What Her Holiness the Pope Didn't Know

Inside the grand hall, Bibi Dong sat upon a gilded throne, handling official business.

A thick stack of documents lay before her. She held a pen in her right hand while her left pressed down on a report, her brows slightly furrowed as though she were contemplating something.

Six years had passed.

Bibi Dong's appearance had barely changed. She still possessed that exquisitely perfect face, her skin as fair as jade. Her wine-red hair was bound beneath a purple-gold crown and fell to her waist.

Yet the sense of oppression that radiated from her very bones

was countless times stronger than it had been six years ago.

Yang Jian understood.

It seemed the Rakshasa God's divine trial was progressing smoothly. Bibi Dong was probably at least a rank ninety-seven Titled Douluo by now.

"Yang Jian."

Bibi Dong raised her head, her violet eyes settling on him. A trace of nearly imperceptible satisfaction flashed through them.

A twelve-year-old Soul King—there had never been another with such a rate of growth in the entire continent's history.

Moreover, all four of his first soul rings were ten-thousand-year rings.

Even she found such a configuration astonishing.

"Greetings, Teacher." Yang Jian stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute.

Bibi Dong set down her pen and leaned back against her throne, looking at him calmly. "What is it?"

"This disciple wishes to go out and train for a while," Yang Jian said honestly. "I also want to go home and see my brother and sister, then hunt for my fifth soul ring."

Bibi Dong slightly raised a brow. "Have you chosen a target for your fifth soul ring?"

"I have." Yang Jian nodded, his tone calm. "There is a hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Forest. This disciple wishes to make it my target."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment, and a strange glint flashed through her violet eyes.

A hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape.

She knew of that soul beast.

When she had hunted that hundred-thousand-year Soft Bone Rabbit,

she had learned of the Titan Giant Ape's existence.

"There is also a hundred-thousand-year Azure Bull Python beside that Titan Giant Ape." Bibi Dong's voice carried a note of warning. "Do you need me to act?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Teacher, but there is no need for now." Yang Jian shook his head. "This disciple mainly wishes to gain experience this time and see the customs of different places. There is no rush regarding the fifth soul ring."

What he was mainly worried about was Bibi Dong stepping in. If she utterly overwhelmed them, she might drive Da Ming and Er Ming into a corner, forcing them to sacrifice themselves to Tang San.

It sounded impossible.

But Tang San was the child of destiny favored by two gods at once. Who knew whether he might suddenly appear for no reason and have Da Ming and Er Ming sacrifice themselves to him?

Yang Jian believed it would be safer to control Xiao Wu first.

That way, he could use her as leverage.

"Mm."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly and did not press the matter.

She also felt that someone Yang Jian's age truly should go out and gain experience.

He could not stay in Spirit Hall forever.

"Go, then." Bibi Dong waved her hand. "Be careful."

"Yes. This disciple takes his leave."

Yang Jian saluted once more before turning and leaving the grand hall.

After he left, Papal Hall fell quiet once again.

Bibi Dong leaned against her throne, lightly tapping the armrest with her fingers. Her gaze rested on the hall doors as though she were thinking about something.

A moment later, she withdrew her gaze and spoke evenly.

"Yue Guan, Gui Mei."

Two figures emerged from the shadows at the side of the hall.

Yue Guan wore a purple robe, his enchanting face carrying its usual smile.

Gui Mei remained shrouded in black mist, his expression impossible to see.

They had been hidden in the darkness all along, but neither had eavesdropped on Yang Jian and Bibi Dong's conversation. That was the basic discipline of subordinates.

"Your Holiness the Pope." The two cupped their hands at the same time.

"Yang Jian is going out to train." Bibi Dong glanced at them. "What do you think?"

Yue Guan bowed slightly, his tone carrying a hint of emotion. "It has been six years. This child has remained in Spirit Hall without ever stepping outside. The few times he did leave were only to accompany Nana on shopping trips in the city. It is indeed time for him to go out and see the world."

Gui Mei nodded, his voice as cold as ever. "Young people need to venture forth. An eagle kept in a cage can never soar above the clouds."

Bibi Dong gave a quiet hum. Her slender fingers lightly tapped the armrest as she said, "He also intends to hunt for his fifth soul ring. His target is the hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape in the Star Dou Forest."

Both Yue Guan and Gui Mei's expressions changed slightly, though they quickly returned to normal.

A hundred-thousand-year Titan Giant Ape.

Of course they knew that overlord of the Star Dou Forest.

That creature was not comparable to those ordinary thousand-year or ten-thousand-year beasts outside.

After considering it, Yue Guan did not find it surprising.

Yang Jian's first four soul rings were all ten-thousand-year rings. His fourth ring had even come from a ninety-nine-thousand-nine-hundred-year Titan Giant Ape. Choosing a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for his fifth was only natural.

"Yue Guan." Bibi Dong looked at him. "Follow Yang Jian later and protect him closely. If he intends to hunt a soul ring, notify me immediately. I will personally help him hunt it."

"Yes." Yue Guan cupped his hands, his expression turning solemn.

He had taught Yang Jian for six full years. Watching that sallow, skinny little child grow step by step into who he was today, Yue Guan had long regarded him as family.

A twelve-year-old Soul King, with four ten-thousand-year soul rings and a hundred-thousand-year target for his fifth—if such talent were exposed, what would those unstable forces think?

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Clear Sky Sect...

They would not simply watch Spirit Hall produce another peerless genius.

Someone would most likely act to eliminate him before he could grow.

Yue Guan's gaze gradually sharpened.

He had to protect Yang Jian. He could not allow anyone to exploit an opening.

"Don't worry too much."

Gui Mei noticed his old friend's expression, and the black mist around him rippled slightly.

He and Yue Guan had worked together for many years.

Naturally, he could guess what the other was thinking.

He rarely spoke at length, but this time he said, "Yang Jian may only be rank fifty, but if we are talking about actual combat strength, he is probably no weaker than an ordinary Titled Douluo."

Yue Guan froze briefly, then remembered Yang Jian's monstrous physical strength and the absurd weight of the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber. The solemnity on his face immediately faded somewhat.

He shook his head with a self-deprecating smile. "That's right. That brat truly does not need me worrying over him too much."

Bibi Dong listened to their exchange, her brows knitting slightly.

For the past six years, she had been undertaking the Rakshasa God's divine trial. At the same time, she had needed to deal with Spirit Hall's mountain of accumulated affairs, so she had scarcely paid attention to Yang Jian's cultivation.

But from the way Yue Guan and Gui Mei were speaking now...

"Are you saying Yang Jian can now contend with a Titled Douluo?"

Bibi Dong's tone carried a trace of doubt.

At that, Yue Guan smiled faintly.

A flicker of pride appeared in his eyes. He stepped forward, making no effort to hide his admiration.

"Your Holiness the Pope may not know this, but I tested Yang Jian not long ago. His physical strength is already comparable to that of an ordinary Titled Douluo."

"For example, that old poison."

"In terms of the physical body alone, that old poison cannot compare to Yang Jian even if he were riding a horse."

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes slightly.

Yue Guan continued, "And there is also his Three-Point Double-Edged Saber martial soul. It now weighs fifty thousand jin. Your Holiness can imagine what it means for a fifty-thousand-jin weapon, enhanced by four soul skills, to come crashing down."

"If an ordinary Titled Douluo is even slightly careless, they could very well be beaten to death on the spot."

"Besides, I have always felt that brat is still holding something back."