Countless watchful eyes.
Xuan Ji's golden pupils just flickered over them, then, knees bending, its massive body shot out like a gigantic cannon shell into the distance.
"..."
Qian Daoliu frowned deeply.
He glanced at his battered daughter-in-law lying below, as well as the nearly destroyed Spirit Hall and the elders strewn all over.
If he let the beast go, Spirit Hall's prestige would crumble overnight.
Not good for future plans to unify the continent…
His eyes narrowed.
Slowly raising his hand, a dazzling golden light radiated from him, forming a halo that expanded, enveloping not only Xuan Ji but the entire city.
"Boom—"
Xuan Ji crashed against the golden "wall." Fine cracks appeared for an instant in the thin film, but it healed immediately.
"Second Brother, watch them…" Qian Daoliu looked grim. This was his domain, yet the foe almost burst straight through.
What terrifying physical power! What a beast!
He did not doubt that, with no interference, the opponent could break his Angelic Domain after two more punches.
Where did this thing come from?!
"Alright." The white-bearded old man in golden armor nodded, taking over Bibi Dong's command and having her sent for treatment.
"Big Brother, will you be alright?" Another sturdy old man asked.
"Let me try." Qian Daoliu waved.
"You're making a mess in Spirit Hall. Isn't that going too far? I don't know what deep grudge there is, but—" his tone was calm: "Spirit Hall is no pushover to be bullied at will."
A holy light shot skyward, forming a pillar.
"If you can take one strike from me, you may leave freely. But if not—" a cold glint appeared in Qian Daoliu's eye.
"Tsk…" Xuan Ji hesitated.
Master hadn't mentioned this mess, but since this old man stepped up, he must be strong. It had fought human limits a millennium in the future but never this era's.
Heat flashed in Xuan Ji's golden eyes.
It probably wouldn't kill him… right?
Even Qian Daoliu's eyelids twitched at the primal presence. His heart pounded.
He remembered seeing most of the previous fight and thus knew roughly what this beast could do. He could stand a chance.
"Roar!!"
Xuan Ji howled, crimson-gold scales lighting up. Within the Angelic Domain, it was as if countless volcanoes erupted, each scale's edge glowing with golden magma and ancient runes.
Its already imposing body began to grow, bones popping, as if breaking invisible shackles, like a cultivator dropping hundreds of pounds of weighted clothes—
From afar, a second, heavier layer of dark-gold bone armor enveloped its fiery scales, as if made entirely of pure energy.
Its fangs became sharper, and two pupils appeared in each socket—quad eyes! Its gaze burst into four burning suns.
It looked down on Qian Daoliu with utter contempt.
At this moment, the second form of the Golden Behemoth was fully exposed to the world.
This was Su Wen's seventh soul skill: Martial Soul True Form.
It included "super-enlargement" effects; the beast itself could trigger it too.
Qian Daoliu was already rattled. Even his hand holding the Angelic Sword trembled.
Damn it, you never mentioned you had a second form!
Xuan Ji's huge figure towered hundreds of meters, bathed in searing golden light, spanning heaven and earth. Even a powerhouse like Qian Daoliu felt unprecedented pressure, as if confronting a primordial beast that could tear open the world.
Bang…
Xuan Ji clenched its fists and clapped them together.
Its snarl broadened into a frightening grin: "We should flip those lines. If you can take a blow from me, I'll spare Spirit Hall…"
Qian Daoliu: "..."
"Golden Left Arm!"
Energy erupted. Xuan Ji's left arm swelled before it leapt high and hammered a fist at Qian Daoliu, splitting the air with the strength of a Golden Behemoth.
Boom!!!
The explosion echoed across the world.
…
"Uncle Su!!"
Qian Renxue's eyes were red as she clung to Su Wen's arm, looking aggrieved. Her pale gold hair, tied in a high ponytail, brushed his face, her beauty weeping in a way that melted the heart.
"Uh…" Su Wen twitched a little.
