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As Qian Renxue walked out of the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong was already waiting outside.
"You..."
Before Qian Renxue could finish her sentence, Bibi Dong turned and started walking down the mountain.
Qian Renxue gritted her teeth and quickly followed, saying, "I know everything now. You were the one who killed him, right?"
"What's wrong? Can't even call him 'father' anymore?" Bibi Dong said coldly. "Did Qian Daoliu tell you everything, or did he hold something back?"
"I don't know the full story. But after spending so long as emperor, I've seen so many absurd things that, when I compared them to my own situation, I could make an educated guess," Qian Renxue said, a bit helplessly. "Grandfather just confirmed my suspicions… My life has been one difficult twist after another, and I used to know nothing of it."
Bibi Dong stopped walking.
Qian Renxue also came to a halt.
It was Bibi Dong who broke the silence first. "The nobility... they're truly rotten."
"Yes. What the hereditary nobles of the Tian Dou Empire have done is far worse than him—teachers assaulting students, fathers assaulting daughters. It wasn't until I ascended the throne that I realized how rampant it was," Qian Renxue said, a flame flickering in her eyes. "Compared to you, those people are far worse off. They don't even have the strength to resist... You know, Grandfather wants me to inherit the Angel God position as soon as possible, but I refused."
"Oh?" Bibi Dong sounded surprised.
"It's not because of what you said about gods not being allowed to interfere in the mortal world. It's because I've witnessed the true darkness of the nobility, and I intend to erase them from this world—"
Qian Renxue's voice grew intense. "Completely eradicate them!"
It was as if Bibi Dong was seeing her daughter for the first time after all these years. She had expected Qian Renxue to go mad, give up, or fall into despair after learning the truth, but she never imagined her daughter would instead make such a firm decision.
"When I was little, I was taught by Grandfather to inherit the divine throne and spread the glory of the angels..."
"As I grew older, I realized I was different from other children. I could never earn your love. I didn't know what I'd done to make you dislike me, so I desperately sought your approval and volunteered to go undercover in the Tian Dou Empire..."
"Now, I'm the Emperor of Tian Dou. I've seen a lot, but what I think about most is how to develop the empire, how to reclaim power from your hands, or even how to fully return to my role as a daughter. Yet, after learning the full truth, I didn't break down. Instead, I found peace."
"Now, I just want to do what I want to do!"
"I will no longer live for any of you!"
Bibi Dong stared at Qian Renxue's back for a long moment before speaking. "If that's the case, then go ahead and do what you want. As for the Spirit Hall, I will not let it fall into the hands of the Angel Clan."
Qian Renxue suddenly turned, a faint expression of curiosity flickering in her eyes, and calmly said, "Can I ask you a favor?"
"What is it?"
"Lend Tang San to me for a while."
Bibi Dong was silent for a moment before spitting out a single word: "Leave."
Qian Renxue chuckled. "I didn't think you'd agree. It was just a joke. But just because you couldn't win him over doesn't mean I can't."
"Now that you're done talking nonsense, you can go," Bibi Dong's face grew cold, the brief moment of affection she felt for her daughter vanishing instantly—this girl still managed to be infuriating!
"I'm not done yet. The favor I'm asking for is to help me return to being your daughter," Qian Renxue shook her head, revealing her true request. "Pretending to be a man has been unbearable. And now, Lingyuan is still pretending to be my girlfriend… It's such a strange situation."
Due to the rumors and gossip swirling around, Qian Renxue had no choice but to stage a relationship with Lingyuan during her time as the Emperor of the Tian Dou Empire, making her appear to be Qinghe the Great's girlfriend.
The betrayal of the smaller nations and their support for Xue Beng could also be partly attributed to her role as the Emperor of Tian Dou, as well as her close relationship with Lingyuan, who was the head of the Tian Dou Spirit Hall's sub-branch.
