Old Ancestor, even if you want to kill Bibi Dong, shouldn't you consider Xue'er's thoughts?

Before the angel statue.

Qian Daoliu's heart tightened as well. He did not rush to speak, instead taking a deep breath to steady himself.

Then he slowly opened his mouth, his voice carrying a trace of earnestness.

"Forefather."

"How you wish to deal with Bibi Dong is naturally not something Daoliu, as a junior, is in a position to say much about."

"After all, she offended your divine majesty. By her crimes, she deserves punishment."

He paused, and his tone grew slightly grave.

"But..."

"Bibi Dong is, after all, the mother of the Qian Family's bloodline."

"If you punish her..."

"Should you perhaps... consider the thoughts of the Qian Family's descendants?"

Boom—!!!

The instant those final words fell!

The entire venue once again sank into dead silence!

Everyone froze where they stood.

The thoughts of the Qian Family's descendants?!

What did the Grand Worshipper... mean by that?

The Qian Family's descendants... who was the Grand Worshipper referring to?

No, that wasn't right!

Could it be...

A thought suddenly arose in everyone's minds!

Could he... be referring to the Young Mistress?!

The inheritor of the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, born with innate full soul power at level twenty?!

For a moment, everyone held their breath.

They looked at one another and saw profound shock and sudden realization in each other's eyes.

So that was it!

The Grand Worshipper was... playing the Young Mistress as his card!

No matter how overbearing the Forefather was, he would not completely disregard the Young Mistress's wishes, would he?

After all, the Young Mistress was the Qian Family's legitimate bloodline and the future of Spirit Hall.

And... judging by the Forefather's earlier attitude, he seemed to think highly of the Young Mistress.

If the Young Mistress pleaded for mercy...

Perhaps the Forefather really would show leniency.

At the center of the plaza.

Upon hearing this, a faintly amused look flashed through Qin Zheng's dark eyes.

The Qian Family's descendants?

Heh.

First of all, Qian Daoliu was definitely not included.

Qin Zheng had already made that clear earlier.

Then...

Qin Zheng's gaze slowly shifted.

Following Qian Daoliu's line of sight, he looked toward the other side of the plaza.

There, Golden Crocodile Douluo stood at the very front of the crowd, with a small figure standing beside him.

The young girl wore an elegant white-and-gold dress. Her golden hair fell over her shoulders, and her delicate little face was filled with helplessness and nervousness.

Qian Renxue.

As Qin Zheng looked at the small figure, a faint smile flashed through his dark eyes.

So that was it.

This was the scheme the Qian Family's younger generation had in mind.

Retreating in order to advance.

Using Xue'er as a shield?

Heh.

Interesting.

Qin Zheng slowly withdrew his gaze and looked toward Qian Daoliu before the angel statue, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"Young one of the Qian Family."

His calm voice rang out slowly, carrying a hint of amusement.

"Retreating in order to advance."

"Compared to that woman, you are considerably smarter."

At those words, Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment. In the end, he gave a bitter smile and bowed deeply to Qin Zheng.

"You flatter me, Ancestor."

"This junior's petty tricks are nothing more than showing off before an expert in your presence."

He paused, his tone carrying a trace of sincerity.

"Before you, Ancestor, this junior's abilities are not worth mentioning."

Watching him, a faint smile flickered through Qin Zheng's pitch-black eyes.

"Whether they are sufficient is unimportant."

He spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying an almost imperceptible gentleness.

"Though I do not care about what you said."

"But..."

He paused, his gaze once again falling upon the small figure on the other side of the plaza.

The coldness and indifference in his black eyes faded away completely, leaving only a faint tenderness.

"You should be grateful that you have such a good granddaughter."

BOOM—!!!

Those words were like thunder from the nine heavens, striking fiercely upon everyone's heads!

A good granddaughter?!

The Ancestor said... that the Grand Consecrator had a good granddaughter?!

For a moment, intense shock and excitement rose within everyone's hearts!

The Qin Emperor Ancestor, who had been so domineering before, showing no regard whatsoever for either His Holiness the Pope or the Grand Consecrator...

Actually seemed to hold this young mistress in high regard?!

My heavens!

