Li Mubai: If I said I didn't force her to call me master, would you believe me?

At the first few sentences, Bibi Dong frowned slightly.

But when the last two sentences came, her brow smoothed out, and she froze on the spot.

What did Li Mubai mean by that?

She began to analyze and ponder the information revealed by his words.

From the sound of it,

Spirit Hall's eventual downfall seemed inextricably linked to these worship elders.

Saying one thing and meaning another?

Did that mean the way these worship elders conducted themselves would have a profoundly negative impact on Spirit Hall's development?

As for how these Spirit Hall worship elders conducted themselves,

Bibi Dong knew about it.

However,

It wasn't as though she couldn't accept such behavior.

As long as these people didn't interfere with some of her major decisions, all would be well.

When it came to these people,

Bibi Dong had no good way of dealing with them.

There were seven worship elders.

Every one of them was a Titled Douluo.

What was more,

People like Qian Daoliu were nearly at level one hundred in strength.

These worship elders were all grasshoppers tied to the same rope.

Even she, the Pope, sometimes had no choice but to compromise with them.

After all, they were simply too powerful, and on top of that, they formed an interest group.

There was nothing she could do about them.

And at the assembly,

She also knew a little about why these people had appeared so obedient.

It was because her decisions had not affected their interests.

If any of her decisions were to affect their interests,

They would certainly jump out and raise their voices in opposition.

In other words,

Her hold over Spirit Hall appeared firm on the surface.

But in reality, she could only influence a small portion of its affairs.

Truly major decisions still required these people's support.

Otherwise, even if she made a decision on her own,

If these worship elders outwardly complied but defied her in secret, refusing to carry it out,

Then the decision would be little more than a scrap of paper, with no binding force.

But what could she do?

She stood alone and unsupported.

Only after years of walking on thin ice had she finally been recommended by Qian Daoliu to become the Pope of Spirit Hall.

However,

The current situation was quite good.

At least, what she feared—the worship elders openly pretending to comply while defying her-had not yet happened.

The decisions she had made so far were all for Spirit Hall's development.

At the same time, they had not encroached on the elders' interests.

So not a single person had jumped out to oppose her openly.

Whenever she thought of those powerful worship elders, a sense of helplessness rose in Bibi Dong's heart.

In the end,

It was because she was too weak to forcefully suppress them.

If she were strong enough, how would she be afraid of them?

At that thought,

Bibi Dong's gaze suddenly deepened... It seems I need to hurry the search for a new Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. Only by becoming a Twin Martial Soul Titled Douluo can I keep these worship elders in hand!

"To receive your concern, Your Holiness, I, Mubai, am truly grateful. Since you don't disdain my humble, impoverished home, please come in and have a chat."

With that, Li Mubai climbed onto the carriage.

He did not enter it, however, but sat down in the driver's seat.

He then took the reins from the maid driving the carriage and led the way.

Inside the carriage,

Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with indignation as she heard Li Mubai describe his home as humble and impoverished.

When she had first entered his home yesterday, she had taken something of a liking to its layout.

She felt that

Even the layout of her Pope's Hall was less pleasing to her eyes than that of Li Mubai's home.

Of course,

There was also the color scheme.

In the Pope's Hall, the predominant color was a magnificent, opulent gold.

The color looked very grand and impressive.

But after looking at it for a long time, she would always grow a little tired of it.

By contrast, in Li Mubai's home,

The furnishings were all very simple and neatly arranged.

Combined with the colors of the floors and walls,

They gave her a refreshing feeling, and she liked it very much.

It could hardly be called magnificent, but one look at it put a person at ease and lifted their spirits.

If

A home like that was impoverished, what words should be used to describe the homes of ordinary people in the city?

Nothing but four bare walls?

Hu Liena, who was also sitting in the carriage, now wore a look of disbelief on her delicate little face.

Everything that had happened today had been truly shocking.

And now,

Her teacher was actually going to an elder's home, saying she wanted to learn more about the situation.

Something like that

Had never happened before.

After all, an ordinary elder's home couldn't compare to the splendor of the Pope's Hall!

And going to learn about an elder in person-

That was even more unheard of.

What was so special about this Li Mubai that her teacher was so keenly interested in him?

Hu Liena couldn't understand it.

The street was not long.

In just a few breaths, they arrived at the door of Li Mubai's home.

After getting off the carriage,

Li Mubai knocked on his door.

Knock, knock...

"Xiao Qian, open the door. We have honored guests."

"Coming, Master."

A mature woman's voice, tinged with a hint of seduction, came from behind the door.

Li Mubai, who had been knocking, couldn't help showing an awkward expression.

"Let me make this clear first: I definitely didn't ask her to call me that. She chose to address me that way herself."

Li Mubai offered an awkward explanation.

However,

Those casually spoken words of truth

Failed to convince the people in the carriage.

Seeing the look of disdain on the face of the maid driving the carriage,

Li Mubai shook his head.

The more he tried to explain, the worse it would look. He might as well keep quiet.

Inside the carriage,

Hu Liena, who was rising to step out, heard the seductive "Master."

The look in her eyes changed.

It couldn't help but remind her of scenes in which immoral people freely toyed with young women.

In an instant,

Her opinion of Spirit Hall's tenth elder plunged to rock bottom.

This elder must be the sort who delights in rape and plunder!

He's no good at all!!

The hint of anticipation that had been in Hu Liena's eyes vanished.

In its place was

A face as cold as Bibi Dong's.

With a creak,

The door opened.

Xiao Qian, dressed in a long green gown, appeared before Li Mubai.

As for yesterday's maid outfit?

All Li Mubai could say was,

Its quality had been terrible. It had torn apart with just the lightest tug...

The door opened.

The teacher and disciple had also stepped down from the carriage by now.

Huh?

This was...

Looking at the woman beside Bibi Dong, Li Mubai's eyes filled with puzzlement.

"Elder Mubai, you may not have met her. She is Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Hu Liena."

Seeing his confusion, Bibi Dong made the introduction.

"Oh~, so it's the Holy Maiden. I've long heard of you, long heard of you."

Li Mubai wore a friendly smile.