Chapter 238: The Fallen Spirit Hall, The Rebirth of Thunder Emperor City

  (Brothers, continuing with the Douluo storyline. No more buildup; let’s dive right in and keep it real.)

  Time flies.

  Two months passed in the blink of an eye.

  The reconstruction of Spirit City was now complete.

  However, the current Spirit City was entirely different from what it used to be.

  No.

  To be precise, it could no longer be called Spirit City.

  The former sacred nd of soul masters had now become only a part of the newly built city, serving as its inner city.

  On its periphery, there was an even rger city.

  Spanning hundreds of miles.

  This grand feat was only possible through the combined strength of the entire Douluo Continent. In the past, no single force could have achieved such a thing.

  It is worth mentioning that both the new outer city and the former Spirit City had pques hanging over their gates, inscribed with three rge characters in an iron-pen silver-hook style: Thunder Emperor City!

  This was to commemorate the youth who turned the tide at a critical moment and saved the entire Douluo Continent.

  Moreover, the headquarters of the Douluo Federation was established in Thunder Emperor City.

  According to the pns of the influential figures within the Federation, the inner city remained unchanged as the sacred nd for soul masters, just as before.

  The outer city was designed for the lives of ordinary people.

  A city of this scale could easily accommodate millions of inhabitants.

  Outside Thunder Emperor City was just as remarkable.

  To the south, the Seven Treasure Gzed Tile Sect re-established its sect within the mountain range.

  To the north, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Cn relocated their entire cn to this pce.

  The east was where the original forces and soul master families of the Heaven Dou Empire resided.

  The west was allocated for the various vassals of the Star Luo Empire.

  Currently, Thunder Emperor City was like the moon surrounded by stars.

  The Douluo Continent had never been more united.

  It was believed that soon, everyone would recover from the great disaster and create a better world.

  As for the former Spirit Hall, they chose not to cim any nd.

  Qian Daoliu, the Grand Priest, had also announced that he intended to make a significant decration at the first Alliance Conference, which would take pce in three days.

  ...

  Meanwhile.

  In the inner city of Thunder Emperor City.

  A massive statue had been erected in the square of the former Pope's Hall, towering at least twenty to thirty meters high.

  The sculpted figure was handsome and elegant, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, exuding unparalleled charm.

  Standing beneath the statue was a figure dressed in a golden gown.

  She had a tall and graceful figure, with skin as fair as snow and features that could only be described as exquisite. Her brows radiated heroic spirit, yet her beautiful eyes were filled with complex emotions.

  There was nostalgia, sentiment, and longing… which eventually turned into resentment.

  “Damn you, Qin Xiao! You’re too much.”

  “You left just like that for so long without even saying goodbye.”

  “What do you take me for? Do I even matter to you?”

  “Am I, Qian Renxue, so unworthy of your attention?”

  “It’s infuriating, absolutely infuriating.”

  Seeing that no one was around, she could no longer hold back and stomped her foot in frustration.

  After cursing for a while, she still felt unsatisfied. She walked up to the statue of Qin Xiao and kicked it repeatedly.

  It was as if she was venting her anger on the statue before her.

  “Hehehe.”

  “So this is the renowned Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire, known as the Wise Monarch?”

  “I see nothing more than a resentful little woman.”

  At that moment, ughter came from behind her.

  Qian Renxue’s body froze, as if struck by a petrification spell.

  No one could see her face turn various shades of green and white, filled with embarrassment.

  I am the Empress of Heaven Dou, dignified and stern. If someone were to spread this scene, what would happen?

  How could my image survive?

  Qian Renxue’s thoughts raced.

  However, even though her identity was revealed, she felt no panic.

  She knew who it was just by hearing the voice.

  Anyone else in the world might harm her, but not the person speaking.

  “Little Xue, are you pnning to silence your grandpa to keep this a secret?”

  As the voice faded, Qian Daoliu's figure emerged from the shadows.

  Seeing Qian Renxue not turning around for a long time, he teased.

  “Grandpa…” Qian Renxue finally calmed down, turned around, and called out coyly.

  Only in front of Qian Daoliu did she truly let down her guard and reveal her more delicate side.

  Gncing at the statue behind her, now covered in dents from her kicks, Qian Daoliu clicked his tongue, "Tsk tsk tsk. Just look at those kicks you delivered. It will take at least three gold soul coins to fix this."

  "If you have something to say, just say it to that kid. The statue didn’t do anything wrong, so why vent your anger on it?"

