Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

Location: A Human Town on the Outskirts of the Extreme North

In a hotel room, a knock echoed through the air—thump, thump, thump. Someone was at Han Li's door.

Han Li wasn't surprised. He walked over, opened the door, and welcomed Qian Daoliu inside.

"Grand Uncle, please have a seat. I'll get you some water."

Han Li turned and walked to the side, while Qian Daoliu closed the door behind him and casually found a place to sit down.

After Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er had entered the inheritance grounds, the three of them—Han Li, Qian Daoliu, and Ye Lingling—stayed in the ice plains' core area until near dusk. Eventually, they chose to return to the human town. Although none of them feared the cold, and the Snow Empress's castle was inhabitable, they were human after all. Apart from Han Li answering questions for the Snow Empress and her companions, there was little relaxation to be had. After some thought, they decided to return to the human world.

The main reason was their unfamiliarity with each other; the relationship was largely transactional, based on mutual benefits. Both Qian Daoliu and Ye Lingling felt uncomfortable.

As for Han Li, he couldn't stand the Ice Empress's watchful, distrustful gaze. He decided to make an early exit; his goals had been achieved, and he didn't need to face their resentment toward the Divine Realm any longer.

"Here you go, Grand Uncle."

Han Li added some medicinal herbs to the water and handed it to Qian Daoliu. The herbs were supposed to make sleep more restful, though, at their level, it was more of a psychological comfort than anything else.

Qian Daoliu took the cup but didn't drink; instead, he placed it on the table. He had come to ask Han Li something. Earlier in the day, there had been too many people around, and since the others were soul beasts, it hadn't been appropriate to speak up in front of outsiders.

Seeing Qian Daoliu's conflicted expression, Han Li smiled and took the initiative.

"Grand Uncle, I know what you want to ask. Let me explain."

Qian Daoliu looked at Han Li, who seemed completely at ease and nodded. The information that Han Li had revealed during the day wasn't ordinary. Even as the High Priest of the Angel God, Qian Daoliu found it hard to process, and his heart felt heavy.

"You probably heard me mention earlier that I am the Lord of a Plane."

Qian Daoliu nodded. Having undergone divine trials, he had access to the Angel Shrine at any time. Although the concept of a 'plane' was somewhat vague, he could grasp it. He had certain privileges in the shrine, though not many.

Seeing no doubt in Qian Daoliu's eyes, Han Li continued. As Han Li explained, Qian Daoliu gradually felt parched; Han Li refilled his cup three times before finally finishing the explanation.

"So, that's the gist of it. After I become a god, the Divine Realm will likely try to seize control of the entire continent. I'm not sure what will happen then."

"But I don't want to give in. After all, not everyone is like you and Xiao Xue. I'm sure you understand, right?"

Han Li finished his explanation with a helpless shrug.

"A case of 'a man's guilt lies in his possession of a treasure,'" Qian Daoliu murmured, nodding. His eyes seemed distant as he added, "So even gods are like this?"

In Han Li's account, Qian Daoliu's idealized view of gods had been shattered. A devout believer in the Angel God, he struggled to accept this new reality.

Han Li chuckled and said something he wouldn't have dared say to Qian Daoliu before: "Grand Uncle, gods aren't as mysterious and noble as you imagine. They're just stronger beings who've mastered certain laws."

"What about the Angel God?"

Qian Daoliu asked after a long silence. Han Li's story didn't mention much about this ancestor or the faith he upheld.

"I don't know. Perhaps severely injured, or maybe…"

Han Li didn't finish the sentence, but the implication was clear: the Angel God could have fallen. In the original timeline, the Angel God trials had been manipulated, and the final trial was particularly distasteful. It wasn't easy to comment on.

Qian Daoliu fell into deeper silence. As the leader of a major force, he understood the implications of Han Li's words.

"You don't need to worry. Before the final actions, I will separate myself from Spirit Hall. No matter what happens, Spirit Hall's legacy and Xiao Xue won't be greatly affected. Of course, if I fail, there will still be some consequences."

Han Li shared his decision, his expression serious. Qian Daoliu looked up sharply, his expression complex but mostly filled with anger.

"Ridiculous."

After a long pause, he spat out the word. Han Li had grown up under his watchful eye. Though mischievous at times, Han Li had never made mistakes when it came to important matters. Spirit Hall greatly benefited from his actions, and he even addressed Qian Daoliu as "Grand Uncle."

Qian Daoliu prioritized the legacy of Spirit Hall and Qian Renxue—indeed, that had been his life's purpose. But if things turned out as Han Li suggested, how could he face his ancestors? Yet, their opponent was a god.

Qian Daoliu fell silent again. This sense of powerlessness was something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Han Li was a bit taken aback by Qian Daoliu's reaction, but he quickly understood and felt even more at ease.

