Hearing Qian Xunji's words, Yu Yuanzhen's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
'Bring Xiao Gang and that Bibi Dong here? And give you an excuse to continue targeting our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Do you think I'm that stupid?'
He was well aware that his youngest son, Yu Xiaogang, had taken away Spirit Hall's meticulously nurtured Holy Maiden—a genius born with innate full soul power and twin top-tier martial souls.
This was something that would naturally invoke hatred. Anyone in Spirit Hall who knew about this probably wished they could skin his son alive!
If he really brought Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong to Qian Xunji's wedding ceremony, that would be outright slapping Spirit Hall in the face!
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had already paid a huge price, barely managing to establish a superficial reconciliation with Spirit Hall.
If they stirred up trouble again, all their previous efforts would go to waste!
'As the master of one of the top three sects, I'm not that foolish!'
"Heh, the journey from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to Spirit City is quite long."
"They couldn't make it here in time."
"There are still many guests waiting outside. Your Holiness, we will take our seats first."
Yu Yuanzhen forced a laugh, avoiding Qian Xunji's gaze.
After making up an excuse and clasping his hands in salute, he quickly led Yu Dalong to the guest seating area and took a seat in the first row.
Seeing this, Qian Xunji's eyes narrowed slightly as he twirled the wine cup in his hand, the corners of his mouth curving up.
'He won't even dare look at me when I mention Bibi Dong?'
'It seems things are indeed going the way I expected.'
'Once the wedding is over, it's time to move on to the next phase.'
When he first transmigrated and discovered that Bibi Dong was about to elope with Yu Xiaogang, Qian Xunji had initially intended to execute her immediately.
However, after gaining the World Disruption System, his mindset changed.
Instead, he chose to abolish Bibi Dong's cultivation, strip her of her spirit bones, and seal her memories—"fulfilling" this ungrateful woman and that useless so-called Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang.
Beyond seeking greater disruption to the original plot for better rewards, Qian Xunji had another reason—he had started considering Spirit Hall's future development.
As someone who had watched the later Douluo series, he knew exactly what happened to the Douluo Continent once the Tang Clan ruled in Spirit Hall's absence.
Commoners suffered miserably!
Evil soul masters ran rampant!
Martial soul awakenings became a paid service!
Soul master subsidies were abolished!
Even if he hadn't transmigrated into Qian Xunji, he would still have chosen to support Spirit Hall in unifying the continent.
His past life's education had ingrained in him a deep-rooted aversion to siding with nobles who mercilessly exploited the common folk, greedily devouring them like parasites.
But now that he had become Qian Xunji, he certainly wouldn't follow in Bibi Dong's footsteps.
She had abandoned her daughter, Qian Renxue, at a young age, sending her to the Heaven Dou Empire to replace Crown Prince Xue Qinghe in a plan to eventually seize the throne and unite the continent.
Qian Xunji had no intention of throwing his child into enemy hands for such a risky plan.
Instead, he wanted to rely on Spirit Hall's own strength to unify the continent.
However, the current political landscape of the continent made it impossible for Spirit Hall to expand without facing resistance from both the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire.
If he wanted them to tolerate Spirit Hall's expansion—or even reluctantly support it—he needed a strategy.
'Raise a bandit to increase one's worth.'
And what kind of "bandit" should he raise?
Naturally, evil soul masters!
And speaking of evil soul masters…
Wasn't Bibi Dong, with her twin top-tier martial souls—the Death Spider Emperor and the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor—practically born to be their queen?
So instead of simply abolishing her cultivation, stripping her of her spirit bones, and sealing her memories, Qian Xunji decided to go a step further!
Using a divine-level sealing technique, he completely sealed all of Bibi Dong's bodily functions as well!
After all, if he merely crippled her cultivation and erased her memories, Yu Xiaogang would still take her back.
Although Yu Yuanzhen wouldn't dare let Bibi Dong stay for fear of offending Spirit Hall and would likely send her back, the ordeal alone wouldn't be enough to break her completely.
At most, Spirit Hall would demand compensation from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and Bibi Dong might still be able to bear talented children for Yu Xiaogang.
That wouldn't do.
But if she couldn't even bear children?
When Yu Xiaogang inevitably failed to impregnate her, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—seeking to recoup their losses—might subject her to even worse treatment than Qian Xunji originally intended!
That would completely shatter Bibi Dong's illusions about Yu Xiaogang, plunging her into darkness and filling her with hatred toward the world.
At that point, all Qian Xunji had to do was ensure that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan let her go.
Once she left, he would arrange for her to be sent to the City of Slaughter.
Even though she had been crippled, with her talent and overwhelming hatred, the Rakshasa God might still take notice and restore her power.
A blackened, twisted Bibi Dong would undoubtedly become an evil soul master.
She would form a powerful evil soul master organization, seeking vengeance upon the world.
And with such a threat looming, wouldn't Spirit Hall gain the perfect justification to expand its influence?
'Dark Bibi Dong…'
Of course, Qian Xunji knew his plan wasn't guaranteed to succeed.
Things might not unfold exactly as he envisioned.
But there was no real downside to trying.
If he could orchestrate a scenario where Bibi Dong suffered endless torment and regret while simultaneously creating opportunities for Spirit Hall's expansion, why not do it?
Having confirmed his suspicions about Yu Yuanzhen, Qian Xunji, dressed in his crimson wedding robes, returned to his seat with a composed smile, waiting for all the guests to arrive.
Meanwhile, in the first row of the guest seating area, Tang Hao clenched his fists, his eyes burning with defiance.
'This so-called Spirit Hall Pope, Qian Xunji, looks like nothing more than a pampered noble brat.'
'My grandfather once defeated that Angel Douluo, Qian Daoliu.'
'I will do the same—I will defeat Qian Xunji!'
'I heard he reached the Title Douluo level at forty-six. I will break through before then!'
'Even though my grandfather's departure left the Clear Sky Sect unable to contend with Spirit Hall…'
'I, Tang Hao, will make the Clear Sky Sect great again!'
Finally, as all the guests took their seats, the officiating cardinal loudly announced,
"The auspicious hour has arrived. Let the wedding ceremony begin!"
"The bride and groom, please step forward!"
Qian Xunji and Ling Yuan rose from their seats, walking to the center of the grand hall before Qian Daoliu.
"First, bow to the heavens and earth!"
"Second, bow to the elders!"
"Third, bow to each other as husband and wife!"
After first paying respects to the heavens and the Angel God's statue, then bowing to Qian Daoliu, the couple finally bowed to each other.
With a warm smile, Qian Xunji retrieved a beautifully crafted wedding ring from his Saint Spirit Ring, and he and Ling Yuan exchanged rings.
However, as he placed the ring on her finger, he couldn't help but find the entire process somewhat strange.
'This wedding ceremony… is neither fully Eastern nor fully Western.'
Once the rings were exchanged, the banquet officially began!
____
Translator's Note: We have reached the 250 powerstones milestone for this week and as I have promised, here's a bonus chapter!
I said every 250 powerstones, so if we reach 500 powerstones this week, I'll do another bonus chapter. Otherwise, if the powerstones reset by end of the week, it will be back to the 250 powerstones milestone.
Basically:
250 powerstones
500 powerstones
750 powerstones
1000 powestones…
And so on and so forth.