Capture Yu Xiaogang, resist and be killed without mercy!

Inside the Pope's carriage, Bibi Dong looked at the delicate, doll-like little boy before her, all traces of sleepiness vanishing.

She truly never imagined that she, the Pope of the Spirit Hall and a favored daughter of the heavens, would be so easily managed by a mere child. This simply shouldn't be!

"Lin Tian, how do you feel now? Tell Mother about the soul skill granted by the Bee Poison King Spider."

Bibi Dong sat on a jade cushion inside the carriage, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lin Tian, filled with deep concern.

Although she had long scoffed at the soul master theories proposed by Yu Xiaogang, the child before her was only six years old, and she could not help but feel a twinge of worry.

After all, not everyone could handle the remnant soul of a soul beast as easily as she could.

"Thank you for your concern, Mother. I feel very well, refreshed and clear-headed."

Lin Tian sensed the [Bee Poison King Spider] soul ring within his body and began to describe his first soul skill to Bibi Dong.

First Soul Skill: Poison King Slash: [Group Attack: Can fire three scorching sword auras at enemy targets. The sword auras are imbued with neurotoxins; hitting a target causes them to fall into a state of sluggish movement. When a soul master reaches the five-ring Soul King realm, the sluggish state can be upgraded to a stun state, with a control duration of two seconds.]

"Not bad. To have a first-ring soul skill that adds a negative status effect—that is truly excellent."

After listening to Lin Tian's explanation, Bibi Dong could not help but offer praise. As a Title Douluo, she understood all too well just how powerful a soul skill that could stack negative status effects could be.

She felt genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart that Lin Tian had obtained such a potent soul skill.

At the same time, a system notification chimed in Lin Tian's mind.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for completing the side growth task (First Soul Ring).]

[Reward: Gan Jiang and Mo Ye Sword.]

Hearing the notification that the system reward had been credited, a flash of surprise crossed Lin Tian's young face, but he quickly returned to normal.

After all, he was only a minor soul master right now; if he acted too strangely, his mother, the Pope, would surely grow suspicious.

"Lin Tian, I saw your expression look a bit pained just now. Was the soul ring absorption uncomfortable?"

As she spoke, Bibi Dong pressed her slender palm against Lin Tian's forehead. The delicate sensation of her skin against his caused an inexplicable feeling to stir within him.

"Mother feels your head is a bit warm! We still have some distance to go before returning to the Spirit Hall. Why don't you lie on Mother's lap and rest for a while to recover your strength?"

Faced with the offer of a "beautiful leg package," Lin Tian did not choose to refuse.

He shifted his body and lay directly across his mother's jade-like legs, drifting off into a deep sleep.

It had to be said that the Pope's lap was a perfect tool for sleep; the skin, radiating an alluring fragrance, allowed him to relax and sink into his dreams within moments.

To ensure Lin Tian could sleep a little longer, Bibi Dong used a secret sound transmission to tell Gui Mei, who was driving, to slow down.

Although Ghost Douluo was somewhat puzzled, he could only obey the order.

Lin Tian slept very soundly.

For him, the feeling was incredibly comfortable.

And so, under Bibi Dong's direction, the carriage took two full hours to return to the Pope Palace.

What Ghost and Chrysanthemum did not expect was that the moment the jade curtain of the carriage opened, the Pope herself stepped out while carrying the sleeping boy.

To them, this scene was truly inconceivable.

The Pope did not like to be close to others; aside from Hu Liena, whom she had taken as a disciple, ordinary people could never get within a meter of her.

Yet, during this soul-hunting mission to the Star Dou Forest, the Pope had not only wiped sweat from Lin Tian's brow but was now even carrying him out of the carriage.

What on earth was going on?

Could it be that the Pope's temperament had changed, and she had started to become approachable?

But soon, a sharp reprimand from Bibi Dong pulled the two Douluo back to reality.

The Pope had not changed; she was as cold and stern as ever!

After settling Lin Tian in a side hall of the papal chambers, Bibi Dong returned to the Pope Palace. This trip to the Star Dou Forest had led to many new discoveries.

As the Pope of the Spirit Hall, she naturally had to issue new directives so that the organization could seize these resources in time.

"Gui Mei, Yue Guan, go notify the bishops and the other elders. I have orders to issue!"

The two nodded, then transformed into streaks of light, vanishing before Pope Bibi Dong in the blink of an eye.

A short while later, in the council hall of the Pope Palace, the platinum bishops and other elders gathered.

"Everyone, quiet down. I have something to announce."

At this moment, sitting on the papal throne, Bibi Dong wore a purple-gold crown, her expression grave as she sat sideways.

Her stunningly beautiful face radiated a soft glow under the sunlight.

Perhaps because she had been walking in a hurry earlier, the Pope's face was flushed, and fine beads of sweat hung amidst her dark, silken hair.

A stray lock of hair clung to her cheek, and under the sunlight, it gave the young woman on the papal throne an added touch of mature charm.

Seeing that everyone had gathered, Bibi Dong swept her rose-red eyes across the room and spoke:

"Everyone, three things. First, starting today, the Holy Son Lin Tian is my personal disciple, and I will personally guide his soul power cultivation from now on!"

"Second, I want Yu Xiaogang arrested. He stole content from the Spirit Hall Library and used the bones of our thousands of Spirit Hall soul masters to build his own reputation. Such a person must be severely punished!"

"Third, I have left a mark on a 30,000-year-old [Nether Giant Rhino] in the outer region of the Star Dou Forest. From this moment on, it is the private property of the Spirit Hall. No faction or individual soul master is to touch it. Those who violate this will be killed!"

After Bibi Dong finished speaking, everyone present nodded to show they understood.

It was the Pope's prerogative to personally instruct the Holy Son in the cultivation of spirit power, and they had no right to interfere.

Yu Xiaogang had stolen the contents of the archived books from the Spirit Hall Library, a crime beyond forgiveness; capturing and crippling him was the only thought in the minds of every spirit master in Spirit Hall.

As for classifying the spirit beasts of the Star Dou Forest as the property of Spirit Hall, that was even more reasonable.

The Douluo Continent had always valued strength above all else, and the major sects, factions, and imperial families had long since sent people to stake out the spirit beasts they needed for their own use.

Such actions were the most standard practice in the spirit master circle!

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Star Luo Imperial Family...

Every spirit master faction had dedicated personnel stationed in the Star Dou Forest to guard spirit beasts, and some top-tier specimens were even watched over from the time they were very young.

What the Pope was doing was truly reasonable and fair!

"Furthermore, I will emphasize one more point: if you encounter resistance while capturing Yu Xiaogang, kill him without mercy!"