Desperate Qian Renxue

Bang!!!

An invisible, immense force slammed brutally into Qian Renxue's chest!

She let out a muffled groan and flew backward like a kite with its string cut, crashing heavily to the ground. The Angel Sword flew from her grasp, scraping across the marble floor in a shower of ear-piercing sparks.

Qian Renxue struggled to rise, but the suppression of Divine Slaughter's Domain made even breathing difficult, let alone mobilizing her Soul Power.

She raised her head and stared fixedly at Bibi Dong on the throne, the hatred in her eyes so intense it seemed ready to spill over.

Bibi Dong slowly rose to her feet and descended the steps from the throne.

The sound of her heels striking the floor was especially clear in the silent hall, every step seeming to stomp upon Qian Renxue's heart.

She stopped before Qian Renxue and looked down at her daughter, sprawled on the ground with hatred filling her eyes. A mocking smile curled across her lips.

"With just you, you think you can kill me?" she said softly, her voice full of disdain.

She lifted her foot, seemingly intending to step on Qian Renxue's face.

But just as the sole was about to come down—

"Stop!!!"

An angry roar exploded through the hall!

Golden light, like a tangible wall, instantly appeared before Qian Renxue, knocking Bibi Dong back several steps!

As the golden light faded, Qian Daoliu's figure emerged.

He stood in front of Qian Renxue, fury blazing in his golden pupils as he stared at Bibi Dong.

"Bibi Dong!" His voice trembled with rage. "Have you forgotten what you said?!"

Bibi Dong steadied herself and sneered. "I have already shown considerable restraint. She attacked me first. I was merely defending myself."

"Defending yourself?" Qian Daoliu trembled with rage. "Using such a heavy hand against a child?! Is this what you call treating her as a mother would?!"

"I said I would treat her as a mother would."

Bibi Dong leisurely adjusted her cuffs.

"But that depends on whether she acts like a daughter. Not like some rabid dog baring its claws at me."

"You—!"

Qian Daoliu clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white.

Looking at Bibi Dong before him—this beautiful, powerful woman who had become completely twisted—a regret unlike any he had ever known suddenly surged through his heart.

He had been wrong.

Terribly wrong.

Bibi Dong would never change.

Her heart had long since been corroded clean by hatred and pain. All that remained was endless malice and warped jealousy.

He had also never expected Qian Renxue's feelings for Jiang Bai to run so deep that she would strike so decisively!

"Grandfather!"

Qian Renxue struggled to her feet, grabbed Qian Daoliu's sleeve, and cried in a hoarse, despairing voice, "Kill her! Kill her—!!!"

Qian Daoliu turned and saw his granddaughter's blood-streaked face, the overwhelming hatred and tears in her eyes. It felt as if an invisible hand had seized his heart and crushed it, leaving him in such pain that he could barely breathe.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but not a single word came out.

Could he kill Bibi Dong?

No.

At least, not now.

"Xue'er—" he said with difficulty. "Let's leave first—"

"Leave?!" Qian Renxue stared at him in disbelief. "Jiang Bai is dead! She killed him! And you want me to leave?!"

"Now isn't the time—" Qian Daoliu's voice was terrifyingly dry. "Let's return to Worship Hall first and discuss this carefully—"

"Discuss this carefully?!"

Qian Renxue flung away his hand and staggered back two steps. The look in her eyes shifted from fury to shock, then to utter despair.

"Grandfather—you knew all along, didn't you?"

Her voice was light, as light as a feather, yet it made Qian Daoliu's heart abruptly stop.

"You knew all along that she was going to kill Jiang Bai—didn't you?"

Qian Daoliu closed his eyes.

That motion had already given her the answer.

Qian Renxue laughed.

Her smile was broken and desolate, uglier than tears.

Shaking her head, she backed away step by step. Tears silently slid down her face, mixing with the blood on her cheeks and leaving shocking trails across her pale skin.

"Why—" she murmured. "Why did you do this—why did you do this to me—"

"Xue'er, listen to Grandfather's explanation—" Qian Daoliu stepped forward, wanting to take her hand.

But Qian Renxue avoided him.

She looked at Qian Daoliu. The final trace of light in her eyes had gone out, leaving only endless darkness and coldness.

"He was only an auxiliary-type Soul Master—Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda has its limitations. He couldn't have stayed by your side for long—"

Qian Daoliu explained incoherently, trying to make Qian Renxue understand his intentions.

"Grandfather did it for your sake. I didn't want you to suffer even greater pain in the future—"

"So what!!!"

Qian Renxue screamed, her voice as shrill as that of a wounded beast.

"I could have protected him for the rest of my life! I could have found a way to help him overcome those limitations! I could—I could have spent this life with him!"

"Why did you have to kill him?! Why—!!!"

By the end, her voice had shattered completely, leaving only hoarse sobs.

Qian Daoliu's outstretched hand froze in midair. Seeing his granddaughter break down, he was at a loss for what to do.

"I already lost my father—" Qian Renxue's voice lowered, becoming weak and hollow. "And now—I have lost the one I loved too—"

She raised her head and looked at Qian Daoliu, her eyes filled with complete despair.

