Chapter 19: A Most Generous "Brother"
In the center of the great hall, Jiangmo Douluo stood, his Coiling Dragon Rod humming in his grip. The blinding, divine light from the Martial Soul Fusion Technique had faded, but a strange, warm energy still circulated through his meridians.
He hadn't just fused with Qin Xuan; he felt as if he had been cleansed. The ancient, pure aura of the Vermilion Bird had momentarily washed over his own spirit power.
He felt it—the bottleneck that had plagued him for decades, the hard ceiling of his innate talent that had seemed unbreakable, now showed signs of loosening. It had cracked.
He looked over at his adopted disciple, who was calmly retracting his power, his breathing even. The boy's aura was stable, as if performing a fusion with a Level 97 Peak Douluo was a trivial matter.
A hint of closeness, of genuine gratitude, involuntarily appeared in Jiangmo's fierce eyes. His perpetually bitter face, carved by years of harsh cultivation, vanished. It was replaced by a rare, almost imperceptible excitement.
This boy... he was a treasure.
Creak—
The massive, gilded main door of the Elder Palace swung open, the sound echoing in the vast, silent hall.
Qian Xunji, wearing his Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown and resplendent golden armor, walked in. His stride was majestic, every step radiating the dignity and pressure of the Supreme Pontiff.
Behind him, like two silent shadows, were his personal guard—two Titled Douluo, their faces hidden behind heavy visors, their auras cold and subservient only to him.
Further back, twelve Cardinals in their striking red robes stood rank-and-file. The Cardinals consciously divided into two rows and waited respectfully outside the hall, their eyes burning with a fanaticism reserved for their Pontiff. The two guard Douluo, however, followed Qian Xunji inside, their presence adding another layer of tension to the room.
[Ding, detected opposing character Qian Xunji. Do you wish to bind?]
'Bind,' Qin Xuan chanted silently in his heart. This was truly a case of someone sending a pillow when one was sleepy. He was here, the source of so much pain, the man who would shatter Bibi Dong's world.
[Ding, binding successful.]
"Your Holiness the Supreme Pontiff."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei, seeing their ultimate superior, immediately dropped to one knee, respectfully saluting him.
"Rise." Qian Xunji slowly nodded, his tone calm but not harsh.
In his eyes, everyone below Titled Douluo was an ant. But Yue Guan and Gui Mei were different; they possessed a powerful Martial Soul Fusion Technique and were both Level 89 Spirit Douluo. They were only a hair's breadth away from the Titled Douluo realm, capable of breaking through at any time. They deserved his attention.
However, when his golden gaze swept over Qin Xuan—standing there, not kneeling—a subtle hint of profound displeasure immediately flashed in his eyes. He saw the boy who had dared to covet his prize.
[Qian Xunji's Resentment +18888]
[Qian Xunji's Resentment +28888]
[Qian Xunji's Resentment +28888]
This guy truly lives up to his reputation as the number one pervert in Douluo, Qin Xuan mused, feeling the surge of points. He hasn't even said a word, and he's already contributed over 70,000 emotional points.
At the same time, Qin Xuan felt the oppressive aura. He couldn't help but wonder, Do I really have to kneel to this hypocrite?
Just as he was conflicted, Qian Daoliu's calm voice sounded from the front of the hall. "Xuan'er, you are the disciple of Qian Jun and Jiangmo. By status, you are of the same generation as Ji'er. You don't need to kneel in the future. In private, you can address each other as brothers."
Upon hearing this, the six High Priests, and even Yue Guan and Gui Mei, were all stunned.
But then they remembered the impossible Martial Soul Fusion Technique from just moments ago and the display of pure swordsmanship that had defeated Yue Guan. They quickly understood.
Not only was Qin Xuan inherently gifted, but he could also defeat a Level 89 Spirit Douluo in a one-sided battle without either side using Spirit Abilities.
Even more remarkably, he could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Technique with the Seventh High Priest, Jiangmo Douluo, despite being only a Spirit King.
He was worthy of this privilege.
In contrast, Qian Xunji and his two personal guard Douluo looked as if they had eaten dirt. Their faces paled with suppressed rage.
They knew the High Priest had high hopes for Qin Xuan, but they never expected this level of importance. To allow Qin Xuan to address the Supreme Pontiff—the ruler of Spirit Hall—as a brother?
What right did he have? Was it just because of his 5 spirit rings? Or because he was the disciple of Qian Jun and Jiangmo?
This old man has some tricks up his sleeve. He really knows how to handle things, Qin Xuan thought. He was also surprised, but he was an actor now. He put on his 'simp' hat again, feigning humility and acting completely overwhelmed.
