Qian Gu Zhangting stood before the massive monitoring screen; the only sound around was the low hum of the instruments operating.
On the screen, Huo Yuhao's figure leaped and attacked in the forest, his movements so concise and fluid they were heart-stopping.
Ordinary hundred-year spirit beasts could hardly withstand a single encounter before Huo Yuhao.
As for those thousand-year spirit beasts that would make a team of spirit masters of the same rank wait in full battle array, he could always rely on his beyond-common-sense mental force control and combat intuition to defeat them after some effort.
Almost half of the energy generated from killing the spirit beasts was absorbed by that grey bead in his spiritual sea.
Therefore, to successfully promote Little Silver to a ten thousand year spirit ring, the number of spirit beasts needed to be killed naturally doubled.
For Huo Yuhao, this was not a big deal; it just required a bit more time, and his time was already more abundant than others.
Watching the color of the spirit ring on Huo Yuhao's body gradually deepen, Qian Gu Zhangting knew that breaking through ten thousand years was only a matter of time.
And it wouldn't take much longer!
Qian Gu Zhangting frowned deeply, his expression appearing somewhat solemn.
Having followed Huo Yuhao for so long, his progress had always been observed by Qian Gu Zhangting.
Whenever Qian Gu Zhangting thought he had seen through his limits, Huo Yuhao would always bring him unexpected shock again, making Qian Gu Zhangting realize his judgment was wrong!
Qian Gu Zhangting's gaze turned completely cold, and he slowly exhaled.
Turn it off.
He ordered in a calm voice, showing no joy or anger.
The operator froze for a moment, then followed Qian Gu Zhangting's request and closed the screen.
Qian Gu Zhangting then turned and walked out of the monitoring room... Grandfather!
Qian Gu Zhangting's voice echoed in the empty office, carrying the respect carved into his marrow through the family legacy.
Before him, behind a large dark wood desk, the current Pagoda Master of the Spirit Pagoda, Qian Gu Dongfeng, had his gaze fixed on a file in front of him, not looking up.
Zhangting is here. Qian Gu Dongfeng's voice was steady and waveless, showing no emotion: What is it?
Qian Gu Zhangting took a deep breath and said directly: Grandfather, Huo Yuhao just entered the Spirit Ascension Platform.
Judging from the energy intake mode and spirit soul fluctuations, he should be helping his first spirit soul break through the ten thousand year limit.
Moreover, his spirit power accumulation... is probably not far from the rank 30 bottleneck.
The faint sound of flipping through the file stopped, and Qian Gu Dongfeng slowly raised his head.
Those eyes that had weathered many storms and seemed able to see through everything were now like a quiet deep sea, falling on his grandson's solemn and even slightly tense face.
What? Qian Gu Dongfeng's tone remained steady, yet it was like an undercurrent flowing beneath the ice: You... are afraid?
I...
Qian Gu Zhangting's throat felt as if it were blocked by something; he opened his mouth but failed to utter a complete syllable.
He subconsciously avoided Qian Gu Dongfeng's gaze, which was as sharp as a knife, and slowly lowered his head.
His hands hanging at his sides suddenly clenched at this moment, his knuckles turning slightly white from excessive force.
His nails dug deep into his palms, bringing a sharp sting, but it did nothing to alleviate the mixture of unwillingness, frustration, and an indescribable sense of alarm in his chest.
The silence felt like a physical weight, making him almost unable to breathe.
Finally, he almost squeezed these words out from between his teeth, his voice low and carrying a trace of trembling.
Grandfather... when I was at his age.
He paused for a moment, as if using all his strength to spit out the second half: ...I was not his match.
As the words fell, the office sank into a dead silence.
Although he didn't admit it proactively, Qian Gu Zhangting knew in his heart that he was indeed afraid!
Not afraid of Huo Yuhao's current strength, but afraid of that unfathomable potential, afraid of that trajectory that overlapped too much with the legend!
Qian Gu Dongfeng's gaze calmly fell on his grandson's face.
That silence lasted for a full ten breaths, pressuring Qian Gu Zhangting until he could almost hear his own drum-like heartbeat.
