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"Hmm..."
In an instant, Davis sensed a scorching, immensely oppressive gaze fixed upon him. He immediately activated his Ice-Fire Evil Eyes and turned toward the source of the sensation. His vision locked directly onto the burning, intense stare of Qian Renxue.
"Zhuyun, why have only the three of you returned? Where are Anna and Yuehua?" Seeing only Davis and the two sisters, Dai Tianxing's heart skipped a beat. A cold dread settled in his chest. Could it be that Anna failed her God Trials? If that were the case, how could the Star Luo Empire possibly hope to withstand the might of the Spirit Empire?
Upon hearing his worry, Zhu Zhuyun offered a soft, confident smile. Her eyes brimmed with absolute certainty. "Grandfather Dai, please rest easy. Anna will definitely inherit the divine seat. By my estimation, she has already received the Sea God's inheritance and is currently rushing here! We simply returned a step ahead to help Star Luo hold back the invaders."
As she spoke, a fierce battle intent erupted from both Zhu Zhuyun and Zhu Zhuqing. Their killing intent locked onto the Golden Crocodile Douluo and the Chrysanthemum Douluo respectively.
However, when Dai Tianxing and his wife realized that Davis intended to face Qian Renxue's assault, their expressions paled with alarm. "This is madness! Did Dean Lin not explain the situation clearly to you? Qian Renxue has already ascended as the Angel God! It doesn't matter how talented you are—even if all of us attacked her together, we would be no match for a god!"
"Grandfather Dai!" Zhu Zhuyun interrupted him before he could finish. Her face was radiant with unshakable faith. "Do not underestimate Davis. The man standing before you now is far more powerful than you can imagine! Besides, he isn't alone—he has us!"
Stunned by her words, Dai Tianxing turned his gaze back to Davis, searching for the truth. Could Davis really have reached such a level?
The moment his eyes met Davis's, his breath caught in his throat. A powerful, crushing aura was radiating from the young man. While it wasn't yet at the level of Qian Renxue's divine pressure, it was the closest thing to it he had ever felt. It was a clear testament to Davis's current strength.
Dai Tianxing realized that Davis's power had likely reached the very peak of the Peerless Douluo rank—the so-called Demi-God realm. He was standing on the very threshold of divinity.
There is a chance!
A sharp light flickered in Dai Tianxing's eyes. There was hope after all. With Davis's current strength, coupled with the potential of the Star Luo Holy Tiger fusion with the Zhu sisters, they might truly be able to achieve the impossible: a mortal soul contending with a god!
"Davis, it has been a long time. If I recall correctly, it must have been five or six years since we last met," Qian Renxue suddenly spoke. Her voice was melodic and clear, yet it carried an ethereal quality that vibrated in Davis's ears.
Divine Power!
As she spoke, Davis felt a heavy, tangible pressure envelop him. Looking at her through his Ice-Fire Evil Eyes, he could see a brilliant golden radiance emanating from her body—a light invisible to ordinary men. That was her Divine Power, the manifestation of the Laws of Sanctity.
The power of a god is invisible to mortals, yet it exists as fundamentally as gravity. Even if one cannot see the pull of a planet, they can imagine its terrifying force. Davis could feel that Qian Renxue's Divine Power was on an entirely different plane of existence compared to his own soul power.
Furthermore, her power contained the Law of Sanctity. Among the various elemental laws, Sanctity was one of the most potent, possessing a natural suppression over most other attributes—including Davis's Ultimate Gold soul power.
Seeing that Davis remained silent, the corners of Qian Renxue's mouth curled into a slight smile. She unfurled the translucent Angelic Wings behind her, releasing a holy aura that instantly blanketed the area for miles. The entirety of the Jincheng Fortress was swallowed by her radiant light.
"Do you remember what happened in Heaven Dou City? You and your allies made things quite difficult for me back then. Not only did my Seventh Grandpa die in that war, but even I was wounded by a young girl."
"And so?" Davis swallowed hard. Her Divine Power wasn't crushing him yet, but he understood that was only because she hadn't directed any true killing intent toward him. The moment she decided to kill him, even moving a finger might become an agonizing struggle. "Do you wish to avenge the Subduing Demon Douluo?"
"The thought has crossed my mind," Qian Renxue nodded slightly, only to shake her head a moment later. "However, I have always been one to appreciate talent. It was no easy feat for you to reach the Demi-God realm at such a young age. If you are willing to lead the Star Luo Empire in surrender, I am prepared to let bygones be bygones. Furthermore... I will grant you the position of Pope of the Spirit Hall!"
"What?!"
It wasn't just Davis who was shocked; everyone within earshot was stunned beyond belief. To offer the seat of the Pope to Davis? No one could fathom what Qian Renxue was playing at.
Even though the Spirit Hall had transitioned into the Spirit Empire, the office of the Pope remained a position of immense power. The Pope answered only to the Empress and commanded the respect of millions. It was a position above all but one.
In reality, Qian Renxue didn't have a hidden agenda. She simply recognized Davis's genius. He had reached the Demi-God realm as a youth, and under his influence, the Star Luo Empire had surpassed the Spirit Hall in many aspects. His talent and leadership were peerless.
Since she had already become the Angel God, she would eventually ascend to the Divine Realm. Rather than letting a woman like Bibi Dong turn the Spirit Hall into a den of chaos, she would rather hand it to someone reliable. As long as the Spirit Hall remained loyal to her legacy, it didn't truly matter who sat on the throne. Given Davis's talent, the Papacy was a fitting stage for him.
"Heh, I appreciate the offer. I didn't expect you to be so... reasonable," Davis chuckled softly. "However, you know what my Martial Soul is, don't you? My soul is a Tiger—the King of Beasts! As the saying goes, one mountain cannot hold two tigers. Between you and me, only one of us can remain at the top."
"Oh? You truly refuse to surrender?" Qian Renxue asked playfully.
At this, Davis grinned. "Well, it's not entirely impossible. The saying goes 'one mountain cannot hold two tigers,' but there's a second half to that proverb: '...unless it is a male and a female.' If you are willing to become my wife, I suppose I could consider yielding."
"Think about it. If our two sides go to war, the casualties will be countless. You are the holy and benevolent Angel God; surely you don't wish to see rivers of blood. By simply 'sacrificing' yourself to me, you can prevent a continent-wide slaughter. Wouldn't our Great Angel God be willing to give herself for the sake of the people?"
"How dare you! Such audacity to speak so insolently to our Empress!" The Golden Crocodile Douluo erupted in fury. He had watched Qian Renxue grow up and knew the hardships she had endured as a mole in the Heaven Dou Empire. Seeing Davis toy with her honor was more than he could stand.
With a roar, the Golden Crocodile took to the air, intending to strike Davis down. But before he could reach him, Qian Renxue spoke.
"Second Grandpa, you are no match for him. Fall back. I will handle this myself."
"As you command, Empress!" Seeing her firm stance, the Golden Crocodile Douluo retreated obediently.
Qian Renxue summoned the Angelic Holy Sword into her hand, her expression turning cold and sharp. "Heaven offered you a path, yet you refused it; the gates of Hell were closed, yet you forced your way in. I gave you a chance, and you threw it away. Since you wish to fight, then allow me to show you the truth: the chasm between god and man is not something you can ever hope to cross!"
(End of Chapter)