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Spirit Hall – The Pope's Main Hall
Within the grand Pope's Hall of Spirit City, Ye Lan wandered aimlessly, his footsteps echoing through the vast and empty chamber.
After the attendant in black robes had led him inside, the man left quietly, standing guard at the great doors outside.
The most magnificent sight within the hall was, without a doubt, the Golden Throne of the Pope.
The throne towered several dozen meters high—so tall that one had to raise their head to see its full form.
In stark contrast to this divine symbol of authority was a simple, long wooden desk placed before it. On the desk lay neatly stacked piles of papers.
With just one glance, Ye Lan could tell that these documents were filled with records—population statistics of the Heaven Dou Empire, trade data, soul master demographics, and soul beast resource maps.
Among them, what caught his eye most was a wrinkled golden-covered book, placed right in front of the throne. Eight shining golden words were engraved upon it:
"The New Core Competitiveness of Martial Spirits."
Ye Lan frowned slightly, eyes filled with confusion.
What had happened over these past few years?
Was Bibi Dong... actually handling political affairs so diligently now?
As he thought deeper, understanding dawned on him. It explained why Spirit Hall had changed so much in recent years.
The Hall had implemented numerous public-benefit policies—cutting soul master subsidies, reforming taxes, and provoking waves of public debate.
At first, there was outrage. But soon, the complaints died out—because even a smaller share was better than none.
So all this... was because of Bibi Dong?
Then what could have caused such a drastic change in her?
Ye Lan, the butterfly who had unknowingly stirred the first breeze of fate, hadn't interacted with Bibi Dong much himself.
Still, if she had truly changed, that was good news.
At least, he saw no trace of the world-destroying tendencies she was once rumored to possess.
In the original story, Bibi Dong had declared her intent to destroy the world—but that was only in her dying breath.
If she truly wished to annihilate all, she could have done so the first time she killed the Sea God Tang San.
To Ye Lan, her declaration back then seemed more like a self-imposed burden—to shoulder the blame and absolve Qian Renxue and Hu Liena.
After all, had it not been for Spirit Hall maintaining the balance between the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, those two nations would have long since torn each other apart.
In the end, Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue lost their unification war—it was merely the fate of victors and losers.
But Tang San, as the victorious Sea God, had painted Spirit Hall as evil, branding Bibi Dong as a devil.
The dead could not defend themselves, and who on the continent dared speak against a god?
Ye Lan's mind drifted back to recent events. Besides the grand news of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, the biggest scandal now was Yu Xiaogang's plagiarism of Spirit Hall's theories.
He had seen the crystal-ball projection of that scene.
And what drew his attention most… was Bibi Dong herself.
For some reason, she had completely severed ties with Yu Xiaogang.
Moreover, that exposure of plagiarism didn't seem like an accident—it looked deliberate.
Did that mean… Bibi Dong had already known beforehand?
Why?
As Ye Lan idly flipped through his own published work, "The New Core Competitiveness of Martial Spirits," he pondered the rift between the two.
Just then, a flash of purple appeared beside him.
He turned—and there she was.
Bibi Dong, the Pope herself, dignified and graceful, with beauty so perfect it was almost unreal.
But her face was pale—unnaturally so.
When she saw Ye Lan, her brows curved in a faint smile. She was just about to speak when—
"Ugh…"
Her body trembled violently. Blood surged up her throat, spilling from her lips as she nearly collapsed to the floor.
Ye Lan had no time to think. Instinctively, he caught her falling body.
Her soft, warm frame pressed against his chest, her faint fragrance brushing against his skin. The sudden closeness made Ye Lan's heartbeat quicken.
Seeing her delicate face turned pale yet beautiful, he immediately regretted his impulsiveness.
Sensing her shallow, uneven breaths and flushed cheeks, he quickly averted his gaze, cursing inwardly:
Ye Lan, what the hell are you doing? You'll get yourself killed at this rate!
Bibi Dong, completely defenseless toward the scholar she trusted, had naturally fallen into his arms.
Feeling the heat of his gaze upon her, the untainted Pope's cheeks reddened like sunset.
Ye Lan pretended not to notice, gently helping her to the golden throne.
"Your Holiness, what happened? Even with your strength, how could you be injured?" he asked.
Only then did Bibi Dong realize how long she'd been leaning on him.
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she steadied her soul power to suppress her internal injuries and said softly, "I'm fine. I just need a moment to recover."
Seeing her pale complexion, Ye Lan couldn't help but wonder—what kind of opponent could wound Bibi Dong like this?
But since she didn't wish to say, he decided not to pry.
Instead, he asked, "Your Holiness, may I know why you've summoned me today?"
Bibi Dong didn't answer right away. Her eyes, calm and deep, examined him closely.
Now that she saw him clearly, she finally understood why her daughter had fallen for this young man.