"Grand Uncle, there's no need to be like this. I understand what you're thinking, but they won't dare to kill me. Xiao Xue staying out of this was part of my plan from the beginning. If things go wrong, she might even be our last resort."

Han Li smiled brightly, his expression sincere.

"Xiao Xue doesn't have to get involved, but I can help you."

Qian Daoliu had been about to respond but then realized that by keeping Xiao Xue out of it, his mission would likely be complete. So he opened his mouth but said nothing.

"Xiao Xue won't agree to this."

Thinking of Qian Renxue's personality and her relationship with Han Li, Qian Daoliu shook his head. He knew his granddaughter well. Besides, he had personally helped initiate her first and second divine trials, so he was well aware of her feelings.

"That's why I'll need your help to persuade her."

Han Li smiled again, offering him another cup of water.

"I can't do it."

Qian Daoliu shook his head, but he didn't mention his eventual sacrifice.

"Are you referring to your duty as the High Priest of the Angel God? Why don't you tell me about it? Maybe I can find another way."

Han Li, knowing full well what was on Qian Daoliu's mind, decided to bring it up directly.

"You even know about that?"

Qian Daoliu frowned at him. The divine trials were highly secretive and varied for each individual. In the trials Han Li had mentioned earlier, aside from the yet-to-be-revealed Sea God's trial, none involved a High Priest. Qian Daoliu speculated that this might be because both the Angel God and the Sea God had created their divine positions. But how did Han Li know about this?

"As the Lord of a Plane, it's only natural that I know a bit more," Han Li answered calmly, without batting an eye. The fact that he was a reincarnator was a secret he would take to his grave. He would never tell anyone.

Qian Daoliu looked at him but said nothing. Given that Han Li knew about the Divine Realm, it made sense he would also know about the planned sacrifice.

"This is part of the divine trial process. It's my predetermined mission, and I can't escape it."

Qian Daoliu's familiar look of determination returned. Even though Han Li had torn away the veil of mystery surrounding the Divine Realm, Qian Daoliu still held faith in the Angel God. It wasn't just about the deity—it was also about his ancestor.

"Well..."

Han Li felt exasperated. As someone who didn't believe in gods, it was hard for him to accept this, but he could at least understand. This had been Qian Daoliu's belief since childhood, and he had held onto it until now.

"Alright, don't resist. Let me take a look."

Han Li sighed. Since they were leaving for Sea God Island tomorrow, it was best to check now. Knowing the specifics would make it easier to make decisions later.

Qian Daoliu wanted to say something, but then he saw Han Li's eyes turn golden. The fluctuations emanating from Han Li were strange—strange enough that Qian Daoliu couldn't understand them. But when he met Han Li's gaze, he felt exposed, as if he were completely laid bare. Instinctively, he wanted to activate his soul power to protect himself, even feeling the urge to summon the Angel Shrine. But, considering that Han Li was standing right there, he suppressed his feelings of shame and held back.

Across from him, Han Li's eyes were hollow. This was the first time he had actively tapped into the power of fate, unlike his previous manipulation of luck. The law he was touching now was incomplete. He felt it was the right thing to do, so he did it.

In Han Li's perspective, as soon as he activated the power of fate, his entire being seemed to sink into the golden thread of fate above Qian Daoliu's head, as if thrown into a vast river, his consciousness flowing downstream.

Then, he saw a ruined golden kingdom, with a lonely Qian Daoliu standing there, surrounded by endless silence.

After that, the scene exploded into chaos, turning into a formless void. The threads of fate, however, were still connected to him.

The gold in Han Li's eyes faded, and he blinked. It seemed like there were two segments to what he had seen. The first was a world where he didn't exist, while the thread of fate connecting him belonged to the second segment.

Moreover, if he had seen correctly, in that first scene, Qian Daoliu's lonely figure bore traces of divine power. To be precise, it was a divine soul, and his body was formed from divine power.

So, after his sacrifice, would he ascend in some way? Was he being summoned to the Angel God's Divine Kingdom?

But since Qian Renxue hadn't completed her journey to the Divine Realm—hadn't fully transformed her divine power or taken over the divine kingdom—there was no one to guide Qian Daoliu. He was trapped in that ruined divine kingdom, forever watching over it as a god's official.

Thinking about the scene he had witnessed, Han Li couldn't help but shiver. He didn't dare imagine how desperate Qian Daoliu would feel if this was truly his fate.

A High Priest? Or perhaps one of the trials set by these young gods for future generations to overcome?

Unable to inherit a divine position but still drawn into the divine kingdom to serve as a god's official, forever immortal?

As Han Li considered the possibilities, this seemed like a plausible outcome. After all, those who became High Priests usually had unwavering faith.

Was this sacrifice nothing more than a carefully orchestrated drama? Perhaps the ultimate trial?

Could this be the missing ninth trial of the High Priest?