Chapter 37: The Undercover Qian Renxue Is About to Take the Stage
"I... I understand... From this day forth... the Clear Sky Sect shall seal its gates for a hundred years... never to emerge into the world again!"
As those words left his lips, it was as though all strength drained from Tang Tian's body. His once-proud back bent low, his spirit utterly crushed.
Behind him, the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect trembled with humiliation. Rage burned in their eyes, yet before the assembled Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall, they could only grit their teeth and swallow their fury, nursing their wounds in silence.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's gaze lingered on Tang Tian, faint admiration flickering within. He had half expected the man to go berserk and lead his sect to a suicidal battle. But it seemed Tang Tian knew how to bend when he must—perhaps the Clear Sky Sect still had a sliver of wisdom left.
"Additionally," Golden Crocodile Douluo continued coldly, "Spirit Hall will hunt down Tang Hao, that heretic. The Clear Sky Sect must not interfere in any form. Otherwise…"
He didn't finish the sentence—but everyone present understood what that meant.
From this day on, Tang Hao, once the pride of the Clear Sky Sect, would be cast aside. Even if he escaped Spirit Hall's pursuit, he'd be forced to hide in some remote mountain range, skulking in the shadows like a rat.
"I... understand..."
Compared to the other disciples, Tang Tian's pain ran far deeper. Tang Hao was his own son—and now, he could not even protect him. As Sect Master, he had failed his family, his sect, and himself.
Behind him, Tang Hao's elder brother, Tang Xiao, stood pale and hollow-eyed. The mighty Clear Sky Sect—once the number one sect on the continent—was now nothing but a shadow of its former glory.
The hammer that once ruled the continent... had finally fallen silent.
"Remember this," Golden Crocodile Douluo said as he turned to leave, "the Clear Sky Sect is forbidden from stepping into the world for a hundred years."
He didn't bother with any written agreements. There was no need. If the Clear Sky Sect dared to break its vow, Spirit Hall would return—and this time, no one would be left alive.
As the forces of Spirit Hall withdrew, the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect slumped to the ground one after another, their eyes vacant, their hearts hollow. Some broke down entirely, wailing like the mourning of a dying clan.
Tang Xiao forced himself to steady his trembling heart and walked toward his father. He knew that the burden weighing on Tang Tian's shoulders was heavier than any hammer. As a son, he wanted—no, needed—to comfort him.
But just as his hand touched his father's trembling shoulder, Tang Tian's grief surged like a tide. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips, and his body collapsed forward.
"Father!"
"Sect Master!"
Tang Xiao caught him in time, panic flooding his eyes. If his father fell now, what would become of the sect?
Tang Tian's breathing was ragged, his voice faint as he whispered:
"Xiao'er... your father is useless... From here on... the Clear Sky Sect will depend on you..."
"No, Father! You'll recover! The disciples still need your guidance to rebuild our glory!"
Tang Tian's eyes dimmed as he forced the last words from his lips:
"My time is nearly up... After I'm gone, expel Tang Hao from the sect... move our headquarters to a secluded location... lie low and rebuild... If you hesitate, Spirit Hall will destroy us all..."
"Yes... Father..."
Tears blurred Tang Xiao's vision. His hands trembled as he held his father's fading body, forcing a nod through the pain.
Moments later, the man who had once led the greatest sect on the continent breathed his last.
---
The next day, news swept across the entire continent like wildfire: the Clear Sky Sect had sealed its gates.
At the same time, rumors spread that Tang Hao—the youngest Titled Douluo in history—had been expelled from the sect.
To the common people, it was merely gossip over tea. But for the other major sects—the remaining two of the Upper Three Sects and the Lower Four Sects—it was a thunderclap.
If even the mighty Clear Sky Sect had fallen before Spirit Hall's might, what chance did they have?
Fortunately for them, the newly crowned Pope, Bibi Dong, didn't seem eager to expand further. After a brief period of unrest, the other sects finally exhaled in relief. Still, they began quietly reassessing Spirit Hall's true power.
Outwardly, the organization claimed to have only a handful of top-ranked experts—but the lightning war against the Clear Sky Sect told a very different story.
