Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

Credits: Alma

It's a pity that Han Li missed the live broadcast of Yandere Bibi Dong. When the incident occurred, he was still engaged in a dual cultivation with Gu Yue.

Fortunately, his obedient son understood his tastes and saved the live replay for him.

The entire video was only a little over ten minutes long, but Han Li rewatched it several times. He had to admit that this kind of real-life experience video had an intensity that pretense or acting could never match.

Although Bibi Dong regained her composure after a dozen minutes, it made Han Li reassess her mental state. He could sense that the demonic nature within her had become stronger.

"You better hold on for a while longer," Han Li muttered to himself. He wasn't worried about Bibi Dong's power surge after becoming a god. After all, even with a divine position, unless she fully converted her soul power into divine power in the Divine Realm, she wouldn't be able to beat him.

What concerned him was the possibility that Bibi Dong might get stuck at a bottleneck, ending up like Tang Chen — which would mean losing out on a valuable god position. Fortunately, after seeing her regain clarity of mind, Han Li sighed in relief.

The inheritance of the Rakshasa God that Bibi Dong obtained puzzled him. Not only was it incredibly difficult, but it was also extraordinarily stingy. He wasn't even sure if the Rakshasa truly intended to pass down the divine position. After all, her nemesis, the Asura God, had been as quiet as a salted fish lately.

"Please, no, Asura bro. I urgently need divine positions to boost my strength."

Yet, all Han Li could do was hope for the best. Unlike before, he now found himself both hoping for some reaction from Asura and dreading it.

This is supposed to be one of the major supporting characters, so why was it so eerily silent on his end?

The total lack of information was truly hard to bear.

...

What Han Li didn't know was that at that very moment in the Divine Realm, Asura was busy shuttling between the temples of three different deities. His usually cold face even carried the faint trace of a smile. As the God of Judgment, Asura wasn't one to slack off.

Did the Destruction God think he could outwit him with such low-level tactics?

Keep dreaming.

Asura simply didn't see the need to form cliques — it didn't mean he wasn't capable of doing so. And if he were to play dirty tricks, ordinary gods wouldn't even be able to notice it.

"Hmm, I should check in on the God of Emotions next. That's a key part of the plan."

...

Xiaogang was now truly under house arrest. Previously, he might have been a guest of honor under Bibi Dong's protection, temporarily avoiding the chaos outside. But after he utterly ignited her emotions, even after she regained her sanity, he was no longer a guest — he had become a caged canary in every sense.

Despite the sunlight shining on the courtyard, Xiaogang still felt a bone-chilling cold. Every time he thought about Bibi Dong's gentle words, he would uncontrollably shudder.

She's gone mad!

With a beaming smile, Bibi Dong had assured him that there was no need to worry. Every single person who had ever looked down on him, she promised to avenge one by one. She specifically mentioned the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Her soft, affectionate tone carried a chilling promise: she would make them pay the price — and that price would be their lives.

Xiaogang had shouted

"No!" at the top of his lungs, but she merely dismissed his outburst as playful resistance, her resolve growing even stronger. She also confessed to him that she was tainted now, but reassured him that it was only temporary. If he could just wait a few more months, she would return to being the Dong'er of 20 years ago — and at that time, she would be his Dong'er once more.

Xiaogang didn't understand what she meant, but that only made him more terrified.

This was not the Bibi Dong he knew. For the first time in his life, he regretted his choices. He regretted not listening to his father's advice, staying with the family clan, marrying, having children, and living a peaceful life. He had to gamble on this path.

...

Meanwhile, the entire continent was in turmoil. Countless soul masters with seething resentment and bloodlust surged toward Wuhun City.

The reason?

The last place where Xiaogang had been seen in public was a tavern within Wuhun City. At the time, he had basked in the admiration and praise of his peers, his face full of pride like a showy peacock. But after arriving in Wuhun City, no one could find him no matter how hard they searched.

After a month of fruitless searching, the mob began to chase rumors and pursue him to other regions.

