Chapter 20: Appointment as Holy Son?
When they learned of Luo Ling's twin martial souls, both Xie Yue and Yan were stunned.
Before they could ask more, Hu Liena interrupted.
"Teacher's looking for Little Brother Luo! You two can talk later!" she declared, grabbing Luo Ling's hand and running off before either of them could react.
Xie Yue and Yan exchanged helpless looks—there was nothing they could do.
…
Inside the Pope's Hall, Luo Ling followed Hu Liena toward the Grand Council Chamber.
He assumed Bibi Dong's summons was merely about his future cultivation plans.
But the moment he entered, he sensed that something was off. A suffocating surge of spiritual pressure crashed down on him like a tidal wave.
He froze mid-step as the Raven Shadow Puppet and Soul of Desire activated instinctively, merging into one.
Twin yellow soul rings rose around him, spinning before merging into a single violet millennium ring.
A ghostly, demonic silhouette appeared behind him, cloaking him in its oppressive aura.
"So it's true—twin martial soul fusion, even the rings have combined," a deep voice rumbled from the dais above.
Luo Ling forced himself to look up through the pressure.
There, aside from Bibi Dong and the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos, stood seven others radiating terrifying energy.
The Seven Worships of the Spirit Hall.
Realization sparked instantly.
Bibi Dong and the Worship Hall don't get along. Why would all seven be here?
The weight of the energy pressing on him grew heavier, and Luo Ling focused his gaze on the golden-haired elder closest to Bibi Dong—the source of the oppressive might.
Qian Daoliu, the Grand Worship of Spirit Hall. A level-99 Limit Douluo.
Is this some kind of test? Luo Ling thought grimly.
Gritting his teeth, he stood his ground. No matter how the pressure mounted, he refused to bow. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but he didn't take a step back.
"That's enough, Grand Worship!" Bibi Dong's voice rang out sharply, filled with anger.
The suffocating force vanished instantly. Luo Ling staggered, nearly collapsing.
Hu Liena rushed forward to steady him, worry flashing across her face.
Seeing him pale and trembling reminded her of her own ordeal years ago.
When Bibi Dong had once attempted to appoint her as Saintess, Qian Daoliu had done the exact same thing.
Realization dawned. Could Teacher be planning to…?
"Bibi Dong," Qian Daoliu said mildly, "If you're nominating this boy as the next Holy Son, I naturally have to see for myself if he's qualified."
His words confirmed Hu Liena's suspicion—and caught Luo Ling off guard.
Holy Son of Spirit Hall? She wants to make me that?
Bibi Dong's expression darkened, her voice cold. "And what do you think now that you've tested him?"
Qian Daoliu chuckled softly, looking down at Luo Ling with faint admiration. The pressure he'd used had been at the strength of a Soul Sect, yet this boy—barely a one-ring Soul Master—had endured it.
"A twin martial soul of the same source, capable of fusing its own rings… such a genius should belong to Xiaoxue," Qian Daoliu mused privately.
Instead of answering Bibi Dong, he turned to Luo Ling. "Boy, would you like to become my disciple?"
The entire hall went silent.
Every Worship turned, stunned by Qian Daoliu's offer. Bibi Dong's face turned black.
"Qian Daoliu! You dare steal my disciple?!" she snapped, standing abruptly as the phantom of her Death Spider Emperor appeared behind her, flooding the room with killing intent.
"Bibi Dong," Qian Daoliu replied calmly, unbothered, "A wise bird chooses a lofty tree. I can offer him a superior path."
"Anything you can offer—I can offer better!" Bibi Dong shot back furiously. To her, Qian Daoliu's power came from age, nothing more.
"You don't even understand his martial soul—it's a twin soul of the same source. How will you teach him?" Qian Daoliu countered bluntly.
Both Bibi Dong and Luo Ling blinked in surprise.
Wait… there actually is such a theory? Luo Ling thought, staggering internally. He had completely made that term up!
"I read about that type of martial soul once in the library's ancient texts," Qian Daoliu continued with a small smile. "I know much more than you do on the subject."
Luo Ling's lips twitched—he hadn't expected his improvised nonsense to become an actual theory.
"Well then, boy," Qian Daoliu said smoothly, "Join me. I'll train you better than Bibi Dong ever could."
"Qian Daoliu! Don't forget—you stand within my Pope's Palace!" Bibi Dong's voice rose, her aura exploding again.
"And don't forget who put you on that throne in the first place, Bibi Dong!" Qian Daoliu retorted, golden six-winged light flaring behind him.
The Death Spider Emperor and the Seraphim's radiance clashed violently, filling the hall with light and shadow.
At that point, Luo Ling stepped forward.
"Two Supremes," he said calmly, "there's no need to quarrel over me."
Both turned toward him, startled.
"Does it really matter who I train under?" Luo Ling continued with an indifferent smile. "Either way, I belong to Spirit Hall, do I not?"
The words echoed through the chamber.
Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu both froze. The other Title Douluo of the Worship Hall exchanged incredulous glances.
Luo Ling, however, stood unbothered under their gazes. He had no interest in their power struggle.
He already knew the story of this world too well.
After being betrayed and reborn, his goals were clear: destroy Yu Xiaogang—and reach godhood.
Spirit Hall was merely a vessel on that path. Helping it rise only served his greater purpose.
The hall fell silent again. Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan all stared in shock at his audacity.
Finally, Qian Daoliu snorted softly and said, "He's right. No matter whose disciple he is, he remains Spirit Hall's. Remember your words, boy!"
Then the old man turned toward Bibi Dong. "In that case, he's yours."
"He was mine to begin with," Bibi Dong replied curtly, though her tone had softened.
Satisfied, Qian Daoliu gave Luo Ling another look. "Now you know, boy—Bibi Dong plans to appoint you as Holy Son. Your talent is clear, but talent alone isn't enough."
His gaze sharpened with cunning amusement.
"Here stand members of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation—our finest young soul masters," he said, gesturing toward Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan.
"If you can defeat even one of them, I'll grant you the title of Holy Son."
"Grand Worship!" Bibi Dong protested immediately. "Luo Ling is only a one-ring Soul Master! The others are already Soul Grandmasters. That's unfair!"
"He has twin martial souls and a fusion ability," Qian Daoliu countered. "The difference is not that great."
Bibi Dong opened her mouth to argue again—but Luo Ling spoke first.
"I accept."
Qian Daoliu smiled faintly. "Then let's proceed to the training grounds."
…
Spirit Hall Training Grounds.
All seven Worships attended. Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo stood by to observe.
Luo Ling faced Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan in the arena.
"I'm not fighting!" Hu Liena said at once, darting to Bibi Dong's side with a pout.
Xie Yue and Yan exchanged glances. Xie Yue looked at his sister's stern glare and sighed, shaking his head.
If he fought Luo Ling, Hu Liena would scold him for days. Best to avoid it entirely.
"That leaves me, then," Yan said with a smirk, stepping forward eagerly.
He'd never liked the closeness between Luo Ling and Hu Liena. Now he had the perfect excuse to teach this "little brother" a lesson.
But just as he readied himself to summon his martial soul, Luo Ling raised a hand and stopped him.
Glancing from Yan to Xie Yue, who was turning to leave, Luo Ling's lips curved into a daring smile.
"Actually," he said softly, "why don't both of you come at me together?"
(END CHAPTER)
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