Yue Guan stepped aside and stood ramrod straight, his face respectfully composed.
Zhu Shen sat beside the long table, sizing up the Pope before him. Bibi Dong looked far more imposing than the image of Yu Xiaogang in his memories. The pressure of someone long accustomed to high office was something the bright young girl in Yu Xiaogang's memories had never possessed. She wore a magnificent purple papal robe and the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown, and held a scepter as she calmly regarded Zhu Shen.
"Master Yu," Bibi Dong began, her voice cool and melodious. "I've heard about what happened in Nuoding City. You saved forty-seven children and captured Blood Shadow, the leader of the Evil Soul Masters. You've rendered a great service."
"Your Holiness is too kind." Zhu Shen remained neither servile nor overbearing. "The Evil Soul Masters have committed countless atrocities. As a Soul Master, it was my duty to intervene."
Bibi Dong gave a slight nod, her gaze lingering on Zhu Shen for a moment. "Your Martial Soul Evolution and breakthrough in Soul Power are indeed astonishing. I looked through Spirit Hall's records, and the Dragon God Martial Soul hasn't appeared for several hundred years. The last time was when Spirit Hall was first founded."
Zhu Shen's heart stirred. When Spirit Hall was first founded? That had to have been at least a thousand years ago.
"I was just lucky," Zhu Shen said.
"Lucky?" A faint smile curled Bibi Dong's lips. "Martial Soul Evolution isn't merely a matter of luck. As I understand it, ten years ago Master Yu was only at rank twenty-nine, with Luo Sanpao as his Martial Soul. In ten years, your Soul Power has broken through several ranks, and your Martial Soul has even evolved into the legendary Dragon God. I'm very interested in the secret behind that."
Here it came. Zhu Shen had been prepared for this. As the Pope, Bibi Dong couldn't possibly ignore the changes he'd undergone.
"Over the past ten years, I traveled all across the continent and discovered an ancient ruin in the Far North," Zhu Shen began, spinning a tale. "The ruin held a trace of the Dragon God's bloodline, left behind when he fell. It merged with me, and that was what allowed my Martial Soul to evolve. My breakthrough in Soul Power was because of it, too."
He had rehearsed this story countless times in his head. The Far North was sparsely populated, and an ancient ruin would be nearly impossible to verify—perfect as an excuse.
Bibi Dong listened quietly without interrupting. Only after Zhu Shen finished did she speak. "An ancient ruin... I see. No wonder Spirit Hall's records contain no clues about it."
She paused, then changed the subject. "How much do you know about the Evil God Temple?"
Zhu Shen's spirits lifted. This was the real reason for today's meeting.
"Not much, but enough to be wary," Zhu Shen said solemnly. "I discovered three of their strongholds in Nuoding City. Their leader, Blood Shadow, was a rank seventy-three Soul Saint with the Blood Wolf King Martial Soul. They not only kidnapped children from among the common people for blood sacrifices, but also raised so-called 'Holy Children'—selecting gifted children, brainwashing them from a young age, and turning them into their loyal followers."
Bibi Dong's gaze turned cold.
"Raising Holy Children... These Evil Soul Masters have quite the ambition." She pondered for a moment. "Did Blood Shadow reveal anything after you captured him?"
"He refused to talk, even at the risk of death. He only said, 'The Temple's wrath is more than we can bear.'" Zhu Shen answered truthfully. "But I also caught two low-ranking Evil Soul Masters in Nuoding City, and they gave up some information. The Evil God Temple had three strongholds near Nuoding City, and they've all withdrawn now. Their higher-ups are known as the 'Holy Temple,' and members identify one another with a special dark-red insignia."
He noticed that when he mentioned the "dark-red insignia," Bibi Dong's fingers tightened slightly around her scepter.
"A dark-red insignia... What did it look like?"
"A twisted eye, like an eye dripping with blood," Zhu Shen described.
Bibi Dong fell silent. She walked to the window and gazed at the sky outside, saying nothing for a long while.
