Douluo: Qian Xunji's Joyful Life

Chapter 16: Four Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts

Once Qian Xunji exited seclusion, he summoned a stewarded Red-Robed Bishop to inquire about events in the Wuhun Hall and the broader continent during his lengthy retreat.

"Your Holiness, everything in the Wuhun Hall has been normal. Five years ago, Tang Chen, the former Clan Master of the Clear Sky Clan, left his clan and has been missing ever since."

Qian Xunji nodded slightly. He hadn't expected his seclusion to last five years. So Tang Chen had presumably gone to the Slaughter City and become its Slaughter King—Phase One of his plan completed.

"Three years ago, the previous Sword Douluo, called 'Dust Sword Lord,' challenged the Great Consecration and was defeated. He suffered mortal injuries and died. As a result, Ning Fengzhi succeeded as Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and invited the Sword and Bone Douluo to join, which made the clan tremendously powerful."

A hint of regret flashed in Qian Xunji's eyes. What a pity he had missed that spectacular battle with Qian Daoliu during his seclusion.

He harbored no particular thoughts about Chen Xin (Dustheart) joining the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan; the Chen family had long roamed the continent as traveling swordmasters, generation after generation wielding the Seven Kill Sword, each eventually achieving Titled Douluo status. Countless clans, including the Wuhun Hall, had tried to recruit them, but all were refused. If Chen Xin joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, it was likely due to some kindness or favor. Had mere words sufficed to sway him, the Wuhun Hall would have succeeded in recruiting him long ago.

"The Clear Sky Clan's Tang Yuehua has opened the 'Moon Pavilion' in Heaven Dou City, annually admitting a certain number of nobles to train in etiquette."

"Not a bad tactic. Profits come rolling in daily, and they gain connections among Heaven Dou Empire's nobility. But that little girl doesn't really understand—if not for the Clear Sky Clan backing her, giving her a safety net, an attractive woman stepping into aristocratic circles alone would be toyed with until nothing remained. As far as those who revere strength are concerned, those aristocratic ties amount to nothing but flimsy trappings."

From his vantage point, having seen so much, Qian Xunji well understood the realities of nobility. It was a cycle of overthrowing and being overthrown. As long as a species had intelligence, the mistakes of history would forever be repeated.

Finally, Qian Xunji asked about the relationship between the Wuhun Hall and the great clans and empires; then he dismissed the Red-Robed Bishop.

Over the years, the Wuhun Hall's ties to the major clans had steadily worsened. After Tang Chen's departure, the Clear Sky Clan feared the Wuhun Hall like the plague and dared not provoke them in the slightest. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, formerly docile, had started making countless little moves ever since Ning Fengzhi recruited Sword and Bone Douluo. Meanwhile, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan continued to clash with the Star Luo Empire—both regarded each other as a thorn in the side—and maintained a comparatively peaceful relationship with the Heaven Dou Empire.

Heaven Dou still existed largely thanks to the Wuhun Hall. On top of that, the three luxury commercial streets Qian Xunji had traded from Ning Zhiping paid large taxes each year to Heaven Dou. Nobody would say no to more money.

As for why the Wuhun Hall was at odds with so many top clans, it was rooted in their claim to lead all soul masters on the continent. Anyone who could cultivate a martial soul took pride in it, and these mighty lineages wouldn't willingly submit.

Qian Xunji had no desire to offer free service to the entire continent—for instance, employing a mercenary system for capturing criminal soul masters, or charging a fee to do so. But the directive to suppress soul masters causing chaos came from the Angel God's divine decree.

He headed to the Worship Hall, where Qian Daoliu stood statue-still before the Angel God's figure.

"Father, lend me two of the Consecrations. I need to hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul beast and acquire my ninth soul ring."

"To kill a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, why not bring Yu Xiao Douluo and King Kong Douluo? The two Guardian Douluo of the Pope's Hall."

"Father, any beast with one hundred thousand years' cultivation possesses human-like intelligence—they might even band together. Don't Titan Giant Ape and Sky Azure Bull Python call each other brothers? Who knows what other hidden hundred-thousand-year soul beasts might be out there."

