First Meeting with Chrysanthemum Douluo

The next morning, Bibi Dong woke up naturally.

When she opened her eyes, her first sensation was not the familiar heaviness, nor the constant churning of evil thoughts in her mind, but an unprecedented clarity.

Quiet.

Clear-headed.

Even a bit lighthearted.

It had been many years since she had slept this comfortably.

The Rakshasa evil thoughts seemed to be suppressed deep down, temporarily unable to affect her judgment.

Although Bibi Dong knew this was not a permanent solution, just this much was enough to put her in a much better mood.

She sat up, her gaze passing over the curtains to look at the daybed.

Lu Chen was still asleep.

His sleeping posture, however, was not very well-behaved.

He had kicked a corner of the quilt away, his body tilted slightly, and his face still held the relaxation of a sleeping child.

Compared to the composed and calm little fellow during the day—who hardly seemed like a six-year-old at all—the Lu Chen before her finally looked like a real child.

Bibi Dong watched him, her expression softening.

"So small, yet your sleeping habits are so restless."

She said softly, without a hint of reproach in her tone.

Bibi Dong rose and walked to the side of the daybed, tucking the quilt back around Lu Chen.

Lu Chen's hand was resting outside the quilt in an awkward position. Bibi Dong shook her head slightly and helped him tuck it back inside.

Bibi Dong looked at him, chuckled softly, and turned to wash up and change her clothes.

Not long after Bibi Dong left, Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes.

Lu Chen sat up silently, yawned, and rubbed his head.

He straightened his clothes and tidied himself up briefly.

Before long, Bibi Dong returned, having finished changing.

At this moment, she had regained the nobility and majesty befitting a Pope; her purple robe had been replaced by formal attire, and her expression was no longer as relaxed as it had been the night before.

Lu Chen stood at attention immediately.

"Teacher."

Bibi Dong glanced at him.

"Awake?"

Lu Chen's expression was serious: "Just woke up."

"Go eat breakfast."

"Yes."

When the two arrived at the dining area in the Saintess Hall, Hu Liena was already there.

Seeing Bibi Dong and Lu Chen appear together, Hu Liena immediately stood up to salute.

"Teacher."

Afterward, she looked at Lu Chen and said with a smile: "Junior Brother, how did you rest last night?"

Lu Chen replied with a straight face: "It was fine."

Watching his demeanor, Hu Liena felt that this junior brother seemed more real than he had yesterday; she wondered what was going on.

However, she did not ask further.

Breakfast was soon served.

Compared to the soul beast meat from yesterday's lunch, breakfast was lighter, but still far beyond anything an orphanage could provide.

Lu Chen's appetite was still good, though he did not eat more than half the table's food as he had the day before.

Hu Liena couldn't help but observe Lu Chen while she ate.

Bibi Dong finished her breakfast quietly.

After the meal, she looked at Hu Liena.

"Nana."

Hu Liena quickly put down what she was holding and said earnestly: "Teacher."

Bibi Dong said: "Focus on your cultivation from here on out, and strive to break through to level thirty before you turn twelve."

Hu Liena nodded immediately.

"Yes, Teacher, I will definitely work hard."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

She had always held Hu Liena to high standards.

At eleven years old and level twenty-eight, this achievement would be enough to astonish countless people in the outside world.

But in Bibi Dong's eyes, since Hu Liena was his disciple and the Saintess of Spirit Hall, she had to aim higher.

Breaking through to level thirty before the age of twelve was the next step.

Hu Liena understood her teacher's intentions as well.

Especially now that Lu Chen had appeared, she felt a bit more pressure in her heart.

Her junior brother was only six, yet his innate soul power was already level twenty.

Once he absorbed two soul rings, he would immediately become a Great Soul Master.

Such talent was terrifying.

Although Hu Liena was not jealous of Lu Chen, as his senior sister, she certainly did not want to be left too far behind by him.

She secretly decided in her heart that she must work even harder from now on.

Bibi Dong then stood up and looked at Lu Chen.

"Xiao Chen, let's go."

Lu Chen stood up immediately.

"Yes, Teacher."

Hu Liena followed suit and walked the two of them to the entrance of the Saintess Hall.

She looked at Lu Chen and smiled, urging him, "Junior brother, listen to Teacher when you obtain your soul rings, and don't run around."

Lu Chen nodded, "I understand, Senior Sister."

Hu Liena couldn't help but add, "When you get back, I'll continue helping you with your studies on Spirit Master knowledge."

Lu Chen said helplessly, "Alright."

Bibi Dong did not interrupt their conversation.

Seeing that Hu Liena and Lu Chen got along well, she was quite satisfied.

After all, both of them were her disciples, and if they could be close to each other, it would be a good thing for her.

A moment later, Bibi Dong led Lu Chen out of the Saintess Hall.

Outside the Saintess Hall, the morning breeze carried a hint of chill.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei were already waiting outside.

The two stood on either side at the bottom of the steps, their auras well-concealed.

With their strength as Title Douluos, if they didn't actively release their pressure, ordinary people would find it hard to even perceive how powerful they truly were.

Gui Mei remained silent, his entire being like a quiet shadow.

Yue Guan was clearly less patient than him.

He happened to be away from Spirit City yesterday, and by the time he returned, the strange phenomenon in the city had already ended.

Although he had vaguely heard a few words from some people saying that there had been a great commotion at the Awakening Temple yesterday and that His Holiness the Pope had personally stepped in, he hadn't had the chance to ask exactly what had happened.

Especially that old fellow Gui Mei; when asked, he wouldn't say a word.

Yue Guan was feeling a bit displeased when he suddenly saw the doors of the Saintess Hall slowly open.

Bibi Dong walked out from within.

And beside her, she was holding the hand of a little boy around six years old.

The child was dressed in well-fitting clothes, with delicate features and a quiet temperament.

Despite his young age, he was not restrained or flustered like an ordinary child; instead, he followed beside Bibi Dong with an air of remarkable composure.

More importantly, Bibi Dong was actually holding his hand herself.

Seeing this scene, surprise flashed in Yue Guan's eyes.

He instinctively looked at Gui Mei beside him and whispered, "Old Ghost, what is going on?"

Gui Mei glanced at him without answering.

Yue Guan raised an eyebrow.

This old ghost was usually like a block of wood, never saying an extra word if silence could suffice.

But this time was different; a little boy had suddenly appeared by the Pope's side, and she was even holding his hand—this was no small matter.

Yue Guan had not been in Spirit City yesterday, missing the spectacular sight, and he did not know that the Pope had taken on a new disciple.

Seeing it now, he was naturally taken aback.

Gui Mei remained silent.

To him, Bibi Dong leading Lu Chen out now was not something difficult to understand.

After all, Lu Chen was already a disciple personally accepted by His Holiness the Pope, possessing a god-level martial soul.

In a sense, his level of importance was likely even higher than ordinary people imagined.

Bibi Dong brought Lu Chen before the two of them.

Yue Guan immediately composed his expression and bowed in greeting alongside Gui Mei.

"Your Holiness."

Bibi Dong gave a slight nod.

Standing beside Bibi Dong, Lu Chen also looked up at the two of them quite politely.

"Grandpa Gui, Grandpa Ju."