Qian Renxue was shocked speechless by those words.
Dual godhood?
Just how vast were this Evil God's ambitions? Wasn't he afraid she would tear down the bridge after crossing the river once she attained dual godhood?
Cheng Ran's tone suddenly turned serious. "Still, let's set the Sea God aside for now. Distant water cannot quench an immediate thirst. What matters most right now is your own cultivation."
"But my Infiltration Plan..."
"Infiltration? Infiltration, my ass!" Cheng Ran's voice abruptly rose. "So everything I said in the Pope Hall yesterday was just hot air?"
"Sis, do you know what they say on Little Red Sweet Potato? Your family of origin drains you. Your mother, Bibi Dong, is your family of origin. She's drained you for fifteen years. Do you want to let her keep draining you?"
"What's Little Red Book?"
"A peerless cultivation technique written by the Feminist Goddess."
Cheng Ran said offhandedly, "Sis, take my advice. Stay away from people and things that drain you, and focus your energy on yourself.
"From today onward, save your energy for yourself alone. Cultivate, level up, build your career!
"If the sky falls, your grandfather will hold it up!"
The night passed without further incident, and the sun climbed high.
Qian Renxue had slept poorly all night. Her eyes had dark circles beneath them and were swollen from crying.
Qian Daoliu's concerned voice came from outside the door. "Xue'er, are you up?"
Cheng Ran: Xiao Xue, do as I say next. This is your first step toward escaping your family of origin.
This Evil God had nothing to do today, so I counted on my fingers and divined that your Virgo luck is outrageously strong today. Go out, and an unexpected delight awaits.
Deep in Sunset Forest is a place called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. The most precious immortal herbs on the entire Douluo Continent are all there.
Tang San, the son of Tang Hao, one of your father's killers, will rely on those immortal herbs to cheat his way ahead in the future.
I see that those immortal herbs are fated to be mine. Let's hurry over and take them!
Qian Renxue: *...*
She took a deep breath and opened the door.
Outside stood an elderly man whose hair was white but whose spirits were vigorous. The instant he saw Qian Renxue, his eyes filled with affection.
Cheng Ran: Xiao Xue, remember article one of our school's "Master Outline of the Great Heroine's Treasure Manual": women who know how to act cute have the best lives. Now, repeat each line I give you to your grandfather.
Qian Renxue: Huh?
"Xue'er." Seeing how listless she looked, Qian Daoliu couldn't help frowning. "You've suffered."
Cheng Ran: Quick, throw yourself into his arms and say, Grandpa, I don't want to go back to the Heaven Dou Empire!
Qian Renxue bit her lip, thinking, The Evil God probably wouldn't set me up, would he?
Cheng Ran: What are you standing there for? Say it!
Qian Renxue threw herself into Qian Daoliu's arms, her voice softening. "Grandpa, I don't want to go back to the Heaven Dou Empire."
Cheng Ran: Next, say, I'm fifteen, Grandpa. I don't want to be a tool anymore. I want to grow stronger-truly stronger.
Qian Renxue steeled herself and said quietly, "I'm fifteen, Grandpa. I don't want to be a tool anymore. I want to grow stronger-truly stronger."
Qian Daoliu said, "Were you serious about the Three-Year Pact?"
Qian Renxue nodded earnestly.
Qian Daoliu looked at her, his gaze complicated.
He had lived for over a hundred years and witnessed far too many clashes of pride, but none had ever stirred his heart like this.
A Level 49 girl had issued a challenge to the Level 95 Pope.
Three years later, one battle would sever the bonds between mother and daughter.
Was it absurd? Yes.
But as he looked into Qian Renxue's eyes, he saw not a trace of jest.
Cheng Ran: Bring up Sunset Forest next.
Say, Grandpa, I want to go to Sunset Forest. While I was undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire, I learned a piece of classified intelligence: there's a rare immortal herb in Sunset Forest that can greatly increase cultivation speed.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath and repeated it.
"Sunset Forest..." Qian Daoliu mused. "There are indeed some rare medicinal herbs there, but its depths are incredibly dangerous. With your current strength..."
