Chapter 286: Qian Renchuan—From the Myriad Waters, I Choose Only One Cup
Within Spirit Hall.
After leaving the Slaughter City, Qian Renchuan spent a day at the Shui Family in Element City, then returned to Spirit Hall with Shui Bing'er.
Over the past two years, Shui Bing'er's cultivation had reached rank 62. Yet on that night at the Shui Family, despite having initially taken the initiative, once Qian Renchuan ascended to the Spirit Sage realm and even added a God-bestowed hundred-thousand-year spirit ring, she couldn't withstand his surging strength for long.
Upon Qian Renchuan's return to Spirit Hall, the overpowering, murderous aura of his Slaughter Angel Spirit startled even Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue in the Worship Hall.
Seeing Qian Renchuan's drastically changed appearance—white hair, blood-red eyes, and a transformed Angel Spirit—Qian Daoliu couldn't help but doubt himself. Had he not taught the boy properly, or was there a flaw in his teaching methods?
Just as Qian Xunji had once said, for one with the Angel Spirit, the Slaughter City was absolutely forbidden. The evil aura there could indeed taint an Angel Spirit, but if the cultivator's will was firm and heart pure, they should remain unaffected.
Qian Renchuan, though Qian Daoliu hadn't raised him entirely alone, had been under his guidance far longer than under Qian Xunji or Ah Yin. Yet the boy had been so thoroughly influenced, brimming with such a savage, murderous heart.
Suddenly, Qian Daoliu's gaze fell on the blood-hued sword-shaped mark on Qian Renchuan's forehead. His eyes gleamed, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared right in front of Qian Renchuan.
From reflex conditioned by survival in the Slaughter City, Qian Renchuan's muscles tensed, and he nearly attacked. But upon seeing it was his revered, invincible grandfather, he immediately relaxed.
Qian Daoliu studied that blood-colored sword design carefully. His face—rarely prone to strong emotion—suddenly lit with excitement. "This is the symbol of a god's inheritor! My grandson truly is extraordinary—chosen by a deity!"
Qian Renchuan froze. "Grandfather, you mean that mark on my forehead—no matter how I rub, it won't come off—is a sign of divine inheritance?"
Qian Daoliu nodded with satisfaction. "Indeed. I'm not certain which god has chosen you, but I'm sure it's no weaker than our Divine Ancestor."
"But I feel nothing at all..."
Qian Renchuan truly sensed nothing. Had Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo not pointed out the mark, he wouldn't even have known when it appeared.
Qian Daoliu thought for a moment. "Possibly your cultivation level isn't high enough, or you're not yet within the domain of the god's trials."
A twitch ran through Qian Renchuan's features. If it was merely cultivation, that was one thing. But if the "range of the god's trials" was the Slaughter City itself—he had just poured the Snowy Swan Kiss into it. With the blood river's poison intensified by that herb, if the Slaughter City was indeed established by a god, he might have destroyed his own trial site. Would that deity still accept him?
"Any more questions?"
"N-no. I'll train hard and reach the required rank for a god's trial as soon as I can."
Naturally, Qian Renchuan wouldn't confess to poisoning the Slaughter City with Snowy Swan Kiss, afraid his family would kill him for it.
Qian Daoliu's earlier doubts vanished. He felt his teachings were not at fault. The transformation of the boy's spirit must be due to the deity who'd chosen him—because the aura from that sword insignia closely resembled Qian Renchuan's Slaughter Angel form. So long as his granddaughter received the Angelic Nine Trials, Qian Daoliu would be fully content.
Ah Yin felt boundless joy. Her precious son had been chosen by a god—he could become a god!
Qian Renxue, however, felt great pressure. She had reached rank 88. At her rate, in another year she could break rank 90 and commence the Angelic God Trials. If she failed to receive the Angelic Nine Trials, proving she lacked the qualifications to become a god, wouldn't she be inferior to that pesky little brother?
Shui Bing'er, gazing at Qian Renchuan with her cool-blue eyes, wore a mingled smile of sweetness and sorrow. This man of hers was too exceptional, someone a single partner could hardly claim for herself. And she alone couldn't handle Qian Renchuan going all-out.
But Qian Renchuan, stepping up to Qian Renxue, produced from his palm a burning-hot, blood-red orb. "Sister, this is an inner pill I obtained by killing a Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Snake in the Hell Road. It should suit your martial spirit perfectly. Its effect should match an immortal herb. Please take it."
Between siblings, no more needed saying. Qian Renxue had once killed the Titan Giant Ape and gifted Qian Renchuan its hundred-thousand-year right arm bone without a second thought.
Accepting the Ten-Headed Fiery Sun Snake's inner pill, Qian Renxue rapped Qian Renchuan lightly on the head.
"Eek—Sister, why hit me?"
She brandished a petite pink fist, smiling. "You'll soon catch up to me in strength. If I don't knock you now, there'll be no chance later."
Everyone in the Supreme Pontiff Hall chuckled.
After handing over the serpent's inner pill, Qian Renchuan's expression turned solemn. "Mom, did you promise Elder Ning that I would marry his daughter Ning Rongrong?"
"Yes," Ah Yin answered, her tone gentle. While Qian Xunji had been away at the Slaughter City, Ning Fengzhi had approached her. She'd quickly agreed, recalling seeing Ning Rongrong in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament—wielding the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the Continent's top support spirit, and possessing a lovely face. Surely, she would be an excellent help to her precious son. Not to mention that, for reasons she couldn't fully explain, the more time she spent with Ning Rongrong, the fonder she became.
Qian Xunji understood perfectly—the cause was the synergy between the Eight-Petal Immortal Orchid Ah Yin had consumed and the Qiluo Tulip that Ning Rongrong had absorbed. They were "paired" immortal herbs, creating a natural affinity.
"I don't agree. From all the waters in the world, I choose just one cup." Qian Renchuan turned and walked to Shui Bing'er, gazing at her with eyes brimming with affection. Taking her hands, he declared, "My wife will always be Bing'er alone. She's the only one I love."
"Mom, please annul that engagement!"
Ah Yin stood dumbstruck.
Qian Daoliu merely smiled approvingly: so this is indeed his grandson's heartfelt devotion. As for the Nine Treasure Glazed Pagoda? Since his grandson might become a god, he didn't care about anything else.
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