A Binding Target, Vastly Knowledgeable?

The Spirit Hall Library Pavilion.

Several elders were already waiting at the Library Pavilion entrance. Upon seeing Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile, they cupped their hands in greeting. "Greetings, Great Enshrined, Second Worship."

"I already know what happened. Sorry for the trouble, elders, but please help us find these books," Qian Daoliu said with a nod.

Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile moved among the shelves, using the theoretical paper in their hands to track down over a dozen books, including several precious volumes.

Fortunately, the Library Pavilion elders were old veterans. Otherwise, finding these books would have taken the two of them much longer.

"Big brother, that brat really has read a lot of books!" Golden Crocodile looked at the books in his hands. It was not that everything in them appeared in the theoretical paper, but that the books had already been compiled into volumes.

"And these are only the ones in his article. Who knows how much more he has in his head?" Qian Daoliu's expression darkened.

"Let's head back."

Meanwhile,

Before the Angel God Statue in the Worship Hall,

Qian Xunji and a girl dressed in purple sat on meditation cushions;

There was no sign of the injuries Golden Crocodile had inflicted on Qian Xunji. After all, if word spread that the illustrious pope of Spirit Hall had been beaten, it would damage Spirit Hall's prestige.

After Qian Daoliu left, Qian Xunji had used his Soul Power to heal his injuries. They were only superficial wounds, but they still hurt badly. He had even changed into a brand-new set of papal robes.

Afterward, Qian Xunji had personally gone down the mountain to bring Bibi Dong back to the Worship Hall.

The girl in purple was Bibi Dong. As Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, she had visited the Worship Hall several times before.

She had interacted with several of its worships, who had even given her guidance.

Bibi Dong's delicate brows were slightly furrowed as she wondered why her teacher had brought her to the Worship Hall.

Should I tell Teacher about Xiaogang and me now?

Or should I wait a little longer before telling him?

Bibi Dong's fair fingers were clenched tightly together, her heart filled with anxiety.

Soon, footsteps sounded outside the great hall.

"Ah, Dong'er!" Qian Daoliu smiled kindly.

"Hmph!"

Golden Crocodile snorted. Whether it was directed at Qian Xunji for neglecting his duties as a teacher, at Bibi Dong, or at both of them was unclear.

Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile found meditation cushions and sat opposite Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong.

Looking at the two of them, Qian Daoliu felt an inexplicable emotion he could not quite put into words.

[The system has detected a suitable binding target: Bibi Dong! Talent: prodigy level]

Hearing the notification, Qian Daoliu felt troubled. Bibi Dong had to be willing before he could bind her.

The four of them simply stared at one another, and for a while, the great hall fell silent...

Qian Daoliu sighed inwardly and broke the silence.

"Dong'er, how well has your teacher taught you over these past few years?"

Bibi Dong bowed to Qian Daoliu. "Great Enshrined, Teacher has always guided me with great care and treated me very well. I have also worked hard at my studies."

Bibi Dong's words stirred something in Qian Xunji's heart. After her Martial Soul Awakening, he had indeed taught her diligently, but once she reached her teens, he had begun leaving her to her own devices...

Ah, Uncle Golden Crocodile was right. I really have neglected my duties.

"Then let's discuss something else. Have you visited the Library Pavilion in the past month?" Qian Daoliu stared into Bibi Dong's eyes, a trace of hope in his gaze.

It was not just Qian Daoliu. Golden Crocodile and Qian Xunji looked at her the same way. After all, they had already made inquiries...

"I have visited the Library Pavilion recently." Bibi Dong did not quite dare meet Qian Daoliu's dark eyes.

"Ah! Dong'er, do you know where we just came back from?" Qian Daoliu sighed.

"We went to the Library Pavilion. Its elders have already reported your actions to the Worship Hall," Golden Crocodile told Bibi Dong coldly.

Colluding with outsiders and leaking secrets was a capital offense in any sect or empire!

"Bibi Dong! Take out your Holy Maiden token and let me see it!" Golden Crocodile's voice thundered through the great hall, brimming with authority.

Bibi Dong felt her chest tighten, as though a mountain were pressing down on her. It was unbearably suffocating.

The color instantly drained from Bibi Dong's fair face, leaving her deathly pale, while terror flooded her heart.

How could this happen?

My token is still with Xiaogang.

Qian Daoliu waved a hand at Golden Crocodile, who withdrew his aura. "Do you still remember who you are? Answer me!"

Only Qian Daoliu's authoritative voice echoed through the hall now, though Bibi Dong felt none of the oppressive pressure Golden Crocodile had exerted.

"Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden!" Bibi Dong could only answer weakly.

"So you do still know who you are!"

"Then do you know the consequences of allowing Yu Xiaogang, an outsider, into our Spirit Hall Library Pavilion?"

"Anyone who colludes with outsiders and leaks Spirit Hall's research secrets faces death!"

Bibi Dong raised her head to look at Qian Xunji, confusion in her eyes.

She had never imagined that what she had done would carry such grave consequences.

Seeing Bibi Dong's gaze, fury immediately flared in Qian Daoliu's heart. So you've been indulging Bibi Dong this much.

Qian Xunji had not even explained these rules to her. Qian Daoliu then nodded at Golden Crocodile.

"Heh heh heh. Your Holiness, please step outside with this old man."

Golden Crocodile unleashed his full aura and seized Qian Xunji's hand.

"S-second Uncle..." Qian Xunji wanted to resist, but he was no match for him and was dragged out of the Worship Hall...

After all, Qian Xunji was only Spirit Hall's leader in public. In terms of actual combat strength, he belonged to its third tier. Against Golden Crocodile, who currently stood in the first tier, he could only take a beating.

Then, from inside the great hall, Bibi Dong heard Qian Xunji's bloodcurdling screams.

"You just said he taught you with great care, yet he never even properly explained these rules to you."

"When a child goes untaught, the teacher bears the blame!" Qian Daoliu's authoritative voice echoed in Bibi Dong's mind.

"As for your actions, the library elders discovered them. They reported to the pope that a man had entered using the Holy Maiden token."

"Now it seems your teacher has treated you far too well, shielding you even over something like this. He truly has failed in his duties as a teacher."

"We called you here today after looking into a few things. Dong'er, under that little scoundrel Qian Xunji's guidance, you must never have gained a thorough understanding of Martial Soul knowledge."

"That is why you were drawn to Yu Xiaogang's so-called wisdom."

"That's not true. Xiaogang really has a unique gift for Martial Soul knowledge..." Bibi Dong was still defending Yu Xiaogang when Qian Daoliu stopped her.

"Would I not know whether he truly possesses vast knowledge?"

Qian Daoliu looked at Bibi Dong, then took out Yu Xiaogang's article. "This was published through you. You should be very familiar with it."

"And these are precious volumes from our Spirit Hall Library Pavilion. Take a look, Dong'er."

Bibi Dong first looked at the familiar article, then leafed through the yellowed books Qian Daoliu had brought out.

She kept finding similar passages between the two, and some were even word for word identical! The only difference was that the author's name at the end had been changed to Yu Xiaogang.