Preliminary Saintess? Undercover?

Two and a half months passed quietly.

Jiang Bai's Soul Power steadily rose to level fifteen.

Besides his own cultivation, he discovered that when the Fire Dragon cultivated inside the pagoda, it also fed some of its gains back to him.

Meanwhile, the outside world was in turmoil.

Two pieces of news capable of shaking the world swept across the entire continent.

The Clear Sky Sect, the number one sect in the world and owner of the strongest tool-type Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, suddenly announced that it would seal off its mountain and close its sect effective immediately!

Spirit Hall officially announced that the previous Pope, Qian Xunji, had unfortunately died of severe injuries!

At the same time, Bibi Dong, the Saintess of Pope's Palace, ascended the throne and was crowned the new Pope of Spirit Hall!

For a time, every force across the continent was shaken.

That day, outside the Primary Department training grounds.

A squad of Hall Protector Knights clad in silver armor and radiating solemn auras strode directly over. Ignoring the students resting or training nearby, they headed straight for Hu Liena amid the crowd.

The previously noisy grounds quickly fell silent, and every student turned to look.

Hu Liena seemed to have anticipated this long ago—or rather, she had been waiting for this moment all along.

When she saw the knights approaching, a trace of excitement and anticipation flashed through her eyes. She quickly adjusted her appearance, then knelt on one knee before the lead knight without hesitation, her posture standard and respectful.

The captain of the knights unfurled a gold-edged scroll bearing the emblem of Pope's Palace and read aloud in a clear, resounding voice:

"Decree of Pope's Palace: Hu Liena, student of the Spirit Academy Primary Department, possesses exceptional talent, is diligent and hardworking, and has upright character. In recognition of her talent and to encourage her aspirations, she is hereby selected as a candidate Saintess of Pope's Palace! On an auspicious day, a formal investiture ceremony shall be held at Pope's Palace! Thus decreed!"

"Hu Liena, receive the decree and give thanks!"

The knight captain closed the scroll and looked at Hu Liena.

"Thank you for Your Holiness's grace! Hu Liena will certainly give her all and never disappoint Your Holiness's expectations!"

Hu Liena's voice was crisp, filled with barely suppressed excitement and pride as she lowered her head deeply.

Although she was only a candidate Saintess for now, her teacher had already told her that once the time was right, she would officially be invested as the Saintess!

After delivering the decree, the knights turned and departed as cleanly and efficiently as they had arrived, leaving the training grounds in an uproar.

After a brief silence, the surrounding students instantly erupted!

Countless looks of envy, jealousy, admiration, and ingratiation were directed at Hu Liena.

Whether they knew her well or not, they all rushed forward to offer congratulations.

"Congratulations, Sister Nana! No, congratulations, Your Highness the Saintess!"

"You're amazing, Nana! Just as expected of His Holiness's disciple!"

"Please take care of us in the future, Your Highness the Saintess!"

"Sister Nana, you're truly our role model!"

Hu Liena rose to her feet with a proper, reserved smile that could not conceal her delight. She responded to everyone's flattery one by one, enjoying this radiant moment of being surrounded by admirers.

Her purplish-red eyes swept across the crowd, and her vanity was immensely satisfied.

"No, no, I'm only a candidate for now... I still need to work hard."

Is this the glow brought by power and status?

It really is... intoxicating!

However, just as she was feeling pleased with herself, the corner of her eye caught sight of someone at the edge of the training grounds who was preparing to slip away quietly.

Jiang Bai.

He had clearly witnessed everything that had just happened, yet there was neither much surprise nor envy on his face. He merely withdrew his gaze calmly, as though the commotion had nothing to do with him, then turned to leave.

An inexplicable displeasure instantly rose in Hu Liena's heart.

Ever since he had entered the academy, this Jiang Bai had treated her indifferently, even somewhat distantly.

She had taken the initiative to show goodwill several times, yet he had barely reacted.

Now that she had received such an honor, he did not even offer a word of congratulations and wanted to leave as if nothing had happened?

Who did he think he was? He's just a support Soul Master who happened to possess the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul!

If it weren't for his rare Martial Soul and the possibility that he might be useful in forming a Spirit Hall team in the future, she wouldn't even bother with such an ungrateful fellow!

"Jiang Bai!" Hu Liena raised her voice, calling out to the figure about to disappear beyond the crowd. Her tone carried a barely perceptible note of command.

Jiang Bai paused and silently sighed to himself.

He did not want to become entangled with Hu Liena in a setting like this, but ignoring her outright in front of everyone would likely bring even more trouble.

Somewhat reluctantly, he turned around. His expression remained blank as he asked calmly,

"Classmate Hu Liena, what is it?"

Classmate?

That form of address was like a thin needle, lightly pricking Hu Liena's sensitive nerves.

Her gaze darkened, and the anger in her heart intensified.

Damn Jiang Bai! How dare he deny me face like this? He's humiliating me in public!

