The Major Problem Within Spirit Hall

Early the next morning.

Ah Yin emerged from Lu Jin's room with a flushed face. She took the warm water a maid brought her, rinsed her mouth, and spat it back into the cup.

Lu Jin got dressed, opened the door, and took Ah Yin's hand. "Let's go wash up and eat. Warm water won't clean it properly."

Ah Yin rolled her eyes at Lu Jin. "Whose fault is that?!"

The maid didn't dare speak. She silently followed behind them, carrying the tray with the cup on it.

She was freaking out too. Knowing too much rarely made anyone happy.

Even by the time they reached the inner hall, the maid's mind was still in a muddle, and she didn't dare speak. As if possessed, she set the cup down on the table.

Ah Yin looked at the cup, her face reddening again. She was about to pour the water out when footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Qian Xunji arrived at the palace where Lu Jin was staying, accompanied by Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who had completed their mission. Bibi Dong, on the other hand, arrived late, with dark circles under her eyes.

Seeing his disciple's appearance, Qian Xunji smiled knowingly. This fool had finally grown up. He had been right to have Ling Yuan Douluo instruct her!

Bibi Dong noticed Qian Xunji's gaze and couldn't help drawing her head in.

After a night spent studying forbidden books, she was no longer the Bibi Dong who knew next to nothing about matters between men and women.

She stole another glance at Lu Jin. If it was Senior, perhaps it wouldn't be so bad for Sister Dong to spread her legs in welcome.

Oh no, I'm a little thirsty... Bibi Dong's gaze fell on the cup in Ah Yin's hand. "Sister Ah Yin, I'm a little hot. Can I drink this water?"

"Huh? Don't..." Ah Yin tried to stop her, but Bibi Dong moved faster, taking the cup and pouring the water into her mouth.

After drinking it, she suddenly felt much more at ease all over. "Thank you, Sister Ah Yin. But why does this water taste so fishy? Still, I feel pretty good after drinking it!"

The maid standing to the side was dumbstruck.

Has Her Highness the Saintess... always been this brave?

The corners of Ah Yin's mouth twitched. "I... is that so? As long as the Saintess is happy."

Lu Jin also looked at Bibi Dong with dark lines across his face, but in the next moment, his expression changed slightly.

The threads of fate that had still been trying to bind Bibi Dong's future had actually dispersed somewhat after that cup of water. Although Bibi Dong's thread would still cross Yu Xiaogang's in the future, they no longer tangled together afterward.

Good grief, that's my Ancient God essence for you...

Qian Xunji didn't know what Bibi Dong had drunk and merely thought her behavior was somewhat discourteous. "Dong'er, don't be rude!"

Then he looked at Bibi Dong with a hint of sympathy.

The girl must have been exhausted last night, to have such dark circles under her eyes. And Senior too-Dong'er had only just come of age. How could he wear her out like that?

"It's all right." Lu Jin cleared his throat. "May I ask what brings His Holiness the Pope here today? Why isn't the Great Enshrined with you?"

Qian Xunji said, "Senior, my father said he was feeling a little unwell when he got up this morning. He went to inspect the situation in Spirit City and clear his head while he was at it."

Even a Limit Douluo could feel unwell?

Lu Jin was somewhat puzzled. Then Qian Xunji continued, "These two are Yue Guan and Gui Mei. Both are Titled Douluo. If you have any instructions, Senior, you may call on them."

"Titled Douluo?" Lu Jin looked at the two men and gave a slight nod. "There's something I've actually been meaning to ask His Holiness the Pope."

Qian Xunji hurriedly cupped his fists. "Please ask, Senior. I'll tell you everything I know."

"Spirit Hall has existed for ten thousand years. Don't you have a few Soul Bones to give the elders who risked their lives for Spirit Hall last time?"

This was something Lu Jin had always wondered about. Very few of Spirit Hall's higher-ups possessed Soul Bones.

Yet during Bibi Dong's time, Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones were simply offered as prizes in the Soul Master Tournament.

If Soul Bones were so rare, why didn't Spirit Hall keep them for its higher-ups to bolster its own forces on paper?

If they weren't rare, why would Spirit Hall rather give them as prizes to a group of Soul Masters who merely had potential than give them to Titled Douluo?

Attracting Soul Masters with potential would raise Spirit Hall's future ceiling, while giving them to Titled Douluo would raise that ceiling immediately.

