This time, as Bibi Dong brought Tang San from Slaughter City to the Star Dou Great Forest, a journey of one week, Ya Li was not physically present before her, yet the title of Your Highness Saintess made its presence felt everywhere.
It was not that anything major had happened; it was simply that people kept mentioning her name in her ears.
There were those who had received aid from Ya Li sighing over her glorious deeds, peddlers and commoners praising her benevolence and holy virtue, and followers of the Angel God regarding her as the reincarnation of an angel. Furthermore, the low-level Martial Soul Hall personnel she probed along the way were also genuinely filled with admiration for her. All these signs made Bibi Dong truly realize the extent of the reputation Ya Li had achieved.
Ya Li's reputation was actually manageable for Bibi Dong. The leading role Bibi Dong had played in the development of Martial Soul Hall over the years was something no one could ignore, and coupled with her years of strategic planning, Ya Li was still a long way from posing a real threat to her.
However, Bibi Dong felt that if public opinion were allowed to ferment like this, the position of the next Pope would likely be set in stone prematurely. Huliena would have no chance to compete.
What could she use to compete with Ya Li? Compared to Ya Li, Huliena was lacking. In terms of combat ability and administrative talent, she would certainly not be as good as Bibi Dong in the future; in terms of universal love and grassroots reputation, she was far inferior to Ya Li; in terms of background, although Huliena had Bibi Dong as her teacher, the Angel Spirit was the absolute orthodoxy within Martial Soul Hall, not to mention that Ya Li had the backing of Qian Daoliu. As it stood, Huliena had no chance of winning.
But allowing Martial Soul Hall to return to the hands of the Qian Family was something Bibi Dong would never permit. Therefore, the current plan was to curb the development of Ya Li's faction while ensuring Huliena possessed sufficient achievements.
As for achievements, the ultimate goal was the unification of the continent. Once that was accomplished, there would be no more obstacles in Huliena's future. As for curbing Ya Li's development, she had no spare energy, nor was it appropriate for her to act personally, as it would invite a counterattack from the Worship Hall. However, wasn't there someone else on the Heaven Dou side?
Ten days later.
Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince Residence.
Qian Renxue sat in the main seat of the study, listening to the report from Porcupinefish Douluo, Ci Xue, and fell into deep thought.
The movements from Bibi Dong's side were not surprising; they were nothing more than accelerating her original plans. However, the current reputation and power status of Ya Li on the continent left her somewhat shocked.
Three years had passed. With Ya Li's inherent kindness, gentleness, and love for the people as the foundation, and with Yun Ming joining forces with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to operate behind the scenes—supplemented by the angelic reputation transferred to Ya Li due to her Angel Spirit—Ya Li's name had now spread across the entire continent.
In terms of power, there was no need to mention the influence of her husband's family on the Heaven Dou side. Within Martial Soul Hall, a large number of people had also declared their allegiance. Of the total power of Martial Soul Hall, Pope Bibi Dong held forty percent, the Worship Hall—which ignored worldly affairs—held thirty percent, and the remaining thirty percent had basically fallen under Ya Li's command.
Although more than ten percent of the thirty percent Ya Li held in Martial Soul Hall was due to the influence of the Qian Family and might not be entirely secure, it was hard to say what the future would hold. From what Qian Renxue understood, the Coiling Dragon Wang Family, while not having made a clear statement, already had a tendency to side with Ya Li.
After sorting through the intelligence in her mind, Qian Renxue sighed aloud.
"Who would have thought! My little white flower Junior Sister actually has such high-level methods. No, perhaps it isn't her."
At this point, she thought of Yun Ming.
Snake Lance Douluo, She Long, who was beside Ci Xue, said in a low voice.
"Then, Young Master, what should we do?"
They were undoubtedly firm loyalists to Qian Renxue; otherwise, they would not have been sent to protect her.
Qian Renxue stood up and paced, making a decision after a moment.
"Set my Junior Sister's affairs aside for now; we will do nothing."
"I have not yet restored my identity. Acting now would only be making wedding clothes for Bibi Dong and that Fox Vixen."
"Our top priority now is to take down the Heaven Dou Empire, then finish the affairs here and return as soon as possible."
"Pass down the order to speed things up in the palace! Our Majesty Xue Ye has labored long enough; it is time for him to have a good rest."
Ci Xue took the order and responded in a deep voice.
"Yes, Young Master."
Ci Xue went to arrange the matters, and She Long was also dismissed by Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue walked out of the study, looked into the distance, and her mind raced as she murmured in confusion.
"What exactly do you want? Is it really power?"
Having spent so many years in officialdom, although her judgment of men—inherited through bloodlines—was not always accurate, she could still tell that neither Yun Ming nor Ya Li were the type to be obsessed with power. Yet, they had actively involved themselves in the high-level struggles of Martial Soul Hall, which left her puzzled. It was a pity that until the truth surfaced, she was destined to gain nothing.
Just as Qian Renxue was thinking of Ya Li, Yun Ming and Ya Li were also in action.
At the mountain gate of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, on the main road outside Heaven Dragon Mountain, a luxurious carriage was slowly approaching.
Yun Ming opened the carriage window, looked at Heaven Dragon Mountain—which lay across the mountains like a giant dragon at dawn—and asked the person opposite him.
"Lily, do you think the Heaven Dragon Gate is named Heaven Dragon Mountain because of the mountain? Or is it because the spirits of their sect are all Flying Dragons?"
Hearing her lover's question, Ya Li thought about it seriously and said.
"Perhaps it is both reasons."
Yun Ming did not quite agree with Ya Li's answer and shook his head.
"I think it should be the first one."
Ya Li: "Why?"
Yun Ming did not answer directly, but chuckled softly.
"Soon, you might know the answer."
Ya Li was confused and could only wait.
Soon, they arrived at the mountain gate guard post and presented the token of the Breaking Clan to request an audience with Yu Yuanzhen.
Seeing the colors and patterns of Yun Ming's clothing, the gatekeeper noticed that although they were simple, the material seemed to be the extremely high-end Northern Ice Silkworm Silk. Furthermore, his demeanor was excellent, so he knew the visitor was extraordinary. He did not dare to find fault like he had when the Young Master of his own sect was being difficult last time, and he honestly went to report.
Not long after, a group of people came down from the mountain. The middle-aged man in the lead saw Yun Ming and greeted him loudly.
"Distinguished guests have arrived; I apologize for not welcoming you sooner!"
This was a middle-aged man who looked to be about thirty or forty years old, with a very ordinary appearance but a rather magnanimous look.
Yun Ming also responded politely.
"You are too kind, sir. We are the ones who showed up uninvited, so how could we possibly blame you?"
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Yun Ming and Ya Li followed them up the mountain.
Along the way, Yun Ming and Ya Li saw many people and attracted quite a few gazes; now, she finally understood the meaning behind Yun Ming's earlier question.
The difference between the inner and outer sect members of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was truly visible to the naked eye—not in their clothing, but in their temperament, specifically their arrogance. In the Shrek Academy of twenty thousand years later, where geniuses gathered in droves, their arrogance was not as obvious, but here, the contrast was stark.
It was easy to imagine that when the sect chose its name in later generations, as possessors of a True Dragon-level Martial Soul—a tier above the Flying Dragon—they would hardly have considered the opinions of others.
Passing through various pavilions and towers adorned with Blue Lightning Dragon motifs, they arrived at the Sect Leader's Mansion, where the middle-aged man spoke to the two of them.
"The two of you, the Sect Leader is waiting inside. Please."
Yun Ming nodded in thanks, took Ya Li's hand, and stepped inside.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader