This life was given by your daughter, you must remember it! (Seeking follow-up reads)

Once Bibi Dong had steadied herself, she immediately looked toward the center of the plaza.

Her gaze first fell on Qin Zheng.

Her eyes carried a deep trace of wariness.

But soon, her gaze shifted.

It landed on the small figure standing before Qin Zheng.

Qian Renxue.

Her daughter.

As Bibi Dong looked at Qian Renxue, her expression became incomparably complicated.

She... had actually been saved by her own daughter?

The daughter she had always treated with cold indifference?

At that moment, even she did not know what expression she should show.

Gratitude? Disdain? Or... something else?

Bibi Dong opened her mouth, wanting to say something.

But when the words reached her lips, she no longer knew how to say them.

In the end, she could only silently look at Qian Renxue.

Her gaze was complex and unreadable.

Qian Renxue was also looking at Bibi Dong.

Her golden eyes held a trace of complicated emotion as well.

Mother was all right.

That was wonderful.

But...

Why was Mother looking at her like that?

Was she unhappy?

Or...

Qian Renxue bit her lip, her little face full of unease.

She instinctively edged closer to Qin Zheng, as though only at the side of this ancestor could she feel safe.

Qin Zheng took in all of this.

As he looked at Bibi Dong, a glacial chill flashed through his dark eyes.

This woman truly did not know what was good for her.

Her own daughter had risked defying him to plead for her, winning her a chance at survival.

Yet not only did she show not the slightest gratitude, she even looked at Qian Renxue with that inscrutable expression, as if Qian Renxue saving her was some enormous joke.

"Heh."

Qin Zheng sneered inwardly.

A leopard could not change its spots.

The cold arrogance and stubbornness ingrained in Bibi Dong were not things that could be changed overnight, but...

Qin Zheng narrowed his dark eyes slightly.

He wanted to see just how long this woman could keep up her defiance.

Before him, she was not qualified to put on that Pope's cold face!

The atmosphere in the plaza was eerily quiet.

Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

They could sense that the ancestor's mood seemed to have worsened again.

That faint but oppressive pressure spread once more, making everyone feel as though they could barely breathe.

Naturally, Bibi Dong felt it as well.

Her heart tightened, and she instinctively took half a step back.

But she quickly forced herself to stand firm.

She was the Pope of Spirit Hall. Though she was already in a wretched state, she still wanted to preserve the dignity of her position.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath, raised her head, and met Qin Zheng's gaze.

Her gaze remained cold and alluring, with a trace of the Pope's pride hidden deep within.

However.

The instant she met Qin Zheng's eyes.

"Hmph."

A faint, cold snort suddenly rang out.

It was not loud, yet it exploded beside everyone's ears like thunder!

"Bibi Dong."

Qin Zheng spoke slowly, his voice calm.

"With that expression of yours..."

"Do you truly think that I will not kill you today?"

The moment his words fell!

Boom—!!!

An incomparably terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from Qin Zheng's body!

That pressure became almost tangible, transforming into towering waves that crushed toward Bibi Dong!

Even the air seemed to freeze at that moment!

Everyone in the plaza felt their chests tighten, nearly unable to breathe!

"Again!?"

Bibi Dong's expression changed abruptly!

She could clearly sense that the pressure was directed entirely at her alone!

It was like a mountain pressing down on her shoulders, leaving her nearly breathless!

Bibi Dong's pupils contracted sharply as she instinctively circulated all the soul power in her body to resist!

"Buzz—!"

Soul power erupted from her body!

Nine soul rings slowly rose behind her, gleaming with dazzling light!

However.

Even so, before Qin Zheng's terrifying pressure, her soul power was like an arm trying to stop a chariot—utterly insignificant!

Crack—!

Fine cracks suddenly spread across the stone slabs beneath Bibi Dong's feet!

Her body began to tremble uncontrollably!

"I... I wouldn't dare..."

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth and forced the words out through clenched teeth.

Her face had already turned deathly pale!

Cold sweat slid down her forehead and dripped onto the ground!

She could feel even her bones groaning under the unbearable strain!

This man had better not give her an opportunity.

Otherwise, she would make him taste this living hell as well!

"Wouldn't dare?"

Qin Zheng looked at Bibi Dong's struggling appearance, not a ripple stirring in his dark eyes.

"I would prefer it if you said that while kneeling."

As his words fell!

Boom—!!!

That pressure suddenly intensified severalfold!

As though the heavens had collapsed, it bore down viciously upon Bibi Dong!

"Pfft—!"

Bibi Dong could no longer hold on and violently spat out a mouthful of blood!

Her knees bent uncontrollably!

"No..."

Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, humiliation flashing through her eyes!

She was the Pope of Spirit Hall!

A lofty existence above all others!

Being sealed was one thing, but how could she... how could she kneel?!

She desperately circulated her soul power, trying to straighten up!

However.

That pressure was simply too terrifying!

It was like a mountain weighing billions of jin, crushing down on her shoulders!

No matter how she resisted, it was all in vain!

"Bang—!"

In the end, half of Bibi Dong's knee slammed heavily into the ground!

The stone slabs shattered on impact!

Her other leg trembled slightly as well, liable to buckle at any moment!

Bibi Dong lowered her head, her long raven hair spilling down to conceal her face.

No one could see her expression.

Yet everyone could sense the utterly humiliating aura emanating from her!

The plaza was deathly silent.

Everyone stared blankly at the scene, their eyes filled with horror.

That was the Pope of Spirit Hall!

One of the continent's most powerful figures!

And she had actually... knelt?!

Before the angel statue.

Qian Daoliu watched the scene, a trace of complexity flashing through his eyes.

He sighed and slowly shook his head.

Bibi Dong...

She was still too young.

Before the ancestor, her little pride was not worth mentioning at all.

Still... perhaps this was for the best.

Letting her suffer a little and learn what reverence meant was not necessarily a bad thing.

At the center of the plaza.

Qin Zheng looked at Bibi Dong, half-kneeling on the ground, without the slightest ripple in his dark eyes.

As if forcing the Pope of Spirit Hall to kneel was nothing more than a trivial matter to him.

He paid Bibi Dong no further attention. Instead, he slowly turned around, raised a foot, and walked toward Qian Renxue.

One step, then another...

Qin Zheng did not walk quickly, yet his steps carried an inexplicable rhythm.

His shadow stretched long beneath the sunlight.

Before long, he arrived in front of Qian Renxue.

His tall body completely enveloped the tiny Qian Renxue, shielding her from the sunlight overhead.

A swath of shadow fell over her.