On the left stood a woman.
She wore an exquisitely splendid golden gown, its style ancient and sacred. Its hem shimmered like flowing liquid sunlight, embroidered all over with intricate, arcane Angel runes.
Her long golden hair, as if condensed from the purest sunlight, fell down her back, its ends drifting gently despite the still air.
Her beauty defied simple description. She possessed an overwhelming presence beyond mortal understanding, a supreme being who embodied holiness, nobility, grace, and perfection.
Every feature seemed meticulously sculpted by the highest laws, without a single flaw.
Most striking were her golden eyes, deep as the cosmos, as if they held within them endless light and judgment.
Her bare feet were flawless, her ankles slender and delicate, her skin crystalline as the finest white jade. Untouched by dust, they rested lightly on the ground.
But her bearing was so holy and exalted that no one could harbor even the slightest profane thought toward her. All they could feel was awe that came from the depths of their souls.
On the right stood a man.
He wore a simple robe of deep blue, as if the entire ocean had been compressed into its fabric. Water rippled across it, and patterns of a star-filled sea seemed to flicker in and out of existence.
He was handsome, his face touched by the weathered wisdom and warmth of ages beyond count. His blue hair was like the deepest ocean trench, and his eyes were bluer and more profound than the sky. A faint, amused and satisfied smile played at the corners of his mouth.
Simply standing there, he seemed the very heart of the ocean, the source of all waters, the master of the waves.
His aura was not as incandescently sacred as the golden-gowned woman's, but it was even more vast and unfathomable, like the boundless depths of a cosmic sea.
Neither figure deliberately released their divine pressure, yet their very presence seemed to bring the laws and time of this space to a standstill.
"An... Angel God?!" Qian Daoliu was the first to recover from his unparalleled shock.
His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared fixedly at the woman in gold. His voice trembled violently with overwhelming excitement and reverence.
As the Angel God's High Priestess, he knew that aura all too well!
Though he had never truly seen her, the recognition engraved in his blood and inheritance could not be wrong!
"Lord Sea God!" Bo Saixi cried out at almost the same moment. She gazed at the man in blue, her exquisite face filled with excitement and devotion, along with a hint of bewilderment.
Lord Sea God had actually descended in person?!
That was right!
The two who had suddenly arrived were none other than the First-Level Gods of the Divine Realm—the Angel God and the Sea God Poseidon!
Qian Renxue and Li Qing finally reacted as well.
Qian Renxue looked at the golden-gowned goddess, whose Martial Soul shared the same origin as her own, whose aura made her soul tremble, and toward whom she felt both an intense longing and profound reverence. In her violet eyes, an indescribable radiance burst forth.
Almost instinctively, she followed her grandfather in bowing gracefully to the Angel God. Her voice shook with excitement: "Qian Renxue pays her respects to the Angel God!"
Though Li Qing was somewhat surprised that these two great figures had arrived so promptly and made such a grand entrance, he remained composed. He bowed to the Sea God Poseidon as well. "Li Qing pays his respects to Lord Sea God."
Poseidon smiled faintly at Li Qing, his expression suggesting, So you've finally seen the light, kid.
The Angel God's golden gaze fell upon Qian Renxue, enveloping her like the gentlest sunlight.
"You need not be so formal," Poseidon said.
His voice was warm and resonant, echoing like the waves. It rang clearly in the depths of everyone's souls, carrying a power that soothed the heart.
His gaze swept over the group before settling on Li Qing and Qian Renxue. With a hint of amusement, he said, "We have not come here today for anything in particular. We merely sensed that a joyous occasion was soon to take place in the mortal world, one involving the union of our two inheritors. Such a rare bond is well worth seeing for ourselves. So we came to bear witness."
Bear witness?!
The gods had descended in person just to witness the engagement of two inheritors?!
His words struck Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi like yet another heavy hammer!
Even they had never heard of a god personally descending to the mortal world for an inheritor's wedding!
This changed everything!
It meant that the union had not only won the approval of two gods, but might even be something they welcomed—or had helped bring about!
