On the way back to Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue dismissed She Long and Ci Xue.
After hesitating for a long time, Qian Renxue finally couldn't help but ask, "Grandfather, you lost the previous battle, didn't you?"
Even the Angelic Sacred Sword of the Angel God had become someone else's trophy.
Wasn't that a loss?
However, even so, Qian Renxue didn't dare to openly point out Qian Daoliu's shortcomings on this matter.
"Yes, that girl named Tokisaki Kurumi is very strong!"
"B-but… aren't you invincible in the sky?"
"Xiao Xue, no one starts off standing in the sky. Even the Angel God was no exception."
"Your grandfather also started from a place of weakness and climbed step by step to where I am now."
"People call me 'Invincible in the Sky,' but that title doesn't hold much real meaning."
"But as a 99th-rank, could anyone really defeat you head-on? Even Tang Chen back then was just an even match for you." Qian Renxue was puzzled.
Qian Daoliu glanced at her and shook his head. "Tang Chen and I are both at the limits of what mortals can achieve."
"The same goes for that Beast God in the Star Dou Great Forest. If I wanted, I could still fight him to a standstill."
"But there is one kind of opponent I absolutely cannot defeat."
"And that is… a god."
"A god?" Qian Renxue was stunned, then quickly realized something. Covering her mouth in shock, she said, "You mean… Tokisaki Kurumi is…"
"I don't know." Qian Daoliu shook his head again. "She doesn't feel like a god to me, but her strength far surpasses mine."
"Just like how the Clear Sky Clan's 'Ring Explosion' is called a divine skill."
"Perhaps there really are people who, as mortals, can rival gods!"
"Such a thing…" Qian Renxue fell silent, unsure how to respond.
"How much do you know about Ning Rongrong?"
"Rongrong?" Qian Renxue's expression froze as she recalled her interactions with Ning Rongrong at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan while disguised as Xue Qinghe.
"A support-type Soul Master who trains very hard, but her soul power level isn't particularly high."
Based on the information she had, Ning Rongrong was born with innate full soul power, but her cultivation speed was only about the same as a normal innate level 9 talent.
Not outstanding, but not lacking either.
Unlike that Wind Xiaotian from the Four Element Academies, who buried his head entirely in self-created soul skills.
"Don't trust everything you see or hear too easily."
"Grandfather, I don't quite understand what you mean." Qian Renxue frowned slightly.
"Do you think someone with only around 30th-rank soul power could be valued by such an existence?" Qian Daoliu countered. "You mentioned that Tokisaki Kurumi referred to Ning Rongrong as 'master.'"
"Whether or not she is Ning Rongrong's guardian, someone with just over 30th-rank soul power would never be enough!"
"Tigers and leopards do not walk with jackals. I'm not entirely sure about Ning Rongrong, but…"
"The color of soul rings, as well as the number displayed, can be altered through certain special methods."
"In Spirit Hall's historical records, there have been cases of people changing their soul rings' appearance through their own soul skills."
"Are you saying Ning Rongrong's soul ring colors and numbers have been concealed?"
"It's not impossible. Think about it—why does Ning Fengzhi keep such a tight watch over Ning Rongrong?"
"He even announced her as the next sect master. Ning Fengzhi has more than just Ning Rongrong as a daughter."
"She has two older brothers who are even more capable of managing the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan efficiently."
"Ning Tian and Ning Yun…" Qian Renxue pondered.
She had met these two before and had even maintained a long-term collaboration with one of them regarding medicinal pills.
To be honest, neither of them was the spoiled young master type.
At one point, she had even subtly probed them about Ning Fengzhi's successor.
Ning Yun had replied:
"Ning Rongrong was born with innate full soul power. I have no hope of competing. She is deeply cherished by Ning Fengzhi and the Title Douluo."
Not even a hint of resentment could be detected in Ning Yun's words.
"I see… It seems I've overlooked many things." Qian Renxue sighed.
Come to think of it, when she saw Ning Rongrong this time, she had felt deceived—possibly even by the Ning Rongrong from years ago.
"Xiao Xue, it seems you've reached an answer in your heart."
"Grandfather, I was careless." Qian Renxue sighed. "If I had noticed earlier, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan wouldn't have grown so powerful."
Qian Daoliu smiled and shook his head. "Every action has its consequences. Who can truly say what's right or wrong? Just like your father…"
"Ah, let's not talk about this."
The atmosphere grew unusually quiet.
After a while, Qian Daoliu couldn't help but tentatively ask, "Xiao Xue, you already know, don't you? About your father."
"Yes, I've pieced it together. But I don't dwell on it anymore." Qian Renxue gazed at the blue sky and smiled bitterly.
"No wonder that woman dislikes me. But I don't think my father's actions back then were entirely unreasonable—just the method…"
"In the end, I'm the one with the least right to judge those two."
"If not for them, I probably wouldn't even exist."
"Xiao Xue…"
"Grandfather, don't worry. What's past is past." Qian Renxue said calmly. "Now, I don't dwell much on my father and mother's matters. Honestly, I'm far happier than ninety percent of the people on the Douluo Continent."
"Innate 20th-rank soul power—if not for my own stubbornness, things wouldn't have been so difficult."
"But my desire to unify the continent hasn't changed. Maybe it's just my obsession."
Qian Daoliu couldn't be sure of Qian Renxue's true feelings, but his voice carried a note of emotion.
"Speaking of which, Bibi Dong has already begun relinquishing her authority."
"She previously ordered Yue Guan and Ghost Mei to return and announced the cancellation of all candidates for the next Holy Maiden."
"She said the next Holy Maiden would be decided by the Elder Hall and that she would not participate."
"She…" Qian Renxue fell silent. "Has she given up on that ridiculous love of hers?"
"Who knows? It seems she made this decision after giving the Heartbroken Acacia to Yu Xiaogang."
Qian Daoliu was also puzzled but shook his head. "Never mind her. While she's absent, let's take back control of Spirit Hall first."
"Xiao Xue, this task falls to you."
"But what about the Heaven Dou Empire's side…"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan won't interfere with Spirit Hall. What they want is their own independence. As for our actions—at least, that was the promise Tokisaki Kurumi gave me."
"It's possible the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan knows your true identity." Qian Daoliu added.
"Even if Ning Fengzhi isn't aware, Ning Rongrong probably knows. And she might have chosen to say nothing."
"Is that so?" Qian Renxue smiled faintly. "Perhaps it's better if they know. After all, nothing is certain yet."
"But regarding Spirit Hall…"
"Yue Guan and Ghost Mei will coordinate with you. Switching between the identities of Xue Qinghe and Qian Renxue is entirely possible."
"Isn't this what you originally planned, Xiao Xue?"
"Yes."
After a long silence, Qian Daoliu spoke again:
"During my battle with Tokisaki Kurumi, I sensed another presence—one of them was Tang Xiao, formerly one of the Twin Stars of the Clear Sky Clan."
Before Qian Renxue could respond, Qian Daoliu continued, "Perhaps in a few days, news of my defeat will spread across the entire continent, courtesy of the Clear Sky Clan."
"Grandfather…"
"Don't worry about such trivial matters. Your grandfather has long outgrown the need to prove himself."
"Even my rivalry with Tang Chen no longer matters."
"The only thing I still think about is…"
Qian Daoliu's mind drifted to the white moonlight of Sea God Island. Then, he muttered something that left Qian Renxue confused:
"I wonder what her final choice will be? But most likely… it won't be me."
As they spoke, Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue continued flying toward Spirit Hall.