No wonder Xue'er likes him… any woman would.
With a faint sigh, she spoke:
"Ye Lan, what are your plans for the future?"
Without hesitation, he replied, "I don't have any, Your Holiness. If anything, I just wish to improve my strength as quickly as possible."
"To improve your strength… for revenge against Tang Hao?"
"Yes. My parents can't die in vain!"
His golden eyes flashed blood-red for an instant before fading.
"Your Holiness, I also want to thank you for your care all these years. If not for your arrangement—having Uncle Lang protect me—I would have been assassinated countless times."
Bibi Dong waved a hand, guilt in her voice. "It was my duty. Your parents died serving Spirit Hall, yet we failed to take care of you properly. That is my fault."
"No, Spirit Hall has treated me very well! Uncle Hao, Grandpa Matthew Nuo… they've all cared for me. Even the compensation was given to me along with the truth about my parents."
As he spoke, his gratitude was clear.
Bibi Dong's eyes softened. He must've suffered a lot all these years… all for revenge.
"Xiao Lan," she said gently, "how about calling me teacher from now on?"
"Eh? Your Holiness, you mean…?"
She smiled. "Why so formal? I'm asking if you'd like to become my disciple."
Ye Lan was momentarily stunned. He was about to answer when a sharp voice rang out—
"I object!!"
Qian Renxue stormed in, grabbing Ye Lan's arm and pulling him several meters back.
Her gaze toward Bibi Dong was filled with open hostility—Was this woman trying to steal her man?
The moment Bibi Dong saw her, a whisper echoed in her mind—
Kill her…
Kill her…
Kill her and Ye Lan will be yours alone…
Her body trembled slightly as the Rakshasa's evil intent stirred. She averted her gaze from Qian Renxue, looking only at Ye Lan.
Ye Lan, unaware of the darkness in her mind, thought she was leaving the decision to him.
He glanced between the two tense women.
He had wanted to mend their relationship, not ignite a war. If this went wrong, they could break apart completely.
Xue'er had once told him that Bibi Dong was her "sister." She didn't know the truth—that Bibi Dong was actually her mother.
Then, an idea flashed in his mind.
"Your Holiness, I can accept your offer—but on one condition."
He immediately felt Qian Renxue pinch his waist in warning, her eyes burning with anger.
Bibi Dong asked curiously, "What condition? As long as you agree to be my disciple, I'll promise anything."
Ye Lan grinned through the pain. "My condition is… that you must also take Xue'er as your disciple!"
"What!?" Qian Renxue's expression changed instantly, shocked beyond words.
Bibi Dong, too, was taken aback. But as she thought more, she realized—perhaps this was a wonderful idea.
She had owed Xue'er so much over the years. If they could rebuild a bond as master and disciple, perhaps she could at least make up for a fraction of that regret.
The only question was—could she truly suppress the Rakshasa's killing intent?
Qian Renxue, on the other hand, felt regret. She should have told Ye Lan about their fractured relationship earlier.
Still, when Ye Lan leaned close and whispered softly, "Xue'er, if I become her student, I won't see you often. Don't you want to stay with me?"
Her heart trembled, cheeks turning rosy.
Maybe… it wasn't such a bad idea.
Seeing her hesitate, Ye Lan pressed on, smiling. "So, Your Holiness, do you agree?"
"How could I refuse?" Bibi Dong replied warmly. "I agree, Xiao Lan."
It was the most genuine smile she had shown in decades.
Ye Lan bowed deeply. "Teacher, this disciple greets you."
He tugged gently on Qian Renxue's hand.
Blushing deeply, she stammered, "G–greetings, Teacher."
Bibi Dong's heart warmed. "You two must be tired from the competition. Stay and have dinner with me tonight."
"Of course!" Ye Lan agreed readily, holding Qian Renxue's hand.
Qian Renxue followed stiffly, her thoughts chaotic.
When she heard Bibi Dong call her "Xue'er," her heart fluttered violently.
It was… the first time in twenty years her mother had called her that.
Maybe—Ye Lan's idea wasn't so bad after all.
That Night
Dinner at the Pope's Hall was surprisingly warm.
Ye Lan placed a piece of tender tendon into Bibi Dong's bowl. "Teacher, this is good for complexion."
Normally restrained in her diet, Bibi Dong found herself eating more under his attentive gaze.
Then she smiled faintly. "Xue'er, try this too. You've gotten thin."
She picked up a chicken wing and placed it in Qian Renxue's bowl.
Qian Renxue froze. How… how did she know I like these?
Her vision blurred slightly, emotions overflowing as she ate silently.
Watching the mother and daughter's tension begin to ease, Ye Lan finally relaxed.
After dinner, he returned to the Heaven Dou Academy lounge, eager to tell the others about becoming the Pope's disciple.