"He clearly—did nothing wrong—"

Those words were like a knife plunging viciously into Qian Daoliu's heart.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, only to find that every word was pale and powerless.

Qian Renxue no longer looked at him.

She turned and staggered out of the hall.

Qian Renxue's bedchamber.

She lay facedown on her bed, burying her face in the pillow as she wept soundlessly.

Her shoulders shook violently, tears soaking into the brocade pillowcase.

There were no heart-rending cries, only suppressed, almost suffocating sobs.

How long had she cried? She did not know.

Time seemed to have lost all meaning. The world contained nothing but darkness.

After an unknown length of time, she slowly raised her head. Her eyes were swollen red like peaches.

Her gaze fell upon the two puppets placed side by side beside her pillow: one a delicate little Angel, the other a crude Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King.

She reached out and gently stroked the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King's rough stitches, her fingertips trembling slightly.

He had been whispering sweet words to her just yesterday. How had he become—

You bastard, Jiang Bai—you said you were the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, that you were strong, didn't you?

Didn't you say—we would be together forever?

How could you—go back on your word—

Tears surged forth again, falling onto the puppet and spreading into dark watermarks.

She clutched the puppet tightly and pressed it to her heart, as though she could feel the lingering warmth of that boy that way.

But all her palm felt was the rough texture of cloth and a cold, hopeless despair.

The next morning.

Qian Renxue pushed open the doors of her bedchamber and walked out.

She wore no makeup. Though her eyes were still somewhat swollen, yesterday's collapse and tear stains were gone.

In their place was an almost icy calm.

She slowly made her way toward the main hall of Worship Hall, her steps steady.

Inside the main hall, the seven great worshippers had gathered together in a rare assembly.

They had clearly heard about what happened yesterday. At that moment, they were discussing something quietly, worry and solemnity on all their faces.

When Qian Renxue entered, the discussion abruptly stopped.

Everyone looked at her.

She seemed—far too calm.

Calm in a way that was abnormal.

There was no anger, no sorrow, no breakdown. She was like a bottomless pool of icy water, tranquil on the surface while deadly undercurrents might be churning beneath.

Qian Daoliu forced a smile, trying to lighten the atmosphere. "Xue'er, you're awake? Are you hungry? Grandfather had someone prepare—"

"Please open the Divine Examination for me, Great Worshipper."

Qian Renxue's voice interrupted him.

Her voice was calm and clear, without the slightest tremble, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve.

The hall instantly fell deathly silent.

The seven great worshippers looked at one another, shock flashing through all their eyes.

A Divine Examination? Now?

Qian Renxue was only fifteen. Though her talent was exceptional and she had already reached the rank of Soul Emperor, was this not a little too soon?

Qian Daoliu's expression changed as well.

"Xue'er, the Divine Examination is no trivial matter. It would be better to wait until you break through Rank Seventy and are more fully prepared before—"

"I said," Qian Renxue raised her head and looked straight at Qian Daoliu. There was no emotion in her violet eyes, only icy frost. "Please open the Divine Examination for me, Great Worshipper."

She repeated herself, word by word. Each word was like an ice spike striking the silent hall.

Everyone fell silent once more.

They looked at Qian Renxue, at the nearly crazed determination in her eyes, and suddenly understood.

She was not making a request. She was giving an order.

She was not discussing it. She was declaring it.

Qian Daoliu looked at his granddaughter like this, feeling as though an invisible hand had clamped down viciously on his heart, squeezing until he could not breathe.

He wanted to say something, to persuade her to wait, to tell her not to act on impulse.

But when he saw the coldness in Qian Renxue's eyes, all his words caught in his throat.

He suddenly realized that his tacit consent had not only taken Jiang Bai's life; it had also killed the Qian Renxue who laughed, cried, and looked forward to the future.

Now, she was merely an empty shell driven by hatred.

"God Ancestor—"

Qian Daoliu prayed silently in his heart, his voice full of pain and regret.

"Was I wrong again?"

The rest of my life—has been spent in regret and guilt—

Before, it was that unfilial son. Now—it is Jiang Bai—

He slowly rose to his feet and walked over to Qian Renxue.

Looking at his granddaughter's cold face, he raised a hand, wanting to stroke her head as he always had. But halfway there, his hand dropped helplessly.

After a long while, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, only the majesty and decisiveness of the Great Worshipper remained in his eyes.

"Alright."

That single word weighed as heavily as a thousand jun.

"I hereby declare, in my capacity as the Angel God's Great Worshipper."

Qian Daoliu's voice echoed through the hall, solemn and majestic. "From this moment onward, the Angel God Trial shall be opened for Qian Renxue!"

Golden light descended from the heavens and enveloped Qian Renxue.

Standing within the pillar of light, she slowly closed her eyes. There was no expression on her face, only cold determination.

Jiang Bai, wait for me.

I will avenge you!

Bibi Dong, wait for me.

I will kill you!!

If Soul Saint isn't enough, then I'll become a Title Douluo! If a Title Douluo isn't enough, then I'll become a god!

Even if this path is covered in thorns, even if I must pay every price!