Qian Daoliu's heart pounded so violently it nearly leapt into his throat!
He turned sharply toward Qian Renxue, who was still a little dazed, his voice pitching high with excitement. "Xue'er! What are you waiting for? Hurry! Thank the Angel God for her blessing! Her presence is the highest honor—and an even greater sign of her approval and hopes for you!"
His words brought Qian Renxue back to her senses.
That was right!
The Angel God had descended in person!
What did that mean?
It meant that her chance of inheriting the godhood had gone from possible to inevitable!
As long as she worked hard and didn't stray from the right path, the Angel Godhood would be within her grasp!
This was billions of times more precious than any promise or gift!
Her immense delight and excitement swept away all the indignation and tangled feelings she had felt before.
Qian Renxue hurriedly bowed again. A rosy flush of excitement colored her exquisite face, and her voice rang clear and resolute, filled with unprecedented devotion and determination.
"Qian Renxue thanks the Angel God for her favor! For granting me the inheritance and coming to bear witness! I will do everything in my power to live up to your expectations, pass the trials as soon as possible, inherit the godhood, and spread the Angel's Glory throughout the world!"
Her words rang with conviction, and a blazing fire burned in her violet eyes.
Before, though she had longed to inherit the Angel Godhood, it had always seemed distant and uncertain.
After all, the God Trial was arduous, and no one could guarantee success.
But now, the Angel God had descended in person. Though she had not said it outright, her attitude was the greatest possible affirmation and encouragement!
The unease and uncertainty in Qian Renxue's heart vanished in an instant, replaced by unshakable faith and surging motivation!
Change the future?
Starting now!
With a god's clear attention upon her and Li Qing, the prophet, by her side, she, Qian Renxue, would surely forge a glorious path utterly unlike the tragic future that awaited her!
Li Qing glanced at Qian Renxue beside him. Her excitement made her glow, adding yet another breathtaking dimension to her beauty, and he gave a slight nod to himself.
Looks like this engagement wasn't such a bad deal after all. At least it'll help her set her mind on things sooner and focus on the God Trial, instead of spending all day thinking about infiltrating the Heaven Dou Empire.
Poseidon and the Angel God exchanged smiles, seemingly quite pleased with Qian Renxue's response.
"Good."
At last, the Angel God spoke. Her voice was ethereal and sacred, like a heavenly melody, yet it carried an unquestionable authority. "I have sensed your resolve. Cultivate diligently, remain true to your heart, and the godhood may yet be yours."
After speaking, she turned her gaze to Li Qing. A glimmer of inscrutable meaning flashed in her golden eyes. Then the two figures slowly began to fade, and the vast divine might that had enveloped the hall receded like the tide.
"Our business here is done. We shall take our leave. You all... take care of yourselves."
Her lingering words echoed through the cavernous Sea God Hall.
The two supreme figures had vanished without a trace, as if they had never appeared. Only the faint traces of holiness and boundless power lingering in the air proved that the earth-shaking scene just witnessed had not been an illusion.
Silence returned to the hall.
But no one's heart could return to stillness.
Qian Daoliu was so excited he could barely contain himself, his aged face flushed red.
Bo Saixi wore a complicated expression as she looked at Li Qing and Qian Renxue, her thoughts unreadable.
Qian Renxue clenched her fists, her violet eyes blazing. It was as if she could already see her future self clad in divine armor, wielding the light.
Li Qing rubbed his chin as he looked at his fiancée, brimming with fighting spirit. A playful smile tugged at his lips.
On the very first day of our engagement, I've already met the two gods themselves... This is one hell of a grand beginning. Next, I need to figure out how to guide my future Angel God wife so she doesn't go astray. Hmm... where should I start?
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Qian Renxue's pert... bottom.
Qian Renxue seemed to sense something. She whipped her head around and met Li Qing's untrustworthy gaze. The excitement she'd felt at seeing a god instantly cooled. Her cheeks reddened, and she instinctively took half a step back, alarm bells ringing in her mind!
What is that scoundrel thinking now?!
Before you continue