After a moment of deep thought, Chen Yi calmed his heart and let his consciousness return to the outside world. He felt an unprecedented surge of power swelling within his body, his blood and qi coursing through his meridians like dragons, bestowing him with a strength that could cleave mountains and part seas.
Chen Yi glanced at the tightly shut stone door of the secret chamber, but he did not intend to leave just yet. He took a deep breath and once again sat cross-legged.
"My internal energy and blood are at their absolute peak, in perfect condition. It's time—time to condense the first soul core."
The soul core was the foundation for a soul master to rise to even greater heights—a key for a qualitative transformation in strength. Most soul masters, upon reaching the Titled Douluo level, would use the spiritual power of heaven and earth together with their own soul power to condense their first soul core.
However, Chen Yi possessed a golden body and a peerless vitality, far surpassing any soul master of the same tier. By using this vitality as the basis for condensing his first soul core, he would surely maximize his physical advantage and lay the strongest foundation for the future.
With this decision, he hesitated no longer. Closing his eyes, he focused, mustering all the enormous power of blood and qi within him. The torrent of energy, once spread throughout his limbs and organs, now slowly converged under his control, gathering at his lower dantian.
All at once, the secret chamber fell silent once again. Only Chen Yi's slow, steady breathing and the deep thrumming of blood surging through his body were audible...
…
Spirit City, Worship Hall.
Dimly illuminated, the imposing statue of an angel exuded an eternal, sacred radiance inside the temple. Qian Daoliu sat upright on a cushion before the statue, his face calm and expressionless, as unmoved as the godly figure above.
As Zhang Tao read aloud the report about the mysterious power of Vast Sea City, Qian Daoliu's gaze slowly moved from line to line. Deep within his eyes, ice-cold murderous intent began to rise, so tangible that it seemed to materialize from the depths of hell—filling his very aura with a terrifying chill.
The letter was short, but its contents were shocking. Each cold, chiseled word seemed to pierce through Qian Daoliu's long-sealed memories and scars.
When his eyes reached the last line, Qian Daoliu closed them slowly, his chest heaving with suppressed fury and cold killing intent, barely noticeable in its intensity.
Opening his eyes once more, he had returned to his ever-calm and authoritative demeanor. He looked down at Zhu Changyou and smiled.
"Thank you, young friend, for delivering this message from afar. Please also convey my gratitude to the Grand Elder."
Zhu Changyou immediately bowed deeply, speaking with humility.
"Senior, I am unworthy of your praise. I merely followed orders and have no intent to claim credit for myself. Since our sect and the Spirit Hall are allies, sharing resources is only our rightful duty."
He knew well that this kindly old man before him was a being on par with the sect leader or even the Grand Elder.
Zhu Changyou then remembered the Grand Elder's instructions before departing and hesitated, then spoke with a serious tone.
"There's one more thing the Grand Elder wishes me to say, and I must deliver his words to you."
"Oh? Speak," Qian Daoliu said, with a gentle gaze.
Taking a deep breath, Zhu Changyou declared:
"The Grand Elder said that if you are still unable to make up your mind this time, still unwilling to break old ties, then our sect will handle all remaining matters ourselves."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the very air in the great hall seemed to freeze.
Qian Daoliu's gentle smile froze for an instant, then melted away. He addressed Zhu Changyou, but it felt as if his words were also meant for Zhu Shanhua in distant Yuntian Mountain:
"Return and tell the Grand Elder: This time, I will make no mistakes."
After that, Qian Daoliu spoke softly with Zhu Changyou, inquiring about the current status of the sect and whether Chen Yi's seclusion was progressing smoothly. Zhu Changyou answered the questions dutifully.
At last, Qian Daoliu looked at Fifteen Ton Douluo, who was standing beside him exuding a powerful aura, and gave an order:
"Qian Jun, see our friend out."
"Yes, Elder," Fifteen Ton Douluo replied, signaling Zhu Changyou to move along.
"Please, Young Zhu."
Zhu Changyou bowed in farewell, following Fifteen Ton Douluo out of the solemn hall. When their footsteps faded at the end of the corridor outside, the gentle mask on Qian Daoliu's face suddenly cracked!
He suddenly turned, facing the statue of the angel. The usually compassionate, majestic golden eyes now shone with a cold light. Ruthless killing intent and an icy aura burst forth from him!
The temperature in the Worship Hall plummeted. The other five worshippers, standing in the shadows, trembled involuntarily, their skin rising in goosebumps.
They all knew: This time, their elder brother was truly enraged—burning with unprecedented murderous intent.
"Big brother!"
Glowing Feather Douluo, with his eccentric temperament, broke the tense silence, stepping forward, his eyes flashing a sharp light.
"Now that Sea God of Sea God Island has descended to the mainland, considering her connections with Tang Chen, it's likely she'll approach the Clear Sky Sect for aid. Should we prepare arrangements in advance... for her...?"
