Angel Holy Sword!

Inside the Pope Palace, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

Bibi Dong remained seated on the high papal throne, toying with the newly evolved Rakshasa Demon Scythe in her hand.

Her long, slender legs were crossed, and as her skirt slid down, it revealed a large expanse of snow-white skin that shimmered with an ivory luster under the high-hanging lights.

This unique charm of a mature woman was enough to drive any man in the world to madness.

But at this moment, the air in the hall was as cold as an ice cellar.

Clack, clack, clack.

Crisp footsteps echoed through the hall.

Qian Renxue, dressed in a golden court gown, strode into the hall.

She possessed an equally peerless beauty, with skin whiter than snow and features so exquisite they seemed meticulously carved by the heavens.

If Bibi Dong was a black rose in full bloom, carrying lethal temptation and poisonous thorns, then Qian Renxue was a snow lotus atop a high mountain—sacred, noble, and untainted by dust.

Mother and daughter, one above and one below, stared at each other from a distance.

Sparks seemed to fly in the air.

"Yo."

Bibi Dong broke the silence first. She glanced nonchalantly at the sword in Qian Renxue's hand, her voice laced with undisguised mockery.

"Ninth place?"

"It seems that so-called Angel God of yours is nothing special."

"Even after receiving the reward, you are only one rank higher than This Seat."

Bibi Dong tapped her fingers lightly against the handle of the scythe, her eyes full of amusement.

"What? You didn't go into seclusion to cultivate after getting the reward, so why have you come to me?"

"Are you here to show off?"

"Or is it..."

Bibi Dong leaned forward slightly, a dangerous glint flashing in her phoenix eyes as she stared fixedly at Qian Renxue's face.

"Are you thinking of going to find that wild man from Godwind City again?"

Upon hearing the words "wild man," the calm expression on Qian Renxue's face changed instantly.

Her golden pupils constricted sharply, and a fierce sword intent erupted from her body.

"Shut up!"

Qian Renxue shouted sternly, her chest heaving violently.

"You are not allowed to insult him!"

"Venti is not some wild man!"

She took a deep breath, forcing down the anger in her heart, and looked straight into Bibi Dong's eyes, saying word by word:

"We are just friends."

"Pure friends."

"It is not as filthy as you think!"

Bibi Dong scoffed upon hearing this, as if she had heard the greatest joke in the world.

"Friends?"

"Qian Renxue, how old are you? Do you still believe such childish nonsense?"

"Between a man and a woman, where is there any such thing as pure friends?"

"Furthermore..."

Bibi Dong stood up and walked down the steps, the evil aura belonging to the Rakshasa God released without reservation, pressing down upon Qian Renxue.

"That Venti has an unknown origin and strange strength."

"Before the Sky Curtain was exposed, he was nothing more than a bard who only knew how to drink and sing."

"In the blink of an eye, he became a powerhouse capable of suppressing Title Douluo, and even sits at the head of the continent's number one force."

"Do you really think such a person would approach you without an agenda?"

Bibi Dong walked up to Qian Renxue, the distance between them a mere inch.

She looked at this face, which was somewhat similar to her own yet younger and purer, and an uncontrollable irritation surged in her heart.

"I don't care what kind of relationship you have with that wild man."

"Next, I am going to have a decisive battle with Tang San at Jialing Pass."

"This is the final battle between the Spirit Hall Empire and the two great empires."

"I expect you not to get in the way."

Bibi Dong's voice was cold, permeated with an indisputable air of dominance.

Qian Renxue glared back at her without the slightest sign of weakness, golden Angel Holy Sword divine power circulating around her body to hold that Rakshasa aura firmly at bay.

"In the way?"

A mocking smile curled the corners of Qian Renxue's lips.

"I think you're just afraid that you aren't up to the task, aren't you?"

"You're afraid you can't beat Tang San, afraid of losing this war, so you're in such a rush to warn me, or even... wanting me to step in and help you?"

Stung by having her true intentions laid bare, Bibi Dong's gaze turned instantly ferocious.

"Insolent!"

She swung the Rakshasa Demon Scythe in her hand violently, a purple-black blade of energy tearing through the air and striking straight toward Qian Renxue's face.

Qian Renxue reacted with lightning speed, blocking with the Angel Holy Sword held horizontally before her.

Clang!

The sound of clashing metal rang throughout the great hall.

The collision of two terrifying divine powers kicked up a shockwave that shattered all the surrounding decorations into dust.

Qian Renxue retreated half a step, steadied her stance, and the mockery in her eyes deepened.

"Did I hit a nerve?"

"Since that's the case, then let us each rely on our own abilities."

"As for Venti..."

Qian Renxue sheathed her long sword and smoothed out her slightly disheveled sleeves, her tone turning exceptionally firm.

"I have known him for so many years."

"I understand him."

"He is the purest, most free-spirited person in this world."

"In his eyes, there are no power struggles or schemes like yours, nor is there the hatred and paranoia of Tang San."

"He is like the wind—clean, transparent, and without a single impurity."

As she spoke, Qian Renxue's eyes softened, an expression Bibi Dong had never seen on her face before.

"You sent people to investigate him, I know."

"And the result?"

"Nothing at all, right?"

"Because he never had any hidden background to begin with; he is simply Venti, and that is all."

Watching Qian Renxue defend that man in such a manner, the rage in Bibi Dong's heart burned even brighter.

But she also knew that continuing to dwell on this topic was meaningless.

Furthermore, just as Qian Renxue had said.

She had deployed the entire intelligence network of Martial Soul Hall, even dispatching Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo to investigate personally.

The result: no such person existed.

Venti was as if he had popped out of a crack in a rock; his entire past was a blank slate.

This left a lingering sense of wariness in Bibi Dong's heart.

Now that the man had suddenly become the master of the strongest faction, that wariness had transformed into deep anxiety.

Yet, as Qian Renxue said, there was no substantive evidence to suggest that Venti harbored any malice toward Martial Soul Hall or this world.

"Hmph."

Bibi Dong let out a cold snort and turned to walk back up to the high platform.

"Suit yourself."

"If that Venti dares to interfere in this war and stand on the side of Heaven Dou..."

"I will kill him as well."

Qian Renxue watched Bibi Dong's proud, solitary back and said nothing more.

She turned and strode away, her golden skirt trailing a resolute arc behind her.

Kill Venti?

Are you even capable of that?

Godwind City, roof of the City Lord Mansion.

Venti remained in his lazy posture, holding a half-eaten apple in his hand as he watched the golden light on the Sky Curtain gradually dissipate.

"Angel Holy Sword, huh..."

"God-Slaying Trait, sounds pretty intimidating."

Venti curled his lip, seemingly unimpressed by this reward.

"But it's just double damage, after all."

"If you can't land a hit, it doesn't matter how high the damage is."

He tossed the fruit pit aside, landing it precisely into a trash can in the distance.

"Sigh, only ninth place."

"Looks like Xiaoxue is going to take a hit this time."

"But that's fine too; there are still eight ahead of her, which means there are plenty of good things on this continent, and I'll get to watch a few more shows."