Bibi Dong's face flushed bright red. "You..."
"You what?"
Chen Fan sneered and cut her off. "Bibi Dong, don't tell me you really think you're still that pure and chaste Saintess of Spirit Hall?"
"Go look in a mirror. What difference is there between you and those women in the brothels?"
"Nothing, except... you're a little more expensive than they are."
After a pause, Chen Fan twisted the knife again. "After all, someone who takes a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring to get is certainly a rare find!"
"You!"
Every word from his poison-coated mouth stabbed into Bibi Dong's heart like a knife. Her face turned livid, veins bulging as she glared at Chen Fan with eyes that seemed ready to spit fire. "Chen Fan, you're asking for death!"
As the words fell, she sprang to her feet, and seven Soul Rings appeared in succession. She looked ready to teach Chen Fan a lesson.
However.
The moment she moved, her legs went weak and she nearly fell. She hurriedly grabbed the wall to steady herself.
"What, can't stand it?"
Chen Fan remained remarkably calm in the face of Bibi Dong's fury. "Want to kill me?"
"Go ahead!"
"Besides me, who else would trade you a ready-made Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?"
"Are you still going to get your revenge or not?"
"And what about the Yu Xiaogang you've been pining for? Do you still want to be with him?"
"Oh, and you've just paid such a steep price, haven't you?"
Those few simple remarks froze Bibi Dong's hand in midair. Her face flushed red, then pale; her lips trembled, but she couldn't come up with a single retort. All she could do was fix Chen Fan with a murderous glare.
"What're you staring at?"
Chen Fan chuckled and swung a heavy backhand across her face. The blow sent Bibi Dong tumbling to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. "If you don't have the guts to hit me, then quit yapping."
"You'd better focus on taking care of yourself."
"If you want to become a Titled Douluo with nine Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, you'll have to give birth three to five more times at the very least."
"Let's just hope that by then, Yu Xiaogang will still want a secondhand woman like you."
Bibi Dong clutched her face. Hearing those words, she flew into another rage!
"Shut up! Xiao Gang will definitely understand me!"
"Fine, fine, I believe you. I believe you."
Chen Fan humored her like someone soothing a child.
Once he had tidied up, he clapped his hands, rolled his neck, and yawned. "But you don't need to worry. Once you become a Titled Douluo with nine Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, you can do whatever you want. No matter how Yu Xiaogang resists, he won't escape your clutches."
"Even if you're a whore who's been thoroughly used, he'll just have to hold his nose and accept you!"
Bibi Dong's face turned green and white by turns. Her nails dug deep into her palms, almost drawing blood, as she stared at Chen Fan, wishing she could slap him into pieces.
A Soul Saint at level seventy-four could certainly kill a Soul Ancestor at level forty-nine with ease.
But...
Chen Fan was right.
She had already sunk so much into this. If she killed Chen Fan now, would it be worth it?
It would definitely be a terrible loss!
So, after calming down a little, she stopped ranting and no longer flew into a helpless rage. Instead, she stared coldly at Chen Fan and said each word distinctly. "Remember what you said."
Chen Fan shrugged and turned toward the door.
After two steps, he stopped as if he'd just remembered something. He glanced back at Bibi Dong, his tone as casual as if he were chatting about the weather. "By the way, Your Highness the Saintess."
"Your little sweetheart, Yu Xiaogang, is probably getting hot and heavy with Liu Erlong right now."
"At this rate, it probably won't be long before they get married."
"If you hurry over, you might still get to share a celebratory drink, or even sit at the main table!"
Crack!
Bibi Dong's clenched fist tightened, her nails suddenly digging into her palm. Her face turned deathly pale. "What did you say?!"
Xiao Gang was getting married?
How had she not heard about this?!
"You didn't know?"
Chen Fan looked at her in surprise. Her face turned pale, then flushed, and her voice grew shrill. "I'm warning you. You can humiliate me if you want, but don't you dare insult Xiao Gang!"
"I'm telling you the truth. If you don't believe me, go see for yourself."
"Xiao Gang would never do something like that!"
Bibi Dong shrieked, "He's definitely waiting for me!"
"Waiting for me to grow stronger, waiting for me to take control of Spirit Hall. He'll come back to me!"
"You don't know anything!"
Looking at Bibi Dong's near-hysterical state, Chen Fan merely shrugged. He didn't bother arguing with her any further. Turning around, he pushed open the door and headed toward a side hall of the Pope Palace.
After taking a full two and a half minutes to compose herself, Bibi Dong left as well and headed toward the side hall of the Pope Palace.
The moment the two of them arrived at the side hall, they heard Qian Xunji's voice from within. "May I ask what else Senior Chen has come here for?"
A moment later, Chen Jianjun's booming voice rang out. "...Aside from paying a visit to your father, I've come with another important matter."
"Oh? Let's hear it."
"To ask for your Spirit Hall Saintess, Bibi Dong's hand in marriage!"
