"Sister Xue? Why are you here?" As soon as Li Xun entered, he saw the remnants of furniture scattered across the floor, followed by Qian Renxue, her golden hair disheveled and dressed in white.
He glanced around cautiously and asked, "Where is the Crown Prince?"
"I am truly ashamed!"
With a wave of her hand, Qian Renxue transformed into Xue Qinghe, picking up three black gold cards containing Gold Soul Coins from the ground with a look of guilt: "This is the ransom for Yu Xiaogang and the other two, totaling thirty million Gold Soul Coins."
Li Xun looked at Qian Renxue with an expression of disbelief.
"Junior Brother, don't be alarmed. To be honest, you're the first outsider to know about this identity of mine."
With another wave, Xue Qinghe transformed back into Qian Renxue, stepping forward to pull Li Xun down to sit, then placed the black gold storage cards on the table in front of him.
"Haha, I must admit, I'm a bit shocked," Li Xun nodded, regaining his composure. "I never expected that the Crown Prince, who has always treated me like a brother, was actually the Young Master of the Spirit Hall in disguise."
"Brother Li Xun, please don't blame me. The reason I didn't tell you is because this identity is too important. If it were accidentally exposed, years of undercover work could be ruined."
Qian Renxue bowed slightly with an apologetic expression, though there was also a hint of anger and resentment in her heart. If it weren't for Bibidong, she wouldn't have taken such a risk to reveal her identity.
Bibidong, do you think that without the Spirit Hall and my grandfather's help, I can't accomplish anything? Then I'll show you.
"There's no need to apologize. Everyone has their secrets, right? Besides, aren't we practically family now?"
"I'm just curious, why did you choose to reveal your identity to me at this moment?" Li Xun waved his hand with a smile, showing no signs of anger. "Is it because of the Spirit Hall taking Yu Xiaogang away?"
"Yes and no," Qian Renxue shook her head and sighed softly. "He's just a mere Soul Grand Master at level 21. If I wanted to kill him, he wouldn't have lived long enough for the Spirit Hall to intervene."
"What truly made me decide was the internal issues within the Spirit Hall."
Qian Renxue straightened her expression, her gaze clear as she looked at Li Xun. "Brother Li Xun, if I were just a Young Master of the Spirit Hall in name only, would you still help me?"
"Do you lack real authority, or have you been sidelined?" Li Xun's interest piqued slightly. "Of course, I'd help, but what do you want me to do?"
"Junior Brother, what I've always admired most about you isn't your talent, but your cleverness."
Qian Renxue's lips curled slightly as she gently tapped the black gold cards on the table. "What can you deduce from these thirty million Gold Soul Coins?"
Li Xun casually glanced at the black gold cards on the table but made no move to take them. "Haha, the Spirit Hall is quite generous, bypassing your authority as the Young Master to spare Yu Xiaogang's life."
"It seems the information I gathered about Yu Xiaogang having a past with the Pope isn't just a rumor after all."
"And there are only two people who could wield such authority—one is the Pope, and the other is the Great Enshrinement."
Li Xun leaned back slowly, finding a comfortable position. "You once told me that Senior Qiandao Liu is your grandfather, so the one protecting Yu Xiaogang must be the Pope."
Li Xun looked at Qian Renxue with a playful expression as her face grew increasingly grim.
Li Xun smiled and said, "I've seen two Title Douluo seniors by your side before. Considering how easily Yu Xiaogang was taken away and the fact that you're now alone, I can conclude that those two are probably no longer loyal to you."
"Sister Xue, you've never shown this side of yourself to me before. Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up?" Qian Renxue rubbed her face, her gaze towards Li Xun gradually turning unfriendly.
"Didn't you want to test me, Sister Xue? I'm just telling the truth," Li Xun shrugged, completely unafraid.
"Then keep talking," Qian Renxue grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.
Li Xun looked at Qian Renxue as if she were a fool: "Isn't it just that you're now under the Pope's control and have no one to use? This matter could be easily resolved with the help of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
But given your current state, even if we don't help you, you won't face much trouble in Heaven Dou. Are you so anxious because you want to usurp the throne?"
"Isn't what I'm doing now usurping the throne?" Qian Renxue retorted.
"What you're doing now is called stealing a country."
Qian Renxue nodded, leaning back into the sofa like Li Xun: "If I want to usurp the throne, will the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School help me?"
"We can help, but this matter is very difficult to handle!" Li Xun sighed: "The Pope has a large number of followers, and the Great Enshrinement is watching closely. They won't allow such a major power struggle within the Spirit Hall.
Moreover, you need a legitimate reason."
"You don't need to worry about my grandfather. I can guarantee he won't interfere with us."
Qian Renxue brushed her hair, thinking of Bibidong, a look of determination flashed in her eyes: "And you don't need to worry about legitimacy, because the Spirit Hall should rightfully be inherited by me."
Li Xun nodded pretentiously, not pressing further on questions about her background: "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School can help you, but what can we get in return?"
"Second only to one, above ten thousand others."
Qian Renxue seemed to regain some confidence: "You've seen my current status. Once the Heaven Dou Empire falls into my hands, the power of the Spirit Hall will be unprecedented."
"Moreover, I can also promise you that I will hand over Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo to you."
Thinking of these two, Qian Renxue felt a wave of frustration.
Because these two not only represented Bibidong's authority but also revealed a truth she had always deliberately avoided. That is, why she had been sent to the Heaven Dou Empire as a spy since childhood.
"Alright, Sister Xue, you can charge ahead boldly. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will go through fire and water for you." After a moment of thought, Li Xun smiled and nodded at Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue was satisfied with Li Xun's attitude, but she thought of something and hesitated for a moment before saying: "However, I also need the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to remain loyal to me."
Hearing this, Li Xun grinned and raised his right hand: "Loyalty!!"
Qian Renxue was amused by Li Xun's antics, a smile tugging at her lips.
Li Xun smiled at Qian Renxue: "How about it? Feeling better?"
"Much better," Qian Renxue smiled, brushing her long hair, her eyes shining with a bit more light. She realized that she indeed felt much better inside.
"Then let's talk about some serious matters," Li Xun's expression became much more formal now.
"What's the important matter?" Qian Renxue asked curiously. They had just reached a cooperation agreement and hadn't even figured out the specifics of how to seize power. What important matter could there be?
"Let's not talk about taking power from the Pope for now. I think your undercover plan to usurp the throne has many loopholes. I hope you can address them quickly so they don't affect my future position as second only to one person."
Li Xun very professionally took out paper and pen from his Soul Guiding Device.
Qian Renxue was stunned, then looked at Li Xun somewhat indignantly: "I'm almost at the brink of success, and you're saying my plan has flaws?"
If Li Xun had pointed out flaws in other aspects, she might have let it slide, as she was practically alone now anyway.
But Li Xun outright dismissed the results of her over a decade of undercover work, which she couldn't accept.
Wasn't this directly telling her that she had achieved nothing since childhood?
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