Some time ago, a Titled Douluo had gone into the Star Dou Great Forest aiming to challenge the Titan Giant Ape. He'd reached the Lake of Life only to sense an even more powerful aura pinning him down. A colossal bull's head broke the water's surface, revealing the serpentine body of a python over one hundred meters long, forcing him to leave without a fight.

For the formidable Titan Giant Ape to act as meek as a child in the presence of that beast spoke volumes. Based on its shape—bull's head and python's body—it was named Sky Azure Bull Python, the "Forest Emperor."

"Xiongshi, Guangling—accompany the Pope and hunt the soul beast."

"Yes, Great Consecration," the two answered in unison.

No sooner had Qian Daoliu finished speaking than two figures appeared in the Worship Hall. Even Qian Xunji only barely sensed a faint ripple in the surrounding space, proof of their terrifying power.

Both wore personalized golden armor, with different shades in their inner robes and cloaks. The man on the left was tall and hulking, all thick muscle, with short orange hair and a bristling orange beard giving his face a lion-like aspect. His partner was diminutive, with a youthful face, silvery hair, and frost covering his left eye.

"Your Holiness, let's go," they said.

At present, Lion Douluo and Guangling Douluo were both rank 96. Reaching 96 meant their hearts brimmed with pride. In their view, killing a hundred-thousand-year soul beast was no big deal, so no larger team was needed.

En route to the Star Dou Great Forest, Lion Douluo spoke telepathically, "Your Holiness, it's said you gave Guangling a piece of immortal herb some years back… After we hunt the hundred-thousand-year beast, could I maybe…"

Because five years earlier, Guangling Douluo had been only rank 94, yet jumped to 96 in that short span, rumor had it he consumed an immortal herb. The Lion Douluo naturally hoped for one as well.

Hearing Lion Douluo's request, Qian Xunji felt a bit at a loss. While he'd been in seclusion, the promised immortal herbs had already been handed over to Qian Daoliu for distribution. Apparently, Old Man Guangling had simply swallowed it himself. Originally, the condition was that he pass on his martial soul to the next generation, but with no suitable child present, he used it on himself anyway.

"Fourth Consecration, might I ask the highest innate soul power your descendants have shown so far?"

"Innate soul power of level eight."

A level-eight innate soul power. In the Wuhun Hall's care, with a top-tier martial soul, that child should have no trouble breaking through to at least rank-95 Titled Douluo one day.

"Fourth Consecration, your offspring's talent is quite satisfactory. They don't need an immediate improvement. Immortal herbs are exceedingly rare. Instead, how about I present you with a medicinal plant that will further boost your physical vigor?"

"Um… fine," the Lion Douluo relented.

He'd only wanted an immortal herb for himself to break through further. But Qian Xunji was intent on breeding talent and strengthening the lineage of the Wuhun Hall. Not wanting to seem pushy, the Lion Douluo accepted some other potent supplement instead.

Lake of Life.

Shimmering green waters exuded an intense aura of vitality, so dense that the lake appeared somewhat clouded rather than perfectly clear.

On the lakeshore sat a massive rabbit over eight meters long and five meters wide. Stocky and fuzzy, it had pinkish ears half a meter in length, drooping on either side of its head.

"Mama, what's the human world like?" the rabbit asked—speaking like a human. A sure sign of a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Astride its back was a woman in human form, her hair gathered into a neat bun. She wore simple, elegant clothing, tall and shapely, with a captivating face and skin like jade. Standing on the rabbit's back, she brushed the rabbit's fur.

The rabbit called her "Mama"—this woman was indeed its mother in human form. One was a rabbit, one was a human, named Xiao Wu (Soft-Boned Rabbit) and A Rou (the transformed mother).

Nearby, a towering figure crouched silently—a mountain of a creature cloaked in black fur that gleamed faintly in the subdued sunlight. Even on all fours, its shoulder height exceeded seven meters. Standing upright, it would surpass fifteen. This was the forest's king, the Titan Giant Ape.

Out on the lake's surface, a bull's head measuring over four meters in diameter rose above the water, with greenish scales and a vast body. It was the so-called "Forest Emperor," the Sky Azure Bull Python.

Four hundred-thousand-year soul beasts in one place!

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