"Teacher, you haven't hunted for your Soul Ring yet, have you?"
Because of Luo Chen, Bibi Dong had hurried back to Spirit City, even shelving her original plan to hunt for her ninth Soul Ring.
"That doesn't matter!"
All Bibi Dong wanted now was to stay by Luo Chen's side, never leaving him for a moment.
To take care of Luo Chen, Bibi Dong had not visited the Papal Palace even once since returning to Spirit City.
"In that case, please wait one month, Teacher."
"What?"
"In one month, the Sun Disc's ascended power will have fully recovered. Then I'll perform the Ascension Ritual for you."
Luo Chen explained, "The Sun Disc told me that when a Soul Master's Martial Soul evolves, there's a certain chance of obtaining a natal Soul Ring."
Natal Soul Rings were exceedingly rare; even Spirit Hall had little information on them.
But Bibi Dong knew about them.
A natal Soul Ring was a special Soul Ring whose age could continuously increase as its Soul Master grew stronger.
And given Bibi Dong's Titled Douluo cultivation, if the ninth Soul Ring of her first Martial Soul was a natal Soul Ring, it would have to start at a hundred thousand years, at the very least.
The original Bibi Dong would encounter a hundred-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor and take it as her ninth Soul Ring.
The Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul paired with a hundred-thousand-year Death Spider Emperor was undoubtedly the best choice.
But a natal Soul Ring was itself intimately connected to its Martial Soul.
Bibi Dong's first Martial Soul was the Death Spider Emperor, so her natal Soul Ring would inevitably come from a Death Spider Emperor.
In other words, Bibi Dong had a very high chance of obtaining the same Soul Skill as in the original story: Immortal Body.
Combined with a natal Soul Ring's potential for growth, the effects of her Ninth Soul Skill: Immortal Body would definitely surpass its strength in the original work.
These were not Luo Chen's guesses, but the results of the Sun Disc's own assessment.
"No!"
Unfortunately, even after hearing Luo Chen's explanation, Bibi Dong still firmly rejected the proposal.
She had already made one mistake. No matter what, she could not make a second.
"You say the Ascension Ritual doesn't harm your body, but how do you explain what happened before?"
Bibi Dong truly placed great importance on Luo Chen's safety now. She stroked his face, her eyes filled with tenderness. "I know you want to help me, Xiao Chen, but you've already done enough for me."
Even if the Ascension Ritual could evolve her Martial Soul and even develop ultimate power, Bibi Dong was still unwilling to exchange her disciple's health for that strength.
This is kind of touching...
Luo Chen had not expected that once Bibi Dong truly cared, she would cherish him to this extent.
She could even give up the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and ultimate Martial Soul that Soul Masters valued most.
"Is this the child you brought back?"
"That voice?"
Bibi Dong looked toward the voice, and when she saw that tall figure, her expression immediately darkened. "What are you doing here?!"
"According to our agreement, the Worship Hall is not to interfere in the Papal Palace's affairs!"
Bibi Dong stood in front of Luo Chen, her gaze wary. "And this is my territory!"
Ever since killing Qian Xunji, Bibi Dong had no longer concealed her loathing for the Qian Family's Angel Clan.
Even when facing Qian Daoliu, a rank-99 Limit Douluo, Bibi Dong would not show him a pleasant face.
"This child has exceptionally pure divine power fluctuations."
However, the old man paid no attention to Bibi Dong's provocation. He merely focused on Luo Chen.
Qian Daoliu was the Angel God's high priest. Wary of the existence of gods, he dared not rashly attack anyone possessing divine power.
That was what had happened before: Qian Daoliu had sensed Asura divine power on Tang Hao, making him afraid to push too far.
Together with the fact that Bibi Dong was the one who had killed Qian Xunji, this was why Qian Daoliu had let Tang Hao go.
Otherwise, with Tang Hao's strength, how could he possibly have escaped his pursuit?
"That's none of your business!"
Like a mother guarding her young, Bibi Dong kept Luo Chen firmly protected behind her.
Yet even so, Bibi Dong still felt immense pressure.
