Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

Credits: BerialAstral

In the sky, Qian Renxue, radiating a golden light, seemed to replace the sun—at least to those near Heaven Dou City, that's how it appeared.

In the city below, fear and curiosity coexisted in the hearts of everyone. Humanity has always reacted this way when facing the unknown. However, before they could act, they noticed something extraordinary: the palace guards and the Spirit Hall personnel scattered throughout the streets, after a brief moment of shock, knelt devoutly on the ground.

"Greetings to the Angel God!"

From their somewhat disorganized chants, the people gleaned a nearly unanimous conclusion.

The crowd, stunned momentarily, turned their fervent gazes toward the massive golden projection in the sky and the beautiful woman bathed in golden light standing before it.

Was this the Angel God? A divine miracle?

Even those who had never studied knew what this represented. It wasn't just Spirit Hall's faith but also the only broadly recognized belief across the entire continent.

For a thousand years, Spirit Hall's relentless promotion had spread the deeds of the Angel God far and wide—how she had saved humanity from darkness and chaos and ensured its survival to this day.

The nobles at the top might not believe, but for the common folk, this faith was deeply ingrained. Even as the two great empires subtly tried to diminish its influence through various means, Spirit Hall persistently countered with their propaganda.

The result? While true devotees were rare, the number of nominal believers was overwhelming. After all, how could the common people trust the same aristocrats who exploited them?

Many also noticed something reassuring: the golden light replacing the sun didn't harm them. Instead, it bathed them in a gentle warmth, making them feel physically and mentally lighter.

The Angel God's divine power naturally carried a purifying effect. As long as one's nature didn't oppose its attributes, the light had no ill effects—indeed, it could even dispel minor afflictions.

Gradually, more people began to kneel. Like the Spirit Hall members, they gazed skyward with reverence and longing.

"Let there be light," a deep, authoritative voice suddenly echoed from the sky.

Han Li appeared in midair, though he kept his distance from Qian Renxue. Despite the dignity in his tone, his youthful appearance seemed somewhat incongruous.

Under his control, the golden light was soon joined by a fine drizzle as he channeled the laws of water. The combination of golden radiance and purifying rain spread over the crowd.

As the raindrops fell, they worked miracles. Minor illnesses and ailments vanished rapidly, leaving the people more energized. Though their clothes and hair were soaked, they gazed upward with even greater devotion, their expressions filled with awe.

"You can stop now," Han Li conveyed to Qian Renxue telepathically. "There's one more act left in this performance. Just extend your hand toward that disabled man over there."

High above, Qian Renxue's golden light dimmed slightly, no longer outshining the sun, but she maintained an aura of divine sanctity. Han Li couldn't help but feel a mischievous urge to lead her astray.

She began to descend gracefully, stopping about three meters above the ground. The six-winged angel mark on her forehead shone brightly, drawing every eye.

In her place, a radiant screen appeared in the sky, still showcasing her divine presence.

"God loves all beings. Today, I grant you restoration," she declared in a clear yet cold voice, her natural tone adding to the divine majesty.

From the crowd, a one-legged man was lifted by the golden light, floating swiftly toward her. Known as Old Peter the Cripple, he was a former soldier who had lost his left leg in a battle with the Star Luo Empire.

Peter's story was well-known in Heaven Dou City. He had become a kind of folk legend, frequently sharing tales of his bravery. Though the imperial family supported him financially, his life was modest. He often roamed the streets, regaling anyone who would listen. Even travelers and bards had spread his story to other regions, making him a unique kind of celebrity.

Now, under the gaze of thousands, Peter floated before Qian Renxue.

She raised her left hand, her sword-free arm, and pointed gently. A greenish-gold energy surged forth, entering Peter's body.

The crowd held their breath as an astonishing scene unfolded.

At the stump of Peter's left leg, a green light began to swirl and pulse. Slowly but surely, a new leg grew, inch by inch, until it was whole and indistinguishable from his original limb.

From his pant leg, which had long been tied up, a barefoot emerged into view.

Peter seemed dazed, as though he were dreaming. Tentatively, he stomped his new foot against the ground, feeling the solid impact reverberate through his body.

A look of pure joy overtook his face. With a shout, he tossed aside his crutch and took a hesitant step forward. Then another. And another.

Soon, Peter broke into a run, tears streaming down his face as he relished the sensation of movement he hadn't felt in over a decade.

Stopping at the edge of the crowd, he turned and dropped to his knees. His forehead slammed against the stone pavement as he wept, his gratitude and devotion apparent to all.

"Praise the Angel God."

This scene, projected across the sky by Han Li's power, was broadcast throughout the entirety of the Heaven Dou Empire—and even to Wuhun City itself.

"I have heard your prayers. I will go forth to end this unjust war."

