"You, all of you, open your eyes wide and take a good look at this sacred painting! Use your brains and think about it. Is this a fucking proper painting?"
Qian Daoliu finally lost it completely.
He had originally thought that absolutely no one would appreciate such an idiotic painting, much less perceive any so-called sacred essence in it.
Yet all these people could sense some sacred essence, and had even gained sudden enlightenment and broken through because of it. He was the only one left isolated!
"Big brother, stop talking. You don't look at a sacred painting with your eyes. You have to feel it with your heart... forget it. I won't insist that you comprehend that sacred essence anymore. Discussing art and sacred miracles with someone as vulgar as you is like playing a zither to a stupid ox."
Mighty Lion Douluo shook his head and sighed, heartfelt disappointment showing in his eyes as he looked at his dear big brother Qian Daoliu. "Someone like you will never understand. His Highness the Holy Son clearly saved your reputation and preserved your lifelong good name. His Highness the Holy Son is so wise and righteous, unmatched in filial devotion and honor!"
"And yet you want to stop a sacred painting like this from spreading throughout the world. You can even bring yourself to stop His Highness the Holy Son from becoming a god. You're nothing but human trash!!"
"No, who do you think spread those rumors about me?! My idiotic grandson! He's clearly an idiot, so why do so many people believe the idiotic things he says?!"
Qian Daoliu was so furious that he was nearly in tears. "And now it's happening again! Can spreading a freakish painting like this really make someone a god? Be rational! I can't let Spirit Hall's reputation, built over hundreds and thousands of years, be ruined in my hands!"
"Enough! Great Enshrined, stop disrupting the vote. Although you preside over the elders' council, you have no right to interfere with the elders' decisions!"
Bibi Dong sharply rebuked Qian Daoliu, her face bearing a victor's composure. "Now, let the official vote begin! We will make our final ruling on whether to reproduce one billion copies of the sacred painting and spread them throughout the world!!"
"Oh, oh! Everyone, hurry up and start voting!"
Qian Renxing chuckled away. Just thinking about how his billion copies of the sacred painting would soon spread throughout the world, and how he would soon become a god, filled him with excitement.
He spread his arms toward the elders and enshrined in a distant embrace, beaming brilliantly as he said in delight, "Everyone, after I become a god, I'll take all of you to the Divine Realm~"
"Ohhh! Is this His Highness the Holy Son's sacred radiance? It's too dazzling!!"
Mighty Lion Douluo immediately became beside himself with excitement. "I'll definitely cast my vote for you, Your Highness the Holy Son! I'll believe in you forever!!"
"Ohhh! Your Highness the Holy Son, we'll revere you forever too!!"
Many of the elders and enshrined grew just as excited as Mighty Lion Douluo upon seeing the sacred radiance His Highness the Holy Son displayed.
The Holy Son had clearly performed no sacred miracle and spoken no sacred words. He had merely revealed a brilliant smile, yet that sacred essence was even richer than the one in the sacred painting!
"Wait! Everyone, please hear this old man out one last time!!"
Just then, a solemn voice rang through the halls of the Pope's Palace. It was Qian Daoliu. He actually still had something to say!!
The enshrined and elders could not help turning their gazes toward the Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu, utterly puzzled:
"Big brother, what else do you have to say? Is this sacred painting still not sacred enough?!"
"Great Enshrined, your defeat is already decided. Wouldn't trying to wriggle out of it now be rather unsightly?!"
Qian Renxing was also quite puzzled, but he still comforted his grandfather, whose defeat was already certain. "Grandpa, you've already lost. Just enjoy your retirement from now on. Don't worry, after I become a god, I'll take you to the Divine Realm too!"
However, the words of the enshrined and elders did not move Qian Daoliu. Even Qian Renxing's composed words, as though he had already become the victor, did not change Qian Daoliu's mind.
"Never speak lightly of giving up before the very last moment! Xiao Xing, you were the one who taught me that."
Qian Daoliu's smile was deeply inscrutable. "I learned a lesson from my failure just now. Normal people cannot understand an idiot's logic, so-I'm done being normal!"
"Since you believe that sacred painting truly possesses a sacred essence, then let's say it really is sacred, a rare and peerless treasure of this world! A sacred relic that can even help Titled powerhouses beyond rank ninety-five break through!!"
"Since the sacred painting is a priceless treasure, do you really intend to reproduce a billion copies of it and spread them across the entire world?! Shouldn't a sacred relic like this be Spirit Hall's crowning treasure?!!"
The entire gathering fell silent at Qian Daoliu's words.
But quite a few of the enshrined and elders began considering what Qian Daoliu had said.
"That's right. This sacred painting really is such a rare treasure, precious beyond measure. Are we really going to reproduce a billion copies of a sacred relic like this and spread them across the entire world?"
"How is that any different from scattering money all over the world? That's simply idiotic!"
"The sacred painting is too sacred. Reproducing a billion copies and spreading them throughout the world would be a desecration of it! A sacred painting like this should be treasured by Spirit Hall. Only Spirit Hall's core members should be allowed to see it, and only they should be qualified to comprehend its sacred essence!!"
Quite a few of the enshrined and elders actually began agreeing with Qian Daoliu.
Seeing this and hearing the words of the enshrined and elders, Qian Daoliu smiled. He looked at his idiotic grandson, appearing extremely pleased with himself. "Well? Xiao Xing, let me show you the despicable ways of adults!"
"No one can bear to give their own treasure to someone else, much less pay out of their own pocket to do it! This is humanity's ingrained selfishness!!"
"People who do good are wronged instead, and people who perform kind deeds die miserable deaths. Haven't there been enough such cases? That's why people should be more selfish. This world is simply that cruel, that cold!"
Hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Qian Renxing fell silent.
He had never imagined his grandfather could be so despicable, actually learning to think like an idiot and even preparing to defeat him with an idiot's logic!
But did he think this would make him admit defeat?
"Grandpa, you're right. Baseness is the base man's passport; nobility is the noble man's epitaph!"
Qian Renxing's gaze was filled with resolve. "But does always having been this way make it right? Sometimes people have to be like idiots, just as I don't believe this is right! I don't believe the sky is blue, I don't believe in thunder's echoes, I don't believe dreams are false, I don't believe death brings no reckoning! Let me tell you, world: I-do-not-believe!!"
"Grandpa, even if I can't get it through the elders' council, even if everyone opposes me, I'll remain unwavering in doing this! I've always been an idiot. I've never been able to gain the world's understanding, nor do I dream of winning people's praise. Even if every single person in the world mocks me, so what?!!"
"Even against tens of millions, I shall go forth! That is who I, Qian Renxing, am!!"