vrcanaries Chapter 468 Bibi Dong's Changes
Chapter 468 Bibi Dong's Changes
Time flew by quickly during the practice.
On this day, the seven people hurriedly reunited after a few days apart.
"Why did you suddenly call us over?" Xie Yue didn't sit down, but casually found a place to lean against.
As Tang San sat down, he said, "Qian Renxue will be back soon."
His voice was perfectly calm, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, as if it were just a trivial piece of news.
Upon hearing this news, the previously somewhat relaxed crowd instantly became serious and pulled out the nearest chairs to sit down.
Yan's face showed undisguised surprise. According to their previous estimates, Qian Renxue should still be able to leave Seagod Island some time later.
Without even looking at everyone's faces, Tang San seemed to see a question mark floating above him.
"After the Divine Exam, Tang Chen will try to directly ambush and kill Qian Renxue, but Qian Daoliu has already made preparations, so the possibility is slim."
Tang San lowered his eyes, carefully considering whether it was possible to intercept and kill him directly.
Seeing that Tang San was deep in thought, the others chatted quietly in twos and threes, not disturbing him.
However, after discussing it for a while, everyone still felt that, given the current situation, if they were to intercept and kill Qian Renxue, the effort would not be proportional to the reward, and it would also provoke Qian Daoliu.
Noticing that Tang San had come to his senses, Hu Liena looked at him and asked, "What do you mean?"
Tang San shook his head, "Just stop her symbolically, there's no need to kill her."
"But we can't let them be idle either."
The group instantly understood his meaning and knew what to do next.
Next, the group discussed the details carefully before turning their attention to Bing Linghai.
Bing Linghai briefly recounted his trip, only going into detail about the more important matters. He still spoke very little, but it was much better than before, and he had taken off his hood.
After a while, everyone left one after another, leaving only Tang San and Bing Linghai in the conference room.
Tang Qi followed Jiang Qianjing around, and soon returned to the courtyard with everyone.
She sat down naturally on the swing and swayed gently. "Jiangjiang, why has it been so quiet around Qian Daoliu lately?"
It was eerily quiet.
At other times it's fine, but now that the teacher has reached a critical point, I'm afraid Qian Daoliu might try some underhanded tactics.
Jiang Qianjing sat down next to him, gently placing a hand around Tang Qi's waist. "It is indeed a bit too quiet. We need to be more careful on our side."
He noticed that while it wasn't exactly quiet, the Elders' Hall was much quieter than before, with fewer small disturbances.
There was no other news from Binglinghai either. Who would believe that they hadn't done anything during this time?
"Never mind, let's keep an eye on things. We'll make more preparations here." Tang Qi sighed, her gaze fixed on the direction of the main hall.
Jiang Qianjing didn't say anything more, but gently patted her back.
There's no point in saying anything now; she'll only be at ease when the Pope appears before Tang Qi.
Several more days passed, and this time Tang Qi discovered the Elders' Hall's subtle actions.
"Ha," she said, "it would be strange if there weren't ghosts, with all this quietness."
But she really wasn't in the mood to deal with it right now, and after telling Chrysanthemum Douluo about it, she didn't do anything else.
That day, Tang Qi seemed to sense something and arrived outside the secret realm.
When she arrived, several Douluo from the Spirit Hall were already there, followed by Tang San. Now all the important figures from the Spirit Hall had arrived.
"It's been a long time. If Your Majesty doesn't come out soon..." Ghost Douluo's figure appeared and disappeared, his gaze seemingly falling towards the secret realm.
“There are no ifs.” Chrysanthemum Douluo interrupted him, a withered and yellowed Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum twirling between his fingers. “A woman like her would never allow herself to fail as long as there is a glimmer of hope.”
Ghost Douluo emerged from the shadows and stood silently beside him for a while before finally speaking, "What's wrong with this?"
"Wasn't what happened back then enough for you to know what kind of person she is?" Chrysanthemum Douluo didn't directly answer Ghost Douluo's question. "If it weren't for this, why would we follow her, so..."
Before he could finish speaking, a long howl came from the location of the secret realm.