There was no helping it. Qian Daoliu was simply too powerful, far beyond what she could contend with now.
At that moment, Bibi Dong once again realized the importance of strength.
Luo Chen was right. Rather than staying beside this child, she should be obtaining her ninth Soul Ring.
"I only came to see him."
Qian Daoliu had originally paid Luo Chen no mind, but some unpleasant rumors had spread within Spirit Hall, leaving him no choice but to come.
"Some people say this child is your illegitimate son."
"..."
Bibi Dong first froze, then realized that her words and actions over the past two days had been misinterpreted.
The old Bibi Dong would definitely have demanded, "Who's wagging their tongue?"
But after everything she had experienced, Bibi Dong discovered that she did not seem to resist this misunderstanding at all.
No!
She would love nothing more than to become Xiao Chen's mother!
Even if she were only his adoptive mother or godmother, if Luo Chen would call her Mother, Bibi Dong might wake up smiling from her dreams.
As for her reputation-
She, Bibi Dong, already had Luo Chen. What did she need a reputation for?
"That's right!"
Thus, Bibi Dong hesitated no longer and gave a resolute affirmation. "Xiao Chen is my biological son!"
"Cough!"
"Cough, cough, cough!"
Yet at those words, not only Qian Daoliu, but even Luo Chen could not help coughing.
"Y-you said what?!"
Qian Daoliu's anger vanished in an instant.
He was somewhat angry, but what he felt more was his debt to Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong was indeed Qian Renxue's mother, but there had never been any affection between her and Qian Xunji, much less any obligation for her to be the Qian Family's daughter-in-law.
Never mind having a man outside and an illegitimate child.
Even if she left Spirit Hall and found someone to marry, Qian Daoliu had no right to stop her.
What about the nurturing Spirit Hall had given her?
Without the secret chamber incident, Bibi Dong leaving Spirit Hall would indeed have been a betrayal of her teachers, and even if Qian Daoliu killed her outright, it would have been reasonable.
Unfortunately, the secret chamber had happened.
Once Qian Xunji did something like that, all the kindness of the past became ill intent and premeditation.
Whatever Qian Xunji's original intentions had been, the result was there: his Qian Family had wronged Bibi Dong.
Thus, although Qian Daoliu felt stifled, he truly had no grounds to reproach Bibi Dong. "Then... then what about Xiao Xue? Xiao Xue is your child too!"
"That bastard is no child of mine!"
"You!"
Hearing the word "bastard," even Qian Daoliu nearly lost control.
For a moment, Spirit Hall's highest-ranking figures, the Pope and the Great Enshrined, stood confronting each other in this fairly spacious bedchamber.
The difference in strength aside, Bibi Dong would never lose to Qian Daoliu in bearing!
"Um, sorry to interrupt."
Knowing the situation was going wrong, Luo Chen immediately explained, "My name is Luo Chen. I'm six years old, and I'm an orphan from the orphanage in Nuoding City..."
He feared that if Bibi Dong kept talking, she really would drive this old fellow Qian Daoliu mad.
"Six?"
That age was enough to prove Luo Chen was not Bibi Dong's illegitimate son.
Because six years ago, Bibi Dong had still been in Spirit Hall and had had no time at all to become pregnant and give birth.
"Hmph!"
Bibi Dong was deeply displeased with Luo Chen's explanation, but she did not blame her disciple. Instead, she disliked Qian Daoliu even more.
If not for this old fossil, why would Xiao Chen have rejected her?
Clearly, in private, there would have been such a good chance of this child agreeing, yet Qian Daoliu had ruined it.
Yes!
It was all Qian Daoliu's fault!
Bibi Dong: Qian Daoliu, you old fossil, you've done every wicked thing under the sun!
"Xiao Chen, remember this: this old thing is no good. Make absolutely sure you never associate with him."
To Bibi Dong, smearing Qian Daoliu was simply politically correct.
"..."
Qian Daoliu did not mind Bibi Dong blackening his name. Instead, he studied Luo Chen curiously. "Little fellow, you're quite clever."
Qian Daoliu believed Luo Chen had by no means mentioned being six years old unintentionally.
