Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

Chapter 50 After the Match
When the Spirit Hall Academy team, one of the three seeded teams, stepped onto the stage, the entire arena fell silent. All the participating teams held their breath, eager to witness the true strength of this mysterious team.

The three walked side by side at the head of the group, like three wolf kings poised to pounce. The powerful aura and unwavering belief in victory emanating from them were qualities only those who had experienced countless victories could possess. Their pristine white uniforms were embroidered with six prominent Spirit Hall symbols, and the purple book-shaped badges on their left chests shone brightly, highlighting their distinguished status as the "Golden Generation."

The silver-haired youth at the head of the group was over 1.9 meters tall with a stern face. Beneath his calm expression lay a powerful confidence as deep and imposing as a mountain. Standing on either side of him were a red-haired man and a blonde woman. The red-haired man's dark red eyes seemed to flicker with flames, while the blonde woman appeared ordinary at first glance, but upon closer inspection, she possessed a unique charm that was impossible to look away from.

"Sending out their strongest lineup right from the start?" Feng Yao stared thoughtfully at the arena.

"Look carefully," Dugu Bo said in a deep voice, appearing unnoticed in the Royal Battle rest area. "These three are the 'Golden Generation' trained by the Spirit Hall. The silver-haired one is Xie Yue, a level 52 Power Attack-type Battle Spirit King with a Moon Blade weapon spirit; the red-haired one is Yan, a level 52 Fire Attribute Power Attack-type Battle Spirit King with a Flame Lord spirit; and the blonde woman is Hu Liena, Xie Yue's sister, a level 51 Control-type Battle Spirit King with a Fox spirit."

The old poisoner's gaze lingered on Hu Liena for a moment longer: "Pay special attention to that girl; her alluring abilities are remarkably similar to your piano playing."

Feng Yao nodded slightly, his fingers unconsciously caressing the strings of the zither.

The moment the Spirit Hall Academy team stepped onto the arena, Hu Liena's gaze shot like an arrow towards the waiting area of ​​the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, precisely locking onto the figure in white playing the zither.

Their gazes met in mid-air. A fierce fighting spirit ignited in Hu Liena's beautiful eyes, and her red lips parted slightly, revealing a provocative smile. Feng Yao, however, merely smiled calmly, nodding slightly in greeting, his every gesture exuding elegance.

Hu Liena frowned slightly, about to provoke further, but was interrupted by Yan who suddenly approached.

"Nana, what are you looking at?" Yan scratched his fiery red hair, looking around in confusion as he followed her gaze.

Hu Liena looked away, giving him a disgruntled glare: "What's it to you? Focus on preparing for the competition."

Yan forced a smile and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Why should we take this second-rate academy seriously? We can just fight it out." Although his voice wasn't loud, it was enough for the other contestants to hear him clearly.

Sure enough, the opposing team members glared angrily, and several hot-tempered ones clenched their fists. Xie Yue sighed helplessly and reached out to press Yan's shoulder: "Say less." His icy gaze swept across the opposing team, instantly plunging the angry students into an ice cave.

Hu Liena stopped looking at Feng Yao, her fingertips unconsciously twirling a strand of hair. This musician who could easily break a martial soul fusion technique was the opponent she truly cared about.

When the Spirit Hall Academy team revealed their spirit rings, the entire audience gasped in amazement. However, after witnessing Feng Yao's stunning performance, their reaction was no longer as shocking as it had been initially. A lineup led by three Spirit Kings was undoubtedly a devastating blow to other ordinary academies—after all, many participating teams struggled to even assemble a full Spirit Master lineup; such a disparity in strength was akin to a dimensional reduction attack.

As soon as the match began, Hu Liena's captivating charm enveloped the entire arena with a single glance and a sweet laugh, accompanied by the flashing of her spirit rings. With the combined efforts of the Golden Generation, the battle was over almost instantly. This overwhelming victory made all the participating teams deeply aware of the terrifying strength of the Spirit Hall Academy.

Inside the Royal Fighting Team's rest area, everyone unconsciously held their breath. Yu Feng swallowed hard, Oslo's fingers tapped unconsciously on his chair, and even the usually confident Dugu Yan pursed her lips. A thought swirled in their minds: "Even with a teammate like Feng Yao, can we really defeat them?"

Feng Yao keenly sensed his teammates' wavering, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes. He gently stroked the strings of his zither, thinking to himself, "So that's it. That little fox was planning this." The Spirit Hall had dispatched its strongest lineup from the very beginning, quickly ending the battle with overwhelming force, clearly intending to plant an invincible shadow in the hearts of all participating teams. With their minds wavering, they were naturally no match for Hu Liena's allure.
Feng Yao looked up at the arena, his gaze meeting Hu Liena's meaningful look. A sly glint flashed in the girl's fox-like eyes, and her red lips curved into a confident smile.