Glowing Feather Douluo left the last words unsaid, but the killing intent in his eyes spoke volumes.
Nearby, Golden Crocodile Douluo and the others, their spirits restored, looked battle-ready. Bo Saixi's title as "The Invincible of the Sea" was rightfully hers in the ocean, but this, after all, was their homeland—the Douluo Continent, which they pioneered for generations!
With the combined power of the seven worshippers and the experts from their allied sect, their chances of encircling and annihilating Bo Saixi, now far from the sea, were extremely high. They might even wipe her out without taking any damage.
But Qian Daoliu did not answer immediately. He turned slowly, his gaze drifting past everyone present to lock onto the divine sword held by the eternally radiant golden angel statue.
There was a complex mix of reminiscence, pain, and long-buried hatred—accumulated over decades, even centuries—in his eyes.
Once, that evil villain, driven by personal greed, had attempted to conquer Sea God Island, annihilating countless elite members of the Spirit Hall. That blood debt had yet to be repaid!
Qian Daoliu's voice was low, each word squeezed out between his teeth like a blade, laced with deep hatred and an almost cruel calm:
"Today, I fulfill my father's last wish—and seek justice for the heroic souls of the Angel Legion who died unjustly on the overseas island!"
He spun around, lightning in his eyes as he swept over his six brothers.
Order issued: The entire Angel Legion is to enter the first stage of combat readiness. All elite units currently in training or on missions outside the region are to be recalled. All branches are to heighten vigilance and prepare to respond at a moment's notice.
His gaze finally landed on Golden Crocodile Douluo.
"Golden Crocodile, use every covert route you have, and personally oversee intelligence gathering. Always keep track of Bo Saixi's location! As soon as her whereabouts and movements are confirmed..."
A cold, grim smile appeared at the corner of Qian Daoliu's mouth.
"I will... offer her head as a flag to my Angel Legion!"
"Yes, understood!!" the five followers chorused, their voices low and brimming with fiercely contained excitement and murderous intent.
Without further questions, they swiftly turned and shot out of the Hall like arrows, dispersing to deliver orders and mobilize forces.
The war machine of Spirit Hall, dormant for so many years, was about to release its terrifying roar once again.
Now, within the empty hall, only Qian Daoliu remained before the towering statue. All traces of gentleness had vanished from his face, replaced by a brutal chill. He let out a low, chilling laugh that echoed through the deserted hall.
"Heh... Bo Saixi... Bo Saixi..."
"As the first sacrifice to the anger of my Angel bloodline, which has smoldered for thousands of years, I'll take your life!"
In this moment, Qian Daoliu had lost all signs of his former upright, composed self. Instead, there was an almost obsessive iciness and cruelty emanating from him.
Since learning from Chen Yi that the Angel God's fall likely stemmed from Sea God's machinations or even direct intervention, his impressions of the Sea God's entire lineage were saturated with murderous hate. Any former respect for Bo Saixi had utterly vanished, replaced by the most intense anger before the blood feud among gods.
Now, all he wished was to take Bo Saixi's proud head and offer it before the Angel's statue as the first act of vengeance!
"Bo Saixi... your head is mine."
"The Sea God Poseidon is..." A mad glimmer of resolve flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes.
"Let Xue'er take the lead, as the first step to rise to godhood and restore the glory of the angels!"
At this instant, memories flashed of his defeat at Bo Saixi's hands at sea and being slightly inferior to Tang Chen in their duel on land.
As the saying goes: "There are a thousand paths in Douluo, each continuing endlessly."
Qian Daoliu knew all this, yet seemed to never care, always keeping that image of detachment from worldly affairs.
"It's been too long... This world has been too peaceful for too long."
He caressed the mottled ancient markings on the base of the statue, his voice like a whisper from ages past.
"The world has long forgotten the talent and awe my Angel bloodline demonstrated in the age of hunting down the most powerful and wicked fallen ones and heretics!"
"Millennia of peace have made this continent forget far too much."
A cold, chilling smile appeared on Qian Daoliu's lips.
"They only remember the astonishing secret art of the Body Sect's second awakening, forgetting that my Angel bloodline possesses a technique no less threatening to the heavens!"
"Moreover, that tradition has never been broken!"
"Invincible in the skies? Invincible on land? Invincible at sea?"
Qian Daoliu's icy smile deepened, golden light burning in his eyes like the sun.
"Just watch."
"This time, I'll make sure everyone sees it—clearly."
"In the sky, on land, at sea..."
"All my Qian Clan... are invincible!"
The golden radiance in his palm suddenly soared heavenward, illuminating the entire dim hall in an instant, flooding the Spirit City with golden rays.
"They are all... invincible!"
His awe-inspiring, godly declaration reverberated long in the sacred light, like a divine oracle.
…