[After gasping for a moment, Yu Xiaogang, feeling he had recovered enough, gradually regained his composure.]
[He didn't speak, just stood there quietly.]
["Yu Xiaogang, son of Yu Yuanzhen, the Thunder Douluo of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Your Innate Spirit Power was Rank 1, and your Spirit was initially judged as a malignant mutation."]
["Yet, unexpectedly, you reached Rank 10 early and obtained an unprecedented first spirit ring of thousand years."]
["After that, like a Genius with Full Innate Spirit Power, your Soul Power Rank soared, and the spirit rings you obtained far exceeded the current optimal spirit ring configuration of the Douluo Continent."]
["Some say your Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect has found some secret method. Others say there's something wrong with your Spirit, that perhaps like those fallen Spirit Masters, you relied on some unspeakable means to advance so quickly."]
["So, Yu Xiaogang, what exactly is your situation!"]
[Qian Xunji's voice betrayed no emotion, but it was brimming with authority.]
[As he finished speaking, the scepter in his hand, symbolizing the Supreme Pontiff, thudded heavily against the floor, a dull sound echoing through the room.]
[Hearing Qian Xunji's words, Yu Xiaogang sneered inwardly.]
["Is he trying to get my secrets by pulling this stunt?"]
[First, he used his strength as a Titled Douluo to suppress me, and then, just as I was relaxing after he finally let go, he suddenly applied pressure with words.]
[After this routine, a normal twelve-year-old child would likely end up in a state where they would answer whatever Qian Xunji asked.]
[When the Sect's secrets were leaked, Qian Xunji could easily tell his Sect that their Young Sect Master had taken the initiative to speak.]
[Unfortunately, he wasn't a normal twelve-year-old child.]
["I'm afraid I have nothing to say regarding these matters."]
[Yu Xiaogang raised his "pale" face and spoke.]
["Impudent!"]
[Qian Xunji barked angrily, attempting to apply pressure once more.]
[However, Yu Xiaogang maintained that same "no comment" expression, which annoyed Qian Xunji.]
["Damn it, how on earth did he go from Rank 30 to Rank 42 in just a few months? And that fellow Yu Yuanzhen, how did he suddenly break through to become a Peak Douluo?"]
[Qian Xunji bit his lip, his heart filled with curiosity about the secrets the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect had displayed over the past few years.]
[First, there was the secret medicine that could increase the age of spirit rings, and now there were treasures that allowed the father and son, Yu Xiaogang and Yu Yuanzhen, as well as the Grand Elder of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, to break through to Titled Douluo.]
[According to Yu Yuanzhen, they had obtained several Spirit Bones.]
[But Qian Xunji scoffed at this claim.]
[Spirit Bones can indeed raise a person's Soul Power Rank, but the problem was that the Ranks of all three—Yu Yuanzhen, Yu Xiaogang, and the Grand Elder—had increased.]
[What, did that group from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect somehow manage to acquire those incredibly precious Spirit Bones in batches?]
[And judging by the extent of their progress, didn't they each get several pieces?]
[Only a fool would believe such a thing!]
[Therefore, Qian Xunji was certain that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect held other secrets.]
[To be honest, Qian Xunji had wanted to send people to capture Yu Xiaogang several times to force the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect to hand over their secrets.]
[But the beating Yu Yuanzhen had given him earlier made Qian Xunji realize he couldn't do that.]
[The reason Yu Yuanzhen had shown him his strength was to warn him not to harbor any crooked thoughts.]
[Of course, besides that, it was also because of his father.]
[The commotion of Yu Yuanzhen beating him naturally caught the attention of his father, Qian Daoliu. So, after finishing the beating, Yu Yuanzhen entered the Hall of Worship and had a conversation with his father.]
[Qian Xunji didn't know the specifics of their conversation, but afterward, he was summoned to the Hall of Worship by his father.]
["If you want to know the secrets of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, use legitimate methods to obtain them. You are not allowed to use those underhanded tactics."]
