"How could such a thing be possible!" Qian Daoliu exclaimed in shock.
"There's nothing impossible about it. The gap between a level 101 second-level god and a level 101 first-level god isn't as huge as you imagine."
Ning Rongrong lightly waved her hand.
A mass of white mist appeared in front of Qian Daoliu.
The white mist gradually formed a projected screen, showing the intense battle between Bibi Dong and Zhu Zhuqing. The two were still fighting fiercely.
Bibi Dong's scepter released dense skills, clashing violently with the Rakshasa's Scythe in Zhu Zhuqing's hand. For the moment, neither could do anything to the other.
"The scepter in Bibi Dong's hand is a divine tool?" A look of astonishment crossed Qian Daoliu's face.
Hadn't this woman been staying in the Star Dou Great Forest all this time?
Where did she get a divine tool from? And the style of this divine tool was exactly the same as the scepter that symbolized her status in the Pope's Palace.
That thing was originally just a symbol—it couldn't possibly be a divine tool.
"Bi Ji's feathers, combined with the corpses of the Ten Thousand Demon King and Zi Ji, plus the corpses of two ten-thousand-year soul beasts that matched Bibi Dong's martial soul, all refined into a companion divine tool."
"However, the main body is still the Ten Thousand Demon King's corpse. After all, she achieved the position of Forest God, so only the Ten Thousand Demon King fully fits. The rest are just auxiliary refining materials."
"Hiss—"
Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.
Good grief—a divine tool refined from the bones of ten-thousand-year soul beasts.
"How could the Star Dou Great Forest possibly agree to this?" Qian Daoliu was somewhat surprised. Bibi Dong had armed herself to the teeth with ten-thousand-year soul beast materials.
"It sounds difficult, but in reality, it's just a matter of interests."
"You and the Star Dou Great Forest are grasshoppers tied to the same rope. When Gu Yuena can't be counted on, they can only save themselves."
"By the way, Zi Ji's state is roughly similar to the Ten Thousand Demon King from Dugu Yan's ninth soul ring—she can still retain consciousness.
She should be able to be revived later, but those two ten-thousand-year soul beasts, along with the Red King..."
Ning Rongrong shook her head. "Honestly, the Star Dou Great Forest has really gone all out worrying about you all."
"So Bibi Dong knows about your plan?"
Qian Daoliu suddenly realized.
"I told Di Tian. He doesn't care at all about human deaths or even the deaths of those soul beasts in the Star Luo Empire, but he should have communicated with Bibi Dong about it."
"Earlier, Di Tian sent me a message saying Bibi Dong hopes to obtain a first-level divine position from Zhu Zhuqing."
"Can that kind of thing even be done?" Ning Fengzhi expressed doubt.
"Not sure, but Zhu Zhuqing is definitely going to die."
"What do you mean?" Qian Daoliu's tone was stunned.
No matter what, Zhu Zhuqing was a first-level god, the Rakshasa God. From the fight scene, it looked very difficult for Bibi Dong to win—it felt like the outcome was still up in the air.
"Zhu Zhuqing probably doesn't know about the Wisdom Emperor's plan, and... she herself is part of that guy's plan. Anyway, it's complicated to explain. All of you, do not step into the Star Luo Empire. Everyone retreat."
"As for your worry about the Crimson Mother, I've already made preparations."
"Alright, stop worrying about so much. Just quietly retire and enjoy your old age."
"Let the young people handle the affairs of the young." As Ning Rongrong spoke, an oval spatial portal appeared behind her. "That's it. Just be careful. I'm going to the Heaven Dou Empire to find Qian Renxue and discuss the follow-up plan."
Seeing Ning Fengzhi and the others showing signs of following, Ning Rongrong continued:
"Settle the army and civilians here properly. Consider this as compensation from Qian Renxue and me for our lack of mercy!"
"After all, saying too much now would just be hypocrisy."
"So, bye-bye."
Ning Rongrong's voice faded, and the portal closed accordingly.
Leaving only Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Qian Daoliu disheveled in the wind.
"Sigh..." Qian Daoliu sighed helplessly. "Sect Master Ning, your Rongrong really is ruthless! Little Xue could never do something like this—treating all living beings as chess pieces."
"No, no, no." Ning Fengzhi shook his head.
"Compared to your granddaughter, my daughter still falls far short."
"After all, aside from you, Senior, who else would send a little child into the Heaven Dou Empire, chop up and eliminate Emperor Xue Ye's son like vegetables, and then go impersonate Emperor Xue Ye's son?"
"In that regard, my Rongrong and I are still far behind you!"
