"The meaning of this war?"
Qian Renxue was slightly taken aback, not expecting Tang Sui to ask such a question.
After a few seconds of serious thought, she looked up and said, "For me, and for the entire Spirit Hall Empire, the meaning of this war lies in moving towards a better future."
"A better future?"
Tang Sui repeated the last few words, her tone carrying a hint of deep meaning.
Qian Renxue's expression remained unchanged: "The citizens will live and work in peace and contentment. Under the empire's governance, there will no longer be acts of arson, looting, and murder."
"People's identities will no longer be stumbling blocks on the path to becoming stronger. Regardless of their status or nobility, anyone with talent and perseverance can enter the academies under the Spirit Hall Empire to study, obtain better resources, and strive for their dreams, shining brightly."
"To achieve this better future that I envision, I will wield the sacred sword, severing all evil and any obstacles in our path. This is the meaning of our war."
Tang Sui looked at Qian Renxue with a look of curiosity. "Your idea is good. Unfortunately, the practical implementation is too far from your ideals."
"What do you mean?" Qian Renxue didn't understand. Seeing Tang Sui's calm expression, the slight sense of unease that had appeared since she met Tang Sui grew stronger.
However, Qian Renxue didn't think too deeply, treating Tang Sui merely as the true examiner for this trial. Even though the feeling she had towards Tang Sui suddenly changed, it was still within an acceptable range.
"Although your expectations are such, the Spirit Hall Empire, which is currently advancing its invasion against the two great empires and other affiliated kingdoms, leaves a trail of corpses, and ordinary people without spirit power cry out in anguish." Tang Sui thought of the intelligence gathered and presented by the Slaughter City. Her eyelashes slightly drooped, and the emotion in her eyes was unclear, whether it was regret or something else.
"The principle of the Spirit Hall Empire is to spare those who surrender and those who choose to submit."
"But in an ordinary family, there might be one lucky individual who is a member of the enemy army. That person could be a spirit master, or perhaps just an ordinary soldier. After all, every empire has tens of thousands of soldiers composed of ordinary people."
"I've never met many people who are willing to reconcile with the forces that killed their relatives, since childhood."
Qian Renxue was stunned.
She had never considered such issues.
After all, since birth, she had been ahead of many, standing at the starting line for spirit masters, and rarely considered the feelings of ordinary people.
"You grew up surrounded by admiration, received elite education, and were mostly around spirit masters, with few ordinary people. Therefore, you have never experienced what it means to live in poverty, struggling for a meager living. For many people, joining the army is the only choice they have to win a sliver of hope for their families."
The sunlight stretched Tang Sui's shadow.
It was as if a fierce beast lurking in the shadows had finally found an opportunity and launched its attack.
"I do not deny that competition leads to war, and war leads to sacrifice."
"But your ideals are not enough to convince me to let go of the past."
Tang Sui's mind was very clear, not swayed by the grand promises Qian Renxue painted.
Her eyes, deep and almost black, stared straight at Qian Renxue, as if trying to see through her, and continued, "What you've said so far is only from the perspective of the Spirit Hall Empire. What about yourself? What do you truly desire?"
What she truly desired?
Qian Renxue's heart trembled slightly, and scenes from the first half of her life involuntarily flashed through her mind.
"I... desire..."
She lowered her head, complex emotions swirling in her eyes.
To be honest, everything she had done over the past decade was to promote the prosperity of the Spirit Hall.
But...
The angel god's inheritance she was currently receiving, and her urgent desire to complete the Nine Trials of the Angel as soon as possible, were all for...
"...I want... to surpass the person in my heart, and use my strength to tell everyone that I am... the strongest one."
Qian Renxue whispered, her fingers casually resting on the table unconsciously clenching.
Tang Sui on the opposite side paused, her sharp gaze carrying a subtle meaning.
Surpass the person in her heart?
Who?
Could it be her brother?
"Do you think there is anyone more outstanding than you?"
As an uninvolved bystander, Tang Sui shouldn't know who Qian Renxue had in mind, so she feigned ignorance.
Tang Sui's words brought Qian Renxue back to her senses, her chaotic thoughts gradually dissipating, and a hint of complexity appeared on her face as she softly "mm-hmm"ed.
Putting aside all distractions, that selfish answer was the real reason she wanted to participate in this war.
To spread the glory of the angel god was her duty as an angel successor.
What she wanted was to become the most outstanding person, to shock her grandfather, everyone, the revered Pope, and that person.
Her decade of waiting, her perfect plan, was ruined by the other party's intervention.
Ultimately, she was simply unwilling to accept defeat, unwilling to lose.
She wanted to stand at the pinnacle of the Douluo Continent, unsurpassed!
Qian Renxue's gaze gradually became resolute.
Tang Sui watched as Qian Renxue, having understood her true desires, gained a subtle dao intent, and sighed inwardly.
Although their stances were destined to make them enemies, it didn't prevent her from actually appreciating Qian Renxue.
In a way, they had some similarities.
What was shown to the world was only what the world wanted to see.
The true self was hidden behind a tightly sealed wall within the heart. Sometimes, even one's own presented persona could be deceiving, blurring the essence. Sudan Novel Network
Tang Sui exhaled, about to speak again, when she saw Qian Renxue's eyes, now imbued with a subtle dao intent, suddenly widen.
Brilliant golden light, like the autumn sun, shone down upon the entire space.
Behind Qian Renxue, an angel martial spirit with brilliant golden long hair, clad in a simple white robe, and with six wings, suddenly appeared. As if with a will of its own, it raised its flawless, jade-like finger.
"Whoosh—"
"Wha-what's happening?"
Silken golden light flowing from the angel martial spirit's fingertips lifted Qian Renxue, causing her to float in mid-air.
Golden feathers, transparent like glass, rained down from the sky.
Tang Sui's expression changed drastically. She was burned, as if by fire, and retreated more than ten meters, disregarding the peculiarity exposed under Qian Renxue's gaze.
"Shang Ling? You..."
Before Qian Renxue could finish her surprised words, the vividly colored world around them began to dissolve, turning into pure white inch by inch.
Sacred golden flames ignited without wind, and the air was filled with a divine pressure that made Tang Sui extremely uncomfortable.
This space was suddenly beginning to reject her.
—Author's Notes—
A small notice: As the Chinese New Year countdown begins, Mo Li is also busy in her real life. The updates in the next few days will fluctuate between single and double updates, but the confirmed New Year bonus chapters will not change. [Bowing]