I'll Give You the Authority. Go Ahead and Do What You Need to Do!

Qian Daoliu stared at Qian Juechen, stunned.

He had never imagined Qian Juechen knew what had happened back then.

Still less had he imagined that his grandson, who had returned after so many years away from Spirit Hall, would drag the matter they had deliberately buried back into the open before every elder of the Worship Hall.

And he had done it without pulling a single punch.

Even Qian Daoliu, the Angel Douluo whose name had long commanded respect across the world, had no answer to Qian Juechen's questions.

Was he supposed to tell him that he had spared Bibi Dong because his heart had softened? Because of his own idea of justice?

Whether he called it mercy or justice, whether he cited Qian Renxue or the divine power emanating from Bibi Dong, it would all be an excuse. Any explanation he gave now would ring hollow.

All his life, Qian Daoliu had prided himself on being upright. He had always insisted on fairness and justice, and could not abide the slightest evil.

Yet when his own son, Qian Xunji, committed a terrible wrong, he had kept silent from the start.

He knew what Qian Xunji had done was wrong. He knew what Bibi Dong had endured. But to save face, he had concealed it all. That was why, when he faced Bibi Dong back then, he had been unable to bring himself to kill her.

Later, Qian Renxue's existence and the mysterious divine power Bibi Dong revealed had finally led him to back down.

Qian Daoliu had thought that if he took one step back and kept the matter hidden, that would be the end of it.

Everything that had happened in those days would fade with time.

At least, that was what he had believed. In the end, he had underestimated the human heart—how deeply people remembered hatred and betrayal.

Some things did not vanish with time. They were like a fuse buried underground: all seemed quiet above it, while beneath the surface it burned without pause.

And now Qian Juechen's return meant that buried fuse had finally burned to its end. The time for an explosion had come.

Qian Daoliu looked at his grandson, who had confronted him—the highest authority in Spirit Hall—for his father's sake.

He had watched Qian Juechen denounce the absurdity of the role he had played, holding nothing back because he feared for his sister, Qian Renxue.

Yet Qian Daoliu felt little anger. What he felt instead was a measure of satisfaction and pride.

After so many years away, the boy had grown remarkably, both in strength and in judgment.

He could think for himself now. He was no longer a child who simply obeyed his elders.

For his convictions and his family, he dared to question them—even reject outright the decisions of these old men.

That was a good thing. Perhaps Spirit Hall truly needed new blood to grow stronger.

After a long silence, Qian Daoliu finally spoke, his voice subdued. "I can't give you a satisfactory answer to those questions."

"Some choices may not have seemed wrong at the time. But looking back now, I have to admit they were absurd."

"I once believed that if everyone gave a little ground, we could settle the matter and put an end to the conflict."

"But now I see that yielding doesn't always open a path forward. Sometimes it only lets the problem fester and grow worse."

Qian Daoliu slowly turned and raised his gaze to the statue of the Angel God, bathed in holy light.

"What's done is done. Anything I say to explain myself would be an excuse. Since you're dissatisfied with the arrangements I made back then, and now that you've returned, change them yourself. As long as you do nothing that outrages heaven and humanity, I won't stop you or interfere, whatever you do next."

Gazing at the statue of the Angel God, Qian Daoliu slowly closed his eyes.

The elders in the Worship Hall, however, sat up sharply. They all understood what his words meant. This was far more than a simple invitation to do as Qian Juechen pleased.

From this day forward, Qian Daoliu was willing to place Spirit Hall's highest authority in Qian Juechen's hands.

If Qian Juechen could change things and take firm control of Spirit Hall, he would become its next ruler.

Normally, Qian Juechen should have smiled at that.

Was that not why he had returned? He wanted to drive that madwoman Bibi Dong from the center of Spirit Hall's power, change its future, and ensure the Qian family's legacy endured forever.

But his next reaction took everyone by surprise.

He quietly repeated Qian Daoliu's words, then swept his gaze across every elder present.

"Well said, Grand Elder. Since when did Spirit Hall become mine alone?"

"I didn't create the problems Spirit Hall faces. Yet when it comes time to solve them, I'm expected to shoulder them alone."

Qian Daoliu frowned at his grandson's words behind him. Before he could respond, Qian Juechen's voice rang out again.

"You sowed the seeds back then. Now you want me, someone who came later, to bear the consequences."

"Perhaps you truly had your difficulties at the time. I can understand that. But that does not mean I agree."

With that, Qian Juechen turned as well and began walking toward the doors of the Worship Hall.

"A problem that should have been easy to solve became this because you yielded once, because you showed mercy for a moment. I'm not standing here today to tell you who was right and who was wrong."

"I want you to see how a problem should be handled when you recognize it. Now watch closely, all of you. I'll show you how I solve a problem that sounds complicated but is remarkably simple to deal with."

Qian Juechen stepped out of the Worship Hall. Above the summit of Angel Sacred Mountain, dark clouds pressed low, and brilliant flashes of lightning flickered through them.

The commander of the Angel Legion was still waiting outside the doors.

When he saw Qian Juechen emerge with killing intent radiating from him, his eyelid twitched. He stepped forward, dropped to one knee, and saluted. "Young Master."

Qian Juechen glanced at him calmly and issued his first order since returning to Spirit Hall.

"The Grand Elder has just given me full authority. As the former Pope's son, I will temporarily oversee all affairs within Spirit Hall."

"I order Spirit City placed under lockdown. No one is to leave their home without my permission. Every disciple, elder, and bishop of Spirit Hall is to be kept under strict watch by the Angel Legion. No one is to approach the Papal Palace."

The commander stared at Qian Juechen in shock. But when he met those impassive eyes, his heart tightened.

"Yes, sir. I obey."

He would not question whether the order was genuine. If Qian Juechen could issue such a command at the doors of the Worship Hall, then all the powerful figures inside must have given him their support.