We're Screwed!

Qian Xunji knew that he had narrowly passed the most perilous trial.

He didn't hesitate any longer. Taking a deep breath, he slowly closed his eyes.

The next moment, a brilliant yet unfathomably deep burst of chaotic light slowly split open at the center of Qian Xunji's brow.

At present, he didn't have even the slightest trace of Divine Power on him, because he hadn't begun a God Trial to obtain power. But that pure wisp of [Godhead] aura, the essence of the universe's origin energy, was now revealed to Snow Empress without reservation.

"This is..."

Snow Empress abruptly turned around, her pupils contracting violently. As a super Ferocious Beast who had lived for seven hundred thousand years, she was extremely sensitive to this kind of aura. It was unquestionably the aura of a true god, one that surpassed every energy system on Douluo Continent!

"This is the confidence behind my promise to help you become a god."

Qian Xunji pointed to the center of his brow, his voice calm yet filled with a persuasive strength.

"This is an Embryonic Godhead that hasn't fully taken shape. My current progress is equivalent to that of a Second-Level Deity in the Divine Realm, but this Godhead is entirely bound to my own laws and can continue to evolve.

"Give me time to gather faith, and reaching First-Level Main God, God King, or even beyond God King will be only a matter of time."

He looked at Snow Empress's stunning face, full of shock, then slowly drew in the Godhead's light.

Qian Xunji extended a hand toward Snow Empress. His voice became more sincere and gentle than ever before. In that moment, he wasn't the all-powerful Pope, but simply a man seeking a partner.

"Snow Empress, I still won't force you to do anything."

Qian Xunji's gaze was clear and gentle.

"Even if you agree to leave with me now, that doesn't mean we have to become husband and wife right away. This continent is vast, and Spirit Hall's doors will always be open to you. You can see the outside world with your own eyes, take your time observing me and getting to know me, and see what kind of person I, Qian Xunji, really am.

"We have plenty of time to get to know each other. If one day you decide I'm still not worthy of you, or you grow tired of the human world, you can return to the Far North whenever you wish. I won't stop you," Qian Xunji promised solemnly.

"Even if you ultimately decide to reject me, I'll accept it."

I won't accept it. If you reject me, I'll get stronger and come back to kidnap you as my bandit queen. Qian Xunji grumbled to himself again.

The bitter wind of the Far North seemed to stop completely in that instant.

Snow Empress quietly watched the man before her, who had put away all his edge and arrogance and entrusted every choice to her, along with all the respect she deserved. The defenses around her heart, frozen for seven hundred thousand years, finally melted beyond control.

When she'd seen the Godhead with her own eyes, she'd already known she couldn't refuse the hope that could change her fate. And at last, Qian Xunji's heartfelt respect and refusal to pressure her had helped her make her final decision.

"There are still many things to hand over here in the Far North. I also need to explain the situation to Ice Empress and Xiao Bai. I can't just disappear without saying goodbye."

Snow Empress lowered her eyes slightly. Her long eyelashes fluttered, and her voice turned exceedingly soft, touched with a rare gentleness and acquiescence.

"Within three days, I'll leave the Far North and come find you in the human world."

Qian Xunji was overjoyed. He nearly felt like throwing his head back and howling, but managed to suppress his excitement and asked with a smile:

"The human world is so vast, and you've never been to Spirit City. Do you know where to find me?"

Snow Empress lifted her head. A hint of cunning flashed in her ice-blue eyes, along with a hint of teasing, and her lips curved into a devastatingly beautiful smile.

"Who do you think I sent to the human world to ask about you?"

Snow Empress's voice rang like crystal ice chimes, carrying a note of playful mockery.

"I didn't send any subordinates at all. Those days, I went to human territory myself. On the walls of that place called Jialing Pass, I saw you with my own eyes, holding that empress in your arms and acting like you owned the world."

The smile on Qian Xunji's face froze. He felt as if he'd been struck by lightning, and the cold sweat that had just dried on his back instantly soaked through his clothes again.

Holy crap! This woman actually followed me to the front lines to get her fill of the gossip?

I'd better be careful from now on. She's got a deep mind. Aren't Soul Beasts supposed to be simple-minded?

"But..." Snow Empress shot him a look, her tone carrying a hint of relief and a soft snort.

"You may be an annoying man, but you did tell the truth. You sent her away first thing the next morning. Otherwise, the moment you stepped into the Far North and said your first words, my Emperor Sword would already have been at your throat."

Watching Snow Empress turn lightly and disappear into the swirling snow once more, her beautiful figure heading off to make arrangements in the Far North, Qian Xunji stood on the ice and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. His heart was still pounding wildly out of control.

"My goodness... Good thing I kept my head and didn't stubbornly lie just now. Blind dates these days are way too risky!"

Qian Xunji let out a long breath. Then an unprecedented sense of accomplishment welled up inside him, and his lips couldn't help curling higher and higher. His carefree, delighted laughter echoed for a long time through the empty Ice Abyss.

Who cared how dangerous she was? He'd already won her over halfway...

On the second day after returning to Spirit Hall, just as dawn broke,

Qian Xunji was already seated behind the broad rosewood desk in Pope Hall.

Sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows and fell across the dark golden desktop, illuminating a thick stack of reports.

With the full release of General Theory of Martial Souls and the implementation of policies targeting commoner Soul Masters, Spirit Hall's enormous machine was running faster than ever. As its helmsman, Qian Xunji naturally had a workload that had grown several times over.

"The Heaven Dou Empire branch reports that the number of commoner Soul Masters recruited this month has reached a new high..."

"The first group of Body Martial Soul youths in the Divine Body Battalion has entered the initial adaptation phase..."

Qian Xunji rubbed his aching brow and picked up a cup of premium Snowtop Silver Needle tea that a maid had just brewed. He took a sip.

Although he was busy, seeing the Subversion Point balance in the system's background still ticking upward, however slowly, filled him with an unusual sense of purpose.

However, just as he picked up his cinnabar brush to mark the next report, a terrifying, bone-chilling Soul Power fluctuation erupted without warning above the entire Spirit City!

Boom—!

A frigid wave carrying the aura of ten-thousand-year-old dark ice swept across Pope Mountain like a landslide. The mild morning air froze into fine ice crystals within a tenth of a second. The windows of the great hall creaked under the strain as a thick layer of frost rapidly spread across them...

"Beast! Cease your arrogance!" Qian Daoliu's voice rang out...