Ling Yuan's Helplessness

At this moment, Ling Yuan's voice came from outside Bibi Dong's chambers. "Your Highness, the Saintess."

"Come in," Bibi Dong replied softly.

Ling Yuan, dressed in fitted black armor patterned with eagles and sporting side-swept bangs with short hair combed to the right, immediately entered from outside. Her tone carried a trace of weariness and helplessness. "Your Highness, the Saintess, According To your instructions, I investigated the places where the target might appear, including Shuiyuan Village. That person never showed up."

"If he is determined to hide, there is no way you could find him."

Bibi Dong showed no surprise at all. Yet when she mentioned "him"...

Longing and affection inevitably surfaced on her face.

That Lin Hanye was merely a Trash Martial Soul with an innate half-rank soul power, yet he had drawn so much attention from the Saintess. Was the Saintess in love?

Ling Yuan could not help but complain inwardly.

Bibi Dong had watched Ling Yuan's reaction the entire time. Looking at Ling Yuan's mature and beautiful face, her lovely eyes narrowed slightly. She suddenly Stood Up, walked over to her, and asked, "The Pope does not know about this, does he?"

Ling Yuan Shook His Head. "According To Your Highness, the Saintess's instructions, I have never told anyone else."

Then Bibi Dong said, "Good. Sister Ling Yuan, if possible, I hope Qian Xunji never finds out. You do not want others to know about that Medusa skull bone of yours either, do you?"

Bibi Dong looked utterly harmless, yet her words were like those of a demon.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, the Saintess. Ling Yuan knows what is at stake."

At that moment, Ling Yuan felt as though she had boarded a pirate ship. She suddenly regretted absorbing that Medusa Head Soul Bone.

Although she did not know what exactly had happened between the Saintess and His Holiness the Pope...

It was certain that Bibi Dong harbored great hostility toward Qian Xunji.

Bibi Dong was not even willing to pretend in front of her now, openly calling Qian Xunji by name. If she were to reveal Bibi Dong's search for Lin Hanye, she did not know whether Bibi Dong would suffer any consequences.

But she would definitely be in trouble.

Because Bibi Dong would Absolutely expose the fact that she had absorbed the Medusa Head Soul Bone. Privately absorbing a soul bone obtained during a mission was an extremely serious offense in Spirit Hall.

Even as a Soul Douluo, she would inevitably receive an exceedingly severe punishment.

"Do not worry, Sister Ling Yuan. As Long As you obey me from now on, I guarantee you will receive benefits beyond your expectations. The sixty-thousand-year Medusa skull bone is only the beginning."

Bibi Dong understood the principle of giving a sweet date after wielding the stick. After threatening her, she took out a sheet of paper introducing the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower from her Storage Soul Tool.

"Th-This is..."

Looking at the information about the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower on the paper, Ling Yuan's face filled with shock and excitement. This Immortal Herb seemed as though it had been prepared specifically for her.

If the information about the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower was true, then once she refined it, she would undoubtedly reach an unprecedented realm. It might even be possible for her to be Promoted to Titled Douluo within three to five years.

"It seems you have already made your choice."

Bibi Dong knew that if she wanted to protect Little Linzi and stay with him forever, the only path was to seize control of Spirit Hall.

And if she wanted to control Spirit Hall, she could not rely on herself alone.

She had to cultivate her own loyal aides.

Ling Yuan before her was undoubtedly the best candidate.

In her Previous Life, Ling Yuan had received a Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower from Little Linzi, causing her martial soul to revert to its ancestral form and transform into a Fire Phoenix.

Because of this, Ling Yuan had been deeply grateful to Little Linzi.

Even now, Bibi Dong still remembered Ling Yuan's devastated appearance when she learned of Little Linzi's death.

This was also why Bibi Dong had chosen to use Immortal Herbs to cultivate Ling Yuan.

"I am willing to serve Your Highness, the Saintess."

Ling Yuan immediately Knelt on One Knee before Bibi Dong to pledge her loyalty. Although she did not want to betray Qian Xunji, she had no choice; the other party had leverage over her.

More importantly, the Saintess was simply offering too much.

"Go. Find Little Linzi, and this Immortal Herb will be yours."

Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction.

"Yes."

Ling Yuan answered softly, turning to walk toward the door.

"Wait." Bibi Dong called out to her.

Considering that Little Linzi was an unparalleled Theoretical Master, even though she had already picked the Immortal Herbs for him in advance, he would certainly seek other methods to evolve his martial soul.

To prevent Ling Yuan from wasting her efforts because Little Linzi's martial soul evolved and His Appearance Had Changed...

After a moment of silence, under Ling Yuan's puzzled gaze, Bibi Dong walked to the desk and began to draw.

Half an hour later, beneath Bibi Dong's flowing brushwork, a peerlessly handsome man took shape on the scroll.

"Besides the person I asked you to investigate earlier, pay close attention to the person in this portrait as well. If he appears, notify me at the First Moment."

Looking at her artwork, Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction. She rolled up the scroll, walked over to Ling Yuan, and handed it to her.

"Yes—"

Ling Yuan accepted the scroll and Took A Look after unfolding it. She remained outwardly calm, However, It Was as she walked out of Bibi Dong's chambers that doubts arose in her heart. Wasn't the Saintess fond of that boy named Lin Hanye? What was the deal with this pretty boy?

Could he have been mistaken?

Her Highness, the Saintess, wasn't in love?

With these doubts in mind, Ling Yuan put away the portrait and left the Papal Palace. She planned to use her authority to have the people in Spirit Hall's branch halls keep an eye out for this person.

Ling Yuan had already thought it through. If the Pope asked about it afterward, she could simply cast aside her pride and say he was her lover.

For the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower, all of this was worth it.

Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect.

The damp Dragon's Tomb was surrounded by towering gray dragon statues. Between the statues, as far as the eye could see, rivers crisscrossed one another. Thick fog hung above the waters, making anything beyond ten meters impossible to see.

At the center of the dense mist stood a blue hall.

Yu Luomian, dressed in a silver-gray robe, sat in a massive chair. The chair was neither wood nor metal, but something akin to rock—exceptionally hard, with a domineering yet steady design.

His appearance had not changed much, but since he was not a Titled Douluo, his temples had gained a few streaks of gray compared to when he had Awakened Martial Soul for Lin Hanye and Yu Xiaogang.

Knowing that his potential had been exhausted and that he would never break through to become a Titled Douluo in this lifetime, he had lost the spirited vigor he once carried between his brows. His bearing had merely become more solemn, his aura more restrained. The smile that had long rested on his face had turned into indifference.

He simply looked at the young man below, dressed in gray robes with his hair parted seven-to-three.

"Second Uncle!"

The young man's voice was dejected yet respectful, though it also carried a hint of excitement.

Today was the great day Yu Xiaogang broke through to Level 20.

At fourteen, for a Trash Martial Soul with only half a level of Innate Soul Power, this was absolutely unprecedented.

At least, that was what Yu Xiaogang believed.