Chapter 8: Qian Daoliu's Test
Lin Beiya's faint smile never faded.
By now, he had completely grasped the wonder of his Martial Soul. His first soul skill — the Aries Gold Cloth — didn't just enhance his attributes in every aspect; it also contained the inherited knowledge of the Golden Secret Techniques, waiting to be unlocked and mastered.
But in Elder Yu Lin's eyes, the skill he'd just witnessed was merely the Crystal Wall.
Lin Beiya didn't bother to explain further. Revealing too many secrets about his Martial Soul all at once was never a wise move.
"That's right," he nodded calmly. "But as of now, I can only reflect attacks at or below the Soul Grandmaster level. Anything beyond that risks shattering the Crystal Wall."
Yu Lin nodded in approval, not showing the slightest hint of dismissal. After all, this was only the boy's first soul skill — and to think it came from such a harmless creature as the Star-Devouring Sheep… who could predict how terrifying Lin Beiya might become in the future?
Besides, with Qian Daoliu backing him, Lin Beiya's path would surely be smooth. He even made a mental note to remind his own disciple to stay on good terms with this child.
"Not bad at all," Yu Lin said. "With this skill, you're practically unbeatable among peers of the same rank."
Lin Beiya smiled modestly. "I still have Elder Yu Lin to thank for helping me find the right soul beast."
The boy's humility earned him another few points in Yu Lin's heart.
"Mm. Let's return," Yu Lin said approvingly. "Remember this — talent is only the door to strength. True power comes from how hard you work to walk through it."
After resting for a night at the hunting town outside the forest, the two embarked on the return journey.
Inside the carriage, Lin Beiya didn't idle away. After absorbing his first soul ring, his soul power had risen to rank twelve. But with someone like Qian Renxue, who was born a cheat in every sense, ahead of him, Lin Beiya had no intention of slacking off. He closed his eyes and resumed his cultivation.
Half an hour later, a thought struck him. He summoned the Aries Gold Cloth once more, letting the armor attach to him before continuing his meditation.
And then — he discovered something new.
His cultivation speed had increased by nearly ten percent while wearing the Gold Cloth!
At first glance, a ten-percent boost didn't seem much. But accumulated over time, it would grow into something astonishing.
Qian Renxue might have started ahead as a born-level-twenty prodigy, and her cultivation speed might already surpass his — but with this golden armor's blessing, Lin Beiya now had full confidence that he could catch up... and even surpass her.
Several days later, their carriage rolled smoothly into Spirit City. After expressing his gratitude to Yu Lin once more, Lin Beiya used Qian Daoliu's token to enter the Douluo Hall directly.
He hadn't walked far toward his residence when he noticed an old figure standing near the garden.
It was Qian Daoliu himself.
The old man turned, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"You're back? How was the soul ring compatibility?"
"Extremely good," Lin Beiya replied respectfully. "I obtained a rather powerful soul skill."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, intrigued by the boy's confidence. Compared to the fleeting acquaintance that Yu Lin was, Lin Beiya didn't plan to hide much from this man. After all, before his own strength fully developed, Qian Daoliu was both his greatest protector and the one who controlled his access to resources.
And in this world — only those who proved their value could earn true investment.
"Oh?" Qian Daoliu's interest deepened, his eyes twinkling. "Care to show me?"
"Of course."
Without hesitation, Lin Beiya raised his hand.
The next instant, a towering golden pillar of light surged skyward.
Qian Daoliu's eyes widened — even as one of the strongest beings on the continent, he couldn't help feeling a faint tremor in his heart. From that golden radiance, he sensed something unmistakably divine… an aura similar to the Angel God's itself.
Standing before him, Lin Beiya was now clad in resplendent golden armor, every plate shining with sacred brilliance.
Qian Daoliu's thoughts swirled. Whether or not this boy's Martial Soul truly connects to the Angel God… he must be cultivated with full support.
With Spirit Hall's vast foundation, investing in one more prodigy was hardly an issue.
Now, what remained was to test his potential — to see just how brightly this child could shine.
