Jiangmo Douluo, Qian Daoliu's Olive Branch

"Your talent is passable. The Grand Consecrator intends to take you into the Consecrated Hall for cultivation. I have come this time on the Grand Consecrator's orders to personally teach you the path of Soul Master cultivation and allow you to enjoy Spirit Hall's highest-level resources."

"This is your opportunity. Why haven't you given thanks?"

Ning Yuan's heart gave a jolt.

Jiangmo Douluo—one of Qian Daoliu's people?

Ning Yuan had known this day would come once word of his talent spread, but he had not expected it to arrive so quickly.

It seemed Bibi Dong's gag order was not particularly effective. That woman still had informants around her.

Go to Qian Daoliu's side?

Leaving aside whether Bibi Dong would even let him go...

Just Qian Daoliu's side alone was enough.

The Consecrated Hall was a fire pit. In Qian Daoliu's eyes, only the inheritance of the angel lineage mattered. Everyone else was a tool. If Ning Yuan went in, sooner or later he would become a stepping stone on Qian Renxue's angel path.

By contrast, although Bibi Dong was ruthless by nature, she truly gave resources to her direct followers. And since he knew the original plot well, following Bibi Dong was the optimal solution.

The only question was how to refuse this side.

His thoughts spun quickly, but outwardly he remained neither servile nor arrogant, cupping his hands in salute.

"This junior, Ning Yuan, greets the Third Consecrator."

"To receive such favor from the Grand Consecrator leaves this junior overwhelmed, only..."

Seeing Ning Yuan hesitate, Dragon Douluo frowned.

"You are unwilling?"

At the same time, a pressure like a mountain bore down on Ning Yuan.

Damn it! This old man has no martial ethics!

Just as Ning Yuan was about to use all his strength to resist that pressure, another vast surge of soul power, cold and clear as a frigid moon, swept over from afar and lightly canceled out Jiangmo Douluo's pressure until nothing remained.

"Such imposing authority, Third Consecrator."

As that cool voice fell, a purple figure slowly appeared at the courtyard entrance. Her luxurious papal robes made her figure look even taller and more graceful, her brows and eyes cold as ice. It was Bibi Dong.

Behind her followed Ghost Douluo Ghost, silent as a shadow.

"Your Holiness!"

Ning Yuan felt as if he had been granted amnesty. This woman had arrived just in time.

Bibi Dong lifted her eyes toward Jiangmo Douluo, a faint, chilly smile resting on her lips.

"You came onto the territory of my Pope Palace, used the pressure of a Titled Douluo to bully a six-year-old child, and even tried to poach my person in public!"

"Third Consecrator, are you taking me, the Pope, far too lightly?"

Jiangmo Douluo's expression changed slightly.

He had not expected Bibi Dong to arrive this quickly.

In terms of status, Bibi Dong was the Pope, while he was a Consecrator. In name, he was subject to the Pope's authority.

In terms of strength, he was only an ordinary Titled Douluo, nowhere near Bibi Dong's match.

If this truly blew up, he would be the one in the wrong.

Jiangmo Douluo gave a cold snort and flicked his sleeve.

"Your Holiness overstates it. This old man was merely following the Grand Consecrator's orders to recruit talent for Spirit Hall."

Then he turned and asked Ning Yuan again.

"What I said just now—how have you considered it?"

In this situation, one poorly chosen sentence would offend both sides.

Ning Yuan's thoughts raced, and his tone was sincere.

"When this junior first entered Spirit Hall, it was Your Holiness who made an exception to accept me and personally set the direction for my training. I dare not forget such recognition and kindness."

"Moreover, this junior's martial soul mutation is special. Your Holiness has long since tailored a cultivation path for me. To switch allegiance halfway would not only be disrespectful to Your Holiness, but would also waste Your Holiness's painstaking efforts."

At the end, he added another line, raising the tone higher:

"Besides, the Consecrated Hall and Pope Palace are one to begin with. Wherever this junior is, I am serving Spirit Hall."

"To be able to work under Your Holiness is already more than enough for this junior."

Those words hid a needle in cotton. They made his stance clear while giving Qian Daoliu full face, leaving no flaw to pick at.

No matter where you went, de Gaulle's move was never wrong.

Jiangmo Douluo's face darkened. He had not expected the boy to actually dare refuse.

