The other Worships, hearing that the subject of their recent conversation had arrived, began to murmur among themselves.
The Fourth Worship, Mighty Lion Douluo, looked toward Qian Daoliu and said in a gruff voice.
"What do you say, Big Brother? Should we let this brat cool his heels for a while?"
Yun Ming had been staying with Ya Li for two days, and since she hadn't actively blocked the news, they naturally knew of his arrival. Yet, he had waited two full days before coming to pay his respects; this kid clearly didn't hold them in high regard!
The Fifth Worship, Light Feather Douluo, chimed in as well.
"Fifth Brother is right. We really ought to take this kid down a peg."
The other Worships said nothing more, quietly awaiting Qian Daoliu's decision. They believed that given his affection for Ya Li, it was impossible for him to easily approve of Yun Ming.
Qian Daoliu ignored the suggestions of his two younger brothers and said calmly, his expression placid.
"Send him in!"
The attendant received the order and headed outside the hall to summon Yun Ming and Ya Li.
Upon receiving the summons, Yun Ming and Ya Li stepped into the hall.
As he first entered the grand hall, the first thing Yun Ming saw was a statue standing at the far end. It was a ten-meter-tall, solid gold statue with three pairs of wings spread wide behind its back, holding a massive golden sword pointed straight toward the heavens.
This was the Six-Winged Angel Statue. Although it lacked the spiritual vitality of the statue in Douluo Hall that oversaw the Angel God Trial, it had gained an ethereal quality after being bathed in the faith of generations of Martial Soul Hall elders.
After observing the statue, Yun Ming's attention shifted to the middle-aged man standing centered beneath it.
The man appeared to be in his thirties or forties and was quite handsome. His calm, tranquil aura gave off a very comfortable feeling. He was tall but not overly robust, dressed in a simple gray robe, his long black hair draped behind him, combed very neatly. Even though his attire was so plain, just by standing there, he commanded a sense of reverence.
Beyond all that, the most important reason he caught Yun Ming's attention was the familiar energy fluctuations he sensed coming from him.
A quasi-god? Yun Ming judged inwardly.
Qian Daoliu saw that Yun Ming noticed him the moment he entered and revealed a faint smile, though to Yun Ming, that smile felt somewhat cold.
Ya Li tugged at the corner of Yun Ming's robe, signaling him to be polite to her teacher, before taking the lead to bow and offer a greeting.
"Ya Li greets Teacher and the various Worships."
Prompted by Ya Li, Yun Ming also cupped his hands in a salute.
"Yun Ming of the Breaking Clan greets the various Worships and Elders."
Qian Daoliu raised his left hand slightly, and a breeze of Soul Power lifted Ya Li up. At the same time, the Six-Winged Angel Statue behind him glowed with a faint golden light, and Qian Daoliu spoke with majesty.
"So you are Yun Ming? The brat who went around claiming he would snatch away my disciple!"
Qian Daoliu's voice was devoid of joy or sorrow, yet to Yun Ming, it carried an indescribable majesty, a noble aura pressing down upon him along with the sound.
However, Yun Ming acted as if he hadn't noticed, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly.
"That is indeed this junior!"
Seeing that Yun Ming treated Qian Daoliu's majesty as if it were nothing, remaining completely unaffected and admitting it so candidly, the surrounding Worships were all quite surprised, thinking to themselves.
This kid is truly not simple!
Hearing Yun Ming's reply, Qian Daoliu's smile remained unchanged, but the massive golden Soul Power around his body surged. Endless light and fire elements began to condense within the hall, and the entire Elder Hall was suddenly filled with rising holy light, with sacred hymns chanting in the Void.
"Thump, thump, thump."
Qian Daoliu walked slowly toward Yun Ming. With every step, a Spirit Ring emerged from his body. After nine steps, Qian Daoliu stood before Yun Ming. Nine Spirit Rings—black, black, black, black, black, black, black, black, red—far beyond what ordinary people could imagine, appeared on Qian Daoliu, and his aura reached its peak. Qian Daoliu spoke once more.
"You certainly have a big mouth."
"Ya Li has likely told you that I am a Heaven-Reaching Douluo, but now that you are truly facing me, can you still utter such ignorant words? I am quite curious."
Feeling the boundless divine might radiating from Qian Daoliu, as if an Angel God had descended into his body, even Yun Ming's Divine Origin Realm spirit was slightly affected.
