Tearing Away Qian Xunji's Fig Leaf

"That's... the Seven Kill Sword?! Someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is here?!"

Dugu Bo breathed a sigh of relief.

Even Qian Xunji's ninth Soul Skill had failed to hurt Jiang Nian, and the Two Extremes Stillness Domain did not last long to begin with. As long as Chen Xin held Golden Crocodile back for a few breaths, the battle would surely turn around once Jiang Nian broke free.

Once Jiang Nian broke free, the battle would surely turn around!

At the sight of the Seven Kill Sword, Golden Crocodile's face turned cold. "The spy was right after all. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really does have ties to the young lady's teacher!"

Time went back to the day Ning Fengzhi and the others returned with the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pill.

Ever since hearing about the Soul Condensing Pill, Qian Daoliu had also been investigating.

After what happened with Bibi Dong, he knew his son was too extreme and lacked prudence in his actions. To guard against accidents, he had naturally kept something in reserve.

And Spirit Hall's spies planted in the seven great sects proved useful.

Through an informant, he learned that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had obtained a miraculous pill. Its exact effects were unknown, but for the sect to place such importance on it, the pill was surely extraordinary.

And, as luck would have it, word also came back from Qian Xunji: the mysterious alchemist was Qian Renxue's teacher.

An investigation through the relay stations revealed that Qian Renxue had visited Sunset Forest some time ago. Following that trail, they naturally discovered that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was suspected of having contact with Jiang Nan.

Upon learning this, Qian Daoliu did not hesitate to send the level 98 Golden Crocodile Douluo here to hold the fort.

Even Golden Crocodile had not expected there really to be someone Qian Xunji could not deal with even after using his Martial Soul Avatar.

A few breaths later, Chen Xin and Gu Rong stepped onto the battlefield, accompanied by Ning Fengzhi and his wife.

Before entering Suotuo City, Ning Fengzhi had hesitated.

He had sensed the battle between Titled Douluo. If he entered a battlefield like this, he could be said to have completely torn all pretense of cordiality with Spirit Hall.

But in the end, he chose to trust Chen Xin's judgment.

Chen Xin had said that Jiang Nian dealing with Qian Xunji would be like an old man toying with a naughty child.

Only then had Ning Fengzhi entered Suotuo City with complete resolve.

Chen Xin looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo. "Senior Golden Crocodile, you're as impressive as ever."

Golden Crocodile sneered. "Chen Xin, I can see you're talented. What can the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect offer you? Why don't you and Gu Rong join my Spirit Hall? Wouldn't that be better than staying with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?!"

"Further words are useless. Senior Golden Crocodile, make your move!"

"Stubborn fools! Then I'll deal with your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect first, and kill the brat who dared insult my Spirit Hall afterward!"

Just as the two were poised to fight, a mocking voice suddenly rang out from the sky.

"That's all? I thought it was the law of time. What a waste of all that time I spent studying it."

Impossible!

Everyone, including the members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, turned to look at the battlefield in the sky.

Jiang Nian, who should have been frozen in place, had moved. The Heavy Xuan Ruler swung down unhindered, and a wave of fire instantly burned half the sky a deathly white-the color of Bone Spirit Cold Flame.

Qian Xunji watched the terrifying scene, a chill running down his back.

If Yue Guan and Gui Mei had not arrived in time, and if he had not used the opening just now to land and recover from his injuries, that blow would have cleaved him to ashes.

At the same time, the Two Extremes Stillness Domain was forcibly shattered. Yue Guan and Gui Mei each spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, unable to continue fighting.

Jiang Nian glanced at Qian Xunji, who was immediately seized by the urge to flee under his gaze.

What glory, what status as Pope?

After a move that had nearly cost him his life, none of it seemed quite so important anymore.

Jiang Nian scoffed. This fellow would never amount to much now. Better to leave Qian Xunji's life to Stupid Bibi Dong.

His figure flickered, and he appeared before Chen Xin. "You two, stand back. Just take care of my disciple."

Gu Rong wanted to show what he could do. "Senior, although I, Gu Rong, am no match for you, Chen Xin and I can still deal with those three together!"

Jiang Nian watched Golden Crocodile Douluo and the other two. "I won't say it twice. If you die or get hurt, wouldn't you end up using my pills anyway?"

Gu Rong wanted to say something more, but Chen Xin pulled him back. "We obey, Senior!"

Since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was prepared to follow Jiang Nian, he and Gu Rong naturally had to know their place.

Chen Xin actually also wanted to get a pill that would help his Martial Soul advance further.

The Seven Kill Sword was powerful, but Chen Xin also understood that his shortcoming lay in his insufficient defense. That weakness could be fatal.

Jiang Nian looked at Golden Crocodile. "Are you here to kill me too?"

