Chapter 308: Do You Understand Me?
For the first time, Yang Potian called Qian Renxue "Xue'er" under normal circumstances, and even Qian Renxue had never seen such a serious expression on his face.
Qian Renxue asked curiously, "Why are you asking me that? Our Wuhun Empire's inherited martial spirit is the Six-Winged Angel. As the last inheritor of the Angelic God, I represent the essence of an angel."
Yang Potian shook his head slightly. "Is that all an angel is to you? Just a matter of bloodline and martial spirit inheritance?"
Qian Renxue, ever the brilliant strategist with her innate level-twenty spirit power, immediately caught his meaning. "You're suggesting that, as I am now, I'm unworthy of inheriting the Angelic God?"
Yang Potian sighed. "Becoming a god isn't so simple. Think about the original Angelic God—how he crafted his godly position, how he reached godhood."
After a moment's thought, Qian Renxue replied, "The original Angelic God, ages ago, wielded his holy sword to rid the continent of darkness and evil, earning the faith of the people. That faith forged his position as the Angelic God and made him the ultimate source of hope for the spirit masters."
Yang Potian nodded. "True, but you don't know the whole story. Not nearly enough. Even if you reached godhood now, you'd still be among the weakest, always at risk of being overthrown. Without divine angelic power and the faith of others, you'll never reach the same heights as the first Angelic God."
Qian Renxue murmured, "The first Angelic God... What are you really saying? What do you know?"
Yang Potian exhaled heavily. "The original Angelic God didn't achieve his position just by talent or strength. He purged the world of darkness and evil, which means he slew countless enemies without a shred of mercy. There was no pride or arrogance—only the relentless drive to finish his enemies off, root and all."
"The original Angelic God was exceptionally ruthless. He never hesitated. That's why the divine skills of the Angelic God include Angelic Judgment, a power designed to destroy without mercy. You've learned it, but how well do you actually understand it? How much of its true power can you use?"
Qian Renxue fell silent, mulling over his words.
After a long pause, she spoke again. "So, is this why you think I'm not as good as Ye Lingling? Why I'm destined to fail?"
Yang Potian looked at her strikingly beautiful face. "Not at all. You and Lingling live different lives and have entirely different responsibilities. Lingling is simply a healing spirit master. She doesn't bear your level of responsibility, nor does she occupy your place of prominence."
"But you're different. Every move you make shakes everything around you. Those Titled Douluo by your side would give their lives for you, and the entire Wuhun Empire views you as its beacon. But what have you given back to them? In your cultivation and in your battles, have you ever considered that every choice you make affects the lives of all these people?"
Qian Renxue's face hardened. "So what? My family has given the empire honor and glory, and in return, they're obligated to fulfill their duty."
Yang Potian sighed. "And that's where you're mistaken. You worship power, but have you considered those who aren't as strong as you? You're always antagonistic toward Bibi Dong, yet whether we're talking about the elders of Spirit Hall, the seven major sects she's united, or the countless spirit masters who serve her, they all willingly fight for her, even risk their clans and families for her. Could you do the same?"
Qian Renxue's face darkened. "Are you saying I'm inferior to Bibi Dong? Just because I haven't reached her level yet?"
Yang Potian looked at her stubborn face and shook his head again. "You're wrong again. Bibi Dong didn't start off with her current strength. When she first became the Supreme Pontiff, she wasn't even a Titled Douluo. And yet, over the past few decades, she's brought the Wuhun Empire to a point where it nearly surpasses the top three sects and is on the verge of unifying the continent. Could you have done that?"
"I could," Qian Renxue interrupted. "If I had her position, I could do even better."
"Where does this blind confidence come from? Take some time to actually observe Bibi Dong and understand what she's endured to reach her current power and position." Yang Potian almost wanted to knock some sense into her.
Qian Renxue's face flushed with anger. She'd never been able to accept Bibi Dong, feeling nothing but resentment toward her.
Then, Yang Potian's expression turned introspective as he asked, "What about me? What kind of person do you think I am? Do you know what I had to go through to achieve my current strength? How well do you know me?"
Qian Renxue thought for a moment. "I think you're someone who works hard, has strong methods, and has been blessed with good fortune."
Yang Potian shook his head. "That's only the most superficial part of it. Do you have any idea how much scheming I've done from the beginning to get here? Do you know how many people I've had to outmaneuver?"
"Take, for example, when I traded the Crimson Crown Phoenix Sunflower for the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. Do you even know how much I gained from that exchange? Do you understand the true value of the Shroud and what it did for us?"
"Do you know the things I've endured for the sake of my clan's rise? The insults, the humiliation—all of it? Can you even imagine?"
Hearing this, Qian Renxue was speechless. The success of the Potian Clan over the years must have come with a heavy price. Qian Renxue had always suspected that Yang Potian was the true leader of his clan, but hearing him speak so candidly left her stunned.
In fact, Yang Potian's pointed questions had left her utterly shocked. Aside from what she had observed directly or gleaned from recent interactions, she realized she truly knew nothing about the man in front of her. It felt as though he was an unfathomable abyss.
Qian Renxue had been involved in many dealings with Yang Potian, witnessing his clan's rise firsthand. Every trade had benefited her, but she had never stopped to consider the full extent of what she had given away in return.
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