Abusing Hu Liena

Ten more days passed.

Within the dream.

Lu Yan stepped into that stretch of Bibi Dong's Dream with practiced ease.

As if it were routine, while Bibi Dong was drowning in pain, he circulated his Spiritual Power and gave a low shout:

"Bibi Dong, it is time to wake up."

Bibi Dong, who had originally been consumed by endless agony, struggled fiercely for a moment before her gaze turned piercingly cold.

"Your Eminence the Pope, I shall take my leave."

Lu Yan's figure instantly vanished from the dream.

Bibi Dong looked toward where he had disappeared, Bibi Dong looked toward where he had disappeared, and gave a soft laugh.

Only then did she turn her gaze toward Qian Xunji in the distance.

Hmph—

After days of torment, she had not grown tired of it in the slightest.

To her, Qian Xunji's shrill screams were instead like heavenly music cleansing her soul.

As his consciousness returned to reality, Lu Yan immediately examined the changes in his Spiritual Power, and delight welled up in his heart.

After enduring the impact and tempering of the Rakshasa Evil Thought for more than ten consecutive days, he had completely refined the medicinal effects of the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew.

His Spiritual Power had reached the Soul King Extreme.

He was only one step away from touching the Soul Emperor Level.

"But why has Hu Liena not returned yet?"

Lu Yan felt somewhat puzzled.

Did personally leading a team to hunt a Fourth Soul Ring really require so much time from a Titled Douluo?

His gaze inadvertently swept over the bed, where Bibi Dong lay on her side, facing him.

The curves beneath the brocade quilt appeared even more breathtaking because of her posture, outlining deep ravines.

"Still waters run deep, still waters run deep..."

Lu Yan immediately steadied his mind and silently recited the Calming Incantation.

This woman was far too dangerous and unhinged. He did not dare provoke her.

Suppressing his stray thoughts, he turned and quietly left the room.

Three more days passed before Hu Liena and her group finally returned.

At the time, Lu Yan was browsing through ancient texts in the Library Pavilion, occasionally circulating his soul power as he tried to combine theory with his own practice.

The concept for his Self-Created Soul Skill grew increasingly clear in his mind.

When he arrived at the Papal Palace in response to the summons.

"Greetings, Your Eminence the Pope."

Seated in her High Position, Bibi Dong had shed the vulnerability she displayed in the dream and returned to being the empress who wielded the authority of the realm.

She merely gave a faint acknowledgment. Words such as noble and magnificent were the most crude of embellishments when applied to her.

Lu Yan glanced over her before shifting his gaze to the other four people in the hall.

Three youths, one elder.

The three youths were naturally the Golden Generation Meticulously Cultivated by Spirit Hall, while the elder was Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.

"Nana," Bibi Dong said,

"this is Lu Yan. He has come from Heaven Dou City specifically to fight you.

Spar with him. Do your best."

The moment she said this, all three pairs of eyes turned toward Lu Yan.

The only woman among them studied him with particular interest.

She had bewitching fox-like eyes capable of stealing one's soul, a fiery and seductive figure, and an enchanting aura that stirred the heart all around her.

She was Bibi Dong's personal disciple—Hu Liena.

"Teacher, this disciple obeys."

Hu Liena lightly bit her silver teeth, her tone resolute.

She had heard the implication behind her teacher's words—Nana, you are not his opponent.

Having been Meticulously Cultivated by her teacher since childhood, losing to an older Strong Expert would have been understandable.

But among those of her generation, she had to be the strongest.

She, Hu Liena, Absolutely Cannot tarnish her teacher's reputation.

Bibi Dong knew full well that her disciple was proud and unwilling to concede defeat.

Even when he had first arrived, Lu Yan's Spiritual Power had far surpassed Nana's.

Over these past twenty days, Lu Yan's Spiritual Power had also been tempered by the Rakshasa God's Mind.

He had entered the Soul Emperor realm yesterday.

Such spiritual cultivation was far beyond what her disciple could presently attain.

Bibi Dong gave Lu Yan a look, signaling him to go easy on her.

Lu Yan nodded to show that he understood.

The group moved to a dedicated sparring arena.

Lu Yan and Hu Liena stood on opposite sides.

"Demon Fox, possess me." Hu Liena gave a delicate shout.

Her figure became even more exaggerated under Martial Soul Possession, her clothing stretching taut.

A Demon Fox Phantom swayed enchantingly behind her.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple—four Soul Rings rose in succession beneath her feet, dazzling with light.

Below the stage.

Yan stared blankly. Without even needing a Soul Skill of Enchantment, he was already utterly intoxicated by Hu Liena's beauty.

Bibi Dong watched her disciple, satisfaction showing in her eyes.

Though Nana was not as monstrous as Lu Yan, among people her age, she was undoubtedly an Outstanding Talent among geniuses.

Lu Yan released his Martial Soul as well.

The Dream Butterfly Wings unfurled, reflecting hazy colors beneath the light and making him appear even more handsome and ethereal.

