I'll Personally Take You Somewhere-Death Canyon!

When Lin Xia recounted the "shadow under the light," he clearly saw that Bibi Dong's stroking of Ivysaur paused for an extremely subtle moment.

Although her expression remained as flawless as an ice sculpture, a frigid blizzard seemed to be gathering and raging deep within her Viola eyes!

An invisible, extremely oppressive, icy aura, like an invisible needle, suddenly pierced Lin Xia, making his skin tighten and his breath catch in his throat.

The temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop several degrees in that instant.

Even Ivysaur, perched on Bibi Dong's lap, seemed to sense something, shifting its position slightly with unease and letting out a soft "Dana".

The sudden chill came quickly and went quickly.

Bibi Dong took a deep breath.

The breath was long and deep, the chest rose and fell slightly, as if Sheer Force suppressing the almost bursting anger and bone-chilling cold back into the Abyss.

The pressure on her fingers as she placed them on the Ivysaur's head seemed a little too strong, and her fingertips turned slightly white.

Bibi Dong spoke again, her voice still cold, but now carrying a hardness like metal and stone, each word as clear as the Tackle ice shards.

"He certainly put in a lot of effort..."

After saying this, Bibi Dong refocused her gaze on Lin Xia, paused for a moment, and then slowly said:

"Your strength is insufficient, and your foundation is still shallow. These... so-called sealed history, so-called rules of the world, are too heavy and too distant. Thinking too much about them will only add to your troubles and disturb your mind."

Bibi Dong's tone was resolute and brooked no argument.

"All you need to do now is focus on improving your strength!"

"Disciple understands."

Lin Xia immediately agreed, understanding in her heart.

Qian Daoliu's reminder and Bibi Dong's reaction gave him a vague glimpse of the massive iceberg beneath the surface, but he knew that these were not things he should delve into now.

As Bibi Dong said, strength is the foundation.

A brief silence once again enveloped the hall.

Just then, Bibi Dong spoke again, breaking the silence.

This time, her voice carried a hint of decisiveness and an unquestionable arrangement.

"Come to the Pope Hall first thing tomorrow morning."

Bibi Dong paused, her gaze sweeping over Lin Xia and the somewhat dazed Ivysaur at his feet. Her tone suddenly turned cold and murderous, like a drawn sword pointing to a place name filled with bloodshed and death.

"I will personally take you to a place— Death Canyon."

"Death... Canyon?"

Lin Xia subconsciously repeated the name, then her heart skipped a beat. Wasn't this the place where the Golden Generation would undergo trials?

"Good."

Bibi Dong's voice was completely calm, as if she were stating an ordinary matter, but her words revealed a chilling coldness and cruelty.

"That place is one of the forbidden trial grounds under the Spirit Hall's control. The Soul Beast there are ferocious and bloodthirsty, the environment is extremely harsh, filled with deadly miasma, quicksand traps that could devour lives at any moment, and... everything imaginable and unimaginable killing and death."

Bibi Dong straightened up slightly, cradling Ivysaur in her arms, her posture still dignified, but her words sent chills down everyone's spine:

"Qian Daoliu teaches you to perceive light? Guide life? Comprehend order? Ha..."

A very soft, cold laugh, tinged with icy mockery, flashed by in an instant.

"What I will teach you is how to fight your way out of the deepest darkness and death!"

Bibi Dong's purple eyes were like two daggers coated with Toxic, piercing Lin Xia's pupils and sinking into his soul.

"Flowers in a greenhouse, no matter how beautifully they bloom, cannot withstand real wind and rain. If your Martial Soul wants to truly transform, if it wants to master the so-called Life Poison and the Holy Sun Light... simply bathing in the 'Light-Gathering Furnace' is far from enough!"

"What you need is the tempering of blood and fire! The struggle on the edge of life and death! On the edge of hell, to learn how to Ingrain, how to devour death, how... to walk out alive!"

Tomorrow will be your first lesson.

As soon as the words left her lips, Lin Xia felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head. Was it really appropriate to go this far right from the start?

However, since Bibi Dong had already said so, Lin Xia had no choice but to nod in agreement.

"Yes, Master!"

The next morning, as the sky was just beginning to lighten and the first rays of dawn had not yet dispelled the last trace of chill within the high walls of Spirit City, Lin Xia was already standing quietly on the meticulously manicured lawn outside the Pope's Palace.

The air was crisp and clear, carrying the moist scent of dew.

Lin Xia stood upright with a calm gaze. Ivysaur lay quietly at his feet, its flower buds rising and falling gently with his breath.

It was still early, and all was quiet except for the faint sound of guards changing shifts in the distance.

The heavy door of the palace, carved with intricate Viola patterns, slid open silently.

Lin Xia subconsciously looked up, her gaze freezing instantly.

The one who emerged was not the familiar His Holiness the Pope, shrouded in magnificent robes and boundless majesty.

Bibi Dong changed out of the Pope robes that symbolized supreme power, and in her place wore a very form-fitting dark purple outfit.

The Limber leather and durable fabric perfectly accentuated her breathtaking curves—a slender yet powerful waist, long and straight legs, and a full figure that stood proudly upright even in simple clothing.

The outfit is tailored with a clean and crisp cut, with fitted cuffs and trouser legs for ease of movement. Only a few simple thorn patterns are embroidered in dark gold thread at the collar and cuffs, highlighting the owner's extraordinary status.

Her signature amethyst-like long hair wasn't styled into a fancy updo as usual, but rather simply tied into a high ponytail that fell to her waist, swaying slightly with her steps. It lacked some of her solemnity, but gained a lot of dashing charm and... an indescribable vibrant allure.

The intense visual impact made Lin Xia's heart skip a beat.

He was not an ignorant child; in both his past and present lives, his soul already possessed a mature aesthetic sense and an understanding of the opposite sex.

The sight before one's eyes is enough to amaze any normal man.

Moreover, this is Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Spirit Hall, his nominal mentor, a woman who combines power, mystery, authority, and ultimate beauty.

Almost instinctively, his gaze lingered for a moment on the perfect figure encased in that tight-fitting outfit.

The power and beauty revealed in that fleeting glimpse possessed a fatal attraction.

But only for a moment! A massive torrent, a mixture of ethical constraints, awe of power, and self-awareness, abruptly overwhelmed that ripple.

Lin Xia suddenly lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the blades of grass at her feet, as if those few tender blades of grass covered with morning dew were the most precious treasures in the world worthy of study.

My cheeks flushed slightly uncontrollably. I forced myself to hold my breath and banish the terrifying image from my mind.

'Do not look at what is improper! Do not look at what is improper!'