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"Organize the affairs of the Haotian Clan and send invitations to all influential factions across the continent. I am going to marry a most honorable woman," Tang Chen announced joyfully, having just learned that Tang Hao had promising prospects for the Asura God Trials. Tang Chen felt elated and was eager to fulfill a long-standing promise to Bo Saixi. Xi'er, you must have been waiting a long time, haven't you?
As for training the disciples of the clan, he decided to postpone that responsibility.
Tang Xiao and the others were speechless. What? This change in priorities is quite abrupt. Marrying an honorable woman? But who could it be? A woman from Grandpa's (Great-Uncle's, Great-Grandfather's) generation who's still alive? Or is it a new talent from the current era?
Could it be the current Pope of the Spirit Hall? Some younger members of the Haotian Clan immediately thought of Bibi Dong. Only a woman with divine inheritance like her could match a god in marriage.
"So, this is Uncle's plan—"
"With this, we can take over the Spirit Hall without shedding any blood. Ingenious!"
"Haha, soon enough, we'll have the Spirit Hall beneath us!"
Tang Xiao, however, had a different theory. He interrupted them, saying, "Enough with the assumptions. It's not Bibi Dong; Grandfather doesn't even know her. Most likely, it's the woman from Devil Island. She and Grandfather go way back."
Bo Saixi.
When Tang Xiao and Tang Hao were younger, they had once delivered a message there. Although they hadn't met her, they knew of her existence, and from a few words shared by the Guardian Douluos of Sea God Island, they had gleaned a bit of the story between her and Tang Chen…
…
A clear, quiet night under a sparse moon and stars.
On the peak of Spirit Mountain, outside the Douluo Hall, an unexpected guest arrived. It wasn't until this visitor walked boldly past the Hall of Elders and reached the Hall of Offerings that Qian Daoliu sensed his presence.
"Blending seamlessly with nature and moving effortlessly... You've already broken through to that realm!" Qian Daoliu's eyes flashed in shock, but he quickly calmed himself. "As expected, among the three of us, only someone like you, who reached level ninety-nine through sheer cultivation, could reach such heights. Remarkable."
Level one hundred…
Qian Daoliu could only dream of it. As the Angel God's devout follower, he had dedicated himself entirely to the faith of the Angel God, rendering him unable to break past the threshold of level one hundred.
"Old friend, it's been a while. You still look as young as ever, but you seem much more tired. Is it because no one has been able to inherit the Angel God's position, leaving you burdened with too many worries?" Tang Chen asked with a hint of mockery. "This really isn't like the old you."
"If you're here to taunt me, then finish up and leave." Qian Daoliu's face darkened. He turned his back on Tang Chen and resumed his prayers before the Angel God's statue. "You win."
"Aren't you worried that I might kill you?" Seeing Qian Daoliu with his guard completely down, Tang Chen's tone grew somber. He ignored the vigilant followers surrounding Qian Daoliu.
"If you intend to kill me, there's nothing I could do to stop you," Qian Daoliu said, as though indifferent to his own life. "Besides, the Tang Chen I know wouldn't waste time with idle threats if he truly planned to act."
"Haha!" Tang Chen laughed, pulling out an invitation and flicking it forward. The thin paper embedded itself precisely seven inches in front of the Angel God's statue, directly before Qian Daoliu.
"And what's this?" Qian Daoliu asked in confusion.
"Naturally, it's an invitation to my wedding feast," Tang Chen said as he turned to leave. "We've been friends for so long—surely, you won't deny me this small courtesy?" Qian Daoliu picked up the invitation, his expression shifting as he processed the news.
Bo Saixi was someone he had once pursued, only for her to gently reject him in favor of Tang Chen. But Tang Chen, in his pride, had resolved to achieve a breakthrough to level one hundred before marrying her.
Unexpectedly, Tang Chen had truly reached level one hundred and now invited him to the wedding... It was almost surreal. He had once assumed that if Tang Chen succeeded, it would be long after Xue'er's time, by which point he himself would have already offered his life in service to the Angel God. He hadn't anticipated living to witness Tang Chen and Bo Saixi's union.
This was—
An affront beyond belief!
Knowing full well that he, too, had feelings—possibly even love—for Bo Saixi, Tang Chen still sent him an invitation… Tang Chen, to think that beneath that noble exterior, you could be so callous.
"I'll be there," Qian Daoliu finally replied, accepting the invitation. After all, he owed this much respect to an old friend, especially one who had attained the godly level, a being he could not refuse.
Although gods were not meant to interfere with the mundane world's secrets, Qian Daoliu wasn't even sure if that rule applied here, but even if he did know, he wouldn't have been able to decline. Now that Tang Chen had ascended to godhood, ordinary people could only admire him in awe.
"Then it's settled." Laughing heartily, Tang Chen strode out of the Hall of Offerings. In mere moments, he vanished from sight. None present, not even Qian Daoliu, saw how he disappeared, just as they hadn't noticed his initial arrival.
The Third Consecrator wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his voice trembling as he spoke, "Great Consecrator, has he truly reached that level? If he intended to assassinate us, I fear none of us could detect him—except for you, perhaps."
"Even I wouldn't sense it," Qian Daoliu admitted, his mouth dry. In truth, while he had appeared calm, he had been on high alert from the moment Tang Chen arrived. Only after Tang Chen left did he fully understand the vast chasm between levels ninety-nine and one hundred—a difference as stark as a firefly to the full moon, impossible to rival.
If Tang Chen had allowed him to sense his presence earlier, it must have been intentional; he was as helpless before Tang Chen as a child of three, utterly at his mercy.
"Great Consecrator..." The Third Consecrator opened his mouth, but seemed unsure what to say.
"Don't be overly concerned. I know Tang Chen well; he's not one to throw his weight around. However, we will need to reconsider our stance toward the Haotian Clan going forward… Golden Crocodile is still in seclusion, only one step away from level ninety-nine. Best not to disturb him." Qian Daoliu glanced toward the Sixth and Seventh Consecrators. "Old Six, Old Seven, go and inform Bibi Dong of this matter."
The Sixth and Seventh Consecrators acknowledged the command and exited the Hall of Offerings.
Meanwhile, as Tang Chen descended halfway down Spirit Mountain, an overwhelming spiritual force suddenly pressed down upon him. In Tang Chen's perception, this energy was nearly indistinguishable from divine consciousness—a unique variation of it.
The current Pope of the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong, is it? Impressive. To reach this level, so close to godhood, she's practically on the verge of breaking through. Yet—
Tang Chen gazed at the woman who stood blocking his path, admiration in his eyes mixed with a hint of confusion. "Why hold yourself back from breaking through? Don't you desire to become a god?"
"The Founder of the Haotian Clan, Tang Chen. Today's encounter confirms your domineering reputation." Bibi Dong didn't answer his question. Instead, she responded with a cold sneer, "Do you think you can simply come and go as you please on Spirit Mountain? Or is it that, having reached level one hundred, you no longer consider yourself bound by mortal rules?"
(End of Chapter)