"Golden armor, hm?" Qian Daoliu mused, his eyes gleaming. "And what's its connection to that stone statue Martial Soul of yours?"
Lin Beiya froze for a moment. He couldn't possibly explain the entire origin of the Gold Cloth — that it came from another world's mythos of the Twelve Zodiac Saints.
After thinking it over, he decided to answer vaguely and keep things ambiguous...
"I'm not entirely sure what that stone statue's purpose is, Grand Worship," Lin Beiya replied respectfully. "But after absorbing my soul ring, I found that I could summon and wield this Gold Saint Cloth at will."
He paused, then added earnestly, "Moreover, this Gold Saint Cloth comes with its own set of battle techniques."
Qian Daoliu's brows lifted slightly, a flicker of intrigue surfacing in his deep eyes.
"Oh? Show me one of those techniques," he said, voice calm yet filled with commanding authority.
"Yes, Grand Worship!" Lin Beiya nodded quickly, then hesitated for a moment. "But… my technique—one of them—is a defensive ability, so…"
Qian Daoliu chuckled softly, immediately understanding his concern.
"I see. Then how strong should my attack be?"
"About the level of a Soul Grandmaster," Lin Beiya said after a brief thought. "Or anything below the Soul Elder level should suffice."
That single line made Qian Daoliu's eyes narrow in astonishment. A Soul Master daring to take on an attack from a Soul Elder-level opponent? Even the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul didn't possess such overwhelming defense at that stage.
But the old man didn't question Lin Beiya's words. The boy had no reason to lie — it would only make him look foolish.
"Very well," Qian Daoliu said mildly. "Be careful."
He raised his left hand slightly, a ripple of divine light gathering in his palm before it shot forth like a beam of holy energy toward Lin Beiya.
In response, Lin Beiya's voice rang out as he activated his technique— "Crystal Wall!"
A transparent, shimmering barrier emerged before him, rippling like water. The radiant beam struck it—and vanished.
Just like before, the Crystal Wall absorbed the full force of the attack before trembling once, then unleashed the stored energy back—this time, doubled in strength.
A dazzling golden wave surged toward Qian Daoliu.
The Grand Worship's eyes gleamed with surprise. With a casual flick of his hand, he crushed the returning energy into sparkling motes of light, silently confirming what he had sensed.
Twice the power of his own attack.
"What an impressive defense," he murmured with admiration. "It can even reflect attacks with doubled force?"
"Yes," Lin Beiya confirmed earnestly. "And the strength of the barrier will continue to grow as my cultivation increases."
Qian Daoliu's expression deepened.
A Soul Master capable of resisting a Soul Elder's full-strength attack… what would happen once he reached the rank of Titled Douluo? Wouldn't such a defense verge on invincibility?
Lin Beiya noticed the shift in the old man's gaze. He quickly added in a humble tone, "Of course, that's mainly because early-stage soul skills are generally weaker. Whether my Crystal Wall can block all forms of attacks later on… that remains to be seen."
Hearing that, Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, reassured. He too didn't believe in the concept of absolute defense.
"Do you have an offensive technique as well?" he asked. "Let's see that too."
"Understood!"
Lin Beiya's eyes brightened. Being able to demonstrate his new powers in front of the Grand Worship was a rare opportunity.
He spread his hands apart at his waist, golden soul power rapidly condensing between his palms. The light grew brighter and brighter until it reached its peak— Then he thrust his hands forward and shouted:
"Starlight Annihilation!"
In Qian Daoliu's eyes, several faint star projections appeared behind Lin Beiya, merging into the image of a majestic golden ram. The stars then converged, forming twin beams of radiant light that shot straight toward him.
Of course, that level of attack was far from enough to harm Qian Daoliu, one of the continent's pinnacle powerhouses. But what truly caught his attention was the potential behind that display.
This child… was no ordinary prodigy.
Qian Daoliu's eyes softened slightly, and a rare trace of satisfaction flickered across his aged face. He was already considering grooming Lin Beiya to stand beside his granddaughter in the future— as her most reliable right hand.
—
End of Chapter