When he sensed Xuan Ji activate its second form, he knew something was wrong. Contacting it mentally, he found it had ruthlessly beaten up an Angelic martial spirit old man.
Not to mention, the old guy had many brothers, who also got flattened by Xuan Ji one by one.
Fortunately, though badly hurt, none died.
The clever Qian Renxue knew as soon as the topic of ancient beasts came up—and with Xuan Ji even announcing its name—it was Su Wen. So, as soon as he returned to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, the "Crown Prince" sought him out, her golden eyes full of grievance.
"Does Uncle Su really look down on Spirit Hall so much? Plus, this is between my mother and you—it's nothing to do with my grandpa…" Qian Renxue looked up with teary gold eyes, searching his face.
She nestled on his legs like a discarded kitten, so emotional that she forgot she was sitting right on him…
"This… was just an accident." Su Wen sipped tea, a bit embarrassed.
"I bear no ill intent toward Spirit Hall, nor was it intentional with Elder Qian Daoliu."
"I was leaving, but he forced me to stay—I thought he was something special…" In Su Wen's spiritual sea, Xuan Ji grumbled, but when Su Wen glanced at it, it faltered:
"How could I know he actually had so little in him?"
"You didn't need to go that hard!" Su Wen shook his head helplessly.
"Transforming to the second form awakened some bloodline power, even affecting my sanity with rage. Without your direct control, I probably couldn't restrain myself…" Xuan Ji confessed.
"It's not your fault." Su Wen nodded.
After all, it was the first time Little Gold unlocked its second form.
Side effects only show after you try.
"Little Gold, as much as I hesitate to mention it—how dare you claim to be Master's number one beast? Where does that put me, or Snow Empress?" Big Eye rose from the spirit sea, blowing bubbles.
"My name's Xuan Ji!" the beast roared.
"Okay, Little Gold…" Big Eye snickered.
"..."
Ignoring the ruckus within his spirit sea, Su Wen gently stroked Qian Renxue's blond hair. "It really was an accident; didn't I heal Elder Qian Daoliu myself?"
"..."
Qian Renxue pulled a face.
Which made the whole thing more bizarre.
After Su Wen healed her grandfather, he cheerfully said, "I'll visit Spirit Hall in person soon to express my regards."
Normally, Grandpa would greet him with a smile.
But after getting battered nearly to death by Xuan Ji, then healed by its master, not to mention hearing he'd come over soon, Grandpa was already considering relocating Spirit Hall—or going into seclusion like the Clear Sky School.
He was just too scared.
But, most importantly—
News from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had it that Bone Douluo provoked the beast's fury, only for Su Wen to send it to Spirit Hall for venting—treating the Hall as less than nothing.
"So, Uncle Su doesn't dislike me?" Qian Renxue blinked.
"Of course not." Su Wen surrendered, smiling wryly.
"That's good…" Qian Renxue breathed a huge sigh of relief, patting her chest.
With Su Wen's strength now exposed, every move—every word—drew the attention of the continent's powers.
If he truly opposed Spirit Hall…
Spirit Hall's end would not be far off…
"Still planning to keep spying?" Su Wen shifted the topic when he noticed the softness at his side, coughing awkwardly.
"Yes." A trace of a smile curled the beauty's lips; she didn't call him out.
When she arrived, she was even prepared to be driven away by Su Wen, but realized that he didn't dislike her—just a real misunderstanding. She was truly relieved.
She also realized, without knowing when, that she was perched on his lap, hugging his neck, a girl dallying coyly. Blushing in her heart, she nevertheless enjoyed it.
She didn't let go.
Feeling Su Wen's slightly stiff body, Qian Renxue thought: Uncle Su is… younger than my father, right?
"I've spent so long undercover. Spirit Hall has paid so much—it can't all go to waste…" Qian Renxue sat side-saddle on Su Wen's knees, white arms around his neck, long gorgeous legs swaying, tone casual and relaxed.
Her legs were so long her toes just touched the floor, clad in little leather shoes, pale and bright.
"Does Uncle Su like feet?"
Qian Renxue teased mischievously.
…