Qian Renxue gradually snapped back from her memories, her small hands still stroking Zhao Ling's face. Then, leaning forward, she planted a loud kiss on Zhao Ling's left cheek.
She secretly gloated, having successfully stolen a kiss. Big Brother Ling was simply too handsome; she couldn't handle it!
It had to be said that Zhao Ling's charm had once again soared compared to five years ago, rising from 91 to 96. His Lady Killer level had also advanced from Lv.2 to Lv.4.
Lady Killer Lv.4 (Passive): Triggers when charm reaches 1600%. The host gains an additional 50% favorability from, and a 50% reduction in negative impressions from, a desired female target upon their first meeting.
Furthermore, during prolonged interaction with this target, it becomes easier to gain her favor compared to Lv.3. If the target has already become the host's spouse, this effect will be appropriately weakened, transforming into unwavering love for the host.
Based on the progression of the Lady Killer levels, Zhao Ling estimated that to reach Lady Killer Lv.5, his charm would need to hit 3200%.
But it didn't matter if he didn't advance. Zhao Ling felt that the Lv.2 Lady Killer effect was already ridiculously powerful, let alone the Lv.4 effect. He was just curious what the max level for Lady Killer was.
However, this wasn't the time to be thinking about that. Zhao Ling could feel Qian Xunji's gaze, practically sharp enough to stab.
Zhao Ling quickly returned Qian Renxue, who he was holding, to Qian Xunji, a sheepish smile on his face.
"Well...Teacher, if there's nothing else, I'll go find Dong'er now. I, I'm leaving..."
Before Zhao Ling could finish, Qian Xunji's vision blurred, and his figure vanished. This left Qian Xunji utterly dumbfounded.
This guy's strength was becoming more and more unfathomable. He clearly hadn't reached level 99 yet, so how could his power increase be so exaggerated?
But Qian Xunji knew that this guy's strength couldn't be described in normal terms. Who would have thought that four years ago, when he had just advanced to level 95, he had already sparred with his own father?
That time, his father and that guy fought to a draw. Of course, his father didn't use his full strength; according to his father, he used eighty percent of his power.
But his father told him that Zhao Ling also hadn't used his full strength, perhaps not even fifty percent. When Qian Xunji heard this, he was absolutely shocked.
Now, what level of strength had Zhao Ling reached? Qian Xunji didn't dare to think too much. He just felt that he had been exceptionally wise and brilliant to so readily preside over the engagement ceremony between Zhao Ling and his only disciple.
Otherwise, if he wanted to bind this guy to the Spirit Hall now, it probably wouldn't be so easy.
Previously, the Heaven Dou Empire had even tried to snatch this guy from him, even bestowing upon him some ridiculous royal protector title.
Qian Xunji found this quite laughable. Zhao Ling was a Titled Douluo stronger than himself by an unknown margin. Could he be bought off by a mere royal protector title, a prince's mansion, and a salary of 5 million gold spirit coins?
Sure enough, he hadn't been a royal protector for long when an incident occurred in the Heaven Dou Empire where a prince was almost assassinated. There was also a foolish minister who petitioned Emperor Xue Ye to revoke Zhao Ling's royal protector position.
Zhao Ling took the hint and resigned from the royal protector position, cheerfully returning the 5 million gold spirit coins and the prince's mansion.
There was only one item he didn't return. Instead, he promised to save the Heaven Dou Crown Prince's life in exchange for that item.
Qian Xunji had asked Zhao Ling what this item was, and Zhao Ling only told him four words: "Sea God's Heart."
Qian Xunji was stunned. After all, he was the Pope, and his own faction possessed the divine inheritance of the Angel God. It was just that his own aptitude and strength were insufficient to inherit this divine position.
He never expected that the Heaven Dou royal family could actually possess something related to a deity, and that this item was simply swindled away by Zhao Ling. He could only silently mourn for the Heaven Dou royal family.
However, this couldn't be blamed on Zhao Ling. It could only be blamed on the blind citizens of the Heaven Dou Empire. If they hadn't foolishly offended Zhao Ling, perhaps Zhao Ling would still be a royal protector of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Qian Xunji's gaze returned to his daughter, only to find her pouting indignantly, her eyes glaring at him.
Qian Xunji, utterly baffled by her glare, tentatively asked his daughter, "Wh-what's wrong, Xue'er? Why are you looking at daddy like that?"
"Hmph... Why didn't you let me stay longer in Big Brother Ling's arms? Why did you snatch me away from him? Bad daddy, I don't want you anymore."
Qian Renxue huffed and turned her head away, refusing to look at her father. Her indignant, pouting, adorable appearance made the nearby Douluos, Ju and Gui, want to burst out laughing, but they dared not.
If they laughed now, who knew if tomorrow morning they'd be hung up and beaten by His Holiness the Pope for stepping into the Papal Palace with their left or right foot first.
"???" Qian Xunji was utterly bewildered. What had he done? Hadn't he just glared at Zhao Ling?
He hadn't snatched the child from Zhao Ling's arms! That guy had clearly returned the child to his arms himself. How had it all become his fault?
No matter how Qian Xunji thought about it, he couldn't understand what he had done to Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling's strength was unknown times stronger than his. If he wasn't willing to return the child, Qian Xunji wouldn't be able to snatch her even if he wanted to.
However, looking at his daughter's expression—an "I'm very angry, and the consequences will be severe, you won't be able to coax me" look—he didn't know how to appease her.
Alas, Qian Xunji felt like he was committing a sin. He was already fifty or sixty years old, and after finally marrying and having a daughter, he had such a precious little girl.
Yet, this daughter seemed to be at odds with him, constantly expressing her dissatisfaction.
But what he found strange was that his daughter seemed very respectful towards his own father. When she learned to speak, she called out "Grandpa, Grandpa," which made the old man overjoyed.
Qian Xunji was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment. Why didn't his daughter call him "Daddy" first when she learned to speak? At the very least, she should have called his wife "Mommy," right?
Fortunately, later on, his daughter gradually started calling him "Daddy" and his wife "Mommy." She also often clung to his wife but rarely gave him a good look.
Qian Xunji could only try hard to coax his daughter every day. After all, he had a daughter late in life, and if his daughter was unhappy with him, it must be his fault. How could it be his precious daughter's fault?
The only reason Qian Xunji could think of was that as the Pope of the Spirit Hall, he had too many matters to deal with every day, and the time he could spend with his daughter was scarce.
Therefore, Qian Xunji hoped that his disciple would quickly advance to the strength of a Titled Douluo. By then, he could lay down the heavy burden of the Pope and only need to coax his precious daughter every day...