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*****
"Can I get a different number?"
Tang San's brow furrowed slightly. After joining Shrek Academy and spending time with his troublesome friends like Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun, he came to understand the insult hidden behind this number.
The number 1438 phonetically resembles the phrase "You're a sissy."
"No, 1438. Everyone's number is fixed and will accompany them for life in the City of Slaughter."
The terrifying knight had no faith that someone like Tang San—a delicate-looking youth—could pass the hellish trials of the Slaughter Arena, let alone become a Slaughter God by surviving the City of Slaughter. So, he didn't bother to explain any of this to Tang San.
"I understand."
Tang San's forehead twitched slightly as a vein throbbed. He decided to endure it. After all, whenever murderous intent and aggression surged within him, his cultivation would grow. In that sense, the number actually served a purpose—it was provocative enough to help his progress.
After a day-long journey, Qian Renhan finally returned to the skies above Spirit City, carrying the Sky Dream Iceworm with him.
Shaking his right arm—which had grown numb from gripping the iceworm for so long—he muttered, "If only I knew some spatial techniques, I wouldn't have had to waste so much effort."
The Sky Dream Iceworm asked in confusion, "Human, why did you bring me here? Aren't you planning to kill me for my spirit ring and spirit bone? You didn't have to drag me so far for that, right?"
Qian Renhan gave a faint smile and replied, "Taking your spirit ring and spirit bone? You really think too highly of your bloated worm body. Whatever fate awaited you in the soul beast realm, it'll be the same here in Spirit City. Relax—I'll make sure you're well-fed and well-cared for, so you can grow even plumper."
Hearing this, the Sky Dream Iceworm's mindset shattered. Its fate in the soul beast realm? Wasn't it hunted by all soul beasts, eager to devour its flesh and absorb its energy essence to enhance their own cultivation?
"Human, let me go! Let me go! You're going too far! Bastard! You're a devil! You deserve to die horribly!"
For the first time in its life, the Sky Dream Iceworm was driven to the edge of fury. Even during the countless times it had been hunted across the extreme north, or when it failed repeatedly to woo the Ice Empress, it had never been this enraged. Its immense spiritual power surged violently, and its intensely pure life energy formed a mist around it. A single breath of that mist could cure common ailments for ordinary people.
"Shua shua shua shua!"
The unfamiliar and massive fluctuations of spiritual and soul power immediately drew the attention of everyone in Spirit City. None of them had ever felt such terrifying levels of energy before. Dozens of Titled Douluo from both the Worship Hall and the Elder Hall sprang into action.
Originally, Spirit Hall had seven main Worship Elders and nine Elders—less than twenty Titled Douluo in total. But now, their numbers had grown to nearly thirty.
This increase was largely due to the enhancements provided by the Xuan Tian Art. Tang San's perfected version of the technique had nine full layers, each with nine smaller stages. At its absolute peak, it allowed cultivation up to level 99.
However, the Xuan Tian Art was, at its core, a conventional technique. Its main benefit was accelerating soul power cultivation, offering limited improvement in martial soul comprehension. So, when given to someone with a naturally strong martial soul—like Huo Wu—its benefits could only take her to around level 95 through steady progress. Whether she could break past that depended entirely on fortune and opportunity.
In other words, decades into the future, Spirit Hall would be flooded with Titled Douluo between levels 90 to 95. Only those who reached levels 95 to 99 would truly hold status within the organization.
Qian Renhan divided the Xuan Tian Art into three tiers. The first tier allowed cultivation up to level 50, and the second tier up to level 70—both designed to promote steady training and incentivize Spirit Hall soul masters. Only those who underwent careful screening, swore blood oaths, and demonstrated exceptional potential would be granted access to the third tier—the complete version of the Xuan Tian Art.
As for Qian Renhan's personal cultivation method, he had created the Heavenly Nether Art, a fusion of the Xuan Tian Art and the Angelic Meditation Method. This technique was exclusively given to direct descendants of the Angel Clan. He wasn't generous enough to share it broadly, and martial souls without special attributes couldn't cultivate it anyway.