On the sky screen, the image is split into two. On one side stood the newly ascended Angel God, bathed in divine halos. On the other, Bibi Dong wielded her enormous dual scythes, single-handedly destroying a city. Around her, an unsettling, ghostly purple aura flickered, making her presence deeply unnerving.

The image of Bibi Dong soon faded, leaving only Qian Renxue glowing with divine radiance.

"As the future gods, you must accompany me to put an end to this war of bloodshed," Qian Renxue declared.

She deviated from the script, choosing to add her flourish to the performance. In the projection, she unfurled her six golden wings and descended before Han Li, extending her left hand toward him.

Han Li paused for a brief moment, instantly realizing her intention.

"With honor," he replied with a smile. Golden light enveloped him as his godly armor materialized. In his left hand appeared the Ice-Fire Dragon GOd Bow. Without hesitation, he extended his right hand to meet hers, clasping it firmly.

"Everyone, await our good news. Victory shall belong to justice."

Han Li's voice resonated as the sky screen trembled. He and Qian Renxue transformed into two streaks of light—one radiant gold, the other soft red—entwined as they soared into the heavens.

The projection dissolved into the sky, and the people stood, their eyes chasing the retreating streaks of light. Their gazes were filled with hope.

As the two departed, discussions began to ripple through Heaven Dou City. Han Li's prearranged operatives mingled among the crowds, disseminating carefully crafted information.

The identities of "Xue Qinghe" and the Angel God "Qian Renxue" were publicly revealed, becoming the hottest topic of discussion. With the earlier divine miracles as proof, the people found it easy to accept—and even felt reassured.

The revelation that former Spirit Hall Supreme Pontiff and current Spirit Empire Empress Bibi Dong, along with Spirit Hall Saint Han Li, were all on the verge of godhood was no longer a secret.

Of course, the narratives framed Qian Renxue and Han Li as positive figures—anti-war advocates and embodiments of justice. Their absence until now was explained as a deliberate wait for the perfect moment to act.

As for Bibi Dong, her image was cemented as a power-hungry warmonger waging war solely to ascend to godhood—a portrayal that, while harsh, wasn't far from the truth.

Han Li didn't fabricate anything. The earlier sky screen had shown Bibi Dong destroying a city alone, and even now, she continued the same devastating actions.

...

Far above the Star Luo Empire, an ominous energy invisible to ordinary people continued to rise.

Bibi Dong had long separated herself from her main army, infiltrating deep into the Star Luo Empire's heartland. Her actions were singular and relentless: at every city she encountered, she would demolish the gates with overwhelming force, creating chaos before swiftly moving on to the next target. This spread fear and panic while allowing her to collect the dark energy she sought—all while widening the gap between herself and Heaven Dou City.

"Just a little more..."

Behind her, her six-winged purple glow remained unfinished, vibrating rapidly as she hovered above the Star Luo Imperial City. This massive metropolis was home to the largest concentration of people in the empire.

Nonchalantly killing two Soul Sages who attacked her, Bibi Dong didn't hesitate. She descended directly toward the imperial palace.

She did not attempt to conceal her divine aura. The city was shrouded in her malevolent and chilling energy, which rapidly absorbed the negative emotions emanating from the populace.

Interestingly, she left the commoners untouched. Although their cultivation in the Mysterious Heaven Technique granted them faint traces of soul power, they were of no use to her. Leaving them alive allowed her to harvest the maximum amount of negative energy.

In the face of emotion and dark energy, all were equal. A person's soul power level didn't dictate how much negativity they produced. Ironically, ordinary people—due to their ignorance and vulnerability—often generated the most.

"Hell White Tiger!"

From within the palace below, the Star Luo Emperor and Empress launched a surprise attack on Bibi Dong, unleashing their Martial Soul Fusion Technique. They knew the ambitious former Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall would never spare them.

"Good," Bibi Dong remarked with a rare smile. She didn't immediately retaliate. She deliberately allowed them time to fully activate their Martial Soul Fusion Technique.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone in Star Luo City, she raised her scythe. As the power of the Hell White Tiger reached its peak, she casually swung her blade, severing the head of the tiger in one effortless motion.

The tiger's roar was abruptly silenced. Its spectral form dissipated, and the lifeless bodies of the emperor and empress plummeted from the sky.

For a moment, the entire Star Luo City fell deathly silent.

Bibi Dong hadn't just destroyed a Martial Soul Fusion Technique or slain the empire's rulers. She had shattered the very foundation of Star Luo's national pride.

The Hell White Tiger had never been defeated like this—not in such a humiliating manner.

In a nation that revered strength and military prowess, this devastating loss of its most iconic symbol sent shockwaves throughout the populace.

Dark energy and overwhelming negative emotions surged upward, flowing into Bibi Dong.

She had reached the threshold for her ascension.

Within the city, the density of dark energy and negativity continued to rise rapidly.

"Then let's begin..."