Due to that recent interaction, Xue Qinghe began pulling Gu Xuan aside nearly every week. Under her persistent, rapid-fire questioning, Gu Xuan eventually "confessed" that he had reached the Rank 55 cultivation level.
Since he had already used the excuses of special pills and external soul bones to mask his progress, Xue Qinghe was just barely able to accept this reality. However, the thought that Gu Xuan was not even fifteen years old remained staggering. The youngest of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation was already twenty, and they had only broken through to the Soul King rank half a month prior—a feat already considered a pinnacle of talent.
Gu Xuan, this freak, simply wasn't letting anyone else live!
Xue Qinghe wondered about his actual combat strength. While his soul power growth was terrifying, he was still only fifteen; compared to those who had undergone more tempering, he might still have deficiencies.
However, the other members of the Emperor Team were also improving rapidly. They were now basically on par with the non-Golden Generation members of the Spirit Hall team, perhaps even stronger. It was said that even Ye Lingling had reached the Soul Ancestor level. This was incredibly enticing to Qian Renxue; although the Nine-Hearted Begonia had long lived in seclusion, its fame was widespread. Even she knew how powerful that Martial Soul was.
With a Soul Ancestor-level Nine-Hearted Begonia and a Rank 55 Soul King like Gu Xuan, even though the Spirit Hall team possessed three Soul Kings, it was unlikely they would win this Continental Elite Tournament easily.
But that was fine. The Spirit Hall team was the foundation of her organization; a bit of tempering would help them become mainstays sooner. Once she inherited the Angel Godhood and unified the continent, these people could be put to good use.
As for Gu Xuan himself, Qian Renxue was more determined than ever to recruit him. Once she reached godhood, she could simply force him to stay by her side and slowly "influence" him! Of course, these were just her current daydreams; no one could predict what the future truly held.
Far away in the Elder Hall of Spirit Hall, the Grand Worship Qian Daoliu received the secret letter from Snake Lance and Porcupine Fish.
At the time the message arrived, Qian Daoliu was exchanging pointers with the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo. Upon receiving the letter, his first thought was that Qian Renxue's identity had been exposed.
His normally tranquil heart felt a jolt of anxiety. He was a hundred and twenty years old; aside from his devotion to the Angel God, only his granddaughter, Qian Renxue, could move his emotions. Beside him, Golden Crocodile Douluo stared tensely at the envelope; having no children of his own, he looked upon Qian Renxue as his own granddaughter.
Qian Daoliu opened the letter. The very first line caused his heart rate to spike.
"Grand Worship, things are bad! The Young Lord's soul has been stolen away!"
Qian Daoliu's brow furrowed tightly. Her soul was stolen? Was there an evil soul master within the Heaven Dou Empire?
However, as he read further, his brow gradually relaxed, and his expression became quite strange. Golden Crocodile Douluo watched his elder brother's face change like a Peking Opera performer and felt amazed. Though his brother was thirty years younger than him, his state of mind was usually as calm as still water. What could possibly cause such a rich display of emotion?
Qian Daoliu didn't know whether to be happy or angry. He was glad his precious granddaughter had seemingly stepped out of the shadows of her childhood—after all, she finally had someone she liked.
He was angry because the opening line from those two brats, Snake Lance and Porcupine Fish, was far too easy to misunderstand. It had nearly caused his mental state to falter.
After finishing the letter, he locked onto several keywords: Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Gu Xuan, fifteen-year-old Soul King...
The letter provided a complete profile of Gu Xuan, including the fact that he already had two fiancées. It also repeatedly mentioned how Gu Xuan had taken liberties with her, and instead of being angry, Qian Renxue had become bashful.
Reading between the lines, Qian Daoliu smiled. If Xue'er had found someone she liked, it meant someone could finally fill the emotional voids in her life.
The only headache was that Gu Xuan already had two fiancées and was from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Years ago, Chen Jianjun—the father of the current Sword Douluo Chen Xin—had indirectly died at his hands. This marriage would be difficult to arrange!
With Qian Daoliu's strength, he could naturally use force to snatch Gu Xuan away. But the letter made it clear that Qian Renxue didn't want to use force, nor did she even intend to tell him about this yet.
Aside from his faith, his granddaughter was the most important thing to him. If it was something she didn't want, how could he act on his own authority? In the original story, he had done nothing and ultimately sacrificed himself for her godhood. Otherwise, he could have led the Elder Hall to sweep across the continent, making her an uncrowned queen. History is written by the victors, after all.
But since Xue'er had feelings for this boy, as her grandfather, he needed to do something for her. Even if he couldn't force the boy, his granddaughter could not be second to anyone.
Even if he didn't stop Gu Xuan from being with the other two girls, his granddaughter had to be Gu Xuan's first woman. He had the power to make that happen. As one of the three Ultimate Douluos and the controller of the continent's top combat force, the Elder Hall, he carried that weight.
He knew what the "madwoman" Bibi Dong was plotting. Since her goal of unifying the continent aligned with his granddaughter's plan, he hadn't stopped her. With Spirit Hall's current strength, in another five years, Bibi Dong might truly be able to settle the Upper Three Sects. The Elephant Armored Clan of the Lower Four Sects had already defected, and the others were wavering. That woman was indeed bold and capable.
"Old Second, Xue'er has someone she likes," Qian Daoliu said slowly to Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Golden Crocodile Douluo froze, then broke into an unbelievable smile. "Big brother, you're not joking, are you? Xue'er found someone?"
Qian Daoliu nodded, and Golden Crocodile burst into laughter. "She's at that age. She's nearly twenty-three. Since she was little, she... sigh. If she truly found someone she likes, regardless of who he is, I'll bring him here to stay by her side."
Qian Daoliu smiled. "Old Second, this boy is brilliant and a good match for Xue'er, but there's some trouble..."
(End of Chapter)
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