Jointly Teaching?! The Pope and the Grand Pontiff?!

"Call..."

It felt like an eternity before Lin Xia's tense body finally began to move.

Lin Xia took a deep, deep breath, as if she were using all her strength to squeeze out all the struggle and fear from her lungs.

When Lin Xia raised her head again, the confusion and hesitation in her eyes receded like the tide, leaving only a firmness as solid as a rock.

This steadfastness stems from a clear understanding of his own situation, as well as from a deep-seated sense of moral obligation to repay the complex kindness Bibi Dong.

Facing the Qian Daoliu, he performed a flawless junior's salute with perfect and respectful movements.

His waist was bent very deeply, his posture humble, but his spine was straight.

"Thank you for your Grand Pontiff."

Lin Xia's voice was clear, with a deliberately maintained calmness, yet every word echoed clearly in the silent training ground, striking everyone's ears.

"It is Grand Pontiff for Lin Xia to have the favor of the Venerable Elder. I am deeply grateful and will never forget it!"

Lin Xia's words first showed Qian Daoliu sufficient respect, laying the groundwork very well.

Then, Lin Xia changed the subject, her tone filled with sincerity and a profound sense of gratitude.

"However, Her His Holiness the Pope me great kindness and nurtured me. She brought me into the Spirit Hall, provided me with resources, protected me as I grew, and even secured the opportunity for me to absorb the Holy Sun Wheel Flower. This kindness and affection are heavier than mountains."

Lin Xia paused slightly, her gaze quickly and firmly sweeping over Bibi Dong's still cold and emotionless profile, before looking at Qian Daoliu again, her eyes filled with unwavering rejection.

"Without Your Majesty, there would be no Lin Xia today. Therefore, this junior dares to..."

Lin Xia's voice Frisk slightly, a tremor that was an instinctive reaction to the pressure of a Limit Douluo, but the words she uttered were resolute.

"... I must decline your offer!"

His final words, spoken with conviction, clearly expressed his ultimate choice.

"Hiss..."

Inside the training field, several distinct gasps of surprise could be heard.

The three members of the Golden Generation nearly popped their eyes out. Xie Yue clenched his fists, Hu Liena covered her mouth, and Yan almost bit his tongue off—he actually refused?!

They rejected the very pinnacle of existence on the mainland?!

Yue Guan lowered his head even further, his mind in turmoil, thinking to himself that this kid was far too audacious!

The gentle and confident smile on Qian Daoliu's face froze the moment Lin Xia finished speaking.

Immediately, a clear look of astonishment flashed across those eyes, which were as deep as the starry sky and seemed to bear the weight of the long river of time, followed by deep disappointment, and finally turned into a long and heavy sigh.

"Well..."

The sigh seemed to carry Qian Jun weight, instantly increasing the pressure in the entire space.

Qian Daoliu gave Lin Xia a deep look, his gaze incredibly complex, containing regret, inquiry, and perhaps even a hint of pity for the young man who was so loyal yet so naive.

He knew that now that things had come to this, there was no point in pressing the issue further.

Everyone has their own ambitions; you can't force them.

Qian Daoliu's voice regained its usual vastness and tranquility, but the sense of regret still lingered.

"You... you'd better watch yourself."

Qian Daoliu shook his head slightly, said no more, and his figure was about to merge into the surrounding light and shadow before leaving.

This farce seemed to be coming to an end with his disappointing departure.

However, just as Qian Daoliu's figure was about to blur and disappear—

"Wait."

A voice, clear and cold like an icy spring, yet carrying an undeniable authority, suddenly rang out, interrupting his actions.

Bibi Dong!

She finally turned around, her Viola eyes no longer fixed on Lin Xia, but looking directly at Qian Daoliu.

He slowly stepped forward, creating a subtle, suffocating, silent standoff with Qian Daoliu.

Bibi Dong's voice remained largely emotionless, but the content of her words was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly creating ripples.

"The matter of the Grand Pontiff disciples should not be rejected hastily."

Upon hearing Bibi Dong's words, not only did Qian Daoliu's figure freeze instantly, his eyes flashing with indescribable astonishment, but even Lin Xia, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, abruptly looked up, his face showing an expression of utter disbelief—what was Your Majesty trying to do?

Wasn't my refusal clear enough?

Are you going to torture me again?

New account, don't mess with it!!

Bibi Dong ignored the astonishment on Lin Xia's face. Her sharp gaze swept over Qian Daoliu, and then over the Ivysaur behind Lin Xia, whose flower bud contained the Angel Divine Power. Only then did she speak in an almost cold and rational tone:

"Lin Xia's Symbiotic Spirit, Ivysaur, has already begun to take shape, possessing both life and poison attributes."

Bibi Dong's words were clear and logical, as if she were Analytic an important strategic report, rather than discussing an emotional master-disciple relationship.

"Such a unique talent would be wasted if developed in only one area."

Bibi Dong's gaze finally settled on Qian Daoliu's face, her tone carrying an undeniable and forceful suggestion.

"You and I are both at the pinnacle of our respective fields—you wield the Angel Holy Light, pure and vast, while I am proficient in life-and-death Toxic and control the Nether Power. If we were to each teach one of these arts..."

Bibi Dong paused for a moment, then dropped her shocking and unconventional core proposal.

"... Perhaps this is the only way to bring out the full potential of his talent. What does the Grand Pontiff think?"

"Hiss--!!!"

This time, the gasps were louder and more synchronized than before.

Yue Guan nearly buried his head in the ground, while the three members of the Golden Generation were completely petrified, their mouths agape, wide enough to fit a fist.

Joint teaching?!

The Pope and the Grand Pontiff?!

This is ten thousand times more unbelievable than Lin Xia rejecting Qian Daoliu!

Throughout the entire Spirit Hall, who among those with any standing doesn't know about the antagonistic relationship between His Holiness the Pope and the Grand Pontiff?

Let alone cooperating in teaching a disciple, they don't even exchange a single unnecessary word with each other in ordinary times!

Did the sun rise in the west today?

The astonishment in Qian Daoliu's eyes was almost tangible.

He had lived so long and weathered countless storms, but the absurdity of Bibi Dong's suggestion at this moment far exceeded his imagination.

The rule that one can only have one apprentice is not mentioned.

Moreover, he knew Bibi Dong too well; he knew her deep-seated hatred for the Qian Family and for himself.

This initiative to share a disciple, especially one involving Angel Divine Power... is completely out of character for Bibi Dong at any point in her life!

This is abnormal! This is extremely abnormal!

Qian Daoliu's gaze instantly became incredibly deep and sharp, as if he wanted to Detect Bibi Dong's soul.

Bibi Dong was searching, searching for the hidden motive behind her words—was it a delaying tactic?

Is it to better control Lin Xia?

Or... were they truly moved by this kid's ability to trigger miraculous evolution of life, to the point that they set aside some of their prejudices?

However, Bibi Dong's stunningly beautiful face revealed nothing but cold majesty and an undeniable air of dominance; no other emotions were conveyed.

Her purple eyes were like two bottomless pools of icy springs, refusing to be peered into by any gaze.