"That child possesses a god-level Martial Soul, and its quality surpasses even our Qian Family's Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul."
A brainstorm swept through Qian Daoliu's mind. "Xiao Xue has grown up. Sooner or later, she'll marry. Her partner must be an unparalleled genius worthy of her."
The Great Enshrined inwardly exclaimed, Well, well! That child Luo Chen is practically a ready-made grandson-in-law for me!
The Qian Family's numbers had dwindled, especially over these last three generations, with only a single descendant in each.
There was Qian Daoliu himself, his son Qian Xunji, and his granddaughter Qian Renxue.
Although some members of the Qian Family's branch lines remained, they had not awakened the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, so they could not be counted as members of the Angel Clan.
"A boy with a god-level Martial Soul! Heaven truly blesses our Spirit Hall and our Qian Family!"
The gloom in Qian Daoliu's heart over the conflict between Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue instantly vanished like smoke.
Clearly, Luo Chen's talent and intelligence pleased Qian Daoliu immensely.
The only question now was the child's character.
As long as his character proved sound, Luo Chen would be Qian Daoliu's ideal candidate for a grandson-in-law.
In Qian Daoliu's judgment, his granddaughter had an excellent chance of inheriting the Angel God's mantle. With level-20 Innate Soul Power and the favor of the divine consciousness left behind by their divine ancestor, her achievements would surely surpass his own.
As for Bibi Dong, she had reached level 97 at just twenty-nine, and her Martial Soul had also broken through to the god level.
Without a doubt, Bibi Dong had a promising future and a chance of becoming a god.
"That child is even more terrifying. He can casually create a god-level Martial Soul."
Without a doubt, Luo Chen's potential surpassed both Bibi Dong's and Qian Renxue's-and by a vast margin.
"If Xiao Xue can get together with that child, then given how much Bibi Dong dotes on him, she'll accept Xiao Xue sooner or later, however much she hates Ji'er."
Once Qian Renxue became Luo Chen's wife and they eventually had children...
However resentful Bibi Dong might be, what could she do to Qian Renxue when faced with her grandson and granddaughter?
As a family of three, what conflict could they not resolve?
"If this whole family can reach level 100 and become gods in the future, they'll be able to stand together even after ascending to the Divine Realm."
Those were the benefits for Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong. For Qian Daoliu, his Qian Family would gain Luo Chen's bloodline, bringing Spirit Hall's inheritance and foundations to even greater heights.
"If they have children someday, whether they inherit Xiao Xue's Six-Winged Angel or that child's Sun Disc, there's a very good chance they'll have god-level Martial Souls."
Just picturing that scene nearly made Qian Daoliu, despite his age, unable to resist praising his own insight, wisdom, and brilliance.
"Perfect!"
"Absolutely perfect!"
Qian Daoliu said, "Xiao Xue and Xiao Chen-a talented young man and a beautiful young woman. What reason could Bibi Dong have to oppose this marriage?"
She was her own daughter, after all.
As the old saying went, fertile water should not flow into another family's fields!
As for whether Luo Chen and Qian Renxue's descendants bore the surname Qian or Luo, Qian Daoliu actually did not care.
On the Douluo Continent, Martial Souls reigned supreme.
What your Martial Soul was mattered more than what your surname was.
If, centuries later, a Soul Master awakened the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, would anyone dare claim he was not Qian Daoliu's descendant?
Thus, the Martial Soul was the true "inheritance."
They were the Angel Clan, not some so-called Qian Family.
With that thought, Qian Daoliu immediately turned toward his still-crying granddaughter. As he comforted her, he began planning how to instill his marriage-pushing scheme in her.
"Xiao Xue, Grandpa has a way to make your mother stop hating you."
Qian Daoliu continued, "It's just that this method might mean putting up with a little unfairness."
"Really?"
Qian Renxue immediately raised her tear-streaked little face. "You're not lying to Xue'er, Grandpa?"
Qian Renxue kept declaring she would cut ties with Bibi Dong, yet when she heard that her mother might love her again, Xiao Xue'er would still rush forward like a moth into a flame.
What had those twenty years undercover in Heaven Dou in the original story been for? Hadn't it all been to prove her abilities to Bibi Dong and win her mother's approval?
Qian Renxue: For Mom, I'm willing to do anything!
"Why would Grandpa lie to you?"
"Mm."
Qian Renxue said, "I believe you, Grandpa!"
"Haha."
Delighted that his granddaughter had stopped crying, Qian Daoliu smiled and stroked her little head. "Xiao Xue, what do you think of that child from earlier?"
