"Pretty comfortable."
Shang An savored the lingering warmth and fragrance on the bed, recalling last night's experience.
After Bibi Dong had fallen asleep last night, he had used the Great Freedom Heavenly Demon Lord Martial Soul to bypass Bibi Dong's mental defenses, stirring the obsessions and malicious thoughts deep within her heart and using Psychic Power to soothe her state of mind.
He had slightly dispelled Bibi Dong's frenzied malicious thoughts while guiding her obsessions toward himself.
Yes, he was guiding Bibi Dong's obsessions toward himself, making himself her new source of emotional support.
This was a massive undertaking. It required not only the guidance of her obsessions, but also Shang An deepening the emotional bond between himself and Bibi Dong in their daily life.
It was not that he could not speed things up. Rather, Yu Dash held a special meaning for Bibi Dong. It was not merely love, but a spiritual anchor. As Bibi Dong's first love, Yu Dash had become involved with her just before she had been forced by her master into that sordid act, then imprisoned for a year to bear a child.
Bibi Dong's heart had been shrouded in darkness at the time, and Yu Dash, her first love, had become the only light in her heart, growing ever more idealized as time passed.
After Bibi Dong personally killed Qian Xunji, when her great vengeance had been fulfilled and she was left lost without a goal, Yu Dash became an important force supporting her will to live.
Of course, this was only Shang An's speculation. But judging from the original plot and his understanding of Bibi Dong's obsessions after entering her mind, it should have been more or less as he had guessed.
However, Shang An's cultivation was still shallow. Yesterday, merely soothing Bibi Dong's state of mind and exerting a slight influence on her had already exhausted all his spiritual power. Afterward, he had fallen into a deep sleep in Bibi Dong's arms.
If Shang An possessed the strength of a God King, he could likely influence all living beings across Douluo Continent with a single thought, turning them into his devout believers without any sense of incongruity, because they would believe it was what they themselves had wanted.
At this moment, two beauties, one older and one younger, stood within Pope Palace. The elder had a graceful figure and noble bearing, while the younger was slender and pure-faced, yet carried a seductive aura.
Shang An strode into Pope Palace, first sweeping his gaze over the two of them before bowing respectfully to Bibi Dong.
"Teacher, good morning."
Bibi Dong chuckled and reached out to help Shang An straighten up.
"You and I are master and disciple. There is no need for such formality."
For some reason, Bibi Dong wanted to be closer to this new disciple rather than observe formal etiquette with him as though he were an outsider.
"Alright, Teacher."
Shang An replied with a smile, naturally accepting her words. Holding Bibi Dong's left hand, he stood at her left side.
"This must be Senior Sister, right?"
Shang An then turned to the little girl standing at Bibi Dong's right. Though it was phrased as a question, his tone was utterly certain.
"Oh? How did you guess that, Xiao An?"
"It was not difficult to guess. Teacher said yesterday that you would introduce me to Senior Sister, and I heard that Senior Sister is as close to Teacher as mother and daughter. Today, Teacher is being so intimate with someone. If I still could not recognize her, wouldn't that make me terribly foolish?"
"Nana, didn't I tell you your junior brother was clever and quick-witted?"
Bibi Dong patted Hu Liena on the head. She could tell that Hu Liena was wary of her new junior brother. As their teacher, she naturally hoped the two of them would get along harmoniously.
"Mhm, Junior Brother is the best!"
Hu Liena's reaction was somewhat beyond Bibi Dong's expectations. Still, it was a good thing that the senior and junior disciples could get along, so Bibi Dong did not look too deeply into it.
In truth, when she had heard that her teacher had accepted another disciple, Hu Liena had been very unhappy. She had hated that unknown junior brother.
Her teacher had originally had only one disciple—herself. But now there was another junior brother. She had been afraid that the affection she received would be shared with this newcomer, which made Hu Liena wary of him, even hostile.
In Hu Liena's heart, Bibi Dong was not merely her teacher. She was also her family, her mother. Therefore, she did not want anyone taking away the affection that belonged to her.
But after seeing Shang An, all her dissatisfaction and wariness had been tossed to the back of beyond. The reason was simple: Hu Liena was a die-hard face connoisseur.
Before Tang San awakened the Blue Silver Emperor in the original story, although Hu Liena had been defeated by Tang San's strength, she still had no interest in him and even regarded him as an enemy.
But after Tang San awakened the Blue Silver Emperor and met her in the form of a handsome young man, her attitude changed. Even after learning Tang San's identity later, she still could not forget him, becoming a lovestruck fool who would even betray Spirit Hall for his sake.
