As the sun set, Wuhun City took on an eerie air.
Bibi Dong's unease grew stronger; she had a premonition that something big might happen that night.
"I hope it has nothing to do with me!" she sighed inwardly.
"Your Highness, the Pope has prepared a banquet and invites you to attend!"
Yue Guan's voice came from outside the courtyard.
Bibi Dong quickly went to the courtyard gate and opened it.
"Elder Ju, my teacher wants me to attend the banquet?"
"Yes, it seems the Pope has prepared a gift for you that you haven't yet received!"
Hearing Yue Guan's words, Bibi Dong sensed something was amiss.
The gift her teacher was preparing was a soul bone—a ten-thousand-year soul bone wasn't easy to obtain!
But since he had sent Yue Guan to invite her, she couldn't refuse.
"Elder Ju, please come in and sit for a while. I'll change my clothes and then I'll go with you."
"Holy Maiden, I'll wait for you outside. Please don't keep His Holiness the Pope waiting!"
Yue Guan didn't intend to go in, but instead urged her to change her clothes quickly and go to the banquet.
He had participated in the final attack of this beast tide.
The 20,000-year-old soul beast, the Azure Hummingbird, dropped a rare flying external soul bone!
Upon learning the news, His Holiness the Pope immediately announced: at an appropriate time, it will be bestowed upon the Holy Maiden!
He hadn't expected the Pope to be so kind to the Holy Maiden, bestowing upon her such a rare flying external soul bone.
Bibi Dong returned to her room, changing her clothes while pondering.
"Strange, wasn't it agreed that he would take me to hunt soul beasts personally?"
"Giving a gift now, there might really be a problem!"
"Teacher probably has some kind of conspiracy in mind, I have to be careful!"
After changing her clothes, she went out and bumped into Yu Mei.
"Go to the library and tell Second Uncle that I'm going to attend Teacher's banquet!"
After saying this, she left with Yue Guan.
Yu Mei understood Bibi Dong's meaning and, after putting her things away, immediately headed towards the library.
Bibi Dong arrived at the Papal Palace's dining room and found Qian Xunji and several titled elders already seated there.
She entered and bowed, saying, "Bibi Dong greets Teacher and all the elders!"
"Dong'er, tonight's banquet is a formality; please, elders, bear witness."
"Teacher originally intended to personally take you to obtain the soul bone, but Heaven has favored the Spirit Hall, and during this beast tide, we obtained a ten-thousand-year-old external soul bone for flight!"
"This soul bone, with all the elders as witnesses, is bestowed upon you!"
With that, Qian Xunji took out a storage soul tool, activated his soul power, and displayed the soul bone.
"His Holiness the Pope bestowing such a precious soul bone upon the Holy Maiden shows the high hopes he places on her; it will be a celebrated story!"
Demon Bear Douluo praised Qian Xunji's actions; this master was truly too good to his disciple!
"Holy Maiden, as His Holiness the Pope's disciple, you must cultivate even more diligently and not disappoint His Holiness the Pope's expectations!"
Lion Douluo also laughed, though his smile looked somewhat frightening.
Qian Xunji was satisfied with their words and then put the soul bone back into his soul tool.
"Dong'er, find some time to absorb the soul bone yourself!"
"This external soul bone for flight can help you escape danger in critical moments!"
After saying that, he handed the soul tool to Bibi Dong.
"Dong'er, thank you, teacher!"
Bibi Dong took the soul tool, pretending to be very happy.
In reality, she was already very wary.
Qian Xunji nodded, looked at her and Yue Guan, and smiled, "Sit down!"
As Bibi Dong sat down, Yu Mei arrived at the library.
She didn't have a token and couldn't enter the library, so she could only call for Qian Yucheng from the outside.
"Second Young Master, it's me, Yu Mei. The Holy Maiden sent me with a message!"
Ling Yuan suddenly appeared and said, "Let's go, I'll take you inside!"
"Thank you, Elder Ling Yuan!"
Yu Mei said, then followed Ling Yuan into the library.
