Chapter 141: Heart-to-Heart with Qian Renxue – The Path to Coexistence

The courtyard of the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy was beautiful. Now, at night and bathed in moonlight, it exuded an even greater tranquility and harmony.

Tian Lin looked at Xue Qinghe beside him. He couldn't help but use his Flame-Gold Eyes to see through her true form: golden hair fluttering in the wind, an exquisite face with a faint smile. Because Tian Lin stood up for her, she felt quite happy.

"Xiao Tian, do you know what my ideal is?" Xue Qinghe suddenly asked, looking at him.

"What is it?"

"To unite the continent, weaken the power of the nobility, and give all commoners a stable and peaceful life." Xue Qinghe's answer was not unexpected to Tian Lin. Unifying the entire continent seemed to have been the wish of the Angel Clan since Qian Daoliu.

Having grown up with Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue undoubtedly inherited this wish and worked towards it all her life.

"Brother Xue, it's fine telling me this, but if word gets out, you'll be seen as an enemy by all the nobles," Tian Lin reminded.

"It's fine, I trust you," Xue Qinghe smiled at Tian Lin. "Do you know why, as the Crown Prince, I stand on the side of the common people?"

Tian Lin knew, but he couldn't say, so he just shook his head.

"Because of my faith. Have you ever heard of angels?"

Xue Qinghe's question startled Tian Lin. Of course, he knew about angels—Spirit Hall's inherited Martial Soul. But the angel Xue Qinghe spoke of seemed to have a different meaning.

Seeing Tian Lin remain silent, Xue Qinghe didn't mind and continued, "I once heard a story. Long ago, there was a great person who saw that humanity suffered from illness and sin. He decided to help them cut away their pain and leave light and hope for the world. After accomplishing all this, he was revered as the Angel God, a symbol of illuminating humanity's path forward."

Tian Lin nodded. "I've heard legends about faith and ascending to godhood from Uncle Ning. So, Brother Xue, you also want to gather the faith of the people and become a god? I recall you mentioning your martial soul has a holy attribute."

"More or less. On the Douluo Continent, commoners outnumber soul masters and nobles by thousands or even tens of thousands to one. Once I unify the continent, I will use my holy power to govern them, giving them happiness and peace. Incidents like today's with Xue Beng will never happen again. Then, I can use their faith to cultivate to an unprecedented level." Xue Qinghe spoke of her ideals.

Although it wasn't exactly the full truth, it was close. The Angel Clan values faith deeply. Even if they aren't true Angel Gods, ordinary Angel Matial Souls can use faith to speed up cultivation. That's why, since the founding of Spirit Hall, they've helped commoners awaken their martial souls for free and subsidized soul masters—to win their hearts.

"Xiao Tian, do you think my ideal is too utilitarian or self-serving?" Xue Qinghe asked, a little worried. What she feared most was that Tian Lin would look down on her after hearing her out.

Her implication was: if one day nobles and soul masters outnumber commoners, she would stand with the nobles. It sounded opportunistic. But actually, she didn't need to worry about this, since the number of nobles and soul masters would never surpass the commoners; resources are always in the hands of the few.

Since she couldn't reveal her true identity to Tian Lin, this was the only way she could open her heart to him.

Tian Lin smiled. "Of course not. While it's true your goal is somewhat self-serving, apart from saints, who does anything without a reason? No one can deny the greatness of this dream. Brother Xue, if you become the king of the entire continent, I believe people's lives will truly improve."

"Listening to you makes me happy. When I start working toward my dream, I hope you'll lend me your strength. I promise, by then you'll stand above all except one."

Xue Qinghe spoke sincerely, and Tian Lin knew she meant it. He agreed, "Alright, Brother Xue. When the time comes, I'll do my part to help."

Hearing this, Xue Qinghe smiled with satisfaction. "Then it's a promise between us brothers. It's late, I'll head back to the East Palace for now. Come visit me when you have time—we haven't cultivated Heavenly Snow Power together in a while."

Watching Xue Qinghe's departing figure, Tian Lin murmured apologetically, "Sorry for deceiving you. My promise to help depends on not harming my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Unknowingly, you've become very important in my heart, but…"

Faces flashed through Tian Lin's mind: his father, mother, Ning Rongrong, Chen Xin, and Ning Fengzhi.

