Outside the Worship Hall,
A burly old man in gold robes walked toward where Qian Daoliu was inside. His expression was grim; clearly, he had something to discuss with Qian Daoliu.
The moment the gold-robed elder entered the Worship Hall, he called toward the back of the main chamber:
"Big brother, there's a problem at the Library Pavilion."
"Golden Crocodile, what happened?" Qian Daoliu, who was still familiarizing himself with his memories, opened his eyes slightly.
The elder Qian Daoliu called Golden Crocodile was Spirit Hall's Second Worship, a Peak Level 98 Douluo! Golden Crocodile Douluo!
The man with the greatest seniority in the world today!
Even Tang Chen has to... when he sees me.
Ahem...
"Big brother, Elder Huang said there's a man... Big brother, why is your aura so weak?"
Golden Crocodile had been about to explain what happened, but he sensed that Qian Daoliu's aura was actually as faint and intermittent as an ordinary Soul Master's.
"Ahem... It's nothing. My soul power just flowed backward during cultivation," Qian Daoliu said as though nothing had happened.
"What?!" Qian Daoliu's words stunned Golden Crocodile outright.
Your soul power flowed backward! And you call that nothing? Big brother, you're like a two-ring Soul Master right now. How can you say that so casually?
"Don't worry. I just won't be able to use my power for a while. Tell me about the Library Pavilion!" Qian Daoliu's expression remained calm.
In truth, he was crying bitterly inside!
One of the three strongest men alive, reduced to an ordinary person. That gulf...
"Big brother, are you really all right?" Golden Crocodile looked at Qian Daoliu doubtfully.
"Really!" Qian Daoliu replied helplessly.
"Elder Huang of the Library Pavilion said a man has been using that child Bibi Dong's Saintess Token to enter for quite some time. And..." Golden Crocodile hesitated.
Qian Daoliu looked at Golden Crocodile, slightly puzzled. "And what?"
"And they reported it to the Pope, but he didn't do anything about it, so they brought it to me." Golden Crocodile's expression was a little odd.
Logically, with somewhere as important as the Library Pavilion, the Pope would at least ask about anything that happened there. But he had not. That was why the matter had reached Qian Daoliu.
"Hmm?" Qian Daoliu thought that the lead-up to Douluo had begun.
"Big brother, what should we do?" Golden Crocodile looked at Qian Daoliu, troubled.
Although the Pope's Hall was officially Spirit Hall's highest authority, the Worship Hall could intervene in any of Spirit Hall's affairs. Doing so, however, would undermine the Pope's authority.
But the Library Pavilion was too important, so its elders had no choice but to report to the Worship Hall.
"What else can we do? Go summon that unfilial son!" After learning what had happened, Qian Daoliu was so angry that he rose straight from his meditation cushion.
"He became Pope, and now he won't lift a finger!"
The corner of Golden Crocodile's mouth twitched. He gave Qian Daoliu a slight bow, then turned into a streak of light and headed down the mountain.
Watching Golden Crocodile leave, Qian Daoliu questioned the system inwardly.
"System bro, how would Golden Crocodile do as a Bound Object?"
[Golden Crocodile's talent meets the requirements, but his current room for improvement is limited. If he becomes the host's Bound Object, the rebate rewards the host receives will also be relatively small.]
"Ah..." Qian Daoliu was not surprised by the system's answer. Looking in the direction Golden Crocodile had gone, he sighed.
Although the system had not ruled him out, Golden Crocodile was already level 98. The system did not recommend him.
He drew his thoughts back.
From what Golden Crocodile had just said about the Library Pavilion, Qian Daoliu knew that Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang had already begun interacting. (Here, Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang had only known each other for two years.)
A new storm was about to sweep across the continent.
Fortunately, he had arrived in time.
As for Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu searched his memories. She was not yet twenty. If he could guide her onto the right path, she would be his Bound Object.
A genius with twin martial souls!
The Pope's Hall stood halfway up Spirit Mountain, while the stretch from the mountainside to the summit was a small forest.
