A few weeks later, we bid farewell to Bu Saichi and expressed our deep gratitude for her care. She smiled warmly and noted the change in my relationship with Qian Renxiu, as well as the ring adorning her hand. She congratulated us and gave us some gifts as keepsakes.
Now, we stood before the gate of Wuhon City. We entered the city hand in hand, and with each step, Qian Renxiu's smile grew brighter, reflecting the happiness flowing from her heart. It seemed that the days had only enhanced the beauty and radiance of her smile.
"By the way, Enlil, I forgot to ask where you got this ring," she inquired with curiosity, her gaze fixed on the ring with a large blue gemstone and mysterious engravings.
I smiled and replied, "Well, when I told you about the bet, I decided to make this ring. It was what I did in my spare time over the past three years."
Qian Renxiu's eyes widened in shock. "What? You made it yourself? And three years ago? Was this what you were secretly working on?"
I nodded and said, "Yes, you're right. Also, the engravings on the ring create a protective shield in case of danger."
Her heart warmed deeply at my words. Although I hadn't stated it explicitly, she could feel the effort and love I had put into it over those three years. She imagined the time and effort involved while I was undergoing the sea deity's trial.
"Let's move on quickly," I said with a smile.
After walking a little, we finally arrived at the Temple Hall in the city.
Suddenly, we heard a cheerful voice behind us: "Have you confirmed your relationship? Looks like I won the bet!"
We turned to see the second priest, the crocodile Doulu, smiling at us with amusement.
"What do you mean by confirming our relationship and the bet?" Inquired Enlil, noticing Qian Renxiu blushing as she tried to pull her hand away from his, but he held on.
Crocodile Doulu laughed and said, "Your relationship was clear to all of us. We knew you'd end up as a couple. So, some of us priests, excluding your grandfather, were betting on when you'd admit your feelings. It looks like I won."
I looked at him helplessly, unsure of what to say. I tried to remain composed and asked, "Where is the great priest?"
He pointed inside and said, "He's there, near the angel statue."
I nodded and headed inside with Qian Renxiu, who was still in shock from what she had heard.
We arrived at the Temple Hall, which was spacious and majestic, with marble columns lining the sides and stained glass windows casting enchanting light onto the ornate floor. In the center of the hall stood a massive angel statue with outstretched wings, surrounded by an aura of grandeur and tranquility.
We saw Qian Daoliu, the great priest, worshiping before the angel statue. Upon seeing him, Qian Renxiu regained her composure, withdrew her hand from mine, and looked at her grandfather with eyes filled with unspoken thoughts.
After a few minutes, Qian Daoliu turned to face us, first looking at Qian Renxiu and then focusing on the ring on her finger with a contemplative gaze.
He spoke calmly, "It seems you have made your decision."
Qian Renxiu replied apologetically, "Yes, Grandfather. I'm sorry for not telling you first."
Since her grandfather had raised her since she was young, his opinion mattered more than anything else. If he had disapproved of her marriage, she wouldn't have known what to do.
However, Qian Daoliu smiled gently and said, "It's alright. Young people need to grow and spread their wings. You're no longer a child, and I trust that Enlil is a good person who will take care of you."
I smiled, feeling relieved as he spoke to me with trust-filled eyes.
Qian Daoliu then asked in a calm tone, "When will the day of joy be?"
Enlil, noticing the change in the great priest's expression, replied, "When we finish executing the plan to establish the Spirit Empire, we'll start celebrating."
He saw a look of contemplation mixed with sadness on Qian Daoliu's face, but couldn't ask about the cause of this sadness, as the great priest spoke up, saying, "My granddaughter, since you're here now and it seems you've become stronger over the past three years, you must complete the angel test to ensure the success of the plan."
Qian Renxiu replied with determination, "Yes, Grandfather."
Although Qian Renxiu didn't understand what the test meant, Enlil realized that the great priest intended for her to become a goddess before the plan was complete. This might be the reason for his sadness; he might not witness her wedding day.
Enlil thought, "Perhaps I should expedite the plan."
He then said quietly, trying to break the heavy atmosphere, "Well, since she will be focusing on the test, I'll leave now to discuss the plan with Bibi Dong."
With that, he began to leave, leaving Qian Renxiu with her grandfather to face her future.
***
When Enlil arrived at the Wuhon Palace, its grand and ornate gate reflected the power and authority of the place, adorned with golden engravings representing a rich history and legacy of absolute strength. As he approached the entrance, he spotted Huo Lina exiting the palace. She paused for a moment when she saw him, her eyes filled with suppressed challenge.
"Enlil..." she said calmly, though her eyes sparkled with a challenge.
"Huo Lina, I see you've successfully left the Slaughter City. Did you finish your training?" he asked, raising his eyebrows slightly, trying to gauge her thoughts.
Huo Lina smiled slightly and said confidently, "Yes, and you know I won't stop here. Soon, I'll be stronger than you expect and defeat you."
Enlil looked at her and replied calmly, "We'll see about that. But not now; I have more pressing matters."
She responded with a mysterious smile, "Alright, next time, I'll wait for you to challenge me."
As he passed her, he asked with curiosity, "By the way, how was the Slaughter City?"
Huo Lina answered with hidden tension, "Nothing special, just as mentioned in the information."
Enlil nodded and continued on his way, but he couldn't stop thinking about what he had observed. "Huo Lina managed to leave the Slaughter City successfully against expectations, and it seems she's hiding something. She's likely turned traitor. How did Tang San convince her? This will be a problem, especially since I know Bibi Dong's affection for her."
***
Upon entering the throne hall, he heard a disgruntled voice: "You've finally arrived. I thought you'd stay on that island forever."
Enlil looked up to see Bibi Dong seated on the throne, her eyes watching him intently.
He responded indifferently, "Do you think becoming a god is going to be easy?"
Bibi Dong sighed and said, "Well, now that you're back, can we start with the plan? If it weren't for my daughter's request, I would have started long ago."
Enlil answered, "Of course, we can begin. In fact, we need to hurry. I've heard that Tang Hao is plotting something in the Slaughter City, and as you know, he sent assassins to kill me before."
Bibi Dong raised her eyebrows slightly at this, but showed no concern: "Don't worry. They're just clowns who can't do anything."
Enlil looked at her seriously and said, "They might be clowns, but you should know that the god in the Slaughter City is stronger than the Rakshasa god and the angel god."
Bibi Dong smiled coldly and said, "Forget about that for now. I've sent invitations to the Seven Sects for the meeting, as we agreed."
Seeing her lack of concern, Enlil thought that he might have to handle the threat from the Slaughter City himself.
He then asked suddenly, "And if a sect doesn't show up?"
The atmosphere in the hall turned colder. Bibi Dong responded with a chilling tone, "If no one shows up... it will be a death sentence."
Enlil nodded, relieved that he had sent a message to Ning Rongrong to persuade her father to attend the meeting without any tricks.
Enlil knew that this meeting would determine whether the plan would proceed smoothly or be drowned in the blood of millions, an outcome he hoped to avoid. Nonetheless, he was prepared for all possibilities.