Qian Daoliu!
At once, Chu Chengzhou thought of that "Sky Invincible."
In terms of strength, the only one on the continent who could compare to Bo Saixi was Qian Daoliu, likewise a half-god powerhouse.
Even Tang Chen and Bibi Dong were a step behind.
Of course, this referred only to the present, not the past or the future.
Tang Chen was already very strong. Having completed seven of the Asura God trials and stuck at the eighth, his strength had certainly advanced compared to before. It was entirely possible he could now defeat Bo Saixi and Qian Daoliu even with their terrain advantage.
But Tang Chen's luck was bad. He had been parasitized by the Blood-Red Nine-Headed Bat King for many years and his body was crippled. With a king-level account swapped for a bronze-tier stand-in, he naturally could not display "invincible on land" strength and had fallen to the point that even Tang Hao had to fear him.
As for Bibi Dong, with Rank 99 Titled Douluo soul power and the advantage of twin martial souls, she should not be far inferior to Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi when they were not channeling a god's power through a divine servant status. But she was constrained by the Rakshasa God trials and could not fully display her strength.
Without much hesitation, Chu Chengzhou stepped down from the carriage and headed for the teahouse.
With Qian Daoliu inviting, he had no grounds to refuse. Even if he did, he would not.
Never mind that Spirit Hall was the big villain in the original, and Qian Daoliu one of its boss-level villains who had killed many in his early years. This "Sky Invincible" had been retired for many years and had long since gone vegetarian.
Besides, given his relationship with Qian Renxue, this old man might make things difficult for him, but would never truly harm him.
After all, where would Qian Daoliu find a grandson-in-law as outstanding as he was?
Outside a private room on the top floor of the teahouse, Chu Chengzhou was about to knock when a voice came from within. "Just come in."
Seeing this, Chu Chengzhou pushed open the door directly.
A figure who looked quite young sat upright inside, sipping tea and smiling as he sized him up.
Although Qian Daoliu had long since passed a hundred years of age and was older than his grandfather's grandfather, he looked only thirty to forty, and was very handsome.
In the original, had he not sacrificed himself for Qian Renxue, Chu Chengzhou figured Qian Daoliu could have lived another two or three hundred years at least.
In theory, the maximum lifespan of a Rank 99 Titled Douluo could reach a millennium.
But theory was theory and reality was reality. Only after becoming a Titled Douluo did a Spirit Master's maximum lifespan see a qualitative increase over an ordinary person.
If a Spirit Master was older when advancing to Titled Douluo and their body functions were poorer, the increase to maximum lifespan from subsequent breakthroughs would be less.
Unless a Spirit Master could become a Titled Douluo in their twenties when their body was at its peak, and then continue to surge in soul power afterward, even reaching Rank 99, the maximum lifespan would still be far short of that theoretical millennium.
Counting the current Spirit Master world, even among Titled Douluo there were not many over a hundred years old.
Even Golden Crocodile Douluo, the senior with the highest seniority in the Spirit Master world, was still far from two hundred.
"Grandfather!"
Once inside and seeing Qian Daoliu, Chu Chengzhou closed the door and immediately stepped forward to address him with utmost respect.
An "ugly" son-in-law meeting the elders should at least be polite, right?
"Pfft."
Hearing Chu Chengzhou call him grandfather right off, Qian Daoliu, who had just taken a sip of tea, sprayed it out on the spot.
"Ahem."
Choking, Qian Daoliu looked at Chu Chengzhou wordlessly.
This young man was truly shameless.
"Kid, don't go around claiming relatives."
The originally kind-eyed, smiling Qian Daoliu could not hold it in. He shot Chu Chengzhou a glare.
"Eh? If I'm not mistaken, you're Xue'er's grandfather, right? Since Xue'er calls you Grandfather, there's nothing wrong with me calling you Grandfather too."
Blinking, Chu Chengzhou spoke with utmost sincerity.
"When did I agree to you and Xue'er being together?"
Raising his brows, Qian Daoliu asked.
"Old sir, times have changed. These days people talk about free love. Besides, where could you find a grandson-in-law as outstanding as me?"
Chu Chengzhou waved it off.
"You really are shameless."
"Excessive praise. You are the senior I respect most."
Chu Chengzhou offered a small bit of flattery.
"Kid, Xue'er is my only granddaughter and the sole heir of the Angel Clan. Gaining my approval will not be so easy."
Qian Daoliu gave Chu Chengzhou a sidelong glance.
"Please say the word, old sir. I, Chu Chengzhou, fear no test. Also, I promise you this. If Xue'er and I have children, as long as they can awaken the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, I have no issue with the child taking the mother's surname. I will make sure the Angel Clan's line continues."
Chu Chengzhou patted his chest without hesitation.
A child's martial soul is inherited from the parents. If the parents' martial soul quality is the same, aside from an extremely low chance of twin martial souls or a mutation, it is basically random which side the child inherits.
At present his True Spirit Banner martial soul had not evolved. In terms of quality alone, it could not compare to the Six-Winged Angel, so the child would almost certainly awaken the Six-Winged Angel.
But once his True Spirit Banner evolved and its quality matched the Six-Winged Angel, the awakening probability would be fifty-fifty.
He would have many wives and thus many children. Letting one inherit the Angel Clan was no big deal.
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu's gaze toward Chu Chengzhou immediately grew kinder.
For Qian Daoliu, his greatest wish in this life was to cultivate his precious granddaughter Qian Renxue into the new Angel God, letting the Angel's radiance shine across the continent, even at the cost of his life.
Though once his granddaughter ascended the Angel God throne, with limitless lifespan the Six-Winged Angel martial soul would be passed on forever, as head of the Angel Clan in this generation he naturally hoped his precious granddaughter would find a worthy husband and extend the family line.
And if, on the basis of that, his great-grandson or great-granddaughter could take his surname Qian, so much the better.
Not bad at all. This grandson-in-law understood how to care for an old man like him.
"Kid, I hear your strength is good. How about letting me test your mettle?"
Having heard from She Long that Chu Chengzhou had, a few days ago, taken on thirteen at once and knocked down thirteen Titled Douluo-level experts of the Star Luo Empire, Qian Daoliu could not help wanting to test him.
"Well now, old sir, you are the Sky Invincible, the continent's number one. I am just a little seven-ring Spirit Saint. I am not a match for even one of your fingers. Better not.
"When I advance to Titled Douluo one day, you can instruct me then."
Chu Chengzhou quickly waved it off.
Let Qian Daoliu test his mettle? That would be asking for a beating.
He could be tested, but only after he advanced to nine rings and became a Titled Douluo.
T/N: For up to 30 chapters ahead on my translations, become a p@tron at [email protected]/LordHipposApostle