Divine Artifact?

"I might not die," Chen Jianjun muttered in protest.

Qian Xunling laughed in exasperation, stepped down from the threshold, and walked up to Chen Jianjun. "That's because you've never seen how terrifying Angel Soul Power is. Even Tang Chen as he is now wouldn't dare take my father's Angel Holy Light head-on. Once you're gravely wounded by Angel Holy Light, you're basically finished."

"Angel Soul Power is divinely bestowed Soul Power. There's no way the likes of your Soul Power and sword Qi can withstand it."

"Forget it. Why am I telling you so much? I've given you all the warnings I should. Since you're so eager to go and get yourself killed, go ahead." Standing before the two men, Qian Xunling shook his head slightly. "Take care. I won't see you out."

With that, Qian Xunling returned to the little courtyard.

He shut the gate behind him.

Chen Jianjun hadn't entirely ignored Qian Xunling's warning. It was just that he truly had no way back now.

The path of the sword stretched ahead, uncertain and obscure. He could only give it his all.

Chen Xin didn't want to see his old father die like this either. Before they came, he had tried to persuade Chen Jianjun many times, but after traveling for so long, he had come to understand his father's determination.

Chen Jianjun looked toward the little courtyard and smiled. "Thank you for all your warnings, Young Master Xunling, but I've made up my mind to go. Even if I die, I'll have no regrets, so I'm afraid I must disappoint you.

"Sorry for troubling you just now. Please forgive me, Young Master Xunling and young lady. If I'm lucky enough to survive, I'll come back and apologize in person. Farewell."

With that, Chen Jianjun turned to Chen Xin. "Let's go."

Chen Xin nodded.

The two men left.

Hiding behind the gate, Bibi Dong looked at Qian Xunling with wide eyes. Then she peered back through the crack until Chen Jianjun and Chen Xin had completely disappeared. "Martial uncle, you actually wanted to persuade that Grandpa Chen Jianjun to stay, didn't you?"

"Hehe, how did you figure that out?" Qian Xunling asked.

Bibi Dong straightened her back and said seriously, "You tried to persuade Grandpa Gu Rong before, but you didn't get angry at all. You only mocked him. This time, though, you lost your temper, which means you must really care about Grandpa Chen Jianjun."

Bang.

"Ow!" Bibi Dong cried, clutching her forehead. She glanced at Qian Xunling and said resentfully, "Martial uncle, you always hit my forehead. It really hurts."

"How dare you try to guess what your martial uncle is thinking? You deserved that." Qian Xunling didn't even look at her as he replied. Then he said, "That's right. I really don't want Chen Jianjun to die so soon, because I don't think he should die so recklessly."

Of course, Qian Xunling had another little selfish motive.

He wanted those two old fellows to be his hired muscle.

During his travels across the continent, Qian Xunling had grown tired of idiots always coming up to sneer at him, leaving him to deal with them himself.

Such trivial matters ought to be left to someone else.

Little Spider was still too young and didn't measure up. Chen Jianjun and Chen Xin would do, though, and both of them wielded swords. That gave them plenty of style.

"I keep feeling like you're up to no good, martial uncle," Little Spider muttered. She immediately covered her forehead with both hands, but her martial uncle's divine finger flick never came. Bibi Dong opened her eyes and looked at Qian Xunling, who was staring at her in surprise. "Little Spider, since when have you been so good at guessing what your martial uncle is thinking? When did you get so clever?"

"Hmph, Little Spider has always been clever," Bibi Dong said indignantly.

"Oh, come on. You're the dumbest person on the entire continent," Qian Xunling said with a wave of his hand. Bibi Dong's little face grew even more indignant at that. She immediately pounded his stomach, saying over and over, "Little Spider isn't dumb! I'm not dumb! Martial uncle, you're so mean! I'm going to hate you for a while!"

"Who cares? But before that, go inside and pack some things. We're making a run for it," Qian Xunling said.

Bibi Dong stopped what she was doing and asked in confusion, "We're leaving again? Martial uncle, didn't you say we'd wait until your Soul Power reached level eighty?"

"Plans can't keep up with changes. Hurry up, or I'll leave without you," Qian Xunling urged. Any later and they wouldn't catch up to Chen Jianjun and Chen Xin. Little Spider immediately ran into the house, calling out, "Martial uncle, you're not allowed to run off first! You have to wait for Little Spider!"

"Have I been too good to you? You even dare order your martial uncle around now?" Qian Xunling exclaimed, looking at Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong immediately replied, "No! Little Spider spoke too quickly and said the wrong thing."

Qian Xunling felt he needed to remind Bibi Dong how dangerous he was. Otherwise, wouldn't she ride roughshod over him in the future just because she was his martial niece?

Soon enough.

Bibi Dong had finished packing everything, big and small.

Then she came over to Qian Xunling, pointed at the wooden chair, and asked, "Martial uncle, are we taking that too?"

"Yes," Qian Xunling said with a nod.

Bibi Dong nodded and put the wooden chair into her storage bag.

Just then, Bibi Dong remembered the sword on Chen Xin's back and looked at Qian Xunling. He had already activated his seventh Martial Soul, Wormhole Jump, and a wormhole stood before them.

"Let's go," Qian Xunling said. The two strolled into the wormhole, and Bibi Dong, still unable to contain her curiosity, asked, "Martial uncle, why was that younger grandpa carrying a sword on his back? That seemed to be his Martial Soul. Why carry his Martial Soul on his back?"

"To show off," Qian Xunling replied dismissively.

Qian Xunling knew it was a cultivation method used by those sword cultivators, but he didn't really want to explain it to Bibi Dong. Besides, he only had a half-baked understanding of it himself.

"I thought that grandpa looked pretty impressive too," Bibi Dong said with a smile. Then she looked up at Qian Xunling and asked, "Martial uncle, why don't you carry a sword on your back too?"

"Oh, really?"

Qian Xunling pinched Bibi Dong's little cheek, applying a bit of force. It hurt, and she looked at him pleadingly. "Martial uncle, that hurts."

Qian Xunling looked at Bibi Dong. "Little Spider, your courage has gotten awfully plump. Not only do you dare order your martial uncle around, you even dare tell him what to do."

Bibi Dong held Qian Xunling's fingers in her two little hands, not daring to move. "No, Little Spider just thought you were already very handsome, martial uncle. If you had a sword too, you'd probably look even better."

Qian Xunling let go and actually began to ponder her words. It wasn't just about showing off. He was curious about something now.

Could he channel his Soul Ring abilities through an external object? A powerful weapon paired with a Soul Master didn't merely add up to one plus one equaling two. The increase was exponential.

For example, the Old Sea God wielding the Sea God Trident could unleash attacks with the power of the God King Realm, while Asura wielding the Asura Demonic Sword had even become the strongest God King in one-on-one combat.

Thinking about it that way.

It seemed that practically every god had a weapon of their own.

The Angel Holy Sword, the Tree of Life, the Destruction Scepter, and other Divine Artifacts, even Super Divine Artifacts.

"Not bad, not bad, Little Spider. You've given me a reminder. It looks like I won't just have to hunt for Soul Rings in the days ahead. I'll need to find a weapon too."

Qian Xunling patted Bibi Dong's little head.

Bibi Dong's little face flushed red as she stood there contentedly. She felt that her martial uncle's hand was big and warm. If only he wouldn't use it to flick her forehead or pinch her cheeks.