Upon seeing Qian Yucheng, she immediately said, "Second Young Master, the Holy Maiden was summoned by the Pope to a banquet. She asked me to come and tell you before she left."
"Dong'er sent you to tell me this? Who did she leave with?"
Qian Yucheng asked.
"Elder Yue Guan!" Yu Mei replied.
"I understand. Don't go back to your room tonight!"
Qian Yucheng said, then looked at Ling Yuan:
"Elder Ling Yuan, take Yu Mei back to your place. Let's go now."
Ling Yuan and Yu Mei didn't understand his arrangement, but they still did as he asked.
"Second Young Master, then I'll take her away!"
After saying that, Ling Yuan left with Yu Mei.
Qian Yucheng stood up and sighed, "Very well, let's give them a surprise tonight!"
He disappeared from the spot and arrived at the Papal Palace Square.
...
At the Papal Palace restaurant, the titled Douluo elders invited by Qian Xunji left one by one halfway through their meal.
The Spirit Hall had a rule that elders and the Pope could not dine for more than thirty minutes.
Qian Xunji had not told Bibi Dong this.
Inviting titled Douluo elders to witness this was to lower Bibi Dong's guard!
Seeing that she had already eaten most of her dinner, a barely perceptible smile appeared on Qian Xunji's lips.
Bibi Dong noticed something was wrong as she watched the departing elders.
She looked at the food in front of her, then at Qian Xunji, whose expression was normal.
"Oh no!"
As she was about to put down her utensils, she suddenly felt weak.
Moreover, a strong heat rose within her body, and her face flushed crimson.
"Damn it, I have no strength left, and I can't even use my soul power!"
Bibi Dong realized then that this was all part of his plan!
The reward of soul bones was just an excuse; her ultimate target was her!
"What should I do?!" Bibi Dong slumped onto the dining table, her mind racing with solutions.
Unfortunately, she couldn't move; she had no power to resist.
Qian Xunji rose and slowly walked to her side.
"Dong'er, is the food at this dinner to your liking?!"
he said, his gaze burning as he scrutinized Bibi Dong's body.
Bibi Dong couldn't speak, only glaring at him angrily,
as if questioning him: You are my teacher, why did you do this?!
Qian Xunji seemed to read her eyes and laughed:
"Blame it on your talent being too good, so good that even your teacher is a little jealous!"
"The thought of you getting married makes all my careful nurturing seem like a waste!"
After saying that, he touched Bibi Dong's face, revealing a wicked look.
"I must keep you in the Spirit Hall, even if it means using extreme methods!"
"Whether you hate me or resent me, I don't care!"
"In fact, the bloodline born from our union will be another genius Soul Master on the continent!"
Bibi Dong was stunned. So that was what he was thinking!
This was so dirty!
How could the Pope of the Spirit Hall have such despicable thoughts?!
"Don't worry, your teacher will be very gentle!"
"I've already prepared a secret room to give you an unforgettable memory!"
After saying that, Qian Xunji reached out to pick up Bibi Dong.
"Big brother, I know you're a pervert, but I never expected you'd actually go after your own disciple!"
As the voice faded, the restaurant door opened, and Qian Yucheng slowly walked in.
He looked at Bibi Dong, whose expression was off, and then at Qian Xunji with a serious gaze.
Qian Xunji turned to look at him, disdainfully saying, "What, you piece of trash, you think you can control me?!"
"Leave now, and I'll pretend nothing happened!"
"Otherwise, don't blame me for not showing brotherly affection!"
Qian Yucheng shook his head and walked towards him:
"Brother? Don't you find it disgusting to say that?"
"How many times have you secretly targeted me over the years? You probably can't even count them yourself!"
"Hmph!" Qian Xunji unleashed his soul power pressure, issuing a warning:
"Second brother, have you gone mad from studying too much? An ordinary person dares to dream of fighting a Title Douluo?"
"With your trashy appearance, have you even managed to cultivate soul power through your studies?"
"Has studying made you a Title Douluo?!"
"Today, I'll destroy Bibi Dong right in front of you, what can you do about it?!"
"I think this desperate and powerless look is exactly like the scene when your martial soul awakened back then?!"
...