Thank you to our new Patrons: ArcherArchX, pande tusan, Alberto Cervantes, jaycehunter, nkdmon, Drako343, Shisui34, Keith Lighthill, Damass 13 and RrJ! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to Chapter 645: The Invisible Erosion on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
I've also recently started a new translation, please check it out and show your support! It's called Douluo: Martial Soul Seven Kill Sword, The Sword Opens Heaven's Gates. As always, Patrons will have unrestricted access to all of my stories including futures ones!
---------------------------------------------------------------------
This scene left Qian Daoliu drenched in cold sweat. Even Bo Saixi couldn't possibly achieve something like this.
Qian Daoliu opened his mouth to say something but was too shocked to utter a word.
However, Ye Wen paid no attention to Qian Daoliu and walked straight toward the main hall of the Shrine of Offerings.
Looking at the pristine, six-winged angel statue located deep within the shrine, radiating holiness, Ye Wen couldn't help but admire it. He imagined its prototype must have been a righteous and noble angel.
At this moment, Qian Daoliu nervously followed him inside.
He couldn't help but feel tense—this place wasn't just where he usually cultivated and held meetings with the other elders; it was also the crucial site for the inheritance of the Angel God's divine position.
Just like the Sea God Island's divine inheritance secret realm, the Angel God's inheritance secret realm was here.
Although Qian Daoliu's earlier outburst had lasted only a moment, it had already alerted the other elders, who now entered the shrine to observe the complex dynamics between the two individuals.
As the second-strongest elder after Qian Daoliu, Jin E Douluo had always been fearless. He stepped forward and asked,
"Big Brother, who is this brat?"
This sent another wave of cold sweat down Qian Daoliu's spine. By now, he was fairly certain that the person before him was undoubtedly a god.
And not just any god—it was the Sea God, whom Bo Saixi had once served.
Though he felt a pang of sorrow over Bo Saixi's passing, in Qian Daoliu's heart, the priority of the Angel God's inheritance outweighed even her.
Qian Daoliu quickly raised his hand to stop Jin E Douluo from saying anything further, using a stern glance to warn him against causing trouble.
After all, Qian Daoliu understood the mindset of top-tier powerhouses well—most of them acted on their whims.
He himself was one such person.
But Ye Wen didn't pay Jin E Douluo any mind. Instead, he focused his senses on the angel statue before him.
This blatant act confirmed to Qian Daoliu that Ye Wen was exactly the kind of person who acted as he pleased.
(Though, in reality, he wasn't.)
Suddenly, Ye Wen let out a soft sigh and said,
"It seems the Angel God has truly fallen."
These words instantly shattered Qian Daoliu's composure.
Ignoring the potential offense to a god, Qian Daoliu hurriedly asked, "Why does the Sea God say this!?"
Ye Wen was somewhat surprised that Qian Daoliu had immediately guessed his identity.
But you—a man over a hundred years old—calling me, a young man, "Lord"?
Well, humans were naturally creatures who bullied the weak and feared the strong. Ye Wen should have realized this long ago.
Stripping away the layers of being a 99th-level Limit Douluo and the High Priest of the Angel God, this old man was nothing more than an ordinary, mundane person.
He lacked the dignity of a true powerhouse. Without the divine trials of the Angel God backing him, he might have been just another Qian Xunji.
After all, how could a Limit Douluo who maintained the Spirit Hall's status by slaughtering potential threats ever comprehend the true meaning of justice embodied by the Angel martial soul?
Indeed, slicing open the Douluo Continent revealed nothing but a web of relationships.
Being strong meant nothing. In this world, what mattered was background and connections.
However, Ye Wen didn't rush to answer. Instead, he glanced at the six elders who had gathered behind him.
The Second Elder, Jin E Douluo: 98th level, martial soul Golden Crocodile King. A powerful figure who had once been on par with the grandfather of Sword Elder Chen Xin, regarded as one of the outstanding figures of the older generation.
The Third Elder, Qing Luan Douluo: 97th level, martial soul Phoenix Divine Bird. Skilled in wind-element attacks and sonic waves.
The Fourth Elder, Xiong Shi Douluo: 97th level, martial soul Blazing Lion. It was said he could control all beast-type soul masters below the Soul Sage level—a veritable army-destroying weapon.
The Fifth Elder, Guang Ling Douluo: 96th level, martial soul Radiant Feather Divine Bow. A master archer—nothing more to say.
The Sixth Elder, Qian Jun Douluo: 96th level, martial soul Coiling Dragon Staff.
The Seventh Elder, Jiang Mo Douluo: 96th level, martial soul Coiling Dragon Staff. Twin brother of Qian Jun Douluo.
Such strength, such talent, such martial souls.
If there were divine positions to inherit, wouldn't each of them be far stronger than those Shrek Seven Monsters who relied on miraculous herbs to cheat their way to power?
Their combined strength was practically a bug. If all six of them had participated in the attack on the Sea God Island, even the strongest of the Seven Holy Pillar Guardians—a mere 95th-level Sea Dragon Douluo—wouldn't stand a chance against the Spirit Hall.
It was such a waste for talents like these to die in the later battles against Tang San.
With a set of five-character battle armor, they could easily become ready-made divine officials. With six-character battle armor, they'd at least reach the level of a third-tier god, and becoming a second-tier god wasn't entirely out of the question.
Finally, Ye Wen turned his gaze back to the visibly nervous Qian Daoliu.
"The High Priest of the Angel God—how long has your Angel God not responded to you? Shouldn't you know better than anyone?"
Qian Daoliu's expression darkened. For nearly fifty years, the Angel God he served had indeed not issued a single divine decree.
Still, Qian Daoliu tried to argue, "Perhaps my god was busy and couldn't respond.
Please, Lord Sea God, don't spread alarming words."
Ye Wen looked at Qian Daoliu with a sense of resignation.
Look at yourself—your face screams that the Angel God has fallen, yet you're still deceiving yourself into believing otherwise.
Truly, the highest level of deception was when you deceived even yourself.
Then, Ye Wen raised his thumb and pointed backward at the sacred six-winged angel statue.
"The Angel God doesn't even have the strength to leave behind a trace of consciousness. If this isn't falling, what is?"
These words completely drained Qian Daoliu of his strength. His knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground.
Qian Daoliu recalled his father's words from the past—that the six-winged angel statue contained a fragment of a great angel god's consciousness left in the mortal realm to guard humanity on the Douluo Continent.
But ever since he had become the High Priest, aside from the initial responses, the Angel God had remained silent.
For so many years, Qian Daoliu had lived in fear and unease, resorting to slaughtering potential threats in an attempt to defend the Angel God's honor.
Always presenting a strong front before the elders, Qian Daoliu now involuntarily shed tears of sorrow.
"Great Angel God… Great Angel God…"
This scene moved Jin E Douluo, his younger brother, deeply. He wanted to step forward and help his eldest brother up but hesitated, his hand stopping mid-air. After all, there was still an outsider in the hall—an outsider so powerful that even his eldest brother had warned him not to act rashly.
Ye Wen didn't break the somber atmosphere either.
After a while, Qian Daoliu seemed to have come to some realization and muttered softly,
"No, the Angel God hasn't abandoned Her people.
As Her High Priest, I can still sense the presence of Her holy divine core.
Once Xue'er grows stronger, I will initiate the Nine Trials of the Angel for her, allowing her to inherit the glory of the Angel God."
Qian Daoliu's previously lifeless eyes were now filled with fervor.
He kept muttering—yes, the Angel God isn't dead. Her glory will continue. Long live the Spirit Hall—and other fanatical phrases.
------------------------------------------------------
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow