I Slept With Xiao Wu...!

"That was in the past. It's over now," Qian Renxue admitted openly. She wasn't the type to hide things unless absolutely necessary.

She confessed that she once had a plan targeting Chen Xuan—not to kill him, but to keep him under her control. Her main concern was that Chen Xuan might defect to Bibi Dong or another faction, creating unnecessary trouble. So, she had prepared a contingency plan just in case.

Chen Xuan's mouth twitched as he silently cursed in his mind. Another crazy woman, just like Bibi Dong. No wonder they were family.

"Don't overthink it. As long as you... assist me in claiming the throne, I'll grant you three requests," Qian Renxue offered, seemingly reading his thoughts.

Chen Xuan waved his hand dismissively. "Forget the requests. You've taken care of my sister for so many years. As long as it's not something immoral, I'll help you—consider it my way of thanking you."

Qian Renxue was momentarily stunned. Living in a world full of political scheming, she hadn't expected such a straightforward response.

"I still think seizing the throne won't be easy. Just make sure you don't stumble at the final hurdle," Chen Xuan warned. The royal family was still a formidable force.

Qian Renxue nodded. She had already dealt with most hidden threats and secured the support of nearly all influential royal forces. Emperor Xue Ye, weakened by the poison she had been feeding him for years, was now just a hollow shell. With the increased dosage, he had at most six months left.

"Six months? That's too long. It feels risky," Chen Xuan frowned, unsure what unexpected variables might arise during that time.

After a moment's thought, he suggested, "It's best to have a backup plan. Try to transfer as many soldiers and soul masters as possible. Even if the plan fails, you'll still have the upper hand."

"Transfer them?" Qian Renxue was taken aback. She hadn't considered such a move, believing her plan to be foolproof.

Chen Xuan nodded. "Don't you dislike Bibi Dong? Didn't you want to seize the Spirit Hall when the time is right?"

He, too, had grown to dislike Bibi Dong. Since becoming the Supreme Pontiff, she had done little beyond continuing the policies of her predecessors while enjoying the benefits. Most importantly, for someone who held countless lives in her hands, her willingness to commit countless atrocities for a man made her dangerously irrational.

"Oh? Chen Xuan, you know more than I thought," Qian Renxue remarked with a faint smile, though her eyes held a chilling gleam.

In truth, she harbored ambitions of taking over the Spirit Hall, though she had never voiced them aloud.

Chen Xuan met her penetrating gaze without flinching. If they were to be close allies, it was better to lay things bare now than to breed unnecessary suspicion later.

Seeing his fearless expression, Qian Renxue furrowed her delicate brows slightly, rolling her eyes. This guy wasn't intimidated by her presence at all—much like Tang San in that regard.

"How do you know so much about me?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

It was unsettling. First, he discovered her true identity, then unveiled her deepest ambitions. Chen Xuan was just an ordinary soul master from a border town in the Heaven Dou Empire—nothing special. Yet, his extensive knowledge, myriad soul skills, and uncanny insight were suspicious, to say the least.

"That's one question I'd rather not answer," Chen Xuan replied with a shrug. "Some things are better left unsaid. Even I can't tell what's real and what's not anymore."

He recalled being told that this world was a blend of reality and illusion—a paradoxical fusion. Like parallel universes, there were countless versions of the Douluo Continent across different timelines, each playing out similar stories.

Many like him had been chosen and placed into these parallel worlds to train, with their fates depending on how far they could go. Chen Xuan avoided thinking about such existential questions. Dwelling on them left him feeling hollow and disconnected from this world. For now, all he cared about was growing stronger and securing his place in the upcoming divine battles.

Qian Renxue stared at him for a long moment before finally averting her gaze. "Fine, keep your secrets. But you're right—I despise that woman. I'll seriously consider your suggestion."

Her hatred for Bibi Dong ran deep. The Spirit Hall, built by her father and grandfather, had been usurped by Bibi Dong. She had always wanted to reclaim it but never had the power or opportunity.

"There are only three major powers on the continent now. There's still time before war breaks out. You should secretly amass strength and wait for the perfect moment to take both the Spirit Hall and the two empires," Chen Xuan pressed further, fearing she might dismiss his advice.

The Spirit Hall and the two great empires were at odds, with Tang San and Bibi Dong locked in a blood feud. War between them was inevitable. When the time came, Qian Renxue could crush both sides and unify the continent under her rule.

"Easy for you to say. That woman might be vile, but her strength surpasses ours," Qian Renxue said, lacking the confidence to challenge Bibi Dong directly.

"Every journey begins with a single step. There's still time to prepare, and I believe in your ability. Besides, I'll help you," Chen Xuan assured her.

He then produced a scroll and handed it to Qian Renxue.

"What's this?" she asked, unfolding the scroll to reveal illustrations of human figures performing strange, unfamiliar techniques.

Chen Xuan explained that this was the Eight Gates Technique, a form of physical martial arts. Each gate unlocked would allow a soul master to unleash power several times greater than their own, especially beneficial for those with mediocre martial souls.

He had modified the technique, replacing chakra with soul power, making it accessible for widespread training. Even ordinary people could attempt to learn it.

"Really?" Qian Renxue's eyes sparkled with excitement. If what he said was true, she could train her soldiers into an army rivaling soul masters.

Soul masters were scarce on the continent, numbering only in the tens of thousands. Most armies consisted of ordinary soldiers or low-level soul users. Having an entire army trained in such a technique would be groundbreaking.

"Anyone with soul power can train in it, but ordinary soldiers might only manage to open up to the third gate," Chen Xuan clarified. Even the most talented practitioners might only reach the sixth gate. The seventh and eighth gates were out of the question.

He had deliberately removed the method to open the final gate—the Gate of Death—to prevent some future prodigy from using it against him.

Still, Qian Renxue was deeply moved. With this technique, she could build a massive army that didn't rely on soul masters.

"Alright, I'll take this technique. I'll have a select few train in it secretly. Chen Xuan, you've done me a great service. What do you want in return?" she asked gratefully, wanting to reward him.

Chen Xuan clicked his tongue, a bit annoyed by her authoritative tone. "I helped you willingly, partly to thank you for taking care of Yiyi. I never expected anything in return."

Then, he added, "I'm heading to the Star Luo Empire tomorrow morning."

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