The Incompetent Pope

"Linchuan," Qian Xunji said, his gaze shifting back and forth between Zhao Linchuan and Yan Lingji. "You're one lucky man!"

"I was wondering why your Soul Ring Configuration was so outrageous. Turns out you found yourself a peerless prodigy with a divine inheritance for a wife!"

Zhao Linchuan smiled faintly but said nothing.

Qian Xunji looked away and leaned back in his chair. He tapped the armrest twice with his fingers, his voice settling back into a steady tone.

"Regarding the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, what do you plan to do about them?"

"No need to rush. I plan to settle accounts with them after the competition." Zhao Linchuan's tone was utterly calm.

"Then we'll do it your way." Qian Xunji nodded and continued, "By the way, you gave Dong'er such a precious opportunity... What would you like in return?"

"I want a position with real authority."

Zhao Linchuan cut in, his tone a little strange.

"With my current status, not only do outsiders not recognize me when I go out, even people from my own Spirit Hall don't know who I am..."

"That's easy."

Before Zhao Linchuan could finish, Qian Xunji interrupted him, sweeping a hand through the air with great confidence.

"Which position do you have your eye on? Just tell me."

"In Spirit Hall, I'm the Pope. My word is law, and there's nothing I can't arrange!"

"Really, Teacher?"

Bibi Dong suddenly spoke, her eyes sparkling. Before Qian Xunji could react, she had already asked her next question.

"Then can you get Linchuan a position as an elder?"

"An elder?!"

At that, Qian Xunji nearly jumped out of his chair.

Even Zhao Linchuan hadn't expected Bibi Dong to say something like that.

He glanced sideways at her and silently gave her a thumbs-up.

"Teacher..."

Bibi Dong blinked at Qian Xunji, her fingers interlaced before her chest as she tilted her head slightly. She looked so obedient it was almost unbelievable.

"You're the supreme ruler of Spirit Hall, and your word is law. This shouldn't be difficult for you, should it?"

"I..."

Qian Xunji's left hand gripped his thigh tightly. He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. His Adam's apple bobbed several times as he struggled to force out an indistinct reply.

"Well, this..."

"Teacher..."

Bibi Dong's eyes widened further, her gaze so clear and innocent that it was impossible to refuse her.

"Don't tell me... you can't do it?"

Qian Xunji looked at his precious student, whose expression said, "I knew you were the best,"

then at Zhao Linchuan beside her, whose face seemed to say, "So there are things even the Pope can't do." He gritted his teeth and steeled himself—

"Of course I can do it!"

He slapped his thigh, his voice so loud that the tiles on the roof trembled.

"I've been rather busy lately. You two go on ahead. I'll make the arrangements after the competition!"

He hurriedly picked up a scroll, unfurled it, and lowered his head, putting on an air that said, "I'm very busy, so hurry up and leave."

"Go on, go on. You've been on the road for ages. Find somewhere to relax properly."

"Yes, Teacher."

Bibi Dong fought back her laughter and bowed politely. Then she left Pope Hall with Zhao Linchuan and Yan Lingji.

The doors of the hall closed behind them.

In the corridor, Bibi Dong finally couldn't hold it in any longer. She burst out laughing, doubling over until tears nearly came to her eyes.

"You should've seen Teacher's expression... Hahaha... That was hilarious..."

Inside the hall,

Qian Xunji set down the scroll and let out a long breath. He leaned back in his chair and rubbed his sore temples.

"A hundred-thousand-year Seventh Soul Ring, and two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bones."

He silently repeated the words to himself. Every one of them weighed heavily on him, pressing against his chest.

Since Zhao Linchuan had given Bibi Dong such a precious opportunity, the two of them must have developed feelings during their time away.

Otherwise, there was no way he would have given her something so valuable.

Even if Zhao Linchuan had done Bibi Dong a great favor by helping her kill a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, he still wouldn't have given her both Soul Bones.

After all, there were only a handful of things like these on the whole continent. They were far too precious.

Anyone else, even the closest master and disciple or father and son, would probably have been unable to resist keeping one.

But Zhao Linchuan hadn't kept either. He had given both to Bibi Dong.

Qian Xunji tapped the armrest twice with his fingers, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turning up.

He had always been a little worried about his silly student.

Bibi Dong had been raised by his own hand, and her talent, temperament, and methods were all top-notch. But when it came to matters of the heart, she was practically a blank slate.

What worried him most was whether one day some "pretty boy" who had appeared out of nowhere would suddenly sweep his silly student off her feet.

Now that Zhao Linchuan was in the picture, he could finally put his mind at ease.

Otherwise, if some "pretty boy" really did run off with his "young lady" in a ridiculous turn of events, he didn't know how furious he'd be—or what he might do.

"A divine trial inheritor of the ancient god 'Mystic Bird Vermilion Bird'..."

Qian Xunji recalled what Bibi Dong had just told him about Yan Lingji, his gaze flickering faintly.

"Since her status is so distinguished, Dong'er should be able to accept marrying the same man as her... right?"

Though Bibi Dong was the Holy Maiden, Yan Lingji was just as distinguished, if not more so.

Both were favored daughters of heaven. Neither stood a step beneath the other.

"Dong'er has Twin Martial Souls. As long as she can master them, Spirit Hall will gain another Limit Douluo!"

"With her and Zhao Linchuan as husband and wives, how could we fail to unite the continent?"

A reckless smile tugged at his lips as his gaze fell on a jade box on the desk.

Inside the box lay a strangely shaped Immortal Herb—the Holy Radiance Nine-Heart Lotus.

Qian Xunji reached out to stroke the jade box and murmured to himself,

"According to that brat Linchuan, this thing is almost a perfect match for my Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul."

"But... in my current state, how much could I improve even if I refined it?"

Qian Xunji sighed and withdrew his hand, putting aside the thought of taking the Holy Radiance Nine-Heart Lotus.

He was being eroded by that invisible voice. Who knew how much longer he could hold on?

Rather than waste it by taking it himself, he might as well save it for the future inheritor of the Angel Martial Soul.

With that thought, Qian Xunji let out a long sigh. The sound drifted softly through the empty hall.

Perhaps because he no longer had so much to worry about, he felt considerably lighter, as if a stone that had weighed on his heart for a long time had finally been lifted.

He picked up a scroll and unfurled it, intending to review a few documents and cheer himself up. But the moment his pen touched the page, his hand suddenly froze.

"Wait—! No, that's not right!"