  Hearing Qian Daoliu's words, Qian Renxue's anger fred up instantly. "You think I don’t want to? He better hope I don’t see him. Otherwise, I’ll just… just… just…"

  As she spoke, she punched the air, as if Qin Xiao's figure had appeared before her.

  "Alright, enough of that." Qian Daoliu waved his hand, interrupting her antics, and poured a bucket of cold water on her excitement. "Are you sure that you can actually hurt Qin Xiao with this… this… this?

  "He has already become a god, and at least a first-rank one. It’s not just you; even if the two of us team up, we wouldn’t be his match."

  Qian Renxue: "..."

  She knew Qin Xiao's cultivation level and that she couldn’t defeat him. What was wrong with imagining it?

  Qian Daoliu, on the other hand, seemed to have seen through her thoughts. "If your cultivation isn't enough, then work hard to improve. Everyone should have dreams; what if they come true one day?"

  Hearing his words, the anger on Qian Renxue’s face subsided quite a bit, repced by a look of bitterness. "Grandpa, if you were talking about someone else, I might still have the confidence to chase after my dream. But Qin Xiao… I should just forget about him.

  "He’s already a god, and I’m only barely a Soul Douluo. The gap between us is unimaginable. Even if I turn to dust one day, I probably won’t even catch a glimpse of his shadow..."

  Her tone was filled with unspeakable sadness.

  Qian Daoliu shook his head slightly. "How could there be no chance? Your talent is already extremely rare in this world, and besides, you have me. I will make sure you become a god."

  He encouraged her, even patting his chest as a guarantee.

  Qian Renxue paused, her expression suddenly becoming serious. "Grandpa, don't bring this up again. Even if I never see Qin Xiao’s shadow in my lifetime, I will not inherit the god position."

  She was no longer as ignorant as before and had realized that if she inherited the god position, it would cost Qian Daoliu his life.

  On one side was the god position, and on the other was the life of her closest retive. Qian Renxue knew what choice she had to make.

  A bitter smile appeared on Qian Daoliu's face. "Xiaoxue, listen to me… I’m already old and useless.

  "I’ve decided to relinquish most of Spirit Hall's authority at the upcoming first Alliance Conference. By then, I will have no more attachments in this life…

  "The only one I can’t let go of is you. If you become a god, even if I die, I can rest in peace."

  This wasn’t the first time Qian Daoliu had brought this up to Qian Renxue, but she had always refused.

  In fact, her god trial had already been stuck at the third test because she refused to proceed to the next.

  "Grandpa, this is where you're wrong. If you’re gone one day, what use would great power be to me?"

  "It would still have its uses..."

  "You told me before that having great power is for protection. If there’s no one left to protect, then I wouldn’t care about having strong power."

  Qian Renxue's attitude was as resolute as ever.

  She also expressed her thoughts, "Besides, things aren’t the same as they used to be. The world has changed, and everyone has gained different benefits. I believe you must have felt something too.

  "Normally, you should be able to live for several more decades. Why can’t you rely on your own cultivation to break through? After reaching level 100 and becoming a god, even without a god position, you could still live for a very long time..."

  "So, you have such expectations for me..." Qian Daoliu felt warmth in his heart.

  He felt that with such a granddaughter, his life had been worthwhile.

  "Of course." Qian Renxue nodded firmly. "I also believe that if you reach level 100, there might be a way for you to inherit the Angel God position and truly become the Angel God."

  "Hahaha, becoming the Angel God?"

  "Xiaoxue, you know, even in my dreams, I didn’t dare imagine such a thing..."

  Qian Daoliu ughed heartily at Qian Renxue’s words.

  "One should have dreams, right? What if they come true? I’ll give you back your own words."

  "Alright, then I’ll borrow your lucky words." Qian Daoliu nodded heavily, dropping the topic of inheriting the god position.

  He stared at Qian Renxue for a moment before suddenly saying, "Xiaoxue, have you ever thought of chasing after what you desire in another way?

  "Look at the people around Qin Xiao. They may not have distinguished identities or higher talent than you, but they’ve still won his favor..."

  "Yes. Maybe they have some extraordinary qualities that I don’t know of..." Qian Renxue’s expression wavered, her eyes growing dimmer.

  "It’s not necessarily about giving Qin Xiao something special. It’s about two words… companionship."

  "Companionship."

