When she looked at Ye Tian again, the tenderness in Bi Bi Dong's eyes had diminished slightly, replaced by a touch of the aloofness befitting a superior. With a strong undercurrent of ambition, she whispered, "If you like looking, there will be even better ones in the future."
"..."
Ye Tian was momentarily at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.
However, what Bi Bi Dong referred to as "even better ones in the future" was likely the future Crown Robe exclusive to the Pope.
Of course, that would be magnificent—
the only set on the entire continent, representing supreme authority!
"Hmm?"
Not receiving a response from Ye Tian, Bi Bi Dong couldn't help but frown. Looking down at him, she asked in confusion, "Is that such a difficult question to answer?"
"Of course not!"
Ye Tian quickly denied it and replied promptly, "Teacher looks good in anything, but she looks even more stunning in such formal attire!"
As he spoke, Ye Tian even gave a thumbs-up!
"..."
Bi Bi Dong shot Ye Tian a dissatisfied glare and lowered her arms. "Anyone could tell you're just being perfunctory."
"Ahem... Teacher, you came to sit by my bedside so early not just to wake me up and have me admire your beauty, right?"
Ye Tian stopped being passive and proactively changed the subject.
Bi Bi Dong also stopped saying things that left Ye Tian flustered and got straight to the point. "I came to get something from you."
"What is it?"
Ye Tian looked puzzled.
Bi Bi Dong continued, "The Pill you plan to give to Yue Guan—I intend to deliver it to him on your behalf, so you don't have to make another trip."
Hearing this, Ye Tian was momentarily stunned.
Before he could react, Bi Bi Dong took out the Herbal Compendium from her Soul Guidance Device.
A stream of light shot from the gem on her forehead, aiming straight for Ye Tian's face—clearly seeking revenge for last night.
"Whoa!"
Ye Tian quickly rolled over, narrowly avoiding the heavy impact of the Herbal Compendium.
Thud—!
The hefty book landed on the quilt with a dull thud.
While Ye Tian was still catching his breath, Bi Bi Dong continued unhurriedly, "Also, I'm returning this book to you. I finished reading it last night. The content is quite good."
"Finished reading it?"
Ye Tian was taken aback but quickly realized that Bi Bi Dong must have seen the King of Immortal Herbs on the last page and had her suspicions. That was why she came to him, likely to ask for the Adamantine Jade Bone Pill, possibly to have Chrysanthemum Douluo help identify what Immortal Herb Qian Renxue had consumed.
Ye Tian had long been mentally prepared for such a situation and remained unflustered.
Instead, he looked at Bi Bi Dong with surprise and concern. "Such a thick compendium... Did Teacher stay up all night reading it?"
"What do you think?"
Bi Bi Dong retorted, her purple eyes tinged with resentment as if reproaching the one who asked the obvious.
Her beautiful face flushed with a hint of spring.
How could her heart remain calm after being suddenly kissed? Coupled with Ye Tian's ambiguous relationship with another woman, how could she possibly sleep?
"You, on the other hand, slept quite soundly, as if nothing happened," Bi Bi Dong murmured with a hint of reproach.
"Uh..."
A faint, unnatural blush appeared on Ye Tian's handsome face.
He dared not dwell on such a topic any longer—otherwise, what if Bi Bi Dong demanded a good morning kiss?
His mental fortitude had long since crumbled.
He no longer dared to offer himself to Dongdong again, lest things spiral out of control.
Ye Tian had no choice but to obediently retrieve the Adamantine Jade Bone Pill prepared for Chrysanthemum Douluo from the Green Pearl Wristguard and handed it over to Bi Bi Dong.
"This is what you asked for, Teacher—the Adamantine Jade Bone Pill."
"..."
Bi Bi Dong silently took the golden brocade box, opened it before her eyes, and instantly, a cluster of purple light bloomed.
Gazing at the Adamantine Jade Bone Pill inside the box, which resembled purple agate,
Bi Bi Dong could sense the extraordinary nature of this pill just by looking at it and smelling it. The rhythm of Soul Power within indeed complemented the aura of Yue Guan's Martial Soul perfectly.
At the same time,
Bi Bi Dong couldn't help but marvel inwardly at Ye Tian's mastery of the Pill Refining Art
and the unique advantages of the so-called Immortal Herbs.
"Rest well. I'll be back soon."
Seeing that the pill was fine, Bi Bi Dong didn't want to delay any further.
After leaving these words, she turned and departed.
Ye Tian watched Bi Bi Dong leave, his eyes fixed on the closed door of the 'Eternal Heaven' room.
He couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.
Fortunately, he didn't have the bad habit of sleeping naked, or he would have been exposed again.
After their brief exchange,
Ye Tian could clearly sense that Bi Bi Dong's attitude hadn't worsened. Instead, it had become much gentler than before.
