Spirit Hall, Worship Hall.
Qian Daoliu stood with his hands behind his back before the window, his upright figure like a pine tree.
Behind him, Qian Renxue wore a golden palace gown woven with gold thread. Her long golden hair cascaded down like a waterfall, her skin was fair as snow, and a trace of confusion crossed her angelically sacred face.
"Grandpa, what did you want to talk to me about?" Qian Renxue asked softly.
Qian Daoliu turned around and looked at the granddaughter who had always been sensible from a young age. His eyes were filled with complicated emotions.
"Xue'er," he began slowly, "tell me honestly... have you also had contact with that Brother Cao?"
Qian Renxue was slightly taken aback.
She didn't answer at once. Instead, she sank into deep memories.
The days and nights spent in the Dream Space kept surfacing in her mind.
The panic she'd felt when she was first pulled into the Dream Space, Brother Cao's gentle voice and strong physique, the shock and fear she'd felt upon learning how her fate was originally supposed to unfold.
In her original fate, her mother, Bibi Dong, would die saving her. Her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, would sacrifice himself to help her become a god. She herself would suffer the shattering of her Martial Soul and fall from her lofty station...
Whenever she thought of those scenes, her heart twisted as if cut by a knife.
To change all that, she had worked harder than anyone could imagine.
For countless nights, she sparred and trained with Brother Cao in the Dream Space, sweating buckets without pause, day and night.
While others trained once and then rested, she trained ten times.
While others trained for an hour, she kept going until she was completely exhausted and collapsed.
It was fair to say that among all the young women Brother Cao had trained, she was the hardest-working of them all.
Because her goal wasn't merely to grow stronger. It was to change her fate.
To change her mother's fate, her grandfather's fate, and her own.
And she owed all of that to Brother Cao.
Qian Renxue lifted her head and met her grandfather's complicated gaze without a hint of evasion.
"Grandpa," she said, her voice calm and firm, "I really have had contact with Brother Cao, and I've trained in the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique."
Qian Daoliu's body trembled slightly.
Qian Renxue continued, "Brother Cao is the strongest, gentlest person in the world. He changed my fate and let me see the tragedy that would have happened otherwise... I don't regret it. I never will."
Qian Daoliu looked at her and remained silent for a long while.
He had spent his entire life working for Spirit Hall and striving for the glory of the Angel God. His greatest concern had always been this granddaughter.
Now, she had found her own path.
That was enough.
"Forget it," Qian Daoliu sighed deeply and waved a hand. "As long as you're happy."
Qian Renxue's eyes reddened slightly, but she didn't let her tears fall.
Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment. In the end, he couldn't resist his curiosity and asked, "That Brother Cao... just how strong is he? Has he already become a god?"
Qian Renxue smiled, pride filling her expression.
"A god?" She shook her head gently. "Brother Cao surpassed the gods long ago. His methods are beyond anything we can imagine. And besides..."
She paused. "He looks very young."
"What?!"
Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted sharply. He had surpassed the gods at such a young age?
Before the words had even faded—
BOOM!!!
A familiar golden pillar of light descended, enveloping Qian Renxue's sacred figure.
[Prodigy Rankings, Second Place: Qian Renxue.]
[Identity: Daughter of the Spirit Hall Pope.]
[Strength: Level 97 Titled Douluo.]
[Technique: Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique.]
[Rewards: Youth-Preserving Pill, which can preserve one's youth forever; Teleportation Talisman ×3, which can transport the user to any location on Douluo Continent; Thousand Illusion Rainbow Dress, which can withstand attacks below god level and change into any style.] ```
"Second place, level 97?! And she's not even twenty-five!"
"An absolute monster! Those previous ones at levels 92 and 95 were already ridiculous, and now we get a level 97!"
"That figure, that face, tsk tsk... Brother Cao really knows how to live!"
"So Bibi Dong has another daughter? She kept her well hidden!"
"Spirit Hall has gained another level 97 Super Douluo! They're even stronger now!"
Countless voices rose and fell around them. The second-place contestant was already level 97. Just how terrifying would the first-place contestant be?
After leaving the Worship Hall, Qian Renxue returned to her bedroom. There, she was drawn to a shimmering garment before her.
"The Thousand Illusion Rainbow Dress can change into any style?"
"Such a miraculous dress really exists?"
"I'll try it!"
Qian Renxue picked up the Thousand Illusion Rainbow Dress and draped it over herself. It immediately shone brilliantly, completely replacing her original palace gown in an instant.
Then, Qian Renxue quickly changed it into the clothes Brother Cao had once put her in during a dream.
In the blink of an eye, she was wearing an extremely unusual outfit: black and white, with elaborate lace trimming the cuffs and chest, a bow tied at the collar, and a skirt-like lower half with a large bow tied behind her waist.
It was exactly the same as the outfit Brother Cao had given her. He'd called it a Maid Outfit, and apparently it could increase attack speed!
Feeling the cool air against her skin, Qian Renxue blushed. There was far too little fabric!
"Not bad. This is incredibly useful!"
Back in the Dream Space, Brother Cao had often asked her to wear all sorts of strange outfits: a Maid Outfit, a Nurse Outfit, a wedding dress, a JK uniform, and so on.
Now she wouldn't have to keep changing. As long as Brother Cao liked it, she could transform into any look he wanted.
As for the Thousand Illusion Rainbow Dress's ability to withstand attacks below god level, she didn't particularly care about that.
How delightful!
After her excitement passed, Qian Renxue felt dissatisfied again.
"I only came in second. Just who ranked above me?"
When it came to figure, looks, and bearing, she believed no young woman could surpass her.
As for strength, in order to change her grandfather's, her mother's, and her own fate, a mere month had passed in the outside world, while thirty years had passed in the Dream Space.
For thirty years, she had trained relentlessly, sweating buckets and working day and night, with her attack speed maxed out!
"After working this hard, someone still ranked above me? I'd like to see what kind of extraordinary woman she is!"
The Heaven Dou Empire, imperial palace.
Emperor Xue Ye sat on the Dragon Throne, his complexion much rosier than before.
He stared fixedly at the three characters "Qian Renxue" on the Sky Screen, gritting his teeth.
"Hmph! So this is the wretch who impersonated my son, Xue Qinghe?"
Beside him, Xue Ke muttered softly, "Sister Xue'er is so beautiful... No wonder she ranked second..."
Emperor Xue Ye abruptly turned and glared at his daughter.
"A Ke! What's wrong with you?! She's the enemy who killed your brother! She impersonated your imperial brother, poisoned your other two imperial brothers, and left the bloodline of our Heaven Dou Imperial Family in decline! You... you're actually praising her for being beautiful?!"
Xue Ke shrank her neck and mumbled, "Father, Brother Cao doesn't like us being divided... Besides, that was all in the past..."
Emperor Xue Ye trembled with rage. Even the finger he pointed at his daughter shook. "You! You! Daughters really can't be relied on! Every one of you has been bewitched by that Brother Cao. You don't even care about your brother's murder!"
Xue Ke stuck out her tongue and didn't dare say another word.
Nearby, Prince Xue Xing hurried forward to console him. "Your Majesty, the princess certainly isn't lacking in filial piety. It's just that..."
Emperor Xue Ye waved a hand and said weakly, "Enough, enough... Pass down my decree. Search everywhere for that Brother Cao. I want to see for myself what kind of person can abduct my daughter and still make her speak up for our enemy!"