Zhu Shen wasn't in a hurry either. He picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. It was excellent tea, its fragrance wafting up around him.
"Master Yu," Bibi Dong suddenly said. "Would you be willing to join Spirit Hall?"
Zhu Shen set down his teacup but didn't answer immediately.
He knew this was Bibi Dong's real goal. Inviting him to Spirit City to discuss the Evil Soul Masters was a pretext. She truly wanted to recruit him.
"Your Holiness, I'm currently a teacher at Notting Academy, with several disciples to instruct," Zhu Shen said tactfully.
"Spirit Hall can give you everything Notting Academy can—and everything it can't." Bibi Dong turned around, her gaze sharp. "Resources, status, intelligence, power. None of those will be a problem if you join Spirit Hall."
Zhu Shen's heart stirred. Resources were exactly what he lacked most right now. Tang San needed Soul Rings and Soul Bones, the work-study students needed cultivation resources, and he needed to grow stronger himself. As the continent's foremost Soul Master organization, Spirit Hall truly did possess abundant resources.
But he couldn't accept too quickly.
"Your Holiness, I need some time to think it over," Zhu Shen said. "Besides, I have several disciples..."
"You can bring them with you," Bibi Dong interrupted. "Spirit Hall has the best Soul Master Academy. Your disciples can receive the most comprehensive training there."
Zhu Shen fell into deep thought.
Joining Spirit Hall had obvious benefits. Resources, intelligence, and influence were all things he urgently needed. And with Bibi Dong on his side, his days in Spirit Hall wouldn't be difficult.
But the drawbacks were equally clear. The moment he joined Spirit Hall, he would stand squarely against Tang Hao. Though he was already trying to resolve the conflict between Tang Hao and Spirit Hall, the hatred between them couldn't be undone overnight.
Besides, Spirit Hall's internal factions were complicated. Joining as an outsider without careful thought might not be wise.
"Your Holiness, may I ask you a question?" Zhu Shen looked up at Bibi Dong.
"Go ahead."
"If I join Spirit Hall, what would I have to do? And what would I receive in return?"
Bibi Dong returned to the long table and sat down, folding her hands on it. "I need you to work for me. Investigate the Evil God Temple and wipe out the Evil Soul Master forces. As for what you would receive..."
She paused. "A position as an elder of Spirit Hall, priority access to resources, and permission to freely enter all of Spirit Hall's classified archives. And... my trust."
She spoke the last four words softly, but they carried great weight.
Zhu Shen weighed the pros and cons.
A position as an elder meant extremely high status. Priority access to resources meant he could obtain everything Tang San and the work-study students needed for cultivation ahead of others. And access to the classified archives was an immense temptation for someone studying Martial Soul Theory.
As for Bibi Dong's trust...
"System, is 'Pope's Trust' still in effect?"
[Held item 'Pope's Trust' in effect. Current trust bonus: 20%.]
Zhu Shen let out a breath of relief. With that bonus, Bibi Dong's words were much more trustworthy.
"Your Holiness, I need three months," Zhu Shen finally said. "I have to return to Nuoding City to take care of a few things and make arrangements for my disciples. In three months, I'll bring them to Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong looked at him, a hint of satisfaction flickering in her eyes.
"Very well. I'll wait for you for three months." She stood up. "Yue Guan, take Master Yu to his quarters. Give him the best guest room, and provide for him according to an elder's standard."
"Yes, Your Holiness," Yue Guan replied with a bow.
Zhu Shen stood as well and saluted. "Thank you, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong nodded and left the side hall.
Yue Guan came over to Zhu Shen with a genial smile. "Master Yu, please follow me."
Zhu Shen followed Yue Guan out of the side hall and down the corridor toward the guest quarters. Spirit Hall's interior was even more magnificent than he had imagined. Portraits of past popes lined both sides of the corridor, while exquisite murals on the vaulted ceiling depicted Spirit Hall's history and achievements.
"Master Yu, this way, please." Yue Guan pushed open an ornately carved wooden door. "This is your room. If you need anything, just tell the servants."
