The Strife of Three Women

The next morning.

Library Pavilion.

Sunlight pierced through the broken windows, casting patches of light across the floor.

Su Chen opened his eyes on the bamboo chair and exhaled a long, stale breath.

Within his Sea of Divine Consciousness, the light screen of the Eye of Omniscience popped up automatically.

The information displayed that after Liu Erlong smashed half a treasury last night, she was treated as a guest of the highest order by Martial Soul Hall and arranged into a manor outside the city.

Looking at the red dot on the screen that was as steady as a mountain, this Mother Tyrant Dragon had no intention of leaving at all.

"Creeeak~"

Su Chen was halfway through stretching when the wooden door was shoved open.

Bibi Dong walked in.

Today, she wasn't wearing that aura-heavy papal robe, having changed into a sharp, deep purple casual outfit.

The most eye-catching thing was the rosewood and gold-inlaid food box in her hand, which was a size larger than usual.

Su Chen glanced at it.

On the Eye of Omniscience, Bibi Dong's [Sense of Crisis] value had already hit 70%.

Liu Erlong's unbridled "probing" last night had clearly stepped on this Pope's landmine.

"Eat."

Bibi Dong's tone was rigid as she slammed the food box onto the tea table.

As she uncovered the layers, a rich aroma exploded instantly. Crystal Steamed Dumplings, Snow Clam Bird's Nest, Eight Treasures Golden Chicken... all top-tier medicinal dishes capable of replenishing one's life essence.

This display of attentiveness was clearly a sign that she was worked up.

Su Chen understood in a second.

He hunched his shoulders, instantly switching into actor mode, his eyes locked into an expression of humility and gratitude.

He lifted the bowl with trembling hands, ignoring any sense of decorum, and began stuffing these Delicacies into his mouth as if his life depended on it.

Seeing his gluttonous, starving-ghost appearance, the chill in Bibi Dong's eyes dissipated slightly.

[Ding! Bibi Dong's favorability +2, current favorability: 64%]

The corners of Bibi Dong's mouth curled into an almost invisible arc; satisfied, she packed up the empty food box and turned to leave.

Su Chen let out a burp, happily accepting the ten-fold soul power critical hit returned by the system, and prepared to continue lying flat.

However, the good life didn't even last until noon.

[Beep--beep--beep!]

The radar of the Eye of Omniscience flashed with red light, and the panel for Subject 002, Qian Renxue, popped up.

[Forced Bond Mission Triggered: In the identity of the Young Master, deliver Heaven Dou Empire Royal Cuisine to Su Chen and accompany him for a ten-minute meal.]

Su Chen's eyelids twitched violently.

In less time than it takes to brew a pot of tea, the wooden door was pushed open again.

Qian Renxue, disguised as an attendant, walked in with a cold face and long, swift strides. Behind her, two attendants tremblingly carried three extravagantly luxurious food boxes.

"Set it up," Qian Renxue said coldly.

The attendants moved with lightning speed, instantly covering the tea table. Fowl and Beasts, Carved Dragons and Painted Phoenixes—authentic Heaven Dou Empire Royal Cuisine.

This display was clearly meant to go head-to-head with the Pope Palace.

After the attendants retreated, Qian Renxue suppressed the humiliation in her heart.

She, the dignified Young Master of Martial Soul Hall and Crown Prince of Heaven Dou, actually had to accompany a piece of trash for a meal!

But the system mission's rewards and the threat of erasure hung over her head.

She took a deep breath, pulled out the chair opposite Su Chen, and sat down, biting the bullet.

The countdown began.

Just then.

"Clack, clack, clack."

Outside the door, a familiar sound of military high heels approached—not fast, not slow, but carrying a world-destroying killing intent.

Qian Renxue's back stiffened instantly.

"Bang!"

The door was pushed open.

Bibi Dong, who had returned, was still holding a freshly stewed pot of Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup, and she froze on the threshold.

The temperature of the entire Library Pavilion dropped to freezing point in a single breath!

Bibi Dong's gaze locked onto Qian Renxue, then swept over the table full of ostentatious Heaven Dou Court Dishes, and her phoenix eyes turned red on the spot.

"What are you doing?"

Bibi Dong's voice was cold enough to freeze a man dead. Purple-black Rakshasa Death Qi coiled around her fingertips like venomous snakes, and the crushing pressure of a Limit Douluo slammed down!

Qian Renxue felt her scalp tingle, but the system countdown was still ticking—there was no backing down!

"Has Mother forgotten?" She stood up abruptly, secretly erupting with Angel Divine Power to hold back the deathly aura. "I already stated last night that this person is to be cultivated by both the Pope and myself."

She gestured to the table full of imperial delicacies, meeting her gaze head-on. "Since he is the cornerstone of the sect, he cannot live on coarse tea and bland rice forever. I am merely providing material support for the Holy Son. Your Holiness, what are you angry about?"

Two god-level mental energies collided violently in the air!

The very air seemed to crack like glass, emitting a sharp, splintering sound! The cups and plates on the tea table rattled frantically, on the verge of shattering!

[Alert! Bibi Dong's killing intent has spiked to 89%!]

[Alert! Qian Renxue's hostility has spiked to 85%!]

On the light screen, the emotional data for both women was skyrocketing like a rocket.

Seeing the Asura Field about to detonate on the spot and knowing he, a small fry, was about to be cooked alive, Su Chen decisively activated "Master of Balancing" mode!

"Th-thank you, Your Holiness! Thank you, Young Mistress!"

Su Chen suddenly let out a cry of gratitude, his voice trembling to the point of cracking.

His entire body shook like a sieve, yet his hands moved so fast they left afterimages!

Left hand, soup!

He didn't even bother with a spoon; he grabbed the bowl of scalding Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup from Bibi Dong and downed a massive gulp!

Right hand, meat!

He snatched up the Snowflake Meat provided by Qian Renxue with lightning speed and stuffed his mouth full!

"It's... it's too delicious! In all my life, this subordinate has never tasted anything so fragrant!"

Su Chen was scalded to the point of tears, his cheeks bulging like a hamster's. He chewed frantically while mumbling incoherent flattery.

"Your Holiness's soup... it's peerless! This is the warmest soup this subordinate has ever tasted!"

"Young Mistress's dish... invincible! This subordinate's life belongs to Martial Soul Hall!"

With one mouthful of soup and one of meat, his movements were crude yet fanatical. He used nothing but his own mouth to plug the two volcanoes about to erupt!

Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue were both stunned.

The soul power that had been poised at their throats was forcibly stifled by the sight of Su Chen's pathetic, tearful, and ravenous display.

They watched as Su Chen devoured everything they had brought until the plates were clean.

[Ding! The ten-minute meal-accompanying countdown has ended. Mission complete.] The notification chimed in Qian Renxue's mind.

"Hmph." Bibi Dong was the first to retract her killing intent, casting a cold, sharp glance at Qian Renxue. "Do not overstep your bounds. Remember your place."

With that, she flicked her sleeves and departed.

Qian Renxue looked at the empty plates, her expression complex and laced with a twisted sense of competitiveness.

She also shot a fierce glare at Su Chen. "To be able to eat is a blessing; don't choke to death."

Having said that, she left in a trail of cold fragrance.

Outside the door, Cardinal Angela watched Su Chen, whose mouth was still glistening with grease, and felt her worldview being ground into the dirt.

Under the crushing aura of those two titans, this piece of trash... was actually still eating?

Angela had only two words in her mind: Hellish!

Evening.

Su Chen lay sprawled on a bamboo chair, feeling like a dried salted fish.

He rubbed his round belly, feeling as though the medicinal meal had reached his throat.

"Finally survived today..."

Before he could finish, the red dot representing Liu Erlong on the Eye of Omniscience began to flash frantically like a strobe light!

[Subject 003 mission triggered: Share a wild game dinner with the target!]

[Current Resistance: 0!]

[Eating Enthusiasm: 100%!]

Su Chen's face turned white in an instant.

"Bang!"

The poor wooden door of the Library Pavilion was kicked into a cloud of splinters by a long, flame-wrapped leg!

Amidst the dust, Liu Erlong stormed in with a fiery temperament.

She was dressed in a sleek black combat outfit, and most terrifying of all, she was carrying a half-cooked Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Cloud Sable on her shoulder that was still dripping with oil!

The beast was even sturdier than a young calf!

"Eat!"

Liu Erlong did not even glance at Su Chen's face, which was twisted in terror.

She freed one hand and, with extreme brutality, tore off a charred hind leg thicker than Su Chen's thigh, shoving it directly against his mouth with a wave of savage, fiery heat!

The violent blood essence of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Cloud Sable, mixed with the stench of burnt grease, rushed straight to his crown!

"Eat up! What kind of man are you, dawdling like this?" Liu Erlong's eyes shone, her entire face screaming, "Just get it done!"

The dual assault on his vision and stomach caused Su Chen's brain to crash on the spot.

He knew very well that in front of this she-dragon, if he didn't eat, he would absolutely be pinned to the ground and rubbed into the dirt by her Fire Dragon soul power!

Su Chen opened his mouth wide, wearing a tragic expression of resignation, and with two hot tears welling up, he took a fierce bite.

"That's more like it!" Liu Erlong slapped his back in satisfaction, nearly knocking out the meal Su Chen had eaten the night before.

Night fell.

The Library Pavilion was in a state of utter chaos.

Leftovers from the Heaven Dou Imperial Kitchen and stains from the Ten-Ingredient Tonic Soup littered the room, while the air still hung heavy with the pungent, burnt scent of the Ten-Thousand-Year Fire Cloud Sable.

Outside the door, Angela kept her eyes squeezed shut like a stone statue, frantically chanting in her heart: I am blind, I am a blind person today.

Su Chen stared at the ceiling, his belly round and taut, his expression one of utter despair.

Just then, a blood-red pop-up window on the Eye of Omniscience screen aggressively occupied his entire field of vision:

[Warning! Severe conflict detected in task frequency for three-party bondholders!]

[System self-adaptive judgment in progress...]

[Ding! A phased competitive task has been synchronized and issued to Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Liu Erlong: Within seven days, the one who achieves the highest target satisfaction will receive double rewards! The one in last place will be stripped of a portion of their soul power!]

Su Chen stared blankly at the screen.

On the data panels representing the three women, their already absurdly high desire for victory and possessiveness, stimulated by the four words "double rewards," erupted like a fire doused in oil, exploding into a blinding, scarlet battle intent!