Evil God, Say Something Already!

"You can also call me Elder Cheng." Cheng Ran did not deny it. "Girl, you have two choices now."

"First, you keep struggling, and I find another human who refuses to accept their circumstances and wants to change themselves to work with. Your tragedy stays a tragedy."

Cheng Ran paused.

"Second, you trust me and work with me.

I'll only use your body occasionally, and I'll help you defy heaven and rewrite your fate.

Fight monsters, level up, snatch opportunities, beat Tang San to his prizes, drive even Bibi Dong into a meltdown, and secure the angel godhood in the end-a winner in life.

Which one? Your choice."

Qian Renxue said nothing. Her mind raced.

This person who called himself a veteran player and an Evil God spoke flippantly and had a foul mouth, but every secret he revealed seemed to be true.

Moreover, his control over her body was absolute.

She could not resist at all and could only let him manipulate her without restraint!

If he wanted to harm her, there was no need to waste so many words on her.

"Then what do you want from me?" Qian Renxue asked.

"Keh keh keh..." Cheng Ran let out a hearty laugh. "I like smart people like you."

Qian Renxue (•́へ•́╬): "Evil God, could you stop using my body to make that strange laugh? You sound like a villain!"

"Come on, have you gotten something wrong? Drop the 'like.' I am an Evil God-a very vicious villain!

What I want is for you to swear a dire oath that, if you ever gain the ability, you'll help me recreate a perfect body.

Of course, in exchange, I'll pass the Flame Mantra on to you!"

Qian Renxue breathed a sigh of relief. That did not sound quite so frightening.

Compared to the evil gods mentioned in ancient texts, who demanded their followers' souls and bodies, this Evil God was quite reasonable.

"What is the Flame Mantra?"

"Haha, forget it. It's a meme."

"What's a meme?"

Before Cheng Ran could explain, an announcement came from outside the hall doors.

"Your Highness the Saintess, Her Holiness the Pope summons you to Pope Hall."

Qian Renxue's heart tightened. The Evil God was controlling her body right now. Would something go wrong?

"Xiao Xue, don't panic. I know your mom very well." Cheng Ran's voice sounded in her mind, carrying an ease that begged for a beating.

"..." Qian Renxue.

Controlling Qian Renxue's body, Cheng Ran followed the maid to Pope Hall and walked inside.

Inside Pope Hall, elders from the Elders Hall stood on either side. The elders from Worship Hall were absent.

Down the very center of the hall, a red carpet stretched from the entrance to the foot of the papal throne.

Bibi Dong sat high on the papal throne in a black robe, her face coldly beautiful and her eyes holding a bottomless chill.

Beside her stood her most favored Hu Liena, who looked twelve or thirteen. Anyone who did not know better might have thought Hu Liena was her daughter.

Bibi Dong had taken Hu Liena as her direct disciple and was raising her like a daughter.

This was another form of psychological compensation for her coldness toward Qian Renxue.

To Cheng Ran, this was nothing more than covering her ears while stealing a bell.

Bibi Dong watched Qian Renxue enter without speaking, merely staring coldly at her.

Cheng Ran said nothing either. He walked to the center of the hall, raised his head, and looked Bibi Dong straight in the eye.

Silence.

The entire Pope Hall was so quiet that only breathing could be heard.

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes slightly.

Whenever Qian Renxue saw her in the past, her gaze had always been evasive, filled with fear and a desire to please.

But today, her daughter's eyes had changed. They had become resolute, like an unsheathed sword.

"Qian Renxue, you've been neglecting your cultivation!" Bibi Dong studied Qian Renxue for a moment before speaking.

Her voice was as icy as ever.

"The last time I saw you, you were already a rank forty-eight Soul Ancestor. After all this time, you're only rank forty-nine. In over half a year, you've only advanced one rank!"

"And didn't I tell you that you weren't allowed to return to Spirit Hall without a secret decree?"

Bibi Dong delivered three blows in succession, her terrifying aura spreading and blowing Qian Renxue's hair slightly out of place.

"How did I give birth to a daughter like you, with no desire to improve and no regard for Spirit Hall's sacred rules? You've utterly disgraced me, Bibi Dong! Take a good, hard look at yourself!"

Qian Renxue was so frantic in her mind that she nearly cried: Evil God, say something already! Mother's angry. I'm finished!

Cheng Ran: Relax. I'll let her rant for three minutes. Once she's had her fill, I'll take the stage.

Qian Renxue: Easy for you to say! It's not your mother scolding you!

Cheng Ran: Hey, I don't have a mom like that. Girl, you'd better hurry up and escape your family of origin!

At that moment, the elders from the Elders Hall on either side likewise cast looks of disapproval and frustration at Qian Renxue's failure to strive.

Then they adopted the tones of experienced elders and kindly peacemakers.

"This really is unbecoming of a Saintess. Diligence hones one's craft, while idle play ruins it!"

"Her Holiness only criticizes you for your own good. She wouldn't even bother with anyone else."

"Your Highness the Saintess, everyone here, including Her Holiness, is a Titled Douluo. We've killed more soul beasts than you've ever seen. Ignore your elders' advice, and trouble will be right before your eyes!"

"Saintess Qian, let this old man say something unpleasant. If you don't start working harder, Her Highness Hu Liena, the Saintess of Pope Hall, will overtake you! Her Holiness is right. You ought to reflect on yourself!"

But they knew nothing of Qian Renxue's infiltration plan.

It was Spirit Hall's highest secret, known only to the seven worshippers of Worship Hall and Bibi Dong.

With Bibi Dong's rebuke shaping their first impressions, they all believed Qian Renxue had grown arrogant and complacent and neglected her cultivation.

Bitterness filled Qian Renxue's heart: They have no idea what I've done in the Heaven Dou Empire...

It's a secret mission. I can't tell them, so I can only take this scolding for nothing.

Cheng Ran sensed the hurt surging in her heart and gave a soft snort.

Qian Renxue: Evil God, please, you absolutely must blurt it out on impulse. I'm used to it.

Cheng Ran: Heh.

Even Hu Liena, the girl standing beside the papal throne at the head of the hall, said softly, "Sister Qian, I'm already a rank thirty-three Soul Elder. Time is like a sponge; there's always some if you squeeze. You'd better work hard, Sister Qian. Watch out, or I'll overtake you!"

At those words, Bibi Dong nodded, looking at Hu Liena with eyes full of affection and satisfaction. "Qian Renxue, if you were even half as sensible as Nana, I wouldn't have to worry so much about Spirit Hall!"

The elders chimed in one after another. "Her Highness Saintess Hu has the makings of a Peerless Douluo!"

"Ah, between the two Saintesses, though Saintess Qian may have a tiny edge in natural talent, Saintess Hu is still superior in her attitude toward cultivation."

Qian Renxue felt as though needles were stabbing her heart: Those words again. I'm always the one who isn't good enough.

From Qian Renxue's memories, Cheng Ran learned that Bibi Dong had been extremely cold toward her from birth and had never held her.

During her childhood, whenever Bibi Dong passed by and saw her, she would only cast a hurried glance at her, the depths of her eyes filled with disgust.

There had never been any warm interactions between mother and daughter.

Little Qian Renxue had called out "Mom" again and again, yet had never received any response.

Again and again, Qian Renxue had yearned for a mother's love, only to receive disappointment each time.