A Mutually Beneficial Arrangement

Hu Liena's room.

After Bibi Dong entered the inner chamber, she saw an unfamiliar woman standing by the windowsill.

The woman's red lips curved slightly, her beautiful eyes gleaming. She carried a noble bearing no less imposing than Bibi Dong's own as the Pope of Spirit Hall!

Bibi Dong recalled that Third Offering had said outside the door that they had come looking for someone.

Then she remembered how Ghost and Chrysanthemum, the two Elders, had once mentioned that Great Offering seemed to have been searching for a young woman who had disappeared many years ago.

It was said that the young woman was the only one Qian Daoliu had ever truly loved!

Bibi Dong had been quite surprised when she heard that, because Qian Daoliu, who had already been married, had apparently kept a woman he deeply loved hidden in his heart all along.

Could it be this woman before her?

While Bibi Dong scrutinized Le Ling, Le Ling was scrutinizing her as well.

Le Ling discovered that a strange aura lingered around the Pope of Spirit Hall!

Driven by curiosity, her beautiful eyes flashed as she activated Time Rewind, the Innate Skill of her Heavenly Fox Spirit.

This Innate Skill allowed Le Ling to see everything that had happened in a person's past!

If someone's past had been particularly tragic or painful, it could even make her empathize with them.

Soul Masters whose Spiritual Power was not strong enough would not notice Time Rewind being used on them.

Conversely, Soul Masters with stronger Spiritual Power could detect that something was amiss!

Although Bibi Dong's Spiritual Power could not be considered especially powerful, her Soul Power far surpassed Le Ling's.

Thus, she clearly sensed a soul skill acting upon her.

She immediately slammed her two-meter-long scepter against the ground in displeasure. "You dare use a soul skill on me? Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?!"

Faced with the overwhelming Soul Power of someone whose Soul Power Level far exceeded hers, Le Ling showed no fear whatsoever.

As though she had seen through Bibi Dong's heart, she curled her lips and said, "Kill me? You won't!"

"Because you fear Qian Daoliu, and because you know my relationship with him, you do not dare act against me for now!"

Through Time Rewind, Le Ling had already seen this Pope's past as clearly as day.

How should she put it?

She was pitiful, but she had also brought it upon herself. Yet if one said she had brought it upon herself, she was still rather pitiful!

As for the matter between this Pope and her teacher, Le Ling felt that, since she was not involved, it was better not to comment!

Bibi Dong now realized that Le Ling had seen into her heart. The feeling of having her mind laid bare before another made her extremely uncomfortable!

It felt as though she were wearing see-through clothes and had been seen completely naked!!

She studied Le Ling, muttering inwardly about what soul skill that woman had used on her just now.

How could it be so powerful!

It could actually see through a person's heart!!

Unwilling to lose to the woman before her, Bibi Dong directly denied it. "I even dared to kill Qian Daoliu's son. How could I possibly fear him!"

His son?

Le Ling suddenly realized.

So the man whose soul Bibi Dong had devoured in her past was actually Qian Daoliu's son!!

That bastard!

Not only had he broken his promise to her and entered into a political marriage with someone else back then, he had even had a son!!!

A nameless fury instantly rose in Le Ling's heart, and her hands hanging at her sides clenched tightly into fists.

But she soon closed her eyes and forced herself to calm down.

This was not the time to curse Qian Daoliu. This was the time to confront the Pope before her. This Princess could not lose!

As for that bastard's debt, This Princess would settle it with him later!

After calming herself, Le Ling looked at Bibi Dong and said flatly, "So what if you devoured that man's soul? You still cannot erase what has already happened."

"Those events have already taken root in your heart. They filled your heart with resentment and evil, which is why Rakshasa God chose you. But being chosen by that deity may not necessarily be a good thing..."

"Enough!!"

Suppressing her anger, Bibi Dong said in a low voice, "If you continue, I truly will kill you!"

Le Ling said nothing more, because the Pope's words had indirectly admitted that she truly feared Qian Daoliu!

Seeing that the atmosphere was off, Hu Liena decided to change the subject and ease the tension.

"Teacher, this sister is named Le Ling. Her martial soul is very similar to mine. She has the Heavenly Fox Spirit."

After introducing her to her teacher, Hu Liena looked at Le Ling and said, "Sister Le, this is my teacher, the current Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong."

Heavenly Fox Spirit!!!

Hearing her disciple's introduction, Bibi Dong looked slightly surprised, because she had heard the legend of the Heavenly Fox Spirit.

The Heavenly Fox Spirit was a martial soul capable of evolving a second time.

As its cultivator's Soul Power Level rose, it could become a six-tailed, nine-tailed, or even Ten-tailed Heavenly Fox!

Upon awakening, it came with an Innate Skill that could see into everyone's past.

Once its Soul Power Level advanced to Peak Douluo, it would become a Ten-tailed Heavenly Fox. Legend said it could open the Gate of Time and Space!

At that thought, Bibi Dong finally understood why Le Ling had been able to see through her just now.

So she possessed that Innate Skill!

Who would have thought she had such a top-tier Beast Martial Soul as the Heavenly Fox Spirit!

It was ten times better than the Demon Fox Spirit of Hu Liena, the last disciple Bibi Dong had taken in!!

At this moment, Bibi Dong was truly a little reluctant to kill Le Ling. Earlier, she had held back because she feared Qian Daoliu, but now she cherished Le Ling's talent.

She immediately changed her attitude and asked Le Ling, "Were the four Offerings outside sent by Qian Daoliu to find you?"

Le Ling naturally noticed the change in the Pope's attitude, though it was not difficult to guess the reason behind it.

She thought that she would still need to remain in Spirit Hall for the time being to search for traces of Asura God.

And Worship Hall was Qian Daoliu's territory. Since she did not want to see him, she might as well find an opportunity to stay temporarily in Papal Palace!

Le Ling nodded. "Yes, they all came looking for me, but I do not want to see Qian Daoliu!"

After thinking for a moment, Bibi Dong returned to her usual gentle expression and smiled faintly. "Since you do not want to see him, would you like me to help you?"

Le Ling raised a brow. "Tell me your terms first!"

She knew perfectly well that there was no such thing as a free lunch, especially from someone like this Pope. If Bibi Dong helped her, it certainly would not be without a price!

Bibi Dong was quite pleased with Le Ling's intelligence.

She smiled and said, "Rest assured, my condition is simple. I only need you to remain in my Papal Palace."

"Since we are both intelligent people, can we be more straightforward?"

Bibi Dong's proposal was exactly what Le Ling wanted. She simply sat in a nearby chair, ready to have a proper discussion with the Pope.

"Fine."

Bibi Dong handed the scepter in her hand to Hu Liena and walked over to sit in the chair opposite Le Ling.

"I am someone who cherishes talent, and I know the legend of the Ten-tailed Heavenly Fox! That is why I have taken an interest in your martial soul. If you go to Worship Hall, it will be a loss for me."

"I also have some grievances with the Qian Family, so whenever I encounter talent, I naturally compete with them for it. As long as you are willing to remain in Papal Palace, I can provide you with whatever cultivation resources you need and help you do anything you wish. What do you say?"

Le Ling answered Bibi Dong's offer just as directly. "I can stay in Papal Palace!"

"But let me make this clear first: I will not submit to you like the others do. We merely have a mutually beneficial arrangement. It cannot even be called cooperation, much less a relationship between ruler and subject!"

"Of course!"

When it came to talent, Bibi Dong did not care whether they were ruler and subject or partners.

Just as the two reached an agreement, a respectful voice sounded from outside the door. "Greetings, Great Offering!"