This caught Yun Ming by surprise. He had seen many quasi-gods in his past life; without using Battle Armor, Qian Daoliu's strength might not even rank in the top ten, yet his pressure felt wrong—it had a hint of divinity to it.
But it was only a hint. Considering the current situation was inappropriate, Yun Ming suppressed his inner questions, looked up at Qian Daoliu, and said flatly.
"Ignorant? I don't think so."
"I am very certain that it won't be long before I surpass you."
"You cannot see my limits, but it seems your limits have already been reached."
Out of respect for Qian Daoliu's status as Ya Li's teacher, Yun Ming used honorifics. But regarding Qian Daoliu's talent, Yun Ming did not care. In this era where the God Realm could be sensed, the fact that Qian Daoliu had failed to break through to become a god after all these years meant that, in his eyes, he was ultimately lacking.
Hearing such blunt remarks from Yun Ming, before Qian Daoliu could even speak, the other Worships became quite angry. Although they knew Yun Ming's talent was monstrous, they could not tolerate him showing such contempt for Qian Daoliu.
The Second Worship, dressed in gold robes with silver embroidery and sporting a white beard and hair, shouted in fury.
"Arrogant child! Just because you have some talent, you dare to look down upon a powerhouse? Is this how that brat Yang Wudi taught you manners?!"
Yun Ming glanced at the Second Worship and, sensing the fading life force in his body, judged that he was indeed much older than his grandfather, so he didn't snap back. Yun Ming swept a glance at him and spoke calmly.
"It is merely the truth. If you cannot accept it, there is nothing I can do."
Seeing that Yun Ming truly believed this and remained so indifferent, the Second Worship was incensed. But before he could speak again, Ya Li glared at Yun Ming, signaling him to behave and stop talking nonsense, then turned to apologize to Qian Daoliu.
"Teacher, please don't be angry. He just has this kind of temper; please bear with him!"
Qian Daoliu looked at his young disciple, who was helping Yun Ming explain while not denying his words, and his mood, which had only been slightly displeased, became even more sour.
Qian Daoliu stared at Ya Li with quiet, deep eyes and spoke.
"Ya Li, do you also think that brat will surpass his teacher soon?"
Ya Li had wanted to nod subconsciously. Yun Ming had advanced to Titled Douluo at twenty-three, reached level ninety-five at twenty-six, and became a Limit Douluo at thirty-one. By thirty-five, he had reached the quasi-god level, hailed as an peerless powerhouse who suppressed an entire generation. By the time he became a quasi-god, you hadn't even become a Titled Douluo yet! Comparing yourself to him, honestly, was just asking for embarrassment.
However, seeing the way Qian Daoliu was looking for an excuse to make a scene, Ya Li decisively began to speak against her conscience.
"How could that be! Teacher is the number one powerhouse of this era; Brother Ming still has a long way to go before he can surpass you!"
Seeing Ya Li start spouting nonsense to coax the old man-child, Yun Ming looked at her and chuckled softly. Seeing Yun Ming dare to laugh at her, Ya Li gritted her pearly teeth, silently making a note of it in her heart; sooner or later, she would make him realize who was the boss.
Qian Daoliu was very satisfied to hear Ya Li call him the 'number one powerhouse,' but looking at the confident Yun Ming, he decided to add a little more difficulty to his Trial, to let him know what it meant to respect his elders and not be arrogant.
"Yun Ming, for Ya Li's sake, I will forgive your ignorant words. However."
Hearing the first part, Ya Li breathed a sigh of relief, but hearing the turn of phrase that followed, her heart tightened again.
Qian Daoliu continued.
"If you want to be the son-in-law of my Worship Hall, you must prove that you are qualified. Ya Li's partner must never be a good-for-nothing!"
When he reached the end of this sentence, Qian Daoliu's tone was very serious. He thought of the matters involving Qian Xunji, Bibi Dong, and Yu Xiaogang. He wondered if Yu Xiaogang had possessed the talent of a normal Titled Douluo's son, whether that incident back then might have had a different ending.
Yun Ming understood in his heart—a test, then! He opened his mouth to ask for the specific requirements.
"How should I prove it?"
Qian Daoliu explained his requirements. After listening, Yun Ming and Ya Li exchanged a glance, then both looked at Qian Daoliu with strange expressions.
───────────────
Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader