Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo hadn't turned their backs on Bibi Dong out of heartlessness!
It was Bibi Dong who had first treated them like dirt!
If Bibi Dong hadn't squeezed them so hard, would they really have stood by coldly when she fell from power?
Their loyalty to the Spirit Hall showed that Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were men of feeling and honor.
If Bibi Dong had treated them with courtesy and hadn't flown into a rage,
then even if she'd been driven out of the Spirit Hall, they would have been willing to lend her a hand.
But clearly, Bibi Dong wasn't the sort of person who cared for her subordinates.
In Bibi Dong's eyes, only a handful of people, like Yu Xiaogang and Hu Liena, mattered.
The rest were nothing but tools.
As a result, trusted aides like Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had long been seething with resentment.
Hu Liena felt awful.
Bibi Dong was her teacher.
In the past, Bibi Dong had always looked after Hu Liena.
She had raised and treated her just like her own daughter.
Now that Bibi Dong had lost power and been driven out of the Spirit Hall, Hu Liena desperately wanted to do something for her.
But she hadn't expected Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo to cut ties with Bibi Dong outright.
Those two had once been Bibi Dong's most capable aides.
If even Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were so cold toward her,
then the other people in the Spirit Hall were even less likely to associate with Bibi Dong.
"Grandpa Chrysanthemum, Grandpa Ghost, are you really going to cut ties with Teacher?"
"Teacher is all alone now. She needs your support."
Hu Liena pleaded with them.
She had neither the right nor the standing to criticize them.
She knew that Bibi Dong could be rather strict.
Besides, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had always treated her wonderfully, doting on her as if she were their granddaughter.
Whatever the reason, Hu Liena couldn't blame them.
But Hu Liena hoped they would support Bibi Dong as much as they could, for old times' sake!
"Nana, let me remind you: you're a candidate for the Spirit Hall's saintess."
"If you want to keep your chance at the saintess position, you should spend less time with Bibi Dong."
"Otherwise, you'll get dragged into this too."
That was all Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had to say.
After offering Hu Liena a few words of advice, they turned and left.
They didn't know what had happened between Bibi Dong and Qian Xunji.
But the fact that Bibi Dong had been expelled from the Spirit Hall made it clear that she must have done something wrong.
If Qian Xunji had returned and Bibi Dong had simply handed the position of pope back to him, there would have been no need to expel her from the Spirit Hall.
After all, Bibi Dong was a level-99 Limit Douluo.
A powerhouse of that caliber would be valued by any faction.
The Spirit Hall had expelled Bibi Dong without mercy. There had to be some secret behind it.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo didn't want to dig into it.
But they knew that if they continued associating with Bibi Dong, Qian Xunji would take a dislike to them.
Qian Xunji was now the pope of the Spirit Hall.
Their duty was to be loyal to him and earn his favor.
As a candidate for saintess, Hu Liena needed to be even more careful about what she said and did.
Otherwise, she could forget ever attaining the saintess position she longed for.
After hearing Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo's warning,
Hu Liena went pale, unsure what to do.
The Spirit Hall's saintess position was an unparalleled honor.
The title of saintess represented not only power and status, but also glory for one's family.
As one of the outstanding talents of the younger generation, Hu Liena had always made becoming the saintess her goal!
If her association with Bibi Dong cost her the chance to take that position,
Hu Liena would carry that regret for the rest of her life.
But she couldn't be ungrateful, either.
After a fierce inner struggle, Hu Liena decided to visit Bibi Dong less often from then on.
That way, she wouldn't sever her bond as Bibi Dong's student, but would also avoid being noticed by Qian Xunji.
At Bibi Dong's residence...
Hu Liena hung her head and explained how Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had cut ties with Bibi Dong.
Overnight, Bibi Dong had fallen from the lofty position of pope.
The tools she had once looked down on had become people she could no longer hope to reach.
Bibi Dong couldn't order them around anymore.
She wasn't even entitled to see Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
The Spirit Hall's elders weren't people just anyone could ask to see.
"You pack of bastards!"
"This is the way of the world—when the tiger falls, even dogs dare to bully it!"
"I've only just lost power, and these lackeys already dare to look down on me!"
Bibi Dong was beside herself with rage. She slammed her palm down and shattered the table.
She had never imagined Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo would be so mercenary.
If her plan to become a god didn't still require her to make use of these tools,
Bibi Dong might have been unable to stop herself from killing them right then and there.
Even without her title as pope, she was still a level-99 Limit Douluo.
The strong could not be insulted. What gave Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo the right to show her such disrespect?
"Teacher, please calm down!"
"Don't do anything rash."
"If you attack anyone in the Spirit Hall, the current pope won't let you get away with it."
Hu Liena hurriedly urged Bibi Dong to calm down.
She knew her teacher's temperament all too well.
Once Bibi Dong flew into a rage, she didn't care about the consequences.
If Bibi Dong stormed into the Elder Hall in a fit of anger,
the high-ranking members led by Qian Xunji would make her pay dearly.
Qian Daoliu, that god-level powerhouse, might even come out to subdue her.
The Spirit Hall's dignity could not be challenged.
Hu Liena didn't want to watch Bibi Dong do something foolish.
At Hu Liena's words, Bibi Dong gradually calmed down.
Hu Liena was right.
Now wasn't the time to settle scores.
Bibi Dong would keep this grudge in her heart for now.
When she got the chance, she would deal with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
For now, she needed to lie low.
Without the Spirit Hall's support, Bibi Dong's plan to hunt a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast could only fall through.
After all, she couldn't possibly succeed on her own.
Bibi Dong's strength was currently restricted, and she couldn't bring it fully to bear.
But fortunately, the Arena Tournament had given her a new idea.
By starting with the Arena Tournament, Bibi Dong might have a chance to gain a great opportunity.
"Nana, go back for now."
"While I'm away, remember to train hard."
"If you have any questions, you can come ask me."
Bibi Dong began to make new plans for the future.
All her old arrangements would have to be scrapped and redone.
Hu Liena stood up to leave.
As she was leaving, Hu Liena looked remorseful and said,
"Teacher, I'm afraid I won't be able to come here and pay my respects very often from now on."
"If you need anything, you can send someone to notify me."
"As long as it's within my power, I'll do my best to help you."
Hu Liena's words were like a sharp knife, stabbing deep into Bibi Dong's heart!
Bibi Dong could hear that Hu Liena was trying to keep her distance.
In that moment, Bibi Dong finally understood what betrayal tasted like.