Even if Sea God Island were willing to hand over the soul beasts, they would belong to Xue'er, not you, Bibi Dong.

Seeing Ah Yin's utterly shocked and disillusioned expression, Ye Qing knew that his words had achieved their intended effect.

He didn't say anything more, but simply smiled slightly at Ah Yin, a smile that was pure and harmless:

"You should rest well first. If you need anything, just call me or tell the maid."

After saying that, he didn't linger. He turned around, took small steps, and left the Qing Ya courtyard, leaving Ah Yin, who was filled with shock and confusion, alone.

Meanwhile, deep within the Pope Palace, in another room with a completely different atmosphere.

This is Pope Qian Xunji's study, furnished in a solemn and luxurious manner, filled with an atmosphere of power and majesty.

At this moment, Qian Xunji was not alone in the study.

Bibi Dong, the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, stood quietly in front of the enormous desk.

She was still wearing that light purple dress, her figure tall and graceful, her face stunningly beautiful.

But at this moment, the gentleness and calmness that she usually maintained were gone from that exquisite face. Instead, there was a hint of imperceptible urgency and some indescribable ambition.

Qian Xunji sat upright on the large Pope chair, toying with a quill pen inlaid with gemstones in his hand, his gaze calmly fixed on Bibi Dong standing below.

His handsome face revealed little emotion; he merely raised an eyebrow slightly and spoke first in his distinctive, magnetic voice, imbued with Pope authority:

" Dong'er, what brings you to see your master at this hour?"

His tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger, as if he were merely inquiring about a routine official matter.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart. She raised her deep purple eyes, looked directly at Qian Xunji, and without beating around the bush, asked him directly:

"Teacher, regarding that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast... are you really planning to just give it to the people of Sea God Island like this?"

Her voice was cold, carrying a hint of questioning and a trace of resentment.

Upon hearing Qian Xunji, Qian Xunji paused slightly in the quill pen in his hand.

He looked up at Bibi Dong, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, as if he hadn't expected her to ask that.

Then, a faint, slightly amused smile appeared on his face, and he asked in return:

"What else? The people of Sea God Island were the first to discover and obtain that Soul Beast. It was Tang Hao who suddenly appeared and forcibly snatched it away. Our intervention this time was to uphold justice for Sea God Island and recover the lost item. Now that it has been returned to its rightful owner, isn't it only natural?"

His words were eloquent and impeccable, perfectly positioning the Spirit Hall's stance.

However, Bibi Dong did not seem satisfied with this answer.

She took half a step forward, her tone slightly urgent, and retorted:

"Teacher, that's true. But without the full support of our Spirit Hall, Sea God Island wouldn't have been able to reclaim its Soul Beast, let alone save face in front of the Clear Sky Sect! In this operation, our Spirit Hall contributed the most and took the greatest risks! We even completely offended the Clear Sky Sect because of it, and we might face Tang Chen's revenge in the future!"

She stared intently into Qian Xunji's eyes, trying to find a trace of wavering:

"Such a huge sacrifice... is it really just for the simple matter of returning the item to its rightful owner? Can't we... fight for something... more tangible in return?"

Qian Xunji's smile faded slightly.

He put down his quill pen, leaned back in his chair, crossed his hands over his stomach, and his gaze sharpened.

"A more tangible return?"

Qian Xunji repeated himself, his tone devoid of emotion. " Dong'er, you mean...?"

Bibi Dong was overjoyed and quickly revealed her thoughts:

"Teacher, I think we can try negotiating with Sea God Island to see if we can exchange other equivalent, or even more valuable, resources or conditions for that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and leave it... in our Spirit Hall!"

A burning light flashed in her eyes:

"That's Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form! That means it's guaranteed to have Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone! Its value is immeasurable!"

She paused, then looked meaningfully at Qian Xunji:

"Teacher, if I remember correctly... as the Pope the Spirit Hall, and with a strength that has reached the level of a level 95 Super Douluo, you... don't seem to have a single Soul Bone of the 100,000-year level yet, do you?"