"But they are more important. If your so-called unification of the continent requires using my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as a stepping stone, then I'd rather the continent stay divided. Besides, our sect has never done evil or deserved to be wiped out by Spirit Hall."

Tian Lin knew very well—Ning Fengzhi seemed gentle, but his resolve was extraordinary. He would never surrender to Spirit Hall, because by then, would the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect still be the same? Likely, all affairs—even the next sect master—would be decided by Spirit Hall. Ning Fengzhi would never accept such humiliation.

So Tian Lin could only lead the sect to grow stronger, stronger than anyone else. Only then would they have the confidence to fear no one.

Only after Xue Qinghe's figure disappeared did Tian Lin return to his dorm, flopping onto his bed. Honestly, while his resolve to protect the sect hadn't changed, Xue Qinghe's grand ideal had touched him a little.

"Brother Skydream, am I being too selfish? For my own sect's sake, I'm ignoring the continent's interests. I know that her unification would benefit all of Douluo."

"Hmm, a little selfish, but not wrong. Who can say protecting one's family and loved ones is wrong? As long as you stay true to yourself, don't do evil or go against your conscience, and don't speak recklessly, why worry about where you stand? You haven't wronged anyone by being like this," Skydream Ice Silkworm comforted. "As long as you don't want to be a hero, no one has the right to demand your sacrifice."

No wonder Skydream Ice Silkworm, a soul beast who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, saw things so clearly. Though not that bright, his life experience far surpassed Tian Lin's. His words cut straight to the heart.

Tian Lin realized: Skydream was right—he had no reason to sacrifice his sect for the continent. He was determined to let the sect thrive. Who could stop him?

"Thank you, Brother Skydream, you're right. But if there were a way for my sect and Spirit Hall to coexist, that would be best."

"Xiao Tian, the way to coexist is right in front of you. Did you put all your talent into cultivation? If not, maybe ask your sect master to give you some of his brains," Skydream Ice Silkworm said, half exasperated.

"What, there's a way!" Tian Lin suddenly sat up. "Brother Skydream, brains aren't transferrable! At best, I'm a little smarter than my Master, but I'll never match Uncle Ning. Stop keeping me in suspense."

"It's simple. For others, it might be impossible in a lifetime. But for you, it's not. That is—become stronger!" Skydream's tone turned unusually serious.

"Stronger? To what extent? Become a god?" Tian Lin wondered. If he became a god, he'd have to go to the God Realm—how could he protect the sect then?

"Not enough. You must become the strongest god, so strong that you can ignore the rules, even make the God Realm change them for you. Normally, gods can't descend to the continent, but if you're so strong the God Realm Committee can't restrain you, you can travel between both worlds. With you as a balancing force, even if you help that girl unify the continent, Spirit Hall would have to tolerate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"And you'd also be a check on your sect. Otherwise, a sect that loses its restraint and becomes dominant would inevitably fall to darkness."

Skydream made sense. Tian Lin had to admit the solution was feasible. The Demon Sword and Holy Spirit Pearl were his trump cards. If he ever became stronger than all the gods combined, what would the rules of the God Realm matter?

"But, Xiao Tian, even if that day comes, aside from protecting the sect and restraining their corruption, don't meddle in the continent's affairs. Even if another support sect surpasses you, that only means progress for the continent."

"Otherwise, being above everyone for too long will let your divinity override your humanity. Over time, you'll see people as ants and life as worthless. Then, the first to fall won't be the sect, but you. You can restrain the sect, but who will restrain you?" Skydream's advice, honed by hundreds of thousands of years, cut to Tian Lin's core.

Was this why Tang San, after becoming a god in the original story, grew so cold and indifferent, meddling at will and turning the Douluo Continent into the Tang Family's continent?

"Don't worry, Brother Skydream. I'll never forget I'm human. Protecting family is just what a human should do. Everything else will follow its laws." Tian Lin smiled.

Skydream Ice Silkworm was gratified. "Well said, Xiao Tian. Now, start cultivating with the technique your sect master taught you. Use the loosened two-hundred-thousand-year energy in your soul ring before it dissipates. Use it all to temper your right leg bone. That should raise it to the hundred-thousand-year level and help you greatly. If we want to reach our dreams, we must work even harder at cultivation!"

PS: Help Qian Renxue with the unification and marry her. Ez!