Thinking of everything that would happen in the future, Yu Tianling could not help tightening his grip on the teacup in his hand, a resolute thought rising in his heart.
In this life, no matter what, both the Angel God and the Rakshasa God will enter the Divine Realm! I will make sure that both of you, mother and daughter, successfully enter the Divine Realm!
Although Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong were at odds, her willingness to risk her life to save Bibi Dong at the very end was enough to show that she still felt some familial affection for her. Yu Tianling did not want these two powerful First-Level Gods to fall like that. They would be tremendous assets when attacking and reshaping the Divine Realm in the future.
If that clown Tang San had not, thanks to his protagonist halo, stumbled into possessing Dual Godhood in one body and thereby defeated the Angel God and the Rakshasa God, those two First-Level Gods, the subsequent history of the Douluo Continent would probably have been rewritten.
Xue Qinghe did not know what Yu Tianling was thinking. By now, she had also understood why Dugu Bo had joined Spirit Hall. As understanding dawned, an intense interest in Yu Tianling rose in her heart once again.
Through spies, "he" had learned a great deal about Yu Tianling, but every time Yu Tianling left Spirit City, he brought "him" a surprise upon his return.
Yu Tianling, just how many secrets are you hiding?
Looking at the graceful young man before her, Xue Qinghe felt her heart grow a little warmer.
Over the time that followed, the two exchanged many thoughts on governance and numerous other matters. Xue Qinghe even felt some anticipation for the circumstances Yu Tianling had described.
Time flew by as they talked. Night fell, and Yu Tianling decided to return to the hotel to meet up with the others.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, let us part here, then. Until we meet again!"
With that, Yu Tianling left the courtyard and headed toward the Forest Hotel.
Xue Qinghe stood in the doorway, gazing fixedly at the departing young man.
She could not help recalling what Yu Tianling had abruptly brought up during their earlier conversation.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the fourth prince, Xue Beng, is not quite what you think he is."
"I once heard a story about a king whose sons constantly fought one another for the throne. Eventually, the crown prince eliminated almost all the other princes, leaving only the one he considered the most useless. Little did he know that this prince had merely been hiding his light and biding his time for years. With the cooperation of the royal relatives, he successfully eliminated the crown prince, ascended the throne, and became the new king."
Yu Tianling had suddenly said all this to Xue Qinghe entirely on a whim.
With the way Xue Beng behaved, Yu Tianling did not mind making some trouble for him.
Of course, if Xue Qinghe secretly acted against Xue Beng after hearing his words and successfully killed him, that would naturally be best. Even if Xue Beng did not die, he would at least be skinned alive. Why not?
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the people secretly following us have been eliminated. As for Xue Beng, whom His Highness the Holy Son mentioned earlier, should we...?"
A short-haired, middle-aged man suddenly appeared beside Xue Qinghe. When he mentioned Xue Beng, he made a gesture across his neck, brimming with killing intent.
The middle-aged man had neat, short hair and a classic oval face, with a small golden snake adorning the space between his brows. He could certainly be called handsome.
Had Yu Tianling still been there, he would definitely have recognized him. He was Snake Lance Douluo, one of the two Titled Douluos Spirit Hall had sent to protect Qian Renxue.
"No. That old fellow Xue Ye has already begun to suspect me. If we kill Xue Beng as well, it might backfire. Still, we certainly cannot let Xue Beng keep hopping around so freely."
After hearing Yu Tianling's warning, Xue Qinghe had already begun to see through Xue Beng's disguise. Although the need to conceal her identity prevented her from killing him, "he" had no intention of letting Xue Beng have an easy time either. A cold glint flashed through Xue Qinghe's eyes.
"Where is Ci Xue Douluo?"
Xue Qinghe slowly walked back into the small pavilion and questioned Snake Lance Douluo, who followed behind her.
"When Old Poison left a while ago, he left him some poisons. These days, whenever that fellow has nothing to do, he goes to his fishpond to concoct new poisons. I imagine he is there now."
Snake Lance Douluo did not dare hesitate in answering. He had been wondering why Old Poison had given assistance to Ci Xue, his sworn enemy, before leaving. Only now, connecting it with Yu Tianling's words, did he understand.
Old Poison still felt somewhat guilty, so he had hoped the poisons he left behind would improve Ci Xue's strength. Yet he would never have imagined that Ci Xue was also a member of Spirit Hall. When they met again, that old poison's face would probably turn green. The corners of Snake Lance Douluo's mouth could not help curling up slightly.
Xue Qinghe had clearly thought of this as well and could not quite suppress a smile.
But he had not forgotten why he had brought up Ci Xue Douluo, so he instructed Snake Lance Douluo, "Snake Lance Douluo, go convey my request to Ci Xue Douluo. Have him use poison to leave Xue Beng without descendants, but he must not let him discover it."
Hearing Xue Qinghe's instructions, Snake Lance Douluo squeezed his legs together slightly before leaving at top speed. It was simply too frightening.
Watching Snake Lance Douluo leave, Xue Qinghe paid it no mind. She merely poured another cup of tea and slowly drank it.
Chemical castration-that was the underhanded move Xue Qinghe had devised. It would not endanger Xue Beng's life, yet it would strike him a heavy blow. And once Xue Ye learned that Xue Beng could not carry on the family line, there would be no possibility of passing the throne to him!
Late that night, Yu Tianling returned to the Forest Hotel. After asking an attendant which room was his, he went straight to it.
Early the next morning, after washing up and eating breakfast, the group set off back to Spirit City.
"Only with great strength can you control your own destiny!"
Looking at the enormous city before him and the clearly visible Spirit Hall, Yu Tianling could not help clenching his fists tightly.
Zhu Zhuqing also curiously surveyed Spirit City, renowned throughout the continent. From now on, she would live and study here!
The others had no particular feelings about it. After all, they had spent who knew how many years here, and they had not been away for very long.
Upon approaching Spirit City, the group did not linger at the gates and headed straight for the Pope's Palace.
The doors of the Pope's Palace stood open, just as they had when they left. Bibi Dong had received word early that Yu Tianling and the others were on their way, so she had taken her seat well in advance to wait for them.
She did not have to wait long before Yu Tianling came into view, and Yu Tianling likewise saw the master he had not seen for many days.
She was just as she had always been, dressed in purple-and-silver robes that fully displayed her noble bearing.
Perhaps it was Yu Tianling's imagination, but he seemed to see a glimmer of maternal tenderness in Bibi Dong's eyes as she looked at him and Hu Liena.
"Master!" ×2
After coming to a stop, Yu Tianling and Hu Liena called out in unison.