"They're here!"
Watching the golden light in the sky, Chen Xin on the cliff opened his eyes, summoned the Seven Kill Sword, and rode his sword back to the sect.
"Jun Tianlin, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo Chen Xin—you wanted to see this old man, didn't you? Now I'm here. Why haven't you come out to meet me?"
This voice was not only authoritative but also filled with a sense of holiness. Just hearing it made people subconsciously want to kneel in worship. Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, countless disciples even couldn't help but want to kneel.
Qian Daoliu was getting close to making the spread of faith his passive skill.
Ning Fengzhi quickly led all the Sect Guardian Douluos, Lightning Douluo Yu Yuanzhen, and others out of the main hall, respectfully bowing in the direction of the voice. "The Grand Worship of Spirit Hall personally gracing our sect—Ning Fengzhi is deeply honored."
Tianlin also came over with Gu Ran, Ma Hongjun, and others. He spoke directly, "Senior, you just set foot on someone else's turf and immediately try to show your dominance. Isn't that a bit lacking in etiquette?"
As he spoke, he borrowed a bit of Asura God's power from the Asura Sword mark on his forehead. The sect disciples who had been affected by Qian Daoliu's angelic power instantly recovered. They hadn't even realized what had just happened—why did they suddenly feel like kneeling to the enemy?
With a flash of light, three figures were now standing in the center of the square: Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue, and She Long.
For Tianlin to recognize her, Qian Renxue had once again taken on the appearance of Xue Qinghe.
"A divine aura!" Qian Daoliu looked at Tianlin with grave eyes. Having served the Angel God for years, he could never mistake it. Though faint, Tianlin had released a trace of a god's aura.
"Could it be… this child has already started the God Trials?"
Qian Daoliu never doubted that Tianlin could attract a god's favor; he had even greater talent than his granddaughter. If someone like this didn't get to take the God Trials, that would be the real oddity. What surprised him was that Tianlin had started so early.
He knew that each God Trial was extremely difficult. Even for his granddaughter Qian Renxue, he had never dared to let her attempt them too soon, fearing her strength would be insufficient and she'd die in the process.
Tianlin was only a little over level seventy now, which meant he must have started the God Trials as a Soul Emperor—and might have already passed several!
This person cannot be allowed to live, Qian Daoliu decided at that moment. Today, he would not only take away Golden Crocodile and Jiang Mo, but also Tianlin's life. If he waited until Tianlin finished the God Trials, Spirit Hall would have no chance to fight back.
Sensing Qian Daoliu's killing intent, Tianlin just smiled unconcernedly. In his current state, it would be truly odd if Qian Daoliu didn't want to kill him.
He glanced at Qian Renxue. "Can I still call you 'Big Brother Xue' now?"
Qian Renxue shook her head and floated into the air. With a graceful spin, her male form transformed into a stunning woman with golden hair, skin like snow, and phoenix eyes filled with majesty—her temperament somewhat similar to Bibi Dong's.
Her beauty was in no way inferior to the likes of Ning Rongrong or Ye Lingling.
"My real name is Qian Renxue! Xiao Tian, I'm sorry for deceiving you all these years."
"I should be the one apologizing, Xue—no, Xue'er. After all these years, do you think I had no clue?" Tianlin said softly. "I was just using you to get Heaven Dou Empire's resources, like the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud."
"So you knew all along." Qian Renxue wasn't hysterical about being deceived. She was unusually calm, even relieved because now they were even. Since they had both used and lied to each other, no one owed the other.
He had taken the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud from her, but he also gave her the peerless immortal herb Yearning Heartbroken Red. Qian Renxue didn't believe Tianlin truly didn't care about her.
Now, he was only saying this so that if a fight broke out, she wouldn't hold back.
In terms of understanding Tianlin's character, Qian Renxue even surpassed Ning Rongrong.
"Xiao Tian, my grandfather, and I are here today only to retrieve the Second and Seventh Worships. As long as you return them, for the sake of old times, we'll leave at once!" Qian Renxue promised.
Qian Daoliu frowned slightly. His granddaughter was still too softhearted. He had wanted to eliminate all threats today, and her words were giving Tianlin a way out.
If not killed today, there'd be no chance later.
The Snake Lance Douluo could understand Qian Renxue's feelings. During the Soul Hunting operation, she had hardened her heart once and failed; when she heard about it, she was angry but also a bit glad. Girls are always more emotional than men; as a woman now, it would be hard for her to be ruthless again.
"Return them? Xue'er, you're thinking too simply. Your Spirit Hall launched a soul hunt on my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, trying to destroy us. You think our past friendship can make up for such hatred? Besides, this operation was allowed and facilitated by you, wasn't it? At that time, I was on your kill list too!" Tianlin sneered.
"What do you want then?" Snake Land Douluo shouted angrily. "The soul hunt was carried out, but your sect hardly lost anyone. Instead, our Spirit Hall lost over ten thousand—wasn't that enough?"
"Of course not! To me, only the lives of innocents matter and are worthy of respect and protection. Since your Spirit Hall sent people to destroy my sect, from my standpoint, even if it's ten thousand or a million, their deaths are well deserved."
As Tianlin spoke these words, both Qian Renxue and She Long could feel his anger. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as the attacked, was still the victim even in victory.
"You're being obstinate. Ning Fengzhi, are you just going to watch your subordinate go crazy?" Qian Daoliu looked at Ning Fengzhi.
"Subordinate?" Ning Fengzhi stood beside Tianlin and loudly declared, "All disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, listen! Jun Tianlin has rendered great service to our sect and, when strong foes attacked, fought multiple Titled Douluos alone. Today, I appoint him as our Sect's Vice Master, with authority equal to the Sect Master. His will represents the will of the sect. Any objections?"
"No objections!" The whole sect roared like a tidal wave.
The disciples all knew that the hidden weapons, talismans, cultivation techniques, and elixirs they used were all brought by Tianlin. He had brought countless benefits and saved many people during the soul hunt. With the support of the four Guardian Douluos, everyone accepted his promotion wholeheartedly.
Ning Fengzhi smiled. "Senior Qian Daoliu, as you heard, our sect stands as one. This isn't just Tianlin's will, but the will of the entire sect. If you want to take Golden Crocodile and Jiang Mo without paying a price, that's wishful thinking!"
"Hmph, since you refuse the path my granddaughter offered, accept the angel's judgment!" Qian Daoliu snorted, bursting with golden light. The pressure made everyone feel as if they were carrying a mountain, unable to move or even gather soul power.
"Qian Daoliu, if we won't walk the path you offer, what will you do?"
A giant Seven Kill Sword descended from the sky, its sword qi forming a shield. The pressure on everyone instantly eased.
Chen Xin stood in front of everyone, taking all of Qian Daoliu's pressure alone.
Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi stepped up beside Chen Xin. The three of them had always been the sect's guardians.
In the past, they had made the sect famous across the continent; today, they would join forces again to battle one of Douluo Continent's strongest!