Chapter 48 – The Game of Empires
"But the situation is a little different now."
Qian Renxue's eyes flashed with cold light.
"Do you remember what I said to Liu Erlong before?"
Qin Chuan was momentarily stunned, then suddenly understood.
"You're trying to pull the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family in?"
"If we have the opportunity, why not take advantage of it?"
A sinister gleam appeared on Qian Renxue's face.
"Besides, do you really think that things between us and that woman will end just because the master is dead?"
Qin Chuan was once again taken aback.
He had spent nearly twenty years of his earlier life immersed in cultivation and entanglements with Bibi Dong, never paying much attention to the political undercurrents across the continent. Compared to Qian Renxue, he was far less experienced in these matters.
"The master's death was just an outlet for her rage."
Qian Renxue's tone was calm but firm.
"This only proves one thing—she's completely furious with us now. Based on my understanding of that woman, she will not let this matter rest. Sooner or later, she'll retaliate."
At that, she reached up and touched her own face, her eyes darkening.
"Or rather, she will come after me first."
Now Qin Chuan understood everything clearly.
There was nothing wrong with her judgment. With Bibi Dong's twisted and paranoid nature, how could she let go of her hatred so easily?
"Then what do you plan to do?" he asked after a deep breath.
"We can't respond passively. We don't know what move she'll make."
Qian Renxue's voice turned cold.
"I'm not the kind of person who waits to be struck. I must strike first and seize the initiative."
Seeing Qin Chuan silent, her expression softened. She gently took his hand in hers and spoke in a rare gentle tone.
"Brother Qin Chuan, do you really believe we can still live peacefully in the current situation?"
The cold but soft sensation of her hand snapped Qin Chuan back into clarity.
He opened his eyes, his tone now resolute.
"What do you want to do?"
Ye Lingling, who had been silently standing to the side, also turned her gaze toward Qian Renxue, her curiosity piqued.
"Before she reacts, we will seize both the Tiandou and Xingluo Empires."
She grasped Qin Chuan's hand a bit tighter, her words full of power.
"Only by doing this can we gain the qualification to challenge that woman."
This was Qian Renxue's plan.
It sounded similar to Spirit Hall's original infiltration strategy but was fundamentally different.
The previous plan involved infiltrating the Tiandou Empire to eventually launch a pincer attack on the Xingluo Empire from both ends. The goal was to hand both empires over to Spirit Hall.
But Qian Renxue's current goal was far more ambitious—she didn't want to serve Spirit Hall.
She wanted to control both empires herself.
There was a vast difference between working under the Spirit Hall and being the master of one's own destiny.
"You're planning to use the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family to check and balance the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. That way, when we move against Prince Xuexing, the Seven Treasures sect won't be able to interfere?"
"But have you considered whether the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family will agree?" Qin Chuan voiced his doubt.
Was she being too optimistic in her assumptions?
"Liu Erlong will make them agree."
Qian Renxue smiled.
In fact, it wasn't just about the two empires. Both the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex family were fearful and hostile toward Spirit Hall.
And the words she had spoken to Liu Erlong were her bait—the perfect hint.
Do you want to oppose Spirit Hall?
Do you want to avenge Yu Xiaogang?
The elderly Emperor Xue Ye lacked the strength to do so. Even if he had the will, his declining body couldn't support any grand ambitions.
Only she—Qian Renxue—could make it possible.
"Since you've made your plans, I'll follow your lead."
Qin Chuan nodded silently.
The convoy pressed forward.
Unlike their previous journey, the return trip was much faster. They shaved off nearly a third of the travel time.
In just ten days, the convoy arrived outside the capital of the Tiandou Empire.
Suddenly, the convoy slowed.
Two figures stepped out and darted toward a nearby forest.
They were Qin Chuan and Ye Lingling.
Qin Chuan had promised to help her hunt for a suitable soul beast once they arrived near the Sunset Forest.
The Nine-Hearted Begonia was a rare healing-type martial soul.
As such, her ideal soul beast would be herbaceous in nature—creatures brimming with natural vitality.
"Everything is up to Your Majesty's arrangement," Ye Lingling said softly.
She wasn't particularly fast, so Qin Chuan didn't hesitate. He wrapped an arm around her slender waist and lifted her up. With a sharp cry of surprise from Ye Lingling, the snow-white wings of the Holy Spirit unfolded from Qin Chuan's back and carried them into the sky.
They soared toward the Sunset Forest.
Perhaps because it was her first time flying at such a height and speed, Ye Lingling remained tense throughout the journey. Her slender body stiffened like a board.
The high-altitude wind whipped through her long hair, disheveling it and brushing it against Qin Chuan's face. A natural fragrance lingered in the air—her scent, mixed with the delicate perfume of her hair.
For a moment, Qin Chuan was stunned. He realized that this might have been a bit too intimate.
Thankfully, they soon arrived over the Sunset Forest.
The Holy Spirit Wings retracted, and Qin Chuan descended rapidly, Ye Lingling still in his arms. As they neared the ground, he lightly caught a thick branch to soften the impact and then landed steadily.
Even so, Ye Lingling was visibly pale from the fright.
She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
"You must be cautious in the Sunset Forest. It's nothing like the Star Dou Forest. This place is full of poisonous gas left behind by an old man."
Qin Chuan was referring to Poison Douluo—Dugu Bo.
The Sunset Forest was infamous for its dense miasma and toxic air. But Dugu Bo, eccentric and obsessed with poison, had long made it his home. His constant experimentation had worsened the environment over the years.
"I understand," Ye Lingling replied softly.
She had come here once before with a team. That time, she was poisoned by the miasma, and the entire team nearly perished.
"Then keep close to me."
Qin Chuan spoke calmly and strode toward the depths of the forest.
Along the way, they encountered several soul beasts.
But unfortunately, all of them were beast-type—completely unsuitable for a Nine-Hearted Begonia soul ring.
At the same time…
In Martial Soul City.
Within the grandeur of the Pope's Palace…
The Pope was angry again.
And when Bibi Dong was angry, the consequences were often deadly.
That day alone, she had already executed three maids and a palace knight.
Recently, her mood had grown increasingly unstable. Her violent outbursts were becoming more frequent and unpredictable.
Everyone in the Pope's Palace was on edge. Even several Title Douluo-level elders had taken to walking on eggshells.
"Report. What are the recent movements from the two empires?"
Bibi Dong sat upright upon her throne, still radiating nobility, but her brows were twisted with a violent fury that was hard to conceal.
"Following the All-Continent Soul Master Competition," Ju Douluo Yue Guan began, stepping forward respectfully, "the Xingluo Empire's team returned. Upon learning that his youngest son was detained by the Tiandou Empire, the Emperor of Xingluo flew into a rage. The two empires have been in constant skirmishes at the border for over ten days."
"We have already attempted mediation twice," he added, "but it's had no significant effect. In fact, the situation has only worsened."
"The Xingluo Emperor's youngest son?"
Bibi Dong sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Isn't that the bastard Qian Renxue captured alive in front of the Pope's Palace—that filthy traitor?"
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