Douluo; Zhongli Adventures in Mortal World with Paimon

"Qing He, it's been a long time since I've invited you for a meal. Would you care to join me today?"

Faced with Zhongli's invitation, "Xue Qinghe" was just about to agree when a few unpleasant memories surfaced in her mind.

She recalled the last time Zhongli invited her for a meal—it was she who paid!

The time before that? She paid again!

It was like being the helpless protagonist of a comedy novel.

In an instant, the "Xue Qinghe" who had been eager lost all interest.

Touching her storage soul guide device, "Xue Qinghe" felt a pang of nervousness.

Her money... most of it had been spent by Zhongli and Paimon.

She hadn't even splurged on a new outfit for herself!

For a moment, sadness welled up in her heart.

Wait a second! Zhongli was the one inviting her out this time, so why should she hesitate?

After all, the money spent was from the Heaven Dou Empire's treasury.

Qian Renxue: "Zhongli, I'm going to the Heaven Dou Empire to be the Crown Prince and support you!"

"Since you're so gracious, Qinghe will naturally join you!"

"Xue Qinghe" clasped her hands in a polite gesture, acting every bit the gentleman.

Of course, this was all a performance for the likes of Emperor Xue Ye and the others.

If she were using her original appearance, she'd simply say: "Sure!"

"Great! It's been ages since I visited the Seven Treasures Restaurant!"

"Paimon, didn't you say you wanted to try something new?"

"Don't blame me for not taking you sooner!"

"Xue Qinghe" instinctively retorted.

Paimon's earlier remarks made it sound like she had been skimping on food!

Her life was already a balancing act on thin ice; how could she afford such accusations?

"Hehe, I just wanted to check if the menu's been updated," Paimon said, scratching her head sheepishly.

Qian Renxue treated her extremely well, almost doting on her.

How could she possibly be stingy with food?

On reflection, Traveler was much the same; whenever they had...

Paimon suddenly found herself reminiscing about the Traveler.

That was a true partnership through thick and thin.

With Zhongli, everything was calm and stable; there had been no hardships to endure, and those memories weren't particularly meaningful.

With Qian Renxue, she was treated like a treasure. Paimon had some idea of her intentions, but her silence wasn't ignorance.

Paimon was quite smart, after all.

Traveling with the Traveler, though, they had shared countless adventures—

From Mondstadt's windswept plains to the peaks of Dragonspine, and beyond…

Filled with adventure and camaraderie.

But alas, she wasn't a hero herself…

As the three of them left, those seated in the VIP section displayed varied expressions.

The three board members of the Spirit Academy wore smiles of admiration, their eyes brimming with respect.

To them, this Martial God Douluo was a figure of utmost reverence!

Emperor Xue Ye, on the other hand, had fallen into deep thought.

"This must be approached gradually," he decided internally, finally letting a faint smile surface.

As long as he could bring Chi Yu and Du Siji into the royal family's fold, the results would manifest within a hundred years.

By then, the royal family would have its own Title Douluo.

Moreover, they themselves possessed the potential to become great!

Every time the preliminary rounds of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament began, Heaven Dou City and Star Luo City would become lively hubs of activity.

Those who loved combat soul battles would travel from afar to watch the matches and cheer for their favorite contestants.

After that day's matches ended, the streets of Heaven Dou City were filled with groups of people chatting and laughing. Most of their conversations revolved around the events and experiences of the matches.

"With the return of the Martial God Douluo, the contestants' spirits seem entirely different."

Groups of three or five friends gathered to discuss the day's events.

"Indeed! Only with the Martial God Douluo can we witness such thrilling soul battles!"

"That contestant named Ma Hongjun is truly a unique character—definitely the first of his kind in history!"

"I've seen plenty of rigged matches before, but someone openly attacking their own teammates? Honestly, that's a first!"

At this, everyone burst into laughter. Such an event was unheard of in the past, let alone seen.

"Don't even mention it! Seriously, don't!"

"If that powerhouse hadn't stepped in, Ma Hongjun might have single-handedly taken down the entire Shrek team!"

"Impossible!"

"Even with a mutated martial soul, he's still just a Soul Elder. After a few soul skills, he'd run out of strength and be at the mercy of others!"

"I don't buy it!"

"Wanna bet?"

"You're on!"

Scenes like this were all too common today. Everyone was speculating whether Ma Hongjun could defeat the Shrek team in the next match!

After all, Ma Hongjun was himself a member of the Shrek team!

At the Seven Treasures Restaurant, inside a private room.

The dishes had all been served, and the waiter had tactfully left the room.

As she exited, she couldn't help but steal a glance at Zhongli.

So handsome!

The Martial God Douluo remained as charming as ever!

"Zhongli, eat up!"

"Qinghe, you too!"

Paimon worked her way through the dishes with both hands, her words muffled by food.

Zhongli and Qian Renxue exchanged a glance, nodding helplessly.

"Qinghe, if one day you unify the continent, what will you do next?"

Zhongli asked casually, sipping his tea with an air of nonchalance.

Hearing this, Qian Renxue's body trembled, and her pupils contracted.

Though Zhongli appeared calm, as if casually discussing dreams, she knew this was likely a "test."

A single misstep in her answer could mean the end of Zhongli—not just as her guest official but entirely out of her camp!

Caught in a mental storm, Qian Renxue suddenly felt a flash of inspiration, a moment of clarity.

"Guest Elder, if I can unify the continent, it must be through reform under great pressure."

"I've spoken to you about similar topics before."

"I may not achieve equality for all, but I can ensure everyone has enough to eat and access to education."

"As for what the future holds—well, that's why I have you, Guest Elder!"

She smiled and continued, "Throughout history, which emperor has ever had someone like you by their side?"

"With you, I have everything I need!"

Zhongli: "…"

How did this "test" end with the responsibility being pushed back on him?

And what was with that "unteachable block of wood" attitude?

Looking at Qian Renxue, Zhongli sighed inwardly.

After all, she was a genius within the Soul Master system; handling such matters was bound to be superficial for her.

Still, the fact that she possessed such intentions was already commendable.

Among a field of mediocre candidates, she was the best choice.

"It will have to do," he thought.

Seeing Zhongli's expression, Qian Renxue thought she might have said something wrong and felt a little flustered.

"Qinghe, then how do you plan to ascend to the throne?"

In the original timeline, she relied on poison to kill Emperor Xue Ye and take the throne.

For someone of her status, such methods were undeniably dishonorable.

But this time, she hadn't poisoned Emperor Xue Ye at all.

Yes, not even a little.

Currently, Emperor Xue Ye was in robust health and could easily live another ten or twenty years.

"If the Guest Elder is willing to support me, my father will naturally abdicate."

Xue Qinghe replied calmly, without a hint of hesitation.

Without using poison, there were still plenty of ways to ensure Emperor Xue Ye became a retired emperor.

Zhongli: "…"

The corner of Zhongli's eye twitched slightly. He finally understood why the consciousness of the Douluo Plane had reached out to him.

It had been a very wise decision, indeed.