The Golden Crocodile Douluo was sent flying, carving a long, deep furrow into the ground as he skidded to a halt.
His Martial Soul True Body had been completely shattered by Meng Bei.
The Golden Crocodile was drenched in blood. His left cheek had taken a direct punch — his upper jaw was broken clean through, the jagged bone tearing through his skin and jutting out. His right eye had also been struck, the eyeball knocked clean out of its socket, leaking a mixture of dark red blood. It was clearly beyond use.
And yet the Golden Crocodile Douluo had not lost his fighting capability.
Because the most critical blow — the punch aimed directly between his brows — had been intercepted by Qian Daoliu's Angel divine power. The Golden Crocodile Douluo's combat strength remained intact.
With a deep, rumbling cry, the Golden Crocodile Douluo made no visible use of any soul skill, yet golden light suddenly burst forth from his body. He rose into the air as the surrounding soul energy was drawn toward him from all directions, forming a golden vortex that poured into him without end.
A moment later, a roar shook the air.
A golden crocodile king, more than ten meters in length, reappeared before everyone's eyes — every wound on its body completely healed, even the golden crocodile armor that had been shed when his ninth soul skill was used restored to perfect condition.
Meng Bei's expression grew grave as he once again settled into a combat stance.
Worthy indeed of being called the number one fighter beneath Qian Daoliu. Even after taking such grievous wounds, he can restore himself in an instant. Could this be the mysterious hundred-thousand-year soul bone skill that the Golden Crocodile Douluo never had the chance to use in the original story?
In the original work, the Golden Crocodile Douluo self-destructed and died while trying to rescue Qian Renxue, who had fallen into a losing battle against Tang San. He never had the opportunity to use this technique. Now, seeing it firsthand — it truly lives up to its reputation.
Though the specific mechanics of the ability were unclear, from what had just been displayed, its effect was essentially indistinguishable from resurrection. It fully deserved the name of a hundred-thousand-year soul bone skill.
The Golden Crocodile Douluo's full power had clearly not yet been unleashed.
He still had at least one unknown eighth soul skill, a ninth soul skill, and a hundred-thousand-year soul bone ability that had not been used — capabilities he simply hadn't had the chance to bring out yet.
It was only because he had been far too careless earlier, caught off guard by Meng Bei's quadruple-powered Titan Avalanche Cannon, that he had been forced into defeat before going all out.
Now, with the Golden Crocodile Douluo regrouped and ready, it looked as though another major battle was at hand.
In terms of the Six Arms technique, the Golden Crocodile Douluo was now on his guard and would likely be difficult to land it on again. But Meng Bei still had his trump card — the "Three Heads" — which he had yet to deploy.
He was already quietly preparing for it in his mind. Once the fight resumed, he would find a way to pull another ambush on the Golden Crocodile Douluo, show him what "three heads and six arms" truly looked like, and while he was at it, hit him with a triple-powered Frenzied Earth Ten Thousand Miles of Ice for good measure.
But just as Meng Bei was brimming with readiness, the Golden Crocodile Douluo — whether he had sensed some incoming danger or for some other reason — suddenly and voluntarily dismissed his Martial Soul True Body, reverting to human form.
"Enough. This old man concedes."
The Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke slowly.
"There is no luck in battle. Just now, had the Grand Worship not intervened, this old man's head would have been caved in and my life forfeit. What face would I have to keep fighting after that?"
The Golden Crocodile Douluo gave a quiet shake of his head, then turned and clasped his hands toward Qian Daoliu.
"Grand Worship, I fear this old man cannot complete this mission."
With that, the Golden Crocodile Douluo turned and walked away in broad strides.
As he passed by Meng Bei, he paused to offer a word:
"Boy — fine talent. But this old man will give you one piece of advice: don't act on impulse. You are not yet a match for the Grand Worship."
Then the Golden Crocodile Douluo walked away without looking back.
The remaining attendant Worshippers also took the hint and departed together.
Left behind were only three people — Meng Bei, Qian Daoliu, and Qian Renxue.
Meng Bei stepped forward and met Qian Daoliu's gaze, just opening his mouth to speak, when Qian Daoliu spoke first.
