Shu Yan listened quietly to Qian Gu Chaoshen's words, unsure for a moment how to respond. After a brief pause, he spoke slowly:
"Elder Qian, I don't think you summoned me here today just to tell me these things. What you truly wish to say... must be something else, still to come."
Qian Gu Chaoshen smiled faintly and nodded. His gaze drifted far into the distance, toward the lingering glow of the setting sun, and he spoke softly:
"Human desire is endless. For those of us standing at the peak of this continent, the longing for greater power borders on madness."
"I was relentless in my pursuit. When I first learned of the existence of gods, my heart burned with passion and obsession. I too wanted that kind of unmatched, overwhelming power. Even though I could never hope to become a Limit Douluo, I still refused to give up."
"In the process, I stumbled upon a path with no theoretical foundation—one that might even be called delusional. I sought to become a god through my own origin."
Seeing Shu Yan's puzzled expression, Qian Gu Chaoshen wasn't surprised. He patiently explained:
"Without the inheritance of a divine position, the leap from Rank 99 to godhood requires a complete transformation of body, soul power, and spirit to the divine level. This too is a form of becoming a god—just without the title."
"But with a god's inheritance, the process is much simpler. One only needs to pass the trials set by the god and inherit the divine position to ascend."
"Unfortunately, neither path was suitable for me. After years of searching, I chose a road that many would find laughable."
"By using purified origin soul power from the Blood Red Nine-Headed Bat King, along with the mysterious powers lingering in the ruins of Slaughter City, I began to refine and temper my martial soul itself. That mysterious energy suppressed the Evil-Breaking Dragon Soul residing in my Panlong Staff, and over time, they reached an understanding. With the foundation I cultivated for centuries—power close to a Limit Douluo—I finally elevated my Panlong Staff to something nearly on par with a divine artifact."
"I call it... a pseudo-divine artifact."
Shu Yan looked at the ever-smiling Qian Gu Chaoshen and couldn't help but interject:
"Elder Qian, I think I understand. A martial soul and its master are one. You want to elevate your martial soul to the level of a divine artifact and use it to comprehend greater truths. But—"
Before he could finish, Qian Gu Chaoshen gently raised his hand to stop him, shaking his head.
"Truthfully, not long after I began this endeavor, I gave up on that obsession."
"Mu En, Long Xiaoyao... they were both geniuses of their era, yet neither of them could glimpse a higher realm. I, who rose through external means, never truly believed I had the chance either."
"I suppose what drove me was stubbornness—an unwillingness to accept my limits. In all these years, I've realized elevating the Panlong Staff to a pseudo-divine artifact is my limit. As for transforming myself further or reaching some higher mastery of the Indomitable Staff Technique, I now believe that is beyond mortal reach."
Shu Yan hesitated. He could see the faint melancholy in Qian Gu Chaoshen's expression. After carefully choosing his words, he asked:
"Then, Elder Qian, what do you intend to do?"
Qian Gu Chaoshen fell silent for a long moment before answering softly:
"At most, I have three years left. Before I die, I will leave all of my origin soul power to Yueyin, to ensure her cultivation is protected."
"You know her temperament. It will surely bring her suffering one day. The southern territories won't be able to shield her forever, and the empire's situation will only grow more precarious. So I ask you... when the time comes, look after her."
"In return, I am willing to leave the Panlong Staff, now a pseudo-divine artifact, in your care after my death. And I will tell you of a great opportunity…"
Shu Yan's gaze grew complicated. After a moment's thought, he spoke:
"When a soul master dies, their martial soul fades with them. Even if you've raised the Panlong Staff to pseudo-divine artifact level, it will still disappear. It is not truly a divine artifact."
"Even if there is a way to preserve it, the most suitable wielder is surely your granddaughter, Qian Gu Yueyin—not me."
Qian Gu Chaoshen shook his head again and continued:
"Though the bond between a soul master and their martial soul seems inseparable, there are exceptions. What makes the Panlong Staff strong is the Evil-Breaking Dragon Soul within. As for preserving it, you needn't worry. Even if I cannot solve this, others will."
"As for why I won't leave it to Yueyin—that is simple. Her own Panlong Staff is the one meant for her. Every wielder of this martial soul must form a contract with the Evil-Breaking Dragon Soul, sharing life and death from that point onward."
"But I am different. In Slaughter City, I came into contact with true divine power. That is the foundation of my confidence in this plan. Before a man dies, he cannot let go of the future or his promises to the past."
"I once vowed to Sheng Ling that I would protect the Star Luo Empire and our descendants. Yet in the end, all I could do was watch them die, one after another, before my eyes. That is my greatest torment. I am exhausted—too tired to keep going. For me, death will be release, and homecoming. But before I die, I must pave a safer path for Yueyin and the Empire. That is my duty."
Shu Yan was still weighing the risks and benefits, but a voice from his spiritual sea firmed his resolve. He looked at Qian Gu Chaoshen and said:
"Elder Qian, I agree to everything you ask. But tell me this—what god's power did you encounter in Slaughter City?"
Qian Gu Chaoshen visibly relaxed when he heard Shu Yan's answer. He no longer hid the truth and spoke directly:
"Ten thousand years ago, my ancestors belonged to the Spirit Hall, which once served two great gods. The power I touched in the ruins of Slaughter City came from the Rakshasa God."
"If you trust me, one day visit the ruins of Jialing Pass. There, you will find all your answers."
Shu Yan nodded. He wasn't particularly surprised; on the contrary, everything now seemed to fall into place.
The Rakshasa God, slain by Tang San ten thousand years ago, still left behind a lingering influence powerful enough to affect the present era of the Peerless Tang Sect. If so, it meant she had never truly vanished—perhaps she had lost her full strength, but some shred of consciousness or power remained.
And if that were true... perhaps the Angel God, whose divine seat was shattered and who fell to Rank 89, might also have consciousness or a legacy remaining in this world.
PS: Read Advance Chapters at https://www.patreon.com/c/XenTronix