Bibi Dong's Decision

As for Xiaogang, she considered herself fairly familiar with him. He was knowledgeable and approachable. Aside from being a little weak in terms of strength, he basically had no flaws at all. After all, he was the man she had once loved but could not have.

At the thought of this, a trace of nostalgia flashed through the Beautiful Woman's eyes. Xiaogang, it had been over twenty years since they parted. She wondered how he had been doing.

At that moment, Ye Xinyu could not help but freeze.

Working four days a week, six hours a day—compared to those jobs that paid a measly thousand while making people suffer endlessly, wasn't this the dream workplace of every wage slave?

She could stay in a place like this for the rest of her life.

"But Mom, hearing you put it that way, I think joining Spirit Hall sounds pretty good too."

Before she could finish, the Beautiful Woman snorted coldly.

"Enough. No talking back. Go because I told you to go. Would your mother harm you?"

Though Ye Xinyu was somewhat unwilling, she still nodded weakly.

"Oh, fine. I'll go."

As for the relationship between the Grandmaster and her mother, although she rarely went out, she knew that she lived in Spirit City, while her mother seemed to run some sort of business there. As for exactly what it was, she did not know.

Still, considering that Yu Xiaogang had stayed in Spirit City for a long time, it did not seem strange that he knew her mother.

Fine, then she would go. Meeting the Grandmaster was not all that important. The important thing was meeting Tang San.

After all, this was the future God King. If she could build a good relationship with Tang San, that would be for the best. In the future, he would be someone capable of destroying Spirit Hall. No matter what, she and her mother currently lived in Spirit City, so they could barely be considered to be on Spirit Hall's side.

If she had a better relationship with God King Tang, perhaps when he eradicated Spirit Hall in the future, she and her mother could stay out of it.

As she pondered this, she had no idea that the Beautiful Woman's expression was growing uglier and uglier.

Soon, the third day quietly arrived. Spirit City's Pope's Palace, this magnificent structure that symbolized supreme authority and majesty, stood solemn and imposing. Sunlight streamed through the towering stained-glass windows, scattering dazzling colors across the polished marble floor and reflecting dreamlike halos of light.

An incomparably beautiful woman sat upon the Pope's throne at the very top of the grand hall.

Upon closer inspection, she was unmistakably the Beautiful Woman from the secluded courtyard in Spirit City. But now, she was no longer dressed so plainly. Instead, she wore a magnificent and noble papal robe.

The papal robe was predominantly bright gold, embroidered all over with golden runes and patterns. Brilliant gemstones were set into its collar and cuffs, glittering dazzlingly beneath the sunlight like stars. At the center of her crown was a massive purple gemstone, with a faint glow flowing within it.

This Beautiful Woman was none other than the current Pope, Bibi Dong. Her gaze was calm, yet it carried an authority that could not be ignored as she swept it across the Soul Masters standing below.

"Have you found the thing I asked you to look for?"

As soon as Bibi Dong finished speaking, Yue Guan respectfully stepped forward, a huge tray appearing in his hands.

"Your Majesty, these are all the stocks currently available in the city."

Bibi Dong lifted the silk covering the tray. Several pitch-black stones immediately appeared before everyone. Though they varied in size and shape, without exception, every one of them carried a faint fishy stench.

"Well done. During this period, you will be responsible for collecting every last piece of this stuff across the continent."

"Remember, all of this must be done in secret. The two great empires must not discover it."

Hearing this, Yue Guan respectfully nodded.

"Your subordinate obeys."

Yet he could not help asking in confusion, "Your Majesty, what is so special about this thing that we must go to such lengths?"

Although Yue Guan had no interest in women, the previous Pope had privately bought this stuff before, so he knew a little about it. Whale Rubber came from whale-type soul beasts and was famous for its indescribable effects on men. Just a fingernail-sized amount could let a scrawny man bed ten women in a single night. It was practically the finest aphrodisiac.

But the current Pope was a woman. Was it really appropriate for her to purchase such a large amount of it?

Bibi Dong gave Yue Guan a faint glance. With that single look, she saw through the filthy thoughts in his mind and could not help snorting coldly.

"Put away those filthy thoughts of yours. See for yourself." With a wave of Bibi Dong's hand, a book appeared out of thin air and slowly descended into Yue Guan's hands.

Yue Guan looked at the already-open page in confusion. But after just one glance, he froze.

"Strengthen the body, raise the upper limit of a Soul Master's soul rings... Your Majesty, is what is recorded here true?"

Bibi Dong did not explain. She merely said calmly, "Whether it is true or false, this stuff is not valuable. First, collect all that already exists and bring it back to Spirit Hall."

At that, Bibi Dong seemed to recall something and added, "Oh, and when you reach Nuoding City, deliver this book to the Grandmaster."

Only then did Yue Guan notice the title of the book in his hands.

Soul Master Encyclopedia

Could it be that Her Majesty the Pope still had not forgotten Yu Xiaogang?

At this thought, killing intent surfaced in the hearts of Yue Guan and the others, though their faces remained respectful.

"Your Majesty, does such a trivial matter truly require us to handle it personally? Could it be that there are other tasks you need us to carry out?"

Bibi Dong nodded slightly before saying, "Correct. That is merely along the way. Your main objective is to investigate whether the Grandmaster has taken in a disciple surnamed Tang. If he has, investigate that person's identity."

Yue Guan could not help but freeze.

"Your Majesty, you said that person's surname is Tang. Could he be Tang Hao's..."

Before Yue Guan could finish speaking, Bibi Dong said, "Correct. But I'm not entirely sure, so I need you to investigate. If you find Tang Hao's whereabouts, return immediately and inform me."

As she spoke, Bibi Dong reclined against the throne, her jade-like hand supporting her cheek, one snow-white leg crossed over the other. A trace of laziness showed between her brows, yet it only further highlighted her regal grace and nobility.

Tang Hao had not been found all these years, not because he had hidden somewhere remote. Spirit Hall's influence stretched across the entire continent; if it wanted to hunt down someone, it would have been exceedingly easy. The reason Tang Hao had not been found after all these years was not that he could not be found.

It was simply because she had not wanted to look for him. After all, Tang Hao was still half her benefactor. If not for Tang Hao, she would not have been able to kill Qian Xunji so easily.

At that thought, an unsettling possibility suddenly arose in Bibi Dong's mind.

Back then, Qian Daoliu had personally taken action in the pursuit of Tang Hao, yet Tang Hao had still escaped. How could a Tang Hao who had only just reached the Titled Douluo rank possibly flee from the hands of a level 99 demigod?

Could it be that Qian Daoliu had already guessed that Qian Xunji had died by her hand? Was that why Qian Daoliu had deliberately let Tang Hao go?

But that should not have been the case. Why? If he truly knew, why had he still placed her in the position of Pope?

No matter how she thought about it, she could not make sense of it.