As the long howl echoed, the scene fell silent. Everyone present knelt down, feeling their martial spirits tremble with both submission and fear.
This sound is not a specific noise, but rather a higher-level entity announcing its birth.
Immediately afterwards, a purplish-black beam of light pierced through the dome of the Spirit Hall and shot straight into the sky.
The clouds were forcefully torn apart by the beam of light, revealing the dazzling Milky Way.
In the center stood a large door locked with nine locks. It was slowly opening, but then got stuck on the last lock—the one that could be opened with just a crack.
While everyone was still immersed in the moment, Bibi Dong had already emerged from the secret realm.
At this time, she underwent a dramatic change.
The originally soft hair color has completely transformed into a purplish-jade hue, each strand containing both a sharpness that cuts through space and a subtle softness.
As her gaze shifted downwards, her eyes revealed one purple and one black; her left eye reflected the myriad aspects of human life, while her right eye was utterly empty.
However, these changes are minor compared to his aura.
The oppressive aura emanating from some more primal force spread with her steps, distorting the surrounding air into a spiderweb-like pattern, all of which subsided completely when she stopped.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty!"
Congratulations, teacher!
The crowd cheered in unison, congratulating Bibi Dong on successfully stepping out of the secret realm and entering a higher level.
However, Bibi Dong's gaze only fell on the divine gate above, a complex emotion flashing across her eyes before returning to calm.
"One step," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "Just one last step."
She sensed it; the allure of divinity behind that door was constantly beckoning her.
That is both a promise of eternal life and an authority that transcends all living beings.
Once she takes the final step and unlocks the last lock, she can completely shed her mortal form and become a true Rakshasa God.
But this one step made her feel endless resistance—that resistance was invisible and only existed in her memory.
It begins with the joy of childhood, then despair in the secret chamber of the Spirit Hall, followed by the blood and tears of killing one's master, then the complexity of Qian Renxue's birth, and finally the anticipation brought by the appearance of Tang Qi and his sister.
These memories gradually wove into a spider web, tightly binding her divine thoughts and tying her to the mortal world, making them inseparable.
“Heh!” Bibi Dong suddenly laughed, her gaze on the divine gate seeming to see right through it. “So that’s how it is. What the Rakshasa God wants is obsession, and my obsession is too deep, so deep that even the divine position cannot be fully accepted.”
She raised her hand, her fingertips easily touching the illusory image of the door, and then pushed it hard.
The nine locks on the door emitted a sharp, piercing sound that sent shivers down one's spine, yet they could not be fully opened.
She withdrew her hand, no longer clinging to it, and turned to look in the direction of Poseidon Island. "One more opportunity is needed."
"Qian Renxue... my daughter..."
She spoke her last sentence very softly, so softly that her voice disappeared before it even left her lips.
The purple-black light flowing around it accelerated, seemingly showing its excitement and impatience, but eventually stabilized and transformed into a divine robe woven from spider webs.
Tang Qi observed Bibi Dong's emotional shift and guessed what she hadn't said.
She turned her head to look at Tang San standing beside her. The two looked at each other but did not speak.
That night, the Spirit Hall issued an edict:
"Pope Bibidon will be in seclusion for three months, detached from worldly affairs. After three months, her divine position will surely be established."
The news shocked the entire continent the moment it was released.
The Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire tacitly held emergency meetings overnight, and even the Haotian Sect, which had been living in seclusion, had new news—Tang Xiao had emerged from seclusion.
The news sparked another heated discussion between the two empires, which was about to end, and the meeting did not end until dawn.
Bibi Dong, who caused this series of actions, returned to the depths of the Spirit Hall and sat cross-legged on the cold jade once again.
This time, two things were placed in front of her:
First is the Rakshasa Demon Scythe, which has completely transformed into a divine weapon, with nine purple patterns on the blade turning into nine open demonic eyes.
The second is a yellowed photograph, the details of which are long since blurred and indistinct; all that can be seen is a young woman holding a baby.
“Qian Renxue…” Her fingertips lightly traced the photo, a glint of light flashing in her eyes, “If you become a god, you will be the key to unlock the last lock on my body.”
