Response

"Once the infiltration plan is launched, we'll be placed in an extremely passive position. That won't be good. We must stop them."

After gaining a rough understanding of the situation, Yan shook his head. If the infiltration plan was activated, Spirit Hall would inevitably have to invest massive resources to help Qian Renxue, who was replacing Xue Qinghe, gain an advantage in the struggle for the throne. And they could not let anyone discover it. The cost would be enormous.

More importantly, becoming immersed in schemes for power would be a waste of Qian Renxue's talent as the future Angel God. By all rights, her conditions for becoming a god were better than Tang San's, yet she took much longer to achieve godhood. That was because she had wasted too much time on the infiltration plan.

"I know that too, but Qian Daoliu's prestige within Spirit Hall is extremely high. I've only just established my footing, so it will be difficult for me to oppose him and stop this plan."

Bibi Dong wore an equally troubled expression. The one who would carry out the infiltration plan was her daughter, Qian Renxue. That alone made her feelings complicated and left her unwilling to launch it. But more importantly, Qian Daoliu's attempt to bypass her and initiate the plan was a challenge to her authority. It would unsettle the people of Spirit Hall.

From Qian Xunji's death over a year ago to Bibi Dong's initial control of the situation, she had only occupied the Pope's position for a little more than a year. Even with Yan's help in dividing and winning over quite a few elders, she still had not completely taken control of Spirit Hall.

The Angel Clan represented by Qian Daoliu had always been Spirit Hall's true masters, descendants of the Angel God whom Spirit Hall worshipped. They naturally possessed immense authority. If the two sides clashed now, it would be extremely disadvantageous to Bibi Dong. But if she let it pass, it would also undermine her authority and allow certain restless people to see an opportunity.

Yan sorted through the stack of scrolls and found the information sent by the Worship Hall. "No. I think the key to this plan isn't Grand Elder Qian Daoliu, but the person carrying it out. Pope, do you know much about Qian Renxue?"

Yan knew how events would unfold later. From his god's-eye view, he naturally knew the truth behind the infiltration plan. It was merely the product of Qian Renxue sulking with Bibi Dong.

Although Qian Renxue was Bibi Dong's daughter, Bibi Dong had always treated her coldly because the child's birth had not been of her own choosing.

While Qian Xunji was still alive, Bibi Dong had merely been indifferent. After Qian Xunji died, she simply succeeded him as Pope and fought for power, never showing Qian Renxue the slightest concern.

With her father dead and her mother indifferent, though the two were mother and daughter, Qian Renxue regarded Bibi Dong as little different from an enemy. That was precisely why Qian Renxue insisted on launching the infiltration plan. She wanted to prove to Bibi Dong that Bibi Dong was wrong.

That was right. Even Bibi Dong did not know that the one bent on launching the plan was not Qian Daoliu, but her own daughter, Qian Renxue. Of course, she would learn this later, but the Pope would not change her attitude toward her daughter, much less admit any fault.

"Qian Renxue... she is the former Pope's daughter. She calls me... Sister. I don't think... I don't think it could be her. She is only a child under twelve. Perhaps it's Qian Daoliu. It must be him. He's using that child."

When Bibi Dong mentioned that name, her hands unconsciously clenched, and a trace of complicated emotion appeared in her eyes.

Yan noticed Bibi Dong's loss of composure. After all, that was her daughter. The mother and daughter stood opposed like enemies, but Bibi Dong had not held power for many years yet and could not be as hard-hearted as iron. That was why she had always blamed Qian Daoliu, believing that old man was deliberately opposing her.

In truth, Qian Daoliu had already withdrawn from affairs at this time and was preparing to cultivate Qian Renxue into a god. How could he possibly be determined to launch an infiltration plan that wasted Qian Renxue's talent?

"Alright, leave this matter to me. I'll personally make a trip to the Worship Hall. Whether it works or not, wait until I return."

After thinking it over, Yan spoke like this. Then he took Bibi Dong's jade-like soft hand and placed a pastry in her palm. "Don't disappoint Nana's good intentions."

After saying that, he rose to his feet, leaving Bibi Dong only with the sight of his small yet tall back. Bibi Dong watched Yan's figure disappear, her eyes filled with complicated emotions. Looking at the pastry in her palm, a faint shimmer of tears appeared in her eyes.

"Ow, Senior Brother, be gentler! Don't..."

Yan pushed open the doors and stepped outside the great hall. With a casual grab, he caught hold of a little head that had been eavesdropping. Hu Liena's pleading voice immediately sounded by his ear. This little girl really had been listening outside the door all along.

After fooling around with Hu Liena for a while, Yan let her go and softly instructed her, "Nana, take good care of Teacher during this time. I'm going on a long journey."

Hu Liena stopped fooling around as well and grabbed one of Yan's arms with both hands. "Senior Brother, where are you going?"

"The Worship Hall."

Yan quietly told her his destination, then went with Hu Liena to another great hall within the Papal Hall. Quite a few people were gathered there at this time.

This was the Papal Hall's exclusive cultivation room. A group of children cultivated separately in pools, with Tuo Ba Hong and Xie Yue among them. Two figures with extraordinary auras sat nearby, keeping watch over the children at all times, while two others sat before a desk handling routine affairs.

"Young Master Yan."

When Yan and Hu Liena entered the cultivation room, the four figures who were not cultivating all looked over. Feng Lin quickly rose from the desk, preparing to hand over the matters he had organized for Yan to deal with.

Having gained Bibi Dong's trust to handle certain affairs, Yan now held authority. Naturally, he promoted his own people. Feng Lin and Liya had both been placed in the Papal Hall by him to assist with routine affairs.

As for why they had been assigned to the cultivation room, the two Titled Douluo sitting here were excellent tools. Feng Lin and Liya were both ambitious enough to improve themselves. With guidance from Titled Douluo, wouldn't that be better than staying at home?

"Grandpa Guimei. Grandpa Yueguan."

Upon arriving at the cultivation room, Hu Liena immediately walked over to Guimei and Yueguan and bowed. The two Titled Douluo also revealed affectionate expressions toward Hu Liena.

Ghost Douluo Guimei and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan held rather awkward positions within Spirit Hall. Their cultivation was second only to the elders of the Worship Hall, and their Soul Power had reached level ninety-five. But because they came from ordinary backgrounds and lacked family support, their influence within Spirit Hall was small.

The Martial Souls of these two were both quite extraordinary. Guimei's Martial Soul was exceedingly bizarre and could, to a certain extent, ignore physical attacks. Yueguan's Martial Soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, was even an immortal-grade herb, a king among plant-type Martial Souls.

However, because their origins were too low, they had taken many wrong paths in their early years. Although they had successfully broken through to become Titled Douluo, they had exhausted much of their potential. Their strength was fairly ordinary among experts of the same rank. However, the Martial Soul Fusion Skill they could perform together, the Two-Phase Stillness Domain, was immensely powerful.

Later in the original story, after Guimei was ambushed and killed by Tang San, Yueguan's status plummeted. In the end, he too died at Tang San's hands.

Second chapter update. Please support with bookmarks, follow-up reads, comments, and votes.