"That child? The boy Mom would protect even if it meant making an enemy of you?"
Qian Renxue was clever and immediately guessed his meaning. "Do you want me to get on good terms with him, Grandpa, and then use his help to make Mom stop hating me?"
Xiao Xue'er did not know why Bibi Dong loathed her.
But Luo Chen's existence clearly proved that Bibi Dong was not a cold-hearted person.
In that case, she could become close friends with Luo Chen and have him put in a few good words for her before her mother.
Over time, she might truly find an opportunity to mend the broken mirror of her relationship with Bibi Dong.
You thought someone as proud as Qian Renxue could never swallow her pride and cozy up to Luo Chen?
Heh, you had no idea how hard Qian Renxue could work to gain her mother's approval!
"That's right."
Seeing that Qian Renxue showed no rebellious resistance, Qian Daoliu thought this really did have a chance.
"Grandpa knows you want Bibi Dong to like you, Xiao Xue. But if you approach him too rashly, you'll only arouse her suspicions."
Qian Daoliu continued, "So we'll have to plan this carefully."
"Mm-hmm!"
Xiao Xue'er looked at her grandfather with admiration, feeling that he had considered everything so thoroughly.
Exactly. If she was too enthusiastic, her mother would only dislike her more, thinking she harbored ulterior motives in deliberately approaching Luo Chen.
Qian Renxue could not help feeling stifled. I'm your daughter, yet you guard against me like a thief.
To say she was not jealous of Luo Chen would have been an absolute lie.
"Sigh."
Unfortunately, Qian Renxue desperately needed Luo Chen's help right now, so she could only endure this humiliation.
Little Angel: Awoo! I'm so mad!
"Then what exactly should I do, Grandpa?"
Qian Renxue still looked forward to his answer, completely unaware of just how fervently the old man wanted to push her into marriage.
"Grandpa thinks you could try winning him over, Xiao Xue."
Well, Qian Daoliu felt he really was unsuited to tactful persuasion, so he charged straight in and spoke his mind.
"What?!"
Qian Renxue had never imagined her grandfather would say something like that.
She instinctively wanted to refuse, but remembering how Bibi Dong had not hesitated to strike her for Luo Chen's sake, she fell silent again.
"Grandpa, you want me to... with that little brat..."
Children on the Douluo Continent had always matured early. Many married and had children at twelve or thirteen.
Although Qian Renxue did not really understand love, she basically knew everything she ought to know.
"Phew..."
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, repeatedly soothing herself inwardly. Don't get angry. Calm down. I need to stay calm.
This is all for Mom. As long as I can gain Mom's approval, this little grievance is nothing!
Qian Daoliu understood his granddaughter. Seeing that she had not rejected him outright, he knew she was weighing the plan's advantages and disadvantages.
Qian Renxue was clever. Even before going to the Heaven Dou Empire for her "advanced studies," she could quickly identify the key points.
Then Qian Daoliu laid out his plan.
When she heard about marrying Luo Chen, becoming a family, and even having children, Qian Renxue, though not yet ten this year, blushed scarlet and nearly turned into a steaming maiden.
"Grandpa!"
Qian Renxue stamped her foot, pouting at Qian Daoliu in displeasure. "How could you do this!"
She had always thought her grandfather loved her most.
What was going on now?
For that little brat's sake, he was actually preparing to sell off his granddaughter!
I'm not angry. Calm down. Stay calm.
Qian Renxue reconsidered every word Qian Daoliu had said and found that her grandfather was right.
She did not know exactly how outstanding Luo Chen was, because her grandfather had not told her the secret of his Martial Soul.
Qian Daoliu could only say, "That child's talent surpasses even yours, Xue'er."
Naturally, Qian Renxue did not believe that.
But Qian Daoliu's next words shattered her composure. "His Soul Power is level 30!"
"How is that possible!!"
What was Qian Renxue proudest of? Her level-20 Innate Soul Power, and the fact that she had cultivated her Soul Power to level 33 at only nine years old.
Yes, just yesterday, Qian Renxue's Soul Power had broken through from level 32 to level 33.
In the three years since her awakening, Qian Renxue had raised her Soul Power by a full thirteen levels, averaging over four levels a year.
If she could maintain that pace, she had a chance of becoming a Titled Douluo in just twelve or thirteen years.
That meant becoming a Titled Douluo in her early twenties.
Such a world-shaking cultivation speed had never appeared in the entire history of the Douluo Continent.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Qian Renxue noticed something. "Isn't... isn't he only six?"
A six-year-old child had level-30 Soul Power?
