I Want to Talk to Her

"Mm-hm~"

The instant the Radiant Sky Deer died, a soft murmur sounded in Fang Mo's mind.

The other party seemed rather pleased.

Fang Mo quickly realized that the soul skill Shadow Soul Devour had taken effect.

Dong'er was a soul body.

When her soul was replenished, it was not strange for her to make such a sound.

"Begin absorbing the soul ring."

Fang Mo's voice came from behind her, calm and steady, like an order from a commander.

Qian Renxue did not turn around. She sat down cross-legged and closed her eyes.

A purple soul ring rose from the soul beast's corpse, then slowly descended toward Qian Renxue's head.

The moment the soul ring entered her body, the Six-Winged Angel behind her bloomed, radiating a sacred, warm light.

It was a five-thousand-year soul ring, yet Qian Renxue showed no discomfort at all.

Fang Mo could not help marveling inwardly.

This was the terror of a god-tier Martial Soul.

Innate rank twenty Soul Power, combined with the Martial Soul quality purified by an Immortal Herb.

Qian Renxue's ability to bear soul rings had already far surpassed the limits of her peers.

The absorption process lasted a quarter of an hour.

When the final wisp of Soul Power had been completely absorbed, Qian Renxue slowly opened her eyes.

A deeper gleam had appeared in her brilliant golden eyes—the transformation brought about by absorbing a high-quality soul ring.

"I broke through!"

Qian Renxue's voice carried a trace of excitement, along with a hint of concealed relief.

"Rank thirty-three."

One soul ring had directly raised her by three ranks, not much less than Fang Mo's own gains.

Fang Mo nodded slightly.

Hu Liena and Xie Yue had already obtained their soul rings. Now, only Yan remained.

After everyone rested and regrouped, they set off to find a soul ring for Yan.

Before the sun set.

All five of them had returned with soul rings.

The five stood in a line before Bibi Dong.

Fang Mo stepped forward and gave a concise report of that day's events.

Bibi Dong did not say a word throughout.

After Fang Mo finished his report, she was silent for a moment before speaking.

"Rest tonight. We leave at dawn tomorrow and return to Spirit City."

The five answered in unison, then dispersed.

Beside the campfire.

Fang Mo sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and sank his spiritual power into the Sea of Consciousness.

In the darkness, Dong'er's phantom floated there.

The Immortal Herb, the Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid, had made her soul body far more solid than before.

Her features were clearly visible, her long hair falling over her shoulders, and her dark red eyes held a trace of laziness.

"Today's gains were quite good."

Dong'er's voice was hoarse and weak, but much better than before.

"Both soul rings have been raised to the thousand-year level, and with the additional Soul Power from devouring, your Soul Power has reached rank twenty-four."

Fang Mo nodded slightly.

"However..."

Dong'er's phantom leaned forward slightly, a serious gleam appearing in her eyes.

"Your cultivation has still risen too quickly. A six-year-old body can no longer withstand stronger soul rings."

"Mm, I know."

"After returning to Spirit Hall, you'll need at least seven days of rest and recuperation."

Fang Mo nodded.

"And one more thing."

Dong'er lowered her voice.

"That woman has been observing you in secret. When you devoured the soul ring to increase its age today, she was only a few meters away."

Fang Mo was slightly taken aback.

"Teacher?"

"Mm."

Dong'er's phantom narrowed her eyes slightly.

"She did not stop you, nor did she continue questioning you. After you finished attaching it, she silently left."

Fang Mo fell silent for a moment.

"Bibi Dong," Fang Mo said inwardly.

"What is it?"

"You've been helping me keep an eye on her. Are you concerned about her, or about me?"

Dong'er's phantom stiffened slightly.

Then she gave a cold snort and slowly sank into the darkness.

The next morning.

Before the morning mist in Sunset Forest had dispersed, the Spirit Hall party had already set off.

The carriages traveled south along the main road. Bibi Dong kept her eyes closed throughout the journey, resting without speaking much.

Fang Mo sat by the window, watching the scenery outside rapidly recede.

The Spirit Sea was tranquil. Nourished by the Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid, Dong'er had entered a deep slumber of restoration.

Qian Renxue sat opposite Fang Mo, her golden hair swaying gently with the jolting carriage.

Her brilliant golden eyes occasionally turned toward Fang Mo, then quickly shifted away, as though something weighed on her mind.

The siblings Hu Liena and Xie Yue rested with their eyes closed in another carriage, while Yan snored away in a corner.

Two and a half days later.

The outline of Spirit City slowly came into view.

When the convoy entered through the rear gate of Spirit Hall, Fang Mo noticed that Bibi Dong's personal attendant was already waiting there.

"Your Holiness the Pope, Elder Hall has sent three documents, and Consecrated Hall has sent one as well."

The female attendant lowered her head, holding several letters in both hands.

Bibi Dong did not take them. She merely glanced at them indifferently.

"Put them in my study."

She paused, then added.

"Also, issue an order. Effective immediately, the Sunset Forest region is to be designated a highest-level restricted area of Spirit Hall.

Station two Title Douluo there permanently. Within a hundred li, no one may approach without my personal approval."

The attendant froze for a moment. She did not ask any questions, merely lowered her head and hurried away.

Fang Mo was slightly startled at her words, then secretly nodded to himself.

With this move, Bibi Dong had directly cut off Tang San's most crucial opportunity. He would no longer have a chance to enter the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.

Dugu Bo would no longer be stationed there. The fortune that had originally belonged to Tang San was being severed bit by bit.

After returning to the Pope Palace, Fang Mo resumed his usual routine.

He did not immediately begin cultivating.

After the trip to Sunset Forest, his six-year-old body had reached its limit. What he needed now was simple rest.

On the third day after returning.

Inside Bibi Dong's study.

Fang Mo appeared at the door on time and bowed to Bibi Dong.

"Greetings, Teacher."

Bibi Dong sat behind her desk. She was not wearing her Pope's ceremonial robes today, but a casual deep-purple outfit instead.

Her purple hair hung loosely around her shoulders as she flipped through a parchment scroll in her hand.

She looked up at Fang Mo, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment.

"Sit."

Fang Mo pulled over a chair and sat down.

Bibi Dong slowly closed the parchment scroll. Her fingers tapped lightly against the desktop twice, a habit of hers whenever she was considering her words.

"How is your recovery?"

Fang Mo answered truthfully.

"There are no longer any problems with my meridians. My overall condition has recovered to about seventy percent."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

"For the next two weeks, you must rest. No meditation, no circulating Soul Power, and no physical labor of any kind."

Fang Mo nodded.

"This disciple understands."

Bibi Dong's fingers stopped. She looked at Fang Mo, and a subtle change passed through her gaze.

It was not scrutiny, nor was it assessment.

It was... hesitation.

Fang Mo caught it keenly.

Because Bibi Dong rarely hesitated.

Whether she faced Elder Hall's questioning or made every decision in Sunset Forest, she had always been decisive.

Yet at this moment, she hesitated.

"Teacher?"

Fang Mo asked softly.

Bibi Dong was silent for three seconds.

Then she spoke.

"Fang Mo."

"This disciple is here."

"I want to talk to her."