"High Priest! How can Qin Xuan be worthy?" he said, his voice laced with panic. "To address His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff as a brother... It truly humbles this junior too much. Please, High Priest, retract your command!"
Hmph! At least you have some self-awareness, Qian Xunji snorted coldly in his heart. He saw his opening and quickly tried to change the subject, addressing his father. "Father, your son is here to congratulate you. Just now, I felt the energy fluctuation from outside—"
Before Qian Xunji could finish speaking, Qian Daoliu spoke again, his voice dropping an octave. "Do you two think I was joking?"
He squinted his eyes, his serene gaze scanning both of them, but settling squarely on Qian Xunji.
Qian Daoliu had already witnessed Qin Xuan's strength and talent. He had seen the future. He had even planned to have Qin Xuan succeed his own position as High Priest, after he had cultivated a new generation of Angel God for the Qian family.
Yet, his own son, for the sake of a woman, had lowered himself to target this peerless genius of Spirit Hall. It was shortsighted and foolish.
"Your son would not dare," Qian Xunji said stiffly, his jaw tight.
"Qin Xuan would not dare," Qin Xuan echoed, bowing his head.
"That's good." Qian Daoliu looked at Qin Xuan. "Xuan'er, why don't you call him 'Eldest Brother'?"
"Eldest Brother." Qin Xuan nodded, turning to Qian Xunji and cupping his fists with perfect, humble respect.
"Second Brother." Qian Xunji, pressured by his father's undeniable will, had no choice. He suppressed the inferno of rage in his heart, forced a smile onto his handsome face, and stepped forward to "support" Qin Xuan, placing a hand on his arm.
"Eldest Brother!" Qin Xuan said again, looking up with "gratitude."
"Second Brother!" Qian Xunji replied, his smile fixed.
"Eldest Brother!"
"Second Brother!"
"Haha."
"Hahaha!"
The two called out to each other, one after another, then laughed heartily at the same time, looking for all the world like a pair of genuinely happy, reconciled brothers.
In reality, they were both cursing internally, each with their own ulterior motives, wishing to eliminate the other as quickly as possible.
The difference was that while Qin Xuan knew he wanted to kill Qian Xunji and knew Qian Xunji wanted to kill him, Qian Xunji did not yet know he was on Qin Xuan's kill list.
Seeing this "harmonious" scene, the seven High Priests nodded with relief.
Now that the two have become brothers, Ji'er should no longer do anything foolish, right? Qian Daoliu comforted himself in his heart. He then said to Qian Xunji, "Ji'er, since you have acknowledged Xuan'er as your brother, you should also show some gesture of goodwill."
He stroked his beard. "Coincidentally, Xuan'er is going to Slaughter City for training. How about you give him the Mind Condensing Wisdom Skull you obtained from killing that 50,000-year Spirit Beast a while ago?"
Qian Daoliu's imagination was beautiful, but reality was often cruel.
The moment Qin Xuan entered the Supreme Pontiff Palace and sought to marry Bibi Dong, he was already on Qian Xunji's kill list.
And Qin Xuan was the same; from the moment he recovered his past life memories, he knew this pervert would never let him go. The two were destined to be irreconcilable.
"It is all up to Father."
To everyone's shock, Qian Xunji agreed without the slightest hesitation.
His generosity was so sudden and absolute that it made the two personal guard Douluo behind him look as if they had seen a ghost.
Was this still their Supreme Pontiff? The man who was inwardly depraved and lusted after his own disciple's body?
A precious 50,000- to 60,000-year-old Mind Condensing Wisdom Skull... given away, just like that? And given to Qin Xuan, the very man who dared to covet the Holy Maiden?
They were not worms in Qian Xunji's stomach, so how could they anticipate his true thoughts?
In his opinion, the Mind Condensing Wisdom Skull was indeed precious. It was enough to make him feel a sharp pang of pain.
But no matter how much it pained him, he had no use for it; he already had the superior Angel Set Head Spirit Bone.
As for his disciple Bibi Dong, she had already received a Mind Condensing Wisdom Skull on the day she was conferred as the Holy Maiden, one whose quality was even better.
Instead of letting this one gather dust in the warehouse... it would be better to "generously" give it to Qin Xuan and send him off to Slaughter City.
This way, he could eliminate a love rival who had the audacity to covet his prize, and also gain favor in front of his father and the other Priests. Gritting his teeth, it seemed acceptable.
It's just a pity, Qian Xunji thought, his smile never wavering, for that excellent Mind Condensing Wisdom Skull. After Qin Xuan dies in that hellhole, I wonder if I can get it back...
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