A retainer, a changed destiny

Outside the palace.

As Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo appeared before the two delegations, the Star Luo Prince, Xue Qinghe, and the others felt their hearts leap into their throats, waiting for the answer they had awaited so long.

But then...

Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei did not even glance at them. They headed straight toward a certain spot outside the Papal Palace.

Everyone: "??"

After a long silence, the Star Luo Prince suddenly laughed.

"I understand now. His Holiness must have been unsure how to entertain us, so she sent the two elders to fetch dancing girls to liven things up."

Everyone was skeptical.

A short while later...

When they saw the "dancing girl" behind the two elders, everyone sank into a prolonged silence.

Dai Weisi glanced at the Star Luo elder's livid face and decided it was best to keep his mouth shut.

Xu Xiaonian, whom the two elders had brought over, looked utterly bewildered.

Just moments ago, he had been wondering what Bibi Dong wanted with him. Then, before long, Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei had burst in and hauled him away.

Xu Xiaonian looked a little panicked. Could they have discovered my Retainer Mark?

But that makes no sense!

The Evil God Mark Method clearly states that anyone below god level cannot detect the true function of an unranked Retainer Imprint!

Bang!

The palace doors shut.

Xu Xiaonian was brought before the majestic, regal Pope, dressed in her full papal regalia.

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes and looked him over, her gaze softening a little.

She had a fairly good impression of Xu Xiaonian. He was exceptionally gifted, deeply filial, and quite close to Nana.

If not for his Angel Bloodline, he could practically have been called perfect.

What a pity. What a pity.

"Chrysanthemum Guan, Gui Mei, leave us. Without my orders, no one is allowed inside."

Once the two had left the palace, Bibi Dong spoke again in a somewhat gentler voice.

"Xiaonian, do you remember what you did after summoning your Dark Demon Evil God Tiger Martial Soul last time? Do it again now."

Seeing her attitude, Xu Xiaonian immediately relaxed.

Thank goodness. It doesn't look like she's discovered anything.

As for last time... all I did was summon my Martial Soul and feed Bibi Dong a little Soul Power. Piece of cake.

Neither of them noticed that they were standing very close to the palace doors.

Outside the palace.

Chrysanthemum Guan and the members of the two delegations stared at one another, all of them silent.

For a moment, the atmosphere grew rather strange.

"Ahem!"

In the end, Ning Fengzhi broke the silence, asking softly and politely:

"Elders, what is happening with His Holiness? When does she intend to receive us?"

Gui Mei answered honestly, "I don't know. In any case, His Holiness the Pope has ordered that no one may enter and disturb her without her permission."

The Star Luo Prince frowned.

"What could possibly be more important than establishing diplomatic relations between the two great empires and Spirit Hall? So what if Xu Xiaonian is a peerless genius?"

"She clearly thinks far too little of our Star Luo Empire."

He was extremely displeased now.

He had already handed over a demi-divine artifact, yet he had not even seen the Pope of Spirit Hall. She was putting on far too many airs!

"Are you questioning His Holiness the Pope?"

Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei's expressions darkened. Their formidable auras erupted, bearing down on him.

The Star Luo Prince, whose cultivation was only at the Soul Douluo level, went pale instantly under the direct pressure of two Titled Douluos.

"You've gone too far!"

The Star Luo Prince flew into a rage.

He had come as the delegation's representative. His actions represented the Star Luo Empire's dignity and authority.

Yet Spirit Hall had shown him no respect whatsoever, and now they were using their power to bully him. They were utterly unreasonable and held the Star Luo Empire in complete contempt.

It was time to make Spirit Hall realize that a single Soul Master organization could not contend with an entire empire.

Just as the two sides stood with swords drawn and bows bent...

"Ah! Mmm..."

A faint moan drifted through the palace doors. Everyone present at the Soul Saint level or above heard it clearly.

They fell silent, because... that sounded like His Holiness the Pope.

So what were those two doing in there?

She had even ordered that no one enter and disturb them. It was all too easy to get the wrong idea!

The Star Luo Prince's eyes widened. Feeling that he had suffered a monstrous humiliation, his face turned utterly livid.

"Our two great delegations are waiting outside, yet the exalted Pope of Spirit Hall is indulging in such sordid acts in broad daylight. How utterly shamele— ahem!"

In the end, under Chrysanthemum Guan and Gui Mei's murderous gazes, he did not finish his sentence.

He had not chickened out. He was merely following his heart.

Once he returned to the Star Luo Empire, he would certainly lodge a proper complaint with His Majesty and let Spirit Hall learn that offending the Star Luo Empire would never end well!

"Please mind your words, Star Luo Prince."

Xue Qinghe frowned deeply. "Xu Xiaonian is still young. There is no possibility of anything happening. Besides, His Holiness holds such an exalted position. How could she be a debauched woman?"

He did not believe for a moment that anything could happen between Xu Xiaonian and his own mother.

What a joke. A little pony pulling a huge carriage?

The little pony would have to be able to get up first...

Everyone nodded repeatedly, largely agreeing with Xue Qinghe's view.

"Heh!" The Star Luo Prince spoke with ill intent. "Not necessarily. As everyone knows, some powerful nobles enjoy toying with young boys more than anything. Hehehe..."

Xue Qinghe's gaze sharpened. "I think you're talking about yourself. As a prince, I advise you to keep your mouth clean! Otherwise..."

Unlike the tense atmosphere outside, the situation inside the palace was somewhat comical.

Xu Xiaonian, whose Soul Power had been drained dry, suddenly noticed that the dark purple succubus Evil God Retainer Mark on Bibi Dong's neck had deepened in color.

He carefully sensed Bibi Dong's Retainer Imprint.

This... why has it sunk a little deeper into her soul?!

Xu Xiaonian's expression flickered with shock and uncertainty. He sensed that it had only penetrated about one percent deeper, but the crucial point was that he had not activated it at all.

Could it be because Bibi Dong absorbed so much of my Soul Power? With Soul Power of the same origin nourishing the Retainer Imprint, has the imprint upgraded on its own?

Will Bibi Dong notice?

Looking nervous, Xu Xiaonian watched Bibi Dong's intoxicated expression gradually settle into calm.

A moment later, the answer was revealed.

"Xiaonian, I'd like you to do me a favor." Bibi Dong returned to the Gilded Throne, closed her eyes, and spoke calmly.

"From now on, come to see me at this time every month and let me feed on your Soul Power once. Would that be all right?"

"Uh..." Xu Xiaonian looked stunned. "Your Holiness, haven't you noticed anything wrong?"

"Anything wrong? No."

Bibi Dong shook her head. She carefully checked her condition and found nothing abnormal at all.

This... Bibi Dong actually hasn't noticed the Retainer Mark beginning to sink into her soul!

Towering waves surged through Xu Xiaonian's heart, and a bold idea began to take shape.

If I do as Bibi Dong says and come let her feed on my Soul Power once a month, then after roughly a hundred times...

Bibi Dong will become my retainer!

The current Limit Douluo, the future Rakshasa God, will become my retainer!