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In the Angelic Illusion, as it sensed the arrival of the challenger, the world's axis began to shift. The entire realm transformed—one half bathed in daylight, the other shrouded in night.
"Hehehe… Qian Renxue, you've come again. Absolute light does not exist. Give up. The only choice you should make is to merge with me and embrace the darkness."
A bewitching voice echoed through the darkness.
The speaker bore an identical face to Qian Renxue—long, silvery-gray hair cascading down her back, a delicate yet alluring countenance tinged with a trace of wickedness. Her dark red lips exuded an irresistible temptation, and her form-fitting black gown accentuated her tall, proud figure. Her skin, milky white like Qian Renxue's, contrasted starkly with her shadowy aura.
"Die!"
Upon seeing her, Qian Renxue's wings flared open. Without hesitation, she swung her Divine Sword toward the woman's pale neck, aiming for a swift, decisive kill. She had no time to waste. Qian Daoliu had warned her—she must complete the divine trial within a month, or she would be consumed by darkness and fail.
"Oh? In such a hurry this time?"
Black Snow smirked as a black longsword, identical to Qian Renxue's Divine Sword, materialized in her right hand. The moment their blades clashed, she glimpsed everything Qian Renxue had experienced in recent days.
Then, she laughed.
"Hahaha! As expected of my dear brother—meticulous, far-sighted, nothing like you sentimental angels who deceive yourselves with illusions of righteousness."
Qian Renxue's expression darkened with fury. "He is my brother! What does he have to do with you? And don't you dare insult my Angel Clan!"
Black Snow scoffed. "Insult? Qian Renxue, do you even know how the Angel God ascended to divinity?"
"A long, long time ago, atop the mountain where the Douluo Palace now stands, a sacred sword was embedded in stone. Countless people tried to pull it free, seeking its power. In the end, it was the Angel God—just an ordinary human at the time—who succeeded."
"She gained immense power, but that power also brought untold disaster to the world. The justice she claimed to uphold? It was merely a way to atone for the consequences of her own selfish desires! By deceiving the masses, she gained their faith and ascended to godhood."
"That's impossible! The Divine Ancestor could never be such a person!" Qian Renxue's furious voice trembled with uncertainty.
"Why would I lie to you? What would I gain from it?"
Black Snow stepped closer, her long legs moving with deliberate grace. She spoke calmly as she walked past Qian Renxue, who stood paralyzed, questioning everything she had ever believed.
"The so-called selflessness of the Angel God was nothing more than an attempt to correct her own mistakes. And you—the unaware descendants—have merely inherited this burden, devoting yourselves to protecting this land. Yet, not a single one of you inherited the selfish ambition that made her a god… until your brother appeared."
"His policies, his actions… in essence, they are no different from what the Angel God did."
"Shut up! Don't you dare insult my brother! He is not a hypocrite!" Qian Renxue drew her sword once more, pointing it at Black Snow.
But Black Snow remained unshaken, a mocking smile curling at her lips.
"I told you before, your so-called Angel Clan is nothing but a group deluded by self-righteousness. My brother and I are fallen angels. I understand him better than anyone. He is not a hypocrite—he is a realist."
"He saw through this world long ago. He saw the true nature of its people. Just like you foolish angels, you grovel before the common folk, offering them protection, but they will never remember your kindness. They give you no faith, no devotion. Instead, they worship their empires, oblivious to the fact that their rulers see them as nothing more than expendable pawns. Nobles would sooner spit on your Spirit Hall than acknowledge your aid."
"That is why my brother ordered the construction of the Angel Goddess Statues—forcing the people to kneel before Spirit Hall if they wanted help. Otherwise, they could kneel before their empires and beg for the nobles' mercy. The outcome speaks for itself—countless chose to kneel before the Angel Goddess."
Black Snow's expression grew solemn. "Were it not for you and Spirit Hall, my brother, with his talent, would have set foot on the path to godhood long ago. He would have left behind this wretched land infested with parasites."
Her words shook Qian Renxue to the core. Doubt crept into her mind, and her battle spirit wavered. She stood frozen, lost in thought, as her beliefs began to crumble.
After a Long Silence…
Black Snow stepped forward, gently caressing Qian Renxue's cheek. Her voice carried a tone of indulgence, almost affectionate.
"Have you thought it through? You, Spirit Hall, and even the entire Angel Clan… you've all been burdens to our brother. He has always known this, yet he still carries it all without hesitation, paving the way for you. And do you know why?" She smiled softly. "Because he is our brother."
Qian Renxue's expression darkened with self-doubt. "I want to understand my brother. I don't want to be just another sentimental fool who thinks she's helping him but is actually holding him back."
Black Snow circled behind Qian Renxue, wrapping her arms around her from behind. Leaning in, she rested her head on Qian Renxue's shoulder, their bodies pressing together. Her voice was low, persuasive.
"Then join me. I've told you before—we are one. Absolute light does not exist. I will be your greatest ally."
---
Papal Hall
Sitting upon the Papal Throne, Qian Hancan cast an indifferent glance at the man before him. His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight.
"Crown Prince Dai Weisi of the Star Luo Empire. What brings you here?"
Dai Weisi bowed deeply, his body tense with unease. Moments ago, he had heard terrifying rumors—that this Pope had effortlessly eradicated Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao and Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and that even Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been forced to kneel from just a single remark. These were all figures that his father, the Star Luo Emperor, had sought to maintain friendly relations with—yet in front of this Pope, they were nothing more than insignificant ants.
What frightened him even more was what he had learned afterward—Qian Xunji had once defiled Bibi Dong, and this very Pope had personally crippled her and exiled her from Spirit Hall. Rumors now whispered that this Pope was heartless, unpredictable, and utterly merciless. How could Dai Weisi not be afraid?
With a flicker of light, Dai Weisi retrieved an item from his soul tool and presented it with both hands.
"Your Holiness, this is a ten-thousand-year-old ginseng. It is an excellent treasure for replenishing blood and vitality, a supreme healing medicine. My royal father specifically instructed me to bring it as an offering to you."
Qian Hancan gave a slight nod and gestured toward Ghost Douluo. Understanding the signal, Ghost Douluo stepped forward and accepted the offering. Soon after, a maid entered the hall and placed a chair for Dai Weisi to sit.
"Speak your mind," Qian Hancan said plainly.
Dai Weisi respectfully complied. "Your Holiness, unifying the continent has been the dream of the Star Luo Empire for generations, spanning over a thousand years. However, Spirit Hall has always upheld peace, protecting the people and preventing large-scale wars between our nations. Now that Spirit Hall is undergoing reforms, I—"
Qian Hancan interrupted with a tone of indifference.
"You seek to unify the continent? Do as you please. As long as you do not destroy the Angel God statues built across the land, Spirit Hall will not intervene in any large-scale war between the Star Luo Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire. If necessary, we may even dispatch our young genius soul masters to participate—after all, it would serve as good training for them."
Dai Weisi's heart leaped with excitement.
Young genius soul masters were the foundation of any great force. If Spirit Hall was willing to send theirs to assist Star Luo, it was both an offering of allies and a subtle hostage arrangement. This was a clear indication of Spirit Hall's sincerity—they would not obstruct Star Luo's ambitions for unification.
However, before Dai Weisi could speak further, Qian Hancan suddenly added,
"There is one condition."
Dai Weisi straightened his posture, his voice firm. "Please, Your Holiness, state your request."
"When the Star Luo Empire destroys the Heaven Dou Empire… wipe out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect along with it."
(End of Chapter)