Chapter 136

Gu Rong naturally also noticed Qian Renxue; seeing the two pairs of golden wings behind her and her Angel martial soul, Gu Rong raised an eyebrow: "Even the Angel lineage still has an inheritance."

Gu Rong's words were correct; he indeed only learned from this moment that the Angel lineage still had an heir, because the previous generation's Angel heir, Qian Xunjie, had died without leaving any descendants, so seeing Qian Renxue surprised him a bit.

As it turned out, Qian Xunjie had unexpectedly given birth to a daughter; judging by her age of around twenty, she already had six Soul Rings, and absorbing this Soul Ring would make it seven Soul Rings.

Such talent truly lives up to a divine-level martial soul; the advantage of innate twentieth-rank soul power is indeed extraordinary.

The secret of the Angel martial soul is no secret to someone of Gu Rong's high standing, so it's no surprise that he knows it.

"Since it's a misunderstanding, then I won't disturb you further." Gu Rong said, then brought Gu Xuan and Du Gu Yan into the spatial gate and left.

Gu Xuan also didn't say much; after giving Qian Renxue a meaningful glance, he followed Gu Rong away. For now, there's no reason to have any contact with Qian Renxue; it's better to pretend not to know her.

Qian Renxue watched Gu Rong and the others depart, silently letting out a breath of relief, but thinking back to Gu Xuan's meaningful gaze, her heart was stirred by unknown emotions.

The Snake Spear and Spiny Boar extended their spiritual power to the maximum range, and after confirming that Gu Rong had indeed left, they came to Qian Renxue's side: "Your Highness, this time our subordinates have failed in their duty; your identity has surely been discovered by Gu Rong."

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and she softly said: "It's fine; as long as my identity in the Tian Dou Empire remains concealed, you two uncles, please stand guard for me."

Having said that, Qian Renxue sat cross-legged, meditated to restore her soul power, and prepared to absorb her seventh Soul Ring.

The departing Gu Xuan thought that Qian Renxue had already broken through to Soul Sage, while in the original story, there were still nearly six years until Qian Renxue's appearance.

If things continued to follow the original plot, then at that time Qian Renxue would likely be able to break through to Soul Douluo.

But it's not a big problem; he himself will soon be a Soul King, and within the next six years, even if he doesn't catch up to Qian Renxue, reaching Soul Sage should be no problem.

As for strength, his current power is already enough to deal with an ordinary Soul Sage; even if Qian Renxue later breaks through to Soul Douluo following the original plot, she would absolutely not be his match at that time.

Unless some accident occurs, of course, the probability of that happening is low, because Gu Xuan's schemes so far have basically not affected the overall course of the original story.

At most, he merely took Tang San's opportunity, and the only major deviation from the original story is that Tang San's strength progresses a little more slowly.

After all, his first hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring is now in the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, and in the future Xiao Wu's hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring will have no fate with Tang San.

After leaving the mountain range where Qian Renxue was, Gu Rong took Gu Xuan and Du Gu Yan to other regions to search for a suitable spirit beast for Gu Xuan's fifth Soul Ring.

At an altitude of ten thousand meters, Gu Rong recalled the Qian Renxue he had just seen and asked Gu Xuan: "Xuan'er, that woman is the heir of the Angel lineage; at around twenty years old she has already reached the seven-ring level, her talent is no inferior to yours and Yan Yan's; in the future, if you wish to unify the continent, she will be your greatest enemy."

Upon hearing this, Gu Xuan slightly nodded and replied: "I've noticed; why not take this opportunity to nip her in the bud?"

Hearing this, Gu Rong was very pleased with Gu Xuan's mindset, for this world is fundamentally one of the strong preying on the weak; a holy motherly attitude is unsuitable for contending for hegemony.

However, regarding this matter Gu Rong had his own considerations; now that Gu Xuan brought it up, he naturally informed Gu Xuan.

"Xuan'er, do you know which faction on the continent is currently the strongest?" Gu Rong looked at Gu Xuan and asked.

Gu Xuan pondered briefly, then replied: "Five years ago, it would naturally have been the Clear Sky Sect, with two Titled Douluo; Tang Hao was not only the youngest Titled Douluo, but he also defeated three veteran Titled Douluo of the Spirit Hall with the strength of a newly promoted Titled Douluo, his strength and talent could be called peerless."

"After that would be our Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, with you and Second Uncle joining, our strength is not lacking."

