from the Body Sect are as unreasonable as ever."
A calm voice rang out. Sensing the threat of death, Du Busi sharply turned his head and met the gazes of Zang Xin, Qiangu Dongfeng, and Leng Yaozhu.
"Holy shit! What the hell, so many Limit Douluos! Are they selling Limit Douluos wholesale ten thousand years in the future?!"
Seeing so many Limit Douluos here, Du Busi could not help swearing, his face taking on an expression as though he had seen a ghost.
In their era, there had only been three Limit Douluos, yet there were already four here now!
At the same time, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Yu Tianwei of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan Sect also landed within the Xie Family estate. Seeing no fewer than four Limit Douluos here, Chen Xin was also utterly shocked.
What the hell, so many Limit Douluos. At the same time, his gaze fell on the azure sword in Zang Xin's hand. He could sense that the quality of the man's Sword Martial Soul was no lower than that of the Seven Kill Sword, immediately stirring his desire to seek instruction.
"You from the Body Sect, what are you doing here?"
Zang Xin pointed his sword straight at Du Busi, who had pulled away, and pressed him about his purpose in coming. With that entrance, had he come to tear the place down? Although Du Busi was afraid inwardly, he still put on a fearless front.
"Why am I here? To fulfill that kid's wish, of course. Right, you brown-haired brat, what's your wish?"
Du Busi pointed at Xie Xie. Naturally, he too had come for the God of Games' reward. He coveted the Resurrection Coin in Qian Daoliu's possession. If he had a Resurrection Coin, he could resurrect his elder brother, Du Bisou.
The first and second updates for October 28.