"Pufferfish, Snake Lance, stand down!" Qian Xunji's gaze turned cold. The pressure of a Level 99 Peerless Douluo, mixed with the pure aura of an Angel, bore down on the shoulders of the two Titled Douluo without restraint. At the same time, Qian Xunji took out the Elder Token Qian Daoliu had given him.
Seeing the familiar Elder Token and the genuine Angel Martial Soul, the two exchanged a glance. Though their hearts were tossed by crashing waves, the loyalty in their bones made them grit their teeth, bow respectfully, and quickly leave the study.
The study door closed again.
Qian Renxue trembled all over as she struggled to remove her disguise. Her golden hair spilled down like a waterfall. Her face, so often lit by joy or anger, was now frosted with wariness and guardedness.
"Who are you!" Qian Renxue stared fixedly at him, her voice icy.
"You're not my father at all! My father died long ago!"
"Xue'er, you're right. I'm not him." Qian Xunji softened his voice and slowly walked toward her.
"I'm Qian Xunji from another world."
Under Qian Renxue's wary gaze, Qian Xunji repeated what he had told Qian Daoliu earlier. He only spoke of the possibility that Spirit Hall might be destroyed in the future, not of the future that had been laid out for her. From the moment he had come to this world, that future would never come to pass.
Spirit Hall... was gone?
Qian Renxue understood at once. If Spirit Hall was gone, then she, her grandfather, and all the elders and worshippers had failed. What did that mean? Did everything she was doing now still have any meaning? She didn't dare think about it...
But when she heard that the Angel God in the other world was actually a God King, and had even sent her father from that world here, she felt incredibly fortunate.
She had lost her father in childhood, and her mother regarded her as an enemy. At nine, she had come to this foreign land to work as a spy. She was like a duckweed adrift in a storm. For over a decade, she had never felt a day of parental love or the warmth of home. And now, her father from another world had crossed over to find her.
"Dad..."
Qian Renxue's tears came pouring down like a breached dam. She could no longer hold herself together. She flung herself into Qian Xunji's arms, clung tightly to his waist, and burst into sobs, as if she were finally releasing all the hurt, loneliness, and fear she had endured over the past decade.
"It's all right, sweetheart. Cry it out. You'll feel better." Qian Xunji gently stroked her golden hair, his eyes full of a father's tender affection.
It took a full half hour for Qian Renxue's emotions to gradually settle.
Qian Xunji wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said earnestly, "Xue'er, don't stay here anymore. This so-called Heaven Dou Empire infiltration plan is just wasting your talent and time! Give it up. Whether in the [Surface World] or the [Inner World], there are places where you can make your mark—but this isn't one of them!"
Qian Renxue froze, though a flicker of hesitation passed through her eyes.
"I... I still want to try." Qian Renxue lowered her head, twisting her hands together.
"I've been undercover for so many years. I've already laid deep foundations in the Heaven Dou Empire. I don't want to just give up..."
"Because of Bibi Dong, right?" Qian Xunji hit the nail on the head.
Qian Renxue fell silent. Yes. The pride of the Angel Clan ran through her bones. She wanted to prove to that woman, who treated her like grass, that she wasn't an abomination—and that she was better than her! She wanted to take the Heaven Dou Empire with her own hands and slam that achievement in Bibi Dong's face!
Qian Xunji sighed. He understood the obsessions that came from a troubled family.
He ruffled Qian Renxue's hair again, a hint of indulgence in his eyes. "Fine. Since you still have this fire in your heart, then I'll let you have your way. Play however you want. Even if you punch a hole in the sky, your old man will take care of everything!"
With that, Qian Xunji flipped his wrist and took an exquisite white jade box from his storage ring. He opened the lid.
In an instant, a sacred aura of light filled the entire study. Inside lay an Immortal Herb that radiated dazzling golden light from every part of its body, its petals as pure as colored glass—the [Nine Sun Holy Lotus].
"This is an Immortal Herb I took from a treasure trove in my world." Qian Xunji handed the jade box to Qian Renxue.
"Take it first. It can purify your Angel Bloodline. Remember, even while you're undercover, you mustn't let your cultivation fall behind. Strength is the only trump card you have to silence every doubt."
Qian Renxue gazed at the Immortal Herb, warmth surging through her heart, and nodded firmly.
After giving her these instructions, Qian Xunji put his mask back on so as not to arouse further suspicion. His figure turned into a breeze and left the Crown Prince's Residence.
She already had the full set of inherited Spirit Bones, and it wasn't time for her to absorb Spirit Rings yet. Besides, Qian Xunji planned to return to the Inner World first. Should he let Xue'er inherit the Angel God's power or not? If she did, how could he plunder it? He would have to discuss it properly with the Angel God King.
Qian Xunji didn't go straight to meet Huang Tian. He headed directly to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, scoured the place, left behind a method for drawing poison into the bones to detoxify it, and then departed. Dugu Bo already had one of those methods on his side. It felt odd to subdue him again, so he left it at that.
Late at night, in a top-floor hotel suite.
Qian Xunji had barely pushed the door open when a figure pressed close to him.
Like a cat, Huang Tian sniffed at Qian Xunji's chest and collar. Her silver slit pupils narrowed slightly, revealing a dangerous jealousy.
"You smell an awful lot like a woman." Huang Tian snorted and folded her arms.
"What, was your father-daughter reunion a touching scene?"
Qian Xunji gave an awkward cough and abruptly changed the subject. "Don't start. I was taking care of important business. What about you? What resources did you scavenge? Let me have a look."
At Qian Xunji's question about business, Huang Tian lightly tapped the air with her fingertip. Several fully loaded Soul Tool Rings landed on the table.
"There wasn't much time. I could only make a sweep through Star Dou Forest and several dangerous places overseas."
"Inside are the core ore nodules from three top-grade rare metal veins, the springs of two small Life Springs, and a hundred spirit herbs over a thousand years old, as well as two pieces of Life Gold. As for Spirit Bones and the like, I have plenty of my own. I don't need them."
Qian Xunji picked up a ring and swept it with his mental power. It was quite a haul.
"Let's go. It's time to report back."
Qian Xunji stood up. Soul Power roared through his body. He held out his right hand, and the Super Divine Artifact [Oath of the Angel] appeared in his palm.
"Great Angel God King, your follower requests to return."
Qian Xunji shouted, pouring all his Soul Power into the blade. With his other hand, he took Huang Tian's.
"Vmmmm—!"
In an instant, an irresistible force came discreetly from the blade and enveloped Qian Xunji and Huang Tian. They no longer had to endure the tearing and drifting through a spatial rift. In the briefest moment of disorientation, the two had returned to the Divine Realm of the [Inner World].
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