' Qian Xunji is intelligent, crafty, and capable of weaving appearances so deeply that even Grandfather is pacified.'
Yet… a question gnawed at her.
'If he was this clever, then why did his later fate turn out so pitiful? Why was he—Pope Qian Xunji, the most feared authority under the heavens—so easily sacrificed by Bibi Dong for her Rakshasa trial? Why did he allow himself to be cornered, betrayed, and cast aside as if he were a pawn?'
The contradictions troubled her. The man who schemed carefully enough to manipulate Qian Daoliu should not have stumbled so easily into ruin.
Her mind flickered to the past, as per the novel Douluo Dalu , when he discovered the affair between Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong, his reaction had been beyond excessive. He had not only broke them up but had driven them apart through despicable method that scarred Bibi Dong. Now, it seems that was not the behavior of a man blind with anger.
'So why then, in the end, did he seem to lose everything?'
A cold thought brushed against Qian Renxue's heart.
If her suspicion was true, then the fall of Qian Xunji was not simply the story of a foolish man consumed by lust and arrogance.
'Perhaps… he knew more than I think. He might even know about Twilight Hermit Order that I established beneath the surface of Spirit Hall.'
At that time, Qian Renxue had not yet gained the hypnotist's abilities that would later allow her to subtly twist the minds of others. Back then, she could not override anyone's will with mere words.
Her lips curled. ' Well I expected people to slowly know about Twilight Hermit Order. It will be an open secret among Soul Masters with enough power, however even then they might never guess it's depth.'
'There are many things I want to achieve,' she thought, 'but Spirit Hall, despite all its glory and power, is hollow inside. Corruption and the misuse of authority are its greatest diseases, eating it from the marrow, which my father is able to use for his benefits.'
Understanding the rot within, Qian Renxue had began to draft a plan, when she was grounded.
She could not confront Qian Xunji directly, Instead, she had to ensure that he was entangled in matters so consuming, so pressing, that he would not have the freedom to interfere with her designs.
Qian Renxue's lips slowly curved upward. She had found the perfect executor of her plan- Qian Daoliu.
In all of Spirit Hall, there was not a single soul who could defy that old man. His authority was supreme, his reputation unshakable, and his personality unyieldingly rigid. Once convinced of something, he would never waver.
But even so, she knew it would not be simple. To complete her designs, she required many hands—men and women both loyal and useful. Some would have to be drawn from the shadows of the Elder Hall, others from the Worship Hall itself, and still more from the Titled Douluo serving under her father. She would also need her own clandestine network, operatives who answered to her alone.
The thought of it all made her blood hum. It would be dangerous, one misstep could expose her. Yet the more dangerous the gamble, the sweeter the reward.
If she succeeded, the problems that erupted before Qian Daoliu would lead inevitably to the punishment of countless corrupt figures. Those parasites who had grown fat on Spirit Hall's name would be uprooted. And because the hand that struck them down was not hers but her grandfather's, none could accuse her of disobedience.
Her thoughts at that time were 'Let Grandfather be the blade. I will be the hand that guides it.'
Then came the perfect piece of information. From the information gathered by some early members of the Twilight Hermit Order, Qian Renxue learned that among all the corrupted individuals beneath her father's authority, the most brazen was none other than Demon Bear Douluo.
He was not content with merely tilting benefits toward his clan, as many others did. No, he went further, using his overwhelming strength and the prestige of his position to openly suppress opponents, seize resources, and trample rules for the sake of his family's prosperity. His henchmen, spread across Spirit Hall's hierarchy, were wolves in clerical robes, ripping apart the Hall's reputation in every province they touched.
At that time, Qian Daoliu was still secluded within his cultivation. At that particular timeframe Qian Renxue's plan began to take root.
She needed something decisive—an incident that would be impossible to ignore. Something that would force both her grandfather and her father into motion, keeping them occupied while also exposing the corruption festering under Spirit Hall's surface.
Through careful probing, her information network unearthed a crucial thread: Bishop Meyers, stationed in Gengxin City, was one of Demon Bear Douluo's trusted pawns. If she tugged at this string… the whole web could unravel.
A chilling smile curved her lips as the idea blossomed into a plan. The kind of smile that would freeze the marrow of Spirit Hall officials, had they been unlucky enough to witness it.
---
Let the time rewind—to the day Qian Renxue ventured into the Star Dou Forest to hunt her fourth soul ring, the terrifying Dark Gold Terrorclaw Bear.
On that very same day, another figure quietly departed from Spirit City. Their destination: Gengxin City.
(Author notes: If anyone has any questions ask? it might feel a bit confusing but I wanted to portray Qian Xunji as not a simple person and Qian Renxue knows about it)