Only a few bewildering formations had been placed in this forest, along with some thousand-year soul beasts kept by Spirit Hall to prevent anyone from disturbing the Worships.
Two figures walked along the path to the summit.
"Pope, you know about the Library Pavilion affair?" Golden Crocodile looked at Qian Xunji in puzzlement.
"Yes. I'll explain it in detail when we see Father."
"By the way, your father's health is a little..."
On the way, Golden Crocodile and Qian Xunji had already exchanged information...
In the Worship Hall,
Just as Qian Daoliu was considering how to set Bibi Dong's head straight, Golden Crocodile arrived with Qian Xunji.
"Father! Are your injuries all right?"
There were only the three of them in the Worship Hall, so Qian Xunji did not address him by his title. They were all family.
"Ji'er, do you know about the Library Pavilion affair?" Qian Daoliu asked calmly.
"Yes!" Qian Daoliu had complicated feelings about this matter.
Qian Daoliu looked into Qian Xunji's eyes. "How far have things progressed between them?"
???
Listening to Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile wore a face full of bewilderment. Why does big brother sound as though he already knows everything?
Qian Xunji heaved a deep sigh, then took his meditation cushion from his Space Ring and sat down. "Ah, they've probably known each other for two years now..."
Golden Crocodile also found his own cushion nearby and sat down to listen to Qian Xunji.
Two years earlier,
When Bibi Dong was eighteen, she met Yu Xiaogang.
Throughout her life, Bibi Dong had borne the title of Saintess. Everyone she met in Spirit Hall treated her with respect and fawned over her; she had grown up in that environment...
Until Yu Xiaogang appeared. He was someone in Spirit Hall who spoke to her as an equal, without any gap in status.
Yu Xiaogang was also the wisest person her age she had ever met, and Bibi Dong was won over by his wisdom...
As time passed, the feelings between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang gradually deepened. Then Yu Xiaogang obtained Bibi Dong's Saintess Token and entered Spirit Hall's Library Pavilion...
After entering the Library Pavilion, Yu Xiaogang seemed to have awakened. He could even advise Bibi Dong on knowledge concerning martial souls.
With Yu Xiaogang's guidance and help, Bibi Dong grew even stronger...
Then Yu Xiaogang proposed the ten core competencies of martial soul... Using her status as Saintess, Bibi Dong had them certified and published by Spirit Hall...
Several sticks of incense later,
"That's what happened." Qian Xunji was thoroughly depressed. He had thought he had found a teacher who could guide her, allowing him to lie back and relax. Instead, he had lost his disciple and brought in a thief.
"Is that any way to be a teacher?! Have you only ever taught Bibi Dong basic theory?"
"And now look! Someone's using our own knowledge to teach your own disciple!"
After hearing everything, Golden Crocodile stared at Qian Xunji with a hostile expression. Qian Daoliu can't lay hands on you now, but I, Golden Crocodile, am still Spirit Hall's second-in-command!
No, I'm first-in-command now.
"Second Uncle, what are you doi..." Before Qian Xunji could finish, Qian Daoliu signaled Golden Crocodile to act.
One stick of incense later, Qian Xunji knelt before the Angel God Statue and Qian Daoliu, his nose bruised and his face swollen. Golden Crocodile stood to one side.
"What is Bibi Dong's cultivation now?"
"She's almost a Soul Saint."
"Have you read that martial soul theory of Yu Xiaogang's?"
"Yes. Here's a copy!"
"Has Bibi Dong come to you to say anything?"
"No!"
"Good! There should still be hope for her!"
Qian Daoliu asked, and Qian Xunji answered.
"What do you think of Bibi Dong?"
"She's bright and quick-witted, and she's quite... Huh?"
"Huh?" Golden Crocodile and Qian Xunji stared blankly at Qian Daoliu together.
"What are you staring at, you little brat?"
Qian Daoliu gave Qian Xunji a sharp rap on the head.
"Summon Bibi Dong in a little while. Golden Crocodile, come with me to the Library Pavilion."
Before you continue