Chapter 362: A Refusal Like Five Years Ago
Upon hearing the message, Xue Qinghe's face remained calm, though she felt a tinge of irritation. Her mission in the Tian Dou Empire was progressing smoothly; with only a bit more time, she would soon ascend to the throne. At such a crucial moment, why had her grandfather's envoy suddenly appeared?
"Uncle She, who exactly is this envoy? And where is he now?"
Snake Lance Douluo's expression turned slightly awkward. The Great Elder had not disclosed the envoy's identity to him beforehand, and he himself had only just received the address of the man's location from Salas.
"Young Master, I am unaware of the envoy's true identity, but he awaits you now at one of our strongholds just outside Tian Dou City."
Xue Qinghe's gaze flickered, her expression changing momentarily before she responded in a low voice, "Very well, Uncle She, I'll go meet him."
Snake Lance Douluo nodded, and immediately, a figure identical to Xue Qinghe in appearance emerged from behind him, silently boarding the royal carriage. Xue Qinghe, however, followed Snake Lance Douluo out of the palace. The guards stationed along the way gave no indication of acknowledgment, remaining as impassive as statues—every guard in the palace was from Spirit Hall.
They boarded the prepared carriage, which moved slowly toward the outskirts of Tian Dou City.
A Secluded Outpost Outside Tian Dou City
The outpost was a modest wooden cabin that, though old, had been maintained well enough to avoid any signs of decay.
Inside, Dai Yao stood by the window, gazing out at the dense foliage. He was lost in thought. Coming to the Tian Dou Empire was a highly secretive mission for Spirit Hall, so he had avoided meeting with anyone from the Qinglian Sect or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. In fact, no one close to him was even aware that he had entered the Tian Dou Empire.
"The Great Elder sent me here partly to draw me into their cause, and partly to leverage the strength of Qinglian Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan to aid Qian Renxue's coup. However, I've sworn Qinglian Sect will remain neutral in all matters but my personal vendetta against the Xingluo Empire."
"Supporting Xue Qinghe in this endeavor was never part of my plan."
Dai Yao knew that, with or without his help, Xue Qinghe was already powerful enough to resist any challenge. Without aid from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Dugu Bo, or the single-attribute clans, Tang San had no chance of replicating his success in the original timeline to disrupt Spirit Hall's plans.
"My main priority remains the Seagod's Heart." Dai Yao frowned, considering his options. The Seagod's Heart, one of the empire's three sacred treasures, would be difficult to acquire without drawing attention. If he had no choice, he could employ his Chaotic Green Lotus Martial Spirit to teleport and stealthily retrieve it from the imperial vault. But such a plan came with serious risks. Using his Chaotic Green Lotus would inevitably expose him again, and the last time he'd used it—when escaping Di Tian's pursuit—had alerted the Soul Beast faction to his existence.
A chill breeze snapped Dai Yao back to reality as he mulled over these considerations.
"Am I being overly optimistic?" he muttered to himself.
By the storyline's original logic, his approach should work. But had he really maintained the original storyline? His very presence had fractured the story's continuity into unrecognizable pieces. And with Tang San's wife's spirit and soul still in his possession, Dai Yao knew he had altered far more than intended.
And now, the looming threat of the Soul Beasts made it so that his relationship with Bibi Dong felt ever more precarious. Though he had grown closer with Qian Daoliu, he could not help but feel that the Soul Beasts were manipulating events, ensuring he would find himself backed into a corner, forced to consider their terms.
The more Dai Yao thought about it, the more he saw the Soul Beasts' plan. They would not sit idly by and allow him to aid Qian Renxue's coup. There were bound to be challenges, if not outright sabotage, to come.
A surge of frustration rippled through Dai Yao, reigniting his thirst for power. With enough strength, he could force the Soul Beasts into submission. But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't foresee how they might interfere with Qian Renxue's plans.
"Could Di Tian and the others actually dare to emerge from the Star Dou Forest to sabotage her efforts?"
Dai Yao frowned, dismissing the idea just as quickly as it had formed. "Impossible. If they did, their entire existence would be compromised. Not only would Spirit Hall eliminate them, but the gods themselves might intervene."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door—three quick knocks followed by a short pause, repeated three times. Dai Yao knew it was who he'd been waiting for.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, and Xue Qinghe stepped inside, her eyes sweeping over the room briefly before settling on the masked figure.
"You're the envoy sent by the Great Elder?" she asked coolly.
"Yes."
"Then why haven't you removed your mask?" There was a trace of irritation in her voice.
Dai Yao removed the mask slowly, revealing a face that was both familiar and foreign to her.
"Well, Your Highness, it's been a long time."
The sight of him brought a faint smile to Xue Qinghe's face. She hadn't expected the Great Elder's envoy to be him—Dai Yao, who had once declined her invitation to join Tian Dou in favor of Spirit Hall.
"I didn't expect this." She chuckled lightly. "Five years ago, we parted ways, only to meet again under such circumstances."
She had thought of Dai Yao many times since then, hoping to recruit him once her mission in Tian Dou was complete. She hadn't anticipated seeing him again so soon—or in her grandfather's employ.
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow, maintaining a look of surprise, though he was well aware of Xue Qinghe's true identity. "I also didn't expect Tian Dou Empire's prince to be a Spirit Hall operative all along," he said, feigning shock.
Xue Qinghe scrutinized Dai Yao closely. Although he emitted no aura, she had an instinctive feeling of caution around him. As one of the Spirit Hall's strongest, with a god-level martial spirit, she rarely felt threatened by others, yet something about Dai Yao made her uneasy.