---
Within the grand Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong sat on her throne, reviewing the latest reports and getting used to the weight of authority.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed outside the chamber—steady, deliberate, and familiar.
Her eyes lifted from the documents, curiosity flickering in her gaze.
'Who dares interrupt me now?'
Bibi Dong's brows furrowed slightly as she looked up at the emotionless young woman approaching her—Qian Renxue.
Though she could no longer openly act against her, the mere sight of that "little angel," a walking reminder of her life's greatest humiliation, was enough to make her temples throb.
"What is it?" Bibi Dong asked, her voice cold.
Qian Renxue stopped before her, her tone calm yet resolute.
"I'll be heading to the Heaven Dou Empire... to replace the royal family."
"Oh?" Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow in faint surprise.
Having ascended to the position of Pope, she naturally shared the same ambition as her predecessor—Qian Xunji—to unify the continent. And eradicating the Angel Clan was an integral part of that dream. To think that her "daughter" would volunteer to help her realize it—how amusing.
When Qian Daoliu first proposed the plan, Qian Renxue had resisted from the depths of her heart. But remaining in Spirit Hall only meant enduring Bibi Dong's cold contempt and subtle persecution. Eventually, the constant humiliation hardened her resolve.
She wanted—no, needed—to prove her worth.
So she accepted her grandfather's plan, believing she could seize control of the Heaven Dou Empire through intelligence and strategy alone—without shedding a single drop of blood.
"Go if you wish," Bibi Dong said, her tone indifferent as ever. "If you die, don't expect me to mourn you."
Her words were as frigid as ice, sharp enough to slice through the young girl's heart.
Qian Renxue clenched her small, fair fists, biting her lip. She had expected such cruelty, yet hearing it still made her chest ache.
"Then... I'll be leaving, sister."
Bibi Dong's hand paused mid-motion, the brush in her fingers hovering above the memorial scroll.
That word—"sister"—was new. Strange. And somehow... less repulsive than the title "mother."
A small, almost imperceptible smile curved Bibi Dong's lips. She waved a hand dismissively.
"Go."
Qian Renxue looked at her one last time, her golden eyes lingering with complex emotion, before turning away.
She walked aimlessly through the marble halls of Spirit Hall, her footsteps echoing softly against the stone floor, until she reached the central garden of the Douluo Hall. There, surrounded by blooming angel lilies, she finally stopped.
"What's wrong? You seem distracted."
The familiar voice snapped her back to reality. She turned—and met Lin Beiya's warm, handsome face.
A faint, bittersweet smile appeared on her lips.
"Beiya... I'm leaving."
Lin Beiya's heart tightened. So, it's come to this after all.
The so-called "undercover mission" was still happening—just as the world's corrective force had intended. No matter how much he wanted to stop it, even Qian Daoliu's stubborn devotion to the Angel God left no room for change.
If Qian Renxue stayed secluded in the Angel Temple for decades, she'd one day emerge invincible. But instead, they were sending her off to waste her time pretending to be a prince in Heaven Dou City.
It was absurd—but beyond his power to alter. He could only sigh helplessly and shrug.
His reaction startled Qian Renxue.
"You're... not curious? Or did you already know something?"
Lin Beiya smiled faintly. "Not really. The new Pope can't hide that killing intent in her eyes whenever she looks at you. It's only natural that your grandfather wants to send you away from her sight—for your safety."
He couldn't exactly reveal that he already knew the future, so he could only improvise.
Qian Renxue gave a weary smile. "I see..."
"I'll be going to Heaven Dou Empire as an undercover agent," she said softly. "Before that, I'll absorb a soul bone I received through inheritance. After that... I'll come see you before I depart."
Lin Beiya chuckled. "No need for such final words. Heaven Dou Empire isn't that far. Once I've advanced a bit more, I'll visit you myself."
Hearing that, the faint sadness in Qian Renxue's eyes lightened. The corners of her lips curved upward into a smile—gentle, radiant, and breathtakingly beautiful.
"Then it's a promise. I'll go prepare for my soul bone absorption first."
With that, she turned and walked away, the soft rustle of her white robe fading into the distance—like an angel disappearing into light.
And so, the curtain quietly rose on the story of the undercover angel of the Heaven Dou Empire...
—
End of Chapter