"If it doesn't work..."
"I will personally send you to godhood, and then make you my key."
She flicked her fingers lightly, and the photograph was firmly embedded in the wall beside her. The purple flame in her heart flickered irregularly for a moment, then returned to calm.
As her emotions fluctuated, the jade could no longer withstand the pressure and shattered completely.
She quietly called Tang Qi and his sister in, made the necessary adjustments, and then let them leave.
As the two departed, the entrance to the Rakshasa Secret Realm slowly closed, isolating everything from the outside.
Three months later, when the Rakshasa Secret Realm reopens, what will emerge will no longer be Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall, but—the Rakshasa God.
Just one step away—God.
At the same time, Tang Qi and the others gathered in the conference room again.
"Release the water?!" Yan slammed his hand on the table, his face filled with undisguised shock. "Then what was the point of all the trouble we went through before?!"
Tang Qi glanced at Hu Liena, signaling her to pull some people along.
"Sit down." Hu Liena pulled her back abruptly. "What's the rush? We haven't finished talking yet."
Tang San didn't pay any attention to Yan's actions. "The teacher needs her. Before that, not only can Qian Renxue not get into trouble, but we also need to secretly give her a push."
"You mean we have to help her become a god if necessary?" Zhang Ping's eyes were filled with doubt.
Bing Linghai also looked at Tang San in unusual silence.
There is no doubt that Qian Renxue is a member of the Elders' Hall, but he also knows that Qian Renxue is Bibi Dong's daughter.
Tang Qi spoke softly, and with Bibi Dong's permission, she could tell everyone, "Teacher is still one key away from becoming a god."
That was clear enough; she didn't say anything more.
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, and they all roughly guessed what the unfinished words were.
Bing Linghai's eyes flickered, as if he wanted to say something, but he seemed to change the subject, "Does the Pope know about the Elders' Hall's movements?"
The topic shift was abrupt, but everyone followed along.
After exchanging a few words, the group dispersed. Seeing that Bing Linghai and Su Qi showed no sign of leaving, Tang San guessed that he wanted to check on Su Qi as well.
Seeing this, Tang Qi stopped in her tracks, curious about how much Su Qi had changed after all this time.
Tang San gestured for Su Qi to sit down and casually placed his hand on Su Qi's wrist.
After a while, Tang San withdrew his hand and turned to signal Tang Qi to come and take a look as well.
"Much better than before." Tang Qi withdrew her hand. "Senior Dugu, do you have this skill too?"
It's no wonder Tang Qi found it strange. Ever since she met her brother, in her mind, Dugu only knew how to use poison.
Moreover, those with low toxicity are not worth playing with.
"Have you forgotten Dugu's herb garden?" Tang Sanqu tapped her head lightly with his finger. "Putting aside everything else, Dugu is a very good place for fighting poison with poison."
Tang Qi covered her head and remained silent; she had truly forgotten about this matter.
Tang San chuckled and turned to talk to Bing Linghai about the upcoming treatment. Calculating the time, he should be able to recover to about 70-80% in three months.
Upon hearing this news, Bing Linghai breathed a sigh of relief.
Compared to other things, Suqi is what he is most worried about right now. Knowing that she is recovering soon will put his mind at ease.
"By the way, make some preparations. The Pope will take some time to see you in three months."
Bing Linghai lowered his eyes slightly, guessing that Bibi Dong was going to talk to him about the Spirit Hall.
Tang Qi: "Don't worry, it's nothing serious. My brother has only taken over part of it. Right now, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo are mostly assisting."
"They'll probably assess you first when they call you over, then your older brothers will mentor you until you officially take over..."
At this point, she tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, "most likely after everything is over."
Upon hearing this, Bing Linghai nodded in agreement. He had already prepared himself to be forced into this situation, but thankfully, he still had so much time.
Tang San continued, "How do you plan to manage your subordinates?"
“We have a lot of people available recently, and we can arrange for them to join the Spirit Hall. But you need to discuss this with them as soon as possible. If you don’t have any other plans within three days, we will start pushing people out.”
“Okay.” Bing Linghai nodded in agreement. He had already discussed this matter with them when he left last time.
