Pope Bibi Dong

Time flew like a galloping horse.

In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.

Ever since Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing returned from the Extreme North, they had remained in the Star Dou Great Forest, cultivating their Soul Power.

Jiang Mian had now reached level fifty-two and taken Jade Swan Bi Ji under his command.

Zhu Zhuqing had also reached level thirty-nine and was about to absorb her fourth spirit ring.

As the greatest soul beast forest in the world, the Star Dou Great Forest possessed an unrivaled number of rare treasures and exotic wonders.

Even Sunset Forest had produced the unimaginable Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. With the Star Dou Great Forest's vast expanse, how could it lack similar places?

Over the past two years, Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing had practically eaten herbs as meals. Side effects did not matter—Jade Swan Bi Ji could dispel them with a wave of her hand.

"Brother Mian."

A crisp, pleasant voice came from the distance. A girl with two fluffy yellow ears atop her head skipped over.

She wore a pale yellow dress trimmed with white fur around the collar, making her look exceptionally adorable.

Jiang Mian had been meditating with Zhu Zhuqing. When he saw the newcomer, he could not help but smile knowingly. "Auspicious Beast, are you here to interrupt my cultivation again?"

Bleh, bleh, bleh...

The Auspicious Beast, who had already taken human form, made a face. Her fair skin seemed to gleam, truly living up to the saying that she was so pale she glowed.

Jiang Mian smiled helplessly. Looking at this little Auspicious Beast, who appeared lively and cute but was actually quite scheming, his eyes were full of affection.

He had never expected the Auspicious Beast's human form to perfectly match the image of his dream girl!

"Auspicious Beast, you are nearly two hundred thousand years old now, right?" Jiang Mian asked. "How many years are left?"

"Probably another thirty thousand years." The Auspicious Beast puffed out her cheeks and lay down in Jiang Mian's arms without the slightest hesitation.

Jiang Mian gently stroked the Auspicious Beast's golden hair, already having made up his mind.

He was twelve years old now. It was time to go out and see the world.

Scarlet King had just survived his four-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation. Jiang Mian had put considerable effort into raising his strength. After all, Scarlet King had only been three hundred and ten thousand years old at the beginning, yet in just a few years, Jiang Mian had raised him to four hundred thousand years.

Bear Lord was five hundred and thirty thousand years old, while Bi Ji had also survived her six-hundred-thousand-year Heavenly Tribulation. There had been no movement from the Snow Empress. Presumably, the troubles in the Extreme North had yet to be resolved.

"Are you leaving?" Di Tian appeared before the three of them and smiled. "Jiang Mian, stay safe on the road. Remember, the Star Dou Great Forest will always be your home."

"Don't worry." Jiang Mian smiled. "With Di Tian backing me, I can only be invincible beneath the heavens."

Di Tian raised a hand and flicked Jiang Mian on the forehead, laughing angrily. "You brat, cause less trouble for me."

"With Bear Lord and Scarlet King following me, not many people can hurt me." Jiang Mian said, "Besides, the Auspicious Beast is even stronger than the two of them."

Di Tian nodded and ultimately said nothing more.

Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes. When she saw Di Tian, she instinctively moved closer to Jiang Mian. Jiang Mian was extremely attentive, and he immediately took Zhu Zhuqing's hand.

Zhu Zhuqing had always felt out of place. Although everyone treated her well, she still felt like an outsider.

Jiang Mian's grip gave her a sense of security. What outsider? You, Zhu Zhuqing, are Jiang Mian's person!

"Go on. Bear Lord and Scarlet King are waiting for you outside the Star Dou Great Forest." Di Tian turned away and said, "I am closely linked to the Auspicious Beast. If you encounter any danger, I will arrive immediately."

"Alright." Jiang Mian nodded. He rose to his feet, gave Di Tian a deep bow, and left with Zhu Zhuqing and the Auspicious Beast.

"Bear Lord, on this trip to the human world, you cannot act recklessly."

Inside the carriage, Scarlet King, with his red hair and dark crimson robe, earnestly tried to persuade Bear Lord. "Jiang Mian and the Auspicious Beast's safety comes first. We absolutely cannot start a massacre."

"Why are you so naggy?" Bear Lord frowned, completely unconcerned. "Scarlet King, you were not like this before, were you?"

"What do you know?" Scarlet King said speechlessly. "Jiang Mian is the hope of our soul beast race. If anything happens to him, Di Tian will not spare either of us."

"Tch." Bear Lord curled his lip. Just as he was about to argue, he saw Jiang Mian and the others approaching and immediately changed his expression.

"Ah, Little Mian, you finally came." Bear Lord drove the carriage toward the three of them. "If you had delayed any longer, Scarlet King would have nagged me to death."

Scarlet King shot Bear Lord a fierce glare, then smiled at Jiang Mian. "Trying to reason with a crude brute like Bear Lord is truly impossible."

