However, Bibi Dong was now the Pope of Spirit Hall, and she had firmly won the people's hearts. If she died, Spirit Hall would surely be plunged into tremendous turmoil.
Besides, it had been his own son who had forced himself on Bibi Dong back then... Spirit Hall owed her for that.
No matter what, he couldn't let Xiao Xue be left without a mother.
So Bibi Dong couldn't die.
He had endured it all these years. Now, he would just have to keep enduring.
He would bury this secret deep in his heart and never tell anyone.
Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Xun'an and continued, "Back then, your elder brother was trying to obtain a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, so..."
Qian Daoliu began recounting the story of Qian Xunji's pursuit of Tang Hao and the Blue Silver Emperor.
After Qian Daoliu finished, Qian Xun'an understood the whole chain of events.
It seemed that Tang Hao had been the cause of it all.
Qian Xun'an didn't care about fairness or justice, nor did he care who was right or wrong. He only knew that Tang Hao had killed his elder brother, so he would have his revenge!
" Tang Hao, huh? One day, I'll avenge my elder brother with my own hands."
Qian Xun'an spoke coldly.
Then he turned to Qian Daoliu and asked, "But why did you hand Spirit Hall over to Bibi Dong?"
"Spirit Hall is the legacy our Qian Family has built over so many years. How could you hand it to someone with another surname?
"As far as I know, she plans to pass Spirit Hall's legacy on to that trash Saintess. She isn't part of our Qian Family either, is she?"
Qian Xun'an had run into Hu Liena at the city gates. Not only was Hu Liena weak, but she was also so sharp-tongued. How could someone like her possibly inherit Spirit Hall's legacy?
Qian Xun'an couldn't understand it.
Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Xun'an. "Back then, I had no choice. You had disappeared, and your elder brother had passed away.
"Bibi Dong was powerful and had become a Titled Douluo. She was the most suitable person to inherit the position of Pope."
"Then you could have taken back control of Spirit Hall," Qian Xun'an pressed.
Qian Daoliu shook his head. "Xun'an, I'm old. I don't want to get involved in these affairs anymore."
"Besides, this is what our Qian Family owes your sister-in-law. Handing Spirit Hall over to her is a way of making amends," Qian Daoliu said slowly.
Qian Xun'an stared at his father in disbelief. He hadn't expected Qian Daoliu to be so weak-willed.
"Owe her? Make amends?" Qian Xun'an looked at his father and spoke calmly. "Father, you said yourself that everything she has was given to her by Spirit Hall. I don't believe Spirit Hall owes her anything."
Qian Daoliu shook his head. "Your elder brother did make some mistakes back then. That is what we owe her.
"Bibi Dong may be ambitious, but she's still devoted to the growth of Spirit Hall. In the years since she took office, Spirit Hall has indeed prospered."
"An'er, now that you're back, the position of Pope should have been yours. But things have come to this, so I still urge you not to fight for it.
"Rather than waste our strength on infighting, Spirit Hall should unite and stand against outside threats!"
Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Xun'an and continued.
From Qian Daoliu's words, Qian Xun'an understood. He had thought his father would support him without hesitation, no matter what he did.
He hadn't expected his father to worry that he would fight for the position of Pope.
To be honest, it was just a position. Qian Xun'an didn't care about it at all. The only thing he cared about was family.
But his father's words still chilled his heart.
"Bibi Dong is powerful and a capable leader. So I hope you'll help her and ensure Spirit Hall continues to prosper," Qian Daoliu continued.
Qian Xun'an looked at his father and said calmly, "Because my elder brother wronged her, we should hand over the legacy Spirit Hall has built over thousands of years, then let her pass it on to someone else?"
"Ah..."
Qian Daoliu sighed, then looked at Qian Xun'an. "Come with me."
Qian Xun'an nodded and followed Qian Daoliu.
The two came to a great hall, where a massive Angel Statue stood in the center. Ten meters tall, it stood in a solemn, imposing pose that inspired awe.
The Angel Statue's face was noble and dignified, its features carved with crisp lines, as if they held a mysterious wisdom. Its wide-open eyes shone sharply, as though they could see through everything in the world.
A magnificent crown adorned the statue's head, its glittering jewels catching the light. Beneath it, long hair flowed down like a waterfall, radiating a tranquil, sacred aura.
Qian Daoliu looked at the Angel Statue, then asked, "Xun'an, do you know the purpose of Spirit Hall?"
Qian Xun'an didn't answer. Qian Daoliu gazed reverently at the statue before him and continued, "Spirit Hall exists to safeguard order and peace across the continent.
