Xiao Ran: Bibi Dong? Mine. Qian Renxue? Mine.

"Great Enshrined, isn't this decision a little too hasty?" Xiao Ran asked tentatively. "Qian Renxue and I haven't even met."

"That's why I said, if both of you can become gods."

Qian Daoliu said indifferently, "The path to godhood is long and dangerous. Walking it alone and walking it with someone else lead to completely different outcomes. Xue'er's talent is unmatched, but the path she walks is too lonely. You possess an unknown divinity, and your potential is no less than hers. If the two of you support each other, that will always be better than facing everything alone."

Xiao Ran was rendered speechless. As expected of a demigod-level powerhouse. He really does have foresight.

Qian Daoliu was indeed right. In the original story, after Qian Renxue became a god, she was defeated by Tang San and her godhood shattered. Ultimately, it was because she had been too lonely. She had carried all her ambitions and obsessions alone, and in the end, they turned around and consumed her.

"Then why don't you just tell her?"

"I have my own arrangements." Qian Daoliu did not elaborate. He merely pushed the white jade bottle toward him again. "Keep it safe."

Xiao Ran put everything away and walked to the door.

"Great Enshrined, does His Holiness the Pope know that you plan to marry Qian Renxue to me?" Xiao Ran asked deliberately.

Qian Daoliu froze for a moment. "She doesn't know."

Xiao Ran smiled. Without asking anything else, he pushed open the door and left.

"Good grief. Bibi Dong wants to take me as her personal disciple, which means I'll be her student. Qian Daoliu wants to marry his granddaughter to me, while Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue are mother and daughter. Don't say anything, don't say anything—this is interesting, truly interesting."

"Had Heaven not given birth to me, Xiao Ran, the Spirit Hall would have endured eternal darkness!"

From this moment onward, the fate of the Spirit Hall would be rewritten by Xiao Ran.

That afternoon, Xiao Ran and Hu Liena were summoned to Pope's Palace by Bibi Dong once again.

The two followed Ghost Douluo to Pope's Palace. The grand hall was magnificent and spacious. Bibi Dong sat atop the raised platform, reclining to one side with one hand. Her two long legs were crossed over each other, and her eyes were filled with seductive charm.

"You're both here." Bibi Dong looked at Xiao Ran before her with interest. She walked down from the platform, her high heels striking the jade floor with crisp click, click sounds.

"Nana, how many years have you followed me?"

Hu Liena lowered her head. "Reporting to His Holiness the Pope, twelve years."

"Twelve years." Bibi Dong repeated the number. "You grew up in the Spirit Hall. I taught you about Martial Souls, taught you to fight, and taught you how to conduct yourself. You haven't disappointed me either. You're a level forty-six Soul Master, a core member of the Golden Generation, and the most outstanding female Soul Master among the younger generation of the Spirit Hall."

Hu Liena said nothing, merely tightening her fingers slightly.

"I've decided to appoint you as the Saintess of the Spirit Hall."

Hu Liena immediately raised her head, her face filled with surprise.

"The position of Saintess represents the highest honor among the younger generation of the Spirit Hall." Bibi Dong looked at her. "From today onward, you will have access to the Spirit Hall's highest-grade resources. You may enter and leave Pope's Palace freely and attend the Elder Council. At the same time, you must also shoulder the future responsibilities of the Spirit Hall."

Hu Liena took a deep breath and dropped to one knee. "I, Hu Liena, will never fail to live up to His Holiness the Pope's expectations."

Bibi Dong nodded. She took a silver token from her sleeve. The Spirit Hall's scepter and a fox were engraved on it. She handed the token to Hu Liena, then turned toward Xiao Ran.

"As for you."

Xiao Ran's heart tightened, and he straightened his body.

Bibi Dong took another token from her sleeve. It was entirely golden, with the character "Dong" engraved on the back.

"From today onward, you are my personal disciple, Xiao Ran. I will personally guide your cultivation."

"Nana, just like her, your cultivation will be my responsibility from now on. However, the two of you must shoulder your respective responsibilities."

"What responsibilities?" Xiao Ran asked in confusion.

"For example, the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament three years from now. You must win the championship." Bibi Dong's voice was calm.

"What if we don't win?" Xiao Ran asked cheekily.

The corners of Bibi Dong's lips lifted slightly. "If you don't, I'll punish you properly..."

Xiao Ran was ecstatic inside. No way, this is great!

"If you don't win, I'll take back your Pope Token and personally send you to Slaughter City. It's an extremely dangerous place." Bibi Dong's smiling expression instantly turned stern.

A chill ran down Xiao Ran's back. Slaughter City was easy to enter but difficult to leave. One could count on one hand the number of people who had managed to survive and come back out.

"Then I'll do my best to win." Xiao Ran laughed awkwardly.

Bibi Dong withdrew her hand and turned to walk back toward the raised platform. After taking a few steps, she said, "Xiao Ran, I raised Nana from childhood. I can see through her thoughts. If you dare bully her in the future, I'll let you know what it means to wish you were dead."

Xiao Ran stood there blankly, complaining inwardly, Oh, what a spirited Bibi Dong. Since you won't let me bully her, I'll bully you instead.

At this moment, Hu Liena's face had turned completely red.

"Enough. You may leave. Starting tomorrow, the two of you will come to Pope's Palace every day to cultivate for two hours. I'll personally arrange your guidance."

Xiao Ran and Hu Liena answered at the same time, "Yes."

The next morning, Xiao Ran and Hu Liena appeared at Pope's Palace right on time.

"You're here." Bibi Dong asked softly.

"Today, let Chrysanthemum Douluo test your abilities."

As soon as she finished speaking, the side door of the hall opened, and a tall, slender man with delicate, feminine features walked in. He wore a white robe embroidered with golden patterns.

Xiao Ran froze. "Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan. A level ninety-five Titled Douluo, with the Martial Soul Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. You're sending a Titled Douluo to spar with us right from the start? The Spirit Hall really has some serious resources."

"How could it possibly compare to that crappy Shrek? Just thinking about it makes me angry."

Bibi Dong said leisurely, "Yue Guan, I'll leave these two children to you."

"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope."

"Follow me to the Spirit Hall Training Ground." Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice was full of feminine softness.

"Enough." Chrysanthemum Douluo walked to the center of the arena and turned around. "As I said just now, the two of you will attack together. If you can make me take even one step backward, you win."

Xiao Ran rolled his wrist. "Senior Chrysanthemum Douluo, what happens if we win?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo revealed a womanlike smile. "If you win, His Holiness the Pope will reward you. But if you lose..."

His flower-pinching fingers gently turned.

"If you lose, it's nothing serious. It'll just hurt a little."

"Hurt? Where will it hurt?" Xiao Ran struggled to hold back his laughter.

Girly Yue Guan, just watch me turn you back into a man.

Hu Liena lowered her voice beside him. "Xiao Ran, don't be reckless. Chrysanthemum Douluo is a level 957 Titled Douluo. Even the two of us together can't reach half his strength."

"I know." Xiao Ran nodded. "But what Bibi Dong wants is for us to dare to fight. Senior Sister, just like we agreed before—I'll take the left, you take the right. We'll attack from both sides."

"Okay!"