  "Exactly." Qian Daoliu nodded. "They are by Qin Xiao's side when he needs them, even proactively following him to wherever he goes..."

  "With Qin Xiao's status, position, strength, and talent, being his woman doesn’t require you to match him in status, position, strength, or talent because no one can compare to him in those aspects."

  So that’s it!

  Qian Renxue's body trembled.

  Qian Daoliu's words had hit her like a sudden realization.

  So, to be with Qin Xiao, only two words were needed...

  "But..."

  Qian Renxue opened her mouth to speak but couldn’t find the words.

  She was the ruler of the Heaven Dou Empire and the heir of Spirit Hall. She carried too many responsibilities. How could she abandon everything to be with Qin Xiao?It was unrealistic, too unrealistic.

  "But you carry too many burdens, right?"

  "You can’t just throw everything away to be by his side, right?"

  Qian Daoliu sighed inwardly. How could he not see the situation that Qian Renxue was in?Qian Renxue nodded silently.

  Then Qian Daoliu said something shocking, "Then let it go. Abandon everything and pursue what you desire..."

  "What!" Qian Renxue was stunned. "Grandpa, you must be joking! How can I just abandon everything so easily?"

  "It wouldn’t have been possible before, but now it is."

  "Now, Heaven Dou, Star Luo, and Spirit Hall no longer compete with one another. Even sects like the Seven Treasure Gzed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Cn have joined forces with us, forming a unity that far surpasses any of Spirit Hall's previous ambitions...

  "So, some of the decisions made in the past can be abandoned."

  Qian Daoliu’s voice was filled with complexity and emotion.

  The changes on the Douluo Continent had exceeded his expectations.

  He never dreamed that the situation would become what it was now.

  "What do you want me to do then?"

  Qian Renxue’s mind went bnk; she had no idea how to proceed.

  "Give up the identity of the Clear River Emperor and be yourself."

  Qian Daoliu stared into Qian Renxue’s eyes and said, "And remember, don’t act as the heir of Spirit Hall either. Just be the simple Qian Renxue.

  "Then go and do whatever you want. Whether it’s traveling the ends of the earth or waiting for Qin Xiao to return and accompanying him—it’s entirely up to you."

  "I... Can I really do that..." Qian Renxue’s heart trembled, and even her voice shook.

  But she was moved.

  Truly moved.

  She had lived for decades, but never for herself. She really wanted to experience what freedom and indulgence felt like.

  "Why not, as long as you want to?" Qian Daoliu smiled, knowing that what he was doing was right.

  After all he had experienced, he had come to see things more clearly.

  Power and cultivation were nothing compared to happiness.

  After a moment, he added, "Of course, letting go doesn’t mean abandoning the Heaven Dou Empire entirely. After all, it's the fruit of your bor for decades in disguise.

  "The Douluo Continent now follows an alliance system, not a centralized monarchy. All major decisions are made through votes by various factions, so you don’t have to worry that the Heaven Dou Empire’s influence will be swallowed up in your absence.

  "At the first Alliance Conference three days from now, you can take the position of an advisor as the Clear River Emperor and propose taking a temporary break. Hand over some of Heaven Dou’s affairs to Ning Fengzhi.

  "After that, you can freely use the identity of Qian Renxue and appear before the world.

  "Doing this also gives you a way back. If one day you want to recim your power, you can step out as the Clear River Emperor and regain control of the Heaven Dou forces."

  Hearing this, Qian Renxue’s eyes lit up, and a heavy stone in her heart was lifted. "Grandpa, this is a great pn! Thank you so much! I’ll go prepare right away!"

  Without waiting for Qian Daoliu to respond, Qian Renxue bounced away excitedly.

  "Sigh..."

  Qian Daoliu couldn't help but shake his head.

  Just a moment ago, she had treated him as the most important person. Now, her heart had flown away.If Qin Xiao weren’t temporarily missing, Qian Renxue would have already dashed to his side.

  "Girls are hard to keep around..."

  With a sigh, Qian Daoliu's complex feelings settled.

  However, his expression suddenly turned serious the next moment.

  "What happened?"

  As his voice fell, the Serpent Spear Douluo appeared behind him.

  "Grand Priest, a woman in a red robe arrived outside the inner city. She cims to be Bo Saixi..."

  "Huh? Where did the Grand Priest go?"

  Before the Serpent Spear Douluo could finish speaking, he found that Qian Daoliu had already disappeared.

  (End of Chapter)

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