The battle between Lin Hao and Qian Daoliu ended rather anticlimactically. After all, apart from Bibi Dong, who might suddenly go mad and attack him, Lin Hao didn't really harbor much hostility towards anyone else in the Spirit Hall.

Moreover, having now let go of everything and is content to wait for the sacrifice to his granddaughter so that she may become a god, Sendoryu has long lost the ambition he had in his youth.

He only used a few of his best skills to exchange a few moves with Lin Hao, allowing Lin Hao to learn a little from him and gain some favor, before gradually stopping his attack.

In response, Lin Hao, who had learned the unique application methods of ultimate light, ultimate wind, and ultimate fire from Qian Daoliu, silently sheathed his Jinghong Blade after realizing that Qian Daoliu really didn't want to fight anymore.

He descended from the sky, standing in mid-air, and saw Qian Renxue, whom he was now meeting for the first time, and Hu Liena, the little fox whose attitude was somewhat ambiguous due to various influences in the Killing Blade.

"Lin Hao?"

"Lin Hao!"

The two stunningly beautiful women instinctively took a step forward, then stopped simultaneously, looked at each other, and then turned their gazes to Lin Hao.

At the same time, because of the two women's actions, three pairs of eyes also fell on Lin Hao, scrutinizing him with a critical eye.

Of course, for Lin Hao, unless Bibi Dong becomes a god on the spot, he is not afraid of anyone on this continent right now.

She smiled and nodded at a certain fox spirit, giving a temporary greeting. After receiving death stares from Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu, she turned to look at Qian Renxue and spoke.

"From the moment I first met you, I felt something was off about you. I initially thought you were the daughter of Emperor Xueye, a stand-in specially sent to cover up the avalanche after the deaths of your three brothers. After all, I could see that you had genuine feelings for Xue Ke."

"But I never expected that you were the one who switched the baby! Poor Xueye never suspected that her eldest son had been replaced until her death, or maybe she did suspect it, but she just couldn't believe it, right? So what should I call you now? Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, or... Miss Qian?"

A silence fell over the scene. After a long while, Qian Renxue finally let out a long breath and solemnly introduced herself to Lin Hao.

"My name is Qian Renxue, daughter of Pope Qian Xunji."

As he spoke, his eyes involuntarily drifted towards Bibi Dong, and after seeing Bibi Dong's resentful and disgusted gaze, he looked away in disappointment.

However, perhaps she had long been accustomed to this tacit dislike, Qian Renxue quickly recovered her composure after a moment of disappointment, reached out her hand to Lin Hao, and spoke.

"You're also a successor to the divine throne, aren't you? How about joining me? The Spirit Hall's strength is undeniable, and I am destined to become a god!"

Qian Renxue, speaking with immense pride, glanced at Hu Liena with a hint of disdain before raising her head and looking up at Lin Hao, whom she considered to be on the same level as her.

But what greeted her was neither Lin Hao's shock nor any polite formalities, but a laugh...

"Heh... As expected, the Pope's daughter and the grandson of the High Priest are truly spoiled! Qian Renxue, Tang San has now completed all the divine trials and is only one step away from breaking through to the Limit Douluo realm. And you should know that for people like us, there is actually no difference between entering the Limit Douluo realm and entering the hundred-level godhood realm."

"Your father drove his mother to her death, and your Spirit Hall also caused his father's death. The day he becomes a god will be his greatest reckoning with your Qian family. If you cannot become a god before him, then..."

With a sorrowful glance at Qian Daoliu, who had dedicated his life to the Spirit Hall, and the group of elders who had finally flown up, he vanished from the spot, leaving Qian Renxue standing blankly in mid-air, speechless.

After a long time, until Bibi Dong had already taken Hu Liena far away, and until only Qian Daoliu remained in mid-air, Qian Renxue gave a self-deprecating smile, saying something that seemed to be a lament for herself or for someone else.

"I thought I was the most talented person in the world, but I never expected that so many people would surpass me and leave me far behind. Grandpa, do you think I'm stupid?"

"...Don't worry, Grandpa's here for you."

———————

Wuhun City, Papal Palace.

Leading her disciple back to the main hall of the Papal Palace, Bibi Dong leaned gently against the papal throne, her originally calm expression now tinged with a manic, wicked smile.

The despair of being raped by Qian Xunji in the secret room, the hatred for his daughter, and the anger towards his own life kept welling up from the bottom of his heart.

Feeling that he was only one step away from becoming a god, and knowing that a chosen one who harbored deep hatred for the Spirit Hall was also only one step away from godhood, a strange sense of joy rose in his crazy heart.

The Spirit Hall, which had oppressed and driven him to despair his entire life, could finally be destroyed! The Qian family, which had ruined his life, could finally all die! He finally had a chance for revenge.

The crimson color in his slightly closed eyes grew stronger, but the moment he thought of his disciple, he stopped the crazy thoughts in his mind.

Looking at Hu Liena, who stood silently to one side, seemingly at a loss, Bibi Dong rose from her papal throne and walked to Hu Liena's side. She gently stroked Hu Liena's soft, long hair to soothe her emotions, and a question arose in her mind.

If the Spirit Hall is destroyed, what will happen to her disciples?

She had long since given up on life. It was already a stroke of luck that she could drag the Spirit Hall down with her before she died. As for becoming a god? Would that evil god who had tormented her for over a decade really want her to become a god? In the end, she was just a little toy for that evil god when he was bored.

But what about her apprentice, Hu Liena?

With these thoughts in mind, Bibi Dong couldn't help but think of the young man she couldn't see through at all today.

His cultivation level of a level 98 peak Douluo was already legendary in the eyes of the rest of the continent, but for him, a level 99 Chosen One who was just one step away from completing the provincial examination, he was actually not much different from an ordinary Title Douluo.

But what's strange is that this peak Douluo can not only contend with the old codger Qian Daoliu, but also seems to have the upper hand all the time. Moreover, even she herself can't see through this young man named Lin Hao, and even intentionally or unintentionally feels a deadly sense of threat, a threat that is incredibly real and without any pretense.

"Can he protect you?"

Looking at Hu Liena, who was gently leaning against her with her eyes slightly closed after being stroked by her hair, Bibi Dong's eyes, which were originally full of murderous intent and madness, surprisingly showed a few traces of tenderness.

He doesn't seem like a madman who has long since gone completely insane due to the torment of the locked-room incident and decades of pressure.