"Why are you running so fast?" Dugu Yan, who was being dragged out of the arena at breakneck speed by Ning Rongrong, wore a completely baffled expression.
"Run? How could we not run? That's a Limit Douluo!" Ning Rongrong paused to catch her breath, releasing her grip on Dugu Yan's wrist. "Father and the two Title Douluos aren't here. What if we get captured?"
"I don't believe she could actually capture you." Dugu Yan rolled her eyes.
Ning Rongrong, this troublemaker, had already run into almost every Limit Douluo-level being on the continent and was still alive and kicking. How could Bibi Dong possibly catch her?
"Anyway, it's best not to get too close to her. After all..." Ning Rongrong trailed off, remembering that this was the headquarters of the Spirit Hall and the Sword Mountain, the sacred ground of the Angel God's inheritance.
This was all under the Spirit Hall's control. What if word got out?
That was Bibi Dong they were talking about.
Bibi Dong, the master of the "Chamber"!
"I don't want her getting too interested in me. I'm just an ordinary support-type Soul Ancestor."
Dugu Yan: "..."
What kind of support? What kind of Soul Ancestor?!
Did you forget what you told me about cutting down a Title Douluo in the Slaughter City?
You've wiped it completely from your memory?
Since ancient times, there's never been a Soul Ancestor like you.
And you're not even a Soul Ancestor!
Heck, you might not even be a Soul Master!
Soon, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan returned to the hotel they were staying at.
"Rongrong, tell me the truth—why did you run so fast?" Dugu Yan asked suspiciously. Even after returning, she still couldn't figure it out.
"Mainly, I didn't want Bibi Dong asking too many questions. Other than that, there wasn't any big reason." Ning Rongrong shrugged and explained. "But I did notice something unusual about Zhu Zhuqing."
"Unusual? That strange Martial Soul Fusion Skill?" Dugu Yan also set aside the previous topic, recalling the scene where Zhu Zhuqing forcibly activated the Martial Soul Fusion Skill. No matter how she thought about it, it didn't seem to make sense.
Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai definitely couldn't have the same synchronization rate for a Martial Soul Fusion Skill as Shui Yue'er and Shui Bing'er. Forget synchronization—they probably had only the faintest resonance at best.
The only reason it was even possible was due to the long-standing intermarriage between the Zhu and Dai families of the Star Luo Empire, along with other special relationships.
"The Rakshasa God has taken an interest in her," Ning Rongrong said.
"Ra... Rakshasa God?" Dugu Yan froze for a moment before her pupils dilated in shock. "No way. Didn't you say Bibi Dong was the inheritor of the Rakshasa God's trial?"
"Did something happen?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but it's likely Bibi Dong gave up the Rakshasa God's trial." Ning Rongrong recalled Bibi Dong's recent aura, which was very different from when she had purchased the Breakthrough to Elder Pill. The previous gloomy feeling was gone.
"You can just give up a God's trial?" Dugu Yan was puzzled.
"Theoretically, yes. You can strip the trial's imprint from your soul. A Limit Douluo can do this, but in reality, no one usually would."
"Because it could very well kill you!"
"Then Bibi Dong..."
"Bibi Dong has a resurrection skill. Though it's just a soul skill, in reality, it already touches upon certain rules. If used well, it might even allow her to avoid true death."
For example, something like Xiao Wu's Invincible Golden Body for three seconds.
That skill was downright ridiculous—even the Deep Sea Demonic Whale King would have to wait quietly for those three seconds.
"Why would she strip away the God's trial?" Dugu Yan asked in surprise.
Becoming a god was something most Soul Masters dreamed of.
To just throw away an opportunity that was practically within reach?
"I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with those lofty gods in the Divine Realm."
"If it weren't for extreme circumstances, I doubt Qian Daoliu would ever cooperate with the Star Dou Great Forest."
Qian Daoliu was a very rigid man, doing everything by the book.
According to a certain unwilling-to-be-named Title Douluo from the Clear Sky School, he was a coward. But being rigidly righteous also seemed to be part of the creed that a servant of the Angel God should follow.