Hiding all the time isn't a good thing, and now is not the time to hide anymore.
"Alright, you can arrange it as you see fit." Tang San had no objections; in the end, it would be handed over to him anyway, so it didn't matter whether it was sooner or later.
Suddenly, he remembered the few flies he had caught earlier and mentioned them again, "They've come over. Qiqi will keep an eye on them when she has time, just in case, those in important positions."
Bing Linghai certainly had no objections.
Having made the decision, he certainly wouldn't let anything happen to himself; it wouldn't be good to leave any hidden dangers for the future.
After a brief discussion, everyone immersed themselves in cultivation, as they needed to make the most of their time.
Two months later, upon learning that Qian Renxue had left Seagod Island, Tang Qi sighed, "She's finally back ahead of schedule."
It must be said that Qian Renxue's talent is indeed outstanding, and she should be qualified to become the key.
Her gaze drifted through the windows of the Spirit Hall towards the Elder Hall.
So much time has passed, and the Elder Hall remains the same as always, except that the previously dim golden light has shone brightly again, as if it is waiting for Qian Renxue's return.
At the same time, Tang Chen's Clear Sky Hammer was blocked by Poseidon. Taking advantage of this opportunity, a figure flashed out quickly, carrying Qian Renxue away.
Only after the two had gone far away did Poseidon and Tang Chen stop what they were doing.
Tang Chen's gaze was fixed on Poseidon, his mouth opening and closing several times.
According to Tang San, he would have to leave for a while in another half month, but Poseidon would have to stay and guard Seagod Island and could not leave.
But recently there has been new news from the Haotian Sect, so he still has to go back and take a look no matter what.
They finally reunited, and their relationship finally eased.
"Let's go." Poseidon parted her lips slightly, her voice as always carrying the boundless embrace of the sea, "It'll be soon, Tang San needs you."
Tang Chen let out a breath. "Wait for me."
His voice was calm and even; he would definitely come back once everything was over.
Poseidon didn't say anything, gave him a deep look, and then disappeared into the waves.
After taking one last look at Poseidon Island, Tang Chen turned and disappeared in a beam of light. He pretended to chase after Qian Renxue in the direction she had left for a short distance before turning back and heading towards Haotian Sect.
This time, the Clear Sky Sect chose a location at the intersection of the two great empires and the Spirit City, which can barely be considered part of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Tang Chen concealed his aura, draped a cloak over his body, and the large hood obscured most of his face.
He hid in the shadows, looking out at the unusually quiet valley.
This doesn't look like someone about to be born.
If that's the case, then what's the story behind the news of Tang Xiao's emergence from seclusion?
He didn't go any further and turned to leave.
Many others, upon learning that the Haotian Sect had made no concrete moves, expressed their bewilderment at this action.
"Jiang Jiang, what do you think Haotian Sect is trying to do?" Tang Qi leaned against Jiang Qianjing with her eyes closed, yawning lazily.
Jiang Qianjing relaxed his body and gently placed his head on hers. "I don't know, but if they still haven't made a move, then they're not living in seclusion."
That means it simply disappeared.
After hiding for so long, it's time to take this opportunity to come out and make some moves.
Moreover, they may not be able to completely control the new generation.
Tang Qi unconsciously tugged at Jiang Qianjing's clothes.
It's fine if you come out, but...
"Don't worry." Jiang Qianjing patted her arm gently. "We should ask Third Brother about their situation; he should know more than we do."
"However, instead of worrying about that, you should be curious about where Qian Renxue is hiding."
Upon hearing this, Tang Qi frowned and looked up, "Didn't she head towards the Spirit Hall?"
She hadn't paid attention for a while; had Qian Renxue actually left Seagod Island?
Judging by the time, it won't be long before the teacher comes out of seclusion; the timing is just right.
"No, I'll go ask my brother." Tang Qi jumped up and pulled Jiang Qianjing to go find someone.
"Why are you running so fast?" Tang San stopped and asked curiously as he looked at Tang Qi, who was approaching him with hurried steps.
