Dai Chengfeng's kissing skills were no longer as inexperienced as they once were; they had become extremely aggressive and proficient...
Bibi Dong gradually became immersed, responding to his passion.
However, she kept a small part of her mind focused on the movements of that strand of Asura God's Power within her.
What weighed heavily on her heart was that no matter how fervent Dai Chengfeng's kisses were, or how they made her body go limp and her heartbeat race, that strand of Asura God's Power remained like stagnant, sleeping water, showing no signs of growth.
It flowed quietly there, completely unresponsive to all the intimate contact happening outside.
This discovery left Bibi Dong's thoughts somewhat disarrayed.
Not because of the kiss itself, but because it confirmed her suspicion—the mechanism for the growth of divine power had indeed changed.
The two kissed passionately, unable to part, and the temperature in the bedchamber seemed to rise.
Dai Chengfeng's hands also started to wander, moving over her delicate body beneath the robe.
Just then—
"Knock, knock, knock."
A soft, rhythmic knocking sounded.
Immediately after, a servant's respectful and cautious voice came from outside the door: "Your Holiness, it is time. You should prepare to change and have breakfast before heading to the Pope's Hall."
The sudden interruption caused both who were immersed in the kiss to pause.
Dai Chengfeng's actions froze, and a trace of displeasure at being interrupted flashed across his face, but he quickly suppressed it.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to get up from Bibi Dong, with remnants of desire still lingering in his eyes.
Bibi Dong also took the opportunity to sit up, slightly panting, her cheeks flushed.
She extended her slender fingers, gently wiping her slightly swollen lips, calming her breathing, and then spoke to the outside in as steady and authoritative a voice as possible:
"I understand. You may leave and prepare."
"Yes."
The servant outside responded and retreated.
Dai Chengfeng watched Bibi Dong wipe her lips and her cheeks flushed with an enticing redness, satisfied with a smile.
He leaned over, stealing another kiss on her cheek, then swiftly got out of bed.
"Teacher, I shall take my leave now."
As Dai Chengfeng spoke, he quickly dressed himself.
His movements were elegant and neat, showing no sign of embarrassment, but instead exuded a lazy satisfaction.
Bibi Dong nodded, watching him tidy his robes, restoring his handsome and upright appearance, though a hint of lingering affection still lingered at the corners of his eyes and brows.
"Go ahead," she said indifferently.
Dai Chengfeng bowed again, then turned and left the bedchamber with light steps.
With the opening and closing of the chamber doors, only Bibi Dong remained in the inner room.
The air still seemed to carry traces of the lingering intimate atmosphere and Dai Chengfeng's scent.
Bibi Dong sat alone on the large bed, dazed for a moment, unconsciously touching her lips with her fingertips, where the tingling sensation from the intense kiss still lingered.
But what concerned her more was the complete inactivity of the Asura God's Power within her.
She shook her head, temporarily suppressing her jumbled thoughts.
Now was not the time for deep contemplation.
She summoned the maids, changed clothes, washed up, donned the magnificent robes symbolizing the authority of the Pope, and put on the nine-turn purple-gold crown. Instantly, the dignified, noble, and cold beauty, Pope Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall, returned.
After having breakfast, she proceeded to the Pope's Hall, surrounded by a group of attendants, to begin handling the heavy load of daily official duties.
However, throughout the entire morning, Pope Bibi Dong seated high on the Pope's throne appeared somewhat distracted.
Below her were reports from bishops across various regions, proposals from the Elder's Hall, analyses of empire movements…
These things that usually commanded her full attention and strategic thinking today seemed veiled by a thin gauze, difficult to fully engage with.
Her mind involuntarily kept recalling the morning kiss and the abnormal situation where the divine power showed no response.
'What exactly is going on?' she repeatedly asked herself. 'A bottleneck? A rule change? Or… special conditions needed?'
This uncontrollable, unknown feeling made her very uncomfortable.
Even while listening to a lengthy report from a cardinal about the spread of faith in a certain kingdom, she momentarily lost focus, unconsciously tapping her fingers lightly on the Pope's scepter, her violet eyes profound, making it impossible for others to guess her thoughts.
The cardinal below finished his report, seeing her long silence, couldn't help but feel uneasy, cautiously raising his head to glance, then quickly lowering it again.
Ghost Douluo Gui Mei standing nearby seemed to notice the Pope's unusual demeanor today, coughed lightly, and whispered a reminder:
"Your Holiness?"
Only then did Bibi Dong snap back to reality, realizing her lapse.
She quickly collected herself, her violet eyes regaining their usual cold sharpness, looked down at the cardinal, gave a few brief instructions in a tone devoid of emotion, and waved for him to withdraw.
For the remaining time, she forced herself to concentrate, but her efficiency was ultimately not as high as usual.
Finally enduring through the important matters, after announcing the adjournment, she immediately rose and headed directly back to her bedchamber.
Dismissing the attendants on either side, Bibi Dong changed out of her heavy papal robes into relatively simpler yet still luxurious purple attire.
She did not rest, nor did she handle any accumulated paperwork.
Instead, she walked alone through a secret passage within the bedchamber to a secluded chamber deep inside.
This chamber was located deep underground in the Pope's Hall, surrounded by powerful isolation soul-guidance arrays, ensuring no leakage of presence.
The chamber was dimly lit, with eerie runes carved on the walls, and the air permeated with a chilling, evil, and unsettling aura.
Here was where she communicated with the Rakshasa God.
Bibi Dong walked to the center of the chamber, where there was a simple altar.
She closed her eyes, concentrated her spirit, and began communicating with the existence beyond in a special way.
Gradually, the chilling aura in the chamber grew denser, the runes on the walls seemingly coming alive, faintly glowing with eerie light.
A blurry, twisted shadow filled with malice slowly coalesced above the altar.
Although its specific form was unclear, the overwhelming sense of slaughter, resentment, and evil intent was unmistakably the projection of the Rakshasa God's consciousness.
"What is it?"
An icy, raspy voice, as if composed of countless wailing vengeful spirits, directly resonated in Bibi Dong's heart.
Bibi Dong was already accustomed to this uncomfortable method of communication.
She opened her eyes, looking at the shadow, and directly voiced her doubts:
"Why has the Asura God's Power within me stopped progressing?"
The shadow above the altar seemed to ripple, emitting a strange, amused laugh.
"Stopped progressing?"
"What do you think?"
Bibi Dong frowned; she disliked the Rakshasa God's cryptic attitude but still suppressed her impatience and said gravely: "I do not know."
"Has the rule of the divine trial changed? Or have I hit a bottleneck?"
"Rules? Bottleneck?"
The Rakshasa God sneered, "Do you think inheriting a god position is child's play? That it is a power you can obtain comfortably without paying a true price?"
Something stirred in Bibi Dong's heart, vaguely grasping onto something, but the thought made her somewhat incredulous, even... a bit panicked.
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