"This really is quite the odd situation," Bibi Dong remarked, her expression unreadable. After a moment of silence, she continued, "I'll figure out a way to restore your female identity. The time will come, so there's no need to worry. For now, focus on governing the Tian Dou Empire properly, and while you're at it, reclaim the New Tian Dou territories as well."
"Tang San's idea of the Decree of Grace is quite good, but be cautious. By doing so, you'll increase the number of bloodline heirs. After all, both clans and sects are rooted in direct bloodlines and martial spirits."
In the Douluo Continent, clans and sects do not trust vows or promises, but they absolutely trust members of their own bloodline who share the same martial spirit.
"There's no need for concern. Tang San's Decree of Grace has inspired many ideas in me. It can be extended into various applications, such as promoting freedom in marriage and respecting the choices of one's children," Qian Renxue said calmly. "Clans and sects may be bound by blood, but in reality, they are driven by interests. Having the same bloodline or martial spirit may bring them closer by nature, but when interests outweigh those connections, betrayal becomes commonplace."
"It's not easy to build powerful factions like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan or the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan," Qian Renxue added. "As for the hereditary nobles, although some are capable, they are few in number. I can handle them."
Bibi Dong nodded and then brought up the Haotian Clan. "You should keep an eye on this sect that has recently resurfaced on the continent. Before they closed off their mountain, the disciples of the Haotian Clan supported the Star Luo Empire. Yet, their sect is located within the borders of the Tian Dou Empire, in the mountains between the Tian Dou Empire and the New Tian Dou Federation."
Supporting the Star Luo Empire while their headquarters remain within Tian Dou's territory...
Neither Bibi Dong nor Qian Renxue believed that the Haotian Clan had no intention of working with the Star Luo Empire to destroy the Tian Dou Empire from within.
At least, when Tang Chen was still alive, the Haotian Clan certainly had that ambition!
And now—
"Tang Chen has returned to the HaotianClan and is undergoing the Asura God's trials."
"The inheritor of a deity?" Qian Renxue wasn't surprised. "If the gods truly can't intervene in the affairs of the mortal world or affect its balance, then if he becomes a god, he'll be forced to stay out of things... But from the way you're speaking, you hold him in high regard. How does the Asura God compare to the Angel God?"
"In front of the Asura God, the Angel God wouldn't stand a chance." Bibi Dong shared what she had learned from the former Rakshasa, as well as her own speculations with Tang San about the God Realm. "The Asura God is a god-king, an enforcer of laws. His power far surpasses that of the ordinary Angel God."
Qian Renxue's heart sank. "Is that so?"
"Do you wish to become stronger?" Bibi Dong asked suddenly.
"You have a way?" Qian Renxue was taken aback but soon realized something. Bibi Dong could have easily killed Qian Daoliu, but she hadn't. "Has Tang San developed more advanced techniques in spirit cultivation? No wonder Grandfather didn't notice you, even when you were standing outside the Douluo Hall under the power of the Angel God."
"Do you want to learn?"
"Are you willing to teach me?" Qian Renxue suddenly felt a surge of excitement—not because of the opportunity to become stronger, but because her mother, Bibi Dong, was willing to personally impart her knowledge.
Could it be that the motherly love she had longed for was finally within reach?
"Thank Tang San for that. He's the one who helped me come to terms with things," Bibi Dong said as she began walking down the mountain. "But don't think I've given up my hatred for the Angel Clan, including you."
"The Angel Clan is down to just me and Grandfather. There's no one else left... I'll change your mind," Qian Renxue responded.
"It seems you still don't understand. The inheritance of a first-level god like the Angel God is quite different from that of the Rakshasa God, which I inherited."
"What do you mean?"
"For deities like the Angel God, who have followers and faith in the mortal world, the final trial, the ninth one, involves obtaining the ultimate divine position. However, that position exists in a different space altogether. Opening that space comes at a significant cost."
"What kind of cost?"
"I'm not telling you."
"..."
(End of Chapter)