Cheng Ran: So I'd like to ask you to come with me, Grandpa. Then take his sleeve and give it a little shake.
Qian Renxue took Qian Daoliu's sleeve and gently shook it. "So I'd like to ask you to come with me, Grandpa. You're a Level 99 Peerless Douluo. With you there, no danger is frightening."
Cheng Ran: One last line. Say, "Pretty please?" Make your voice sweet and act cute!
Qian Renxue: *...*
Although Qian Daoliu was her dearest grandfather, she had been cold-tempered since childhood and had never said anything so embarrassing...
Under Cheng Ran's urging, Qian Renxue bit her lip and murmured, "Pretty please?"
That one "pretty please" melted Qian Daoliu's heart.
"But Grandpa still needs to enter secluded cultivation..." He had been stuck as a Level 99 Limit Douluo for years, unable to break through to the demigod realm. He had to seek enlightenment in seclusion, afraid he would lack the strength to protect Qian Renxue until the day she inherited the Angel Godhood.
"Grandpa, it'll be my fifteenth birthday in a few days. Won't you even grant me this?"
Cheng Ran nodded furiously in her mind. Yes, yes, yes! That's exactly the flavor!
Looking into his granddaughter's sparkling eyes as she nestled in his arms, how could Qian Daoliu possibly refuse?
It was his first time seeing Xue'er display such girlish coyness.
"All right." Qian Daoliu finally nodded, his eyes full of indulgence and relief. "Then Grandpa believes you. I'll go to Sunset Forest with you."
Qian Renxue smiled like an ordinary child who had finally been allowed to celebrate her birthday.
The Evil God kept telling her in her mind, Xiao Xue, remember this: from now on, never suffer for anyone else again. You are the heroine of your own life.
Amid the Evil God's repeated praise, she gradually lost herself.
Sunset Forest.
Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky and sun, while soul beast roars occasionally sounded in the distance.
Qian Daoliu hovered in midair, the pressure of a Level 99 Peerless Douluo like an invisible mountain. No soul beast within a hundred li dared approach.
"Xue'er, are you sure you don't need me to act?" Qian Daoliu frowned. "The soul beasts here are ferocious, and quite a few are over ten thousand years old."
"Grandpa, don't worry."
Qian Renxue said, "I didn't just come for the immortal herbs this time. I have another goal: honing my practical combat skills. You only need to protect me from the shadows, Grandpa. Please don't intervene unless my life is in danger."
In front of Qian Renxue, a Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear lay pressed to the ground beneath Qian Daoliu's aura.
This ten-thousand-year soul beast had dark gold armor covering its entire body, blood-red eyes, and a body the size of a small mountain.
Qian Daoliu nodded. Xiao Xue really had grown up.
Of course, this was a plan Cheng Ran had devised.
As someone with the Angel Martial Soul, Qian Renxue's practical combat skills were truly abysmal. This was the main reason she later lost to Tang San.
So she had to seize opportunities while improving her own strength at the same time.
She had to grasp both with both hands, and both hands had to be strong.
The next instant, Cheng Ran had already taken over her body. Watch closely, Xiao Xue. I'll only demonstrate once.
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) flexed his wrists. His gaze sharpened, and the aura around him abruptly changed.
Qian Daoliu froze. It was an expression he had never seen on his granddaughter before.
Qian Renxue was a bundle of nerves. Evil God, are you really confident? That's a ten-thousand-year soul beast!
Cheng Ran (Qian Renxue) nodded slightly, signaling that Qian Daoliu could conceal himself now.
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear suddenly sprang up and slammed down a paw, smashing a three-meter-deep crater into the ground.
But the instant before the wind from its paw descended, Cheng Ran had already slid sideways and delivered a backhand slash with the Angel Holy Sword to the bear's wrist joint.
Roar!
The Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear let out a shrill scream as its joint was severed outright.
Cheng Ran: Observation shows that the armor is very thin where it joins at the wrist. That's its weak point. Strike here, and you get twice the result with half the effort.
Qian Renxue frantically took notes. How did you know its weak point was there?
Cheng Ran: I told you: observation. This is basic stuff for a veteran player.
Qian Renxue: *?*
Before you continue