If Xu Tianran knew how easily Ye Xishui could be persuaded to switch sides, wouldn't he die of frustration?
Even Lian Qianran couldn't help but feel a moment of silence for Xu Tianran.
Xu Tianran had schemed all his life, but all the power he accumulated was ultimately driven by self-interest. The moment someone offered a better deal, factions like the Holy Spirit Cult would naturally defect to the other side.
And now, with Qianran offering the invaluable Enlightenment Tea, how could Ye Xishui remain indifferent?
"You don't want to be an emperor? To become the ruler of this continent? I can help you. The entire Holy Spirit Cult can assist you. I don't know much about your Spirit Hall, but I'm sure your sect doesn't lack powerful individuals like Ultimate Douluos. If we join forces, it's not impossible."
"If I can reach the level of a demigod, I'll have even greater confidence."
In Ye Xishui's eyes, a young man like Qianran was unlikely to resist such temptation.
Don't all men yearn for power and beauty—to rule the world while basking in the lap of luxury?
Once he became the master of the continent, all of this would be within his grasp.
"I'm really not that interested." Qianran wasn't swayed by the grand picture Ye Xishui painted. Honestly, being an emperor wasn't all that appealing. It was exhausting. Being an underground ruler, however, was far more enjoyable: no responsibilities, but all the perks of royalty.
Most young people might prefer the former—being admired by all, standing above the masses. But Qianran preferred the latter. Besides, what use was a mundane emperor in the mortal world?
Any Tier-3 deity could easily dominate this continent.
Once Qianran ascended to godhood, wouldn't it all fall into his lap anyway?
How far off was that day?
Even if Qianran was lazy, the system made it a piece of cake.
At worst, he could drink Enlightenment Tea every day and stack his way to godhood.
Moreover, Qianran's ascension was powered by the system, not governed by the God Realm's rules. There were no restrictions requiring him to move to the God Realm after becoming a god. Ye Xishui's proposition held little allure for him.
"Why not?" Ye Xishui's expression stiffened.
Having repeatedly stumbled in front of Qianran, Ye Xishui felt uncharacteristically passive for the first time in her life.
In the past, nearly everything she attempted was met with success. Yet before Qianran, she felt an overwhelming sense of powerlessness.
It was like punching a sponge.
All her advantages were rendered useless before Qianran.
"I think I can achieve demigod status myself. If I really wanted to, I wouldn't need to collaborate with you." Qianran chuckled softly.
"That's true," Ye Xishui murmured, falling silent for a moment before offering a bitter smile.
Qianran was mysterious. Judging from the treasures he had produced, it was likely that Qianran wasn't even from this continent. He had mentioned before that the legacy of his Undead Demiplane came from another galaxy entirely. Perhaps Qianran himself was an otherworldly being.
Did Qianran have even rarer treasures or weapons in his possession?
Ye Xishui couldn't be sure.
To her, Qianran represented the unknown. Despite her vast knowledge, she often had to consult Qianran on certain topics. That was because many of the things Qianran produced didn't align with the Douluo Continent's knowledge system.
Ye Xishui's pride was slowly being dismantled in Qianran's presence.
"What do you want, then?" Ye Xishui bit her lip and lowered her stance further.
"Well, that would be…" Qianran dragged his words, his gaze roaming over Ye Xishui's elegant figure.
What a stunning figure.
Ye Xishui's face flushed. In the past, Qianran had looked at her with the same roguish eyes and demeanor. Back then, she hadn't cared. She believed she could easily manipulate Qianran, even feeling a secret pride in her own beauty.
But now, the roles were reversed. Ye Xishui had become the prey, and Qianran held the upper hand in their dynamic.
Her emotions were complicated.
Still, if Qianran dared to demand something she couldn't accept, Ye Xishui would absolutely refuse. Godhood had always been her ultimate goal, but she would never sacrifice her dignity to achieve it.
Even in her pursuit of divinity, Ye Xishui remained the Queen of Evil Soul Masters. A queen's pride could not be trampled upon.
"You saw Juzi earlier, didn't you?"
Ye Xishui nodded.
"The outfit she wore—wear that for a week, and I'll forgive you." Qianran smirked, his words laced with mischief. He had caught the faint disdain in Ye Xishui's eyes when she saw Juzi earlier. Since Ye Xishui disliked that kind of attire, Qianran wanted her to wear it deliberately. Juzi was his woman, and he had to avenge her honor.
It wasn't for others to see—only for him. How could serving her man be something to look down upon?
This kind of thinking was precisely why men's "benefits" kept dwindling.
Still, as the words left his mouth, Qianran couldn't shake the feeling that he was pulling a respectable woman down a slippery slope. He'd watched many videos in his past life where innocent girls were led astray step by step.
What a scoundrel he was! Qianran despised people like that.
But Ye Xishui wasn't some innocent girl. There was no ethical issue here.
In truth, Qianran was simply curious about how Ye Xishui would look in a one-piece swimsuit like the one Juzi had worn. From what he could tell, Ye Xishui had never worn anything even remotely revealing—probably not even a short skirt, let alone a miniskirt.
Her suitors had always been weaker than her, and the dynamic was one of men groveling at her feet. She would never wear something provocative to please them.
Her current attire was exceedingly conservative—a high-collared robe that practically covered her entire neck. What was there to see? Besides her beautiful face and the outline of her figure beneath the robe, there was nothing.
Qianran marveled at how Dragon Douluo Long Xiaoyao and the others had endured it all their lives. Never having enjoyed life's finer things, not even having seen them—it was tragic. Was this the power of pure love?
Qianran wasn't a "pure love" advocate. His worldview was grounded in pragmatism.
If we're not sharing a bed, what does your beauty have to do with me? Might as well move on to the next target.
Qianran had expected Ye Xishui to blow up in rage, only agreeing begrudgingly under pressure.
Her reaction, however, caught him completely off guard.
"Just wearing it?" Ye Xishui hesitated for a moment. If that was all it took to get Enlightenment Tea, it wasn't impossible. She could pretend she was wearing it for herself.
"Yes, but you'll need to wear it regularly." Qianran was tempted to take things further but knew better than to rush. If he pushed Ye Xishui too hard, she might abandon her pursuit of godhood entirely, which would be a loss.
Once Ye Xishui became accustomed to wearing such outfits, the rest would be much easier.
Qianran didn't mind Ye Xishui having demands; he only feared she had none.
"How much Enlightenment Tea are we talking about?" Ye Xishui cut straight to the point.
"Lady, this isn't part of the deal. This is just compensation for your earlier rudeness." Qianran scoffed. He wasn't about to let her brush off her attempted robbery so easily.
(Chapter End)