Chen Fan raised an eyebrow but didn't immediately push open the door.
Bibi Dong followed behind him.
She had just reached the doorway when she heard those words too, and her steps abruptly stopped.
A proposal?
To marry me?
Bibi Dong's heart stirred.
Now that she had regained her composure, her mind raced as she quickly weighed the pros and cons.
If...
If she could marry into the Seven Kill Sect...
Then she could leave Spirit Hall openly and escape Qian Xunji's control!
By then!
With the help of that "Crystal Spirit Ring" Chen Fan had, she was certain her future would be bright!
Of course!
More importantly, once she became the Seven Kill Sect's sect master's wife, she could openly obtain resources, grow stronger faster, and take revenge on Qian Xunji sooner!
Once she had her revenge, she would surely become a Titled Douluo with nine Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings!
By then, she could bring her Xiao Gang back right in front of Chen Fan. Who would dare object?
Of course!
She wouldn't kill Chen Fan. On the contrary, she would keep him around so he could continually provide her with those "Crystal Spirit Rings"!
She might not need them anymore, but her Xiao Gang definitely would!
Even her and Xiao Gang's future children would need them!
At the thought, Bibi Dong's heart burned with excitement. She was just about to push open the door when Qian Xunji's icy voice rang out!
"No."
Hearing Qian Xunji's unequivocal refusal, Bibi Dong's heart sank, and she regained a little of her composure!
Right!
She'd forgotten. With Qian Xunji's beastly nature, how could he possibly let her leave?
Inside the side hall of the Pope Palace.
Seeing Qian Xunji refuse, Chen Jianjun assumed he hadn't explained enough and patiently elaborated. "Your Holiness the Pope, although my Seven Kill Sect can't compare with Spirit Hall, we have a considerable foundation..."
"There's no need to say more."
To his surprise, Qian Xunji waved him off, his tone firm. "This is absolutely impossible."
"The Saintess is the future Pope of Spirit Hall. She cannot marry outside the sect."
"Senior Chen, I cannot agree to this condition."
Chen Jianjun was now both embarrassed and displeased.
His father was of the same generation as Golden Crocodile Douluo, and by any reckoning, he himself was of the same generation as Qian Daoliu. Yet a junior had now rebuffed him twice...
And.
Just then, the side hall's door swung open.
Chen Fan walked in at an unhurried pace, a faint smile on his face. "Uncle, hold on a moment."
"You've got it wrong."
Chen Jianjun froze. "What?"
Seeing Chen Fan walk in and hearing those words, Qian Xunji furrowed his brow too. Had he gotten something wrong?
What did he mean?
"I said, Uncle, you've got it wrong!"
"When did I ever say I was going to propose to the Spirit Hall Saintess?"
At those words, Chen Jianjun was stunned.
Qian Xunji was stunned too.
As it happened, Bibi Dong had also followed Chen Fan into the side hall and heard what he'd said.
She froze as well.
Wait!
He wasn't proposing?
Then what had she just heard?
"But you..."
Chen Jianjun had just started to speak, but Chen Fan ignored him. His gaze swept across the hall before finally settling on a red-robed bishop standing at attention in the corner.
She was a woman who looked to be in her early twenties, with lovely features and a voluptuous figure. Her red hair blazed like a flame.
She wore the standard red-robed bishop's long robe, but it couldn't hide her curvaceous figure.
She was none other than Spirit Kite Douluo from the original story!
Only, she hadn't yet reached the rank of Titled Douluo. Judging by the fluctuations in her Soul Power, she was probably just a Soul Saint.
Chen Fan pointed at her, his tone casual. "Uncle, I think this red-robed bishop is a good choice. How about her?"
Chen Jianjun: "?"
Qian Xunji: "?"
Bibi Dong: "?"
What was this, choosing a concubine or picking a courtesan?
Could someone really be so casual about getting married?
Nearby, Ling Yuan had been standing by, hoping to catch some juicy gossip. Suddenly, she felt the air grow tense. She instinctively looked up and saw everyone in the side hall staring at her.
She was instantly baffled. Then she remembered what Chen Fan had just said...
Almost without thinking, she looked around. The place was empty, and she was the only one standing there.
So...
Was he talking about her?
No!
She was just watching the gossip, and quietly at that. How had it ended up landing on her head?
What did this have to do with her?
You couldn't marry the Saintess, so now you were dragging her into it?
"Uh..."
Ling Yuan was dumbfounded!
Chen Jianjun was equally confused. He glanced at Chen Fan with a questioning look.
However.
He didn't undermine him. After looking at Chen Fan for a moment, he turned to Qian Xunji and gave him an inquiring look.
"Hm?"
Qian Xunji was stunned too, unable to make sense of it.
Proposing to a red-robed bishop?
What was going on?
However.
Qian Xunji had held the position of Pope for some time. After thinking it over, he understood.
Chen Jianjun's proposal was rejected twice in no uncertain terms, so he's having trouble saving face.