Tang Qi ran to his side in a few steps, blurted out all the questions she wanted to ask, and then looked at him expectantly, waiting for his reply.
"Tang Chen went to play cat and mouse." Tang San shrugged.
Tang Chen had come by, but it was too early and he had nothing else to do, so he simply went to catch up with Qian Renxue. After a pause, Tang San spoke cryptically, "As for the Haotian Sect, they probably won't get involved, but Tang Hao is very likely to make some moves."
As far as he knew, Tang Hao had been keeping that girl named Xiao Wu by his side for a long time, probably intending to bring her along.
In addition, some time ago, Bing Linghai told him that Xiao Wu had a very good relationship with the gorilla in the Star Dou Great Forest.
However, this doesn't have much of an impact, as they rarely leave the Star Dou Great Forest.
If possible, these few soul beasts might be a step to provoke Qian Renxue.
After hearing Tang San's words, Tang Qi blinked, ignoring the change in Tang San's expression.
So, Tang Chen actually has a childlike heart?
However, knowing this, she also knew that as long as Qian Renxue hadn't disappeared, everything was fine.
As for Tang Hao...
He was all alone, and with his brother's support, there shouldn't be any problems.
Seemingly sensing Tang Qi's worry, Tang San gently rubbed her head and said, "Alright, go do whatever you want."
After saying that, he left before Tang Qi could speak.
"Are you relieved now?" Jiang Qianjing looked down at her with a smile.
Tang Qi nodded, and that was the end of that matter.
About half a month later, Qian Renxue finally returned to the Elder Hall. Although she looked disheveled, she was actually unharmed.
But she was the only one who went back.
Qian Daoliu told Qian Renxue to go back and recuperate, but then turned around and his face darkened as he looked at the Spirit Hall with a gloomy expression.
What a magnificent Spirit Hall!
When did the Clear Sky Sect get involved with the Spirit Hall?
Ah, so that's why the Haotian Sect, which had been hiding, suddenly started to show itself out of nowhere. So that's what they were waiting for him to do.
But none of that matters, as long as his granddaughter becomes a god, then everything will be fine.
However, before that, the people of the Spirit Hall will have to pay a price.
At the same time, Tang Qi suddenly felt a chill down her back and involuntarily shivered.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Qianjing asked with concern.
Tang Qi shook her head. "It's nothing. I guess Qian Daoliu is trying to stir things up."
Time flew by, and it was soon time for Bibi Dong to leave the pass.
By this time, the atmosphere in the Elders' Hall had become increasingly tense.
That evening, Qian Daoliu stood at the highest point of the Elder Hall.
The six-winged angel relief standing on the dome shines even brighter under the golden light, giving it an unapproachable feel at first glance.
The setting sun shone through the angel relief and through the stained glass, casting a crimson hue on Qian Daoliu's silver hair.
It was this touch of blood that made his aura even more terrifying, yet it couldn't conceal the deep wrinkles between his brows.
"Xiaoxue, come here."
Qian Renxue emerged from the shadows, her twenty-year-old face having shed the naivety of a young girl, her long golden hair cascading down like a waterfall.
She inherited the purest bloodline of the Angelic Martial Soul, but her soul power was stuck at level 89 for a whole year—the threshold to becoming a Title Douluo stood like an insurmountable chasm in front of her.
“Grandpa, I sense it.” She looked up, her amber eyes reflecting the holy sword in the statue’s hand. “The angelic divine trial… it’s calling to me, but its voice is very weak.”
Qian Daoliu's hand trembled slightly.
As the high priest of the angelic race, he understood better than anyone else what this meant.
Qian Renxue's bloodline purity is sufficient to initiate the divine trial, but her soul power has not yet reached the trigger threshold.
The succession to divine positions never waits for mortals. If one cannot complete the first test before the age of thirty, the will of the angel god will be forever silenced.
"Three months."
Qian Daoliu turned around, his voice deep and resonant like an ancient bell, "I'll give you three months to break through, and you can use all the resources of the Elder Hall as you see fit."
Qian Renxue pursed her lips.
She saw the flame burning in her grandfather's eyes—not the affection of an elder for a younger generation, but the obsession built up by a family over a thousand years.
