Chapter 179: Qian Xunji Challenges Qian Daoliu
"One month later, in Spirit Hall's Hall of Worship."
"Father, I want to challenge you!"
Qian Xunji brimmed with confidence. He had just finished condensing the yin-yang complementary twin soul cores, formed in both his upper and lower dantians. These soul cores belonged to two of the three properties of his Six-Winged Angel spirit—ultimate holiness and ultimate light.
A soul master needed to be a Title Douluo and then a Limit Douluo to form one each of the yin-yang complementary twin soul cores.
Originally, Qian Xunji's aptitude never could have supported forming those twin soul cores since his 99th rank was obtained through the Angelic God Trials, not his own cultivation. Given his talent—full of cunning schemes—rank 98 would have been his absolute limit; reaching 99 through normal training would have been impossible.
Even if he had reached rank 99, without the Snow Empress providing her experience and serving as a guide, he could never have succeeded in condensing a second soul core at the Ice-Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"You brat. Looking for a beating again?"
Glancing at Qian Xunji, Qian Daoliu recalled how he had lashed him rather hard during the Angel's Seventh Trial, venting all the pent-up frustration over the years. Still, he was following the Angelic God's exacting requirements to temper Qian Xunji. By unleashing his full power to chase him around, he wasn't acting out of personal grudge. Right?
Qian Daoliu felt no concern about Qian Xunji scheming against him once he finished the Angel's Eighth Trial, because Qian Daoliu still possessed the Judgment Sword—the Measurer's Sword. It was a half-divine weapon on par with Bo Saixi's scepter. Even if Qian Xunji also became a Grand Worshipper of the Angelic God, he wouldn't be able to defeat Qian Daoliu while that sword remained in his hands.
"All right, come."
"I never expected that at my age, I'd still have to teach my own son a lesson."
Qian Daoliu assumed a mock sigh, stepping outside the Hall of Worship along with Qian Xunji to a mountain range hundreds of li from Spirit City.
Brilliant golden light sparkled. Twin Six-Winged Angel spirits emerged, both enormous and identical in size and form. Beneath them, Qian Xunji and Qian Daoliu each stood on eight black spirit rings plus one red—nine in total. Qian Xunji grasped the ordinary ten-thousand-year spirit skill Holy Sword, while Qian Daoliu held the Measurer's Sword.
"Come, Jier. Let me see what you've got," Qian Daoliu said. "The last time we fought, the goal of your trial was just to survive an hour. We never really fought properly. This time, I'll let you see the difference between a Grand Worshipper and a Grand Worshipper."
Qian Xunji didn't stand on ceremony. His Holy Sword ignited with raging golden flames, swinging in front of him. Borrowing from Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword technique and replacing sword qi with the Holy Sword's power, he wrote the word "kill" in midair.
Once the "kill" formed, Qian Xunji abruptly slashed. Several arcs of golden sword energy, along with that single "kill" character, rushed at Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu remained calm. In his eyes, Qian Xunji's slipshod imitation of the Seven Kill Sword was nothing special. His own skill in swordsmanship was not something Qian Xunji could match. Indeed, Qian Daoliu's mastery of the sword could rival a rank-97 Seven Kill Sword practitioner.
He had once faced "Dust Sword Monarch" at rank 97. That time, he hardly had to move—merely merging with his spirit and using the vast power of rank 99 to shatter the Monarch's nine "kill" characters, severely injuring him. Afterward, Dust Sword Monarch gained fresh insight into the way of the sword, forcibly breaking through to rank 98. Only then did Qian Daoliu attack in earnest, ultimately defeating him.
Losing that battle, Dust Sword Monarch insisted he had not lost in swordsmanship per se, but rather in overall "realm." He did not believe Qian Daoliu's actual technique was inferior; in fact, it was on par with a rank-97 to rank-98 Seven Kill Sword master.
Against the oncoming "kill" plus multiple sword beams, Qian Daoliu merely made a casual swipe with the Measurer's Sword. Instantly, all sword energy and killing intent splintered into nothingness.
In that exact moment, Qian Xunji flashed behind Qian Daoliu, swinging the Holy Sword with all his might at his father's angelic wings. With a sparkle of sword light and a metallic clang, the Holy Sword collided with the Measurer's Sword. The blade chipped away a notch from the Holy Sword. More crucially, Qian Daoliu had not even turned around—he'd used a reverse stab from behind, and it was still an attack rather than a defense.
Qian Daoliu smiled faintly. "Jier, last time you focused on evading me for an hour. I never had a real fight with you. Now you'll see how even among Grand Worshippers there's a gap in power."
He pivoted sharply. The Measurer's Sword swung out, a flurry of sword images. Each strike further split the Holy Sword. After five hits, the Holy Sword exploded into golden flames and vanished.
The torso soul bone from the Sky Blue Bull Python in Qian Xunji's chest flashed. "Azure Thunder of Annihilation!"
A towering bull's head appeared, roaring as azure thunder erupted from Qian Xunji's body, spreading wildly around him. Qian Daoliu wasn't surprised. Qian Xunji had used this skill to force him back during the Angel's Seventh Trial. At that time, ignorant of its properties, Qian Daoliu did indeed withdraw. But now it was different. He poured power into the Measurer's Sword, bathing it in radiant gold, and unleashed a formidable slash, directly splitting the Azure Thunder of Annihilation. Wherever that golden sword light passed, the very air itself seemed to crackle.
Qian Xunji's pupils shrank once again. He never expected his father to be so formidable. With a flap of his six wings, he took to the sky, dodging the golden sword aura.
Likewise, Qian Daoliu flapped his three pairs of wings, flying after Qian Xunji—exactly as he had done in the Seventh Trial. With both men bearing Six-Winged Angel Spirits at rank 99, none of Qian Xunji's tactical maneuvers had any effect on Qian Daoliu. Meanwhile, Qian Xunji's offense was no match for his father's. All he could do was avoid direct confrontation and try to outlast him.
But Qian Daoliu felt no worry. Qian Xunji was forced into defense while he took the offense. He had infinite opportunities to make mistakes, whereas Qian Xunji could not afford even one slip. Under those circumstances, Qian Xunji would have to expend more spirit power than Qian Daoliu. After all, with the advantage shifting, a drawn-out battle would see Qian Xunji fail in the end.
For three days the struggle continued, leaving the mountain range pitted and scarred. Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji both breathed heavily, Qian Xunji looking somewhat disheveled. Yet on closer inspection, Qian Xunji's breathing was evening out faster than his father's—and a gleam of excitement shone in his eyes.
A soul core does not directly boost combat strength, but with one, its automatic operation speeds energy recovery. Qian Daoliu could only rely on meditation to restore his power, while Qian Xunji's spirit core replenished him continuously. Over the course of these three days, Qian Daoliu finally found he couldn't keep pace, while Qian Xunji stood ready to counterattack.
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