Golden Crocodile nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good. It seems that over these past few months, you haven't let me down. However, you must always remember one thing—ensure your own safety. Don't go doing anything too dangerous. For you, all that's lacking is time. Give it another ten years, and I believe you'll be able to cultivate to the Spirit Saint realm, or even Spirit Douluo. As the only disciple I've taken in over a hundred years, I firmly believe that among the very few who can shoulder Spirit Hall's future, you are one of them."
Yin Zhang chuckled.
"Teacher, aren't you underestimating me a bit? Ten years just to reach Spirit Saint or Spirit Douluo? I feel like it won't even take five years for me to become a Titled Douluo."
Golden Crocodile raised an eyebrow.
"You brat—five years? Do you have any idea what kind of concept that is? Your cultivation speed is indeed astonishing, but it can't possibly be that fast, right?"
Yin Zhang only smiled and said nothing further.
When the time came, he would give Golden Crocodile a huge surprise.
"Oh, right, Teacher," Yin Zhang continued, "I prepared an Immortal Herb for you. Since I hadn't returned before, I kept it with me. Now that you absorb and refine it, you should be able to break through to the ninety-nine—Limit Douluo—level."
As he spoke, Yin Zhang touched the golden bead chain around his neck, took out a jade box, and opened it before Golden Crocodile.
The Marvelous Velvet Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum appeared before them.
Golden Crocodile stared at the Immortal Herb, his eyes blazing with heat.
He had been stuck at the ninety-eighth level for decades. Now, at last, he saw the possibility of advancing further.
Becoming the fourth Limit Douluo on the Douluo Continent had been his lifelong wish—and now, it was finally within reach.
How could he not be excited?
"Teacher, this Immortal Herb is called the Marvelous Velvet Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum," Yin Zhang said. "After absorbing it, your spirit power should increase by one level. Without further delay, Teacher—please begin refining it now."
Golden Crocodile took the chrysanthemum, deeply moved. He had never imagined that his lifelong wish would be fulfilled through the disciple he had taken in.
"Mm. This teacher thanks you. After I break through, if there's anything you wish to accomplish—as long as it isn't excessive—I promise you one request."
Yin Zhang laughed softly.
"Oh my, how could a teacher promise a request to a disciple? If my request isn't excessive, I don't think you'd refuse anyway, right, Teacher?"
Golden Crocodile smiled helplessly.
"Fine. As long as what you ask isn't too outrageous."
Yin Zhang smiled faintly.
"Don't worry, Teacher. You know what kind of person your disciple is."
"It's precisely because I know what kind of person you are that I'm worried," Golden Crocodile replied, rolling his eyes as he joked.
Master and disciple exchanged smiles.
Yin Zhang then walked out of the room and closed the door behind him, while Golden Crocodile began absorbing and refining the Marvelous Velvet Sky-Reaching Chrysanthemum, eager to advance and become a Limit Douluo.
As Yin Zhang stepped outside, Qiangu Yunying hurried over.
Earlier, she had been chatting with her older brother, her father, and her two grandfathers, and had finally gained a clear understanding of the current situation of the Qiangu Family.
With both Qiangu Jun and Jiang Mo increasing their spirit power by one level, they had reached level ninety-seven, matching the cultivation of the third and fourth elders.
Decades—no, over a century—of tacit coordination between the two brothers meant that when fighting together, the power they unleashed was enough to surpass a ninety-eighth-level Peak Douluo. They could even hold out for some time against Qian Daoliu without being defeated. As a result, their influence—and that of the Qiangu Family—within Spirit Hall continued to expand.
Although the two brothers still resided in the Hall of Worship, any perceptive person knew that this would inevitably trigger a series of changes.
And that was only considering the older generation.
Jiang Mo's son, Qiangu Yuan, had recently obtained a great opportunity. His spirit power had reached level eighty-six, giving him a high chance of breaking through to the Titled Douluo realm.
Jiang Mo's grandson, Qian Gu Lifan, was the same—already a Spirit Saint in his thirties, with a strong likelihood of becoming a Titled Douluo in the future.
Add Qiangu Yunying to the mix, and many within Spirit Hall began to say that the Qiangu Family simply had exceptional bloodlines.
As a result, even the relatives of Qian Gu Lifan's wife began treating him better and better. It was truly a situation where everyone was pleased.
Among all of this, although Qiangu Jun and Jiang Mo together could surpass a ninety-eighth-level Peak Douluo, Golden Crocodile himself was also at the ninety-eighth level—and had been there for decades. His foundation was terrifyingly deep, and the two brothers were still not his match individually.
That said, not only were they all elders, they could also be considered in-laws.
The relationship between Golden Crocodile's disciple and Jiang Mo's granddaughter was widely acknowledged. With this connection in place, there was little need to worry about internal conflicts.
The only person who made others uneasy was Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong was resistant to the relationship between her own disciple, Hu Liena, and Yin Zhang. However, due to her own past experiences, she never openly interfered.
She only separated the two when there was a legitimate reason.
Hu Liena made repeated scenes over it, giving Bibi Dong constant headaches. She truly adored this disciple and treated her like her own daughter—just one step away from appointing her as the Holy Maiden.
Holy Maiden—this was the very title Bibi Dong herself had held before becoming Supreme Pontiff.
After ascending to Supreme Pontiff, she had delayed appointing a successor, intending to wait and give the position to Hu Liena. But Hu Liena's increasing closeness to Yin Zhang of the Hall of Worship made her deeply conflicted.
---
Supreme Pontiff Palace
Hu Liena stood before the calm Bibi Dong, her heart filled with anxiety.
"Teacher, do you really not have any concrete information yet? How are Xiao Zhang and Sister Yunying doing exactly? What's the age of the strongest spirit beast in the Xuanwu Forest? Teacher—please, just tell me!"
As she spoke, Hu Liena unconsciously used her Charm.
Bibi Dong frowned slightly and replied calmly,
"Nana, mind your manners. Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying are people of the Hall of Worship, and you know the relationship between them. Why are you worrying so much here?"
"Besides, they've already been together in the Xuanwu Forest for several months. Don't you find it annoying to keep asking me about it?"
"You may not be annoyed, but I am. Their loss of contact most likely means they encountered danger. I've heard some things about the Xuanwu Forest—it's said that many years ago, a Black Dragon capable of defeating a Peak Douluo appeared there."
"Even if that Xiao Zhang of yours managed to avoid it, he would inevitably encounter other ten-thousand-year spirit beasts. Just wait quietly for news to come back."
In truth, Bibi Dong was quite pleased by the possibility that Yin Zhang and Qiangu Yunying had met with disaster.
Ever since Yin Zhang entered Spirit Hall, the strength of the Hall of Worship had risen steadily, as though he were its personal lucky star.