"Could it be?!"
Qian Renxue realized the crucial point. "He has a god-level Martial Soul too, just like me?"
Level-30 Innate Soul Power. He had possessed level-30 Soul Power the moment he awakened.
Talent like that truly did surpass hers.
At that moment, even the ever-proud Qian Renxue felt dealt a blow. "I've cultivated for over three years, and I'm only level 33. He..."
And that was before Luo Chen had obtained all his Soul Rings.
Once Luo Chen added three Soul Rings, his Soul Power might very well break through level 35, or even higher.
That meant Luo Chen would not need to slowly catch up with Qian Renxue. He could surpass her immediately and become stronger than her.
"..."
For a moment, Qian Renxue felt rather crushed by Luo Chen.
"Is... is that why she likes him more than me?"
The thought had barely occurred to Qian Renxue before she rejected it. "No. In that case, Mom shouldn't hate me."
Because when she first awakened her Martial Soul, she had run excitedly to share her joy with her mother.
And what had happened?
Bibi Dong's disgusted gaze, and that utterly merciless slap.
She had nearly killed her.
"At least back then, no one could surpass my talent."
"So Mom doesn't like that child because of his talent."
Having worked that out, Qian Renxue temporarily soothed her battered little heart and began reconsidering Qian Daoliu's proposal.
Luo Chen was more outstanding than her.
And Bibi Dong doted on him deeply.
Gradually, Qian Renxue realized that having Luo Chen as her partner seemed rather nice.
"That child really is endearingly handsome."
Qian Renxue had never seen a boy as good-looking as Luo Chen. Even she was drawn to his bearing and looks.
If the Blue Silver Emperor could reshape Tang San into a peerlessly handsome man, then Luo Chen, who possessed The Star Forger's inheritance, could only be even better-looking than Tang San after his awakening.
Setting aside Bibi Dong's favoritism, Little Angel's first impression of Luo Chen had been quite good.
"And if I can make him obey my every word..."
At that thought, a charming smile could not help spreading across Qian Renxue's pretty little face.
She could already imagine Bibi Dong's embarrassed, angry, and resentful expression when she saw Luo Chen leave her embrace and become Qian Renxue's simp.
As for whether Qian Renxue could win Luo Chen over...
Little Angel scoffed!
"I'm so outstanding."
Qian Renxue thought, Making a mere six-year-old brat fall for me will be a piece of cake, won't it?
Little Angel: Hmph, something this easy? Anyone with hands could do it!
Of course, as for developing the sort of relationship with Luo Chen that Qian Daoliu had described, Qian Renxue was not considering that for now.
To become her partner, he would first have to defeat her.
On the Douluo Continent, strength commanded respect.
If he really can defeat me, then being his woman wouldn't be...
Hmph!
Qian Renxue hurriedly suppressed the thought. How could I possibly lose to anyone!
Watching his granddaughter stamp her feet and grit her teeth in that adorably spirited manner, Qian Daoliu could not help wearing an indulgent auntie's smile.
"Grandpa, I'll find a way to win that child's affection."
"Then you've agreed?"
"Mm."
Qian Renxue said this was not something to rush. Over the next few years, she would carefully work on their relationship and try to win Luo Chen over.
She was pretty bored staying in the Worship Hall anyway.
Every day, she was either cultivating or holed up in the library.
Now that Luo Chen was around, Qian Renxue was instantly filled with anticipation for the days ahead.
"But Grandpa, Xue'er has one more question."
Qian Renxue said, "What should I do if that child really is my younger brother?"
If Luo Chen was Bibi Dong's son, then he was her younger brother.
How would they carry out their plan then?
An older sister seducing her younger brother?
If word of something like that got out, how could she, Qian Renxue, ever show her face again?
"Ahem!"
Qian Daoliu inwardly cursed Bibi Dong for not explaining things clearly. This biological son in a state of quantum entanglement had him confused, too.
"Whether he is or not, you can't go wrong by building a good relationship with him."
"Mm."
Qian Renxue thought her grandfather was right.
If Luo Chen really was her younger brother, then as his older sister, she certainly had to get along well with him.
Although she was jealous of Luo Chen and surprised to suddenly have a younger brother,
deep down, Qian Renxue was still quite happy to have another blood-related family member.
"Hmph, just watch how I make him fall at this young lady's feet!"
Even if Luo Chen really was her biological younger brother, he would still need to be properly trained.
She, Qian Renxue, would definitely make Luo Chen the best younger brother in the world, so that his eyes held only her, his older sister.
(End of chapter)