If it weren't for his Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda Martial Soul and the fact that he might still be useful to the team in the future... if it weren't for Teacher...

Hu Liena clenched her back teeth and forcibly suppressed her anger, but her tone had already turned cold, carrying an obvious warning.

"Jiang Bai, I know you are very close to that young lady."

"But from today onward, I advise you to know when to stop and put yourself in the proper position."

Her words were filled with implication and pressure, as if she were declaring: now, she was the Pope's favored one and the future core figure. He should know whom to approach and whom to distance himself from.

Jiang Bai's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

He hated this feeling of being forced to choose sides, and he loathed even more that lofty attitude of trying to control other people's relationships.

He raised his head, met Hu Liena's eyes calmly, and answered clearly,

"Hu Liena, I think my social life and whom I choose to associate with are not matters for you to interfere with, are they?"

His voice was not loud, but at the suddenly quiet edge of the training grounds, it sounded exceptionally clear.

"You—!"

Hu Liena's face flushed red from this blunt retort, and even the finger she pointed at Jiang Bai with trembled slightly.

She had not expected Jiang Bai to directly contradict her like this, especially in front of so many people!

Seeing that Hu Liena was about to lose her temper, Xie Yue swiftly grabbed his sister's arm and gave her a slight shake of the head. "Nana, calm down..."

He was calmer than Hu Liena, and he knew that although Jiang Bai was only a support Soul Master, being close to that young lady likely meant he was not without backing.

Held back by her brother, Hu Liena forcibly suppressed her fury. However, the look she gave Jiang Bai had already become icy as a blade, filled with undisguised disgust and resentment.

Jiang Bai looked at the siblings without saying anything more, merely withdrawing his gaze calmly before turning away once again.

This time, he left that troublesome place with firm steps, casting the whispers behind him, the complicated gazes, and Hu Liena's venomous stare all out of his mind.

At the same time, atop Pope Mountain in Spirit City, the atmosphere inside a luxurious meeting room used for confidential discussions among the upper ranks was equally tense—if anything, even more confrontational.

The new Pope, Bibi Dong, wore a magnificent golden ceremonial gown and the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown.

Her makeup was exquisite and her beauty peerless, but an unmelting coldness and authority shrouded her brows. A strange violet light seemed to flicker within her beautiful eyes.

Simply sitting there, she radiated a formidable aura that made hearts tremble.

"Qian Renxue must carry out the Nation-Stealing Plan!"

Bibi Dong's cold, resolute voice broke the silence in the room.

Her red lips moved, yet the words she spoke were like the sharpest ice spikes.

"This is for Spirit Hall's hundred-year plan! She will infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire and seize control of its authority! As the daughter of the previous Pope, this is a contribution she ought to make for Spirit Hall!"

"Impossible!"

Golden Crocodile Douluo slammed his palm against the table. His hair and beard bristled as he glared furiously at Bibi Dong.

"Xue'er is only nine years old! She's still a child! This is the age when she should be cultivating and laying her foundation! How can you send her to an enemy nation as an undercover agent? And for such a dangerous, long-term plan! You're pushing her into a pit of fire!"

He regarded Qian Renxue as his own granddaughter. How could he tolerate such an absurd and cruel arrangement?

"Hmph! A child?"

Bibi Dong sneered, a trace of mockery and impatience flashing through her violet eyes.

"As the inheritor of the Angel bloodline, how can she be viewed as an ordinary child? If she does not endure storms and face the most complicated, treacherous struggles for power, how can she truly grow? How can she shoulder her future responsibilities?"

"A flower raised in a greenhouse will never amount to anything! I am doing this for her own good, and I am also forging Spirit Hall's sharpest sword!"

Her words sounded lofty and righteous.

Yet deep within her heart churned only cold calculations and twisted hatred.

Qian Xunji was dead, but Qian Renxue, that little wretch with filthy blood flowing through her veins, was still alive!

Every time Bibi Dong saw that face, she felt unbearable disgust and pain, as though it were constantly reminding her of that unbearable past.

It made it impossible for her to face the Xiaogang she longed for with a pure body!

Unfortunately, that old bastard Qian Daoliu had always secretly protected Qian Renxue, making it difficult for her to act.

In that case, let her get as far away as possible!

Let her go to the Heaven Dou Empire, to that den of dragons and tigers, and struggle there!

Not only would she be out of sight and out of mind, but it would also completely delay her golden years of cultivation and waste the talent she was so proud of!

A Soul Master forced to remain undercover for a long time and unable to focus on cultivation would inevitably have limited future achievements.

By the time she returned, her peers would already have left her far behind. What would she have left to inherit the glory of the Angel God?

She would make the Angel lineage lose all hope completely!

Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Bibi Dong's cold, resolute expression. Both anxious and furious, he turned to Qian Daoliu, who had remained silent beside him, nudged him with his elbow, and urged, "Big Brother! Say something!"