Speaking of which, judging by the Angel God's behavior...
Qian Renxue was indeed quite evil. She had killed three of Xue Ye's sons, poisoned Xue Ye himself, and—skipping the original story—based on the current situation, Qian Renxue had also assassinated many of Xue Ye's ministers. She was undoubtedly a ruthless schemer.
Hmm, if things didn't go like in the original story...
If Qian Renxue became a god, she'd definitely be a fallen angel.
Making an angel fall... That sounded like quite an interesting idea!
"Wait, why am I thinking about corruption?"
Ning Rongrong shook her head, dispelling the strange thought.
Even if Qian Renxue was training somewhere unknown, she couldn't possibly be a fallen angel, right?
...
Star Dou Great Forest, Core Region.
A silver-haired young woman floated above the water's surface, her gaze distant and profound.
She looked at the golden-haired woman before her and spoke softly, "Next time you come, we can proceed with the next phase of the plan. But you'll need to think carefully about how to choose."
"The Angel God is, after all, only a first-tier god."
"If you follow the conventional path, even if I prevent interference from above, it will still be very difficult for you to reach a higher plane."
The golden-haired woman was silent for a long moment before replying, "Someone once told me that if you can't even protect your own family, what meaning does so-called justice have?"
"Senior Gu Yuena, protecting the continent is the Angel God's justice—not Qian Renxue's justice."
"There's no need to rush. You can take your time to consider it." Gu Yuena waved her hand, signaling Zi Ji, who had been waiting nearby, to approach. "Take Qian Renxue to the Spirit Hall. Be careful not to reveal your identity."
Zi Ji knelt on one knee.
"As you command, My Lord."
Gu Yuena nodded, her gaze returning to Qian Renxue.
"Go. Let the glory of the Angel God shine upon the Douluo Continent once more."
"If even this isn't enough to secure victory, then..."
"It would mean the Angel God's justice is not absolute," Qian Renxue declared firmly. "True justice must be backed by power, but she lacks that capability."
Gu Yuena did not respond immediately. After a long silence, she said, "I will observe your battle in its entirety using that body."
Qian Renxue bowed slightly in gratitude. Zi Ji transformed into her true form—the Abyssal Demon Dragon—and carried Qian Renxue away as a streak of black light, flying toward the outskirts of the Douluo Continent.
After Qian Renxue left, Di Tian emerged from the shadows.
"My Lord."
Di Tian hesitated, as if wanting to say something.
Gu Yuena sighed. "We are too weak. The Angel God stands no chance against the five God Kings. Finding the Dragon Valley as soon as possible is our true priority."
"Once this tournament ends, Bibi Dong will move against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"My Lord, that's not what I'm worried about. I'm concerned about Qian Renxue..."
"The fragment of the Angel God within Qian Renxue is just that—a fragment." Gu Yuena explained. "After the Angel God fell, the fragment was left among the faithful. This complies with the Divine Realm's laws."
"Even the Asura God wouldn't be able to argue against it."
"I still don't think Qian Renxue can win." Di Tian sighed. "That Ning Rongrong from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School is far too unpredictable. And her power... it's nothing like the original abilities of the Dark Devilgod Tiger. At the very least, in many ways, it's completely different."
"What does that matter?" Gu Yuena countered. "The fact that she's not an enemy is enough. We must unite all the forces we can."
"Di Tian, your injuries have mostly healed, haven't they?"
"Go to the Extreme North and contact the Snow Empress and Ice Empress."
"What reason should I give?" Di Tian asked after a long silence. "They won't leave so easily, especially since..."
"I'll deal with the Black Phoenix beneath them."
"The remnants of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King, as well as the divine will within the Sea God's Heart, have restored much of my strength."
"As long as we find a way to shield ourselves from the Divine Realm's detection, I can take action."
Gu Yuena spoke with certainty.
"I understand. I will depart for the Extreme North immediately." Di Tian bowed slightly to Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena watched as Di Tian's figure gradually faded.
"Be careful."
Her voice lingered in Di Tian's ears as her body vanished completely, as if she had never been there at all.