It seemed his strategy was quite effective!
At least for now, it was.
He just didn't know whether this enchantress Bi Bi Dong might suddenly turn hostile.
Ye Tian dared not let his guard down too much.
――
In the blink of an eye,
after bidding farewell to Ye Tian, Bi Bi Dong soon arrived at the Papal Hall.
The Elder Hall was located within the Papal Hall.
As for the meeting venue,
having served as the Saintess for so many years, Bi Bi Dong was quite familiar with it.
On this special day,
the area around the Papal Hall had long been cleared. In addition to the increased number of Palace Knights, even Red Cardinals were not permitted to stay here. Only the Elders and the Saintess of the Spirit Hall were allowed passage.
"Hmm?"
The journey was smooth and unobstructed.
But just as Bi Bi Dong passed through the square guarded by numerous Palace Knights and reached the entrance of the Papal Hall, she suddenly halted her steps.
Her willow-like eyebrows twitched slightly, first left, then right.
Her gaze fell upon the two figures standing beside the pillars on either side of the Papal Hall entrance—one clad in dark golden armor, the other in black military attire.
They were none other than the two Elders of the Spirit Hall!
Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo.
The two stood beside the pillars adorned with spiraling golden angels, their upright bodies turning slightly as they faced each other and bowed slightly, gesturing for Bi Bi Dong to proceed first.
"..."
Guimei and Yue Guan remained silent,
but Bi Bi Dong had already understood the message they intended to convey.
It was nothing more than a pledge of allegiance.
Bi Bi Dong, clad in her Sacred Attire, remained expressionless.
She merely nodded to them before calmly passing between the two massive pillars and stepping slowly into the interior of the Papal Hall.
Once through the main entrance,
a cold smile appeared on Bi Bi Dong's face.
The taste of power was far more delightful than she had imagined.
Obtaining the pill now seemed like an unnecessary move.
"..."
Under the resplendent golden eaves, between the two pillars, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo gathered together, exchanging glances filled with helplessness.
Given their understanding of Bi Bi Dong,
they didn't believe she was unaware
that, to some extent, they were among those who knew the truth about the Pope's death!
Their actions were a matter of necessity.
Back at the Hall of Worship, their failed attempt to assist Qian Xunji in hunting the 100,000-Year Soul Beast had already cast doubt on their capabilities in the eyes of the Hall. It was likely they would no longer receive sufficient attention or important assignments.
After all, to put it bluntly, the Pope's death was not entirely unrelated to them!
Moreover, to avoid airing dirty laundry in public, the Hall of Worship would naturally keep the truth of the Pope's death under wraps. But for them, it was different—once Bi Bi Dong ascended to power, there was no guarantee she wouldn't try to bury the truth.
To secure her position as Pope and rest easy, she might very well target the two of them.
Killing them was unlikely,
but marginalizing them or even exiling them to Death Canyon at the border of the Star Dou Great Forest to fend off Beast Tides was entirely possible.
Why had they joined the Spirit Hall in the first place? For power, status, and access to various resources and benefits. With their strength as Titled Douluos, even if they hadn't joined, the Spirit Hall wouldn't have dared to push them too far.
Thus,
for the sake of their interests,
unwelcome in the Hall of Worship, they had no choice but to temporarily align themselves with Bi Bi Dong's faction.
They even took the initiative to show their support and declare their stance at the entrance.
"Chrysanthemum, do you think she's gone far yet?"
Ghost Douluo's eerie gray-black eyes held a trace of helplessness as his hoarse voice slowly emerged.
"Probably."
Chrysanthemum Douluo rested his elbow on Ghost Douluo's shoulder and sighed. "The Saintess is currently lacking capable people. From now on… we're going to have a busy life, even more exhausting than before."
"Exhausting? Still better than other assignments, isn't it?"
Ghost Douluo's raspy voice carried a hint of resentment. If not for Tang Hao, why would they have suffered such an undeserved calamity?
"Alright, we should go. She Long and the others should be arriving soon."
"…"
Tap. Tap.
Bi Bi Dong's footsteps gradually grew clearer in the empty conference hall.
Inside the vast hall stood a massive round table, surrounded by over a dozen chairs.
At this moment,
many were already seated around the large round table, waiting quietly.
The seven Elders of Worship, who had long withdrawn from worldly affairs and lived in seclusion, only reappearing before everyone due to the Pope's demise, were already seated in the main positions.
As the Grand Elder and a legendary top-tier powerhouse, Qian Daoliu naturally occupied the central seat at the head of the table. To his left and right sat Jin E and Azure Luan, along with Lion Heart, Light Feather, Qianjun Jiangmo, and the others—six in total, occupying six seats.
They all wore ceremonial robes with red backgrounds and golden patterns, symbolizing their status as Elders of Worship.
