Qian Renxue said, "The key now is how to get the most out of these cultivation techniques now that they're created. I have a tentative idea."
Qian Daoliu composed himself. "Go on."
"Grandpa, what I showed you are the original versions. They're very effective, but the requirements for practicing them are also high."
Qian Renxue explained, "I'd like you to help me make simplified versions. You can remove their essence and reduce their effectiveness to thirty to fifty percent, lowering the requirements until ordinary Soul Masters, or even commoners, can practice them."
Qian Daoliu frowned. "Hmm? Why make simplified versions?"
Qian Renxue said, "We'll keep the originals for ourselves. As for the simplified versions, naturally, I have another use for them. Grandpa, let me ask you something. How many people do you think would be tempted if these six cultivation techniques were released?"
Qian Daoliu froze.
Qian Renxue said, "Never mind ordinary Soul Masters-even Soul Douluos and Titled Douluos wouldn't turn up their noses at these cultivation techniques. Even watered-down versions would far surpass the vast majority of cultivation techniques currently on the continent."
Qian Daoliu nodded. That was true.
Qian Renxue continued, "What if someone told the people that believing in the Angel God would earn them a set of cultivation techniques like these for free?"
Qian Daoliu's breathing stopped for a beat.
"Practicing them really would make people stronger, cure illnesses, and extend their lives. The prerequisite for practicing them would be faith in the Angel God."
Qian Daoliu shuddered and rose to his feet. In his shock, his aura spilled out uncontrollably.
Inside the secret chamber, the candle flames flickered.
He, Qian Daoliu, was Spirit Hall's adjudication elder and the Angel God's guardian. The decline of faith in the Angel God had been a thorn lodged in his heart for decades.
He had tried various approaches, such as Spirit Hall's current policies of awakening commoners' Martial Souls for free and providing educational grants to commoners, but their effects were barely better than nothing.
What he had failed to accomplish after decades of thought, his granddaughter had laid bare in a single sentence.
Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Renxue, feeling as though a heavy hammer had struck his chest.
First, he had been shocked that Qian Renxue had single-handedly created a cultivation system capable of overturning the continent's established order.
He was even more shocked by her proposed plan: using cultivation techniques as bait and faith as the hook to turn the entire continent's people into believers in the Angel God.
How could a fifteen-year-old girl devise something on this scale, with such vision?
Under Qian Daoliu's utterly astonished gaze, Qian Renxue slowly delivered her final words. "This way, in less than a year, the Angel's Glory will spread across the continent!"
Qian Daoliu felt as though lightning had struck him. In the darkness, he almost seemed to see a Twelve-Winged Angel's wings unfurl behind Qian Renxue, shining so brightly he could not keep his eyes open.
Qian Daoliu's chest heaved violently, his eyes burning with a fervor he had never experienced in his life-not even Bo Saixi standing naked before him could compare.
"Xue'er, rest assured. Grandpa will handle this personally." Only after a long while did his voice regain its steadiness. "We'll appoint elders to teach the techniques at every branch hall across the continent. On the first page of each cultivation technique, we'll write: to practice this technique, one must first believe in the Angel God."
He picked up the six sheets of paper and was already considering how to simplify them.
"Angel Sacred Guidance Skill-remove the deeper circulation cycles and leave only the basic circulation..."
"Angel Saint Step-remove the advanced direction-changing techniques..."
Qian Renxue watched her grandfather's back. His hands were still trembling, but his gaze was intensely focused.
Cheng Ran: All right, your grandpa's on board now. Let's set off too. We're heading to Slaughter City to grind monsters and level up.
Qian Renxue said, "Grandpa, I'll be leaving Spirit Hall for a while."
Qian Daoliu did not even look up. "Where to?"
Qian Renxue said, "Slaughter City."
The pen stopped.
Qian Daoliu slowly raised his head, a measure of disapproval in his eyes.
Determination filled Qian Renxue's eyes. "Grandpa, I know what I'm doing. I'll definitely win the Three-Year Pact! And I'll avenge Father with my own hands!"
Qian Daoliu remained silent for a long time. He knew he could no longer stop this granddaughter of his.
Ever since the day Qian Renxue had faced Bibi Dong without fear in the Pope Hall, he had known this child no longer needed the shelter of his wings.
"Stay safe."
"Don't worry, Grandpa."
Qian Renxue turned and walked out of the Worship Hall. Her Eight Wings Angel unfurled, platinum light blossoming beneath the sun, like a deity who could not be profaned.
With Cheng Ran guiding her, Qian Renxue flew over a wilderness for a full day and night.
At last, an unremarkable little town came into view.
Cheng Ran: We've reached the Humanoid Monsters' respawn point. Time to grind! Xiao Xue, lend me your body. Let me, the Evil God, have some fun first!
Qian Renxue: Be careful...
Without giving Qian Renxue a chance to refuse, Cheng Ran took over her body the next instant.
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) folded his wings and landed, then entered the town on foot.
The town was small, with a few dozen low stone houses scattered across the wilderness.
There were few pedestrians on the streets, and every one of them exuded a cold, sinister air.
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) found the town's only tavern and pushed the door open.
The tavern was dimly lit, and all its decorations were black.
Outside, it was daytime, yet stepping inside brought a sense of cold and darkness. The smell of blood filled the air.
There were few people in the tavern, but every one of them carried a weapon and had a vicious look in their eyes.
A black-clad server with an indifferent expression stood behind the bar.
The moment Cheng Ran entered, he looked out of place.
His golden eyes were as clear as amber, his features exquisite, and his golden hair hung to his waist, like an incongruous beam of light in the gloomy tavern.
His clothes were whiter than snow, his steps unhurried, forming a stark contrast with the thugs inside.
Gazes began to gather on him.
First came curiosity, then scrutiny, and then something else crept into certain gazes.
Sitting beside the bar was a man with a scarred face and a broad-bladed saber on his table. He went so far as to taunt, "Well, where did this little beau-"
This man was a fugitive wanted by the Heaven Dou Empire for massacring a village: in a small village of over thirty people on the empire's border, he had left no one alive, men or women, old or young, simply because the village chief had refused to let his wife spend the night with him.
Cheng Ran ignored him and walked straight to the bar. "Hello, one Bloody Mary, please. Thank you."
Qian Renxue: Evil God, you're surprisingly polite. Also, what's a Bloody Mary?
Cheng Ran: Human blood. It's the only thing you can order in this tavern.
Qian Renxue: Huh?
The server's expression shifted slightly as he looked him up and down. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
A cup of murky, dark red liquid was brought out, giving off a strong bloody stench.
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) picked up the cup and swirled it, his brow creasing slightly, then turned to the server behind the bar.
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) looked disdainful. "Buddy, let me ask you: is this Bloody Mary fresh?"
The server's expression changed. "Are you deliberately looking for trouble?"
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) set the cup down on the bar. "This blood isn't fresh. The color's dark, and there's a sourness to the bloody smell. It's been sitting around for most of the day, hasn't it? And it's abnormally thick at the bottom. Did you mix something into it?"
The server's face turned ashen. His lips moved, but before he could speak-
The next second, Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) suddenly raised his right hand. The Angel Blade appeared, and an impossibly swift streak of light flashed past.
A head tumbled to the floor. Blood spurted from the man's neck like a fountain, spraying one side of the bar.
It was the scarred man who had taunted him earlier.
From the moment Cheng Ran spoke to the head hitting the floor, only two breaths had passed.
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) casually nudged an empty cup across the bar, catching exactly half a cup of the spurting blood.
"Did you get a good look? This is what a fresh Bloody Mary looks like."
A deathly silence filled the tavern.
Before you continue