"Our Qian Family are descendants of the angels. Our duty is to guide the people toward the light, so we must pursue justice!"
"Angels are accepting and benevolent. They yearn for peace, so we must bring peace to the continent, not war!"
Qian Daoliu spoke from beneath the Angel Statue.
At this point, Qian Xun'an understood what his father meant. He was worried that Qian Xun'an would fight Bibi Dong for the position of Pope, and wanted to warn him not to.
But Qian Xun'an had grown up in a cruel world and understood one thing.
The world wasn't simply divided into good and evil. It was ruled by the strong, where the weak were prey.
His father, Qian Daoliu, had relied on his angelic bloodline all his life. He had been treated like a star from childhood and had never suffered much on the continent. That was why he held such beliefs and clung to them.
If Qian Xun'an had shown even the slightest mercy in the small world he had once stumbled into, he would have died there long ago.
The same was true even on Douluo Continent.
The weak were prey to the strong, and might made right.
The powerful could stand here and sing the praises of their ideals and convictions.
But countless people who weren't even Soul Masters were slaughtered like dogs by Soul Masters, or treated as food by mighty Spirit Beasts...
In this world, only the strong could survive.
History was always written by the victors.
Back then, Qian Xun'an had been a little more talented than his elder brother, Qian Xunji. He had even been chosen as the heir apparent to the position of Saint. In other words, if he hadn't disappeared, the position of Pope would have been his now.
And it wasn't that he absolutely had to claim the position of Pope. If his elder brother, his father, or anyone else from the Qian Family held it, he wouldn't have had a single complaint.
But the Pope's seat was now in Bibi Dong's hands, and she had chosen an outsider with an unknown background as the Saintess, intending to pass the position of Pope on to her. He couldn't accept that.
Qian Xun'an looked calmly at Qian Daoliu, then spoke. "Father, I respect your opinion."
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction. "Good. As long as you understand."
"But..." Qian Xun'an continued, changing tack. "I don't agree with you. Spirit Hall is the legacy our Qian Family has passed down through the generations. For centuries, Spirit Hall has borne the Qian name. I won't stand by and watch it fall into the hands of an outsider!"
Qian Daoliu's expression changed. He looked at Qian Xun'an and said, "Xun'an, why can't you understand? What good will it do to fight Bibi Dong for the position?
"Whoever wins, both sides will suffer. You'll only weaken Spirit Hall through infighting!"
Qian Xun'an let out a cold laugh and looked at Qian Daoliu. "Both sides will suffer? Hmph. Father, you've felt my pressure yourself. Do you really think Bibi Dong can hurt me?
"As for weakening Spirit Hall, I can protect it for as long as I live. Whether I live for one day or one year, I can protect it for that long.
"Even with the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire standing against us, I alone, Qian Xun'an, am enough!"
"Xun'an, you..." Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Xun'an. "Would you really defy the ancestral teachings of the Angel Clan?"
Qian Xun'an shook his head and looked at Qian Daoliu. "Ancestral teachings? Father, stop being so naive. This world has always been ruled by the strong, where the weak are prey.
"Your so-called justice and the debt you speak of are nothing but excuses for your cowardice."
"You..." Qian Daoliu stared at Qian Xun'an, unable to believe what he was hearing.
Qian Xun'an turned to his father, Qian Daoliu, and said, "Don't worry, Father. Now that I'm back, I'll do what you don't dare to do! I'll accomplish what you couldn't!
"I'll lead Spirit Hall to true greatness!"
After saying that, Qian Xun'an looked at his father. "And I'll find out the truth about my elder brother's death. I'll avenge him with my own hands!"
With that, Qian Xun'an turned and left.
Qian Daoliu watched Qian Xun'an's back, staring after him in confusion. He didn't know whether Xun'an's return would be good or bad for Spirit Hall.
In the darkness, Bibi Dong sat in a quiet chamber and began cultivating.
A violet light gradually appeared around Bibi Dong, growing ever brighter. A violet ring, more than a foot in diameter, encircled her and formed a strange pattern. A faint glow shone from its lines, rapidly increasing her cultivation.
The violet aura gradually flowed into her body. Bibi Dong slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, then abruptly opened her eyes. Violet light blazed in them, gleaming brilliantly.
Bibi Dong reined in her aura, then recalled what had happened that day.
Sitting in the chamber, she murmured, "Qian Xun'an... Why did he have to come back now?
"Still, I don't care who you are. If you dare interfere with my Godly Trial, I'll make you disappear at any cost!"
Before you continue