What they didn't know was that every single one of their actions had been meticulously recorded by a hidden venomous spider.

The spider had been silently weaving a grand web, and when it finally closed in on them, they would all become prey.

Han Li was thriving.

All over the continent, people were stirring up a storm. Every time the commotion grew, it brought him another surge of faith power. There's no greater satisfaction than comparison. As people watched the drama unfold and mocked the reckless mobs, they naturally began to feel a subtle sense of relief.

"Thank goodness I didn't follow the crowd and train like them," they would think. And in those moments, their minds would inevitably turn to the original author behind it all — Han Li.

Bibi Dong had been releasing false rumors across the continent, ensuring that the story's heat never died down.

Meanwhile, Han Li enjoyed the quiet stream of faith power flowing in his direction.

At first, Han Li was puzzled.

Why was this incident still ongoing?

But after learning that Bibi Dong was the one fanning the flames, he understood. She was fishing. But she wasn't just catching random fish; she was luring in every single person who had slandered Xiaogang.

From the way she was orchestrating it, it seemed she was aiming to capture them all in one fell swoop.

But that wasn't all.

The constant activity provided her with the perfect cover for her other, more secretive moves.

Of course, the senior members of Spirit Hall weren't blind. They saw through the surface and understood what was happening. After all, many of these operations had to be executed through their command chain.

Their conclusion?

"The Supreme Pontiff is preparing to unify the continent."

This perception filled them with both dread and excitement.

The continent had been calm for too long, and the structure of Spirit Hall's internal hierarchy had grown stagnant as well.

Many people had been in the same position for years, unable to move up.

Now, with a major campaign on the horizon, there would finally be opportunities for promotions and advancement.

Order and chaos coexist.

And in the midst of it all, Han Li smiled quietly, enjoying the show.

This was a major event.

If successful, it would go down in history and offer immense opportunities for advancement.

For those involved, it would be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become the greatest beneficiaries.

After using a secret communication channel to report the situation, the faction aligned with the Hall of Worship received a simple but shocking reply, "Offer full support."

This response left them wide-eyed with disbelief.

"So, the reason the top figures of the Hall of Worship disappeared was to centralize power and plan something monumental?"

Lacking access to crucial information, the various officials discussed and finally reached a consensus.

At the same time, news that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan had become a subordinate force of Spirit Hall was placed on Bibi Dong's desk.

After an initial flash of surprise, Bibi Dong's face lit up with a delighted smile — though hidden beneath that smile was a hint of madness. Oh? Very good. Are you all willing to cooperate?

But deep down, she laughed hysterically.

The ending wouldn't be as pleasant as they imagined.

In her mind, she had already decided the cause of death for the Qian family bloodline.

Beneath the surface, the massive machinery of Spirit Hall began to move quietly, without a sound. Various preparations were made, and influence began to seep into the territories of the Star Luo Empire and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

...

Three months passed.

On the continent, public interest in the search for Yu Xiaogang had finally waned. Unable to track down any trace of him, people's attention shifted elsewhere.

After a final secret meeting with Yu Xiaogang, Bibi Dong returned to the Rakshasa Illusion Realm. Before leaving, she left a simple message, "When I re-emerge, the plan will officially begin."

The Elders of Spirit Hall, fully aware of the gravity of this statement, remained on high alert, waiting for the fateful moment.

In Heaven Dou City, within Han Li's secluded courtyard, Qian Daoliu gazed at his granddaughter, who had become more inscrutable than ever before.

Seeing her growth, he revealed a satisfied smile.

"Finally, you've reached this point," he said softly.

"Grandfather, when will Han Li arrive?"

Qian Renxue's face carried a faint smile. She was only one step away from completing her final trial, and her mood was noticeably good. Still, she couldn't understand why her grandfather insisted on waiting for that guy Han Li.

Ever since that last encounter, I haven't seen even a shadow of him.

"You'll find out soon enough."

As Qian Daoliu spoke, his expression became somewhat uneasy. Deep down, he could only hope that Han Li's method would work. Otherwise, as an old man with little time left, he'd be forced to make the ultimate sacrifice.