"Next is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect; although their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul is hailed as the number one beast martial soul on the continent, they have only one Titled Douluo, the old master Yuyuan Zhen."

"But nowadays, naturally our Seven Treasure Glazed Sect is the strongest; although the Clear Sky Sect has retreated into seclusion, its foundation remains, so it ranks second, and finally comes the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect."

"The two great empires mainly rely on their popular foundations; in terms of strength they cannot compare to these great sects, so there's no need for comparison."

Gu Xuan said this, and Gu Rong slightly nodded, for Gu Xuan's analysis was completely correct; however, after finishing, Gu Xuan paused and then continued:

"However, I was speaking of sects; in fact, the Spirit Hall should be the greatest hidden power, for the recorded number of Titled Douluo elders is nearly ten, and although most rarely show themselves, the Spirit Hall's foundation is indeed the strongest."

Upon hearing this, Gu Rong slightly nodded: "You're right; besides that, what I fear most is the Hall of Worship belonging to the Spirit Hall—once one of the continent's Three Absolutes, the Invincible Heavenly Qian Daoliu now lives in seclusion in the Hall of Worship, and decades ago he had already reached the realm of a ninety-nine rank Ultimate Douluo."

"Now I have broken through to ninety-seven rank, but facing him I have no chance at all; and that little girl just now is from Qian Daoliu's Angel lineage—if I had just made a move, the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect would suffer utter devastation."

"Against such peerless power, numbers cannot contend."

"Moreover, as far as I know, the Hall of Worship has at least four Super Douluo of rank ninety-six or above holding the fort; although they have now retreated from worldly affairs, we cannot act against that little girl just now."

Listening to Gu Rong's words, Gu Xuan naturally understood the stakes, and nodded thoughtfully.

Gu Rong looked at Gu Xuan and Du Gu Yan and solemnly said: "In the situation where our older generation does not intervene, the future rests on you two; your talents are the finest I have ever seen, and as long as Xuan'er you grow up, the grand ambition of unifying the continent will have a chance to be realized; everything we have done is to pave the way for you."

"Grandfather, I understand." Gu Xuan likewise replied earnestly.

The grandfather and grandson trio, while searching for a suitable spirit beast for Gu Xuan's fifth Soul Ring, also discussed the current state of the continent and planned their future direction.

Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi had long since stopped treating Gu Xuan as a child; discussing such matters with him was naturally unproblematic, and Gu Rong even had an evaluative intent.

Three days later, Gu Xuan gazed at a massive black creature deep in the forest below, his eyes shining with vigor; his fifth Soul Ring had found its target.

Deep in the forest, a earth-shaking tiger's roar rang out; Gu Rong followed the sound and saw that it was a black giant tiger.

The giant tiger's body was pure black, without a speck of other color; its red eyes were filled with a gloomy aura, its height exceeded eight meters, its muscles bulged, and its weight was likely over three thousand catties.

The king character on its forehead was also black, but different from the black of its fur, it was a gloomy black like mist.

Most remarkably, its tail was much longer than that of ordinary tiger-type spirit beasts, and it stood upright, composed of countless bone segments, with a huge inverted hook at the tip that gleamed with a sinister, eerie light.

Gu Rong knew this spirit beast; according to ancient records, this demon beast is called the Dark Evil God Tiger.

Legend has it that an evil god descended upon a white tiger, causing it to mutate, turning its original light attribute into darkness, sprouting black wings representing depravity, and a hook like a scorpion's tail, the evil god's hook.

The Dark Evil God Tiger's strength is extremely formidable; generally speaking, spirit beasts could possibly be human martial souls, but this Dark Evil God Tiger is an exception—no one's martial soul has ever been it.

It itself is not merely a dark attribute, but the utmost evil attribute left by the evil god, which a human body cannot possibly endure.

If evaluated by the standard of martial souls, it is absolutely on par with the Six-Winged Angel as a martial soul.

Gu Rong inwardly sighed slightly; having just encountered the Angel lineage's heir, he now encounters the Dark Evil God Tiger—could this be the fated fifth Soul Ring for Xuan'er?

Because this Dark Evil God Tiger's age is exactly in the sixty-thousand-year range, which is also the limit of what Gu Xuan can currently endure.

"Grandfather, I want it." Gu Xuan, standing beside Gu Rong, exclaimed happily.

PS: Typos will be corrected later.

(End of chapter)