Chapter 17: The Clear Sky Sect's Backer
Within the Hall of Worship, the five Grand Worshipers, led by Qian Daoliu, knelt before the radiance of divine light. When the decree descended into his hands, disbelief filled Qian Daoliu's face.
"When," he wondered, "did this old man ever have a granddaughter?"
Even as the sacred brilliance enveloped the hall and divine light poured from the heavens, Qian Daoliu's mind reeled. Then, as the glow rippled across the angelic space, a figure slowly stepped forth—Qian Renxue.
Returning to this familiar place, seeing the five figures standing before her—the same five who had guided her since youth—she felt a torrent of emotion surge within. Two thousand years of memory fused with the present. Tears streamed down her face as she rushed forward, embracing the man she had missed most.
"Grandfather…"
Qian Daoliu, though confused, did not resist. After all, the Angel God had decreed her identity, and he could feel the faint, undeniable pulse of shared blood within her. That alone was proof enough. He sensed her grief, her longing, and perhaps even guilt—and he held her close, silent but firm.
It was a long while before they parted.
"I know you have questions, Grandpa," Qian Renxue said softly, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "Please… allow me to explain."
Moments later—
"What? Xue'er, you're saying you're Xunji and Bibi Dong's daughter! That you once became the Angel God yourself, and Bibi Dong attained the mantle of the Rakshasa God, yet in the end, you were defeated? That Bibi Dong died under Tang San's Asura Divine Sword, your divinity shattered, you fell from godhood, and Spirit Hall was destroyed?" Qian Daoliu's jaw tightened in shock.
Qian Renxue simply nodded. There was no need for more words.
The hall fell into deep silence as the five worshipers processed what they had heard.
Finally, the Golden Crocodile Douluo, ever fierce, slammed a massive palm onto the ground. "Hmph! Big Brother, if this is true, then we'll end this at the root. We'll destroy the Clear Sky Sect completely and cut down this Tang Hao. Without him, there would be no Tang San!"
The Lion Douluo bellowed, "And that ten‑thousand‑year Blue Silver Emperor must die as well! Kill her, seize her soul ring and bones, and we'll crush their threat before it's born!"
Qian Daoliu frowned slightly, still uncertain.
The Qingluan Douluo added, "Brother, what's there to hesitate about? You're not still worried about Tang Chen, are you? Don't forget—when he entered our Hall years ago, a mysterious god selected him for divine service. Bound as a divine attendant, he could never ascend to godhood himself. Tang Chen poses no threat."
"Yes," said the Light Feathers Douluo. "Big Brother, my divine bow has long awaited the chance to strike the Clear Sky Sect."
But Qian Renxue shook her head. "No. You can't move against them. The Clear Sky Sect has divine backing—the Asura God himself. That shameless deity has been sponsoring the sect since Tang Chen's time. If we attack now, the Asura God will not stand idly by."
"Can a god even interfere with the mortal world so casually?" Qian Daoliu asked, perplexed. As one who often received messages from the Angel God, he knew well that divine law forbade intervention in lower realms.
Qian Renxue scoffed. "The Asura God is one of the Six Great God Kings of the Divine Realm, ruler of its very core. He writes the laws. For him, rules exist only to be broken when convenient. He has meddled plenty of times. For instance—the Great Sumeru Hammer. That so‑called secret Haotian technique? It was no mere martial art. It was a divine ability granted by the Asura God himself to Tang Chen."
"What?!" Qian Daoliu's expression twisted. "You mean the Great Sumeru Hammer is a divine technique?"
"Yes," Qian Renxue said steadily. "Grandfather, you lost to Tang Chen by half a move—that half move. Later, Father, as a ninety‑fifth‑rank Angel Douluo, was grievously injured by Tang Hao the moment he attained his title, again because of the Great Sumeru Hammer. Even Grandmaster Golden Crocodile here was nearly defeated when Tang Hao, at only rank ninety‑seven, fought you, a rank ninety‑eight Titled Douluo. And Tang San… he used that same technique, detonating his spirit rings to fight me—a god—on equal footing. Even though I held back, that alone shows the technique's power."
At her words, Qian Daoliu and the Golden Crocodile Douluo exchanged uneasy glances.
Finally, the Light Feathers Douluo broke the tension. "Big Brother," he said dryly, "you've been played."
Understanding dawned, and fury blossomed on Qian Daoliu's face. "Tang Chen… you deceived me!"
"What's going on?" the Lion Douluo asked.
The Qingluan Douluo reminded him, "Don't you remember? Before Tang Chen sought a god's inheritance, he dueled our big brother one last time. They agreed to fight without soul skills—just pure strength. That battle raged for three days and nights. In the end, Tang Chen 'barely' won by half a move… using the Great Sumeru Hammer. Then they vowed that henceforth no Pope of Spirit Hall would set foot on Clear Sky grounds."
"Oh, delightful!" Qian Daoliu laughed bitterly. "No soul skills, he said—and all along he was using a divine one! Very well. That agreement is void from this day forward!"
Yet even as he spoke with bravado, the others knew what he did not say aloud. With the Asura God supporting the Clear Sky Sect, attacking them outright was suicide.
Again, silence.
"What are we to do," the Lion Douluo rumbled, "if the Clear Sky Sect is sheltered by a divine power from above? Are we to sit here and do nothing?"
"Don't be afraid," Qian Renxue said firmly, her voice ringing clear. "In my past life, Spirit Hall fought without knowing the true enemy. Now we do. Behind the Asuras and the Sea God's treachery stands injustice itself. But this age is different. We have our own backers—my divine ancestor, the Angel God herself, and a supreme Eternal God whose power rivals the five Divine Kings. His hatred for Tang San runs deeper than ours. Against Tang San and his ilk, we are not without hope this time."
She then explained the current structure of the Divine Realm in full. The worshipers exchanged thoughtful looks; their tension eased as understanding replaced fear.
Qian Renxue bowed deeply. "Grandfathers, I trust you more than anyone, which is why I've shared this secret. But heed me well—this must go no further."
They all nodded solemnly; not one among them would dare whisper this beyond these walls.
Qian Daoliu then asked, "And what of Xunji? He's your father, after all. Should I tell him any of this?"
"No. Absolutely not," Qian Renxue said sharply. "Do not tell him anything about me. There are… truths I wish to see for myself. I need to meet this era's 'father' and 'mother'—with my own eyes."
"…Very well," Qian Daoliu said quietly.
(END CHAPTER)
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