Douluo Continent: Gretchen at the start, empowered by the Star God.

Chapter 111 Paving the Way for Qian Renxue

Sunlight streamed down the earth, a gentle breeze caressed his face—everything was so beautiful. Lang Lei strolled through a park in Tiandou City, enjoying a long-lost sense of freedom and tranquility.

However, his good fortune didn't last long. When he was about to go home, he was caught red-handed at the door by Alicia and Little Gretchen.

Alicia frowned slightly, her eyes filled with concern and reproach, while little Greta tugged at his sleeve, her eyes gleaming with worry.

"Why is Xiao Du so disobedient? Running around before you're even fully recovered breaks my heart!" Alicia's tone was stern, but mostly worried. "Do you know this will worsen your condition?"

Lang Lei lowered his head, filled with remorse. He knew his actions had worried them, but he really just wanted to breathe some fresh air and enjoy the feeling of flying. After all, having just obtained something as amazing as the Courage Dragon Wings, it was inevitable that he would feel excited.

Little Gretchen spoke up, her voice gentle yet firm: "Brother Lang Lei, Mother Aponia said that when you're sick, you need to rest properly."

Lang Lei looked up at their concerned eyes, a warm feeling welling up inside him. He knew they were doing it for his own good. He nodded, indicating that he understood.

"I was wrong, I will be more careful in the future," Lang Lei said sincerely, clasping his hands together. "Thank you for your concern."

"That's more like it!" Alicia said happily.

"However, I'm really all better now," Lang Lei said, patting his chest. "Why don't we go back first? Staying here is not only a hassle for others, but also quite uncomfortable."

"Really?" Alicia looked at Lang Lei suspiciously, walked over to Lang Lei and observed him for a while, "It seems that he has indeed emerged from that weak state."

"Let's go back quickly, otherwise Xuanbing, Lihuo, and Na'er will worry," Lang Lei said.

"Okay." Alicia nodded. "Whatever you say, Xiaodu. But shouldn't we see the little angel before we leave?"

"Little angel?" Lang Lei stopped pulling out the Anywhere Door.

"That little girl who disguised herself as the crown prince," Alicia said with feigned seriousness, "Although you don't understand all these intricacies, you're one of the few peers who can truly befriend her in her true form, aren't you?"

"..." Lang Lei thought about it carefully and realized that it was indeed the case. After all, Qian Renxue still had to carry out the so-called "plan to steal the country," which meant that she could only appear as "Xue Qinghe" most of the time.

"Then let's go meet her." Lang Lei put away the Anywhere Door and skillfully picked up little Gretchen from the ground with her arms outstretched.

……

"You've recovered? Congratulations!" Qian Renxue dismissed those around her and congratulated Lang Lei.

"That's right, I'm here to say goodbye," Lang Lei said.

"Yes, the Heavenly Dou Empire is not your place to stay..."

"How is your support in the imperial court and in the various regions under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dou Empire?" Lang Lei suddenly asked, changing the subject.

"In the imperial court, most officials have already sided with me; only Prince Xuexing's faction is still putting up a stubborn resistance," Qian Renxue pondered for a moment before answering earnestly. "As for the provinces... they almost never take sides."

"What do you want to do?" As soon as she finished speaking, Qian Renxue looked at Lang Lei, who seemed to be deep in thought, with a puzzled expression.

"Nothing much, of course I'm here to help you," Lang Lei said.

"You don't mean to...?"

"It's just what you think." Lang Lei shrugged, glanced at little Greta, and said cryptically, "I'm just a rough guy, I don't understand all the intricacies. Since they're blocking the way, we'll just have to make them move aside."

Qian Renxue knew, of course, that this so-called "making way" was not so simple, and reminded her, "Actually, the current situation is already very good. As long as Xueye dies normally, the throne is basically a foregone conclusion. If we engage in large-scale killing now, it may have the opposite effect."

"Is that so?" Lang Lei thought about it carefully and it seemed to make sense. "Not eliminating the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School back then was actually the right decision."

At least on the surface, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School supports Crown Prince Xue Qinghe. Although Ning Fengzhi may have other motives, as one of the three upper sects, its influence is self-evident.

"..." Qian Renxue's lips twitched. How come the three upper sects are treated like toys in your mouth?

Suddenly, Lang Lei remembered something he had planned to handle discreetly after he left.

Avalanche, the fourth prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.

When Avalanche provoked Alicia, this so-called Fourth Prince of Tiandou was already on Lang Lei's kill list. However, because he didn't want to ruin Alicia and Little Gretchen's mood while they were here, he didn't make a move at the time, but decided to do so after they left.

Fortunately, this time Lang Lei doesn't intend to resolve this privately.

He's going to pull off something big!

"Qian Renxue, how's the Vast Ocean Universe Cover I ordered?" Lang Lei suddenly turned his head and asked.

"That old guy Xueye is still hesitating," Qian Renxue replied sheepishly.

"This protagonist's halo is really powerful..." Lang Lei thought to himself. In the original story, Tang San obtained the Vast Ocean Universe Cover as if it were just picked up by chance, so why is it so much more difficult for him?

But this is the normal situation, after all, it's a national treasure.

"In that case, I will announce to the public soon that, due to what Xue Beng did at the gate of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, I will immediately declare war on the Heaven Dou Empire and attack the palace in two days." Lang Lei conveyed his thoughts to Qian Renxue. "At that time, you will use this to put pressure on Xue Ye and come to me for negotiations with the Vast Ocean Universe Cover."

"If Xuexing insists on protecting Xuebeng, then so be it, I'll eliminate them both. Even if Xuexing backs down, at least your throne is secure. As for the specifics of how it works out, that's up to you."

Qian Renxue was shocked by Lang Lei's idea, but she had to admit that the method was very effective and could be described as killing two birds with one stone.

"Okay, I understand." Qian Renxue nodded. "When do you plan to start?"

"I'll start when I get back." Lang Lei wasn't worried at all about anyone coming to harass him at his house, after all, others weren't stupid. "Let's change our previous statements. This time, let the officials of the Heavenly Dou Empire know that you're under my protection, so they'll think twice before choosing sides."

"Thanks."

"Don't be so polite, you should just take control of the Heaven Dou Empire sooner rather than later~"

"..."

Alicia, standing nearby, looked at Lang Lei thoughtfully, thinking to herself, "So this is where Xiao Du's habit of resorting to violence to overturn tables when things get tough started..."

(End of this chapter)