Those who possess the Angelic Martial Soul are born with the destiny of becoming gods.
She lowered her eyes, her gaze falling downwards.
These trials and tribulations, these steps forward, will never cease; she will bear all of this, and she must bear all of this.
Because she knew that her grandfather was willing to give everything, including his life, for her to become a god.
Even if his ambitions extend beyond this, as long as she can become a god, everything will have meaning for her grandfather.
Meanwhile, inside the Spirit Hall's secret realm, Tang San sat opposite Bibi Dong, his long hair falling to the ground, his eyes fixed on the chessboard, his sharpness undisguised.
“Qian Daoliu is in a hurry.” Bibi Dong chuckled, her voice filled with a hint of pleasure, yet also containing an unyielding ruthlessness. “He has used up the soul bone reserves accumulated by the Hall of Worship over the past hundred years, and is even preparing to hunt down the nearly million-year-old Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm in the Star Dou Great Forest.”
The obsidian chess piece twirled between her slender fingers as she gazed at it with delight, as if it were a fascinating piece to play with.
Tang San frowned, the chess piece between his fingers about to fall, but he suddenly stopped. "Heavenly Dream Ice Silkworm? That's a spirit-type soul beast, which conflicts with the attribute of the Angel Martial Soul. Qian Daoliu wouldn't make such a mistake."
There was no doubt in his tone, only silence, and the chess piece fell naturally.
“So he needs someone to ‘accidentally’ leak the information, telling him that there is an ancient dragon with the attribute of light in the core area of the Star Dou Great Forest.” Bibi Dong pressed the black piece in the center of the chessboard, “a dragon… that you and I ‘awakened’ together with the light of the sea god and the power of the Rakshasa god.”
Tang San looked up at Bibi Dong and said, "Teacher, although you have emerged from seclusion, you are still missing this key."
At this point, his voice involuntarily slowed down, "Once Qian Renxue truly becomes a god, it won't be an easy thing to use her as a key."
"Moreover, Qian Daoliu is also there, and so is Tang Hao..."
Bibi Dong stopped what she was doing, casually tossed the piece into the chess box with a crisp sound.
“So, we need to give him another push.” She sneered. “Doesn’t he yearn for Qian Renxue to become a god? Then let him take the final step in Qian Renxue’s path to godhood.”
Her loose hair swayed with her movements. She rested one hand on the table, her posture languid, but her eyes flashed with emotions that Tang San couldn't understand.
"Little San, do you want to know, between the Sea God and the Angel God, who is truly the ruler of this continent?"
Tang San remained silent, listening quietly to Bibi Dong's words.
In a few more days, Bibi Dong will be completely out of seclusion.
The plan went even more smoothly than they had imagined.
The coordinates of the ancient dragon that 'accidentally' fell into the Elder Hall's intelligence network, the hunting team that 'just happened' to encounter a beast tide on the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest and was forced to venture into the core area, the light-attribute inner core that 'accidentally' rolled out of a rock crevice when the dragon was on the verge of death...
All the coincidences are strung together to form a stairway to godhood, and Qian Renxue is climbing it step by step.
Qian Daoliu did have his doubts; everything was going too smoothly, so smoothly that he couldn't help but be suspicious.
He stood silently beside the dragon's corpse, sensing the lingering aura of the sea god and a faint, chilling coldness in the air—the scent of a Rakshasa.
He knew perfectly well which of these two smells belonged to whom.
However, when he saw Qian Renxue sitting cross-legged, her soul power surging like boiling water, all his doubts were suppressed.
He didn't notice anything that was detrimental to Qian Renxue, and finally closed his eyes.
"Protect the Dharma." He ordered the senior elders to spread out their formation, while he himself flew into the sky, using his body as a shield to firmly protect Qian Renxue under his wings.
However, what he didn't know was that three kilometers away in the treetops, Tang San was observing all of this from afar using his Purple Demon Eye.
He held a Rakshasa Mark provided by Bibi Dong in his hand. He only needed to crush it to cause the soul power in Qian Renxue's body to go berserk instantly.
But he didn't move.
"It's not the right time yet."
