The Importance of the "Crown Spirit"

Just like you!

Just like you!

Those four words echoed relentlessly in Bibi Dong's mind.

Like a great bell, they fiercely shook her hatred-filled heart.

The echo kept reminding her that no matter how much she hated Qian Renxue by association, no matter how unwilling she was to accept her existence—

Qian Renxue was still the child she had given birth to. Half of her blood ran through Qian Renxue's veins. She was her daughter!

Bibi Dong stood there numbly for a long while.

Qian Xunjie smiled meaningfully, highly satisfied with the effect of his words.

After so long, he had finally seen a different expression on Bibi Dong's face.

Next, Qian Xunjie deliberately put on airs, standing there quietly without saying a word.

Bibi Dong saw through his little scheme, but after a while, she still could not help asking, "Her Second Spirit... what is it?"

What she truly meant was whether Qian Renxue's Second Spirit was the Death Spider Emperor or the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor.

After all, in her view, Qian Renxue's first spirit had been inherited from Qian Xunjie, so her second spirit must have been inherited from her!

She had never imagined that Qian Xunjie was exploiting an information gap!

In terms of having twin spirits, Qian Renxue truly was just like her.

But neither of those two spirits had anything to do with her!

Qian Xunjie secretly reveled in it, though his face remained calm as he turned and left.

Bibi Dong frowned but did not ask again or try to stop him.

At the door, Qian Xunjie halted and said blandly, "Xue'er will also attend tomorrow's Grand Sacrifice."

"It is time for her to go to the Star Dou Great Forest and hunt for a Spirit Ring."

"We can pray for her blessings at the same time."

"If you want to know, go and see for yourself."

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes and watched Qian Xunjie's back until he disappeared.

"Humph!"

"What a clumsy trick!"

Did he think this would be enough to persuade me?

How laughable!

She closed her eyes and resumed meditating.

There was no way she would attend this ridiculous Grand Sacrifice!

This was an invisible contest.

If she went, Qian Xunjie's trick would work.

She would lose.

Yet people found it difficult to deceive their own hearts, especially those whose emotions overwhelmed their reason.

Reason told her that she could not let herself be toyed with by such petty tricks.

But her emotions stirred undercurrents deep within the frozen lake of her heart.

"Humph!" Bibi Dong snorted softly, forcibly suppressing the faint maternal instinct rising within her.

Time passed little by little, but she could no longer return to her previous state of cultivation.

Just like you!

Just like you!

Those four words began echoing through her mind again.

There was a phenomenon on Douluo Continent—

Some married couples possessed spirits of roughly equal Spirit Quality, neither superior to the other.

Some of their children inherited their father's spirit, while others inherited their mother's.

In such cases, the couple generally favored the child who inherited their own spirit.

Because of the existence of spirits, things like blood tests for kinship were not especially common in this world.

The people of Douluo Continent generally regarded the inheritance of spirits as an extremely powerful bond between two generations!

Bibi Dong had inevitably been influenced by this collective belief as well.

Qian Renxue had inherited her spirit!

At least, that was what she believed for now.

This once again stirred the maternal love she had deliberately suppressed toward Qian Renxue!

"Xue'er..."

But whenever she thought of Qian Renxue, she inevitably thought of Qian Xunjie.

She thought of what Qian Xunjie had done to her in that secret chamber!

A powerful sense of humiliation and hatred surged up within her again...

"No! She is only a bastard—"

Bibi Dong's face twisted savagely, but she could not bring herself to utter the final word.

Two conflicting emotions tore at her heart, leaving her in unbearable pain!

Boom!

Overwhelmed by emotion, Bibi Dong's Soul Power surged and instantly shattered the ground around her!

Instinct drove her to escape the pain!

And to escape the pain, she had to suppress one of those emotions!

She suppressed that faint maternal love that had surfaced!

The next day was the day of the Grand Sacrifice.

The entire Spirit City had lost its usual lively atmosphere.

All forms of entertainment had been forbidden.

Pedestrians wore solemn expressions, and every household offered sacrifices.

The members of Spirit Hall had been busy since early morning, cleaning the area before Douluo Hall and arranging the venue.

The Titled Douluo and members below the rank of Platinum Bishop arrived at the site first.

Inside a side hall, Qian Xunjie was dressing in ceremonial robes with the assistance of servants.

"The Holy Maiden still has not made any move?" His tone was calm.

Yue Guan bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Eminence the Pope, the Holy Maiden has not left her residence."

"She has not even touched the meals delivered by her maids these past two days!"

At that, Qian Xunjie first frowned, then relaxed.

He chuckled. "You and Gui Mei will personally invite her. Make sure she attends the Grand Sacrifice!"

"This..." Yue Guan did not dare disobey Qian Xunjie, but the task was truly difficult!

Qian Xunjie knew that as well. Bibi Dong had never attended such ceremonial events, and no one could persuade her otherwise.

"If you fail to invite her, then stand there as punishment and serve as the Holy Maiden's door guardians!" Qian Xunjie snorted coldly.

"Yes!" The two did not dare hesitate any longer and immediately accepted the order before leaving.

The two hurried toward Bibi Dong's residence.

"Chrysanthemum Guan, why do I feel that His Eminence the Pope was not actually that harsh?"

"I feel the same way."

Neither understood why.

Upon arriving outside Bibi Dong's residence, Yue Guan and Gui Mei called out loudly, "Holy Maiden, the Grand Sacrifice is about to begin!"

"Yue Guan and Gui Mei have come under His Eminence the Pope's orders to invite the Holy Maiden to attend!"

"I'm not going!" Bibi Dong refused without hesitation.

She was extremely agitated. She had spent great effort over the past two days to finally calm herself down.

That shout from Yue Guan and Gui Mei immediately ruined it!

Bibi Dong's voice was calm, and she did not vent her anger on Yue Guan or Gui Mei.

The one she hated was Qian Xunjie.

Toward Yue Guan and Gui Mei, she actually felt some goodwill. The two had always taken good care of her.

While plotting her revenge, she had even considered winning them over!

Yue Guan and Gui Mei had no intention of repeating themselves.

They both understood Bibi Dong's temperament well. A forceful attitude would only backfire!

They accepted it!

If they had to stand as punishment, then so be it!

If Bibi Dong were merely the Holy Maiden, they would not need to be so respectful.

But she was also Qian Renxue's mother!

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance, then called out again, "We have no intention of forcing the Holy Maiden."

"It is merely that we have failed in our task and must stand here as punishment."

"We ask that the Holy Maiden not be angered or find us an eyesore."

With that, Yue Guan and Gui Mei quietly took up their posts as door guardians.

Inside, Bibi Dong snorted coldly. "Despicable tactics!"

Although Yue Guan had not mentioned Qian Xunjie, she knew this had to be Qian Xunjie's order.

Her first reaction was to ignore them.

But this matter was like a feather, scratching at her heart until it itched unbearably.

And the place that feather scratched was precisely the faint maternal love for Qian Renxue that she had just suppressed.

"Since I want to win over Yue Guan and Gui Mei, how can I let them suffer this punishment because of me?"

Bibi Dong muttered to herself.