Chapter 15: Negotiations
Tian E stormed into the Douluo Hall.
From the Star Dou Great Forest to Spirit City—covered at full speed by a 98-level Super Douluo—was no great distance.
"Elder Brother! Shuang'er's in trouble! Summon every Titled Douluo in the Spirit Hall immediately!"
It wasn't that Tian E lacked the authority. But this operation could afford to lose anyone—except Qian Daoliu. Without him, who would face that black dragon? Certainly not Tian E.
"No need to panic," Qian Daoliu said, as calm as ever. "If all goes as planned, Shuang'er will be back by tomorrow at the latest."
"All goes as planned?" Tian E's face darkened with fury. He stepped right up to Qian Daoliu. "You planned this?! Do you even understand how vital Shuang'er is to the Spirit Hall?!"
"I anticipated it all," Qian Daoliu replied evenly. "I can't tell you why yet—wait until Shuang'er returns. For now, know this: she is in no danger."
Against the Divine Realm, even a sliver of hope for an ally was worth the gamble. And he trusted the Ancestor—Qian Chongling—would succeed.
"I'll be the judge of what justifies handing Shuang'er over to those Fierce Beasts!" Tian E snarled. "And how do you plan to face Xue'er?!"
He couldn't fathom what reason could possibly outweigh the value of Qian Ningshuang. In the entire Spirit Hall, was there anyone more important than the Qian sisters?
At the mention of Qian Renxue, Qian Daoliu sighed.
He knew how deeply she cherished her little sister. He knew this would be hard for her to accept. But again—the enemy was the Divine Realm. Sacrifices were inevitable.
"I'll go wait for Shuang'er at the Star Dou Great Forest," he said quietly. "And… speak with Xue'er."
Better to face her now, before she returned in a storm of righteous fury.
***
***
"An alliance?" The Silver Dragon King's violet eyes fixed on Qian Chongling. "Given the current enmity between humans and spirit beasts, I see no need."
She understood why he proposed it—both bore the wrath of the Divine Realm. An ally was preferable to solitude.
But negotiation was negotiation. She wouldn't leap at the first offer like some desperate pack of strays.
"The very reason humans and spirit beasts are at war," Qian Chongling said with a faint smile, "is something you, as Sovereign, surely comprehend. Using that as an excuse only shows poor faith."
To him, the "soul ring system" was nothing but a tool of control—fabricated by the Divine Realm. Ancient records from the Dragon God era mentioned no such need for soul rings among humans. It was all manipulation.
"As Sovereign of Spirit Beasts," the Silver Dragon King said after a pause, "I must consider my people. Let's be blunt: if we ally, what must we do—and what do we gain?"
"In the face of the Divine Realm, we stand or fall together," Qian Chongling replied. "As for gains… while those wretched gods still sit on their thrones, you and I are nothing but pieces on their board. Discussing rewards now is meaningless."
*Indeed,* she thought silently. *Survival itself is a miracle. To dream of spoils is the delusion of the doomed.*
"If we're merely pieces," she pressed, "then what is your leverage? Surely you don't intend to rebel just to prove a point to the gods?"
"Leverage?" Qian Chongling gestured toward Qian Ningshuang. "You've already seen it."
Since Qian Chongling's appearance, Qian Ningshuang had stood quietly, eyes wide and obedient—while inside, she was screaming for Durandal.
But the holy sword remained silent. No matter how hard she called, no response came.
*So it's true…* she realized in despair. *Durandal really does need all her computing power to parse this world's rules. She only wakes up during breakthroughs. She wasn't kidding!*
She stared at the translucent crimson figure. *Oh no. Oh no no no.*
If she remembered correctly, Qian Chongling—nicknamed the "Blood Pope"—was the single most pivotal leader in Spirit Hall history. He laid the foundation for its rise as the continent's supreme power. More importantly, it was he who instilled the Hall's obsession with unification.
But… he'd vanished centuries ago! How was he now emerging from the bracelet Grandfather Qian Daoliu gave her?!
She'd caused some ripples as a transmigrator—but this level of butterfly effect was absurd!
"Huh?"
Startled by Qian Chongling's sudden gesture, Qian Ningshuang blinked up at the dragon and the spirit, her mind spiraling again.
*Okay, sure—I'm a transmigrator from Zhonghua, I've got a superpowered cheat, I've pledged to the Spirit Hall, and I'm destined to clash with those divine zealots…*
*But am I really their "hope against the gods" already?! I just got my first spirit ring!*
Ignoring Qian Ningshuang's internal panic, Qian Chongling continued.
"You've felt it yourself, Lady Silver Dragon King. The life energy radiating from this girl's martial soul is beyond comprehension—even the God King of Life pales in comparison."
"And you must have sensed it too—the power that veils her fate from the heavens."
The Silver Dragon King fell silent, her gaze now locked intently on Qian Ningshuang.
At first, she'd been too absorbed in healing to notice. Then came the conversation with Qian Chongling. Only now, prompted, did she realize:
Ever since Qian Ningshuang entered the Star Dou Great Forest, the Divine Realm's watchful gaze had vanished. She'd assumed the gods were merely distracted.
But no—it was Qian Ningshuang's destiny-concealing aura that had hidden them all.
She remembered that power well—from the days when she was part of the Dragon God. Seemingly minor, yet in a war against the Divine Realm, it was a strategic weapon. After all, the "gods' gaze" was not sight—it was the reading of fate.
Suddenly, everything clicked.
Qian Ningshuang wasn't just useful—she was *made* for this rebellion.
First: her life energy could rapidly heal both her and Qian Chongling. Without godhood, they were ants before the Divine Realm. No number of Fierce Beasts or Limit Douluo could match a single god.
Second: her fate-veiling ability let them operate beyond divine notice—free to scheme, gather strength, and strike unseen.
Third: her potential. The life energy of Black Abyss White Bloom had already stunned her. But that was merely an *aspect* of the martial soul. What was the core power? Not even a Divine Artifact as a martial soul should be this overwhelming!
If Qian Ningshuang ascended… she wouldn't just become a god.
She'd become a God King.