Spirit City.
Outside the Pope's Hall.
Golden radiance descended from the horizon.
Qian Daoliu slowly landed in the center of the square with Qian Renxue and Liu Erlong.
The surrounding Soul Masters of Spirit Hall stopped in their tracks.
They gazed at that white-haired figure, their eyes filled with reverence.
"The Great Enshrined has returned!"
The news soon spread throughout Spirit City.
Qian Renxue held Qian Daoliu's arm, her long white dress swaying gently in the divine light.
She had just completed Hell Road, and a faint killing aura still lingered around her.
Liu Erlong followed on his other side, holding the golden token Qian Daoliu had given her.
She looked up at the Pope's Hall before them.
"Senior, Bibi Dong should already know you've returned."
"She'll come out."
Qian Daoliu did not stop, walking straight up the steps.
The doors to the Pope's Hall were tightly shut.
The guards on either side immediately dropped to one knee when they saw him approach.
"Greetings, Great Enshrined."
Qian Daoliu raised his hand and waved.
Boom!
The heavy doors swung open to either side.
At the far end of the hall.
Bibi Dong sat on the Papal Throne.
She wore purple-and-gold papal robes and held a scepter.
Upon hearing footsteps, Bibi Dong raised her eyes.
She first saw Qian Daoliu.
Then she saw Qian Renxue holding his arm, and Liu Erlong standing on his other side.
Bibi Dong's gaze lingered on Liu Erlong for a moment.
"It seems your latest trip yielded quite a harvest, Great Enshrined."
"You seem to have forgotten what happened in the Pope's Hall."
Qian Daoliu walked to the center of the hall.
"I haven't forgotten."
"If you haven't forgotten, how dare you bring her back?"
Bibi Dong raised her scepter and pointed it at Liu Erlong.
"She's the dean of Blue Tyrant Academy, and she's also one of Shrek Academy's people."
"She has now submitted to me."
"What did you say?"
Bibi Dong's gaze darkened.
Liu Erlong stepped forward and cupped her hands. "Your subordinate, Liu Erlong, greets Your Holiness."
As she completed her salute, the entire hall fell silent.
Bibi Dong looked at her without responding.
Of course she knew about the relationship between Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang.
She also knew that Yu Xiaogang had once been the person she cared about most.
Yet now, Liu Erlong stood beside Qian Daoliu.
Bibi Dong's fingers slowly tightened.
"Qian Daoliu, what are you trying to do now?"
"I've returned to reclaim what should rightfully be mine."
"Spirit Hall is jointly governed by the Pope's Hall and the Worship Hall."
Bibi Dong rose from her throne.
"What gives you the right to say Spirit Hall belongs to you?"
"My strength."
Qian Daoliu raised his eyes.
"And the fact that you have no right to refuse."
The soul power within Bibi Dong abruptly erupted.
Blackish-purple light swept through the hall.
The Death Spider Emperor martial soul appeared behind her.
Nine soul rings rose in succession.
Towering killing intent surged toward Qian Daoliu.
Qian Renxue took a step forward.
Golden soul power surged out with her.
"Grandpa, let me."
"Stand back."
Qian Daoliu raised his hand, shielding her behind him.
At the sight, the fury in Bibi Dong's heart burned even fiercer.
"Qian Renxue, as expected, all you can do is hide behind him."
Qian Renxue looked at Bibi Dong.
"Mother, you have no right to say that."
Bibi Dong's expression changed.
"What did you call me?"
"I said, you have no right to be my mother."
Qian Renxue's expression remained calm.
"In the past, I always wanted your approval."
"But all you ever gave me was punishment and disgust."
"Now, I no longer need it."
Bibi Dong's soul power spiraled completely out of control.
Her blackish-purple soul rings lit up simultaneously.
The Death Spider Emperor swung its eight spider legs, stabbing ferociously at Qian Daoliu.
"Death Spider Emperor True Body!"
Boom!
The enormous phantom of the Spider Emperor enveloped the entire Pope's Hall.
The aura of death spread ceaselessly.
Golden patterns appeared one after another on the walls, keeping those auras out.
Qian Daoliu did not release his martial soul.
He merely raised his right hand.
A golden screen of light stretched across the space before him.
The Spider Emperor's legs struck the screen, producing a series of thunderous crashes.
Bibi Dong's attack could not advance even a fraction.
Her face gradually paled.
"That's impossible!"
"How long have you even been gone?"
Qian Daoliu closed his fingers.
The golden screen abruptly contracted.
The Death Spider Emperor's massive body was instantly crushed back into Bibi Dong.
The nine soul rings beneath Bibi Dong's feet froze simultaneously.
She tried to release her soul power again, but a wave of searing pain came from within her.
Qian Daoliu took a step forward.
Boom!
An overwhelmingly powerful pressure descended.
Bibi Dong's legs buckled, and she fell straight to her knees.
Her papal robes spread across the shattered stone bricks.
She braced herself with her scepter, fine beads of sweat seeping from her forehead.
"Qian Daoliu!"
"If you want to kill me, just do it!"