The atmosphere there was lively—tables full of food and laughter.
But among the crowd, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan wore troubled expressions.
"Why isn't Teacher back yet? Don't tell me that woman Bibi Dong ate him!" Rongrong grumbled, gulping wine straight from the bottle.
"Please, Rongrong," Dugu Yan rolled her eyes. "The Pope wouldn't eat him. Probably Qian Renxue's the one keeping him!"
Zhu Zhuqing rested her chin on her hands, staring blankly at the food before her.
Coldly, Ye Lengleng placed a piece of fish in her bowl. "Eat, Zhuqing."
Just then, she spotted Ye Lan entering—and her face lit up. "Zhuqing, look who's here!"
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes widened. "Teacher!"
Without hesitation, she rushed into his arms.
Ye Lan gently patted her head. "Zhuqing, you didn't eat?"
Blushing, she whispered, "I was waiting for you."
Then, spotting him, Rongrong shouted excitedly, "Teacher! You're back!"
She lunged at him, only to collide with Zhu Zhuqing.
Dugu Yan, tipsy and jealous, slammed down her bottle. "Rongrong! You traitor! Idol's mine!"
The boys on the sidelines groaned in despair.
"Why even live anymore!?" one shouted, slamming his drink.
"Teach us your ways, Ye Lan!"
Fire Dance raised her mug. "I'm training harder starting tomorrow—I'm catching up to our idol!"
Later that night, Ye Lan walked his group back to their courtyard.
Rongrong, flushed and tipsy, was certain Ye Lan had become far too bold—bringing so many girls to his room.
As she lay across his back, her thoughts grew wild. Is he planning to… all of us… together?
He laid her gently on the sofa, brushing her forehead. "You're not feverish, but your face is red."
"N–nothing! Just too much wine!" she stammered.
Lengleng stepped in smoothly. "Ye Lan, didn't you have something to tell us?"
He nodded. "I've become Pope Bibi Dong's disciple. I'll be staying in Spirit City for a while. What are everyone's plans now that the tournament's over?"
Zhu Zhuqing sighed. "I'll return to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect with Rongrong to train. Sword Grandfather will teach me swordsmanship, and Rongrong will study sect management."
Rongrong pouted. "Teacher, won't you come with us? You're our honorary elder!"
He smiled warmly. "Train well. I'll visit often."
Both girls nodded tearfully.
Then he turned to Dugu Yan.
She grinned. "Grandpa's taking me to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to refine my poison. He says my 'Emerald Dragon Emperor' venom still lacks bite. I'll miss you though—meeting you will be hard!"
He chuckled, ruffling her hair. "If you miss me, come find me in Spirit City. And I'll visit when I go to the sect."
"Deal! Bring roasted chicken!" she laughed.
Finally, Lengleng spoke. "I'll be returning home to help manage the family's medicine trade. Also… will you come meet my mother?"
"Of course," he smiled. "In a few days."
Her eyes glistened. "She's wanted to thank you ever since the Nine-Heart Begonia evolved into the Holy Begonia."
Then she hugged him tightly. "Thank you, Ye Lan."
He gently stroked her back. "There's no need to thank me."
As he said that, a drunken Dugu Yan shouted, "Let's all sleep with Idol tonight! Last night together!"
Zhu Zhuqing blushed but nodded faintly.
Before Ye Lan could protest, Rongrong pounced, dragging everyone down.
"Wait—no!!" Ye Lan groaned.
Being surrounded by four girls and unable to move—truly, the cruelest torture for a man.
Later That Night – Qian Renxue's Room
Qian Renxue lay in bed, clutching an old ragged doll. A few tears sparkled at the corners of her eyes.
They weren't of sorrow, but of joy.
After twenty long years, she had finally felt her mother's affection.
With a soft smile, she drifted into sleep.
Meanwhile, in the Pope's Palace…
Bibi Dong lay awake, tossing and turning.
Her thoughts kept circling back to Ye Lan and Qian Renxue.
If not for Ye Lan's idea, she might never have realized her daughter still cared for her.
Ye Lan…
The thought of him made her heartbeat quicken. She pressed her legs together, remembering the warmth of his chest and that burning gaze.
Her cheeks flushed crimson. Shameless! He's Xue'er's…
She tried to banish the thought—but the more she resisted, the deeper the longing grew.
And then, a whisper echoed in her mind—
Does a god need to care for mortal thoughts?
Kill Xue'er… Ye Lan will be yours… forever.
The next morning, Ye Lan awoke early, careful not to disturb the four sleeping girls.
After making breakfast and leaving notes for each of them, he headed to Spirit Hall.
Not long after he arrived, a familiar voice called out cheerfully—
"Junior Brother! Good morning! Are you here to meet Teacher too?"
Hu Liena waved at him with a bright smile.
(End of Chapter)