A Marriage Alliance

Dai Tianfeng fell silent.

"You make a good point. I'll consider it, but this is no small matter. I can't agree lightly. One more thing: if you've taken no action for countless years, why do you now want to spread faith in the Angel God across the continent and make Spirit Hall the state religion?"

"Because... someone from Spirit Hall is going to become a god! She will restore the Divine Ancestor's former glory and become the next Angel God. We're simply preparing the way for her."

"So Spirit Hall isn't merely seeking cooperation with the Star Luo Empire. We're also giving the Star Luo Empire a chance to receive the great Angel God's protection!"

"A-are you telling the truth?! Someone from Spirit Hall is going to become a god?! Is it Qian Daoliu?"

Qian Xunji shook his head. "Not the Grand Priest. His granddaughter. But I'm sorry, I can't tell you anything more. This is one of Spirit Hall's highest secrets."

"Are you certain? Can she really become a god? How many years will it take?..."

Dai Tianfeng fired off question after question. The news had shaken him to his core. He could have taken everything else he'd heard in stride, but how could he stay calm upon learning that a legendary god was about to emerge from Spirit Hall?

"I can guarantee it. Within thirty years—no, within twenty. Your Majesty, think it over carefully. Twenty years will pass in the blink of an eye, but the Angel God's protection will endure for generations."

"I will give it serious thought, Eighth Worshipper. When I attend His Holiness the Pope's enthronement ceremony at Spirit Hall, I'll give you a definite answer."

"I trust Your Majesty is a wise man and will make the right choice."

"Of course." Dai Tianfeng now treated Qian Xunji with considerable reverence—or perhaps it was Spirit Hall he revered. Perhaps it was the god.

"In that case, I'm relieved. Spirit Hall looks forward to Your Majesty's visit so we can discuss the details and settle on a plan."

"I won't disappoint Spirit Hall. I won't disappoint the Angel God." Dai Tianfeng looked devoutly toward the sky.

"There is one more matter I'd like to discuss with Your Majesty."

"What is it?"

"Spirit Hall would like to arrange a marriage between our children and those of the Star Luo Empire, to bring us closer together."

"Oh? A marriage alliance? Which child of the imperial family do you have in mind?"

Dai Tianfeng ran through the eligible children in the imperial family. His eldest and second sons had both awakened their martial souls and been promised to girls of suitable age from the Zhu family. That left Mubai. Did Spirit Hall want to arrange a marriage for him? But Mubai was only three and had yet to awaken his martial soul. Perhaps they meant a child from a collateral branch instead.

"Your Majesty, as I understand it, your family and the Zhu family of the Netherworld Duke have intermarried for generations. You are as close as one family. In a sense, you are the head of both the Dai and Zhu families."

"That's true. You mean a child of the Zhu family?"

Now it was Zhu Yunling's turn to think. The Zhu family was her birth family, and as Empress, her influence there was no less than its head's. The family head was also her cousin. She considered which children were of suitable age and still unpromised.

"Please, just tell me which child you have in mind," Dai Tianfeng said. "As long as there's no existing engagement, I can agree." He had no objection. The marriage would give him another safeguard. The idea that the Zhu family might use Spirit Hall's backing to replace the Dai family never entered his calculations. In a sense, the two families were one. Children born to the Dai family occasionally awakened the Nether Civet Martial Soul, while children of the Zhu family sometimes awakened the White Tiger Martial Soul. Only their surnames differed.

"I hear the Netherworld Duke's wife is nine months pregnant and due to give birth soon. Boy or girl, Spirit Hall would like to arrange a marriage for the child."

"An unborn child? Why? Why that child? You don't even know whether it will be a boy or a girl. How can you decide whom it will marry?"

Dai Tianfeng was baffled by Spirit Hall's absurd reasoning. Was this a joke? How could they arrange a marriage without even knowing whether the child was a boy or a girl?

Zhu Yunling also looked at Qian Xunji in confusion.

"Your Majesty needn't worry. These are the Angel God's instructions; I'm merely following them. Whether the child is a boy or a girl, Spirit Hall can find a suitable match. At the very least, it will be a direct descendant of a Worshipper, or someone certain to become a Super Douluo."

"In other words, Spirit Hall doesn't know who will marry into the Star Luo Empire either?"

"That's right."

"May I ask why?"

"We don't know. These are the Angel God's instructions. We are simply obeying the Divine Ancestor."

Dai Tianfeng hesitated. Why had the Angel God taken an interest in this unborn child? Had she foreseen the child's talent? Was the child destined for godhood? If so, wouldn't a marriage alliance with Spirit Hall mean giving away a prodigy?

"Your Majesty, don't worry. The Divine Ancestor has revealed that this child will receive a great opportunity, but only through a marriage alliance with Spirit Hall. As I understand it, the Star Luo imperial family arranges childhood engagements only after a child's martial soul has awakened and been identified. So let's agree on this: if the child's Innate Soul Power is level seven or below, the marriage will go ahead. If it's above level seven, the arrangement is void. What do you say?"

Dai Tianfeng nodded. It was a sound proposal. If the child was no prodigy, a marriage with Spirit Hall would allow the child to seize the opportunity the Angel God had promised. In the future, the child could also help the Star Luo Empire and strengthen its ties with Spirit Hall.

"Very well. I accept on the Netherworld Duke's behalf. It's settled."

"A wise decision, Your Majesty. The Angel God will bless you."

With his plan complete, Qian Xunji could barely contain his smile. Of course he knew whether the child was a boy or a girl. He even knew her future name: Zhu Zhuqing.

In the original story, Zhu Zhuqing was the weakest of the Shrek Seven Devils and had the least talent. She was nothing more than an accessory—an accessory to the Hell White Tiger, or rather, to Dai Mubai.

She appeared aloof, proud, and independent, but she had scarcely a thought of her own. She simply went along with others, obeying them and accommodating their wishes. She was an accessory through and through.

Even after Dai Mubai betrayed her like that, she chose to forgive him. She even said a man could be a flirt, but not a lecher. She was perfect as an accessory and a dutiful little wife.

That was another major reason he had chosen her. Only an accessory wouldn't betray him. Someone like Bibi Dong or Xiao Xue, with too many ideas of her own, might throw everything away for love. That would be a disaster.

As for whom she would marry, Qian Xunji hadn't decided yet. He still had six years; there was no rush. Finding someone with the potential to become a Super Douluo would be easy. Plenty of people would be worthy of Zhu Zhuqing.

He could almost see Zhu Zhuqing kicking...