He had deliberately pointed out that crucial detail.
Then there was the Spirit Hall orphanage in Nuoding City, which meant Luo Chen's origins were traceable and aboveboard.
Qian Daoliu only needed to send someone to investigate, and he could learn the truth.
For some reason, Qian Daoliu found Luo Chen very much to his liking.
Had Bibi Dong not acted first to gain the upper hand, he would have wanted to take Luo Chen as his disciple.
At that moment, Qian Daoliu could not help feeling regret.
Had he known that the strange case in Nuoding City of someone unable to awaken a Martial Soul could produce such a genius, Qian Daoliu would have gone there personally, no matter what.
"Oh, child."
Qian Daoliu asked in an extremely kindly voice, "Those divine power fluctuations on you-are they from a god-bestowed Martial Soul?"
"Qian Daoliu!!"
Bibi Dong's eyes grew colder, but this only made Qian Daoliu more curious.
Just what kind of peerless genius could make Bibi Dong care so much?
A god-bestowed Martial Soul?
Indeed, if Luo Chen had awakened a god-bestowed Martial Soul, he certainly qualified for Bibi Dong's doting.
Even he, if he discovered an unaffiliated owner of a god-bestowed Martial Soul, would probably be just like Bibi Dong, cherishing and carefully protecting them like a treasure.
"Little friend, what was that Ascension Ritual you mentioned just now?"
"Could it be the name of your Martial Soul?"
Qian Daoliu knew of "Ascension," but he had truly never heard of an Ascension Ritual.
Besides, it did not sound like a Martial Soul.
"Enough!"
Bibi Dong knew very well what Qian Daoliu wanted to do.
Once he learned the true power of Luo Chen's Martial Soul, Qian Daoliu would absolutely refuse to let this child stay by her side.
Strength. I need strength!
Bibi Dong secretly clenched her fists. I'm too weak right now. I can't even protect Xiao Chen.
Luo Chen was right.
Rather than staying beside him, what she should do now was hunt for a Soul Ring as soon as possible and improve her strength.
Just imagine: if she possessed the strength of a rank-99 Limit Douluo, would Qian Daoliu dare covet Luo Chen so brazenly?
Was he truly not afraid she would fight him to the death and tear Spirit Hall apart?
"Teacher."
Luo Chen's voice interrupted Bibi Dong's thoughts. He said softly, "Could you let me exchange a few words with this elderly gentleman?"
"Xiao Chen..."
Bibi Dong looked into Luo Chen's eyes. She sighed and chose to trust him.
Just as when they encountered Yu Xiaogang earlier, and he had stepped forward to speak for her.
And there was his confidence when Hu Liena absorbed a Soul Ring beyond her age limit.
This child has ideas of his own. Perhaps he can dispel Qian Daoliu's intentions.
Bibi Dong stepped aside, allowing Luo Chen to face Qian Daoliu.
And this sight left Qian Daoliu completely dumbfounded. This! How is this possible? Is this still the Bibi Dong I know?
With a single sentence from Luo Chen, Bibi Dong had suppressed all her anger.
Such favoritism and doting!
The notion of an illegitimate son, which Qian Daoliu had already dismissed, resurfaced, even stronger than before. Is he really not her illegitimate son?
Come to think of it, being six years old was not reliable evidence at all.
Cases of Martial Souls awakening early were rare, but not unheard of.
As for the orphanage's records and the statements of those around him, all of those could be falsified.
Qian Daoliu now strongly suspected that Bibi Dong had secretly given birth to a younger brother for Qian Renxue and had only now brought him back.
"Ahem."
Luo Chen had no idea Qian Daoliu's thoughts had leaped so wildly. He asked, "Elderly gentleman, you should be Spirit Hall's Great Enshrined and the Pope from two generations ago, correct?"
"You know of me?"
"I read accounts of you in the Spirit Hall Branch's collection of books."
Luo Chen was not making things up. He really had read books recording the process of Spirit Hall's founding.
And the person who had founded Spirit Hall was none other than Qian Daoliu, standing before him.
