Ask the Pope to Address Her as Holy Maiden

After Lucifer vanished, Qian Renxue loosened her fingers, which had been clutching the bedding tightly.

She stared at the empty space still lingering with a dark aura and let out a long breath.

"It's finally gone!"

Even Qian Daoliu unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.

Even as a Peerless Douluo, he felt somewhat powerless in this situation.

After all, he could hardly try attacking Lucifer to see whether he could disperse him!

No matter what, this was Qian Renxue's Second Spirit.

Qian Renxue believed that her unwavering faith and will had overcome the darkness, and a heartfelt smile appeared on her face.

Little did she know that Lucifer had not taken this seriously at all.

"As long as my faith in the light remains firm, I will surely drive away the darkness and bring eternal daylight!"

Encouraged by this, Qian Renxue stood on the bed, waved her tiny hands, and grinned at Qian Daoliu.

"Grandpa believes in Xue'er!" Qian Daoliu showed a loving smile.

Still, he could not shake the feeling that something was off.

Things did not seem that simple.

Yet no matter how hard he thought, he could not figure out why.

It made him anxious.

He did not want to pass that emotion on to Qian Renxue, so he stepped forward and stroked her head in encouragement.

Only after Qian Renxue had calmed down did he softly ask, "Xue'er, what did you dream about just now?"

At that, Qian Renxue's proudly raised little head immediately drooped.

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu formed a few guesses of his own.

Sure enough, what Qian Renxue said was exactly as he had expected.

"I dreamed of Mother. No matter how I called out to her, she refused to stop or turn around to look at me even once..."

Qian Daoliu sighed helplessly once more.

This Peerless Douluo was still powerless.

He did not pursue the subject.

Patting Qian Renxue's shoulder, he said softly, "Grandpa will make a pot of Calming Tea and stay with you while you sleep tonight."

"Mhm!" Qian Renxue nodded with a smile all over her face.

That night, she did not have another nightmare.

Qian Daoliu simply sat quietly by the bed, watching his granddaughter and pondering through the night.

He vaguely sensed a few key points.

Both of Lucifer's appearances had been accompanied by Qian Renxue's sadness and pain.

He suspected that Qian Renxue's negative emotions gave Lucifer an opening to exploit.

However, since this phenomenon had only occurred twice, he could not be certain.

He carefully recalled every moment since that Black Streamer had appeared, analyzing every detail bit by bit.

Whether this Lucifer is merely an incarnation of divine consciousness or the soul itself, his purpose is to turn Xue'er into his Power Carrier!

In other words, he believes Xue'er belongs to him—that she is his future self...

Before achieving his goal, he should not do anything excessive to Xue'er.

He might even protect her instead!

After all, Xue'er is still too young and too weak!

The fact that he has not fulfilled his goal now means he is dissatisfied with the weak Xue'er.

Then he will surely wait until Xue'er has grown strong enough before making his move.

And what I must do is find a way to eliminate him completely during that time!

At this thought, Qian Daoliu's expression relaxed somewhat.

The time before the grave crisis arrived had been extended, giving him a slight sense of control over the situation.

This Peerless Douluo finally no longer felt quite so powerless.

The next several days passed peacefully.

Lucifer continued nurturing his soul and caused no trouble.

Qian Renxue, meanwhile, adjusted her condition and prepared for the trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Qian Daoliu was going to take her to obtain her first two Spirit Rings.

By coincidence, the time for the Grand Sacrifice had also arrived.

Douluo Hall was where the Titled Douluo ancestors who had died across the continent were buried.

The Grand Sacrifice was the day when the Pope personally went to worship before Douluo Hall.

This ceremony could be considered one of Spirit Hall's methods of rallying people's hearts.

The day before the Grand Sacrifice...

The busy Qian Xunjie finally deigned to spare some time and came to a luxurious side hall.

This was Bibi Dong's residence. She was meditating in cultivation.

"Dong'er!" Qian Xunjie did his best to sound gentle.

But no matter how gently he pretended to act, Bibi Dong could see the filth beneath that disguise.

His presence made her feel uncomfortable all over.

His affected manner made her feel utterly disgusted.

Yet she had no choice but to endure and compromise.

After she gave birth to Qian Renxue, Qian Xunjie released her from the secret chamber.

But she still could not leave Spirit Hall.

If she insisted on leaving, Spirit Hall would kill Yu Xiaogang.

Being someone ruled by her emotions, she had been completely pinned down by this.

Bibi Dong drew a deep breath and said coldly, "Please have the Pope address me as Holy Maiden!"

Qian Xunjie: "..."

His warmth had met a cold reception.

Bibi Dong had not even stood up!

Though he had expected it, he still felt uncomfortable.

How was he inferior to that useless Yu Xiaogang, whose Farting Pig Martial Soul had left him stuck at Level 29 for life?

He was, at the very least, a Level 95 Titled Douluo and the Pope of Spirit Hall!

Yet Bibi Dong was not only his disciple and Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, but also the mother of his daughter.

Naturally, Qian Xunjie wanted to soften the rigid relationship between them as much as possible.

Over the past few years, he had privately said quite a few ingratiating things.

But none of it had done a damn thing.

Now, he no longer wanted to say such things. Did someone of his status not deserve any dignity?

"What does the Pope want here? I am cultivating. Unless it is necessary, please do not disturb me."

Every second Bibi Dong spent in the same room as Qian Xunjie was immense torture.

Only then did Qian Xunjie reveal the purpose of his visit. "Tomorrow is the Grand Sacrifice. As Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, you need to attend."

Bibi Dong coldly refused. "I am at a critical stage in my cultivation. Please forgive me, but I cannot attend!"

Qian Xunjie took a deep breath, unsurprised.

He and Bibi Dong had long formed a twisted relationship.

Bibi Dong not leaving or betraying Spirit Hall was Qian Xunjie's bottom line.

Spirit Hall not harming Yu Xiaogang was Bibi Dong's bottom line.

So long as that bottom line remained untouched, Bibi Dong was willing to endure all kinds of pain in Spirit Hall.

Qian Xunjie was also willing to tolerate Bibi Dong's cold and distant attitude.

He had even accepted reality when Bibi Dong treated Qian Renxue coldly.

But this time, he had a way to make Bibi Dong willing to attend the Grand Sacrifice.

Though that method carried an element of deception.

He calmly said, "A few days ago, Xue'er awakened her Martial Soul."

He knew Bibi Dong had been outside Pope's Palace that day, but he did not mention it.

Bibi Dong showed no reaction, as though she did not care in the slightest.

Seeing that, Qian Xunjie sneered inwardly. Let's see how you keep pretending to be calm in a moment!

"As expected, Xue'er's talent is exceptional. She inherited the powerful Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul of our Qian Family!"

At those words, Bibi Dong's expression turned somewhat unsightly, though she had already guessed as much.

"But there was also something unexpected..."

"Xue'er has Twin Martial Souls as well!"

Before his words had even faded, Bibi Dong abruptly raised her head and stared fixedly at Qian Xunjie!

"Just like you!"