"By the way, Xue'er's situation in the Heaven Dou Empire needs to be expedited," Qian Daoliu remarked abruptly.
He paused for a moment before continuing, "As for establishing the Spirit Empire, I agree to it!"
"If necessary, you may request assistance from the Worship Hall."
His declaration left Bibi Dong utterly stunned.
Her mouth slightly agape, her wide eyes filled with disbelief.
Previously, Qian Daoliu had remained noncommittal, neither supporting nor opposing her actions. The Worship Hall had not intervened, standing as a neutral entity.
Why, then, was he suddenly offering full support today?
Even more shocking, he said they could enlist the help of the hall's worshippers. These powerful elders, each arrogant in their own right, had been untouchable even to her, the Pope of Spirit Hall.
Now that Qian Daoliu had spoken, it signified that the Worship Hall had fully aligned with her vision. With Qian Daoliu at its helm, his word was law, and no worshipper would defy him.
"Grand Worshipper, why this change?" Bibi Dong asked, unable to believe what she was hearing.
Could it be because she had ordered Gui Mei to cripple Yu Xiaogang? That seemed far too trivial to justify such a monumental shift.
"Why?" Qian Daoliu muttered under his breath, almost as if asking himself.
"Even I would like to know why…"
He fell silent for a moment, his expression heavy with unresolved frustration.
Why are the gods meddling with the Angel God's inheritance?
Why?
The questions gnawed at him. He wanted nothing more than to confront those deities in their divine realm and demand an explanation.
If Dai Mubai failed in his divine trials, Qian Daoliu would not hesitate to retaliate by destroying the inheritances of the Sea God and the Asura God.
If they dared harm his lineage, then mutual destruction it would be! But to execute such a plan, unifying the Douluo Continent was essential.
Bibi Dong: "???"
The old man's cryptic remarks left her utterly baffled.
Still, since Qian Daoliu had granted his support, the obstacles to establishing the Spirit Empire had diminished significantly. With the elders of the Worship Hall on her side, the process would be far smoother.
"Grand Worshipper, let's discuss this further after the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament concludes. Incidentally, I have a plan that might require the cooperation of one or two worshippers," Bibi Dong said seriously.
Qian Daoliu glanced at her briefly before nodding in agreement.
"By the way, you've met my grandson-in-law, haven't you? What do you think of him?"
As he mentioned Dai Mubai, a faint smile appeared on Qian Daoliu's face. His gaze drifted to Shrek Academy's rest area, focusing on Dai Mubai.
Qian Daoliu was very pleased with this grandson-in-law. Compared to his son, Qian Xunji, Qian Renxue's judgment in choosing a partner was vastly superior.
To be honest, Qian Daoliu had never been satisfied with Bibi Dong, especially regarding her suitability as a daughter-in-law.
If he had been in power at the time, he would never have tolerated such behavior. At best, he might have spared her life by crippling her martial soul.
What he hadn't expected was Qian Xunji's catastrophic actions. By the time he discovered the full extent of the situation, it was too late.
With her twin martial souls and innate full soul power, Bibi Dong's talent was extraordinary. If she had produced a child with Qian Xunji, the offspring's potential would likely have been unparalleled. Combined with the Angel Spirit's unique traits, they might even have shattered the limits of fate itself.
Resigning himself to reality, Qian Daoliu decided to look the other way. What was done was done.
This hands-off approach ultimately led to the tragedy of Qian Xunji's death at Bibi Dong's hands.
Though Qian Daoliu had known the truth, he chose not to intervene. His focus had long since shifted away from his son to his granddaughter, Qian Renxue.
And Qian Renxue had not disappointed him, possessing innate rank 20 spirit power and boundless talent. She was on track to inherit the Angel God's legacy and ascend as the new Angel God.
Hearing Qian Daoliu's praise of Dai Mubai, Bibi Dong's expression darkened. She did not share his enthusiasm.
Dai Mubai might be talented and powerful, but his character was utterly despicable—worse even than Qian Xunji's.
Gui Mei's cursory investigation had already revealed Dai Mubai's numerous relationships. Beyond Qian Renxue, nearly every female member of Shrek Academy, excluding Jiangzhu, had been romantically involved with him.
Bibi Dong simply couldn't understand what Qian Renxue saw in him. How could such a libertine be worthy of her daughter?
Qian Xunji:Yu Xiaogang, that worthless waste, is unworthy of my disciple!
Bibi Dong: …
For the first time, she truly empathized with Qian Xunji's frustration, though she could never forgive his actions.
In recent days, Bibi Dong had come to terms with one thing: Yu Xiaogang truly wasn't deserving. Only by viewing the situation from a detached perspective could she fully understand it.
What puzzled her, however, was why Liu Erlong had turned against Yu Xiaogang.
Unable to make sense of it, she dispatched Gui Mei to investigate further.
Gui Mei: "…Why me again?"
"I don't approve of him. He's a philanderer, unworthy of Qian Renxue," Bibi Dong stated bluntly.
She didn't care how Qian Daoliu felt about her opinion. Her daughter's happiness shouldn't be sacrificed for someone like Dai Mubai.
Qian Daoliu merely chuckled and shook his head.
"You, too, are a divine inheritor. Surely you understand that a god's lifespan is beyond human comprehension."
"Gods are said to be ageless and immortal, perishing only in battle. Otherwise, they do not fall."
At this, a trace of sorrow crossed Qian Daoliu's face as he thought of the Angel God's demise.
"Dai Mubai is a divine inheritor. He will live forever. As for his other women? In a century, perhaps a millennium, unless they, too, ascend, they will return to dust."
"In the end, the only one by his side will be Xue'er."
His tone was confident, as befitted a rank 99 Peerless Douluo.
Bibi Dong froze.
Dai Mubai was a divine inheritor? That revelation explained much—his monstrous talent and rapid rise in power suddenly made sense.
Still, she couldn't quite adjust to Qian Daoliu's perspective. His view of the future was far broader than hers, encompassing lifespans and outcomes she couldn't yet fathom.
"I still disapprove of him. If Qian Renxue insists, I'll withhold judgment, but I won't interfere," Bibi Dong said.
What else could she do? Kill Dai Mubai?
Even at his angriest, Qian Xunji hadn't killed Yu Xiaogang. How could she justify killing Dai Mubai?
Doing so would only alienate Qian Renxue, potentially disrupting her divine inheritance.
In the end, Bibi Dong cared deeply for her daughter, even if she despised the Angel Spirit.
"That settles it, then. Let's watch the matches. This boy's performance should be quite entertaining," Qian Daoliu said with a knowing smile, choosing not to press further.
After all, he understood Bibi Dong's situation all too well.
(End of Chapter)