(TL/N: Hall of Offerings is the same as Hall of Consecration. Sometimes author call it Hall of Enshrinement which isn't wrong. This is the place where Qian Renxue, her grandfather and the rest of great elders/worshipers of Spirit Hall reside at. Just wanted to point this out in case you were confused.)
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The next moment, on the official road between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Crown Prince Xue Qinghe looked at the name on the ranking and suddenly frowned deeply.
It was not only because he himself was ranked sixth, but because the timing was far too coincidental.
On this journey, because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had consecutively placed two Titled Douluo on the rankings and their strength had risen sharply, Qian Renxue had not arranged for Snake Lance or Porcupinefish to follow in secret. Even within the accompanying entourage, there were very few members from the Hall of Offerings.
"What should I do? Have I hidden my identity for so many years only for it to be exposed now?"
Qian Renxue clenched her teeth, her heart filled with unwillingness.
Why?
She had given up an excellent cultivation environment and come to the Heaven Dou Empire to toil like a servant. The mission was almost complete, yet this sudden Martial Soul Ranking had exposed her.
"No, perhaps it is not as bad as I imagined."
"The ranking only listed my affiliated forces. It did not expose my true identity. That means I am still safe for now."
Thinking this, Qian Renxue took a deep breath and decided to continue hiding.
However, in the next instant, when the first reward was issued and the sealed memories of the Angel God awakened, her mind was struck as if by lightning.
She did not even have time to cry out. She merely let out a muffled groan and collapsed stiffly inside the carriage, forced to bear the immense memories of her previous life.
Not far away, Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had already seen Qian Renxue appear on the ranking, quickened his pace even more.
At this point, regardless of whether Qian Renxue's identity had been exposed or not, as long as he guarded her side, no one would be able to harm her.
At the same time, within the Heaven Dou Empire's court, the atmosphere was one of jubilation.
Although they did not know who Qian Renxue was, they clearly saw that among her affiliated forces was the Heaven Dou Empire itself.
"Your Majesty, such a genius must be firmly kept within our nation."
"I agree. Now that every major force has powerful experts and talents on the rankings, no matter what, we must bind Qian Renxue to the stance of our Heaven Dou Empire."
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect: Why the hell am I not on the ranking?
Those speaking were all newly appointed officials who had only entered the court in recent years. Their ranks were low, and they had attained office purely through family protection.
Previously, they had merely been spoiled young masters. Naturally, they did not understand the continent's power structure, nor did they know what the Six-Winged Angel martial soul represented.
Anyone with a functioning brain, upon hearing the surname Qian and seeing a Six-Winged Angel martial soul, should immediately associate it with the martial soul of the former Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji.
After hearing these self-satisfied proposals from the wastrels, their elders and ancestors felt an overwhelming urge to kill them.
"Useless trash who can only ruin things."
Upon the dragon throne, Emperor Xue Ye's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he was on the verge of killing several people on the spot.
An eerie silence fell over the court.
Those few wastrels were still bent over, unable to rise, yet inwardly they were puzzled. Could it be that their perfect plan had pleased His Majesty so much that he intended to promote them?
"Lift your mother's head!"
In the next moment, Emperor Xue Ye erupted in rage. The jade ruyi in his hand flew out and smashed into the head of the leading wastrel, instantly drawing blood.
Nearby, Xue Beng watched the spectacle, laughter blooming in his heart.
He was pretending to be a wastrel, not an actual one. These people were no different from idiots.
However, his smile soon vanished.
The leader, after being struck and suddenly gaining a spark of clarity, came up with an even worse idea and dragged Xue Beng into it.
"Your Majesty, please calm your anger. This humble servant is terrified."
"This Qian Renxue must be a woman. If she could be married to Prince Xue Beng, would that not completely bind her to our Heaven Dou Empire?"
Xue Beng: ???
"Whose brat are you?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, I am the grandson of Marquis Yan Song."
"Yan your mother's head!"
Xue Ye's anger flared up again. Still unsatisfied, he even stepped down from the dragon throne and, in front of all civil and military officials, delivered a vicious kick to the chest of the wastrel who claimed to be Marquis Yan Song's grandson.
"Cough, cough…"
Overcome by rage, Xue Ye's vision went black and he collapsed to the ground, barely retaining a trace of consciousness.
"Your Majesty!"
All civil and military officials immediately knelt to the ground.
"Yan Song, step forward!"
Yan Song, whose hair and beard were completely white, cursed inwardly. If not for the fact that the parents of this unworthy beast had died early and this was his only descendant, he would have long since expelled him from the family to fend for himself.
"Tell me. Is your grandson's proposal good or not?"
At this point, Yan Song could only rely on his slippery rhetoric to placate Xue Ye.
"It is good, yet not entirely good."
"The world knows that the former Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji, possessed the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, but there is no written record stating that he left behind any descendants."
"And this woman named Qian Renxue bears the surname Qian, possesses the Six-Winged Angel martial soul, and her affiliated forces even include our Heaven Dou Empire."
"Then, Your Majesty, let us make a bold assumption. Do you still remember the time Qian Xunji came to Heaven Dou City more than ten years ago?"
"I remember. At that time, the Crown Prince was only three or four years old."
"Exactly. That time, Qian Xunji stayed for only one night before hurriedly leaving, as if to deal with some urgent matter. Yet now this suddenly appearing Qian Renxue…"
Yan Song deliberately paused.
"Continue."
"That night, Qian Xunji encountered a woman in Heaven Dou City. However, due to his lofty status as Pope, he abandoned her. Over the years, that woman gave the child the surname Qian and raised her in Heaven Dou City."
"Calculating the age, she is only four or five years younger than the Crown Prince."
"If a marriage alliance were possible…"
Yan Song stopped there. Xue Ye's fury transformed into excitement.
Yes. With such a talented woman, if she became the Crown Princess, what would the Heaven Dou Empire have to fear?
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had never taken concubines, was kind-hearted, and was deeply loved by the people of Heaven Dou City. As for Qian Renxue, who had grown up in Heaven Dou City, she would surely have a favorable impression of him as well.
The Crown Prince offering the Heaven Dou Empire itself as the betrothal gift and making her the Crown Princess would be a match made in heaven.
In this way, not only could the Heaven Dou Empire's rule be stabilized, but it could also improve the mediocrity of the imperial family's soul master bloodline.
"Guards, pass down my decree. Order the Crown Prince to swiftly conclude his current affairs and return at once."
"At the same time, search throughout the entire empire for this woman named Qian Renxue. Under no circumstances are you to offend her."
"Lastly, the Fourth Prince Xue Beng has failed to manage his subordinates. Until the Crown Prince is married, he is forbidden to step outside his residence."
Once Emperor Xue Ye issued these three orders, not a single person in the court objected.
After all, they lacked high-level soul masters and were ignorant. They did not even know of the existence of the Hall of Offerings.
...
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Looking at the forces listed behind Qian Renxue's name, Ning Fengzhi felt uneasy.
It was rare for a single person's name to be followed by two separate forces.
"The Hall of Offerings, the surname Qian. She is most likely a descendant of that Great Worship."
"But what about the Heaven Dou Empire? Unless this descendant of the Great Worship holds a very high position within the empire, one that can at least influence the operation of the state."
Ning Fengzhi's mind was sharp as a demon. He recalled the mysterious assassinations of princes over the years, as well as the strange way Xue Qinghe had steadily risen to prominence.
"Could it be him?"
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