Well Killed! Your Majesty, Think Twice!

Hearing Xu Yuan say that, Yue Guan looked at him in surprise.

Well, well, the kid had guts!

He just wondered whether Xu Yuan would still be this brave once he met His Holiness the Pope.

Pope's Palace, study.

Since he was already here, and Yue Guan was watching him so he could not run anyway, Xu Yuan did not put on any airs at the door. He simply raised his hand and knocked.

Knock, knock~

"Come in."

Bibi Dong's gentle voice came from inside. It did not sound unusual, nor did she seem angry.

Xu Yuan blinked twice and pushed open the door.

Perhaps because she had just returned from a meeting, Bibi Dong was dressed formally, looking regal and dignified.

It would have been better if her sitting posture were less uninhibited and more ladylike.

After giving her a quick glance, Xu Yuan did not dare look further. He hurried forward and performed a disciple's salute.

"Teacher, you summoned me?"

"Mm."

With a soft hum, Bibi Dong set down the dossier in her hand and turned her head.

"I heard you killed the son of a Heaven Dou Empire prince?"

Here it comes!

Ghost Douluo had warned Xu Yuan before he acted, so he merely raised an eyebrow slightly.

"That is indeed true!"

Xu Yuan hesitated, feeling that he ought to explain himself. His lips moved as he prepared to speak.

But then Bibi Dong slapped her thigh.

"Good! Well killed!

I've disliked that bunch of nobles for a long time, but I never made a move because of the consequences.

Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Huh???

The words Xu Yuan had prepared instantly lodged in his throat. He abruptly lifted his head and stared dumbfoundedly at the woman before him, whose face was filled with delight.

What did you say?

Yue Guan, who had entered behind Xu Yuan, was equally shocked, his eyes wide.

Good heavens!

He could only think, good heavens!

When Bibi Dong had told Yue Guan to bring Xu Yuan over, he had thought Xu Yuan's actions in Tianxing City had angered her.

After all, the rift between the empire and Spirit Hall was already considerable. This incident would only make matters worse.

Who could have expected...

His Holiness the Pope was actually applauding in approval?

Looking at the smiling woman before him, Xu Yuan could not fathom her intentions and cautiously probed, "You aren't blaming me?"

"Blame you? Why would I blame you?"

Bibi Dong gave him a strange look. "Tianxing City is a city under Spirit Hall's jurisdiction. It is Spirit Hall territory.

We have strict rules: within Tianxing City, no one is permitted to fight or commit murder. Xue Xing's son openly disregarded Spirit Hall law and committed violence in the streets. His crime warranted execution.

No matter who comes, they cannot say otherwise!"

Xu Yuan stared at Bibi Dong in immense surprise. He had not expected her to say such things.

It somewhat reshaped Xu Yuan's previous understanding of her.

"Tell me, what reward do you want?"

Bibi Dong looked at Xu Yuan with a beaming smile. "How about this? I heard you and Nana get along very well. Shall I betroth Nana to you?

No, that won't do. What I hate most in my life is people forcibly meddling in matters between men and women, and you two are still so young...

Mm, your cultivation is insufficient and you are not old enough yet. If not, I'll make a note of it and give her to you in a few years."

As she spoke.

Bibi Dong reached out and pulled Xu Yuan over, praising him for quite a while.

Things like how he was indeed worthy of being her disciple, how all imperial nobles deserved to die, and how none of them were good people.

Xu Yuan did not know whether she was praising him or cursing him.

But judging from the situation now, killing Xue Celou in Tianxing City seemed to have... ended without consequences?

As for Yue Guan, he did not say a word from beginning to end.

What could he say?

His Holiness the Pope had already set the tone. What else could he say?

It was clear that His Holiness the Pope was extremely fond of Xu Yuan. Of course, it was also possible that she truly hated those imperial nobles.

At that thought, Yue Guan could not help recalling certain past events.

Their Pope had once liked someone. That person had also been a noble, even a direct descendant of the Upper Three Sects.

Unfortunately, that man had ultimately abandoned their Pope and turned around to get together with his own cousin...

There was simply no knowing how to describe it.

The word absurd was no longer enough.

Of course, the reason such a thing had happened was that their former Pope had played no small part in it, doing some rather dishonorable things.

The past was gone and unbearable to recall.

Yue Guan sighed. So many years had passed—had His Holiness the Pope still not let go of the past?

About the time it took to drink two cups of tea later.

Xu Yuan took his leave from the study, leaving only Bibi Dong and Yue Guan in the room.

The gentle smile on Bibi Dong's face immediately vanished. Her expression turned cold as her eyes flicked toward the wide-open door.

Yue Guan immediately understood and stepped forward to close it.

He then turned back and bowed to Bibi Dong, his face carrying a trace of concern.

"Your Majesty, regarding Xue Xing's son, Heaven Dou Empire likely will not let the matter rest. They may make some moves soon."

"Hmph, let them dare!"

Bibi Dong curled her lips disdainfully and pulled a file from a nearby drawer, handing it to Yue Guan.

"The Spirit Hall Plenary Summary Conference at the end of the season is not far off. This is a proposal I intend to raise at the conference. Help me see whether it is feasible."

Yue Guan accepted the file with some confusion.

In the past, whenever His Holiness the Pope proposed a new plan, she never needed him to review it. Why this time...

Then he lowered his head and glanced at the file's title.

Hunting Soul Plan

Mm, judging by the title, was Her Majesty planning to establish several Soul Hunting Forests like the two great empires?

Or was she preparing to reclaim the Soul Hunting Forests entrusted to the two great empires?

Given Bibi Dong's personality, the latter seemed more likely.

Yue Guan nodded. He could not be certain; he had to keep reading.

He then quickly began reading the contents.

To prevent the continent from being destroyed, to safeguard the continent's peace, and to uphold the justice of equality for all, Spirit Hall officially declared war on the two great empires.

The imperial aristocracy was cruel and heartless, treating human lives as grass. As the embodiment of justice, Spirit Hall should obey Heaven's will and set things right.

However, regardless of victory or defeat, war was always a disaster for the people, while the two great empires drew their strength from the Seven Great Sects.

As long as the Seven Great Sects were destroyed, the two great empires would be nothing to fear. With Spirit Hall's Soul Masters marching out in full force, they could be wiped out with a snap of the fingers.

Therefore, this plan to hunt down the Soul Masters of the two great empires would be launched, referred to simply as the Hunting Soul Plan.

Yue Guan: "..."

After reading the file, he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

He finally understood why Bibi Dong, who had always acted alone and decisively, had suddenly changed her ways, asking him to review and scrutinize a new proposal before presenting it.

He finally understood why Bibi Dong had not only refrained from blaming Xu Yuan for Xue Xing's son, but had even promised him a lavish reward.

So she had been saving up for something much bigger?

Compared to this, what did it matter that Xu Yuan had killed a prince's son?

Her Majesty was planning to exterminate the Seven Great Sects, the pillars of the two great empires, root and branch!

Although the conference had not yet begun, Yue Guan seemed to already hear the waves of opposition at the scene. His face changed drastically as he hurriedly tried to dissuade her.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, please think twice!"