The room was spacious and tastefully furnished. It had a carved bed, a set of redwood table and chairs, a few paintings hanging on the walls, and even an orchid in one corner.
"Thank you, Chrysanthemum Douluo," Zhu Shen said.
Yue Guan waved a hand. "You're too kind, Master Yu. Get some rest. I'll have someone bring you dinner later."
With that, he stepped out and gently closed the door behind him.
Zhu Shen went to the window and opened it. Outside was a small garden filled with all kinds of flowers and plants. In the distance, he could see the streets and buildings of Spirit City.
He let out a long breath.
His meeting with Bibi Dong had gone more smoothly than he had expected. She hadn't pressed him much about the secret of his Martial Soul Evolution; instead, she had focused on the Evil God Temple and his value to her.
That meant that, in Bibi Dong's eyes, his value far outweighed his secrets.
"Three months..." Zhu Shen murmured.
He needed those three months. Tang San had already obtained his Second Soul Ring, but his third was still undecided. The work-study students had only just begun their basic training, and he needed to lay a solid foundation for them.
Then there was the Evil God Temple. Though Blood Shadow had been captured, the organization surely wouldn't let the matter rest. Before leaving Nuoding City, he had to eliminate the remaining threat.
Just as he was thinking about it, a knock sounded at the door.
"Master Yu, dinner is here."
Zhu Shen opened the door. A maid stood outside with a tray. It held four dishes, a bowl of soup, and a bowl of rice; everything looked and smelled delicious.
"Just set it on the table," Zhu Shen said.
The maid placed the tray on the table, bowed, and left.
Zhu Shen sat down and began to eat. The food tasted good—far better than anything he'd eaten in Nuoding City.
He was halfway through the meal when the system's notification suddenly rang.
[ Ding! The host has reached a preliminary agreement with Bibi Dong. Hidden quest triggered: Pope's Ally.]
[Quest requirements: Help Bibi Dong resolve a difficult matter within three months and strengthen your alliance.]
[Quest rewards: Evolution Points +100, one random Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, Bibi Dong's favorability +20.]
Zhu Shen's eyes lit up.
What a windfall!
He set down his chopsticks and began to think. What was the most pressing problem facing Bibi Dong right now? The Evil God Temple certainly counted, but that wasn't something he could resolve overnight. Besides that...
Suddenly, he thought of someone.
Qian Renxue.
The relationship between Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue was one of the greatest tragedies in the original story. Qian Renxue hated Bibi Dong, and Bibi Dong hated Qian Renxue. They were the closest people in the world, yet they had become each other's greatest enemies.
If he could resolve the conflict between mother and daughter, his standing in Bibi Dong's eyes would become something else entirely.
But there was no need to rush. Qian Renxue should currently be in the Heaven Dou Empire, disguised as the crown prince Xue Qinghe. If he approached her recklessly, he would only arouse suspicion.
He needed to plan this carefully.
After dinner, Zhu Shen lay on the bed and began planning out the next three months.
First, he would return to Nuoding City and take Tang San hunting for his third Soul Ring. This time, he needed to find a better Soul Beast—preferably one that was over a thousand years old.
Second, he would build a solid foundation for the work-study students, then entrust them to someone reliable. Wang Sheng and the others weren't especially talented, but they had good character. With proper guidance, they could still make something of themselves.
Third, he would clear out the remaining Evil God Temple forces near Nuoding City. He would need to ask Tang Hao for help; he couldn't handle it alone.
Fourth...
He thought of what Bibi Dong had told him that day.
"A position as an elder of Spirit Hall, priority access to resources, and permission to freely enter all of Spirit Hall's classified archives."
Those terms were certainly tempting.
"Let's do it." Zhu Shen slapped his thigh. "So what if I join Spirit Hall? I've got a cheat. What's there to fear?"
He turned over and sat up, then began to cultivate.
Now that he'd decided to get in Bibi Dong's good graces, he needed to prove his worth. Strength was always the best bargaining chip.
The night passed in silence.