Watching Ning Fengzhi and Qian Daoliu subtly roast each other.
Bone Douluo and Sword Douluo exchanged glances.
"Um... what do we do next?" In the end, it was Sword Douluo who spoke up to stop the two old foxes from continuing to call each other more ruthless than the other.
"First, sort out things on this side. Forget about the Star Luo Empire—we can't manage it anyway."
"What does Senior Qian Daoliu think?"
Manage what? With what?
Two god-level beings were involved in the incident. On top of that, Ning Rongrong and Qian Renxue's strength was absolutely not something they could suppress.
"Sect Master Ning is right." Qian Daoliu also sighed. "I'll go ask around. For the personnel安置 here, we'll think about how to handle it later. Overall, just fortify the border!"
"If the Abyss passage opens, it probably won't be a simple matter. There might be accidents!"
"Senior makes a good point." Ning Fengzhi nodded.
...
Heaven Dou Empire, Imperial Palace.
Qian Renxue was absorbing power of faith while watching the battle between Bibi Dong and Zhu Zhuqing through the screen projected by Ning Rongrong's clone.
"That woman—does she have to take so long? Can't she just come back quickly?"
Suddenly, the Ning Rongrong standing beside Qian Renxue turned into mist and disappeared.
The projection screen in front also dispersed.
Qian Renxue was startled, thinking something had happened.
But when she saw the familiar portal open and the pink-haired Ning Rongrong walk out, she let out a sigh of relief:
"This time it's your main body, right!"
It had to be said that each of Ning Rongrong's clones had such strong personalities.
It felt like having a bunch of extra little sisters.
"Yes."
Ning Rongrong walked over to Qian Renxue's side. At this moment, the grand hall contained only Qian Renxue alone.
"The plan can begin. All people from the occupied areas have been moved back."
"Only..."
Ning Rongrong waved her hand, and within a patch of mist, the scene appeared once more.
Bibi Dong and Zhu Zhuqing were still clashing, evenly matched.
"Why did she go over there? What exactly is Di Tian thinking?"
"The people crossing the tribulation are already prepared. But compared to that, the Wisdom Emperor has set the array's connection inside Zhu Zhuqing's body. No matter who wins or loses, she has to die."
"You mean..." Qian Renxue looked at Ning Rongrong in shock.
"Zhu Zhuqing doesn't know that the Blood River God-Slaying Great Array covers the entire Star Luo Empire."
"She also doesn't know that she herself is part of the array."
"Does Bibi Dong know about this?" Qian Renxue pressed.
"Before I left, I transmitted a message to her. If she wants to obtain the Rakshasa God divine position, the easiest moment is precisely at that instant."
"Rongrong, please bring that woman back!" Qian Renxue sighed. "I've already guessed what she's thinking, but if that array activates, she'll die."
"Bibi Dong has cut off contact with me." Ning Rongrong was silent for a moment before speaking. "You understand, right?"
"What a stubborn fool!" Qian Renxue slapped her forehead. "Is it really necessary to go this far? One first-level god can't change the overall situation at all."
"There's nothing more to say. You mother and daughter are both like this." Ning Rongrong spread her hands. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have wasted your own talent lurking in Heaven Dou for so long, and in the end, even had your divine position shattered by Tang San."
"Don't talk about things from another world."
"Oh right, and the golden liquid."
"You can shut up now, Ning Rongrong." Qian Renxue covered her forehead. "How can you say these things right in front of someone, out in the open like this? Aren't you ashamed?"
"Not at all! Anyway, you already know how it is, right?"
Qian Renxue: "..."
"As expected of the little devil of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School. I can't outtalk you."
"If Bibi Dong fails and can't escape, she'll die!" Ning Rongrong said. "I can't risk going to save her at that moment. You understand, right?"
Silence. Qian Renxue fell into a long silence.
Then she slowly rose from her chair.
"Bibi Dong is as stubborn as I am. Since this is her decision..."
"I respect her choice."
"I don't care about your thoughts, Qian Renxue." Ning Rongrong sized her up, her voice turning serious.
"If you don't want Qian Daoliu to send off his own granddaughter before his time, you'd better think about how to balance human resentment and desire yourself."
"This is the plan you asked me to modify. Although I provided the plan, the one who truly made the choice is you."
"If the current plan fails, you will die!"
Qian Renxue nodded upon hearing this: "I understand. I won't fail."
"I don't want to lose to the Asura God again."
"I hope so."
"If there's no hope on your side, I'll just take the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School and slip away to another world. I don't want to go down with you."
...
(End of chapter)