Leave the hotel.
The mornings in Wuhun City are bustling with activity, the streets filled with pedestrians and vendors.
Qian Renxue walked in front, while Dongfang Jing followed half a step behind, with a just-right distance between them.
The Eastern Mirror's perception spread out silently, covering an area of several hundred meters around it.
He noticed it.
In the shadows, two figures were following them.
The two titled Douluo were there specifically to protect Qian Renxue.
They were well hidden; ordinary Soul Masters would never be able to detect them.
But in front of Dongfang Jing, this level of concealment is no different from running naked.
As Qian Renxue walked, she suddenly turned around and glanced at Dongfang Jing.
Why didn't you bring that senior with you?
"Why should we let her come along?" Dongfang Jing asked rhetorically.
"You're heading to our Spirit Hall's headquarters," Qian Renxue said, somewhat puzzled. "Aren't you afraid we've set some kind of trap? You trust me that much?"
Dongfang Jing glanced at her and said casually, "Believe it or not, even if all of you from the Spirit Hall attacked me together, you would only be able to run for your lives."
Qian Renxue paused for a moment.
She turned around, stared at Dongfang Jing for several seconds, and her lips twitched.
"Are you... serious?"
Dongfang Jing merely raised an eyebrow but did not reply.
Qian Renxue thought he was bragging.
The Spirit Hall has countless Title Douluos, and there's also a level 99 Grandpa overseeing it.
Is Dongfang Jing alone?
No matter how extraordinary he is, he's still just a teenager...
But Qian Renxue quickly thought of something else.
Her eyes were fixed on Dongfang Jing's brow.
That golden sun mark is still there.
The mark of the divine test is still there, indicating that his blazing sun divine test is still ongoing.
Then he shouldn't have become a complete god yet.
But the confidence in his words just now made it seem as if he were standing above everyone else. Where did that confidence come from?
"Just how many secrets do you have?" Qian Renxue couldn't help but ask.
Dongfang Jing did not answer, but simply smiled slightly.
"Lead the way."
...
The two walked through the main street of Wuhun City and turned into a secluded alley.
Qian Renxue did not take Dongfang Jing through the main entrance of the Papal Palace, but instead went around to the side, taking an extremely secret passage.
"Deliberately avoiding the Papal Palace?" Dongfang Jing saw through her intention at a glance.
Qian Renxue did not deny it.
"Bibi Dong is at the Papal Palace right now, and I don't want her to know you're here."
Dongfang Jing nodded without asking any further questions.
Walking through the secret passage, Qian Renxue took the initiative to speak and gave Dongfang Jing a brief explanation of the situation inside the Spirit Hall.
She explained that the Spirit Hall's power structure is divided into two parts. One is the Papal Palace, controlled by Pope Bibi Dong, which oversees bishops of various ranks, knights, and a number of Title Douluos. The other is the Elder Palace, led by the Grand Elder Qian Daoliu. The elders of the Elder Palace are the Spirit Hall's true top-tier combat force. They decide everything, do not interfere in daily affairs, and only make decisions on key matters; they are the true core of the Spirit Hall's power.
Although the Pope's status and influence are nominally higher in public.
But the servants in the Hall of Worship never really listened to Bibi Dong. In their eyes, Qian Daoliu was the real boss.
"So, the Qian family and Bibi Dong have been secretly vying for power all along?" Dongfang Jing asked.
Qian Renxue's lips moved slightly, and she said, "That's not entirely true. Bibi Dong... is my mother."
"But she never treated me like a daughter. From the day I was born, the only thing she looked at me with was disgust."
...
The two quickly passed through the secret passage.
Qian Renxue stopped in front of the palace gate.
"arrive."
Dongfang Jing looked up at the building in front of him.
The temple gate is ten meters high and is carved from a single piece of white stone, with patterns of angel wings engraved all over it.
Dongfang Jing glanced at it and then looked away.
Qian Renxue pushed open the palace door.
The heavy stone door emitted a low, grinding sound, revealing the entire interior of the hall.
Spacious and solemn.
The hall was devoid of superfluous decorations. Beneath the nearly thirty-meter-high dome, only the enormous six-winged angel statue stood in the very center, its entire body gleaming gold.
Dongfang Jing went inside.
His gaze swept around the hall, finally settling on the figure in front of the angel statue.
A thousand streams.
He was dressed in a simple gray robe, facing the idol, his golden hair gleaming in the light.
Qian Daoliu slowly turned around.
His gaze passed over Qian Renxue and landed directly on Dongfang Jing.
Those were a pair of deep, golden eyes.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
Dongfang Jing could sense that Qian Daoliu was testing him.
A surge of spiritual energy emanated from Qian Daoliu's direction, attempting to perceive the depth of his soul power.
But the probe was silently repelled as soon as it touched the defenses on Dongfang Jing's body.
Qian Daoliu's eyebrows twitched slightly.
"Young man," Qian Daoliu spoke, his voice deep and magnetic, "we meet again."
Dongfang Jing met his gaze and gave a faint "hmm".
"I've already heard about the situation from Qian Renxue."
"Simply put, Bibi Dong is now the Pope of the Spirit Hall. She is ambitious and ruthless, and her influence has surpassed that of you, the Grand Elder. Most of the middle and lower-level personnel of the Spirit Hall are loyal to her. As for the Hall of Elders, although you control the most elite combat power, you are already struggling to manage the hearts and minds of the people and allocate resources. There are even a few Elders who are secretly planning to support Bibi Dong."
Qian Daoliu's expression did not change much after hearing these words.
But Qian Renxue's lips twitched slightly.
This may be blunt, but it is indeed the truth.
Qian Daoliu was not annoyed by Dongfang Jing's bluntness.
He walked to a table in the main hall and sat down, gesturing for Dongfang Jing to sit as well.
Qian Renxue consciously stood behind Qian Daoliu.
"Young man, since you see the situation so clearly, there's no need to beat around the bush." Qian Daoliu's tone was calm. "Xiaoxue told me about the cooperation plan you proposed. To eliminate two of the three major sects, right?"
"right."
"Then let me ask you another question." Qian Daoliu's gaze sharpened. "After the plan succeeds, what do you intend to do? Once this so-called organization is established, is it meant to rival my Spirit Hall?"
Dongfang Jing shook his head.
"Grand Elder, you're overthinking it. The organization I've established won't clash with the Spirit Hall. Because our goals are different."
"Oh?" Qian Daoliu made a listening gesture.
"We'll talk about that later," Dongfang Jing changed the subject. "Let's talk about your internal affairs first. Qian Renxue wants my help, but what kind of help?"
Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue exchanged a glance.
Qian Renxue stepped forward and sat down opposite Dongfang Jing.
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(End of chapter)