This young man is deliberately offering him a way out, so Chen Jianjun won't be left so embarrassed.
After all, Chen Jianjun is a Super Douluo. He's been humiliated again and again. If this continues...
Qian Xunji also realized that he might have let his emotions get the better of him earlier and hadn't thought things through.
Now that he had calmed down and thought it over, he understood.
At this point.
If he turned down this proposal again, his relationship with the Seven Kill Sect might instantly plummet to freezing point.
At present, the Clear Sky Sect was riding high. If they antagonized the Seven Kill Sect, wouldn't that just force the Seven Kill Sect to grow closer to the Clear Sky Sect?
So...
At any rate, she was only a cardinal. It wouldn't be a big deal to marry her off.
But... this aura from Chen Jianjun!
As the thought crossed Qian Xunji's mind, he narrowed his eyes slightly. Doesn't he seem even stronger than the rumors say?
Earlier, when Chen Jianjun's expression darkened, Qian Xunji had caught the slightest ripple of power he released.
He could feel it.
That terrifying surge of Soul Power was nothing like the rumored Level 97!
If his senses weren't mistaken, Chen Jianjun's aura... was probably no weaker than that of Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo!
At the thought, Qian Xunji's heart trembled even more. Could it be... he absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?
Aside from that, Qian Xunji couldn't think of any other way a Super Douluo could raise his Soul Power Level in such a short time.
Of course.
Now wasn't the time to think about that.
He was currently trying to figure out how to deal with the Clear Sky Sect. There was no reason to push the Seven Kill Sect into an alliance with them.
As the saying went, the more friends you had, the more roads you could take. So...
"Since Elder Chen has taken a liking to Cardinal Ling Yuan, I'll gladly help make it happen."
She was only a cardinal. If he sent her off, so be it. He could even win the Seven Kill Sect's gratitude in the bargain.
But...
Ling Yuan, standing off to the side, was completely dumbfounded!
No!
Your Holiness, you're just selling me off like that?
Hey, hey, hey! I only wanted to enjoy a little bit of gossip. Was this really necessary?
"Your Holiness..."
Ling Yuan instinctively opened her mouth to say something, but when she saw Qian Xunji's look, she swallowed her words.
The Pope had spoken. How could a Soul Saint like her dare to object?
"Then I thank you, Your Holiness the Pope!"
Chen Jianjun glanced at Chen Fan, who had cupped his hands slightly toward Qian Xunji.
He couldn't understand why Chen Fan had suddenly changed his mind.
But.
With Qian Xunji present, it wasn't a good time to press him for an explanation. He could only nod and say, "In that case, the marriage is settled."
"Three days from now, the Seven Kill Sect will send someone with the betrothal gifts."
"Of course, of course," Qian Xunji said with a smile. "It's a blessing for Cardinal Ling Yuan to marry into the Seven Kill Sect."
Ling Yuan stood to one side, a smile on her face that she could barely keep from crumbling. In her heart, she cursed Qian Xunji and his ancestors going back eighteen generations.
All she'd done was work her usual shift and try to enjoy a little gossip.
Was it really necessary to get herself married off just for a bit of gossip?
But...
His Holiness the Pope had already spoken. What could she do?
Object?
She didn't have the nerve!
But, to be fair...
The new Sect Master of the Seven Kill Sect was pretty handsome?
Chen Fan seemed to sense her gaze. He turned toward her and smiled, showing two rows of pearly white teeth.
Ling Yuan blushed at the sight and hurriedly lowered her head, cursing herself.
This young man...
Ling Yuan, Ling Yuan, you're really an old cow eating young grass!
At the entrance, Bibi Dong watched the scene, and an indescribable feeling suddenly welled up inside her.
It wasn't attraction.
It wasn't jealousy.
And it wasn't sadness.
It was a feeling she couldn't put into words.
After mulling it over, it felt like the dismay of seeing your personal ATM willingly go to someone else, and realizing you might not be able to use the cash inside it anymore.
Of course.
Bibi Dong had no idea how to describe it that way. She only knew that she felt deeply uncomfortable.
But Qian Xunji had already spoken. What could she say?
She could only stand at the entrance with an expressionless face, watching Chen Fan and Chen Jianjun rise, take their leave, and depart.
At that moment.
Qian Xunji noticed Bibi Dong returning to the side hall and casually said, "Dong'er, you came at just the right time. See Elder Chen and Sect Master Chen out."
Bibi Dong came back to her senses and answered in a cool voice, "Yes, Teacher."
Chen Fan's steps faltered slightly. He gave her a teasing glance but said nothing.
Bibi Dong's hands clenched hard, her knuckles turning white. But her expression remained unchanged, and she merely said flatly, "This way, please."
After leaving the Pope Palace and entering Spirit City, Chen Jianjun brought Chen Fan to the sect's residence. Only after closing the door did he turn to Chen Fan and ask quietly, "Fan'er, why didn't you let me keep negotiating just now?"