Ye Xishui's proposal was, in essence, a grandiose sales pitch aimed at Qian Ran.
After all, moving the Holy Spirit Sect's headquarters into the Undead Demiplane would essentially place the sect under Qian Ran's control, making him the central figure of their operations.
As one of the continent's most powerful sects, the Holy Spirit Sect far surpassed the Body Sect, the so-called strongest sect on the surface. Ye Xishui, perhaps feeling insecure about her own influence over Qian Ran, was likely trying to strengthen their bond. She understood that without Qian Ran's assistance, her chances of ascending to godhood were slim at best.
Even though she had taken the first steps on this path, the road ahead was daunting. Could she truly reach godhood before the end of her human lifespan? If she had more Enlightenment Tea, perhaps. Without such divine resources, achieving godhood in her remaining years was simply impossible—her body could no longer afford to wait.
The Holy Spirit Sect was Ye Xishui's most valuable asset. If deepening her collaboration with Qian Ran meant securing her future, she was more than willing to proceed.
The sect's elite combat power was enough to rival a nation, and entrusting such a powerful organization to Qian Ran would surely pique his interest.
Moreover, the Undead Demiplane was indeed a perfect training ground for dark soul masters. If Qian Ran became a trusted ally, both sides would benefit immensely.
That said, Ye Xishui didn't fully trust Qian Ran yet. Her current willingness to enter the demiplane stemmed from her ability to tear through space and return to Douluo Continent at any time. But if the demiplane were perfected into a full-fledged realm, Qian Ran, as its sole gatekeeper, would gain absolute control over it.
"Tch, trying to sell me on a pipe dream, huh? As expected of the Holy Spirit Sect and Xishui Alliance's top leader," Qian Ran muttered internally. Fortunately, his years of experience as a corporate worker on Earth made him immune to such pitches. He wouldn't be overly excited about Ye Xishui's promises.
That said, the prospect of becoming the unchallenged master of a sect boasting multiple Titled Douluos was undeniably tempting. And if it didn't require much effort on his part? Even better.
Transforming the Undead Demiplane into a version of the Slaughter City from Douluo Continent I would effectively erase dark soul masters from the main world.
If Qian Ran were to take control of the continent, he wouldn't tolerate dark soul masters wreaking havoc on his land. While he wasn't exactly a paragon of virtue, he couldn't stand the thought of them running wild in his territory.
This was especially true if Zhang Lexuan became the Empress of the Sun Moon Empire. Her moral compass would never allow collaboration with such forces.
"If you're interested, we can discuss this further," Ye Xishui said, her silver eyes gleaming. Over the past few days, she had studied Qian Ran's temperament carefully. As long as she didn't provoke him, Qian Ran was generally easy to deal with.
Given Qian Ran's martial spirit, which had dark soul master-like qualities, Ye Xishui even entertained the idea of making him the Holy Spirit Sect's next leader, should he desire it.
"Let's discuss this later. Take care of Senior Sister's arrangements first," Qian Ran replied curtly.
Qian Ran wasn't blind to why Ye Xishui had suddenly warmed up to him. Clearly, she was angling for benefits. Having tasted the power of Enlightenment Tea, Ye Xishui must have realized its value.
The experience bar from Rank 99 to Rank 100 was notoriously long. A single dose of Enlightenment Tea could result in a significant jump, whereas relying on personal insight could take years with minimal progress.
It was no different from gaming. While grinding the hard way might yield results eventually, once you've experienced cheats or shortcuts, there's no going back. Cheats offered a level of satisfaction beyond the normal rules.
This was akin to how someone accustomed to light couldn't endure darkness.
Despite Ye Xishui's high cultivation and prestigious status, her fundamental nature wasn't so different from ordinary cultivators. The allure of rapid progress was irresistible.
Even the Sun Moon Empire's soul masters, despite the severe side effects of Mingde Hall's experimental pills, couldn't resist the temptation of temporary power boosts. What more could be said about the entirely safe and effective Enlightenment Tea provided by Qian Ran?
"Very well. I'll claim her as my official disciple, then. That should ensure the Sun Moon Empire values her appropriately. I've already taken one disciple, so adding another makes little difference," Ye Xishui said.
Seeing Qian Ran's calm and composed demeanor, she felt a twinge of disappointment. Even in her youth, she had been unable to resist the allure of the Holy Spirit Sect's influence. It was only now, with her sights set firmly on godhood, that mundane power had lost its appeal.
How is this brat so level-headed already?
Without Enlightenment Tea, Ye Xishui's progress was excruciatingly slow. Even refining the Undead Demiplane for a chance to obtain more tea was an arduous process. Having just stepped into the demigod realm from Rank 99, the strain was immense.
She desperately wanted more tea—it was a shortcut too good to pass up.
In truth, after pushing both Ye Xishui and Snow Empress into the demigod realm, Qian Ran had come to understand why the Divine Realm imposed restrictions on soul beasts. Humans could reach the peak of Titled Douluo in a mere century but rarely had time to create new divine positions. They relied on inheriting existing ones. Soul beasts, with their vastly longer lifespans, posed a significant threat.
Without the Divine Realm's constraints, humans would have little advantage over soul beasts.
"I need more Enlightenment Tea. Without it, my cultivation won't see significant progress," Ye Xishui admitted after a moment's hesitation. She realized she had to be honest with Qian Ran.
Her remaining lifespan was likely no more than a century. To ascend from demigod to full deity in that time? Even she wasn't arrogant enough to believe it possible.
"What can you offer me? Enlightenment Tea is a priceless treasure. Why should I give it to you?" Qian Ran said, his tone shifting to one of subtle dominance. It was time to remind Ye Xishui of her place and ensure she respected his position.
"I can help you perfect the Undead Demiplane. My Holy Spirit Sect will cooperate fully with you. And... myself..." Ye Xishui's voice trailed off as her desperation grew.
"Still not enough."
"However, since you're being sincere, I'll give you some more," Qian Ran said, after a moment of consideration. While he enjoyed keeping her on edge, he didn't want to push her too far—he still needed her help. Even manipulative tactics required occasional rewards to keep people invested.
Ye Xishui: "..."
Seeing Qian Ran's smug expression, Ye Xishui felt an urge to punch him. In all her years, no one had dared treat her so arrogantly.
But as she thought about it, she realized Qian Ran had her completely cornered.
(End of Chapter)