Chapter 600: Choosing to Let Go, Wishing You Happiness

"Are you crazy?!"

This time it was Bibi Dong's turn to question Qian Renxue: "Can you be a little more clear-headed? You have already broken up!"

"He never said it, how could we have broken up?!" Qian Renxue said, unconvinced.

These two people, who were originally the most calculating, had both completely lost their composure today; they simply could not stay calm.

"Qian Renxue..."

Qin Jian raised his head and looked at Qian Renxue quietly: "Do not say such things anymore; it belittles me, and it also belittles yourself."

"W-why?"

Qian Renxue's lips were trembling slightly.

Because she knew that this sentence from Qin Jian was the end of the relationship between them; even though she had made such a proposal, he had not been moved.

"Xue'er... I will call you Xue'er one last time..."

Qin Jian supported Bibi Dong, whose injuries had temporarily stabilized, as she stood up, letting her lean against him.

Seeing his gentle appearance, Qian Renxue bit her lip unconsciously, biting out a red mark.

"Xue'er..."

Qin Jian spoke softly: "We cannot go back... let this relationship end..."

His palm squeezed gently, then slowly relaxed, and he curled the corners of his mouth: "I choose to let go, I wish you... happiness."

Qian Renxue's hands dropped unconsciously, and Qian Daoliu, who had been leaning on her for support, staggered and was caught by Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Tears slid silently down her face, falling drop by drop.

So it really hurts, it really... hurts...

Bibi Dong leaned against Qin Jian's side, watching one smile and the other cry; it was as if an invisible wall had completely separated the two, just like the current standoff between the Pope Palace and the Elder Palace, dividing the entire sky into two distinct sides.

"Alright, our family matters end here..."

She decided to end this messy entanglement and bring things back on track.

"After this incident, I believe the members of the Elder Palace can no longer coexist with my Pope Palace; let us split."

As soon as these words were spoken, the dozen or so figures in the sky all trembled, knowing that the critical moment had arrived.

Golden Crocodile Douluo supported Qian Daoliu forward.

"Then, the Pope Palace can simply become independent; you may take the Guard Army, the Spirit Judgment Hall, and the Spirit Academy," he said slowly.

"The Pope Palace becomes independent?"

Bibi Dong sneered: "Does the Great Pontiff not understand the situation? Whether it is the Spirit Judgment Hall or the Spirit Academy, they are the institutions that currently hold the most popular support on the Dalu. Do you think the Spirit Hall can exist without these two institutions?"

She continued: "If there is to be a split, it can only be the Elder Palace leaving the Spirit Hall to become independent; the Spirit Hall will still be commanded by the Pope Palace."

Qian Daoliu frowned.

He knew that Bibi Dong was right. Nowadays, the reputation of the Spirit Judgment Hall and the Spirit Academy was too great, especially since the Spirit Judgment Hall had won the hearts of the people under Qin Jian's several operations, and the Spirit Hall itself was a holy land for Spirit Masters. Now, if their Elder Palace insisted on splitting away from the name of the Spirit Hall, it would be of no use.

"But the Spirit Hall is, after all, the foundation of my Qian family," he said slowly.

At this moment, both he and Bibi Dong, the two peak combatants, were seriously injured. On the Elder Palace side, there was still Golden Crocodile Douluo who could barely hold on, but the power Qin Jian erupted with on the Pope Palace side was simply immeasurable; even if it was short-lived, it was not easy to deal with.

Therefore, the strength of both sides was relatively balanced at this moment, and a split through negotiation was the best way to preserve their strength.

If they chose to fight to the death now, then other forces would certainly benefit. The two great empires and the Upper Three Sects would not let this opportunity pass, and those vassal sects and duchies would also become restless; the Spirit Hall would face an immediate crisis of collapse.

"What do you want?"

Bibi Dong naturally knew the importance of the name "Spirit Hall," because that was the strategic core designated by Qin Jian, but for Qian Daoliu, it was just a bargaining chip; bringing it up was merely to exchange for more benefits.

"The Elder Palace wants to take away all the vassal duchies and sects of all sizes," Qian Daoliu said slowly.

Regarding such a lion's share, Bibi Dong had only two words: "Dream on!"

"Whether it is the various duchies or the sects of all sizes, they were all brought under the Spirit Hall through my infiltration over the past twenty years. Does the Elder Palace want to steal them directly?"

She said coldly: "The Spirit Hall I took over consisted of nothing but branches spread across the Dalu and a single Wuhun City; everything else was conquered by me. Why should I give it up?"

"The name of the Spirit Hall is the greatest exchange. Besides, the current branches have long since turned into the Spirit Judgment Hall; shouldn't something be paid in exchange?" Qian Daoliu said.

Bibi Dong frowned, then tilted her head slightly and said to Qin Jian: "What do you think?"

In the past, whenever Bibi Dong asked for Qin Jian's opinion like this, the Title Douluo of the Spirit Hall would find it ridiculous and feel a sense of dissonance, often teasing Qin Jian as the "Pope-Consort."

But now, no one felt it was wrong, not even Qian Daoliu, who found it normal.

Because the Qin Jian of this moment was no longer the Soul Beast that needed the Pope's protection; he himself was an eight-ring Spirit Douluo, and a Spirit Douluo who possessed two Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings.

His current strength was approaching that of the Pope and Qian Daoliu, and no one dared to look down on him anymore.

The most emotional were Ju Douluo and Gui Douluo; they had watched Qin Jian grow to this point almost every step of the way, from the initial Level 60 to Level 88 in just a few short years, from existing as a vassal of the Pope to becoming the Chief Judge recognized by everyone.

It could be said that he and the Pope had become the two pillars of the Pope Palace, with no distinction in status.

"The Elder Palace can have all the vassal duchies, that is fine."

Qin Jian said: "But those sects cannot be given up, and at the same time, my Pope Palace wants Wuhun City."

"We can do without the sects, but Wuhun City is absolutely out of the question!"

Qian Daoliu refused without hesitation: "This is the place my Qian family has managed for hundreds of years, how can I give it up?"

Bibi Dong wanted to say something else, but Qin Jian held her waist slightly, and she closed her mouth, understanding.

Qin Jian then continued: "I would like to ask, after the split, what kind of force does the Elder Palace intend to become?"

Qian Daoliu looked at him, his eyes somewhat unreadable: "What? Do you want to teach me what to do?"

Qin Jian shook his head slightly and said: "I am just guessing; the Great Pontiff intends to establish a nation, right? To establish a Spirit Empire based on those duchies?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Qian Daoliu looked at him sharply: "You actually guessed my plan?!"

"Therefore, the Elder Palace, which wants to establish a Spirit Empire, does not need sects of all sizes at all, but it does need Wuhun City as its capital..."

Qin Jian looked at him and said: "However, has the Great Pontiff thought about it? This is a holy land for Spirit Masters; if it serves as the capital of an empire, is it not too discordant? Moreover, the Pope Palace has also operated here for many years; are you not worried about being infiltrated in the very heart of your territory?"

Qian Daoliu frowned: "What you say is indeed reasonable. However, Wuhun City is already located in the central-northern part of these duchies; even if it does not serve as the imperial capital, it can serve as a core city. Why should I hand it over to you?"

(End of chapter)