["As long as the other party doesn't take the initiative to offend you, you are not allowed to harm Yu Xiaogang. Otherwise, I won't lift a finger to help you!"]
[Qian Daoliu's words made Qian Xunji clench his fists.]
[Qian Xunji had actually always been somewhat dissatisfied with his father.]
[Despite possessing strength that was invincible on the Douluo Continent, he was willing to shrink back into the small Hall of Worship.]
[Yes, Qian Xunji knew his father was a faithful believer in their Divine Ancestor, and it was normal for him to choose to serve by the Divine Ancestor's side day and night.]
[But why, why was his father unwilling to support him in expanding Spirit Hall, eventually annexing the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire, and bringing the entire Douluo Continent under the control of the Qian family?]
[Once Spirit Hall truly unified the Douluo Continent, wouldn't it be even more convenient for them to spread the faith of their Divine Ancestor?]
[And now, his father was forbidding him from harming Yu Xiaogang, saying that if he wanted their secrets, he should acquire them through legitimate means.]
["Father, don't you think you are too rigid sometimes?"]
[Qian Xunji couldn't help but ask his father.]
["Rigid?"]
["You think my style of acting uprightly, standing tall, and clearly distinguishing right from wrong is being rigid?"]
["No wonder you have never been able to unleash the true power of the Spirit passed down by our Divine Ancestor."]
["How could the light, which symbolizes holiness, justice, and glory, ever be willing to submit to a heart filled with dark schemes and selfish ambition?"]
[Qian Daoliu said with a look of disappointment.]
["To hell with holiness and justice. I am dark, and I am ambitious."]
["I will not only scheme, but I will also use this power to achieve unprecedented accomplishments and push Spirit Hall to an unprecedented Peak!"]
[Qian Xunji stared into his father's eyes and spoke without yielding an inch.]
["...Ji'er, if you continue like this, you will set foot on a path of no return, and you will cast a shadow over Spirit Hall's long-standing reputation."]
[Looking at his son's eyes, tainted with desire and anger, Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment, his attitude finally softening slightly.]
["That's still better than choosing a path like yours, Father, waiting to spend years in the Hall of Worship until my Life reaches its end."]
["Only to leave behind a single note in the records of Spirit Hall after death: 'Former Supreme Pontiff, Qian Xunji'."]
[Qian Xunji said.]
[Born into the Qian family and possessing a certain level of talent, Qian Xunji was unwilling to live a Life like his father's, where the end was visible from the start.]
[He wanted to achieve an accomplishment uniquely his own, just like their Divine Ancestor.]
["...I will not support you, and neither will the other Worshipers."]
[Qian Daoliu said.]
[Without the Hall of Worship, although Spirit Hall remained the number one power on the Douluo Continent, it dropped from its original transcendent status to a level that was strong but limited.]
["Even if I am killed?"]
[Qian Xunji asked, unwilling to give up.]
["If the path you choose deviates from the beliefs of our Divine Ancestor, then yes."]
[Qian Daoliu turned his back to Qian Xunji.]
[There were few people on the Douluo Continent today who could kill Qian Xunji, and Yu Yuanzhen was one of them.]
[Qian Xunji wouldn't provoke the others; the only one he would provoke was Yu Yuanzhen.]
[Thus, Qian Daoliu had invited Yu Yuanzhen into the Hall of Worship to confirm the other's bottom line, and then called Qian Xunji over to draw a red line for him.]
["...Understood. Then just watch, Father."]
[Having received a definitive answer from his father, Qian Xunji felt unwilling, but he understood that his father was serious and would truly do as he said.]
[Having obtained a clear standard, Qian Xunji left the Hall of Worship. Before he departed, Qian Daoliu ultimately couldn't help but give one last warning:]
["Ji'er, don't go too far, or you will regret it!"]
[Qian Xunji's footsteps paused for a moment, then he left without looking back.]
[The doors closed, leaving only Qian Daoliu's figure standing quietly before the statue of the Angel God, silently reciting a prayer.]