Thus, Jin Hao spoke in response to their request:
"Grandfather, Xue'er, I don't want to return to Spirit City. I want to remain undercover here for now. I still have my own goals to accomplish."
As Jin Hao's words fell, Golden Crocodile Douluo said nothing. He understood his grandson Jin Hao well. Jin Hao had always had his own mind since childhood and would never do anything that put himself at a disadvantage.
Otherwise, he would not have harbored hostility toward Bibi Dong from childhood to adulthood, his eyes always filled with killing intent whenever he saw her.
It had been fine while Qian Xunji was still alive, but after Qian Xunji's death, Bibi Dong often insulted Qian Renxue whenever she went to see her. Every time Jin Hao saw Bibi Dong after that, the killing intent in his eyes was undisguised. Thus, Golden Crocodile Douluo understood that Jin Hao's reluctance to return was not because he feared that woman, Bibi Dong.
Moreover, Qian Renxue had now said that she would not be bewitched by Bibi Dong.
With all these reasons, Jin Hao still did not wish to return and instead wanted to continue lying low here. That proved there was something extremely important here.
Qian Renxue, however, was different. Upon hearing that Jin Hao did not wish to return—especially after she had told him he need not fear that woman upon returning, nor worry about her being bewitched—
and yet Jin Hao still did not want to go back, Qian Renxue thought of why they had come to Heaven Dou City in the first place. Was it not to attend the engagement between Heaven Dou Empire's prince, Xue Qinghe, and Shui Bing'er of Skywater Academy?
And wasn't Xue Qinghe Xiao Hao in disguise? Wasn't this Xiao Hao and Shui Bing'er's engagement ceremony?
Thinking of this, Qian Renxue asked Jin Hao:
"Xiao Hao, don't tell me you don't want to return because you want to get engaged to that Shui Bing'er?"
After saying this, Qian Renxue wore the expression of a wife whose husband had cheated on her, tears glistening in her eyes as she stared at Jin Hao.
Hearing Qian Renxue's words and seeing her current expression, Jin Hao, who had been thoroughly serious moments ago, was stunned by her remark. He hurriedly said:
"How could that be, Xiao Xue? I don't even know that Shui Bing'er. This was all Xue Ye's doing. Besides, it's Xue Qinghe getting engaged. What does that have to do with me, Jin Hao?"
"Xue'er, I don't want to return because I truly have something urgent to finish here. Believe me!"
After Jin Hao finished speaking, he stared earnestly at Qian Renxue.
Before Qian Renxue could say anything, Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had been sitting nearby, stood up first and said to them:
"You two talk first. I'm going out for a while."
After speaking, Golden Crocodile Douluo left the private room. In his eyes, Jin Hao and Qian Renxue were simply a young married couple having a spat. They could settle it themselves.
Moreover, Jin E believed that his grandson Jin Hao was capable of resolving this issue. There was no need for him to disturb them.
Once outside, Golden Crocodile Douluo felt rather smug. Big Brother, wasn't your granddaughter still going to become my family's granddaughter-in-law in the future?
After Golden Crocodile Douluo left the private room, Qian Renxue immediately asked:
"Xiao Hao, what could possibly be so important that you won't return with me? Explain it clearly!"
Hearing this, Jin Hao did not know how to explain himself. He could hardly directly tell her that he did not want to return because he wanted to gather power outside and eventually fulfill his ambitions, could he?
Although Qian Renxue no longer held the same feelings for Bibi Dong as before, he still could not say that he wanted to cause trouble.
But seeing Qian Renxue before him, tears glistening in her eyes as she looked at him, Jin Hao knew that if he did not give her an explanation she could accept, she likely would not let the matter rest and would keep demanding that he return.
She might even do something unpredictable later. To stop him from remaining undercover, she might even expose his identity.
Thus, Jin Hao began thinking of an excuse.
After pondering for a while, Jin Hao finally came up with a reason Qian Renxue would believe.
"Xue'er, if you had come to find me and asked me to return when I had just begun lying low here, I would naturally have been willing. But things are different now. After remaining undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire for some time, I discovered that the Heaven Dou Empire possesses something I need."
"It is something related to a Godhead. You know that every Soul Master ultimately wishes to become a god. You have the Angel Godhead, and although I have a Dual Martial Soul, I do not know where to find a Godhead."
"Now that I have discovered the existence of a Godhead in the Heaven Dou Empire, of course I am unwilling to give it up. If I truly obtain this thing related to a Godhead and eventually gain a Godhead, then when the two of us both become gods, we can stay together forever."
As he said this, Jin Hao appeared exceptionally excited, as though it were all true.
Naturally, all of this had been fabricated by Jin Hao, though it was not entirely fabricated. Having read the original work, Jin Hao knew that the Heaven Dou Empire truly possessed an item related to a Godhead: the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud left behind by the first-rank god, the Sea God. It was essential for completing the Nine Trials of the Sea God.
In Jin Hao's plan, this item was something he was determined to obtain.
Not only because Jin Hao wanted to obtain the Sea God's Godhead, but also because, even if he could not receive the Nine Trials of the Sea God, he would still guard the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. If he could not obtain the Nine Trials of the Sea God and become a god, then no one else—especially the protagonist Tang San—would be allowed to use it to complete the god trial and ultimately become a god either.
As for why Jin Hao wanted the Sea God's Godhead, the reason was simple. Having read the original work, Jin Hao knew that there were only three places on Douluo Continent with Godhead inheritances: Slaughter City, Sea God Island, and Spirit City.
The Angel God in Spirit City belonged to Qian Renxue and was of no use to Jin Hao. That left only the Sea God's Godhead on Sea God Island and the Asura Godhead in Slaughter City.
The reason the Asura Godhead was not his first target was that Jin Hao had read many conspiracy theories in his previous life claiming Tang San's transmigration and everything surrounding it had been orchestrated by the Asura God King. Furthermore, the god trial was currently on Tang Chen, the controlled King of Slaughter. So even without such theories, anyone wishing to obtain the Asura Godhead would first have to go to Slaughter City, achieve Hundred Consecutive Victories, pass through Hell Road, and defeat Tang Chen before possibly receiving the Asura God Trial.
Tang Chen, a rank ninety-nine Peerless Douluo, put far too much pressure on him. Thus, Jin Hao set his first target on the Sea God. The Sea God was not weak either, possessing the super divine artifact, the Sea God Trident, and could be considered the strongest beneath a God King.
Moreover, in Jin Hao's view, even that useless Tang San with his Blue Silver Grass could receive the Nine Trials of the Sea God. So why could he, who would have the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud and could use the Myriad Manifestations Mirror to transform his Martial Soul into the Sea God Trident, not do the same?
Before you continue