"Who is this?"
Bibi Dong looked at Zhu Zhuqing's unfamiliar face with a hint of puzzlement.
"Master, she is a young lady of the Star Luo Empire's Zhu Family whom I rescued in Sunset Forest. She had nowhere to go at present, so she joined Spirit Hall at my invitation."
After hearing Yu Tianling's introduction, Bibi Dong became acquainted with Zhu Zhuqing. She nodded and said, "I see. Then let her go with you to study at Spirit Hall Academy. If the Zhu Family comes to trouble her in the future, they will be making an enemy of Spirit Hall!"
Her words brimmed with overbearing authority and unparalleled confidence.
In the years to come, even decades after her first meeting with Bibi Dong, Zhu Zhuqing, who had long since become a god, would still often recall this first encounter.
After the group briefly recounted their experiences on this journey, Yu Tianling alone stayed behind, while everyone else left the Pope's Palace.
Hu Liena and her two companions took Zhu Zhuqing to Spirit Hall Academy to handle her enrollment, while Gui Mei and Yue Guan returned to their assigned duties, ready to answer Pope Bibi Dong's summons at any time.
Once only the two of them remained in the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong looked at Yu Tianling and asked gently, "Tianling, the Immortal Herbs you had Gui Mei bring back were extraordinarily effective. Why didn't you keep them for yourself?"
"Master, as Spirit Hall's Holy Son, now that I have something capable of improving Spirit Hall's strength, naturally I should consider Spirit Hall in everything!"
Yu Tianling's expression turned solemn as he answered with righteous conviction.
Seeing Yu Tianling's earnest reply, Bibi Dong felt increasingly moved by the decision she had made back then. Understanding his thoughts as well, she did not pursue the topic, but instead changed the subject and asked about his godhood.
"When Gui Mei returned last time, he said you obtained a godhood inheritance in Sunset Forest. Is that true?"
"Of course it is!"
As Yu Tianling spoke, he revealed the godhood mark on his forehead.
"It really is a god!"
Sensing the presence emanating from the mark on Yu Tianling's forehead, Bibi Dong involuntarily tightened her grip on her divine staff, and her gaze toward him grew even warmer.
"Master, obtaining this godhood was entirely thanks to my parents' guidance..."
After revealing the mark, Yu Tianling continued without pausing, recounting the circumstances and process of obtaining his godhood inheritance. Aside from the matter of the God King of Equality, he laid everything bare.
In Yu Tianling's eyes, Bibi Dong and even Spirit Hall were his greatest backing at present, as well as a major source of support for his future. There was no need to conceal everything.
"The God of War?"
When Yu Tianling mentioned the divine name associated with the godhood, Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow, a note of questioning in her voice.
"Tianling, as far as I know, isn't the God of War a Second-Level Deity? Why did you say the inheritance was that of a First-Level God?"
So Bibi Dong has already obtained the Rakshasa God's inheritance? She even knows about Second-Level Deities! No wonder she wasn't overly surprised that I obtained a godhood inheritance.
This thought flashed through Yu Tianling's mind upon hearing Bibi Dong's question, and he also understood her confusion.
The God of War currently in the Divine Realm was indeed a Second-Level Deity, a deity born amid the great turmoil of the Douluo Continent's early days. Because a powerful, hidden God of War had once existed in the Divine Realm, this successor who took the God of War as his divinity had, for reasons unknown to him, been subjected to an immense divine punishment trial. In the end, he failed to withstand the trial to elevate his godhood and could only become a Second-Level God. He had become quite a laughingstock at the time.
Seeing the tremendous spectacle of the trial, everyone in the Divine Realm had thought the establishment of a new First-Level God was already a done deal. Who would have expected the "God of War" to fail?
When the God King of Equality told Yu Tianling about it, he had also been unable to suppress his amusement, saying that if this junior had chosen to create some other godhood, he might have become a fairly powerful First-Level God. What a pity.
Although all these thoughts passed through his mind, Yu Tianling actually responded very quickly.
"Master, when I began the inheritance, the God of War did indeed tell me it was that of a First-Level God. Surely he wouldn't lie to me."
At this point, Yu Tianling even pretended to be somewhat nervous as he stared at Bibi Dong.
Hearing Yu Tianling's words, Bibi Dong was momentarily uncertain as well. Gods stood high above others and disdained lying, yet the general knowledge of the Divine Realm the Rakshasa God had imparted to her back then clearly recorded that the God of War was a Second-Level Deity.
Looking at Bibi Dong's thoroughly puzzled face, Yu Tianling could not help feeling a trace of apology.
I'm sorry, Master. If the time is right in the future, I will definitely tell you the whole truth, but not now.
Fortunately, Bibi Dong did not dwell on it. Second-Level Gods and First-Level Gods were all gods, all beings far stronger than Limit Douluos. Having thought this through, Bibi Dong said to Yu Tianling, "I must have remembered incorrectly. Tianling, since you have now received a God Trial, just tell me if you need anything. Spirit Hall will certainly support you with all its strength."
"Yes!"
Yu Tianling nodded firmly.
After Bibi Dong and Yu Tianling chatted briefly for a while, Yu Tianling left the Pope's Palace.
He was going to see his maternal grandfather, Lin Qingze. There had been a share of the Immortal Herbs for him as well, so he should have become an Eight-Ring Soul Douluo by now.
"Xue'er..."
With Yu Tianling's departure, the Pope's Palace fell quiet again. This time, Bibi Dong did not leave, but remained in the same position she had been in when he departed, his words repeatedly churning through her mind.
Just now, Yu Tianling had subtly steered the conversation toward Xue Qinghe, the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince, speaking of some of Xue Qinghe's hidden emotions and stirring Bibi Dong, one of the continent's foremost figures, so deeply that her heart could not settle for a long time.
"Grandpa!"
After returning to Spirit Hall Academy, Yu Tianling went straight to the intermediate academy dean's office and called out to Lin Qingze, whose face looked considerably younger.
Indeed, for various reasons, after Lin Qingze reached Soul Douluo, Fei Situo had promoted him from a teacher to dean of the intermediate academy.
Those various reasons included not only Yu Tianling's status, but also his teaching attitude, teaching results, and strength.
"Hmm?! Xiao Ling!"
Lin Qingze abruptly raised his head and looked excitedly at the grandson he had not seen for so long. He hurriedly rose, stepped forward, and hugged him tightly.
Only after a very, very long time did Lin Qingze let go. Looking at his grandson, who had changed considerably, his eyes were filled with joy and satisfaction.
He then pulled Yu Tianling over to sit on a nearby sofa, and the two began chatting.
Yu Tianling also repeated what he had said at Spirit Hall.
"A godhood inheritance?"
Lin Qingze looked at Yu Tianling with some confusion.
This was how an ordinary person would normally react upon hearing about gods.
After all, across the entire Douluo Continent, aside from those who had received godhood inheritances, only certain Soul Beasts knew that gods existed. In other words, most people ought to look utterly bewildered upon hearing about gods.
Lin Qingze's confusion did not last long, as Yu Tianling explained the concept of gods to him in detail.
As he listened to the explanation about gods, Lin Qingze grew increasingly astonished.
"Gasp! Becoming a god at level one hundred!"