Qian Daoliu looked at Dongfang Jing with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.
"I believe that with Xiaoxue's talent, she will definitely inherit the Angelic Godhood! If you do your best to help Xiaoxue, after she inherits the Angelic Godhood, who on the continent will be her enemy? At that time—"
"stop."
Dongfang Jing interrupted him directly.
Qian Daoliu was stunned, not understanding why.
Suddenly, Dongfang Jing's eyes darkened.
He stared directly at Qian Daoliu: "Great Elder, is this all there is to your Qian family's faith in the Angel God?"
Qian Daoliu didn't understand what he meant: "What are you talking about?"
"What you just said means that after Qian Renxue becomes a god, she can use divine power to suppress all dissenting voices. Is that right?"
Qian Daoliu did not deny it.
In his view, wasn't this just a matter of course? The power of the Angel God was meant to protect the Angel Family and the Spirit Hall.
Dongfang Jing stood up.
He walked up to the ten-meter-tall angel statue and looked up at its majestic and aloof face.
"Angels represent light, holiness, order, and redemption." Dongfang Jing's voice echoed in the empty hall.
Qian Daoliu nodded.
Dongfang Jing turned around to face Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue.
"Admittedly, gods are selfish too. But why do humans use the power of gods to suppress dissent, stifle dissenting voices, and forcibly unify the continent, causing countless deaths in war?"
"What is a god? A being that transcends all living beings. But precisely because they stand high, they should not arbitrarily interfere in the affairs of the mortal realm. Have you ever thought about this? If a god can decide the life and death of mortals based on their own likes and dislikes, what is the difference between that god and a demon?"
"Great High Priest, I have no intention of disrespecting the angels." Dongfang Jing's tone softened. "I respect your beliefs, but beliefs are beliefs and power is power. Mixing these two things together will only harm others and oneself."
He looked into Qian Renxue's eyes.
"If you think becoming a god means you can do whatever you want, then wouldn't it be easier for me to just kill all those who oppose me right now? One sword strike and nothing will grow within a radius of ten thousand miles. Why wouldn't I do that?"
"Because that is not my way, nor should it be the way of the angels."
Qian Daoliu sat on the stone bench, motionless.
His gaze was fixed on Dongfang Jing, his expression shifting between solemnity and wavering.
Dongfang Jing's words struck at the deepest doubt in his heart.
This concern wasn't something he'd had for the first time.
When he was young, he also asked himself this question—
"We are descendants of God, born noble, and bear the will of God."
But what is the true will of the angels?
Glory is above life, and mission is above emotion.
The successor of the angel god is required to abandon personal feelings, overcome inner demons, and be absolutely rational.
The Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul is a divine-level martial soul bestowed by the Angel God.
While it bestowed glory and power upon countless families, it also, to some extent, bound them.
Centered on divine lineage, aiming for divine succession, cloaked in the guise of a radiant order, and driven by absolute dominion. [Let thousands unite the continent, let the glory of angels shine upon every inch of land.]
But looking back now, didn't this goal also originate from personal feelings?
How much have the Qian family done for this goal? How much has the Spirit Hall done?
Qian Daoliu closed his eyes. He was reflecting.
Qian Renxue—his only granddaughter—had lacked maternal and paternal love since childhood, and he had witnessed all of this.
But what about him, the grandfather? How much of his upbringing of Qian Renxue was out of genuine love, and how much was out of... the expectation that an angel would descend?
The silence in the hall lasted for a long time.
Qian Renxue stood to the side, glancing at her grandfather and then at Dongfang Jing, her heart churning with complex emotions.
She listened to what Dongfang Jing said.
She believed in the angels and sought light and order.
But she never thought about how she would use this power if she had the chance to become a god.
Her thoughts used to be very simple.
She gained supreme power, making everyone submit to her.
She wanted to show her mother how strong she was, and make everyone kneel before her.
Let the whole world know that she, Qian Renxue, is the one standing at the very top.
But now Dongfang Jing's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over her head.
If you use the power of God to suppress everything, what's the difference between that and being a tyrant?
Angels represent light.
The meaning of light is not to make everyone bow down before you.
It is not light to oppress, but light to dispel darkness.
"Grandpa," Qian Renxue said softly.
Qian Daoliu opened his eyes and looked at his granddaughter.
"Dongfang Jing is right."
Something was subtly changing in Qian Renxue's golden eyes.
"We believe in angels and in the light. But if we wage war to unify the empire, causing countless deaths... that is wrong!"
"Xiaoxue, you…" Qian Daoliu was stunned.
He slowly raised his head and looked once more at the angel statue that had been prayed to countless times.
The golden statue gleamed in the light, its six wings spread wide, exuding majesty and solemnity.
In Qian Daoliu's eyes, it was an unchanging, icy, and aloof female face.
Her lips seemed to be slightly upturned at that moment.
"Is it an illusion?" Qian Daoliu murmured.
yes.
Did the angel leave his legacy to the Sen family so that they could conquer the world?
Or is it so that the Qian family can protect the world?
Qian Daoliu has always tacitly accepted the former.
Only by being strong enough can one protect, and the mark of being strong enough is to control everything.
But Dongfang Jing's words reminded him that control and protection are two different things.
Only Soul Masters with the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul are qualified to inherit the Angel Godhood.
There is nothing wrong with the rule itself.
But the rules never stated that the heir could use the power of the angels to do whatever they wanted.
There is no such restriction because the angels believe that those who can reach this stage are not of bad character.
Does having no restrictions mean you can let yourself go?
For the first time in his long life, Sendo Ryu seriously reflected on himself.
He sighed silently.
After a while, Qian Daoliu turned around and looked at Dongfang Jing and Qian Renxue.
His gaze swept across Dongfang Jing's face before finally settling on Qian Renxue.
"Xiaoxue".
"Xiaoxue is here."
Qian Daoliu was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "Grandpa has indeed been too obsessed with some things over the years."
Qian Renxue's eyes immediately reddened.
She had never heard her grandfather say such a thing before. In her memory, her grandfather was always that dignified and resolute man, never wavering and never admitting his mistakes.
"Angels represent light." Qian Daoliu's voice became very soft. "The meaning of light is not to illuminate oneself, but to illuminate those in darkness."
"grandfather..."
Qian Daoliu raised his hand to stop Qian Renxue from saying what she was about to say.
He looked at the Eastern Mirror.
"Dongfang Jing, I will remember your words."
Dongfang Jing shrugged: "You can't expect me to change your mindset that has been passed down for countless years just by saying a few words, can you?"
"Heh heh..." Qian Daoliu shook his head and smiled bitterly, saying nothing more.
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(End of chapter)