Bibi Dong's Terms and the Flora Compendium

"Your Holiness, please tell me plainly. What will it take for you to tell me?"

Qin Yu chose to change the subject.

"Clever." The corners of Bibi Dong's lips lifted in a faint smile. She beckoned to Qin Yu. "Come here."

Qin Yu hesitated, then walked over.

He had not fully grown yet and barely reached Bibi Dong's chest. He had to tilt his head up slightly to meet her eyes.

And looking at someone from that angle was not comfortable.

For the Immortal Herbs, I'll put up with it, Qin Yu muttered inwardly.

"Qin Yu..."

Bibi Dong raised a hand and rested it on Qin Yu's head. Her voice was cool. "I think highly of you. How about joining the Papal Hall?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't agree to that."

Qin Yu shook his head and tried to step back.

But Bibi Dong caught his cheek with her other hand and gave it a casual squeeze, kneading it as though she were playing with him.

Qin Yu stiffened.

Bibi Dong's behavior was growing stranger by the moment.

"Why?" Bibi Dong's gaze remained steady, her voice calm. "The Papal Hall can give you everything the Worship Hall can, and more."

"Your Holiness."

Qin Yu pulled free of Bibi Dong's grip, took a step back, and explained, "Whether it's the Worship Hall or the Papal Hall, they're both Spirit Hall to me."

"If they're both Spirit Hall, it shouldn't matter which one you join. How about the Papal Hall?" Bibi Dong invited him again.

"I'm used to the Worship Hall."

After declining as politely as he could, Qin Yu bowed once more and turned to leave.

Bibi Dong watched him go, her expression shifting. After a moment, she said evenly, "If you don't want to stay in the Papal Hall, we can change the terms."

"Hm?"

Qin Yu stopped and turned to look at her.

Bibi Dong stepped forward and caught his cheek again. With a knowing smile, she said, "I'll lend you the old book. You'll owe me a favor and do something for me in the future."

"What is it?"

"That stays a secret for now."

"...All right." Qin Yu nodded, then added, "But I won't do anything cruel, kill innocents, cross my own line, or harm Spirit Hall."

"And you decide for yourself where that line is, don't you?" Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes, easily seeing through his little trick.

"If Your Holiness thinks I'll go back on my word, then please tell me what you need me to do." Qin Yu smiled.

"Qin Yu, you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve."

Surprise flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes.

"Not enough to fool Your Holiness, though." Qin Yu slipped in a little flattery.

No matter how unhinged Bibi Dong might be, she was still a woman, and women liked hearing compliments.

That, at least, probably hadn't changed.

Just as Qin Yu expected, a smile tugged at Bibi Dong's lips when she heard him, though she quickly suppressed it.

"Not just clever, but silver-tongued too. No wonder Nana can't stop thinking about you."

Bibi Dong gave Qin Yu's cheek one last pinch and let go. "Since you want to know so badly, I can tell you now."

"Once you have the strength of a Peak Douluo, you'll help me destroy a faction."

As she spoke, Bibi Dong stared straight at Qin Yu. An unreadable light flickered in her eyes.

"Destroy a faction..."

Qin Yu paused, then asked without thinking, "The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?"

"Hm?"

Bibi Dong raised a brow, surprised by Qin Yu yet again. This time, she was almost shocked.

From her reaction, Qin Yu knew he had guessed right.

"..." Bibi Dong was silent for a long moment. "How did you work that out?"

"A faction that would take a Peak Douluo to destroy? When you narrow it down, only the Upper Three Sects fit," Qin Yu said.

"Why not the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the Clear Sky Sect?"

Bibi Dong sounded intrigued.

"Because of my martial soul."

Qin Yu's expression and voice remained calm. "My Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul is of even higher quality than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul."

"And among Dragon martial souls, bloodline suppression is especially brutal. Against someone with a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul at the same cultivation level, I could crush them easily."

"A sound analysis." Bibi Dong smiled, approval and a hint of coldness entering her eyes. "To think you're already this perceptive at your age. No wonder the Worship Hall treasures you."

What Qin Yu had said matched her own thinking exactly.

With Qin Yu's martial soul, he might not even need to become a Peak Douluo. The strength of a Titled Douluo alone might be enough for him to wipe out the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

Unfortunately, Qin Yu was not hers. That made him a potential threat.

For now, she chose to use him first and kill him later.

If she could bring Qin Yu over to her side someday, she would certainly keep using him.

"So, will you do it?"

Bibi Dong waited for his answer.

"Yes." Qin Yu's eyes flickered, but he agreed at once.

In truth, Bibi Dong's request fit neatly into his plans for the future.

His Purple Brilliant Heaven Destroying Dragon martial soul possessed the Devouring Ability. To him, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was a treasure trove that could strengthen his bloodline.

"You agreed quickly."

Bibi Dong gave him an amused smile. "I thought you had a line you wouldn't cross?"

"Rules are fixed. People aren't. My line is flexible." Qin Yu put on a harmless smile.

"You..." Bibi Dong's mouth twitched. For a moment, she had no answer.

She had met many shameless people over the years, but not one of them could compare to Qin Yu.

After a long pause, she said, "Wait here."

Light flashed around Bibi Dong, and she vanished.

About the time it took an incense stick to burn later, Bibi Dong returned with an old, leather-bound book. A chrysanthemum was depicted on its cover.

"What you wanted."

Bibi Dong handed it to Qin Yu. "Chrysanthemum Douluo is very interested in plants. This contains the results of years of his research."

"I'm lending it to you for now. Keep it safe, and don't damage it."

"The Flora Compendium?" Qin Yu looked at the old book in surprise, then immediately took it and began flipping through it.

It opened with a brief introduction, followed by a strange chrysanthemum: Chrysanthemum Douluo's martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum.

The entry described its effects, how to harvest and consume it, and included a lifelike illustration.

As he turned the pages, he found all manner of unusual plants, including more Immortal Herbs.

The name Flora Compendium fit perfectly.

It recorded not only various Immortal Herbs, but also many ingredients for refining pills, and even plants that carried potent poisons of their own.

What a find!

Qin Yu was elated. Without even sitting down, he leaned against a bookshelf and began reading, utterly absorbed.

Bibi Dong watched him in surprise.

Does he really like reading that much?

Then a strange look crept into her eyes. Or does he share Yue Guan's peculiar interests?