Wuhun City, Hall of Offerings.
The enormous angel statue radiated a holy light, yet it could not dispel the oppressive atmosphere within the temple.
Qian Daoliu stood beneath the statue, his golden robes fluttering even without wind.
This peerless Douluo, invincible in the sky, was gazing up at the heavens beyond the dome, his aged face filled with shock.
"Haiyue..."
"A half-step God King..."
Qian Daoliu muttered to himself, his voice tinged with a sense of desolation.
"I have sat in the Hall of Worship for decades, thinking I had reached the pinnacle of the continent, but little did I know that the world had already changed."
"There's actually a man behind Haiyue?"
A deep sense of dread welled up in Qian Daoliu's heart.
The waters of Douluo Continent were deeper and more murky than he had imagined.
How many secrets are hidden beneath that calm surface, unknown to him?
Outside the main hall.
Bibi Dong wore a papal robe and held a scepter, looking noble and aloof.
When she saw the words "Third place on the power ranking, Haiyue Empire", a rare smile appeared on her usually tense lips.
It was a heartfelt joy, even tinged with a hint of pride.
"The Sea Moon Empire has indeed not disappointed me."
Bibi Dong's eyes gleamed with admiration for the strong and recognition of her old friend.
Hu Liena, standing behind her, also looked excited.
"Teacher, is this Haiyue, the best friend you mentioned?"
Hu Liena's beautiful eyes sparkled as she exclaimed in amazement.
"They're incredibly strong! Their martial spirit is formidable, and their power ranks third on the Golden List, even surpassing the Tang Empire!"
Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her tone carrying a hint of arrogance.
"Haiyue's talent and wit are so great that even I might not be able to surpass her by much. I am not surprised that she has achieved what she has today."
Seeing that Haiyue was able to suppress the Tang Empire that had caused her to suffer, Bibi Dong finally felt some relief.
However.
The next moment.
The blood-red words on the sky surged once more, and new information exploded like thunder.
Behind Haiyue stands another mysterious man, manipulating everything!
Bibi Dong's smile froze instantly, then cracked little by little, turning into extreme astonishment and shock.
"What?!"
Bibi Dong gasped in shock, her fingers tightening instantly around the scepter until her knuckles turned white.
"There's actually another man behind Haiyue?"
"How is this possible?!"
Haiyue, proud as a phoenix and aloof as the moon, the Haiyue who once declared that all men in the world were worthless.
How could she possibly submit to a man?
Bibi Dong felt a roar in her mind, as if something had shattered.
Who exactly is it?
Bibi Dong stared intently at the sky, her eyes filled with disbelief, and a hint of jealousy and anger that she herself was unaware of.
"What kind of man could possibly be so captivating as to win over someone like Haiyue?!"
She was stronger than Bi Dong throughout her life, never bowing to any man, and even when faced with Qian Xunji's power, she chose the most tragic revenge.
But now, Haiyue, who was once as famous as her, is willing to be a shadow behind a man?
Hu Liena, standing to the side, was too shocked to speak.
As she looked at the words on the sky, a different kind of turmoil stirred within her.
envious.
Yes, she was envious.
Hu Liena bit her red lips, thinking to herself:
"If behind me were a man capable of controlling a half-step God-King and building a vast empire..."
"Then wouldn't I be able to stand at the pinnacle of the continent, like the Queen of the Sea Moon, and be revered by thousands?"
Hu Liena subconsciously puffed out her chest; she had absolute confidence in her looks and talents.
She has no shortage of ambition, only a strong enough support.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
She had more important things to deal with.
"Nana, come inside with me."
Bibi Dong composed herself, regaining her usual aloof and majestic papal demeanor, and strode into the Hall of Worship with Gu Yuena.
The atmosphere inside the main hall was solemn.
Bibi Dong's gaze was like lightning as she stared directly at Qian Daoliu in front of her, her voice icy and chilling.
"The Grand Offering".
"I have investigated the matter of Miaoyin Pavilion thoroughly."
Bibi Dong's tone was aggressive and showed no respect for her elders.
"That Jing, and Gongsun Li, they frequently enter and leave Wuhun City, and it is highly likely that they have already stolen the core intelligence of the Wuhun Empire!"
"And the root of all this is because of Qianyu!"
When this name was mentioned, Bibi Dong made no attempt to hide the disgust in her eyes.
"If it weren't for that good-for-nothing Qian Yu letting the wolf into the house, if he had even a little bit of vigilance, how could our Spirit Hall be in such a passive position?"
Bibi Dong slammed her scepter down, making a loud "thud".
"I propose that Qianyu be immediately stripped of his position as young master!"
"And he must be apprehended and severely punished as a warning to others!"
Seeing this, Hu Liena immediately echoed, a ruthless glint flashing in her eyes.
"Great Master, the teacher is right."
"Although Qianyu has the identity of the young master, he acts absurdly and spends his days mingling with women of unknown origin."
"I think he's an ungrateful wretch who can't be tamed. He'll only be a menace if he stays in the Spirit Hall. We should kick him out as soon as possible!"
...
at the same time.
Inside a cozy bedroom in a side hall of Wuhun City.
Qianyu sat by the bed, looking at Cai Wenji who was already fast asleep.
The little girl was sleeping soundly, her long eyelashes fluttering slightly, like a delicate porcelain doll.
Qianyu leaned down and gently kissed Cai Wenji's smooth forehead, her movements as tender as if she were handling a rare treasure.
"Sleep well, little one."
Qianyu's eyes were full of doting affection as he tucked the blanket around her, then turned and walked towards the door.
Outside the door.
Qian Renxue was standing in the corridor, looking up at the golden list in the sky.
That stunningly beautiful face was now filled with astonishment and disbelief.
"Third place on the power ranking, the Haiyue Empire..."
"There's a man behind Haiyue too?"
Qian Renxue murmured to herself, her golden eyes gleaming with a look of inquiry.
Who exactly is this man?
"How could they possess such extraordinary and all-powerful methods?"
She had been lurking in the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace since childhood, and she prided herself on being cunning and resourceful.
However, faced with the endless stream of mysterious forces on the Golden List, she felt an unprecedented sense of frustration.
Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.
Qianyu walked out of the house with a calm expression, as if the upheavals in the outside world had nothing to do with him.
"Qianyu."
Qian Renxue turned her head and looked at the nominal "father" in front of her with a complicated expression.
"Let's go."
Qianyu didn't offer any further explanation, only saying something understated.
"Go to the offering hall."
"It's time to go see those people."
After saying that, Qianyu stepped forward, and Gongsun Li appeared behind him at some point, holding an oil-paper umbrella and following closely behind.
Qian Renxue paused for a moment, then followed.
For some reason, looking at Qianyu's not-so-broad but unusually upright back, she felt a strange sense of security welling up inside her.
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(End of chapter)