NOVEL NEXT Chapter 90: Chapter 90
**Chapter 90: Are You Willing to Join the Spirit Hall?**
Inside the Pope's Hall, Qian Xunji sat on the grand Pope's throne.
Bibi Dong, Ju Douluo, and Ghost Douluo had been ordered by Qian Xunji to leave the hall and shut the doors behind them.
Zhao Ling stood less than ten meters away from Qian Xunji. The two locked eyes, neither speaking for a long time.
Ignoring Qian Xunji's inquiring gaze, Zhao Ling summoned the diary system and began to complain inwardly:
[Wow, Qian Xunji is truly handsome. He must be around 50 years old now, right? Yet he looks like he's only in his twenties or thirties.]
[No wonder Qian Renxue is so beautiful in the original novel. She inherited Dong'er's beauty, yes, but also Qian Xunji's exceptional looks.]
[If Qian Xunji were on Blue Star, he'd have no problem being a top-tier male celebrity.]
[Still, it's odd. Qian Xunji is stunning, while Yu Xiaogang is just... average-looking.]
[Why did Dong'er fall for Yu Xiaogang in the original novel instead of someone like Qian Xunji, who's much more attractive?]
[Then again, Dong'er might have never considered crossing the line between master and apprentice... Although, when I think about it, it's not hard to understand.]
[In modern Blue Star society, teacher-student relationships aren't that unusual. But in ancient times, such connections were often seen as scandalous.]
[With that perspective, it's not surprising...]
Before Zhao Ling could upload his diary entry, Qian Xunji released his six-winged angel martial soul. Two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings ascended, forming a total of nine glowing rings.
As a Titled Douluo, Qian Xunji's overwhelming aura surged, pressing down toward Zhao Ling. Yet, Zhao Ling smiled in disdain.
He could tell that Qian Xunji's soul power was only at level 92, and it had likely not been long since he had reached the rank of Titled Douluo.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ling's soul power had already risen to level 93. Watching Qian Xunji attempt to pressure him with his aura was laughable.
Moreover, Qian Xunji's combat prowess was clearly lacking. Despite possessing the six-winged angel martial soul—one of the top-tier martial soul on the Douluo Continent—his battle record was abysmal.
In the original novel, Tang Hao, who had just received Ah Yin's sacrifice and barely advanced to Titled Douluo, had fought multiple Titled Douluos from the Spirit Hall at once. Among them, he severely injured the level-95 Qian Xunji.
And now, this same Qian Xunji was trying to test *him*? Zhao Ling almost felt sorry for him.
Suppressing the urge to summon his Netherworld Demon Suppression Tower and smash it over Qian Xunji's head, Zhao Ling maintained a gentle smile.
"Why, does His Holiness the Pope wish to test my strength?" Zhao Ling asked calmly.
Qian Xunji raised his eyes, staring intently at Zhao Ling.
"Naturally," Qian Xunji said, his tone measured. "Dong'er has regarded me as her teacher ever since I recognized her as my daughter. Now, she claims she has a man she admires. It's only fitting that I see whether the man she likes is worthy."
"Ah, I see. Then I'll gladly oblige."
Zhao Ling's tone remained polite, his gentle smile warm as a spring breeze.
But in the next moment, he unleashed his martial soul: the Netherworld Demon Suppression Tower. Behind him, a colossal black tower materialized, ancient and ominous, exuding an aura that seemed to suppress countless demons.
As the tower appeared, Qian Xunji's heart quaked under its oppressive presence.
At the same time, two purple, four black, and three red soul rings floated up around Zhao Ling, their brilliance illuminating the hall. The pressure of a Titled Douluo emanated from Zhao Ling, instantly overpowering Qian Xunji's aura and leaving him struggling to breathe.
Qian Xunji's pupils contracted involuntarily. In his heart, he had already labeled Zhao Ling as a monster.
What kind of joke was this? The lowest-level soul rings on Zhao Ling were over a thousand years old, and he even had *three* hundred-thousand-year soul rings!
Even his father, who had partially inherited the Angel God's legacy, only possessed eight black rings and one red ring. That was due to the divine rewards from the inheritance, yet Zhao Ling's soul rings surpassed even that.
Initially, Qian Xunji had been skeptical of Bibi Dong's claims about Zhao Ling's power. But now, seeing the staggering soul ring configuration with his own eyes, all doubt vanished.
Meanwhile, in the nearby Worship Hall and Douluo Hall, the elders and worshippers couldn't help but notice the sudden burst of two Titled Douluo auras from the direction of the Pope's Hall.
One was unmistakably Qian Xunji's.
The other, however, was foreign, fiercely domineering, and incredibly profound. This presence not only overwhelmed Qian Xunji's aura but even rivaled that of the great priest, Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu exchanged a bewildered glance with Golden Crocodile Douluo. Without hesitation, they moved to investigate. But before they could step out of the Worship Hall, the domineering aura abruptly vanished.
"What's going on?" Qian Daoliu muttered as he and Golden Crocodile Douluo hurried toward the Pope's Hall.
Back inside, Qian Xunji finally composed himself, though his shock was evident. Breaking into a hearty laugh, he addressed Zhao Ling:
"Impressive, truly impressive. Your talent is even more astonishing than Dong'er described. Tell me, are you willing to join the Spirit Hall? If you agree, I will appoint you as the next Pope."
Initially, Qian Xunji's plan had been to support Zhao Ling and Bibi Dong's engagement. If Zhao Ling's talent was as remarkable as Bibi Dong claimed, he would ensure their union, thereby securing Zhao Ling's allegiance to the Spirit Hall.
But now, witnessing Zhao Ling's terrifying potential, Qian Xunji was willing to bypass Bibi Dong entirely. Why pass the Pope's position to her when Zhao Ling was clearly the better choice?
Hearing Qian Xunji's proposal, Zhao Ling's lips twitched. He quickly shook his head.
"No, no, no. I prefer a carefree life. Becoming the Pope doesn't interest me at all. You should pass the title to Dong'er. After all, once Dong'er and I are married, what difference does it make if she's the Pope instead of me?"
Zhao Ling's tone was lighthearted, but his words carried a hint of truth. He had no intention of staying in the Spirit Hall forever.
The Douluo Continent was vast and filled with countless beautiful women. The idea of being confined to Spirit City bored him.
Zhao Ling had a dream: to give all the beautiful women of Douluo a warm and loving home. How could he let himself be trapped here?
PS: Read +20 advance chapters on my Patreon: [patreon.com/Thebeginning331]
*(End of Chapter)*