At that moment, Qian Renxue couldn't help but see Huo Yuhao in a very different light.
She had to admit that, in some respects, Huo Yuhao really was a little better than her-just a little!
Just then, a powerful presence suddenly erupted from somewhere in the crown prince's residence, only to subside again shortly afterward.
Before long, an elated voice rang out from outside the main hall.
"Old Ghost, I've broken through to level ninety-six!"
"I've broken through too!"
The other voice was cold, but the joy in his words was still apparent.
"Come on, let's hurry and report to the young master!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo entered the hall and approached Qian Renxue at the head of the hall.
Seated high in the main seat, Qian Renxue was surprised to see Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo.
Weren't they that woman's two loyal henchmen? What were they doing here?
Then she saw Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo kneel before her on one knee and speak with utmost respect:
"Thank you for your gift, young master! We have broken through to level ninety-six! Once we return to Spirit Hall, we will ask His Holiness the Pope to transfer us so we can serve under you!"
"Hm?"
Qian Renxue blinked, a trace of bewilderment flashing in her eyes.
I really did come to another world, didn't I?
Otherwise, why would Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo pledge their loyalty to me?
Qian Renxue was dazed.
"Young master?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo looked up, somewhat puzzled.
Qian Renxue pinched her thigh, and only after confirming it wasn't an illusion did she rise with delight and hurry to help the two men up without touching them.
"Please, elders, get up."
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo rose.
Qian Renxue looked at them, her eyes smiling, and felt utterly refreshed.
They were that woman's subordinates, but now they're mine!
Huo Yuhao, well done!
She could hardly wait to return to Spirit City and savor the sight of that woman flying into a rage!
Two days later, after dealing with everything in Heaven Dou City, Qian Renxue returned to Spirit City in secret.
Spirit Hall, Pope Hall.
The entire council chamber of Pope Hall seemed to be coated in frost. There were only four people inside.
Bibi Dong sat upright in the main seat, her expression sharp and her face frosty, her gaze fixed on Qian Renxue's face the whole time.
Qian Renxue glared back at Bibi Dong without yielding an inch, and a stifling atmosphere enveloped the hall.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood quietly behind Qian Renxue.
"You're back? Did the plan fail?"
Bibi Dong asked indifferently.
Qian Renxue looked at Bibi Dong, her feelings complicated.
She had once desperately yearned for this woman's love. The more it eluded her, the more she wanted it, but all she received in return were Bibi Dong's venomous looks and curses.
Later, her love turned to hate. She wanted to prove that this woman was wrong, that she wasn't some spawn of sin, and that she was more outstanding than Hu Liena and everyone else in Spirit Hall.
Then she went to the Heaven Dou Empire and spent ten years undercover.
Looking back now, Qian Renxue found it laughable. How childish she had been.
If she hadn't wasted so much time, how could Spirit Hall have been destroyed?
That woman had died in the end too.
Qian Renxue drew her thoughts back and gazed at Bibi Dong with indifference. "I came back this time to hunt for a Soul Ring," she said calmly. "I also came to inform you that Elder Ju and Ghost Elder have reached level ninety-six. By convention, they should join the Worship Hall. They no longer serve under you."
Bibi Dong tightened her grip on her scepter and looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo with an overbearing gaze. "Oh? Elders, are you going to leave my service?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo lowered their heads and bowed to Bibi Dong. Neither servile nor overbearing, they said, "Your Holiness, we have chosen to follow the young master and protect her."
A flash of anger crossed Bibi Dong's eyes. She looked coldly at Qian Renxue. "Good. Very good. You've made some progress this time, winning Yue Guan and Gui Mei over!"
Seeing Bibi Dong like this, Qian Renxue felt somewhat more satisfied, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
"I am Spirit Hall's young master. Only under my leadership can Spirit Hall continue to flourish. Elder Ju and Ghost Elder simply made the right choice."
"How dare you! I am the Pope!"
Bibi Dong's gaze sharpened, and her presence erupted, bearing down on Qian Renxue as pressure that seemed almost tangible.
Qian Renxue staggered back several steps.
Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo hurried to shield her from the pressure. Only then did Qian Renxue steady herself, a mouthful of blood spilling from the corner of her lips.
At the sight of the blood, Bibi Dong froze for a moment. She withdrew her presence and lowered her eyes.
"Yue Guan and Gui Mei chose to follow you. That was their choice. For now, I am still the Pope, and I have the final say in Spirit Hall."
Qian Renxue wiped away the blood, its crimson staining her lips a vivid red. The smile on her face grew brighter as she glared at Bibi Dong without backing down.
"I said, I am the one who can keep Spirit Hall flourishing. You will only lead Spirit Hall away from its original purpose and down the wrong path! Elder Ju and Ghost Elder are only the beginning."
Bibi Dong's face turned ice-cold. Her hand loosened and tightened around her scepter as she said in a chilling voice:
"Wait until you're stronger than me before you say that!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo groaned inwardly.
Little ancestor, please stop provoking the Pope. Otherwise, the two of us really won't be able to hold out!
"That day is coming soon!"
Qian Renxue turned and left, feeling utterly delighted.
Huo Yuhao, well done!
At the entrance to Pope Hall, Qian Renxue suddenly remembered something. She turned back with a smile, drawing out her words with a hint of mockery.
"My dear senior sister, I heard you once liked a good-for-nothing named Yu Xiaogang. Your taste really isn't much, is it? You even fell for a fraud who broke through to level fifty at level twenty-nine? Someone was right: you're blind and stupid!"
"What did you say!"
Bibi Dong's pretty face filled with murderous fury. Her presence erupted in full, its sharp force whipping up towering waves of air that swept straight toward Qian Renxue.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's faces changed drastically. They hurriedly released their Martial Souls and gritted their teeth against the impact, but even so, Qian Renxue was sent flying.
Qian Renxue steadied herself, a mocking smile still on her face. "What? Are you going to kill me for your old flame?" she asked coldly.
Every word Qian Renxue spoke stabbed at her heart.
Bibi Dong swayed, a flash of purple passing through her eyes. She pressed a hand to her forehead in pain, and her presence subsided.
Qian Renxue glanced at her, then left without looking back.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo finally let out a long sigh of relief.
Watching everyone leave, Bibi Dong seemed to lose all her strength. She collapsed into her chair, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face, and seemed to have aged ten years.
Elder Hall.
This was the largest building within Pope Hall, and all of Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo lived there.
Elder Hall was silent. Qian Renxue walked into the main hall, her gaze falling first on the Angel God Statue in the center before lowering to the figure standing quietly beneath it.
"Grandpa!"
Seeing that figure again, Qian Renxue's eyes suddenly grew wet. She hurried over to Qian Daoliu and embraced him, sobbing silently.
Spirit Hall's destruction weighed on her like a mountain, regret and guilt intertwined in her heart.
In the future, she hadn't even found any record of what had happened to her grandfather, as though he had vanished.
She knew her grandfather was probably dead, and that he had died early on. Otherwise, how could he have failed to appear when she lost to Tang San in the future?