Impossible!
Against such an enemy who stood like a god among men—one person against an entire army—how could they possibly win?!
At that moment, Dai Tianfeng was filled with despair.
Yet when he thought of the ancestors of the Star Luo Empire, he could not bring himself to make the decision to surrender.
No matter what, he had to resist, even if only once!
Meanwhile, under Ye Yu's intervention and aid, only a few short months had passed.
The combined forces of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall had already recaptured the Balak Kingdom, the Silves Kingdom, and the Häagen-Dazs Kingdom, along with several other kingdoms and duchies that had once been vassals of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Thus, the Heaven Dou Empire once again restored its territory to its peak.
And their next target was none other than the Star Luo Empire—and the kingdoms and duchies that pledged allegiance to it.
After Ye Yu had personally acted, displaying the miracles of the Lord of Creation and spreading His faith across the Douluo Continent, he no longer intended to intervene directly in the coming campaign against Star Luo.
Instead, he planned to activate his second Martial Soul, Spirit Eyes, and unleash the sixth Spirit Ability: Mirror Clone.
Just like his other Mirror Clone, Ye Su, who was currently spreading the faith of the Lord of Creation on the Sun Moon Continent, this new clone would remain on the Douluo Continent, accompanying the allied armies of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Spirit Hall.
There, it would continue to display "divine miracles" and spread the faith.
Ye Yu gave this new clone a name: Ye Xiuquan.
In Spirit City, the miraculous feats Ye Yu had performed spread quickly.
Again and again, he had displayed overwhelming, godlike power—reshaping terrain, summoning a vast forest of Blue Silver Spirit Jade Trees that stretched endlessly across the land.
Such miracles naturally could not be concealed.
And so, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan all quickly learned the truth.
"Lord Ye Yu… is he truly this powerful?!"
"Such strength—how is it any different from the gods of legend?"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei were shaken to their cores, filled with awe and gratitude alike.
Gratitude that they had already chosen to submit to Ye Yu and, by extension, to Qian Renxue, the young mistress standing behind him.
Had they still been aboard Bibi Dong's ship, their fate would surely have been tied to its inevitable wreckage.
Hu Liena, too, was overwhelmed with joy and pride upon hearing of Ye Yu's strength.
Her heart was brimming with excitement.
As expected!
The man she, Hu Liena, had chosen was truly extraordinary!
Realizing just how powerful Ye Yu was, Hu Liena couldn't help but prepare herself to once again approach her teacher, Bibi Dong, and openly request permission to be with him.
With Ye Yu's strength, coupled with the support of Grand Worship Qian Daoliu, her teacher would never be able to compete with Qian Renxue in the end.
After all, Qian Renxue was still her daughter.
For her teacher's sake, she was willing to marry Ye Yu, to bridge the rift between mother and daughter, and help them reconcile.
...
"No… why?!" On the other hand, Yan could hardly bear the news of Ye Yu's strength. His heart twisted in agony and despair.
How could this be?
Ye Yu wasn't even older than him—yet his strength was so overwhelming.
How could such a monster exist in this world?!
Did this mean he was destined to lose Nana forever?
Hu Liena, however, wasted no time. Upon hearing the full extent of Ye Yu's power, she once more went straight to the Pope's Palace to meet with her teacher.
"Teacher!"
"Nana, what is it?"
Bibi Dong's mood had been dark. Having realized that her beloved Xiaogang might already be dead, she was still reeling in grief.
Yet when she saw her precious disciple, she forced a smile onto her elegant face and asked gently.
"Teacher, I've heard that Ye Yu's strength is… nearly on par with the gods of legend."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
Hu Liena pressed on.
"Teacher, with Ye Yu this powerful, and with him standing at Elder Sister Qian Renxue's side… there's no way we could ever hope to prevail.
So why not… abandon the plan?
Allow me to represent you and Spirit Hall by marrying Ye Yu.
That way, on the surface, Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire could achieve union through marriage, dispelling all suspicion that conflict will continue.
And in secret, I could use Ye Yu as a bridge to communicate with Elder Sister Qian Renxue. Perhaps I could even mend the rift between you and her.
After all, you are mother and daughter. Between mother and daughter, there is no grudge that cannot be resolved.
I am willing to sacrifice myself—for you, Teacher, and for Spirit Hall!"
Hu Liena's voice trembled slightly, but her expression was earnest and resolute.
At this, Bibi Dong could not help but laugh coldly.
"Hu Liena, Hu Liena… you dare play such little tricks before me?
Do you not know that everything you've suggested—I once tried myself?"
In the past, she too had begged for love, sought reconciliation, made compromises.
And now her own disciple was standing before her, repeating the same words she had once spoken.
"Hu Liena!"
Her beautiful, noble face hardened into a mask of ice.
"Do you take your teacher for a fool?!
You think I don't know you've fallen for that Ye Yu?
You speak of sacrifice for me and for Spirit Hall—but in truth, all you want is to satisfy your own desires!
I said it before, and I'll say it again: I will never allow you to be with him. Never!
As for abandoning my plans—don't ever mention it again. It is impossible!"
Bibi Dong's voice was filled with fury.
For so many years, her will to live had rested only on two pillars: her love for Xiao Gang, and her burning desire for vengeance—against the Qian family, against the Spirit Hall itself, and against the world.
Such obsessions could never be let go.
And now that she suspected Ye Yu of killing her beloved Xiao Gang, her rage only burned hotter.
She would never abandon her plans for revenge.
The only reason she did not act immediately was because she had yet to ascend as a god.
But once she became a god, she would make Ye Yu pay in blood.
And now her sole disciple—the one she had raised like her own daughter—wanted to throw herself into the arms of the enemy.
Unforgivable.
"Teacher! Why?!"
Hu Liena could not understand.
Why was her teacher—such a brilliant, farsighted woman—so stubbornly clinging to a doomed path?
Why, when she knew it would end in failure, could she not let go?
"Because there is no 'why'!"
Bibi Dong's eyes were cold as ice.
"Now, leave at once! Go home and reflect on your foolishness.
If you wish to make sacrifices for me and for Spirit Hall, then that is not impossible.
But you can marry Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. As for Ye Yu, don't even think about it!"
At that moment, a thought sparked in Bibi Dong's mind.
To deceive Ye Yu and conceal her own vengeance, perhaps she could marry Hu Liena off.
After all, her daughter Qian Renxue's true identity was not yet exposed.
To the world, she was still Heaven Dou's Emperor, Xue Qinghe.
If Hu Liena were to "marry" Xue Qinghe—then not only would it be perfectly proper, but it would also strengthen their ruse.
Yes… that would be far more fitting.