The first day of competition ended quickly.

Inside the papal palace, shrouded in night, Bibi Dong sat upon her gilded throne, her slender fingers gently turning the pages of a thin file before her. In the flickering candlelight, a rare hint of surprise appeared on her exquisite face.

"Innate soul power level four, a level fifty quasi-soul king under the age of fourteen," she murmured softly, a glint of brilliance flashing in her amethyst eyes. The few words recorded on the page sketched out the image of a genius who even she found remarkable.

The scepter tapped lightly on the ground, and Bibi Dong unconsciously recalled Qian Renxue's unusual behavior that day. At this moment, she finally understood why her proud daughter had treated this young man with such special regard.

"No wonder she values ​​it so much." Bibi Dong's slender fingertips lingered on Feng Yao's name, and a meaningful smile curved her lips.

In a daze, Bibi Dong's thoughts drifted back to many years ago, and a strange yet familiar figure appeared in her mind. Her fingers unconsciously tightened, and the gilded scepter gleamed coldly in the moonlight.

"If only he had possessed such talent back then..." This thought had barely formed in her mind when she quickly suppressed it. A bitter smile curved her lips; she couldn't even tell if it was a mockery of fate or self-pity.

In the flickering candlelight, Bibi Dong gazed at the handsome portrait of the young man in the file, a surge of inexplicable jealousy rising in her heart. This young man named Feng Yao was not only exceptionally talented, but more importantly, his background was as clean as paper—meaning he could be perfectly accepted by any power, unlike her back then, who was suffocated by the shackles of her own power.

A night breeze swept through the hall, ruffling her loose hair and carrying away her barely audible sigh. The jewels on her scepter reflected a hazy light, mirroring the fleeting vulnerability in her eyes. But the next second, the Pope's majesty returned to her flawless face.

Bibi Dong's cool voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Guards!"

A black-clad bishop entered in response, kneeling on one knee: "What are your orders, Your Holiness?"

"Investigate everything about Feng Yao at the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy." She tapped the file lightly with her fingertip, a sharp glint in her purple eyes. "I need to know his entire upbringing, his relationships." The scepter tapped gently on the ground. "No detail is too small."

"As commanded."

"Furthermore," Bibi Dong looked up at the moonlight outside the palace, "send for Serpent Spear and Blood-Staining Serpent to appear before me immediately."

"Yes!"

As the black-robed bishop bowed and withdrew, the hall fell silent once more. Bibi Dong gazed at the flickering candlelight, her slender fingers unconsciously stroking her scepter. She suddenly felt an intense anticipation for meeting this prodigy.

On the other side, deep within the Papal Mountains, a simple yet majestic hall stands tall. In the center of the hall, a colossal six-winged angel statue radiates a dazzling golden light, illuminating the entire hall as if it were daytime.

Before the statue, a blond man stood in silent prayer. His eyes were closed, his face solemn, and he murmured ancient prayers. His long golden hair flowed with a sacred luster in the divine light, and he seemed to merge with the statue. Suddenly, clear footsteps echoed in the empty hall. Qian Daoliu slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of emotion flashing in his deep, star-like pupils.

“Grandpa.” Qian Renxue walked to the statue and was about to kneel down to pay her respects.

Before she could kneel down completely, Qian Daoliu's figure appeared in front of her like a phantom, his broad hands firmly supporting her arm.

"Xiaoxue, you..." Qian Daoliu frowned slightly, keenly noticing the subtle changes in his granddaughter.

Qian Renxue's lips curled slightly: "Grandpa felt it too?"

"Release your martial spirit," Qian Daoliu commanded solemnly.

Qian Renxue dared not be negligent. With a thought, her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul instantly manifested. Three pairs of dazzling golden wings unfurled behind her, their sacred radiance interspersed with streaks of crimson-gold flame patterns, causing the temperature of the entire hall to rise several degrees.

Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted slightly, a rare look of shock appearing on his still-young face. He trembled as he reached out and gently touched the wings that shimmered with crimson-gold light: "This is... the aura of the True Fire of the Sun? How is this possible?"

"Grandpa, is there a problem?" Qian Renxue asked, puzzled, looking at Qian Daoliu's solemn expression.

Qian Daoliu's expression was solemn as he said in a deep voice, "Xiaoxue, tell Grandpa, why has your martial soul undergone such a change?"

