Mother and Daughter at Odds

"Your Highness, how would you like to spar?" Ling Feng stepped forward and asked with cupped hands.

Of the six people present, only he and Hu Liena were Bibi Dong's disciples and represented Pope Hall, so it was most appropriate for him to ask.

Li Taibai and Ye Fan belonged to Worship Hall, so naturally they wouldn't speak first.

Qian Renxue swept her gaze over them and uttered something earth-shattering. "Simple. All of you come at me together. Let me see what you're made of."

"You're far too arrogant!" Hu Liena cried out, unable to hold back. Her face was full of anger.

She was, after all, the Pope's disciple. When had anyone ever looked down on her like this?

Xie Yue and Yan lowered their heads, fists clenched and faces flushed.

Among the six, the three of them had the lowest status, and they didn't dare speak up.

"Your Highness, you're not joking?" Li Taibai raised an eyebrow.

The six of them working together could force even a Soul Emperor to avoid their edge. Yet this girl, who looked no older than a teenager, dared to be so overconfident?

Ye Fan's expression darkened. He stared fixedly at Qian Renxue as Soul Power began to stir around him. He had clearly been provoked.

"Heh... heh..." Ling Feng was so angry he laughed. He shook his head, his tone edged with mockery. "Your Highness, are you sure? Don't let a moment's bravado ruin the harmony between us."

Qian Renxue's golden eyes narrowed, and her voice turned cold. "I never joke. Either all of you come at me together, or admit that these so-called geniuses of yours are nothing but empty reputations."

"Qian Renxue, you've only just returned, and already you're throwing your weight around. Aren't you being a little too arrogant?"

A cold voice came from afar, simmering with suppressed fury.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Bibi Dong striding onto the Martial Arts Platform, Pope Scepter in hand, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo following behind her.

Her face was so dark it seemed water might drip from it. She was clearly displeased with Qian Renxue's behavior.

Once the three had stepped onto the platform, Qian Renxue looked Bibi Dong up and down, then suddenly smiled seductively. Her tone was teasing. "So it's you, Sister. What, tired of sitting on the Pope's throne and showing off your authority? Have you got some free time now? Are you planning to step down and hand over the position?"

"What did you call me?" Bibi Dong frowned, her chest heaving violently. That one word—"Sister"—had clearly struck a nerve.

"Sister." Qian Renxue drew out the word, her smile growing more playful. "Haven't you always told me to call you that? What, do you think you're too old to be my sister now? Then I'll change it and call you Auntie~"

With Chen Qingxuan by her side all these years, Qian Renxue had long since come to terms with things.

She had her master and grandfather, who both cared for her. Why cling to that obsessive longing for a mother's love?

Even without Bibi Dong, she had still lived just fine.

Now, when she faced this mother in name only, all she felt was indifference and mockery.

"Presumptuous!" Bibi Dong could no longer restrain herself. Her Soul Power erupted, and a tremendous wave of force spread out from her, carrying the might of a Titled Douluo as it swept across the entire Martial Arts Platform.

Caught off guard, Ling Feng, Hu Liena, and the others were pushed back more than a zhang before they managed to steady themselves. Their faces had gone pale.

Yet before the wave could come within three feet of Qian Renxue, it struck an invisible barrier and vanished in an instant. It didn't even stir a single strand of her hair.

"That's enough, Bibi Dong!" Brilliant golden light erupted from Qian Daoliu. His sacred Soul Power surged out like a tide, instantly suppressing Bibi Dong's wave of force. "This is Worship Mountain, not your Pope Hall!"

Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo all felt an irresistible force bear down on them, compelling them to take a step back. Their expressions shifted.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo hurriedly lowered their heads, inwardly lamenting their lot. What was this mess? They were only hired hands—why did they have to suffer for being caught between the Grand Elder and the Pope?

Bibi Dong drew a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She looked at Qian Daoliu and said in a low voice, "Grand Elder, Ling Feng, Hu Liena, Yan, and Xie Yue all belong to Pope Hall. I'm taking them with me."

"Sister's getting impatient?" Qian Renxue chuckled, sounding a little languid. "Worship Hall outranks Pope Hall. It even has the authority to depose the Pope. Sister, don't make a fool of yourself."

"What, you're going to depose me and take the throne yourself?" Bibi Dong's face darkened frighteningly. The Pope Scepter in her hand creaked as she gripped it. "Do you even have the right?"

"I don't want to be Pope. It's tiring, and the position doesn't even come with much real power." Qian Renxue's gaze was sharp as she spoke calmly.

"I'm content to be the young mistress of Spirit Hall. Sister, I only want you to understand this: I, Qian Renxue, possess the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul and am Spirit Hall's rightful heir."

"If I so choose, I can replace the Pope at any time. You're not the only one who can sit on that throne."

Bibi Dong shuddered, her face turning ashen. Her body trembled slightly.

She clenched her fists so tightly that her fingernails nearly sank into her flesh. Endure. She had to endure!

Her power was still insufficient. She needed more time. Once she completed her plan, everything would change!

A few breaths later, Bibi Dong finally regained her usual composure. She looked at Qian Renxue and asked coldly, "What exactly do you want?"

"It's simple, just as I said." Qian Renxue turned her gaze back to Li Taibai and the other five. "I want to see what these geniuses of Spirit Hall are made of. Jade must be carved to become a vessel. How can they become great if no one hammers them into shape?"

Li Taibai wondered to himself, What's going on? Qian Renxue is far too domineering.

Wasn't she supposed to care a lot about Bibi Dong? Why is she treating her so harshly now? Did I remember something wrong?

Ling Feng frowned, thinking to himself, This Douluo World seems different from the original story. Qian Renxue's much more brazen and overbearing than the book described.

A flicker of excitement flashed through Ye Fan's eyes. A domineering woman is worth conquering. Qian Renxue, the more you act like this, the more determined I am to make you mine!

Hu Liena looked at Bibi Dong's impassive face, then at Qian Renxue, who remained utterly composed. Confusion and unease filled her heart. Even Teacher can't do anything about her? Is the Six-Winged Angel and Spirit Hall's rightful succession really so unshakable?

Qian Renxue looked over the six of them and dangled a tempting prize. "All you have to do is hold out against me for the time it takes one incense stick to burn. Once it's over, if even one of you is still standing, I'll give you a Soul Ascension Pill."

"The Three Heroes will each receive a mid-grade Soul Ascension Pill, and the trio will each receive a low-grade one. They'll be enough to raise your Soul Power by one level, with no side effects."

"Soul Ascension Pills?!"

The six were stunned. They could raise Soul Power by a whole level, and she was claiming there were no side effects. That was an astonishingly generous offer!

Even Bibi Dong looked at Qian Renxue in surprise. She hadn't expected her to have so many precious medicines to spare.

Seeing their reactions, Qian Renxue smiled. "What? Don't dare accept?"

"What is there to be afraid of?" Ling Feng answered first. "Since Your Highness is in the mood, we'll gladly oblige!"

Li Taibai and Ye Fan nodded too. The Soul Ascension Pills were far too tempting. Even knowing that Qian Renxue was powerful, they weren't willing to miss this opportunity.

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan exchanged glances, then gritted their teeth and agreed as well. At this point, backing down would only make others look down on them.