"Boy, you had better think this through."

"What the Pope Palace can give you, the Consecrated Hall can give you ten times over. What the Pope Palace cannot give you, the Consecrated Hall can also give you."

"Do not be muddleheaded for a moment and ruin your own future."

The threat in Jiangmo Douluo's tone was obvious.

"Jiangmo, what do you mean by this? Poaching someone right in front of me? You're taking me far too lightly, aren't you?"

Soul power surged around Bibi Dong, as if she would attack at the slightest disagreement.

Seeing her like this, Jiangmo calmed down.

"Not at all. Since this child is willing to remain in the Pope Palace, then this old man won't disturb you any longer."

Then he added pointedly, "He's simply such a fine sapling. Your Holiness must nurture him well, and not waste the Great Worship's expectations."

With that, his figure moved, turning into a streak of golden light that tore through the air and vanished.

"Old bastard. He sure ran fast!"

The courtyard fell quiet again.

Bibi Dong turned around, her gaze landing on Ning Yuan.

Her eyes had always been cold, carrying an oppressive sense of scrutiny, but at this moment, there was a faint trace of satisfaction hidden within them.

The instant Jiangmo Douluo appeared just now, Bibi Dong, who oversaw Spirit Hall, had sensed it.

He was one of Qian Daoliu's people, coming to her territory to poach someone.

Of course that would not do!

She had finally found a promising seedling like Ning Yuan. How could she possibly let someone else get their hands on him?

That was why she had personally come over to protect Ning Yuan.

However, judging from what Ning Yuan had just said, she had not wasted her effort by stepping in personally to protect him this time.

Outstanding talent was already rare, but rarer still was that at only six years old, he could remain neither servile nor overbearing under the pressure of a Titled Douluo. His stance was firm, and he knew the proper measure in his words. He was not some reckless fool who only knew how to cultivate.

Only someone like this was worth her full effort to nurture.

Ning Yuan met her gaze, his expression serious as he said, word by word, "Your Holiness, please rest assured. Back then, I, Ning Yuan, was personally chosen by you. In this life, I will acknowledge only you as my master."

"As long as Spirit Hall does not fall, neither will I. I'm following you to the end."

As his words fell, Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback.

Even her voice softened somewhat, carrying an almost imperceptible trace of relaxation.

"You certainly have a sweet tongue."

She had seen too many people who fawned on the powerful, and heard countless hollow pledges of loyalty.

But the child before her had clear eyes, and there was a youthful spirit in his tone.

Between Bibi Dong's always icebound brows and eyes, an extremely faint smile suddenly spread.

Ning Yuan froze slightly at the sight.

In his previous life, when he read the original work, he already knew Bibi Dong was one of the top beauties in Douluo.

But only after seeing this smile with his own eyes did he understand what it meant for a smile to topple a city.

As expected of the strongest mature beauty publicly acknowledged in the original work. The killing power of this smile was, mm, very nice to look at!

He was still distracted when Bibi Dong had already spoken, her voice returning to its coolness.

"Since you have the heart to follow me, I will not mistreat you."

"From today onward, I intend to confer upon you the title of Spirit Hall's Holy Son."

"However, countless eyes are fixed on the position of Spirit Hall's Holy Son. With your current qualifications, I fear it will be difficult to convince the masses."

"You need to display enough strength to make them submit."

Ning Yuan's heart trembled.

The position of Holy Son!

This was not just a simple position.

This was treatment on the level of Spirit Hall's crown prince, equivalent to directly branding him as part of Bibi Dong's direct faction.

From now on, within Spirit Hall, other than Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu, no one would be able to touch him.

As for the others being unconvinced?

Then he just had to beat them until they were convinced, right?

Choosing to accept the position of Holy Son also meant choosing Bibi Dong's side.

Qian Daoliu's side probably would not let me off so easily.

But, well, Ning Yuan was not afraid!

He immediately bowed in salute.

"Thank you, Your Holiness! This junior will certainly not fail Your Majesty's great expectations!"

Bibi Dong gave a slight nod, then offered a few more reminders for him to cultivate in peace and ignore the Consecrated Hall before turning and leaving with Ghost Douluo.

The purple figure disappeared beyond the end of the courtyard gate, leaving behind only a faint trace of cool fragrance.