"So beautiful..."

Several cries of amazement came from below the stage.

At the sight, Hu Liena's mind wavered as well.

Yet when three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, purple—appeared beneath Lu Yan's feet, Hu Liena instantly came to her senses. Her delicate brows furrowed.

"You are only a Soul Elder?"

Lu Yan nodded calmly.

"Just attack. Let me see what the Pope's personal disciple is truly capable of."

Hu Liena had initially assumed that her opponent was at least a Soul Ancestor of her level, perhaps even stronger, which was why her teacher believed she could not defeat him.

But Lu Yan was merely a three-ringed Soul Elder, and his Soul Power Level was even lower than hers. How could he possibly...

Moreover, this fellow's tone was truly infuriating.

It was as though fighting her was merely a practice session, an assessment meant to test his strength.

Hu Liena made her decision.

She had to teach him a lesson and defeat him as quickly as possible.

"Second Soul Skill: Enchantment."

In an instant—

Wisps of pale red aura spread from Hu Liena's body. Fox ears seemed to sprout amid her hair, while a phantom fox tail swayed behind her.

She had already been beautiful, but at this moment, her charm surged dramatically.

The power of Enchantment suited her perfectly.

"Not bad. Your figure and movements are quite lovely."

Lu Yan stood calmly where he was, his eyes clear.

There was not the slightest sign that he had been enchanted. He even had the leisure to appraise her.

"How is that possible?!" Hu Liena cried out in disbelief.

She could clearly sense that her Spiritual Power was taking effect, yet it was like a mud ox sinking into the sea, unable to cause the slightest ripple.

Even Soul Ancestor-level opponents could hardly avoid being affected by this move.

Why was Lu Yan completely unaffected?

The corner of Lu Yan's lips lifted as his thoughts stirred.

His Spiritual Power condensed.

Boom—!

An invisible, intangible spiritual assault, sharp as a pointed awl, viciously stabbed back at the Spiritual Power invading his Sea of Consciousness.

"Ah—"

Hu Liena felt a piercing pain explode in her mind, as though a red-hot iron nail had been driven through it. She could not help but scream.

Clutching her head with both hands, her Delicate Body swayed twice. Unable to remain standing, she dropped to one knee.

Her pupils instantly filled with bloodshot veins, and her Martial Soul Possession was forcibly interrupted.

"Nana!"

Yan cried out and instinctively tried to rush onto the stage.

Bibi Dong lightly tapped her scepter, and her pressure instantly imprisoned Yan where he stood.

"The battle is not over." Her voice was indifferent and unquestionable.

Yan suddenly came to his senses, cold sweat breaking out across his back.

He had actually acted so recklessly before Your Eminence the Pope.

"You have lost."

Lu Yan spoke evenly, as though he had merely done something insignificant.

He had not used his full strength just now. Otherwise, Hu Liena would already have been unconscious.

"I... have not lost yet."

Hu Liena endured the tearing phantom pain in her mind and stubbornly forced herself back to her feet, struggling to summon her Martial Soul once more.

She could not lose, at least not so disgracefully.

One Soul Skill after another was unleashed, yet she could not even touch the corner of Lu Yan's clothes.

During this time, he had trained under Qian Daoliu, and his understanding and application of soul power had risen to another level.

The Tang Sect Unique Skills, "Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track," were executed beneath his feet with incredible mastery.

His figure flickered like a ghost, far beyond Hu Liena's ability to catch.

Even while evading, Lu Yan still had the leisure to offer guidance.

"Your soul power circulation is lagging... Raise the angle of your attack another thirty percent..."

It was like a teacher instructing a student.

Xie Yue and Yan watched from below with unbearable discomfort, yet they could not go up to help.

In only a short while, Hu Liena was already drenched in fragrant sweat, her hair disheveled and pain spreading through many parts of her body.

Lu Yan could leave one mark after another on her body, while she could not even touch him.

Her entire body burned with pain.

Hu Liena was beginning to despair, yet she still struggled to respond.

Lu Yan also noticed a gaze directed at him, and accordingly used his First Soul Skill: Mental Severance.

The disparity in their strength was far too great. She had no way to evade it.

A Silver Point entered Hu Liena's body.

Within only a few breaths, Hu Liena's body went limp. She completely lost her strength and collapsed to the ground.

The victor had been decided.

Xie Yue was the first to rush onto the arena. "Sister!"

Yan followed right behind him.

"Do not worry. She is unharmed and will be able to move again shortly."

Lu Yan reminded them out of kindness, then turned to Bibi Dong.

"Your Eminence the Pope, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave first."

Bibi Dong nodded.

Sure enough, less than a minute later, Hu Liena struggled up from the ground, her face filled with frustration and unwillingness.

She had lost.

Before an opponent whose Soul Power Level was lower than hers, she had lost so completely, without any ability to fight back.

She had even nearly been defeated by a single move.

Her mind was filled with that ghostlike figure, like an insurmountable mountain standing across her heart.

She had been beaten into having a psychological shadow.