"Well, well. Impatient, are we, little angel?"

A teasing voice echoed suddenly. Qian Renxue's head snapped up, her gaze locking onto the figure that had somehow appeared on the stone chair behind her. Han Li sat there casually, sipping from her cup as if it belonged to him.

"Get lost," Qian Renxue's expression darkened. She glared at him with clear irritation, her red lips moving gracefully. This guy only called her a little angel when he was teasing her.

And worse, he dared to do it in front of her grandfather. It made her feel a bit embarrassed.

"Alright, alright, I'm done joking around. Let's go. Time to enter the Angelic Shrine."

Han Li remained nonchalant and dropped another tidbit of information.

"Oh, by the way, here's some news for you — Her Holiness the Supreme Pontiff announced her seclusion at noon today."

"Hmm."

Qian Renxue's face didn't show much change.

She simply furrowed her brows before giving a short nod.

After completing her seventh and eighth trials, she gained a new perspective on things.

News like this no longer fazed her.

Looks like she has grown. But I wonder… can she handle the ninth trial?

Come to think of it, both mother and daughter were forced to face extremely difficult ninth trials.

Their tests were centered on matters of the heart and mind, and those were never easy to overcome.

As the grand doorway to the Angelic Shrine opened, Han Li followed behind Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue, stepping inside.

Deep within the Angelic Shrine, the three of them finally stopped. Following Qian Daoliu's instructions, Qian Renxue took a few steps forward and placed her hand on the Angel Statue before her.

Golden light illuminated the shrine.

Moments later, the final trial's message echoed in Qian Renxue's mind. ["The Ninth Trial of the Angelic Divine Trial: The Trial of the Seven Emotions — The Inheritance of the Angel."]

The golden glow gradually faded, but Qian Renxue remained frozen in place, her body stiff as stone.

For a long time, she didn't turn around. She wasn't the same naive trial candidate as in the original storyline.

Thanks to her interactions with others, she had already guessed what the Seven Emotions trial might entail. And she didn't like what she was thinking.

Sigh… Looks like you've realized it, Xiaoxue.

Han Li's voice suddenly rang out behind her, shattering the last trace of hope in Qian Renxue's heart.

"That's right. To complete your ninth trial, you'll need to undergo a ritual sacrifice — performed by your grandmaster."

"No! I refuse!"

Qian Renxue spun around abruptly, her eyes wild with panic. Her voice rose, but before she could say more, Han Li stepped forward and clamped a hand over her mouth, muffling her words.

"Shh. No, you will do it."

Han Li's tone was ice-cold, devoid of compassion. Her wide, terrified eyes filled with desperation as she stared at him.

Behind them, Qian Daoliu's body began to glow.

"No… please, no…"

But it was too late. Qian Daoliu's form dissolved into radiant light, the golden glow enveloping the entire shrine. Like a dying star releasing its last burst of energy, he vanished completely.

For a moment, silence reigned in the Angelic Shrine. Qian Renxue stared blankly at the spot where her grandfather had stood, her eyes lifeless. Her lips trembled, but no words escaped.

After a long, unbearable pause, she finally fell to her knees. Her hands pressed against the ground as her shoulders shook uncontrollably. Her face contorted with a mixture of grief, rage, and helplessness. Her voice, hoarse and strained, echoed throughout the shrine.

"Why…?"

Her words were like the whisper of a broken soul.

But Han Li just watched in silence, arms folded, his expression unreadable. He had seen this scenario countless times before. Despair, anger, grief, and finally… acceptance.

This was the path of those who aimed to become gods.

This was the true price of ascension. No one climbs to divinity unscathed.

"Get up," he said coldly.

"You still have the Trial of the Seven Emotions to complete."

Qian Renxue slowly raised her head. Her golden eyes, once filled with radiance, had turned icy and hollow. Her face was emotionless. All that remained was resolve.

"…I understand."

She rose to her feet, no longer trembling. Her eyes locked with Han Li's, steady and unwavering.

"Let's begin."