First Meeting with Bibi Dong

Following the luxurious corridor, they soon arrived inside the Pope Hall.

Gui Mei had already gone ahead to report their arrival, and Bibi Dong had not chosen to wait for him in the main hall.

Instead, she had chosen a rather peaceful leisure area behind the Pope Hall.

"Your Grace, I feel that there's something strange about my martial soul."

While leading Ning Yao onward, Ghost Douluo took the initiative to speak.

Chrysanthemum Douluo beside them glanced at the two curiously, but did not interrupt.

"Oh? Tell me."

Ning Yao smiled faintly and glanced at Ghost Douluo.

His look of seeming to have expected this all along made Ghost Douluo break out in a cold sweat.

Could it be that the Abundance Douluo...

"Just now, I used Martial Soul Possession to hurry over and report to His Holiness, but I discovered that something seemed to have gone wrong with my martial soul."

After a brief hesitation, Ghost Douluo lowered his head and spoke in a deep voice.

The problem had actually occurred when he used Ghost.

He had noticed nothing wrong when merely possessing it before.

But when he had used it just now, he suddenly discovered that his martial soul, Ghost, seemed to be becoming more like a tangible martial soul.

Moreover, its power seemed to have grown much stronger.

The realization sent a chill down his spine.

Could becoming a living person cause his martial soul to mutate back into its former state as well?

He could not wait to ask Ning Yao about it.

Yet Ning Yao merely slowed his pace and gently shook his head at him.

"I warned you long ago that your martial soul might be repaired along with you."

"This is merely a sign of it. But rest assured, the final outcome will certainly be positive."

As he spoke, he showed a thoroughly kind smile.

The only thing he could not guarantee was whether Ghost Douluo would eventually turn into some kind of monster. As for strength, however, he could vouch for that.

Ghost Douluo's path of cultivation would only grow broader.

After hearing Ning Yao's words, Ghost Douluo was still somewhat unsettled, but since Ning Yao had said so, he could not say much more.

Besides, he had already been mentally prepared for it.

Just as Ning Yao had said, he had long known that unexpected developments were possible. He simply had not expected the changes to begin so soon.

Chrysanthemum Douluo, who had remained silent beside them, listened quietly and roughly understood what was going on.

"Then, Your Grace, will the Martial Soul Fusion Skill between Old Ghost and me be affected by Ghost's mutation?"

This was what worried him most.

At the same time, Ghost Douluo turned his gaze toward Ning Yao.

He wanted to know the answer as well.

"Don't worry. It won't."

Ning Yao gave a definite reply.

After all, Abundance was not some evil power. It was merely somewhat prone to over-healing, so it would not alter something like that.

Upon hearing Ning Yao's answer, the two Douluo felt considerably relieved and nodded in succession.

After that, the three had little more to say and continued deeper into the Pope Hall.

Before long, they reached an open area behind the Pope Hall. It was an outdoor garden located within the Pope Hall itself.

According to Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, this was normally Bibi Dong's private domain, and only she and Hu Liena were allowed to enter.

Thus, after escorting Ning Yao to the entrance of the garden, they stopped.

Without Bibi Dong's permission, even they could not enter.

Ning Yao did not make things difficult for them. He nodded and entered the sea of flowers alone.

After walking for a while and crossing a patch of greenery, he saw a small white Chinese-style round table in the center of the garden.

A modest sun umbrella stood above the table, while a beautiful woman sat leisurely before it.

Upon seeing Ning Yao arrive, she slowly rose to her feet.

"I have long heard of you, Abundance Douluo."

A faint, nearly imperceptible trace of surprise flashed through the depths of her purple eyes.

After all, having completed the first few of Rakshasa's Nine Trials, she had already reached the level of a Rank 99 Limit Douluo.

Yet when she had tried to probe Ning Yao just now, she found that she could not see through him at all.

She could not even discern his Soul Power Level.

"Your Holiness, I have long heard of you as well."

Ning Yao did not care what Bibi Dong had seen. He raised a hand and returned the greeting politely.

He was a free agent to begin with, simply out for a stroll and here to keep an appointment. There was no need for him to consider too much.

Seeing Ning Yao's easygoing attitude, Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes.

She had truly misjudged him before.

This Abundance Douluo was definitely not merely Rank 95.

She was a Rank 99 Rakshasa God inheritor bolstered by divine trials. Anyone she could not see through could not possibly be much weaker than her.

"You are likely more than Rank 95, aren't you?"

Bibi Dong spoke in a low, heavy voice.

Ning Yao neither confirmed nor denied it.

He looked at Bibi Dong and smiled faintly.

"What does Your Holiness think?"

With an easygoing manner, he walked over to Bibi Dong's side.

The two tacitly took their seats at the tea table.

"Who exactly are you?"

Bibi Dong stared at Ning Yao, her tone calm and devoid of emotion.

She had originally planned to bring this Abundance Douluo, who had suddenly appeared in the world, under her command no matter what.

But now, that approach seemed rather difficult.

This Abundance Douluo before her was far from simple.

"What is your relationship with Qian Daoliu?"

She thought of the Worship Hall. Information about Ning Yao had initially come from the Worship Hall.

Could this be Qian Daoliu's provocation?

After imagining all sorts of possibilities, Bibi Dong's expression darkened.

But when Ning Yao shook his head, a puzzled look appeared on her face.

"I am friends with the Worship Hall. We only became acquainted recently, so Your Holiness need not worry about that."

"I serve no one. In this world, no one is worthy of my loyalty."

Ning Yao spoke word by word, his resolute tone making Bibi Dong frown once more.

Yet soon, Bibi Dong let out a chuckle.

"No one is worthy? What exactly do you mean by that?"

"Neither I nor that old thing Qian Daoliu is worthy?"

"Then may I ask, what level of strength do you think would be worthy of your loyalty?"

Bibi Dong smiled. She felt that Ning Yao was being rather presumptuous.

Though she was somewhat wary of Ning Yao, that did not mean she lacked confidence in her own strength.

At Rank 99, she was already nearly invincible on the continent.

She did not mind teaching Ning Yao a lesson.

But just as she was about to make a move...

"What level of strength?"

Ning Yao hesitated slightly.

Probably only an Aeon. After all, as the Ambrosial Arbor, he should now be considered to possess the combat strength of an Abundance Emanator.

But Bibi Dong certainly would not understand even if he said it aloud.

"At the very least, I know that no one in this world is worthy, including the one you worship—the self-proclaimed Rakshasa God."

Ning Yao smiled as he looked at Bibi Dong and spoke softly.