The Gap

Qian Renxue looked coldly at Ning Fengzhi's unravelling, frantic appearance. What on earth was it that made Ning Fengzhi lose this composure? Was it for the power he was about to lose, or truly for his disciple Xue Qinghe?

Yet Qian Renxue no longer wished to know the answer to this. "Teacher-no, Ning Fengzhi, there never was any disciple of yours named Xue Qinghe from the very beginning. The person who interacted with you the entire time was always me."

"You actually..."

Ning Fengzhi found it hard to believe. No wonder he had never sensed anything amiss with Xue Qinghe; it was because the Xue Qinghe he had dealt with from the very start was fake.

"Before you die, I might as well tell you. The plan our Spirit Hall Empire has plotted for nearly twenty years does not allow for any losses."

"Do not get full of yourself, brat. You dare to barge into our headquarters single-handedly-surely you have already prepared to throw your life away?"

A certain nobleman actually dared to challenge Qian Renxue regardless of his own life, believing that with so many people gathered here, no matter how formidable Qian Renxue was, she could not withstand so many soul masters.

Yet they all forgot that the strength and numbers of soul masters were not equivalent. Coupled with Qian Renxue's special status as the offspring of the former supreme pontiff, this indicated that she might be the one to replace Bibi Dong as the new ruler.

If their side held Qian Renxue hostage, they would possess equal bargaining chips to negotiate with the Spirit Hall Empire.

Yet Qian Renxue gave them no such opportunity whatsoever. "I will give you a choice now: surrender or death. Which one do you choose?"

"We will never surrender to the death! Not an inch of our country's territory will be yielded-dream on if you think you can occupy the lands of our Heaven Dou Empire."

"Since that is the case, do not blame me for being merciless." Qian Renxue had initially come to the Heaven Dou Empire harboring the intention of letting these people surrender, but instead, she only heard their reckless behavior of throwing themselves at the flame like moths.

This left Qian Renxue deeply disappointed, but matters could not simply end here. Angel Descent.

A holy radiance belonging to the six-winged angel emanated from Qian Renxue's body. Combined with the ten soul rings floating around her, this made everyone realize that this person was the very deity backing the Spirit Hall Empire.

"So you are a deity?!"

This reality plunged numerous nobles into despair. Originally, they had thought she was merely an ordinary soul master, or perhaps a slightly formidable soul master. They had even harbored plans to kidnap her, but the reality presented a vastly different picture.

"I will ask once more: will you surrender, or will you die?"

Yet even in the face of a deity's threat, these nobles who valued interests and power still refused to yield. Even if they died, they would drag these people down to hell with them.

"A divine mansion, is it? This old man shall accompany you to cross a few blows. Since you are already a deity, you wouldn't mind this old man using Fengzhi's amplification, would you?"

Sword Douluo stepped forward bravely at the moment when ten thousand people fell into despair, and in such a situation, Ning Fengzhi could not refuse Sword Douluo's request.

"Since you wish to come and battle me, then come."

Sword Douluo gazed at the young man before him, feeling as though time had drifted across lifetimes. His own grandfather had also fallen while challenging Qian Renxue's grandfather; could it be that he, too, was destined to follow in his grandfather's footsteps and die at the hands of the Angel Bloodline?

"Do you remember? This old man's grandfather once challenged your grandfather. I wonder how the great enshrined, Qian Daoliu, fares?"

Qian Daoliu had already successfully sacrificed himself to initiate Qian Renxue's path to godhood, existing as someone long since departed from this world, yet now Sword Douluo directly pierced through this facade.

"Why waste breath on idle chatter?"

Qian Renxue did not wish to bring up this matter and could only provoke Sword Douluo to strike as soon as possible.

Ning Fengzhi also stood up, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda manifesting in his right hand. "First: Strength, second: Speed, third: Soul, fourth: Defense, fifth: Attack, sixth: Amplification, seventh: Seven Treasures True Body."

A formidable amplification landed upon Sword Douluo, and with Sword Douluo's own ninety-seventh-rank soul power coupled with Ning Fengzhi's assistance, Sword Douluo's strength rose sharply.

"Ninth Spirit Skill, God-Demon Dual Slash."

Sword Douluo did not dare to be overconfident either, employing only his most powerful strike. Yet no matter how formidable the Seven Kill Sword was, it was still not a divine artifact.

Sword Douluo's strongest blow failed to even shatter Qian Renxue's barrier, and Sword Douluo himself was instead struck down into the depths of the earth by the recoil of his own attack.

"Now you know. The gap between mortals and deities is vast indeed. If you still wish to preserve your lives, surrender immediately."

Qian Renxue displayed formidable strength precisely to make everyone back down and quickly avert unnecessary warfare.

Yet Dai Mubai showed not a shred of fear. "So what if you are a deity? Our side also has the backing of a deity-who ultimately triumphs is still far from certain."

Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow. The individuals who had attained godhood on the Douluo Continent at present could be counted on one's fingers, and she knew every single one of those figures; none of them seemed to involve deities participating in wars between continents. "Then this Mr. Dai Mubai, could you tell me the name of the deity you speak of?"

"What harm is there in telling you? Her name is Shangguan Li."

Dai Mubai told Qian Renxue Shangguan Li's name with two objectives in mind. The first was to use Shangguan Li's reputation to deter Qian Renxue; if Shangguan Li's strength truly surpassed Qian Renxue's, then upon knowing that Shangguan Li was the one backing him, the other party would inevitably show some restraint.

The second objective was to provoke Shangguan Li. For Shangguan Li was a person of tranquil and desires-free nature, unwilling to partake in any wars across the Douluo Continent, yet this state of inner peace had a prerequisite: that absolutely no one disturbed her.

Now that he had told Qian Renxue Shangguan Li's name, if Qian Renxue did not know of this person named Shangguan Li, or rather, if Qian Renxue possessed an unyielding spirit of defiance, she would surely seek out Shangguan Li to issue a challenge.

Regardless of whether victory or defeat fell to either deity, it was none of Dai Mubai's concern. Most importantly, Qian Renxue would have shattered Shangguan Li's peace, and Shangguan Li, seeking retaliation against Qian Renxue, would stand alongside them to jointly deal with the Spirit Hall Empire.

Just as Dai Mubai was still looking smug, Qian Renxue curved her lips into a smile. "I underestimated you indeed, Dai Mubai. I never expected that someone so obsessed with women would also be so adept at scheming."

"You..."

"Yet your scheming has fallen through. Did you not know? Shangguan Lady and I have long been acquainted, and furthermore, Shangguan Lady is a distinguished guest of our Spirit Hall Empire. Even if our two factions ignite a war, she will still join our side."

Qian Renxue spitefully blurted out this fact, eager to witness the faces of these people contort in despair.

"How can this be? The formidable Shangguan Lady actually stands on the side of the Spirit Hall Empire as well? No, this is not right-if Shangguan Lady truly allied with the Spirit Hall Empire, why has she never taken to the battlefield?"

Qian Renxue nodded in agreement. "A fine question from this young brother. Our Spirit Hall Empire values everyone's personal preferences; we never force anyone to do anything they dislike."

"Abominable, could it be that we truly meet our end here? Rongrong, where are you? Father wishes to see you one last time." Ning Fengzhi wore a twisted expression, staring in utter despair at the man before him.

"I concede! I surrender! I only wish to live."

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(End of Chapter)