"You little scoundrel. I'm telling you — regardless of anything else, since you've taken up with Xue'er, there can be no other women! As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan — whether you destroy them or break ties with them, it doesn't matter, but there can be absolutely no further contact. If you won't do it yourself, don't blame this old man for doing it for you!"
Meng Bei's brow furrowed slightly at the words, then smoothed out just as quickly.
Though Qian Daoliu's tone was forceful on the surface, was it not also a form of compromise?
After all, the Qian Daoliu of before had been set on destroying the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan entirely.
Now there was a second option — a clean break.
Clearly, Qian Daoliu's attitude toward him had shifted.
Meng Bei thought for a moment, and rather than addressing the matter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan first, he asked instead:
"Honored grandfather-in-law, have you had a chance to look at the gift I sent you?"
Qian Daoliu huffed with mild irritation.
"Of course I looked at it. Hmph — you cunning little brat, a gift like that is less useful to me than plain gold or silver. This old man is already at the ninety-ninth rank. I cannot break through to the hundredth in this lifetime. What use do I have for that thing? Take it back!"
With that, Qian Daoliu tossed back the God-Granted Soul Ring Meng Bei had sent him.
Qian Daoliu understood full well — this item wasn't meant for him to use. It was meant for him to see.
Which was precisely why the boy was so cunning.
Meng Bei was entirely unsurprised by this. But surface appearances still had to be maintained. So after catching the God-Granted Soul Ring, he did not put it away — instead, he turned and handed it to Qian Renxue.
"Xue'er, since grandfather-in-law has no use for this, please accept it on his behalf. You're nearly at your breakthrough — this God-Granted Soul Ring suits you perfectly."
Qian Renxue took it without hesitation, then leaned in and pressed a quick, affectionate kiss to Meng Bei's cheek before turning to Qian Daoliu.
"Grandfather, look how good Xiao Bei treats me — stop making things difficult for him, alright?"
Qian Daoliu was so exasperated he condensed a flick of soul energy and tapped Qian Renxue lightly on the forehead.
"You foolish girl, your grandfather is doing this for you. All you know is how to side with outsiders. You'll regret it one day!"
Qian Renxue pouted playfully.
"Grandfather, you worry too much. Your granddaughter is going to become a god — how could I possibly end up regretting anything?"
Qian Daoliu blinked at that, and found himself thinking — she might have a point.
Meng Bei seized the moment to press his case.
"Honored grandfather-in-law, my divine inheritance is proceeding steadily as well. In just a few years, Xue'er and I will ascend to the Divine Realm and live as a divine couple for eternity. When that time comes, what petty mortal affairs could possibly touch us?"
Qian Daoliu fell silent.
But inwardly, he was wavering.
As Meng Bei said — mortals and gods are worlds apart. If Qian Renxue and Meng Bei both ascended to the Divine Realm together, the matters of the mortal world would hold no sway over them whatsoever.
Then Qian Renxue stepped closer and whispered something in Qian Daoliu's ear.
It was a simple sentence.
Grandfather, don't let something so small create a rift between Xiao Bei and me.
The words struck Qian Daoliu like a sudden clarity.
It was the final straw that tilted the scales.
His thoughts churned and turned, and in the end, he found himself agreeing with his granddaughter.
And so Qian Daoliu said nothing more. He turned and walked away.
Qian Renxue broke into a bright, delighted smile and leapt into Meng Bei's arms.
Meng Bei held her close and called out behind them: "Honored grandfather-in-law — thank you for your blessing!"
Qian Daoliu's steps faltered for just a moment. He did not turn around. Instead, he said something that seemed to come from nowhere:
"Don't wear clothing like that anymore. It's unseemly."
And with that, Qian Daoliu strode away into the distance.
"What does grandfather-in-law mean by that?"
Meng Bei asked, genuinely puzzled.
Qian Renxue pursed her lips. "How should I know?"
Then she reached up and cupped Meng Bei's face in both hands, and kissed him.
"Xiao Bei — let me take you to see the place where I grew up."
(End of Chapter)
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