Pre-match

Bibi Dong sat on the Pope's throne, propping her head with one hand, her eyes closed in thought.

Tian'e's breakthrough to Limit Douluo had greatly exceeded her expectations. She hadn't thought an old man whose potential was exhausted could break through again.

The current situation was that the Consecrator Hall now had two Limit Douluo, making her path of revenge even more remote.

Her original plan was to find an excuse to kill those old fossils in the Consecrator Hall after Qian Daoliu sacrificed himself for Qian Renxue's divine trial.

With the strongest among the Consecrators being only Level 98 Tian'e, it would be a matter of paying a price for her, the inheritor of the Rakshasa God, and then no one would be able to stop her from taking revenge on Wuhun Hall.

As for Qian Renxue, she didn't want to think about anything related to this daughter. She would take things one step at a time.

She hadn't expected Tian'e to suddenly break through to Level 99. This made things difficult. The difference between Level 98 and Level 99, though only one level, represented a completely different level of strength.

A Level 98 Super Douluo. She, Bibi Dong, as a divine trial candidate, could kill one by paying a price, but a Level 99, even if she also broke through to Level 99, couldn't guarantee victory.

Anyone who could reach Level 99 had talent and combat power no different from a divine trial candidate.

Moreover, who could guarantee that Tian'e, who could break through at such an old age, didn't have a god behind him?

Even if Qian Daoliu sacrificed himself, the Consecrator Hall would still have a Limit Douluo to hold the fort, and she, Bibi Dong, would still be hindered.

What was even more troublesome now was that the Consecrator Hall seemed to have sensed her intentions and was gradually encroaching on her power.

Of course, these were future troubles. The current trouble was tomorrow's battle for the Saintess position.

Bibi Dong doted on Hu Liena and treated her like a daughter, but she was still clear-headed. Compared to the descendants of the Consecrators like Tian Yao, Hu Liena's strength was only on par with those other than Tian Yao.

Tian Yao was out of the question. She knew the results of Hu Liena's past battles with Tian Yao: all losses.

Of course, that was in the past. Now, she was confident that Hu Liena, under her tutelage, might be able to defeat Tian Yao.

But the Consecrator Hall now had an even stronger Qian Ningshuang.

Although Bibi Dong didn't know Qian Ningshuang's exact strength, she could infer from some information that Hu Liena's chances of winning against someone who could suppress Tian Yao were slim.

But if Qian Ningshuang were to become the Saintess? That would disgust Bibi Dong to death.

Although Qian Ningshuang and Qian Renxue were sisters, Bibi Dong's attitude towards them was completely different.

If her attitude towards Qian Renxue, flesh and blood from her own body, was complicated and uncertain how to face her.

Towards Qian Ningshuang, it was pure disgust. Did the Qian family take her, Bibi Dong, for a fool?

Brought back when Qian Xunji was dying, with the same golden hair as the Qian family, she received the same treatment as Qian Renxue upon entering Wuhun City. Then Qian Daoliu came and told Bibi Dong that this was his adopted granddaughter?

Yes, in her opinion, Qian Ningshuang was Qian Xunji's illegitimate daughter, and the Qian family, apart from Qian Renxue, her own blood-related daughter, she always wished she could devour their flesh.

More importantly, besides disgust, Bibi Dong also felt a trace of fear towards Qian Ningshuang that she couldn't speak of to others.

Since Qian Ningshuang, at two or three years old, came to Bibi Dong with the intention of closeness, Bibi Dong had seen Qian Ningshuang twice. After that, perhaps because Qian Ningshuang saw the killing intent in Bibi Dong's eyes, she never actively sought out Bibi Dong again.

However, even though Qian Ningshuang didn't seek out Bibi Dong, Bibi Dong was very interested in finding Qian Ningshuang.

As she said before, Bibi Dong wished she could devour the flesh of anyone from the Qian family. Since she couldn't defeat Qian Daoliu and couldn't bear to harm Qian Renxue, the young Qian Ningshuang naturally became Bibi Dong's target.

To make a move on Qian Ningshuang within Wuhun City, she would inevitably have to avoid Qian Daoliu's gaze. No one on the continent could avoid Qian Daoliu's gaze within Wuhun City.

But she, Bibi Dong, could. Because she was the inheritor of the Rakshasa God, as long as she used the Rakshasa divine power, it would be easy to make a move on Qian Ningshuang while avoiding Qian Daoliu's sight.

The day Bibi Dong prepared to make a move on Qian Ningshuang, she found that she couldn't find Qian Ningshuang!

She was sure Qian Ningshuang was in the Qian family mansion at the time, but she couldn't find her. Or rather, it wasn't that she couldn't find her, but that she couldn't see Qian Ningshuang.

There were no traces of Qian Ningshuang's life in the entire Qian family mansion!

It was as if the Qian Ningshuang she had seen before was just her own illusion, as if this person didn't exist in this world.

It was as if everyone in Wuhun City was weaving a lie, a lie about Qian Ningshuang, a lie that there was someone named Qian Ningshuang in Wuhun City!

But a few days later, when she met Qian Ningshuang again, she could see her.

After a few more back-and-forth instances, Bibi Dong discovered that as long as the Rakshasa divine power within her fluctuated, she couldn't see Qian Ningshuang or anything related to her.