He then silently withdrew the Rakshasa mark, waiting for a better opportunity.
Just as the holy sword in the angel statue finally unleashed its first ray of divine light, Qian Renxue was taking a bath.
Golden liquid poured down from the dome; it was no ordinary water, but a fountain of faith condensed from the soul power of successive high priests.
This time, it was a true test of her destiny.
The content of the first test naturally came to mind: to traverse the "illusionary corridor" of the Angel Temple and confront one's deepest fears.
Qian Renxue smiled.
She thought it would be her mother's hatred, her grandfather's death, or the destruction of the Spirit Hall.
But as she stepped into the corridor, she saw countless versions of herself—six-year-old, twelve-year-old, eighteen-year-old—each repeating the same sentence: "You are just a tool."
Deep within the illusion, stood a small figure.
That was the young version of Qian Renxue, holding a broken rag doll, tears freezing into ice crystals on her cheeks.
“Grandpa doesn’t love me,” little Qian Renxue said. “Mom hates me. I’m just a vessel for angels.”
The adult Qian Renxue stopped in her tracks.
She suddenly realized that she had never been allowed to have "fear," because fear meant weakness, and the weak were not worthy of bearing a divine position.
But now, in this real illusion constructed by divine will, she has to confront the self that is locked deep in her memory.
“You are not a vessel.” She crouched down, looking directly into her younger self’s eyes. “You are Qian Renxue. Whether or not there are angels or gods, you are Qian Renxue.”
In the instant the illusion collapsed, she heard a very faint sigh—not from divine sense, but from some corner of the real world.
That sigh contained relief, guilt, and a complex emotion she couldn't understand.
Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue with a complicated expression.
Tools?
Perhaps in a sense, Qian Renxue was indeed a tool, but he also had an indelible affection for her.
That was his only granddaughter.
One divine test after another appeared, and Tang San simply watched coldly from the sidelines.
“It’s still early.” Bibi Dong appeared beside him. “It’s too early now. Since we’ve made preparations, let’s maximize all the benefits.”
Tang San understood Bibi Dong's thoughts.
Of course, that's what he thought too.
Since they've put in so much effort, how can we give them a small return for their help?
As dawn broke, a powerful surge of soul energy emanated from the Spirit Hall, signifying that Bibi Dong had emerged from seclusion.
In the main hall, Bibi Dong suddenly appeared on the throne, her scepter placed to the side.
Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on her face and reflecting a dazzling light onto the scepter.
The light casually fell on Bibi Dong's hair, like scattered stars.
"Welcome, Your Majesty!"
Congratulations, teacher!
The shouts echoed throughout the entire hall.
Bibi Dong parted her lips slightly, "Get up, all of you."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"Thank you, Teacher Xie!"
Tang Qi looked at Bibi Dong with bright eyes, "Teacher, the news of your emergence from seclusion has already spread, and Qian Daoliu is still protecting Qian Renxue."
Bibi Dong nodded. "Do you know which test Qian Renxue is in?"
Tang San stepped forward, "In the fourth test."
"The speed is not bad."
This statement puzzled the people at the back.
Shouldn't His Holiness the Pope be surrounded by snow now?
Why are you praising it now?
But their doubts are destined to remain unanswered.
Bibi Dong waved her hand, leaving only a few important people behind.
After the others left, Tang San began to report, "Teacher, Xingluo sent a letter of goodwill some time ago, and the Xingluo Emperor will be coming in person soon."
"The Heavenly Battle has already completed its succession, and the one in power now is Xue Ke, whom we have supported."
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong revealed a satisfied expression.
"Teacher, Bing Linghai is already waiting outside." Tang Qi interjected after everything was finished.
On the other side, Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue stood together on the star-gazing platform.
"Can you feel it?" Qian Daoliu's voice sounded somewhat weary.
Qian Renxue nodded.
She felt another force pulling her from behind the divine test, like an invisible hand supporting her back as she climbed upwards.
The temperature of those hands was sometimes as warm as the light of the sea god, and sometimes as cold as the abyss of a demon, yet they strangely maintained a certain balance.
