"In the future, if you want someone to talk to, you don't have to hide here alone keeping everything to yourself."
Su Yu pointed to the surrounding plants and trees, then glanced at the bluestone.
"You can have the servants inform me, and I'll come find you. Let this place be our secret base."
Qian Renxue was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise passing through her light purple eyes before being replaced by a hint of warmth.
She lowered her head, gently scratching Xiao Hui's chin with her finger, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz:
"Who... who said I want to talk to you."
Though her words said one thing, the corner of her mouth quietly curled into a faint smile, fleeting like an illusion.
Xiao Hui seemed to understand the words "secret base," wagging his tail excitedly and nuzzling against her in her embrace.
Seeing her contradictory demeanor, Su Yu didn't expose her, merely smiling:
"Anyway, I've said what I needed to say. If you ever change your mind, you can find me anytime."
He stood up, brushing off the grass from his clothes. "I should head back now. Any later and my teacher will worry."
Qian Renxue didn't look up, only softly uttering an "Mm."
It wasn't until Su Yu's figure disappeared at the end of the path that she raised her head, gazing in the direction he had left. Xiao Hui in her arms looked up at her with his moist eyes.
"Xiao Hui," she whispered, "this place... really is our secret base now."
The wind rustled through the forest, carrying the faint sound of leaves, as if responding to her words.
Sunlight fell on her face, that faint smile brighter than the earlier tears.
Inside the Papal Hall—
The high-ranking members of the Spirit Hall stood in two rows, their auras solemn, their eyes uniformly fixed on Bi Bidong seated in the main position.
Qian Daoliu sat upright in a high seat behind and to the side of the Pope, his golden hair cascading over his shoulders.
His expression was as calm as still water, as if he were merely an observer, yet he exuded an intangible, awe-inspiring pressure.
"Your Holiness the Pope! May I ask why you've summoned us today?"
A man in golden armor with rugged features spoke up from below.
This was none other than the Second Elder of the Spirit Hall, the ninety-eighth rank Titled Douluo—Golden Crocodile Douluo!
Bi Bidong rose from the papal throne, her purple-black robe spreading out behind her like the wings of a butterfly in the dark night.
Her gaze swept over the breathless crowd below, her voice clear and cold, carrying an undeniable decisiveness.
"Since the Haotian Sect sealed their gates and withdrew, the Spirit Hall has developed steadily but has gradually reached a bottleneck."
She spoke slowly, each word falling like ice pellets on stone.
"To advance further, we must break the deadlock. Next, we will do two things!"
"First, gather all commoner Soul Masters across the land, making them the foundation of our Spirit Hall. Second, annihilate the two great empires—Heaven Dou and Star Luo."
"To dominate the continent, these two empires are unavoidable obstacles." Bi Bidong lightly tapped her finger on the armrest of the throne.
"The Star Luo Empire has fierce customs and formidable military strength. To conquer them, we must rely on sheer force. This matter requires careful planning and steady advancement."
Shifting her tone, her gaze turned eastward, as if piercing through the hall to the distant Heaven Dou Empire:
"As for Heaven Dou, its military strength is already inferior to Star Luo's, yet it's filled with numerous sects within its borders."
"The Heaven Dou Imperial Family is deeply intertwined with the Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects, forming a stable network of power. Forcing our way would only bring more losses than gains."
The hall fell into silence as everyone awaited her next words.
Qian Daoliu remained seated, his gaze profound and unreadable.
A cold, sharp curve lifted the corner of Bi Bidong's lips. "But Heaven Dou has a fatal weakness."
"The succession of the Heaven Dou Empire's throne follows the emperor's selection of a prince to become the crown prince, who ultimately inherits the imperial position."
"My plan is—" Bi Bidong's voice suddenly lowered, carrying a hint of eerie cunning, "—to replace them!"
She paused, observing the shocked expressions around her, then continued:
"Let our agent replace one of the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire and remain within it."
"As long as the other princes die, our agent will become the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Once Xue Ye dies and our agent ascends the throne, a single decree will be enough for the Heaven Dou Empire to surrender without a fight and be incorporated into the territory of our Spirit Hall."
The plan was bold and ruthless, yet carried a terrifying feasibility.
A flicker of astonishment passed through Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes, quickly replaced by approval.
Qian Daoliu slowly opened his eyes, his gaze toward Bi Bidong now tinged with complex scrutiny.
"This matter requires absolute secrecy and will take years of effort."
Bi Bidong's gaze finally settled on Qian Daoliu. "Great Worship, what do you think?"
Qian Daoliu remained silent for a moment before nodding slowly. "If we can conquer Heaven Dou without shedding blood, it is indeed a sound strategy."
"But... who can shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"
The smile on Bi Bidong's lips deepened, yet a barely perceptible complexity flashed in her eyes:
"I already have a candidate in mind."
The candlelight in the hall flickered, casting shifting shadows on the varied expressions of those present.
Qian Daoliu looked at Bi Bidong and spoke word by word: "Might I ask who the Pope has chosen?"
Bi Bidong slowly settled back into her throne, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest as she replied calmly:
"The person we choose must be absolutely loyal to the Spirit Hall, without a trace of disloyalty."
She paused, then added: "Moreover, she must possess the ability to alter her Martial Soul and appearance to seamlessly integrate into the Heaven Dou Imperial Family without revealing any flaws."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qian Daoliu's expression changed abruptly, the calm in his eyes instantly churning with turmoil.
He sharply turned to Bi Bidong, his aged fingers clenching tightly, his voice laced with suppressed anger:
"Enough! I do not agree with this plan!"
Everyone in the hall was stunned; no one had expected the Great Worship, who rarely interfered with the Pope's decisions, to oppose so vehemently.
Qian Daoliu knew all too well—absolute loyalty to the Spirit Hall, coupled with the ability to change one's Martial Soul and appearance.
Who else could it be but Xiao Xue, who possessed the unique ability granted by their Qian family's inherited Angel Soul Bone?
Bi Bidong was clearly targeting Xiao Xue!
How could he allow his only granddaughter to undertake such a perilous mission?
Infiltrating the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, every step fraught with danger—a single misstep could lead to eternal ruin!
Bi Bidong raised her eyes to meet his, her violet pupils showing no sign of yielding:
"Great Worship, this is for the great cause of the Spirit Hall."
"The great cause?" Qian Daoliu abruptly stood up, golden Soul Power faintly undulating around him. "At the cost of Xiao Xue's safety? Absolutely not! I will not agree!" He stared fixedly at Bi Bidong.
"You know perfectly well no one but Xiao Xue could accomplish this! You're doing this deliberately!"
"I'm merely stating the facts." Bi Bidong's tone remained icy.
"As the inheritor of the Angel God, bearing the Qian family's honor, she should also contribute her share to the Spirit Hall."