Qian Daoliu took a deep breath and bowed deeply to Qin Zheng.

"You flatter me, Ancestor."

"For Xue'er to earn your favor, Ancestor, is her blessing."

Qin Zheng paid Qian Daoliu no further attention.

His gaze remained fixed on the small figure on the other side of the plaza.

His pitch-black eyes were filled with tenderness.

He slowly raised his right hand, his long, fair fingers lightly curling toward Qian Renxue.

"Come."

That single calm word rang out slowly, carrying a trace of gentleness.

BOOM—!

Those words exploded beside Qian Renxue's ears like thunder!

She abruptly raised her head and looked at the black-robed figure in the center of the plaza, her golden eyes filled with astonishment and disbelief.

An... Ancestor?

The Ancestor... was calling her?

Qian Renxue stood there blankly, her little face full of confusion.

She... she had not misheard, had she?

The Ancestor was actually... calling her over?!

Just as Qian Renxue was lost in a daze.

"Buzz—!"

A gentle yet domineering force suddenly enveloped her body!

The next second!

"Whoosh—!"

Qian Renxue's figure suddenly vanished from where she stood!

At the center of the plaza.

Before Qin Zheng.

A faint ripple spread through space.

The next second!

A small figure suddenly appeared before him!

The young girl wore a luxurious white-and-gold dress, her golden hair falling over her shoulders. Her delicate little face was filled with shock and confusion.

It was Qian Renxue!

Enveloped in a gentle force, she slowly descended before Qin Zheng.

Her feet lightly touched the ground.

At that moment.

All eyes were upon her!

Countless gazes focused on Qian Renxue in unison!

Every Spirit Hall disciple, deacon, and guard in the plaza widened their eyes, staring fixedly at that small figure.

Their eyes were filled with awe, curiosity, and fervor!

This was... the Young Mistress?!

The Young Mistress personally acknowledged by the Patriarch?!

The inheritor of the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, born with innate full soul power at rank twenty?!

For a moment, everyone held their breath.

The atmosphere was tense to the extreme.

Qian Renxue clearly felt the countless gazes upon her as well.

A faint blush instantly spread across her delicate face.

Her golden eyes were full of awkwardness and unease.

She instinctively clenched the hem of her skirt, lowering her little head slightly.

Her long, thick eyelashes trembled softly.

Like a startled fawn, she had no idea what to do.

This was the first time she had ever been watched by so many people at once.

And... in such a manner.

Qian Renxue's heart began pounding uncontrollably.

She was so nervous that she did not even know where to put her hands.

Only after a long while did she gather the courage to slowly raise her head.

Her golden eyes met a pair of deep, pitch-black eyes.

The young man's brows and eyes were cool and detached, yet a gentle smile lingered at the corners of his lips.

As though... all the storms in this world had been held back behind him.

"Patriarch..."

Qian Renxue murmured softly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, carrying an almost imperceptible tremor.

At a loss, she did not know what to say or what to do.

She could only stand there blankly, looking at the young man before her.

Seeing how uneasy the girl was, the smile in Qin Zheng's eyes deepened slightly.

He slowly raised his hand and gently ruffled her golden hair.

The gesture was tender, carrying the warmth of an elder that spanned a thousand years.

"Don't be nervous."

His calm voice rang out, gentle and pleasant.

"With me here."

"You may do whatever you wish."

Boom—!

Those words were like a warm current, instantly flooding Qian Renxue's heart!

She suddenly lifted her head, her golden eyes sparkling as she looked at the young man before her.

With the Ancestor here...

No one would dare bully her...

Really?

Qian Renxue's nose stung slightly.

Her eyes reddened at once.

For so many years.

She had lived beneath her mother's cold indifference.

She had always been careful, always compromising, always swallowing her grievances.

She had thought she would have to live like that for the rest of her life.

But now...

Someone was telling her—

As long as he was here, No one would dare bully her.

And that person was the Ancestor she admired and revered most.

Warmth instantly filled Qian Renxue's heart.

She nodded hard, mist gathering in her golden eyes.

"Mm!"

Her voice was soft and sweet, yet filled with absolute resolve.

She believed in the Ancestor.

She believed that anything the Ancestor said, he would surely do.