"Elder Chrysanthemum, I came across the Immortal Herbs by chance while looking for Soul Rings in Sunset Forest."
"At the time, I wasn't sure. I only believed in their power after eating one."
Su Chen made up a simple story. Chrysanthemum Douluo sighed. "Some people spend their entire lives without finding even one. I can't believe you found so many. Your Highness the Saintess..."
Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly turned to Bibi Dong beside him. "If possible, please take me to the place where you found the Immortal Herbs sometime. I'd like to see what kind of place could produce them."
Bibi Dong nodded gently. "Elder Chrysanthemum, you should take your Immortal Herb first. If the opportunity comes later, I can take you there."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes showed his reluctance. "This Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum is perfectly suited to my Martial Soul. It can help me cultivate the Indestructible Diamond Body and break through to Super Douluo in the shortest time. But there may be only one in the whole world. It would be a shame if it were gone for good. Let me look at it first, then I'll take it after some time."
Bibi Dong spoke up. "Elder Chrysanthemum, you can only appreciate an Immortal Herb's true value after taking it. You should absorb it as soon as possible, in case anything unexpected happens. Also, please keep this secret. If my teacher asks about the Immortal Herb, I hope you'll say yourself that you found it."
Surprise flashed in Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes. The Saintess meant that His Holiness the Pope didn't know about the Immortal Herb.
Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly felt a little relieved.
Given the Pope's nature, if he knew about the Immortal Herb, there was no way the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum would have fallen to him.
Six of the Seven Grand Pontiffs needed Immortal Herbs to break through their current realms.
They had been stuck for years, unable to advance.
They had clearly reached the limits of their lives.
Only an Immortal Herb offered a glimmer of hope.
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded gently, then looked at Su Chen. "I'll remember this favor. If you need anything, come find me, Yue Guan."
"Elder Chrysanthemum, my teacher and I won't disturb you any longer."
Having achieved his aim, Su Chen said goodbye to Chrysanthemum Douluo and left with Bibi Dong.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were the Pope's right-hand men, and he needed them to handle almost everything.
If Qian Xunji ever tried to move against him or Bibi Dong, he would certainly send them to capture them.
Now Su Chen had secured a safeguard.
In the days that followed, Su Chen returned to his academy routine.
He still went back to Saintess Hall every day.
Qian Xunji came by now and then to have dinner with them. Sometimes, he even called them over for breakfast.
Whenever that happened, Su Chen would call over Bibi Dong's maid, Bai Ruyan, to serve them personally.
Su Chen had even gone out of his way to prepare a battle outfit for Bai Ruyan at Spirit Hall's clothing shop: maid's clothes, white stockings...
Bai Ruyan was more than willing. She seemed to understand what Su Chen was after, and didn't even need reminding. She eagerly went out of her way to seduce Qian Xunji.
She would even seek Su Chen out to practice beforehand.
Bai Ruyan's Martial Soul was fire, and she had a born Soul Power rank of seven.
She was perfectly suited to become Qian Renxue's mother.
Su Chen was looking forward to this future little angel.
He would raise her himself when the time came.
Heh heh heh.
He could tell the world: I, Su Chen, raised an Angel God with my own two hands!
Bibi Dong had also noticed how her maid had been acting around Qian Xunji lately, but she stayed silent about it.
"Dong'er, have you visited the Library Pavilion lately?"
At breakfast that morning, Qian Xunji brought up Su Chen. "His information needs to be recorded in the Library Pavilion, including details of his Martial Soul and Soul Rings, for future generations to refer to."
"Teacher, I understand. I'll take him there in a moment." Bibi Dong nodded gently. She knew the rules of Spirit Hall.
"Good. You should also make preparations over the next few days. Spirit Hall has discovered a Devil Island overseas, where many Sea Soul Masters live."
"After discussing it, the elders decided to send people to investigate. If possible, Spirit Hall intends to conquer the seas and bring the Sea Soul Masters there under our control."
Bibi Dong barely reacted, but Su Chen jolted in surprise.
Devil Island?
Wasn't that Sea God Island?
The timeline did fit. It should happen within the next few years.
Spirit Hall had sent thousands of Soul Masters and several Titled Douluo, only to suffer a crushing defeat.
Not one Titled Douluo returned. They had all perished at sea.
After receiving the battle report, Qian Xunji immediately went to Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu learned that a Peerless Douluo had appeared on the sea. To be safe, he sought out Tang Chen.
The two joined forces to battle Bo Saixi at sea, but in the end, they still couldn't defeat her.
Instead, they both fell in love with her.
It was absurd. Utterly absurd.
If Su Chen remembered correctly, Bibi Dong had even brought Yu Xiaogang along.
Yu Xiaogang had recalled this part of the story too.
Su Chen opened his mouth, wanting to stop them. After all, if Tang Chen didn't fall for Bo Saixi, he wouldn't go to the City of Slaughter.
If Tang Chen didn't go to the City of Slaughter, he wouldn't complete Asura's Eight Trials. His trials would eventually be passed directly to Tang San, who would be exempted from all eight. Tang San would become the Asura God King without any pressure at all.
But Su Chen couldn't think of a good excuse. If a little kid like him could reveal everything about Sea God Island, it didn't matter whether Qian Xunji believed him—he'd probably suspect something was wrong with Su Chen first.
Forget it. Some things can't be stopped.
Su Chen quietly finished his meal, then followed Bibi Dong to the Library Pavilion.
On the second floor of the Library Pavilion, in the same spot as always, Yu Xiaogang flipped through a book he had already read countless times.
Every so often, his eyes swept over the room, searching for that familiar figure.
He had searched the first and second floors of the Library Pavilion until he'd practically worn the books out.
He still couldn't find a way to fix the flaws in his Martial Soul.
The top floor was his only hope.
Unfortunately, only Spirit Hall's higher-ups were allowed in.
He had asked people from Spirit Hall for help, but not one of them had lent a hand. Some had even mocked him.
Bibi Dong had become his only hope.
But he had seen Bibi Dong only a handful of times lately.
The last time had been six months ago, when he was sitting in the Library Pavilion. Bibi Dong had come over with her disciple to apologize. He had only given a cold snort and ignored her. Who could have known that she wouldn't come looking for him again after that?
Yu Xiaogang knew that the next time he saw Bibi Dong, he couldn't just sit back and wait. He had to make the first move if he wanted a chance.
He suddenly sighed, thinking he wouldn't see Bibi Dong today either.
Then he spotted her at the top of the stairs.
Yu Xiaogang brightened. He immediately picked up a book and stood tall, once again looking like the man obsessed with Martial Soul Theory and full of himself.
He knew that from this conspicuous spot, Bibi Dong was sure to see him.
But things didn't go as he expected.
Bibi Dong didn't come over, and Yu Xiaogang panicked. Almost without thinking, he got up and approached her, a smile he thought was just right plastered across his face. "Bibi Dong, what a coincidence. Are you here to look through the books today too?"