Besides, high-level Soul Bones were no use to low-level Soul Masters. It went without saying which approach would do more to strengthen Spirit Hall.

On one hand, it wanted new geniuses; on the other, it was stingy with its own people, who were already geniuses. Even though Lu Jin could see the threads of fate, he couldn't fathom this way of thinking, with the left and right sides of the brain fighting each other.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance.

After all these years, was someone finally speaking up for us?

Qian Xunji froze for a moment. Thinking of the Soul Bones in Spirit Hall's treasury, he asked himself the same question.

Lu Jin was watching him too, and was stunned to discover that he had inadvertently tugged on Qian Xunji's thread of fate again.

It seemed that Spirit Hall's failure to give its higher-ups Soul Bones was another deliberate arrangement by someone.

After all, Spirit Hall was already very powerful on paper. If every Titled Douluo were given Soul Bones as well, the other factions would have to keep making Spirit Hall act stupid to win.

And in fact, in the original storyline, Spirit Hall had already been made stupid enough to be ridiculous.

Lu Jin sighed. "Dong'er, sugar water, three spoonfuls of sugar."

"Oh, okay!" Bibi Dong said, picking up the cup she had just drunk from to make the sugar water.

Lu Jin hurriedly said, "Wait, use another cup!"

Qian Xunji took a deep breath. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. I truly did overlook this!"

Lu Jin shook his head. "I wouldn't call it guidance. I just think that Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and the other higher-ups of Spirit Hall have all risked life and limb for it. They deserve this."

With some emotion, he said, "If the two of them had Soul Bones, perhaps they wouldn't have died at Tang San's hands."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei visibly trembled.

Qian Xunji's expression also grew grave.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei's loyalty to Spirit Hall went without saying. Would they both die at Tang San's hands in the future too?

He hurriedly cupped his fists. "Senior, please help the two elders change their fate. These past few days, they have personally handled the search for the jade to build your statue..."

Lu Jin waved a hand. "In that case, I'll explain briefly."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei breathed a sigh of relief, and there was a little less resentment in their gazes as they looked at Pope Qian Xunji.

At least the Pope cared about them.

Lu Jin nodded. "Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was indeed powerful, but they lost because Tang San picked them off one by one. Gui Mei's heart was pierced by Tang San with the Sea God Trident, while Yue Guan was killed by Tang San while transporting supplies."

Just then, Bibi Dong returned with the sugar water.

Lu Jin took it, had a sip, and gave Bibi Dong a meaningful look.

His gaze made Bibi Dong's heart flutter. She unconsciously swept back the hair on her forehead and smiled sweetly.

Then Lu Jin spoke. "Your deaths also had something to do with the future Pope, Bibi Dong."

Bibi Dong's smile froze on her face. Suddenly, she felt two resentful gazes fall on her.

Her scalp tingled, and she took half a step back.

Why are you looking at me? I'm not the one who used you like snap pops. That was Pope 2B Dong!

Lu Jin smiled. "The future isn't impossible to change. If Gui Mei had a Soul Bone to protect his heart, he wouldn't have been killed in one blow. And as long as he's there, the two elders' Two Extremes Stillness Domain can turn the tide even in a desperate situation."

"Their deaths are connected to the future Pope, but they're more closely connected to your Qian Family. After all, the two of them have been with you longer."

Qian Xunji cupped his fists. "I understand. We won't disturb your meal, Senior. We'll take our leave."

He had originally wanted to ask what had happened afterward yesterday.

But now, it seemed the problems within Spirit Hall might be even greater. Although there weren't many Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones in its treasury, with ten thousand years of accumulation, there were enough to give each of its higher-ups one.

After Qian Xunji left, Lu Jin looked at Bibi Dong. "Where did you go last night?"

Bibi Dong's face flushed scarlet.

As I thought, has Senior wanted me to do those shameful things with him all along? No wonder he didn't want to talk when I made a bed on the floor.

"I... I'll come tonight..."

"No."

Bibi Dong looked up at Lu Jin in shock.

He was expressionless. "There are plenty of empty rooms in Spirit Hall. Find yourself somewhere to sleep. I have some private matters at night that I can't let you see."

Private matters?!

Bibi Dong didn't react much, but Ah Yin's eyes widened sharply.

Ah Yin rubbed her aching jaw. No, please, I can't take any more!