Qian Renxue hesitated slightly before recounting how Feng Yao had gifted the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. After listening to his granddaughter's account, a knowing glint flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes. He slowly said, "Little Xue, you should know the history of our angel race. Our ancestor, the Six-Winged Angel God, possessed both holy and fire attributes, but holy was always the primary attribute. Although our ancestor could borrow the power of the sun's true fire, due to the limitations of his divine position, he could only unleash a portion of its power."

He reached out and gently stroked the flowing crimson-gold patterns on Qian Renxue's wings, his voice brimming with barely concealed excitement: "But now it seems you've broken through that barrier."

Qian Renxue suddenly realized, a look of shock flashing in her beautiful eyes. She then realized that although it was clearly the middle of the night, the aura of the True Fire of the Sun emanating from her martial soul was still as blazing as ever, completely unaffected by the change of day and night.

Qian Daoliu gazed at the crimson-gold light flowing over his granddaughter's martial spirit, his dignified face gradually relaxing into a relieved smile: "Grandpa was worried that you were wasting your time in the Heavenly Dou realm." He gently shook his head, a hint of emotion in his eyes, "It seems Grandpa is getting old."

A broad, kind hand gently stroked the top of Qian Renxue's head. Qian Renxue felt the warmth of her grandfather's palm and a surge of warmth welled up in her heart.

Qian Daoliu suddenly changed the subject, a hint of inquiry flashing in his deep gaze: "However," he lightly stroked his scepter, gazing meaningfully at Qian Renxue, "that young man named Feng Yao, not only recognized such a celestial item, but also happened to gift it to you..."

A mischievous smile crept across Qian Daoliu's lips: "Isn't Xiaoxue planning to bring him to show Grandpa?"

"Grandpa!" Two red clouds instantly rose to Qian Renxue's fair cheeks, even the tips of her ears turned crimson. She stomped her foot in embarrassment and annoyance, and the six wings on her back unconsciously folded in a few places.

Qian Daoliu rarely saw his granddaughter behaving like this, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter. The laughter echoed in the sacred hall, and even the light emanating from the angel statues seemed to soften.

Qian Daoliu gently patted Qian Renxue's shoulder affectionately, a deep light flashing in his eyes: "Alright, Grandpa won't say anymore." He paused, his tone gentle yet authoritative, "Grandpa will help you thoroughly investigate that young man during this time."

Qian Renxue blushed and lowered her head, her wings trembling slightly involuntarily, which was a tacit acceptance of her grandfather's arrangement.

The hall suddenly fell silent. Qian Daoliu hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Xiaoxue, about your mother..."

“My grandfather is my only relative,” Qian Renxue interrupted immediately, her voice as cold as ice.

Qian Daoliu sighed deeply, reaching out to stroke his granddaughter's long, golden hair: "She is, after all, your mother. If you truly want a future with that child," Qian Daoliu's gaze was gentle yet complex, "you must first gain her approval."

Qian Renxue turned her face away, her voice unconsciously lowering a few decibels: "My affairs are none of her business."

She spoke these words so softly they were barely audible, and even she could hear the lack of confidence in them. Her golden wings folded slightly, casting a swaying shadow in the light of the statue.

Qian Daoliu looked at his granddaughter's stubborn profile and shook his head helplessly. He knew this mother and daughter all too well—each more proud and stubborn than the other. Qian Daoliu's gaze turned to the outside of the hall, as if piercing through the palace walls, and he saw the figure sitting on the papal throne.

"Never mind." Qian Daoliu sighed softly, then asked, "Where is that child named Feng Yao now?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Renxue's eyes lit up suddenly. Clearly, her grandfather supported her. The crimson-gold patterns on her six wings shone brightly as if they had been ignited: "He came to participate in the competition with the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy this time, and I personally led the team." As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly realized that she had answered too hastily. Her snow-white skin was immediately tinged with a blush, and even the tips of her ears turned bright red.

Bathed in the golden light of the angel statue, she shyly turned her face away, her wings unconsciously folding, yet unable to conceal the captivating blush. Qian Daoliu, observing his granddaughter's demeanor, smiled knowingly and said, "Oh? So it was Xue'er who brought her herself." He drew out his words meaningfully, "Then Grandpa must give her a proper audience."

Qian Renxue stamped her golden boots lightly in embarrassment and annoyance, the crimson-gold light on her wings flickering uncertainly with her emotions: "Grandpa!"

Qian Daoliu looked at his granddaughter's blushing cheeks, his eyes filled with even deeper affection. He gently patted Qian Renxue's shoulder and said softly, "Alright, Grandpa won't tease you anymore. Bring him to see Grandpa after the competition."

Upon hearing this, the crimson-gold patterns on Qian Renxue's wings shimmered slightly, as if she had both breathed a sigh of relief and felt a hint of anticipation. She nodded gently, her voice barely audible: "Mmm."

(End of this chapter)