Why...

Qian Qizhou looked at her and asked pleadingly, "Where's my sister?"

At that, Bibi Dong sneered. "So you came back just to look for her?"

"If you want to know, go ask Qian Daoliu. I won't tell you."

She looked at Qian Qizhou with disgust. "Look at you. You're just like your father... Heh."

At her words, Qian Qizhou froze. Violent purple lightning erupted from his body without warning.

He abruptly lifted his head. His eyes had become swirling currents of energy, no longer showing the slightest confusion or pleading.

"Engulfing Lightning!"

He roared, and the Naginata appeared in his hand in an instant, releasing a deafening hum.

Lightning shot into the sky, shattering every pane of glass in the entire Pope Palace.

Qian Qizhou glared at Bibi Dong on her throne. "You've already had your revenge. Why did you still drive my sister away...?"

"Do you hate me that much? What did I do wrong?"

Faced with this sudden accusation, Bibi Dong sneered.

She didn't even get up. She merely reclined lazily on the papal throne, lightly tapping the Gem Scepter in her hand against the floor.

"Heh..."

"Looks like you already know. Then you should understand why I hate you all so much."

"Who are you putting on this act for?"

"Childish."

"Foolish."

"With that pitiful scrap of power, you dare act insolently in front of your mother?"

The instant her voice fell, a dark purple pressure that seemed to come from an endless abyss spread out from her like a crashing tide.

Qian Qizhou felt as if he'd been struck by a heavy blow. He spat out a large mouthful of blood, his legs buckled, and he dropped to one knee. He braced himself with his weapon, gripping it tightly to keep from falling.

Bibi Dong looked down at Qian Qizhou as he struggled to hold himself up. Her eyes showed not the slightest trace of emotion, only icy coldness.

Blood spilled uncontrollably from Qian Qizhou's mouth, nostrils, and even the corners of his eyes, staining his pale chin and collar.

He tried to lift his head and look once more at that lofty figure, but his eyelids weighed as much as mountains. His vision began to blur and darken.

The overwhelming difference in their power, along with her undisguised scorn and indifference, snuffed out the last glimmer of light in his heart.

Fight back? Pointless.

Plead? Only make himself a laughingstock.

Even his anger seemed so pale and laughable.

He felt like a joke. His struggles, his pain, his persistence... none of it mattered.

"Why... don't you... love me...?"

Gradually, his consciousness began to fade. It felt as if his life force were rapidly draining away with his flowing blood.

The arm supporting his body trembled violently, then finally gave way.

"Clang—"

Engulfing Lightning slipped from his grasp and hit the ground with a clear ring. The purple lightning running along its blade dimmed with it.

With nothing left to support him, Qian Qizhou pitched forward and crashed heavily onto the cold, hard floor.

Seeing the person on the floor unconscious, crumpled like a broken doll,

Bibi Dong's eyes, which had been filled with cold indifference, trembled abruptly.

As if waking from a dream, the terrifying, suffocating dark purple pressure around her instantly receded, vanishing without a trace.

She rose from the papal throne almost unconsciously, took a step forward, and reached out, as if she wanted to lift the dying boy from the floor.

But her movement abruptly stopped halfway.

Her outstretched hand hung in midair. Her fingertips trembled slightly before she slowly, stiffly drew it back.

She stood where she was, an extraordinarily complex expression on her beautiful face.

There was a moment of alarm in that expression, and a fleeting pang of heartache, but in the end, it became a struggle.

She stared fixedly at the unconscious Qian Qizhou on the floor, her expression shifting uncertainly.

That child... was her son... her own flesh and blood.

Had she just... nearly killed him?

No... that wasn't it...

A faint, suppressed maternal feeling, as tenacious as a creeping vine, tried to break through its restraints, but was instantly swallowed by a deeper darkness.

"Don't you understand yet...? I can't turn back anymore."

Her eyes turned cold again, but beneath that coldness lay a faint, barely perceptible weariness.

Just then—

"Boom—!!!"

The heavy doors of the Pope Palace were kicked open.

A vast, majestic holy aura swept through the entire hall like a tsunami, washing away every trace of the sinister chill lingering inside.

A flash of golden light, and a figure appeared in the middle of the hall: the great priest, Qian Daoliu, summoned by Azure Luan.

His gaze immediately fell upon Qian Qizhou, collapsed on the ground, barely breathing, with blood still staining his body.

"Xiao Zhou!"

Almost at the same time, several more figures rushed in at incredible speed. They were Guang Ling and the other two, all with anxious expressions.

"Xiao Zhou!" Seeing Qian Qizhou's terrible condition, Guang Ling's face turned deathly pale.

He roared at Bibi Dong, "Bibi Dong! What did you do to him?!"

Snow Empress immediately flashed in front of Qian Qizhou, shielding him as she warily watched Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu. Ice-blue Soul Power surged around her, ready to strike at any moment.

Qian Daoliu's eyes were also filled with anger and accusation as he looked at Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong glanced coldly at Qian Qizhou on the floor, then said to Guang Ling, "He trespassed into the Pope Palace and disturbed me. I merely gave him a slight punishment."

"Fifth Priest... Are you going to make an enemy of me over a disobedient wretch?"

But Guang Ling ignored her and carefully lifted Qian Qizhou into his arms.

He quickly examined Qian Qizhou's injuries. Then his expression darkened further, his eyes filled with grief and fury.

"Bibi Dong!"

"Open your eyes and look carefully! Do you know who he is?!"

"He's your son! A piece of your own flesh and blood!"

Guang Ling's voice rose sharply, carrying barely restrained agitation. "Yes! Qian Xunji wronged you! He was guilty, but he's already dead! Isn't that enough?!"

"Does the hatred in your heart really have to burn everything to ashes, sparing not even this last thread of family affection?!"

"Look at him now! What did he do wrong?! He only wanted to come back... to come back and ask you for an explanation!"

Bibi Dong sneered at him contemptuously. "Heh... What do his sins have to do with me?"

With that, she turned, intending to leave.

But just then...

"Crack... crack..."

In only a moment, frost had formed across the entire Pope Palace, and the temperature of the air plunged abruptly.

Snow Empress spoke coldly. "You hurt him, and now you think you can just walk away?"