In addition,
several other Titled Douluo Elders from the Spirit Hall had also arrived.
Magic Bear Douluo, Ghost Leopard Douluo, and Sea Turtle Douluo, whose strength was comparable to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, were already seated.
Their red ceremonial robes
were much simpler compared to those of the Elders of Worship.
When Bi Bi Dong arrived belatedly, she couldn't help but pause in surprise at the sight of the entire Hall of Worship in attendance. The scene was even more grand than she had imagined!
Aside from Qian Daoliu, the other six Elders simultaneously opened their eyes and turned their gazes toward Bi Bi Dong in unison. With just that one glance… Bi Bi Dong felt dizzy and heavy-headed, as if her legs had sunk into quicksand.
Bi Bi Dong quickly composed herself, a flicker of wariness flashing in her eyes.
A show of authority?
She snorted coldly inwardly but calmly bowed to Qian Daoliu.
"Bi Bi Dong greets the Grand Elder."
"Hmm."
Qian Daoliu let out a faint nasal sound, his eyelids lifting slightly. This simple action alone carried a pressure more terrifying than the combined presence of the other six Elders!
Even with her composure, Bi Bi Dong couldn't help but feel a storm of shock and awe surge within her.
She had never seen Qian Daoliu take action, but she had been fortunate enough to witness Poseidon, the High Priest of Sea God Island, from afar. With every move, he could stir the power of heaven and earth, harnessing the ocean's might to hold up a vast expanse of azure sky! It seemed she still had a long way to go.
Bi Bi Dong's thirst for power surged once more!
Even as Pope, for a long time to come, she would be constrained by the Hall of Worship, forced to obediently serve as the Qian Family's steward!
"Take any seat."
Qian Daoliu withdrew his gaze and spoke indifferently.
This display was also meant to remind Bi Bi Dong that his previous words were no jest.
So what if Bi Bi Dong had become a Titled Douluo?
Without reaching the Peerless level, she would never soar beyond the skies of Spirit Hall City!
Even if a trace of divine power had once emanated from Bi Bi Dong, that feeling was worlds apart from facing Tang Hao—like comparing a firefly to the sun.
As Qian Daoliu's words fell, not only did Bi Bi Dong breathe a sigh of relief, but even Magic Bear Douluo and the others felt as if a weight had been lifted, their eyes filled with reverence as they looked at Qian Daoliu.
"Thank you, Grand Elder!"
Bi Bi Dong expressed her gratitude and took the nearest seat.
Before long, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, along with Porcupinefish Douluo and Snake Spear Douluo, had arrived in the conference room, sitting down with restraint.
Thus, all the top-tier combatants currently at the Titled Douluo level in Spirit Hall City were assembled!
Only by sitting here could one truly understand the profound heritage of Spirit Hall and the sheer terror of its strength!
Even with this lineup—after the attack on Sea God Island and the loss of Titled Douluo following the Pope's demise—even with two or three fewer, this force could still easily intimidate the top-tier power of the entire Soul Master Realm!
It could be said that even if all the other forces across the continent combined with the overseas Sea God Island, they would struggle to surpass Spirit Hall in terms of Titled Douluo numbers!
"Elder Brother, everyone is here."
Golden Crocodile Douluo reminded Qian Daoliu, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him.
"Hmm."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, opening his eyes once more and causing the air in the conference room to grow thick and heavy, plunging into absolute silence.
His voice, though not loud, resonated in everyone's ears like a tolling bell.
"I'll keep it brief."
"From now on, the position of Spirit Hall Pope will be held by Saintess Bi Bi Dong."
"I've said my piece. Who agrees, and who opposes?"
Qian Daoliu's voice was calm and measured. As his words fell, his serene gaze swept across everyone in the room.
"…"
Lionheart Douluo and the others remained silent.
No one dared to voice their stance recklessly, only secretly observing the other Elders.
Even Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, who had already pledged their allegiance.
Bi Bi Dong's eyes also swept over everyone, her heart shrouded in gloom.
This so-called meeting was nothing but a show of force from that old fool Qian Daoliu—a warning to her!
He wanted her, Bi Bi Dong, to see clearly that those Elders were nothing but useless fools! In the presence of the Hall of Worship's many Elders, they didn't even dare to let out a whisper!
Damn it—
A chill rose in Bi Bi Dong's heart, yet her face remained expressionless. She silently endured this humiliating and unavoidable warning.
"I agree!"
Finally,
Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice seemed to lift a burden from Ghost Leopard Douluo and the others.
With the Second Elder taking the lead,
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, who had struggled for a long time, each voiced their stance:
"I agree!"
"I agree."
"..."
Soon after, the remaining Elders and other high-ranking members all nodded in agreement.
No one dared to voice a differing opinion.