(Please wait a moment, everyone. I have a lot of things to do at home today, so the update might be a little late. I'll post this now and replace it later.)
Bibi Dong, seeing his changing expression, didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly:
"So, have you thought it through? This kind of opportunity doesn't come around every day. If you don't agree, you'll regret it sooner or later."
She paused, her tone resolute. "I did consider recruiting Shen Yifeng before, but compared to you, no matter how strong he is, he's nothing. The Spirit Hall's centuries-old accumulated resources are only truly utilized if they're allocated to you."
These words struck at the deepest desire in Yu Xiaogang's heart. His clenched fist slowly loosened, and all hesitation in his eyes vanished, replaced by determination.
Yes, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to touch the pinnacle of Martial Soul Theory. If he misses it, he will be trapped in the small Blue Tyrant Academy for the rest of his life, bearing the title of "useless" until the end.
As for Liu Erlong... there will be opportunities to explain in the future, and she will eventually understand her ambitions.
He took a deep breath, looked up at Bibi Dong, and said in a deep voice, "I promise you."
"Good!" Bibi Dong laughed heartily, her eyes brimming with delight. "You haven't disappointed me at all. You can come anytime. From today onwards, the Pope Palace's library is fully open to you. No one will dare to stop you. Just ask if you need any resources or manpower."
Yu Xiaogang nodded, his mind still a bit complicated. He suppressed his surging emotions and said in a low voice, "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now. There are still some things to take care of at the academy, and the follow-up arrangements for Shrek need to be made."
"Go ahead." Bibi Dong waved her hand, in a very good mood, and didn't try to keep him any longer.
Yu Xiaogang walked out of the Pope Palace.
Sunlight fell on him from outside the hall, and he paused slightly. A trace of guilt towards Liu Erlong flashed through his heart, but it was quickly overshadowed by the excitement of about to learn about the core Martial Soul Theory.
He chose this path himself, and he has no regrets for his lifelong research.
Inside the hall, Bibi Dong watched his departing figure, her smile undiminished.
After all these years of Doudou and turns, he finally returned to his side.
What good was Liu Erlong's long-lasting devotion? Faced with ideals and future prospects, that sentimentality was utterly insignificant.
She raised her hand and lightly touched her fingertips, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.
The person is already here; there's plenty of time to gradually keep him completely by our side.
Not long after Yu Xiaogang left, Qian Renxue walked into the Pope Palace with a sullen face. She had just seen Yu Xiaogang leaving outside the palace and guessed what had happened after a little thought. Her anger surged.
" Bibi Dong, how could you be so despicable?" She stood below the throne, her gaze icy as she stared at the person on the throne. "Is this how you act as Pope?"
Bibi Dong glanced at her, a mocking smile playing on her lips, "Despicable? He agreed to it himself; I didn't force him. Besides, do you have any proof? It's best to keep quiet when you're just making things up."
Qian Renxue's chest heaved with anger. She had seen Yu Xiaogang walk out of the hall with his own eyes, his expression a mixture of guilt and barely suppressed excitement. What else could it be but the benefits promised by Bibi Dong?
She used the precious books accumulated by the Spirit Hall over hundreds of years to curry favor with her former lover, which was utterly absurd.
" The Spirit Hall's foundation will be destroyed in your hands sooner or later!" she said through gritted teeth.
"Whether it's destroyed or not is none of your business." Bibi Dong sneered, then abruptly changed the subject, "But you, instead of staying in the Worship Hall, secretly sneaked into the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to participate in the competition. Does the Grand Elder know about your willful and reckless behavior?"
Qian Renxue's expression froze; she hadn't expected that she knew about this.
She quickly regained her composure and said coldly, "I participated in the competition for training, which has nothing to do with you. You secretly sent elders to intercept contestants and privately offered sect resources to win over outsiders. Aren't all of these actions damaging the foundation of the Spirit Hall?"
"Enough." Bibi Dong interrupted her impatiently. "The affairs of the Pope Palace are none of your business, a junior. If you have nothing else to say, go back and don't get in my way."
Qian Renxue clenched her fingers, knowing that further words were useless. She glared at her fiercely, turned around, and stormed off. Walking down the corridor, the anger in her heart Jiujiu.
She secretly vowed that when the time was right, she would personally pull Bibi Dong down from the Pope.
Meanwhile, inside the quiet room, Shen Yifeng slowly finished his practice, and his Soul Power returned to calm.
He focused his mind and examined his inner self, finding that his cultivation had steadily reached level fifty-eight. Based on his current progress, once the competition ended and he had accumulated enough foundation, he would be able to break through to the Soul Emperor realm.
The phantom of the Star Abyss God King appeared out of thin air, his gaze falling on him. "Now that the Soul Master Tournament has ended, you can officially begin your Divine Trial. To be honest, I'm quite looking forward to your Divine Trial."
Shen Yifeng paused, glancing up at him. "There's something off about your tone?"
"You'll find out then." The Star Abyss God King curled his lips, his expression inscrutable.
Shen Yifeng secretly grumbled to himself.
That tone, that expression—it doesn't look like a good thing at all.
While others passed the divine test step by step, this person seemed to be waiting to see a good show. It's likely that this so-called divine test has many tricks up its sleeve to make things difficult.
He didn't ask any more questions; he knew he'd have to face it sooner or later anyway.
He silently made up his mind that if the test was too outrageous, he could take it slowly and not let the gods stump him.
"Don't worry, it's definitely good news." Star Abyss God King smiled meaningfully, "And it's not just good news for you, Gu Yuena and Lan Xuanyu get a share too."
He didn't say anything more, and his illusory figure vanished completely in a flash, leaving Shen Yifeng standing there with a slight frown.
Good news? And it involves Na'er and Ke'er? The more he thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.
The way Star Abyss God King is hiding his true intentions doesn't seem like a simple stroke of luck.
Most likely, the divine test contained some kind of mystery that required the three of them to work together, which this person described in an exaggerated and elaborate manner.
He suppressed his doubts and pushed open the door to leave the quiet room.
In the courtyard, Gu Yuena leaned against a pillar, Lan Xuanyu sat on the stone steps, gesturing wildly as she spoke, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Gu Yuena listened attentively, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Upon hearing footsteps, the two stopped talking almost simultaneously and turned to look at each other.
Lan Xuanyu's smile vanished instantly, her eyes darting around, and she instinctively shrank back behind Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena straightened up, her expression returning to its usual aloofness, as if the smile from just moments before had never appeared.
Shen Yifeng raised an eyebrow and walked over. "What are you two talking about, so mysteriously?"
"N-nothing," Lan Xuanyu waved her hand, her voice slightly stuttering, "We were just chatting about the competition."
No one would believe that.
Shen Yifeng knew perfectly well that they were hiding something from him, given their guilty looks. He glanced at Gu Yuena, whose expression was calm, but whose eyes slightly avoided his gaze.
"You think you can shut up the moment I showed up by talking about the game?" He crossed his arms, looking at the two of them with a half-smile.
Lan Xuanyu panicked even more, scratching the back of her head for a long time without being able to speak. It was Gu Yuena who spoke up, casually changing the subject. "How is your cultivation adjustment going?"
"Level 58." Shen Yifeng didn't press further and replied, "Once the competition ends, I'll be able to break through to Soul Emperor."
"Wow, so fast!" Lan Xuanyu immediately seized the opportunity. "We have to celebrate this breakthrough! I've been craving the roasted meat from that century-old restaurant in Spirit City for ages!"