Xue'er, Spirit Hall's Plan

"His talent was decent too. He had Level 8 Innate Soul Power and was already an eleventh-level Soul Master at the age of six."

"Eleventh level at six, with Level 8 Innate Soul Power." The corners of Bibi Dong's lips curled slightly.

"He was a passable young prospect. But what interests me more is where his Soul Tool technology came from."

Iron Face said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, regardless of where the technology came from, the Soul Tools must be controlled by Spirit Hall."

"If the Heaven Dou Empire equips its forces with Soul Tools before we do, it will be an enormous threat to us."

Bibi Dong glanced at him without speaking.

Of course, she understood the value of Soul Tools.

If such things possessed destructive power and were equipped on a large scale by an army, they would be enough to reshape the continent's balance of power.

But the problem was that now was not the time to act.

She had only just taken the Pope's seat, and her position was not yet secure.

After Qian Xunji's death, undercurrents had surged within Spirit Hall.

Those veteran consecrated officials and elders obeyed her commands on the surface, but each had their own schemes behind her back.

Especially those old men who supported Qian Daoliu. They had been secretly joining forces, hoping to pull her down from her position.

If she moved against the Heaven Dou Empire now, those people would certainly seize the chance to make trouble.

Besides, the Heaven Dou Empire was no easy target.

Although Xue Ye was inferior to his father, he was no fool.

Since he had dared to place the Heavenly Workshop under the royal family's protection, it meant he had already prepared himself to contend with Spirit Hall.

"This matter will be set aside for now." Bibi Dong finally spoke.

Yin Wuji froze. "Your Majesty?"

"I said, set it aside for now."

Bibi Dong's tone allowed no doubt. "Do not touch the Heaven Dou Empire for the time being. Just send people to watch them. Do not alert them."

"As for the Soul Tools, we will discuss them after I have dealt with our internal affairs."

Yin Wuji and Iron Face exchanged a glance. Though unwilling, neither dared say more, and they answered in unison, "Yes."

"One more matter."

Bibi Dong's voice suddenly softened somewhat, yet an even deeper chill lurked beneath that gentleness.

"Has there been any news from Xue Qinghe lately?"

When she mentioned the name "Xue Qinghe," an almost imperceptible flicker passed through her eyes.

Yin Wuji said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, everything is normal on the young lady's side."

"She has been lurking beside Xue Qinghe as a maid for over a year. Xue Qinghe trusts her greatly and has not become suspicious."

Bibi Dong nodded and fell silent for a moment.

"Is she... well?"

She said it so softly that it was almost inaudible.

Yin Wuji paused, unsure how to answer.

Bibi Dong did not wait for his reply. She waved a hand. "Leave."

Yin Wuji and Iron Face bowed and withdrew.

Only Bibi Dong remained in the grand hall.

She rose and walked to the window, gazing at the sky as it gradually darkened outside.

Heaven Dou City, Xue Qinghe...

She thought of that child, the child who had left her side at a young age and gone alone to lurk in a foreign land.

Qian Renxue.

Her daughter.

And the person she had wronged most in this world.

Bibi Dong closed her eyes, and the child's appearance surfaced in her mind.

Golden hair, fair skin, and those violet eyes identical to her own.

How old had that child been when she left? Six? Or seven?

She could no longer remember clearly.

She only remembered that the child had neither cried nor caused a scene. She had simply quietly followed the people Qian Daoliu sent for her.

Before leaving, she had turned back to look at Bibi Dong. There had been neither resentment nor attachment in that gaze, only something indescribable.

From that day onward, Bibi Dong had never seen the child again.

News would occasionally return: the young lady had broken through again, the young lady had gained a firm foothold at Xue Qinghe's side, the young lady was doing well...

Everything was well.

Sometimes, Bibi Dong wondered whether that child truly was well.

Alone in a foreign land, living behind a mask, unable even to reveal her true identity—could that really be called well?

But she had no choice.

This was Qian Daoliu's plan, and Spirit Hall's plan as well.

Qian Renxue was a born genius. She possessed the Angel Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power. She was Spirit Hall's most perfect chess piece.

Having her infiltrate the Heaven Dou Royal Family and wait for the right moment to replace them was a scheme Spirit Hall had plotted for many years.

And as Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong could not ruin that plan because of personal feelings.

Of course, more importantly, because of a certain person, perhaps she had never truly acknowledged this child from the bottom of her heart.

But Bibi Dong felt that the old fools of Spirit Hall who had proposed this plan were truly stupid.

Bibi Dong opened her eyes, and her gaze turned cold once more.

She returned to her throne, picked up a dossier from the table, and continued reviewing it.

It was a report on the pursuit of the remaining remnants of the Clear Sky Sect, along with a plan to eliminate the surviving forces of the Four Attribute Lower Four Sects.

The situation across the continent was changing. She had no time to dwell on it.

Heaven Dou City, Prince Xue Qinghe's residence.

Night had grown deep. The lights in the prince's residence gradually went out, leaving only the study still illuminated.

Xue Qinghe sat before his desk with an ancient book in his hands, but his mind was clearly not on its pages.

From time to time, he looked up toward the window, as if waiting for someone.

The door opened gently, and a young girl entered carrying a cup of tea.

She looked no older than twelve or thirteen. Her long golden hair was arranged in a simple bun, and she wore a plain maid's uniform. Her features were delicate, though not exceptionally beautiful.

At least, compared to her true appearance, they were far too ordinary.

Yet her bearing was unusual. Though she was only a maid, every movement carried an indescribable grace, as though it had been innate.

"His Highness, your tea."

The girl placed the teacup on the desk, her voice calm.

Xue Qinghe looked up at her and smiled. "Xue'er, why are you still awake so late?"

"His Highness has not retired, so this servant would not dare sleep first."

Her answer was rigid and flawless, leaving nothing to criticize.

Xue Qinghe smiled but said nothing further. He picked up the teacup and took a sip.

The girl stepped back to one side and stood quietly with her eyes lowered, like an exquisite porcelain doll.

This was Qian Renxue.

The daughter of Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong, born with twenty levels of Soul Power and the possessor of the Angel Martial Soul.

At this moment, she was merely an inconspicuous maid at Xue Qinghe's side, named "Xue'er."

No one knew her true identity. No one knew that this seemingly frail girl was actually a Soul Master of astonishing talent.

She had been here for over a year.

Over that year, she had learned how to be a qualified maid: serving tea and water, tidying the study, attending to daily needs.

She had disguised herself flawlessly. Even someone as shrewd as Xue Qinghe had not grown suspicious.

But her true purpose was far more complicated than merely serving as a maid.

Her mission was to lurk beside Xue Qinghe, earn his trust, and learn every movement of the Heaven Dou Royal Family.

When the time was right, she would replace Xue Qinghe and take control of the entire empire under the identity of the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince.

This was a plan Spirit Hall had plotted for many years, and it was also the mission Qian Daoliu had personally entrusted to her.

From the day she left Spirit Hall at the age of six, she had known that she was destined to walk this path.