At this moment, Qian Xunji, who had left the Papal Hall early, was making his way toward the Elder Hall.
The highest authority within Spirit Hall did not lie with the Papal Hall, but rather the Elder Hall. Situated at the very peak of Spirit Hall's sacred mountain, the Elder Hall was smaller in comparison to the Papal Hall.
The Elder Hall lacked any extravagant decorations. Its entire structure was built from simple, ancient stone. Yet, upon closer inspection, one would notice a faint golden glow emanating from these weathered rocks. Touching them would reveal a peculiar energy flowing beneath one's fingertips.
At the center of the Elder Hall stood a towering statue—a ten-meter-tall, radiant golden figure of a Six-Winged Angel. Its three pairs of wings spread majestically behind it, while it held aloft a massive golden sword pointing toward the heavens.
What was most peculiar was the faint golden flame swirling around the golden sword in the statue's grasp.
A similar statue existed atop the dome of the Papal Hall, but compared to this one, it lacked the same brilliance and soul-like texture. The statue before him now was far more lifelike.
At this moment, Qian Xunji stood quietly before the Six-Winged Angel statue, the Papal Scepter in hand. His Martial Soul was the Six-Winged Angel. Like Tang San's Clear Sky Sect, his lineage possessed its own inherited Martial Soul. Their bonds were not maintained by blood, but by their Martial Souls.
Two years ago, right here, he had watched as his daughter knelt before this very statue. The golden flames released from the sword in the statue's hands descended from above, enveloping Qian Renxue's body completely.
As the Golden Flame swirled, Qian Renxue's body was gently lifted by the radiant light until, finally, nine golden screens of light appeared—the long-awaited Nine Trials.
Nine screens of light. Even Qian Xunji knew what they signified. They meant his daughter had been acknowledged by the divine, deemed worthy of inheriting a god's throne.
And yet, he—Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall, standing above countless others—had not received the light of the Nine Trials.
Decades ago, he too had been bathed in the Angel God's radiance. But like his father, Qian Daoliu, he had only been granted eight screens of light. It meant that, at most, he could only follow in his father's footsteps—becoming a high priest, devoting everything, even his life, to the true Angel God.
Qian Xunji's gaze remained calm as he stared at the Six-Winged Angel statue for a long time. His tone was steady as he murmured to himself, "Back then, I resented you for being blind, for not granting me the Nine Trials. I resented my mother—her weak Martial Soul left me inherently deficient, unable to qualify for the Nine Trials. I resented my father—why wasn't he the Angel God, so I could inherit his divine throne?"
"But now, none of that matters anymore. As long as my daughter becomes the Angel God, everything else is insignificant. I, Qian Xunji, will also ascend to godhood!" His eyes burned with a wild ambition and cruelty, though he quickly suppressed it. Until his goal was truly achieved, he would not reveal his intentions.
Qian Xunji straightened his clothes and instantly took on the demeanor of a doting father. With a flick of his hand, he stored the Pope's robes, scepter, crown, and other items into his Soul Guidance Device, then retrieved a small cake and a bouquet of beautiful flowers before slowly making his way toward the deepest part of the Elder Hall.
Creak— As Qian Xunji reached the core of the Elder Hall, an immensely heavy bronze door slowly swung open. The moment those massive doors parted, it was as if a gateway to another world had been unveiled.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qian Xunji stepped inside as soon as the door opened. The moment he entered, a sharp click echoed, and the bronze door tightly sealed shut once more.
Beyond the bronze door lay an expanse of boundless radiance, making it impossible to discern the world before him. It resembled paradise—endless golden light stretched as far as the eye could see, with no discernible end. Standing in such a world, one could hardly tell whether it was reality or illusion.
Yet Qian Xunji paid it no mind. Soon, he arrived at the center of this heavenly realm, where a golden lotus bloomed before him. At the heart of its petals knelt a figure with her back turned to him, obscuring her face from view.
Even so, her silhouette unmistakably belonged to a young woman. However, her entire form was enveloped in golden light, making it impossible to discern the curves of her figure.
Upon seeing this seated figure with her back to him, Qian Xunji waved gently from afar and called out softly, "Xue'er."
At the sound of his voice, the golden light gradually receded. Recognizing the visitor, the figure shrouded in radiance summoned her Martial Soul and instantly flew to Qian Xunji's side.
The young woman appeared to be around eighteen, with near-perfect bone structure. Her facial features were as if carved from ice and snow—her jawline sharp yet softened by elegance. When still, she resembled a jade statue from a divine temple, and when she slightly lifted her chin, a hint of haughtiness surfaced. Even with eyes as cold as frost, she remained breathtakingly beautiful, especially with her cascading golden waves of hair that carried an aura of sacred beauty.
Qian Renxue—the current Saintess of Spirit Hall and daughter of Pope Qian Xunji.
"Father, what brings you here?" Even someone as aloof as Qian Renxue couldn't help but reveal a trace of girlish charm upon seeing her father.
Qian Xunji smiled warmly. "Heh, I saw some lovely flowers and thought to bring them to you. And this little cake—I heard it's the most famous in Spirit City. Give it a try."
Though Qian Renxue was already twenty, she was still a young woman at heart—naturally unable to resist flowers and sweets.
Just then, an aged figure appeared beside Qian Renxue. Despite being over a hundred years old, he maintained the appearance of a middle-aged man. Three golden marks at the corners of his eyes subtly corresponded to the three trials of the Angel God's test, and his hair—like molten gold—flowed down to his waist, strands shimmering with a liquid-like radiance.
This newcomer was none other than the strongest figure in Spirit Hall—the ninety-ninth-ranked Ultimate Douluo, Qian Daoliu.
The similarity in hair color made it evident that this elder was family to both Qian Xunji and Qian Renxue.
Qian Daoliu's voice carried natural authority as he spoke sternly, "Xue'er, have you completed the second trial? How can you afford to slack off?"
"I understand, Grandfather," Qian Renxue replied, her jade-like hand freezing mid-air as she had been about to open the cake.
She began the Angel Nine Trials at the age of eighteen two years ago. Qian Daoliu was not only her grandfather but also the examiner, always by her side.
Before Qian Renxue could finish speaking, Qian Xun Ji stepped forward like an eagle protecting its young and said, "Father, although Xiao Xue bears the responsibility of the Nine Trials, she is still just a child. Her youth shouldn't be solely about cultivation."
Qian Xun Ji spoke with righteous conviction, standing on moral high ground. His words left even Qian Daoliu speechless.
"Xiao Xue, if cultivation feels too exhausting, you can go have fun in Spirit City or visit Spirit Academy. In a few years, I hope you can participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."