First meeting with Hu Liena

That really was the case.

"Was Qian Renxue willing?"

"Don't worry about that. Just leave it to me."

The corner of Liu Hao's mouth twitched. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Still, he understood. He could more or less guess what Qian Daoliu was thinking.

He was simply afraid that Liu Hao would grow close to Bibi Dong for Hu Liena's sake, help her oppose the Worship Hall and the Qian Family, and destroy the angel inheritance.

That was why he had no choice but to consider using Qian Renxue to tempt him.

After all, in Qian Daoliu's heart, the angel inheritance was the single most important thing, bar none.

And Liu Hao's appearance posed an enormous threat to that inheritance.

That was the main reason the ordinarily mature, steady Qian Daoliu had become so frivolous.

"All right, I'll leave it to you, then."

Liu Hao was rather eager to see how Qian Daoliu would persuade Qian Renxue to become his wife.

After all, Qian Renxue had been extremely proud and aloof in the original story.

She was the only person of this era with innate level 20 soul power, a peerless genius who outstripped everyone else by an enormous margin.

On top of that, she had never received either paternal or maternal love. Even Qian Daoliu, the only person who treated her well, had raised her with thoroughly utilitarian motives.

That had left Qian Renxue with serious flaws in her personality.

But, really, the more flawed someone's personality was, the easier they were to control-what people called PUA.

With Qian Renxue in that state, might Qian Daoliu actually persuade her?

Liu Hao could hardly wait.

As Bibi Dong's splendid speech concluded, the bells rang nine times once more, finally drawing the investiture ceremony to a close.

Everyone departed in an orderly fashion, though representatives of some smaller factions stayed behind, clearly hoping to pledge allegiance and enter Spirit Hall's embrace.

The representatives of the two great empires, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, however, did not linger. All four factions left decisively.

Bibi Dong paid them no mind and directly transmitted her voice to Liu Hao.

"Elder Liu Hao, Nana is already waiting in the Papal Palace. Why don't you go see her?"

Oh?

Liu Hao's eyes lit up, and he nodded without hesitation. "All right, I'll go see her."

He had been in Spirit Hall for so long, yet he still hadn't met Hu Liena. He wondered what that little fox from the original story actually looked like.

Within just a few steps, Liu Hao entered the Papal Palace.

The hall was very quiet, with only a tall, slender figure with long black hair inside.

At the sound of footsteps, she turned around, revealing a delicate face that wasn't particularly breathtaking.

But her bewitching, foxlike eyes were truly beautiful. The longer he looked, the more entranced he became.

As she blinked, Liu Hao felt as though he had been struck by electricity, and his whole body shuddered.

Her voluptuous curves made his blood surge all the more.

As expected of the little fox. She was actually this seductive!

Liu Hao's heart pounded helplessly, and he nearly lost control of himself.

"Greetings, Ninth Elder."

Noticing Liu Hao's heated gaze and unattractive face, Hu Liena felt both apprehension and disgust, but she still bowed respectfully.

"No need for formalities."

As he spoke, Liu Hao hurriedly called on the system to get to work.

Ding. Host's request received. Simplifying the process of winning over Hu Liena...

One simplification opportunity consumed. Remaining opportunities: 52. Simplification complete. Methods of winning over Hu Liena, including possessing specific personality traits, specific experiences, exceptional intelligence, developing affection over time, and altering memories, have been simplified to: conversation.

Whenever the host converses with Hu Liena, each exchange will increase her affection by 1 point. Maximum affection: 100. Hu Liena's current affection: 18.

Good grief, her initial affection toward me was actually this low.

Just what I'd expect from a looks-obsessed freak who could fall for someone in the enemy camp. She really despised people with poor looks.

"Ninth Elder, my teacher said you wanted to see me. May I ask what this is about?"

Hmm?

Liu Hao raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Bibi Dong to leave out his intention to pursue Hu Liena.

In the past, Liu Hao would certainly have lied at this point, concealing his true intentions to avoid provoking her dislike while slowly raising her affection through the system.

But his mindset had changed now, and he had other ideas. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "I want to pursue you. What do you think?"

"What!?"

A flash of terror appeared in Hu Liena's eyes, and she unconsciously took a step back.

Hu Liena's affection -5. Current affection: 13.

"Ninth Elder, you're joking, aren't you?"

"..."

Hearing the system notification about her falling affection, Liu Hao felt an inexplicable anger rise within him.

As the strongest person on the entire Douluo Continent, there was actually someone who dared to dislike him this much?

Even though there was a reason-his looks fell a little short-Liu Hao still couldn't accept it.

You dislike me, do you? Fine. In that case, don't blame me for showing no mercy.

"Hu Liena, I remember you have an older brother named Xie Yue, don't you?"

The corners of Liu Hao's mouth curled into a wicked smile.

"You... what are you trying to do?"

Hu Liena's expression changed drastically, her beautiful eyes fixed on the man before her, whose smile resembled a demon's.

"Heh, Hu Liena, when I used a Soul Skill ten li outside Spirit City's south gate, you must have felt the resulting fluctuations from inside the city, right?

Tell me, if I were to 'invite' Xie Yue to spar with me, I wonder whether he could withstand my attacks~"

Although Liu Hao's voice was calm, to Hu Liena it sounded like that of a demon from the Nine Hells, sending a chill down her spine.

"You... Ninth Elder, how could you do this?"

Tears shimmered in Hu Liena's beautiful eyes, making her look so pitiful that anyone would ache for her. Her voice, too, was thick with grievance as she choked back sobs.

Even Liu Hao's heart couldn't help trembling again. She truly was a seductive little vixen.

Hu Liena's affection -10. Current affection: 3.

Drop, then. Keep dropping! Liu Hao clenched his teeth. I refuse to believe it. I'm already invincible, and I still can't do something I want to do?

"Hu Liena, I'll give you two choices. One, obediently take me to your room and discuss life and aspirations with me. Two, I'll go see your brother Xie Yue right now and discuss life and aspirations with him. I'm sure you wouldn't want anything to happen to your brother, would you?"

At his words, two trails of humiliated tears streamed down Hu Liena's face. She closed her eyes in anguish, hating Liu Hao before her while also resenting her teacher for simply pushing her into this beast's hands.

Hu Liena's affection -10. Current affection: -7. Warning: this character's affection is excessively low, indicating a hostile relationship. Host, please be mindful of your personal safety.

"Liu Hao!"

Suddenly, a sharp feminine shout rang out, brimming with authority.

Liu Hao looked toward the voice and discovered that the newcomer was Bibi Dong.

Her voluptuous curves swayed with her graceful steps, captivating the soul. Elegant-far too elegant~

"Didn't you say you wouldn't force Nana? What are you doing now?"

Bibi Dong glared at Liu Hao with her beautiful eyes, her tone icy.

She had originally assumed that someone as terrifyingly powerful as Liu Hao would have his own pride and wouldn't lie.

Yet she had never expected Liu Hao to be so shameless!

If she didn't show herself now, how much would Nana come to hate her?

Bibi Dong's affection -10. Current affection: 24.