These words, like the most precise arrow, pointed directly to the desires and weaknesses that might exist in Qian Xunji's heart.

No Soul Master can remain indifferent to Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone.

This is especially true for those who have already reached the pinnacle and are seeking further breakthroughs.

Qian Xunji's brows furrowed slowly as he listened to Bibi Dong's words.

He neither refuted nor agreed immediately, but simply gazed at Bibi Dong with his deep eyes, as if trying to see right through her.

After a long while, he slowly spoke, his voice still calm, but carrying a subtle hint of coldness:

" Dong'er, you also know the preciousness and importance of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, especially those that have transformed into Soul Beast form."

"Then tell me..."

Qian Xunji leaned forward slightly, his gaze pressing down on Bibi Dong with an almost tangible intensity:

"What can our Spirit Hall offer in exchange for Sea God Island willingly handing over such precious resources, which may even be related to their future divine inheritance?"

" Soul Bone? Wealth? Territory? Or... our Spirit Hall's exclusive secret technique?"

He shook his head slightly, his tone tinged with sarcasm:

"Do you think Sea God Island would lack these things? You've been to Sea God Island, so you know what level of cultivation the Grand Pontiff of Sea God Island possesses."

Could it be...?

Qian Xunji's voice suddenly turned cold:

"Do you still expect us to take it by force?"

He watched as Bibi Dong's face instantly changed color, and continued his analysis without any mercy:

"What would it mean if we chose to use force or cunning to forcibly take that Soul Beast from Sea God Island?"

"This means that all our previous help and efforts to uphold justice have become a joke! It means that we have completely betrayed our promises, and that we have instantly turned Sea God Island from an ally into a mortal enemy!"

"What good would it do for our Spirit Hall to offend Sea God Island, which possesses divine lineage and unfathomable resources?"

"Our purpose in coming here is to stand up for Sea God Island, to cultivate good relations with Sea God Island, and for... well, some longer-term plans. Not to offend a potential, powerful ally, or even trigger a conflict at the divine level, for the sake of a mere Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast!"

Qian Xunji's gaze sharpened like a knife, as if it could pierce through all of Bibi Dong's schemes.

Don't think I don't know what you're thinking!

His voice carried an undeniable decisiveness, yet also a subtle warning:

"Even if... I mean even if something really happens on Sea God Island, or if they're willing to give us that Soul Beast for some reason..."

Qian Xunji paused, then spoke clearly, word by word:

"That Soul Beast will never fall into your hands."

"I will immediately take it under strict control and protect it, leaving it to... Xue'er."

"When she reaches a bottleneck in her cultivation and needs to break through to a higher realm, the Soul Ring and Soul Bone of that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast will be her most suitable aid, and also an important cornerstone for her to take charge of the Spirit Hall in the future, and even... to reach a higher level."

He looked at Bibi Dong's face, which had suddenly turned pale because of his words, and whose eyes flashed with resentment and venom. His tone became even colder:

As for you...

"Your greatest value lies in fulfilling your duties as a Holy Maiden and assisting me in managing the daily affairs of the Spirit Hall."

"Some things you shouldn't think about, so don't think about them. Things you shouldn't touch, don't touch them."

"Do you understand?"

The last few words, carrying the unquestionable majesty and aloofness of the Pope, completely extinguished Bibi Dong's newly ignited ambition for a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, leaving only a bone-chilling cold and endless humiliation.

In Qian Xunji's heart, and even in the overall structure of the Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue was the true family member, the continuation of his bloodline, and the hope and legitimacy for the future of the Spirit Hall.

And she is Bibi Dong...

No matter how talented, how strong, or how noble one's status, one is ultimately just an outsider, a tool that can be cultivated and utilized, but must also be constantly guarded against and controlled.

What right do tools have to covet the treasures that belong to their master?

A deathly silence fell over the study.

The only sounds were the faint whistling of the wind outside the window and Bibi Dong's slightly trembling breaths as she tried to suppress her emotions.