Back to the present—nearly thirty Titled Douluo had mobilized. It was a spectacular sight. Leading them was none other than the most powerful among them: the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo.
"Your Holiness the Pope!"
"Brother!"
Recognizing Qian Renhan's figure, Golden Crocodile Douluo was deeply shocked. His own cultivation had long surpassed the 99-level peak Douluo boundary. While he wasn't quite on par with Qian Daoliu, he could still vaguely sense Qian Daoliu's strength. But in Qian Renhan's case, he felt… nothing. Not the slightest ripple of soul power. It was as if an ordinary man floated calmly in the sky.
There was only one explanation: either Qian Renhan had lost all his power, or his strength had risen to an unimaginable level. And since he was flying while effortlessly carrying such a massive soul beast, the answer was obvious.
"In just over five months, what exactly did His Holiness go through to gain such an astronomical leap in power? And why hasn't the Grand Worship returned yet?"
"Old man hasn't come back?"
Qian Renhan slightly furrowed his brows. Among the Titled Douluo gathered, he couldn't spot Qian Daoliu's figure. While cultivating in the Extreme North, he had sensed the unsealing of his ninth soul skill, Fallen Angel: Ultimate Darkness, from two energy sources. That should've meant Qian Daoliu had fully recovered his strength and was doing well. Given his pride, he would never avoid returning to Spirit Hall simply because he couldn't match Qian Renhan anymore.
"This is a nutrient reservoir. Its flesh will be harvested regularly—it's a top-tier natural treasure. Worship Elders, Elders, take care of it."
With that, Qian Renhan flung the Sky Dream Iceworm. Its snow-white body shot through the air like a meteor, crashing down onto the square of the Pope's Palace. The sheer weight of its massive body made the entire mountain tremble slightly.
"Aiyaaa!"
The Sky Dream Iceworm let out another agonized scream. Lifting its head, it looked around in despair at the fiery-eyed Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall. Inside, it wailed, "I'm finished. I'm really finished. I, once the soul beast closest to a million years of cultivation, is this how I end up—drained dry in my next life too? Human, I hate you! I hate you!"
In the Douluo Palace, Qian Renhan stood beneath the Angelic Statue, while Qian Renxue stood quietly behind him.
Qian Xunji was absent. Even though Qian Renhan had made Spirit Hall several times stronger than before, the fact remained—he had locked his own father up in prison, forcing him to work on a sewing machine for so long. To think Qian Xunji had no resentment would be absurd.
Qian Renhan understood this well. He knew he owed Qian Xunji a debt, and so, avoiding confrontation was probably for the best—it would save them both the awkwardness.
Qian Renhan asked, "Still no response from the Angelic God Trials?"
"None, Brother."
Qian Renxue nodded. Since Qian Renhan's return, she had informed him of everything that had happened across the continent. For instance, the Star Luo Empire had already gathered an army of several hundred thousand at the border, and the number was still growing. It wouldn't be long before full-scale war broke out between the two great empires. She also updated him on Spirit Hall's development.
However, she didn't mention anything about Bibi Dong to Qian Renhan. She knew her brother wouldn't care about someone who had long since ceased to matter in his life.
As a Fallen Angel, Qian Renhan often kept his mind blank, focusing solely on cultivation. He didn't care about things unrelated to him, nor did he waste energy worrying about them. In a way, this mindset was "laziness" elevated to strategy.
"Focus on your cultivation for now. Have that fat worm's cooked meat added as a staple in every meal for you and the old man. I'll handle your godhood."
"Since you can't inherit the Angelic God Position, the Angelic Soul Bone holds little value. These soul bones—take your pick."
A light flashed from Qian Renhan's soul tool, and four 100,000-year soul bones appeared before Qian Renxue.
The four soul bones were:
The skull of the Sky Azure Bull Python,
The torso bone of the Titan Giant Ape,
The right arm bone of the Devil Soul Great White Shark,
And the severed right arm bone of the Demon Emperor.
Coincidentally, the soul bones Qian Renhan himself lacked were: a skull, a torso bone, and a right arm bone.
(End of Chapter)