Wuhun City, the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong sat on the Pope's throne, her beautiful eyes sweeping across the room, her brows tightly furrowed.
Her jade hand, gripping the scepter, was tense with bulging veins.
Her expression was not pleasant.
Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and Hu Liena stood below, feeling the intense killing intent in the air, cold sweat running down their backs, trembling in fear.
"Nana, you may leave," Bibi Dong finally spoke, her tone slightly softened as she glanced at Hu Liena.
"Take a few days to rest, then continue with your training."
Hearing this, Hu Liena nodded.
"Yes, Teacher."
At the moment, Xie Yue and Yan were not qualified to come to the Pope's Palace, only Hu Liena, her personal disciple, could come with her over forty levels of spirit power.
After Hu Liena left, Gui Mei and Yue Guan exchanged a glance and instinctively lowered their heads even more.
This was a sign of an impending outburst!
"There is no need for you two elders to be so nervous," Bibi Dong said, glancing at Gui Mei and Yue Guan. She knew exactly what they were worried about.
They were simply afraid of punishment.
"You are not at fault in this matter."
It wasn't that Bibi Dong looked down on Yue Guan and Gui Mei, but this was the reality.
Two Rank 95 Titled Douluos trying to defeat a Rank 98 with a 100,000-year spirit ring?
It was almost impossible!
Even if Gui Mei and Yue Guan had a Martial Soul Fusion technique!
This test had far-reaching implications, and Bibi Dong's sour mood was not because Gui Mei and Yue Guan had lost.
It was because Zhongli was too powerful.
He was almost certain to break through to Rank 99.
Moreover, his second martial soul still had nine slots, which could help him ascend to godhood!
"If it weren't for the need for strength, I wouldn't have added spirit rings to my second martial soul so early," Bibi Dong thought to herself. She felt like her path might have been wrong too.
There was one crucial difference between her and Zhongli!
She had a divine inheritance, Zhongli likely did not!
As long as she completed the Rakshasa God's trials step by step, Bibi Dong would become the new Rakshasa God.
When she absorbed her spirit rings didn't matter.
Zhongli, on the other hand, did not have a divine inheritance; he could only rely on absorbing spirit rings into his second martial soul to forcefully break through to godhood.
Whether he would succeed or not was still uncertain.
As a proud woman, in terms of talent, she ultimately lost to him.
Hearing this, Gui Mei and Yue Guan both breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, Yue Guan seemed to think of something and bowed to Bibi Dong, saying, "Your Holiness, there is one thing I must report."
"Speak."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"When we invited Lord Martial God, he said this."
"He said he was invited by Qian Renxue to become a Guest Official at the Crown Prince's Palace."
Hearing this, Yue Guan observed Bibi Dong's expression. Seeing no change, he continued, "Miss's identity should be known only to the Elders in the Worship Hall and a few select Elder Hall members."
"Miss revealed her identity to invite Lord Martial God..."
At this point, Bibi Dong's expression turned slightly unpleasant.
Could it be that this girl has developed feelings?
According to reports, Zhongli was handsome and had an extraordinary aura, but his age could very well be over a hundred!
His age might even surpass that of Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji combined!
If Qian Renxue truly had feelings for Zhongli...
The thought made Bibi Dong's delicate fist clench even tighter.
Perhaps this Martial God Zhongli accepted the position at the Crown Prince's Mansion because of Qian Renxue.
Otherwise, why would someone at Rank 98 not focus on breaking through to Rank 99 and then enhancing his second martial soul?
It wasn't unreasonable for Bibi Dong to think this way. Anyone would likely come to the same conclusion, wouldn't they?
"If that's the case..."
Although she felt a bit uncomfortable, Bibi Dong knew that if this were true, there would be no need to worry about Qian Renxue being unable to "control" Zhongli. If their feelings were mutual, all the better.
One had to admit that Zhongli's appearance, talent, and strength were among the very best in the world.
He and Qian Renxue did make quite a good match.
A strange expression crossed Bibi Dong's face as she thought about this. Why was it that Qian Renxue's situation was entirely opposite to her own?
After a while, Bibi Dong finally relaxed her clenched fist, waved her hand, and said, "The matter between Guest Official Zhongli and Qian Renxue is not to be leaked."
"From today onward, there's no need to continue investigating Guest Official Zhongli."
Hearing this, Gui Mei and Yue Guan were momentarily stunned.
They had noticed all the changes in Bibi Dong's expression earlier.
No wonder they say women can change their expressions faster than turning the pages of a book.
"Understood!" they both replied.
Although they didn't understand why Bibi Dong made this decision, there must have been a reason behind it. As subordinates, they simply had to obey.
After Gui Mei and Yue Guan left, Bibi Dong stood up and looked in the direction of Tian Dou City.
"In a while, I must visit Heaven Dou City and see just how good your judgment is," Bibi Dong murmured to herself, her crimson lips barely moving.
Suddenly, a strange emotion flickered in her heart, and she vaguely began to understand the feelings Qian Xunji had back then.
From Qian Xunji's perspective, Yu Xiaogang was nothing more than a good-for-nothing brat.
And he had tricked away the precious daughter Qian Xunji had carefully raised and protected.
She had to see Zhongli for herself. If he had any ulterior motives...
At this time, Zhongli, who was listening to music in a brothel, had no idea that he had attracted attention.
"The heavy makeup is ready, and the show begins..."
"On stage, the joys and sorrows are all sung by me alone..."
"Zhongli, Zhongli, what's so interesting about this?" Paimon, flying around Zhongli, asked incessantly.
The plays, dances, and music she and the Traveler had seen were all far better than this, weren't they?
How could Zhongli enjoy this kind of thing?
Hearing this, Zhongli set down his teacup and replied, "Just passing the time."
"???"
Paimon was stunned. She had expected Zhongli to say something profound or offer some explanation.
But Zhongli didn't even bother to make up an excuse and simply said he was passing the time?
"I've seen countless plays and listened to endless music."
"Finding something that stands out is truly rare."
"Stands out?"
Paimon glanced at the outfits of the young women here. It wouldn't be wrong to say they were from poor families.
Their skirts didn't even cover their thighs—now that was something that stood out...
Paimon: "..."
It had been more than a month since their last sparring session.
Chi Yu had returned once, and when Paimon saw her again, she was very surprised.
In just one month, Chi Yu seemed to have changed a lot; she was no longer as naive as before.
Zhongli, however, wasn't surprised by Chi Yu's change.
After all, Heaven Dou City and Heaven Dou Royal Academy weren't far apart, and it was easy for him to keep track of her situation.
In just one month, Chi Yu had not only studied soul master knowledge but also trained in combat under the guidance of the three board members!
The three board members were quite surprised to learn that Chi Yu, despite being at Rank 48, had no battle experience at all.
But her learning ability left them amazed.
Fast, incredibly fast!