Golden Crocodile's eyes were full of wariness as he looked at Jiang Nian. "Brat, do you think breaking Yue Guan and Gui Mei's Martial Soul Fusion Skill means you can match me? Apart from the Great Enshrined, I've never feared anyone!"

"Is that so?" Jiang Nian sneered. Amid a flash of lightning, he raised the giant ruler and appeared above Golden Crocodile's head.

Cold white flames enveloped the giant ruler, and the breath of death surged forth. Before the fight had even begun, fear actually took root in Golden Crocodile's heart.

Whoosh!

The ruler came down, severing one of Golden Crocodile's arms in a single stroke. The smell of roasting meat spread through the air.

Golden Crocodile clutched his arm, gritting his teeth without making a sound, but the will to fight had already left him.

Seeing Golden Crocodile like this, Pufferfish Fish and Snake Lance were even less willing to make a move.

In the distance, Chen Xin exclaimed, "Is Senior really human?"

Gu Rong nodded in agreement. "First he single-handedly brutalized three Titled Douluo. Now he's severed a level 98 Golden Crocodile Douluo's arm with one blow and left two other Titled Douluo too afraid to fight. In the entire history of Douluo Continent, no one can surpass such a record."

Ning Fengzhi added, "What shocks me most is that Senior doesn't seem to have used his full strength."

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

"From beginning to end, Senior hasn't used a single Soul Skill. He's relied entirely on his own strange methods of attack and those pale flames."

Dugu Bo nodded. "You're telling me. Just now, Senior merely unleashed those white flames at full force, and all of Suotuo City became like a steamer. Senior's Martial Soul is also a flame, and his Soul Rings all give off the presence of scorching fire element. If Senior used all nine Soul Rings at once, I'm afraid Suotuo City would instantly become a purgatory."

Ah Yin held Qian Renxue in her arms. "That's our master!"

At those words, Ning Fengzhi and his wife, along with the Titled Douluo, all looked on with envy.

Ning Fengzhi glanced at Qian Renxue, and an idea suddenly struck him. He whispered a few words in his wife's ear.

His wife blushed and nodded. "That would be good, but I don't know whether Senior would take our child as a disciple."

Ning Fengzhi laughed. "My dear, what are you saying? We needn't hope for the child to become his disciple. Even a little guidance from Senior would be wonderful!"

Dugu Bo agreed wholeheartedly, and began considering whether it was time to urge his disappointing son on as well.

Even Chen Xin was wondering whether he should find himself a wife. If his child received Senior's guidance, the child's prospects would be limitless!

Jiang Nian had landed by now. He looked at the three Titled Douluo with amusement. "What? Not fighting anymore? Where's all that swagger you had just now?"

He raised the Heavy Xuan Ruler and pressed it lightly against Golden Crocodile Douluo. "Weren't you just saying you'd kill me? I'm right here. Why have you gone mute instead?"

Before Golden Crocodile could answer, Jiang Nian suddenly raised a hand and drew them in.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who lay in the distance unable to fight, were both pulled over.

He searched for a while, only to discover that Qian Xunji was sneaking off, preparing to have Bibi Dong take him away.

You old bastard, looking to die so soon?

But before you die, you'd better untie the knot in my Xiao Xue'er's heart!

Jiang Nian scoffed. "Qian Xunji, do you think you can escape?!"

Qian Xunji clenched his fists. In the end, he gritted his teeth and chose to walk over with Bibi Dong in a dignified manner.

Jiang Nian said, "Ah Yin, bring Xue'er over."

Qian Renxue huddled in Ah Yin's arms, unwilling even to look at Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong.

Before, she had longed to become strong and win her father and mother's approval. But now that they were here, she found that perhaps she no longer wanted it so badly.

Instead, she was worried that her master would abandon her because of her parents.

Jiang Nian ruffled her hair. "Come down. It's time some things were made clear."

Jiang Nian looked at the people from Spirit Hall. "You know only that Qian Renxue is your Pope's daughter. Do you know who her mother is?"

Bibi Dong's body trembled. She looked at Jiang Nian with hatred and terror, along with a trace of hope.

But Jiang Nian mercilessly tore that last trace of hope away. "Your holy maiden, Bibi Dong, is Qian Renxue's mother!"

Uproar!

Even Golden Crocodile looked at Qian Renxue in disbelief. Only on closer inspection did he notice that she really did bear some resemblance to Bibi Dong as a child.

Jiang Nian looked at Qian Renxue again. "Xue'er, you've always thought your mother disliked you because your talent wasn't good enough to earn her attention?"

Qian Renxue looked at Jiang Nian in confusion. "Teacher, you know the reason."

"Of course I do." Jiang Nian's gaze fell on Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong began to tremble. She clenched her fists, as though recalling once more the physical and mental torment she had endured in the secret chamber.

Jiang Nian continued, "Your Pope raped your holy maiden, and Qian Renxue was born!"