As for Shang An's appearance, even Tang San after awakening the Blue Silver Emperor in the original story would be utterly outclassed by him—in looks, temperament, appeal, and every other aspect.
Although Shang An was still young, the contours of his handsome features had already begun to emerge. Combined with his unique allure and formidable talent, he was simply devastating to a face connoisseur like Hu Liena.
If Yan had even one-third of Shang An's looks and temperament, he would have long since won Hu Liena over. Unfortunately, Yan was merely an ordinary handsome man. In the eyes of most people, he might have already been a gifted and handsome prince charming, but in Hu Liena's eyes, he still fell somewhat short.
Not to mention that Yan was also a simp. Simps did not get houses.
"Alright, Xiao An. I called you here today not only to let you senior and junior disciples get acquainted, but also to take you hunting for Spirit Rings. Nana has also just reached Rank 30, so she can obtain her third Spirit Ring."
Bibi Dong interrupted the pair of senior and junior disciples exchanging flirtatious glances and spoke to them.
Hu Liena silently withdrew her sinful hand that had wanted to pinch her junior brother's little face. The regret in her eyes was practically overflowing. Who could refuse pinching the chubby little cheeks of such a cute junior brother?
"Teacher, are you taking us there?"
Shang An's eyes held just the right amount of anticipation and curiosity.
"Yes. There is nothing important today, so Elder Ju and I will take you to obtain your Spirit Rings."
"Yay!"
Hu Liena did not think much about it. She was simply delighted to spend time with her beloved teacher and dear junior brother. That was right—Shang An, the junior brother she had only just met, had already been promoted to dear junior brother.
After all, had Teacher not said that senior and junior disciples were like family and should live in harmony, care for one another, and help each other? As a loyal face connoisseur, Hu Liena faithfully followed her teacher's guidance.
Spirit Hall's exclusive Soul Hunting Forest.
A luxurious carriage traveled down the street. Pedestrians and surrounding carriages all voluntarily moved aside, for the carriage bore Spirit Hall's emblem.
The carriage stopped not far from the entrance to Soul Hunting Forest, where several Spirit Hall guards stood watch. The strange coachman addressed those inside the carriage behind him.
"Your Holiness the Pope, we have arrived at Soul Hunting Forest."
This strange coachman was naturally Chrysanthemum Douluo, who had accompanied them on this journey. He was strange because, unlike an ordinary coachman, whose skin should have been dark and rough from enduring wind and sun every day, Chrysanthemum Douluo's skin was as delicate as a baby's.
His bewitching appearance gave off an unusual impression. He had a man's body and a woman's face, looking even more like a woman than most women did. If not for the Adam's apple on his throat, no one would have believed he was a man.
This operation was mainly to hunt Spirit Rings for the Pope's two disciples, so there was naturally no need to make a grand display of it. Bibi Dong had only brought Chrysanthemum Douluo with her. The Pope's two disciples were still young, while the Pope herself was of such exalted status, so the miserable chore of serving as coachman could only fall to Chrysanthemum Douluo.
The graceful, mature Pope stepped out of the carriage with a little girl and a little boy. This unusual combination drew many curious looks from those nearby, but no one dared entertain any improper thoughts.
Setting aside their strength, Spirit Hall's emblem alone was enough to prevent many people from harboring evil intentions.
These people living around Soul Hunting Forest were no disciples of great sects. How could they dare oppose Spirit Hall? In the eyes of these ordinary low grade and mid-level Spirit Masters, Spirit Hall was an unshakable holy land for Spirit Masters.
Bibi Dong and the others paid these people no heed. They were merely insignificant figures. Without some special opportunity, they would remain ordinary members of the masses for their entire lives. Perhaps one day they would die in the jaws of a Spirit Beast, or perhaps they would end up returning home to retire with bodies riddled with injuries and illness.
All four of them possessed storage Soul Tools, with their dry rations, tents, and miscellaneous supplies stored inside. Thus, they were lightly dressed, forming a stark contrast to the groups of Spirit Masters around them burdened with large packs and bags.
When they reached the entrance, Chrysanthemum Douluo took out a Bishop Token. The guards immediately bowed respectfully, and the four entered Soul Hunting Forest.
As they gradually ventured deeper into the forest, a breath of nature washed over them. Lush grasses flourished all around, while ancient trees stood dense and verdant.
Nature's wondrous splendor was displayed in full. Yet despite the picturesque scenery, the dangers were no less severe. Beneath this land that appeared so full of life, who knew how many Spirit Masters had spilled their blood in the forest?
Before you continue