Finally, that voice that showed no joy or anger sounded again: Being afraid is normal.
Qian Gu Zhangting looked up in astonishment, seeing his grandfather's calm face.
Qian Gu Dongfeng's gaze shifted slightly, seemingly piercing through time and space, his voice tinged with a hint of elusive reminiscence and awe?
After all... that is the first generation Pagoda Master, the Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao who truly ascended to the God Realm.
In the next instant, his gaze narrowed, and he regained his composure.
Investigated for two whole years.
Qian Gu Dongfeng's voice lowered: Using every available channel, yet still unable to find out where Leng Yaozhu got this child; he is like... he appeared out of thin air.
But there is no doubt, whether it's the name, spirit, or appearance... they are all extremely similar to the first generation Pagoda Master!
Once he truly grows up, he will pose a huge threat to our Qian Gu Family's rule over the Spirit Pagoda!
The Qian Gu Clan, relying on the foundation of several generations of consecutive pseudo-god powerhouses, had long regarded the Spirit Pagoda as their own.
Hearing this, a look of ferocity flashed across Qian Gu Zhangting's face.
Cold light flickered in his eyes, and he raised his right hand, making a clean cross-cutting gesture across his neck.
His voice was extremely low, yet carried a bloody chill: Grandfather, since that's the case... why don't we, while his wings are not yet full and he is still young, we...
He didn't finish, but that gesture and the naked killing intent in his eyes expressed his intention vividly.
This was to take advantage of Huo Yuhao's young age and low strength to pull him up by the roots and eliminate any future trouble!
Qian Gu Dongfeng's gaze lingered on his grandson's face for a moment; the fleeting ruthlessness and the restlessness of being eager for success made him let out a sigh in his heart that no one noticed.
This grandson of his had decent talent, but his heart-nature... was more than a level behind.
He feared when meeting the strong, was impatient when seeking strength, and acted with a bias toward ruthlessness and directness, lacking true vision and patience.
With such a heart-nature, he might be able to rely on resources to be piled up to the quasi-demigod realm in the future, but touching the threshold of a true demigod or even a pseudo-god would likely be as difficult as reaching the heavens.
Even without the variable of Huo Yuhao appearing out of nowhere, once he and the old Pagoda Master—these two generations of pseudo-gods—passed away, Qian Gu Zhangting alone probably wouldn't be able to suppress the covetous eyes inside and outside the Spirit Pagoda.
This great position of Pagoda Master... was likely to be lost from the hands of the Qian Gu Family.
At this thought, a hint of imperceptible disappointment flashed in Qian Gu Dongfeng's eyes.
He suddenly raised his voice: No matter how similar he is, this Huo Yuhao is not the first generation Pagoda Master!
His gaze was like lightning as he looked at Qian Gu Zhangting: A little pressure, a bit of the unknown, and you lose your composure, becoming scared like this, even giving birth to such low-class thoughts?
With just this much capacity, and with your current state of mind, how much of the true meaning of our Qian Gu Family's secret Unyielding Staff Technique can you comprehend?!
I'm sorry, grandfather...
Qian Gu Zhangting was shaken by this sudden harsh reprimand, the color drained from his face, and he lowered his head deeply again, his voice as thin as a mosquito.
The ruthless air from just now vanished without a trace, leaving only panic.
Qian Gu Dongfeng snorted coldly and warned with an unfriendly tone: Put away those unpresentable little thoughts of yours; the Phoenix lineage is no pushover either!
If you touch Huo Yuhao, do you think it can be settled easily?
He waved his hand irritably: Go back and cultivate! What's the use of wild thoughts? Strength is the root of everything!
Yes! Your grandson takes his leave!
Qian Gu Zhangting felt as if he had been granted a great amnesty and dared not stay for a moment; he almost backed away quickly from the office and gently closed the heavy door.
Not until that door completely isolated the inner and outer space did Qian Gu Dongfeng's always straight back relax slightly.
He slowly leaned against the large back of the chair and raised his hand to rub his brow.
After a long time, a soft sigh echoed faintly in the empty office.
Leng Yaozhu, you brought this child to the Spirit Pagoda, just... what were you thinking?
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