Hoodwinking

Solomon stood beneath the dome of Spirit Hall, sunlight filtering through the stained-glass windows and casting mottled patterns across his still-youthful yet strikingly handsome face.

He tilted his head slightly upward, feeling the sacred power coursing through his body. It was a gift from the Main Body, as well as a symbol of the authority to rule the mortal world.

Ye Su had already shifted his main perspective to his avatar, while God's Main Body was preparing to head to the God Realm.

His Role-playing Degree had deepened, and he could now wield quite a few of God's abilities.

As the saying went, his power had returned—not much, but more than enough to beat the gods in heaven to death.

He needed to hurry to set the God Realm in order and turn it into his own Nine Heavens.

What God would dwell among mortals for long?

If everything required God to personally intervene and manifest, then over time, divine majesty would cease to exist.

The arrival of Solomon, one of the three manifestations brought about by the deepening of his Role-playing Degree, was enough to solve that problem nicely.

Ye Su was no stranger to the name Solomon, but he had never expected the Spirit awakened by the other party to be the Book of Contracts. No, calling it the Book of Contracts was not quite accurate. In truth, it was the Book of Solomon, which sealed the true Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods.

Legend had it that the great King Solomon signed a contract with the Demon King of Hell, exchanging his soul for a divine book that allowed him to command the seventy-two demon gods. Relying on their powers, he conquered cities and seized territories, swiftly unifying the nations.

And now, Ye Su had become Solomon.

Solomon slowly opened his eyes, mysterious runes flowing within his golden pupils.

He raised his right hand, and an ancient tome set with seven gemstones appeared out of thin air. Its pages turned without wind, producing a soft rustling sound. This was his innate Spirit, the Supreme Holy Canon that held the Seventy-two Pillar Demon Gods in seal.

The divine power within it was profound. Even without having had time to attach any spirit rings, it was already powerful enough to rival a Title Douluo.

Moreover, Solomon himself was curious about what effects would emerge after he attached spirit rings to this Spirit.

But he merely considered it and did not act immediately.

The Lord had already returned, and only Raphael remained to guard Spirit Hall. Gabriel, whom Qian Renxue had become, was still in seclusion, saying that she wished to comprehend the words the god had spoken to her before.

That girl was far too single-minded.

Meanwhile, Raphael and Xiao Wu had begun getting along. Mother and daughter in their previous lives, friends in this one—they stumbled along well enough.

Solomon did not pay much attention to them. The Main Body was watching over all major affairs. What he needed to deal with now was the matter of the Heaven Dou Empire.

After all, the Main Body had so willfully brought Qian Renxue back and turned her into Gabriel. For the Heaven Dou Empire, that was simply impossible to accept.

How had their perfectly fine crown prince suddenly changed sex after one trip to Spirit Hall and become a crown princess? Not only could she not be brought back, but her Spirit had turned into an Angel Spirit, and even her name had changed...

What were they supposed to do about that?

Solomon stood atop Spirit Hall's high platform. A breeze brushed through his golden hair, while sunlight cast a faint halo across his handsome face. He gently stroked the Book of Contracts in his hands, sensing the vast power contained within.

"Your Highness, the envoy from the Heaven Dou Empire has arrived," a Spirit Hall deacon reported with a respectful bow.

Solomon nodded slightly, a trace of amusement flickering through his eyes. He knew this meeting would not be peaceful.

Inside the great hall, the Heaven Dou Empire's envoys wore grave expressions. At their head stood a white-haired old man—the Heaven Dou Empire's prime minister, Ge Long.

Several soul masters stood behind him, all elites of the Heaven Dou Empire.

"Your Highness," Ge Long said in a deep voice, "we have come to confirm the whereabouts of Crown Prince Xue Qinghe."

Solomon sat elegantly upon the throne, his slender fingers lightly tapping the armrest. "Xue Qinghe?" He smiled faintly. "Are you referring to Lady Gabriel?"

Ge Long's expression changed. "What do you mean by that, Your Highness?"

"It is very simple." Solomon rose to his feet, the Book of Contracts emitting a faint glow in his hand. "Xue Qinghe no longer exists. She is now the Archangel Gabriel beneath the Divine Seat."

An uproar broke out in the hall. The Heaven Dou Empire's soul masters looked at one another, clearly unable to accept this explanation.

"That is impossible!" Ge Long said angrily. "His Highness the Crown Prince is the heir of our Heaven Dou Empire!"

A glint of golden light flashed through Solomon's eyes. "Lord Ge Long, are you questioning the will of the gods?"

Who would dare question the will of the gods?

The envoys exchanged looks, yet none dared say another word. They had heard earlier that a true god had descended upon Spirit Hall, but because Spirit Hall had made no major move, they had chosen to wait and see. Many had even questioned whether the news was true.

But now Solomon had stated it plainly. Was that not a form of deterrence?

As he spoke, the air within the great hall suddenly became heavy. The Book of Contracts opened on its own, and a mysterious rune emerged in the air.

"I will give you two choices." Solomon's voice carried unquestionable authority. "First, accept this fact, and the Heaven Dou Empire shall receive the gods' favor. Second..."

He did not finish, but the threat was self-evident.

Cold sweat appeared on Ge Long's forehead. As a high-ranking minister of the Heaven Dou Empire, he knew well how terrifying Spirit Hall was. Yet what frightened him even more was the pressure emanating from this youth before him, far surpassing that of a Title Douluo.

Just as the atmosphere grew taut, the doors of the great hall were suddenly pushed open. A holy figure slowly walked in.

"Lady Gabriel!" Everyone from Spirit Hall immediately bowed.

Qian Renxue—or rather, Gabriel as she was now—wore a flowing white robe, her golden hair cascading down like a waterfall. Behind her, three pairs of snow-white wings unfolded gently, radiating sacred light.

"Uncle Ge Long," her voice was ethereal and gentle, "please return and tell Father Emperor that this is my own choice."

Ge Long stared in shock at the figure before him, both familiar and unfamiliar. "C-Crown Prince?"

How had His Highness the Crown Prince really become a woman?

How could this be?

"My past life was as Lady Gabriel, the great archangel beneath the Divine Seat. I was already a female angel by nature; all I have done now is return to my true form." Qian Renxue had long anticipated what the Heaven Dou Empire's envoys would think, so she calmly presented the story she had prepared in advance.

She couldn't exactly tell them that she was originally from Spirit Hall and had impersonated their crown prince, could she? At this point, she could only make something up.

Besides, they would not dare question her. Qian Renxue was no longer who she had once been, and neither was Spirit Hall. A true god stood behind them as their guarantor.

Even if they wanted to question it, they would have to consider whether they could bear a god's wrath.

Gabriel smiled faintly. "The Xue Qinghe of the past no longer exists. From now on, I will follow in God's footsteps and protect the peace of this continent."

Solomon nodded in satisfaction. "Just as Lady Gabriel said. The Heaven Dou Empire need not worry. Under God's protection, the continent will welcome unprecedented peace and prosperity."

Ge Long remained silent for a long while before finally bowing deeply. "I... understand. I will report this truthfully to Your Majesty."

After the Heaven Dou Empire's envoys departed, Gabriel turned to Solomon. "Thank you for getting me out of that."

Solomon chuckled. "No need to be polite. It is my duty." He looked into the distance. "However, the real challenge has only just begun. The Star Luo Empire will not accept this fact so easily."

Gabriel nodded, her wings gently fluttering. "With God's guidance, we will overcome every difficulty."