As long as you wish it, even if a god descends today, she will still die!

Before the angel statue.

Qian Daoliu's heart tightened as well. He did not rush to speak. First, he took a deep breath and steadied himself.

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

"Ancestor."

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

"After all, she offended the Ancestor's divine majesty. By law, she deserves punishment."

He paused, his tone growing 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 feelings of the Qian Family's descendants?"

Boom—!!!

The instant those final words fell!

The entire place once again sank into dead silence!

Everyone froze where they stood.

The thoughts of the Qian Family's descendants?!

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

The Qian Family's descendants... who was he referring to?

No, that wasn't right!

Could it be...

A thought suddenly surfaced 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 rank twenty?!

For a moment, everyone held their breath.

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

So that was it!

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

No matter how domineering the Ancestor was, he could not possibly disregard the Young Mistress's wishes, could he?

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

Moreover... judging by the Ancestor's earlier attitude, he seemed to value the Young Mistress greatly.

If the Young Mistress pleaded for mercy...

Perhaps the Ancestor truly would show leniency.

At the center of the square.

Upon hearing this, a faintly amused glint passed through Qin Zheng's dark eyes.

The Qian Family's descendants?

Heh.

First of all, Qian Daoliu was certainly 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 square.

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

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

Qian Renxue.

As Qin Zheng looked at that small figure, a faint smile flickered in his dark eyes.

So that was it.

This was the plan of the Qian Family's younger generation.

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 trace of amusement.

"Retreating in order to advance."

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

At those words, Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment before finally giving a bitter smile and bowing 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 hint of sincerity.

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

Seeing him like this, a faint smile flickered through Qin Zheng's dark eyes.

"Whether they are enough is not important."

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

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

"But..."

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

The coldness and indifference in his dark eyes faded away entirely, leaving only faint tenderness.

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

Boom—!!!

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

A good granddaughter?!

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

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

The Qin Emperor Ancestor, who had been so domineering before and had shown neither the Pope nor the Grand Worshipper the slightest courtesy...

Actually seemed to think quite highly of the Young Mistress in his words now?!

My heavens!

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

"You flatter me, Ancestor."

"For Xue'er to receive your favor 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 dark 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 suddenly 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 heard wrong, had she?

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

Just as Qian Renxue stood frozen in a daze.

"Buzz—!"

A gentle yet overbearing 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.

The air rippled faintly.

The next second!

A small figure suddenly appeared in front of him!

The girl wore an elegant white dress trimmed in gold. Her long golden hair fell over her shoulders, while her delicate little face was filled with shock and confusion.

It was Qian Renxue!

Wrapped 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 at once!

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

Their eyes brimmed with reverence, curiosity, and fervor!

So this was... the young master?!

The young master personally acknowledged by the ancestor?!

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

For a moment, everyone held their breath.

The atmosphere grew tense to the extreme.

Qian Renxue clearly felt the countless gazes fixed upon her.

A faint blush instantly spread across her delicate face.

Her golden eyes were full of unease and nervousness.

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

Her long, thick lashes trembled softly.

Like a startled fawn, she did not know what to do.

This was the first time she had 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 her courage and slowly raise her head.

Her golden eyes met a pair of deep black ones.

The young man's brows and eyes were cool and distant, but a faintly gentle smile rested at the corner of his lips.

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

"Ancestor..."

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.

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

The gesture was tender, carrying the warmth of an elder who had lived through a thousand years.

"Don't be nervous."

His calm voice, gentle and pleasant, slowly rang out.

"With me here."

"You can do whatever you want."

Boom—!

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

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

With the Patriarch here...

No one would dare bully her...

Really?

Qian Renxue's nose stung slightly.

Her eyes instantly reddened as well.

For all these years.

She had lived beneath her mother's cold indifference.

She had always been cautious, always swallowing her grievances.

She had thought she would have to go on like this for the rest of her life.

But now...

Someone had told her...

With him here.

No one would dare bully her.

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

Qian Renxue's heart was instantly filled with warmth.

She nodded hard, layers of mist welling up in her golden eyes.

"Mm!"

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

She believed the Patriarch.

She believed that whatever the Patriarch said, he would certainly do.