"You're not yet worthy of making me take you seriously."
Qian Daoliu raised his right hand.
The Six-Winged Angel martial soul rose behind him.
Three pairs of golden wings slowly unfurled.
Ten soul rings appeared in succession.
Six black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
Three scarlet Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings.
Finally, a deep-red soul ring covered in golden divine runes.
A Two-Hundred-Thousand-Year God-Given Soul Ring.
Sacred radiance illuminated the entire hall.
Bibi Dong looked up at those ten soul rings, her pupils contracting continuously.
"Ten soul rings..."
"You've already broken through to Level 100?"
Qian Daoliu did not answer.
He raised his hand and pointed.
Golden divine light descended before Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong immediately released her twin martial souls.
The Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor manifested simultaneously.
The two martial souls had barely appeared before they began contracting violently in the divine light.
The Rakshasa divine power within her surged out on its own, blackish-purple currents spreading over her robes.
"Rakshasa divine power!"
Bibi Dong gritted her teeth.
"Qian Daoliu, do you think breaking through to Level 100 means you can contend with a god?"
"You can't even control your own power."
Qian Daoliu pointed his fingertip forward.
"Suppress Evil."
The golden divine light instantly passed through Bibi Dong's body.
The Rakshasa divine power within her was suppressed on the spot.
Blackish-purple currents continually escaped from her meridians before dissolving into nothingness.
Bibi Dong let out a muffled groan.
Her twin martial souls shattered simultaneously.
Her body slid backward several yards, slamming heavily into the steps before the Papal Throne.
Blood trickled from the corner of her lips.
Qian Renxue watched Bibi Dong kneeling on the ground, no pity in her eyes.
Liu Erlong stood beside Qian Daoliu, her expression growing grave as well.
She finally understood that Bibi Dong had never been worthy of fighting Qian Daoliu in the first place.
The gap between them was no longer something soul power levels could explain.
Bibi Dong braced her hands against the ground and tried to stand.
The golden pressure descended once more.
Her knees slammed back onto the stone bricks.
"Did I give you permission to stand?"
Qian Daoliu came to stand before her.
Bibi Dong raised her head to look at him.
That youthful face overlapped with the Qian Daoliu in her memories, yet was entirely different.
The Qian Daoliu of the past would consider the bigger picture and give ground time and again.
The Qian Daoliu of the present had utterly torn away every restraint.
"What exactly did you obtain?"
Bibi Dong asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
"You want the Spirit Hall?"
"What I want isn't the Spirit Hall."
Qian Daoliu looked down at her.
"I want everyone to understand who makes the Spirit Hall's rules."
Bibi Dong braced her palm against the ground.
She still wanted to summon her Soul Power, but her body could not move.
Her powerful Rakshasa Divine Power offered no resistance against Qian Daoliu's sacred power.
This time, she truly knelt before Qian Daoliu.
Not because of a scheme.
Nor because of the Pope's Hall's authority.
But because of absolute power.
Qian Daoliu raised his hand and withdrew his pressure.
Bibi Dong went limp, dropping to one knee as her scepter slipped from her hand.
"From this day forward."
Qian Daoliu swept his gaze across the entire Pope's Hall.
"The Worship Hall will take over all affairs of the Spirit Hall."
"All Soul Masters of the Pope's Hall will obey my commands."
Outside the great hall.
The Elders of the Spirit Hall knelt, one after another.
"We obey the Great Enshrined's decree."
Bibi Dong lowered her head, her face close to the cold stone bricks.
She heard the voices outside but had no power to stop them.
Qian Renxue came before her.
Bibi Dong raised her eyes and looked at the daughter she had once hurt.
Qian Renxue stood within the Golden Divine Light.
Her cultivation had already reached level seventy-three.
A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring encircled her body.
The Angel Runes between her brows shone with a sacred luster.
Bibi Dong suddenly realized.
She had never truly understood this daughter of hers.
Qian Renxue did not linger.
She took Qian Daoliu's arm again.
"Grandpa, what do we do next?"
"Go to the Elder Hall."
Qian Daoliu turned and walked out.
"Summon all the enshrined and elders."
"I will rewrite the Spirit Hall's rules."
Qian Renxue nodded.
Liu Erlong followed behind them.
Inside the Pope's Hall, only Bibi Dong remained, kneeling on the steps.
She lowered her head and looked at her palm.
Traces of the sacred power Qian Daoliu had left still lingered there.
Even as the Pope, possessing Twin Martial Souls and Rakshasa Divine Power, she could not withstand a single strike from Qian Daoliu.
This man had already reached a height beyond her grasp.
Bibi Dong slowly closed her eyes.
For the first time, she clearly understood.
The Qian Daoliu she had once had no choice but to be wary of had become a being who truly stood above all living things.
And she could only kneel at his feet.
The Pope's Hall.
Bibi Dong slowly rose to her feet.
The pain in her knees fell far short of the humiliation in her heart.
She lowered her head and glanced at her palm.
The golden divine power there had already dissipated, yet it was like an indelible brand, reminding her of everything that had just happened.