In her mind, she began to recall that this young man had once defeated the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall and had made it into Spirit Hall on sheer talent alone. Now, he stood before her, an enigma and an ally—though for how long, she couldn't say.
Dai Yao's gaze lingered on Xue Qinghe, sensing the sharp tension in the room. Though nearly a decade younger than her, Dai Yao radiated an unmistakable aura of strength, a presence that sent a subtle but undeniable signal of danger. There was only one possible explanation—Dai Yao's power had grown enough to rival her own. The thought was almost unbelievable.
Xue Qinghe narrowed her eyes slightly. "It seems you've made considerable progress during your years in Spirit Hall. But enough of that; let's get to the point. Tell me, what's the purpose of the Great Elder sending you here?"
Dai Yao paused briefly before revealing the Angelic Emblem. The moment it appeared, Xue Qinghe's gaze locked onto it, sensing the pure, intense aura of light it emitted—something that only those with the Six-Winged Angel lineage could feel. Dai Yao spoke steadily.
"The Great Elder sent me to tell you to initiate the coup without delay and return to Spirit Hall. Since I am closely connected to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, he wishes for me to assist you in completing the task."
At his words, Xue Qinghe's gaze shifted away from the Angelic Emblem, her expression darkening as she looked at Dai Yao.
"Are you saying the Great Elder wants me to initiate the coup prematurely?"
Dai Yao nodded. He understood this was far from welcome news for Qian Renxue. Having infiltrated the Tian Dou Empire since she was nine years old, she had spent two decades on this plan—sacrificing the prime of her life. If she acted hastily, the risks of exposure would increase significantly. If she failed, everything she had painstakingly invested in would be wasted. How could she accept that?
Xue Qinghe stared intently at Dai Yao, her eyes revealing a tumultuous mix of emotions. Gritting her teeth, she asked, "Why the rush to stage the coup? Does the Great Elder not understand the enormous risks involved?"
Feigning ignorance, Dai Yao replied, "I'm not sure. But the Great Elder did stress that time is running short. Perhaps that's why he wants you to return as soon as possible."
Xue Qinghe froze, realization dawning on her. She understood that as a peerless Douluo, Qian Daoliu wasn't concerned about his own lifespan. The "time running out" he referred to was likely not his but related to her mother, Bibi Dong, who was on the verge of attaining the Rakshasa God's position. Though far away in the Tian Dou Imperial Palace, she had heard of Bibi Dong's meteoric rise in strength—a force that even her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, could no longer ignore. It was clear that Qian Daoliu felt threatened, fearing that Bibi Dong would soon become the Rakshasa God and thus required her to return to claim the Angel God's position.
After a moment of silence, Xue Qinghe responded firmly, "Very well. I will complete my mission quickly. However, I do not need your assistance."
This mission represented her life's work, something she intended to complete flawlessly. Dai Yao's involvement would taint it. Moreover, although she was forced to speed up her plans, she was confident in her ability to succeed on her own.
Dai Yao shrugged indifferently. He had no desire to involve the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan or the Qinglian Sect, and Qian Renxue's prideful refusal to accept his help suited him perfectly.
"Fine. I'll stay out of it."
Xue Qinghe's brow furrowed slightly at the hint of disinterest in Dai Yao's tone. It irritated her that he would display such a cavalier attitude in her presence—no one had ever dared to do so before.
"Dai Yao, five years ago, I once asked if you would join me, but you refused, saying that you intended to join Spirit Hall. Now that you know my true identity, I can be open with you: I am the daughter of the former Pope and granddaughter of the Great Elder himself. My real name is Qian Renxue."
She continued, "So, I ask you again: will you pledge loyalty to me? I can grant you a position second only to my own. What say you?"
Opening her arms, Xue Qinghe offered a faint smile tinged with an aloof, regal air of authority.
Dai Yao's brows knit together slightly. He had long since abandoned the thought of serving under anyone. His life of relentless trials had reinforced his determination to control his own destiny. Still, he feigned shock at the revelation, as though hearing it for the first time. After a pause, he replied calmly.
"My apologies, Xue Qing… Qian Renxue. I have no desire to serve anyone, but I appreciate the offer."
Xue Qinghe's gaze deepened as she reassessed Dai Yao. Five years ago, he had refused her, and now he rejected her again. If her offer five years ago had left her indifferent to his refusal, this time, his rejection left a lasting impression. Even after learning her true identity, he had turned her down without hesitation, as though her status and promises held no allure for him.
"Impressive, Dai Yao. You are the only person in all these years to refuse me twice."
Xue Qinghe's lips curled into a slight smile, an unfamiliar urge to conquer him rising within her. Given that he was under her nominal mother Bibi Dong's command, winning his loyalty would serve as proof that she surpassed Bibi Dong, making him abandon her to become her ally.
Dai Yao raised an eyebrow. "So, there are others who have refused you as well, Your Highness?"
Xue Qinghe laughed softly. "Indeed. Your former rival, Tang San, once refused my invitation. However, he has since come to me of his own accord and pledged his loyalty."
Dai Yao hadn't expected that Tang San, who had adamantly rejected Qian Renxue's advances in the original story, was now allied with her. If she understood what had happened in the original tale, she would surely feel triumphant.
"Enough of that. Since my grandfather sent you as his envoy, you'll remain by my side during this period to help me with the coup. But be sure to disguise yourself. I don't want Tang San to recognize you."
Qian Renxue's words carried a note of command, leaving Dai Yao momentarily thoughtful. Following Qian Renxue into the imperial palace would provide him the perfect opportunity to locate and acquire the Seagod's Heart, so he accepted her proposal.
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