"What, not convinced?" Bear Lord snapped. "Then let's fight!"

"You think I am afraid of you?" Scarlet King flared up as well, rolling up his sleeves in preparation for a battle with Bear Lord.

"Enough." Jiang Mian hurriedly jumped between them and said helplessly, "I asked you two to protect me, so do not start fighting each other."

"Since Little Mian has spoken, I will not lower myself to that fellow's level." Scarlet King snorted with a smile and walked into the carriage, ignoring Bear Lord.

Jiang Mian first helped the Auspicious Beast and Zhu Zhuqing into the carriage, then sat between the two girls, ostensibly because he was afraid they would not get along.

But Jiang Mian was a real scoundrel. This way, he could give both of them equal attention...

"Jiang Mian, where are we going first?" Bear Lord asked while looking at the map.

"Spirit Hall first!"

Jiang Mian had spent the past two years in the Star Dou Great Forest and had no idea that Spirit Hall was currently hunting him across the continent because of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's scheme to shift blame.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's scheme was truly vicious. They had someone impersonate Jiang Mian and cause trouble for Spirit Hall, and no one suspected it was fake.

After the spirit master impersonating Jiang Mian finished the job, he publicly humiliated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect as well. His words were so vicious they were unbearable to hear.

Combined with the old scandal spread by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—that Jiang Mian was arrogant and disrespectful toward his elders—the world believed it even more deeply.

Most importantly, no one could imagine why a sect with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's foundation would frame a child.

Jiang Mian was utterly unaware of this. They raced toward Spirit Hall without lingering much along the way, reaching it from the Star Dou Great Forest in only four days.

"Who goes there?!"

The guards outside Spirit Hall held long halberds and blocked the carriage from proceeding.

"If we do not show them some strength, they will not let us in easily." Jiang Mian patted Bear Lord's shoulder. "Go easy on them."

"Easy enough." Bear Lord gave a wicked smile. Without even releasing his Soul Power, he grabbed the two guards and tossed them aside as if they were chickens.

Jiang Mian stepped out of the carriage and announced loudly, "I am Jiang Mian. I wish to see Pope Bibi Dong!"

"Jiang Mian? He is Jiang Mian?" The guards exchanged looks. So this was the notorious Jiang Mian. Sure enough, appearances could deceive. He looked like such a handsome young man, yet the things he had done were utterly incomprehensible.

Jiang Mian noticed that something was off about the guards' gazes. He froze for a moment, then asked in surprise, "Do I have to fight my way in?"

Well, that only deepened the misunderstanding.

"Capture him!"

At the captain's command, he was the first to release his martial soul. Two yellow, two purple, and two black spirit rings appeared—he was actually a Soul Emperor.

Spirit Hall's foundation truly was formidable. Even its guard captain was a dignified Soul Emperor.

"Get lost!"

Bear Lord cursed and ruthlessly unleashed his Soul Power. In an instant, the guards were all blasted to the ground.

Compared to Bear Lord's Soul Power, theirs was merely fireflies competing with the moon.

"Hurry and report to His Holiness the Pope! Criminal Jiang Mian has arrived with accomplices to provoke us!" The guard captain climbed to his feet and said in terror, "And at least one of his accomplices is a Titled Douluo!"

"What the hell?" Jiang Mian's eyes widened, utterly baffled. He had spent six years living like a savage in the Star Dou Great Forest, and the moment he came out, he was a criminal?

What kind of logic was that?

"What?" Inside Pope's Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei rose to their feet almost simultaneously upon hearing the guard's report. "This Jiang Mian is far too presumptuous! Causing trouble at local Spirit Halls would have been one thing, but now he actually dares come here and provoke us!"

Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes from the papal throne. Her expression remained calm as she said lightly, "Bring Jiang Mian and his group to Pope's Hall."

Though confused, the guard accepted the order and left.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan looked toward Bibi Dong in surprise. "Your Holiness, what does this mean?"

"Do you not find this matter suspicious?" Leaning on her papal staff, Bibi Dong walked over to the two men. Her breathtaking yet cold beauty was enough to stir one's imagination at a glance.

"Please enlighten us, Your Holiness." Gui Mei asked in confusion.

"The truth will soon come to light." Bibi Dong did not answer Gui Mei's question. She had developed a strong interest in Jiang Mian.

How could a genius with Innate Full Spirit Power happen to be so opposed to Spirit Hall?

"His Holiness the Pope summons you."

At the guard's shout, Bear Lord stopped. Looking at the guards groaning all over the ground, Jiang Mian drove the carriage to the entrance of Pope's Hall with satisfaction.

"Brothers," Jiang Mian instructed, "make sure you act tough later."

"Don't worry. We do not have soft bones." Bear Lord patted his chest and strode into Pope's Hall.