“Someone is pulling the strings in the shadows.” Qian Daoliu’s voice was calm, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him. “I have been investigating for a long time, and the clues point to two people we know very well—your mother and the inheritor of the Sea God.”
Qian Renxue's fingers tightened.
She recalled the sigh in the illusionary corridor, the faint scent of Blue Silver Grass in the air each time she broke through a bottleneck, and the Sea God Shell that didn't belong to the Spirit Hall that she woke up after being seriously injured and unconscious.
“Why didn’t you stop it?” she asked.
How could we just let things develop like this, with such obvious hidden dangers, until now, her fifth test is about to begin?
As the moonlight shone around him, it etched deep lines into his face.
The old man suddenly appeared extremely tired, as if the stone pillar that had supported him for thousands of years had finally developed cracks.
“Because I was also one of the instigators.” He smiled bitterly. “Three months ago, I ‘coincidentally’ put the coordinates of the ancient dragon into the intelligence network. Two months ago, I ‘accidentally’ planted a Soul Master skilled in mental guidance in the hunting team. Even the Fountain of Faith you bathed in, I infiltrated it. I mixed in a trace of the life water of Seagod Island…”
Qian Renxue's pupils suddenly contracted.
She never imagined that, besides those two people, her grandfather was also one of the driving forces behind all of this.
"Xiaoxue, do you think becoming a god is an exam?"
Qian Daoliu didn't wait for Qian Renxue's answer, but simply shook his head and said to himself, "No, becoming a god is a transaction. You need chips, you need opponents, you need... a house that's willing to bet everything on you. Bibi Dong and Tang San are pushing you forward, but aren't I also taking advantage of their push?"
"It doesn't matter who's pulling the strings behind the scenes; what matters is that we hold the real benefits in our own hands."
He stretched out his hand, and in his palm lay a golden feather—a fragment of an artifact left behind by the angel god, and the embodiment of the life of the High Priest.
"The ninth trial requires a sacrifice. This is my last bargaining chip." Qian Daoliu smiled, a smile that Qian Renxue had never seen before. "Go and become a god, not for the angel race, not for the Elder Hall... but for yourself. Go and prove that the girl who embraced her younger self in the illusion deserves everything."
The moment those words appeared, Qian Renxue felt a deafening roar in her mind.
She looked up at Qian Daoliu in disbelief.
How is this going?
Isn't the divine examination never fixed, and everything varies from person to person?
How could the Ninth Trial be so certain that a sacrifice is required?
She opened her mouth, but the sound got stuck in her throat, and not a single word came out.
Even though she told herself she wasn't a tool during the first exam, she knew even more clearly that tools were an integral part of her being.
Qian Daoliu gently stroked her hair, a gesture he rarely made.
At this moment, his face was more peaceful than ever before, as if he had long been prepared to make a sacrifice. He then changed the subject, saying, "The progress of the experiments over the years has been objective, but we don't have many people at our disposal."
"Besides the inherent unexpected events, you also know about several important locations."
Every word of these sentences sounded like his last words, as if he were about to die for Qian Renxue and become a god, even though there was still so much time left.
Qian Renxue forcefully interrupted Qian Daoliu, this was the first time she had spoken so forcefully, "Since Tang San and the others are one of the driving forces, can my path to godhood still be stable?"
She only mentioned Tang San's name and didn't want to talk about the other person involved.
Qian Daoliu didn't rush to speak, but only swept his deep and aged eyes across her face, "Don't worry."
"Even if they have some ulterior motive, they will at least wait until your ninth exam before making a move."
"They still know too little about our angel race."
"When you take your ninth test, they will know that all conspiracies are futile before the angels."
"They will not have the opportunity to do anything to stop you from becoming a god."
After a pause, Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue's face and said, word by word, "Everything they do will only be your wedding dress."
"Why?" Qian Renxue asked hesitantly, her voice trembling slightly.
"You guessed it, didn't you?" Qian Daoliu smiled kindly. "When the sacrifice begins, the angels will cleanse all negative influences."
Qian Renxue felt her heart beating very slowly, very slowly. "Why? Does it have to be you, Grandpa?" (End of Chapter)