Qian Daoliu had not killed her.
Not out of concern for the Spirit Hall's overall interests.
Nor because she was the Pope.
Simply because she was not yet worth his taking action personally.
Bibi Dong put away her scepter and walked down the steps.
"Your Holiness."
The elders outside the hall all moved aside to clear a path.
They kept their heads lowered, none daring to meet Bibi Dong's eyes.
After today, the balance of power within the Spirit Hall had changed completely.
The Worship Hall had taken over all affairs.
The Pope's Hall had lost its decision-making power.
Bibi Dong, the Pope, held her position in name only.
She paid no attention to anyone and walked straight out of the Pope's Hall.
Sunlight from the Square fell upon her, yet brought not the slightest warmth.
Bibi Dong stood below the steps and glanced back at the tightly shut doors.
Qian Daoliu, Qian Renxue, and Liu Erlong, who had just submitted to him, had all stayed inside.
Together, they stood like an immovable mountain.
Bibi Dong withdrew her gaze.
"Qian Daoliu."
She murmured to herself.
"Do you think breaking through Level 100 means you can stand above everyone forever?"
"A Soul Master is still only a Soul Master."
"To truly oppose a god's power, the only way is to inherit a divine position."
She tightened her grip on her scepter.
The Rakshasa God Trial had begun many years ago.
In the past, although she had used Rakshasa Divine Power to improve her cultivation, she had never focused all her attention on the Divine Examination.
She needed to control the Spirit Hall.
She needed to build her forces.
And she had to guard against Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue.
But now, Qian Daoliu had torn away all pretense.
The Spirit Hall's power had fallen into the Worship Hall's hands.
Qian Renxue was also growing rapidly with Qian Daoliu's help.
Remaining in the mortal world to fight for power no longer held any meaning for her.
Bibi Dong raised her head and looked toward the Elder Hall.
"As long as I become the Rakshasa God."
"I can reclaim everything that belongs to me."
"Qian Daoliu, I will personally repay you for the humiliation you gave me today."
She turned and left the Square.
The Pope's Hall behind her grew ever more distant.
Bibi Dong did not look back.
She had already made her decision.
From this day forward, she would devote herself fully to completing the Rakshasa God Trial.
As for Qian Renxue...
Bibi Dong's steps paused for a moment.
When that child stood beside Qian Daoliu, her eyes no longer held their former fear.
Her Soul Power had reached level seventy-three.
She also possessed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Divine Slaughter's Domain.
Such a rate of growth had already far exceeded Bibi Dong's expectations.
"Qian Renxue."
Bibi Dong closed her eyes.
"Do you think having Qian Daoliu protect you means you can escape my control?"
"Once I inherit the Rakshasa Godhood, you will still have no choice but to kneel before me."
With that, she began walking again.
Soon, she disappeared beyond the far end of the Square.
The Elder Hall.
Qian Daoliu sat in the seat of honor.
Qian Renxue stood beside the desk, holding a jade platter.
Cut fruit lay on the jade platter.
"Grandpa."
She speared a piece of translucent fruit flesh with a Silver Pick and offered it to Qian Daoliu.
"This is very sweet. Have a taste."
Qian Daoliu opened his mouth and ate it.
The fruit was crisp in his mouth, carrying a faint trace of spiritual energy.
"It's all right."
Qian Renxue blinked.
"Just all right?"
"Better than what you bought last time."
"Then that means it's delicious."
She pushed the jade platter a little closer.
"I picked all of these. Have some more, Grandpa."
Qian Daoliu looked at the fruit on the platter.
Most of the fruit flesh had been cut into small, bite-sized pieces, while the remaining few pieces had been left whole along the edge.
"You haven't had any yourself?"
"I have."
Qian Renxue answered very quickly.
Qian Daoliu raised his hand, took the Silver Pick from between her fingers, and speared a piece of fruit, bringing it to her lips.
"Open your mouth."
Qian Renxue froze for a moment.
She looked at the fruit right before her eyes, a faint blush gradually rising on her fair cheeks.
"I can do it myself."
"Didn't you just say you'd already eaten?"
"I'm a little hungry again now."
She lowered her head and bit into the fruit.
Its fresh sweetness spread through her mouth.
Qian Daoliu withdrew the Silver Pick, speared another piece, and offered it to her.
This time, Qian Renxue did not refuse.
As she ate the fruit, she looked outside the hall.
"Grandpa, will Bibi Dong really stay in the Pope's Hall from now on?"
"If she's willing to stay, let her keep that position."
"What if she isn't?"
"Then let her leave."
Qian Renxue frowned.
"She won't behave herself."
"I know."
"The way she looked at me just now was the same as before."
Qian Renxue set down the Silver Pick.
"She still sees me as an enemy of the Qian Family."
Qian Daoliu raised his hand and wiped the lingering fruit juice from the corner of her lips.
"What she thinks doesn't matter."
"As long as she hasn't acted to hurt you, there's no need to pay her any mind."
"But what if she inherits a divine position?"
Qian Renxue lifted her eyes to her grandfather.
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