Jiang Mian, Zhu Zhuqing, and the Auspicious Beast followed close behind, while Scarlet King guarded the rear. The group of five went to meet Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong sat high upon the papal throne, with the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo standing on either side, but their pressure was still somewhat lacking against Jiang Mian's group.

"You stand before the Pope. Why do you not kneel?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan shouted sternly and released his Soul Power, attempting to force Jiang Mian and the others to kneel.

Bear Lord was dismissive. He released his own Soul Power to resist Yue Guan's pressure. However, Yue Guan's level ninety-four Soul Power was simply not enough before Bear Lord.

The instant Bear Lord's Soul Power met Yue Guan's, it overwhelmed it with crushing force.

Gui Mei was greatly shocked and immediately released his Soul Power to resist Bear Lord.

Yet even with the two joining forces, it was like trying to put out a cartload of fire with a cup of water. Bibi Dong frowned slightly, rose to her feet, and gestured for them to retreat.

"You are Jiang Mian?" Bibi Dong's gaze was exceedingly sharp. At a glance, she could tell that Jiang Mian was nothing like the rumors described.

"Your Holiness." Jiang Mian clasped his hands and asked, "The guards said I am a criminal. How do you explain that?"

"You have committed countless evils yourself, yet you ask us for an explanation?" Yue Guan rebuked. "Jiang Mian, do not pretend to be confused before us."

"Silence!"

Bibi Dong raised her brow in anger. "Step back!"

"Yes."

Seeing Bibi Dong's anger, Yue Guan and Gui Mei could only retreat resentfully.

"I believe you have been framed." Bibi Dong changed her expression faster than turning a page, suddenly smiling. "How could a genius with Innate Full Spirit Power be as foul as the rumors claim?"

"Since Your Holiness puts it that way, I think I know what happened." Jiang Mian gave a cold smile. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect must have framed me."

"I have no interest in your history with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect." Bibi Dong smiled. "What interests me is why you came to see me this time."

"Your Holiness, I was merely curious." Jiang Mian clapped his hands, and Bear Lord and Scarlet King released their Soul Power together. "With my current strength, can I destroy Spirit Hall?"

In an instant, endless Soul Power with ultimate attributes flooded the entire Pope's Hall. Bibi Dong unconsciously took two steps back, and a flash of shock passed through her eyes.

"Can these two actually reach that level of strength?" Bibi Dong forcibly suppressed her shock. Her expression was cold as she said, "The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Rather than both sides suffering losses, why not cooperate for mutual benefit?"

"As expected of Spirit Hall's greatest genius in a thousand years. You see things clearly indeed." Jiang Mian nodded slightly and smiled. "I believe I can contribute to Your Holiness's plans."

"You know?" Bibi Dong met Jiang Mian's eyes, and both wore meaningful expressions.

"I can remain in Spirit Hall. What about my treatment?" Jiang Mian tactfully changed the subject and smiled. "I trust Your Holiness will not be too stingy."

"Spirit Hall's Golden Generation falls far short of you." Bibi Dong made no effort to hide her appreciation. "I will suppress the negative rumors about you, but you must have these two seniors help train Spirit Hall's disciples."

"Furthermore, you may use all of Spirit Hall's resources as you please."

"Easy enough." Jiang Mian nodded. "In return, this young lady and I will participate in the Spirit Master Tournament."

Jiang Mian pointed at Zhu Zhuqing. "She is also extremely strong and will certainly not hold back Spirit Hall's Golden Generation."

"Mm." Bibi Dong said, "This young lady has nearly reached level forty at such a young age?"

"Not quite yet." Zhu Zhuqing's expression was calm. She did not become humble simply because the person before her was the Pope. She was as she always was.

"Interesting. And this young lady?" Bibi Dong looked at the Auspicious Beast, her smile somewhat meaningful. "She seems even more extraordinary, does she not?"

"She is my soul beast." Jiang Mian explained without concealing anything. "My martial soul can capture soul beasts. Not only this young lady, but these two also obey my commands."

Bear Lord and Scarlet King exchanged smiles and consciously stepped behind Jiang Mian.

For a moment, Bibi Dong was stunned speechless. It took her a while to react, and the smile on her face grew gentler. "With you here, my great undertaking can succeed."

After Scarlet King reached the four-hundred-thousand-year level, his strength was already comparable to a level ninety-eight Titled Douluo. Even against a level ninety-nine Titled Douluo, he could remain undefeated for a short time.

Bear Lord needed no further mention. He possessed the solid strength of a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo. As for the Auspicious Beast, blessed by the heavens, although she was only one hundred and seventy thousand years old, she could still contend with a level ninety-eight Titled Douluo.

After all, even when she had only ten thousand years of cultivation, her strength had been comparable to a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, let alone now that she was one hundred and seventy thousand years old.

"Report! Your Holiness, Elder Hall requests your presence."