And once the Rakshasa divine power within her calmed down, she could see Qian Ningshuang again.

Most importantly, if before, as long as the Rakshasa divine power within her didn't fluctuate, Bibi Dong could see Qian Ningshuang, but ever since the sixth trial of the Rakshasa divine trial, Qian Ningshuang had become a blurry silhouette in Bibi Dong's eyes.

Even her information, she had to consciously and actively think about it to recall, otherwise she herself would overlook Qian Ningshuang!

"Teacher, what's wrong?"

Seeing Bibi Dong's left hand trembling, Hu Liena, who had been standing in the Pope Hall for a while, couldn't help but speak.

Hearing her disciple's call, Bibi Dong opened her eyes and tidied her turbulent thoughts.

"Nana, when did you arrive?"

"I've been here for a while, Teacher. I saw you resting, so I didn't want to disturb you."

Hu Liena looked at Bibi Dong with eyes full of adoration. She was very grateful to Bibi Dong, grateful to this teacher who had brought her out of the orphanage.

"Just call me next time, Nana. You know, we're master and disciple in name, but in reality, I've always treated you like my daughter.

"Don't be in awe of me like others."

Bibi Dong walked down from the throne, stroking Hu Liena's head as she instructed.

"Yes, Teacher."

Nodding heavily, Hu Liena continued to ask, "Teacher, is there something you called me here for?"

"The Second Consecrator and I have agreed that the position of Holy Maiden will be decided tomorrow at the Martial Practice Arena."

"Ah, it's being decided tomorrow?"

Hu Liena covered her mouth in surprise, her face filled with excitement.

It couldn't be helped; it had been three years. At first, Bibi Dong told her the position of Holy Maiden was hers for the taking, but it kept getting dragged out for three years, and she had assumed it would continue to be delayed for a long time.

A trace of embarrassment appeared on Bibi Dong's face. She understood the reason for Hu Liena's excitement and surprise. Initially, she had assumed the Consecrator Hall would remain indifferent to the affairs of the Pope Hall as they always had, which was why she had confidently told Hu Liena that the matter was settled. She hadn't expected Tian'e to jump in and block it for three years.

However, now was not the time to dwell on such things. Bibi Dong said solemnly to Hu Liena, "Nana, you know what kind of place the Martial Practice Arena is. This means you will have to win several matches tomorrow to secure the position of Holy Maiden."

"Of course, that is assuming you win. If you lose, you should understand that the position of Holy Maiden will be out of your reach."

"It's just a competition; even against Tian Yao, I am confident I can defeat her now!"

Hu Liena's face was full of confidence. For three years, she had worked hard every single moment, constantly thinking about how to defeat Tian Yao. With the spoiled young lady attitude Tian Yao displayed at Wuhun Academy, how could she possibly compare to someone who was constantly striving?

"But the problem is that the Consecrator Hall side doesn't just have Tian Yao; there is also Qian Ningshuang."

Looking at Hu Liena's confident expression, Bibi Dong had no choice but to offer a reminder.

"Qian Ningshuang? Who is that?"

Hu Liena truly had never heard of this person.

This couldn't be blamed on her; information about Qian Ningshuang was very well protected by the Consecrator Hall. Aside from the core high-level members of Wuhun Hall and those personally acquainted with Qian Ningshuang, the number of people who knew of her could be counted on two hands. The major powers that were aware of the existence of this second young lady of the Qian family had paid a great price to find out.

Furthermore, Qian Ningshuang did not attend Wuhun Academy, and due to special circumstances, it was impossible for Bibi Dong to proactively mention her to Hu Liena. Given the relationship between Tian Yao and Hu Liena, it was even less likely that Tian Yao would tell her.

"Qian Ningshuang is the granddaughter of the Grand Consecrator. Her martial soul is unknown, and her level is unknown. The only thing we know is that Tian Yao is absolutely no match for her."

"And tomorrow, the Consecrator Hall will certainly have Qian Ningshuang enter the fray. Therefore, Nana, you must be extremely cautious."

"To be honest, the probability of you defeating Qian Ningshuang right now is not high, so I have prepared this for you."

What appeared in Bibi Dong's hand was a spirit bone shimmering with a pale blue light. Before Hu Liena could ask, Bibi Dong continued, "This is the Wisdom Skull Bone of Mental Cohesion, a head spirit bone over sixty thousand years old. If you absorb it, Nana, victory tomorrow will be within your grasp."

"Teacher, this is too precious!"

Hu Liena hurriedly declined. With the knowledge she had learned at Wuhun Academy, combined with Bibi Dong's teachings, she understood exactly how valuable this spirit bone was.

"What does that matter? Given our relationship, you are worth even more precious things."

"But, but..."

"Enough, do not decline any further. Nana, I am now ordering you as your teacher to absorb this spirit bone. I will protect you while you do so."

"You must understand that tomorrow, you are not just fighting for the position of Holy Maiden; you are representing the face of my Pope Hall. If you lose, it won't just be the position of Holy Maiden at stake—my Pope Hall will also lose all face."

Looking at Bibi Dong's expression, Hu Liena finally took the spirit bone.

"Yes, Teacher!"