Spirit Hall's predecessor was Douluo Hall, an organization founded by the first Angel God and a sacred place in the hearts of all Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent.
Thus, in terms of how long they had existed, Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect were much the same, both with histories of only a little over a hundred years.
What truly had a long history were Douluo Hall and the papal seat, whose legacies stretched back tens of thousands of years.
"You are quite clever."
Qian Daoliu had a very favorable impression of Luo Chen. "Then what would you like to tell this old man?"
"Didn't you ask about my Martial Soul earlier, sir?"
Luo Chen displayed the Sun Disc before Qian Daoliu. "Look, this is my Martial Soul."
"Xiao Chen..."
Bibi Dong wanted to speak, but remembering the look Luo Chen had given her earlier, she ultimately chose to trust him.
"What Martial Soul is this?"
As he looked at the golden disc floating above Luo Chen's palm, Qian Daoliu felt something exceedingly strange.
For he actually felt an intense longing for the Sun Disc from the depths of his heart, as though this Martial Soul were some legendary supreme treasure, and obtaining it would mean possessing everything!
"This old man feels an unprecedented longing from this golden disc."
Qian Daoliu was bewildered. He could not imagine what he was longing for.
There was nothing left in this world that Qian Daoliu wanted.
Well, except for Qian Renxue and Bo Saixi.
But what did they have to do with the Sun Disc?
Longing!
Bibi Dong's pupils contracted slightly.
Unlike the bewildered Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong knew the Sun Disc's immense power. How could she fail to understand the key to this?
This longing came from the Martial Soul, from its desire to evolve.
But how was that possible?
Qian Daoliu's Martial Soul, the Six-Winged Angel, was already a God-Bestowed Martial Soul.
In theory, the Six-Winged Angel already stood at the pinnacle of Martial Souls. What room was there for it to advance any further?
"This should be because of the Ascension Ritual."
Luo Chen smiled slightly, then turned to Bibi Dong. "Teacher, could I trouble you to help demonstrate it for the Great Enshrined?"
"..."
At this moment, how could Bibi Dong still fail to understand Luo Chen's meaning?
This child saw the conflict between Qian Daoliu and me. He knows I'm at a disadvantage.
Bibi Dong thought, He doesn't want to see me coerced by this old bastard. He's prepared to protect me at any cost...
Had this been a moment earlier, Bibi Dong would definitely have refused.
Yet now, faced with Qian Daoliu's pressure, however unwilling Bibi Dong was, she could only accept.
Damn it!
That hateful Qian Family! Those hypocritical angels!
Bibi Dong maintained her composure, but resentment filled her heart to the utmost. They've actually forced my Xiao Chen, forced this child to risk his life to perform an Ascension Ritual for me!
For an instant, Bibi Dong even wanted to hand Luo Chen over to spare him further harm.
She herself would immediately head to the Star Dou Great Forest, obtain enough strength to contend with Qian Daoliu in the shortest time possible, then snatch her beloved disciple back from the Worship Hall.
No, I can't!
But the moment this thought arose, Bibi Dong suppressed it. If Luo Chen fell into Qian Daoliu's hands, how would they treat him?
They would definitely keep Xiao Chen under their control and make him use the Ascension Ritual over and over until they squeezed out his last shred of value!
So what if he had only three years left to live? If Luo Chen's life could be exchanged for several Ultimate Martial Souls, or even new god-level Martial Souls, the Worship Hall would still profit enormously.
"Bibi Dong, are you thinking something bad?"
Fortunately, Qian Daoliu had not heard Bibi Dong's inner thoughts, or he would definitely have cried out that he had been wronged.
He merely wanted to determine exactly what Luo Chen's Martial Soul was, whether it was a God-Bestowed Martial Soul, and which god had bestowed it.
As for using Luo Chen as a tool, Qian Daoliu was not Qian Xunji.
This Great Enshrined valued chivalry above all, and was open and honorable in both his conduct and his actions, nothing like the vile hypocrite Bibi Dong imagined him to be.
It could be said that the only figure in all of Spirit Hall without many stains on his name was this Great Enshrined of the Worship Hall.
"Hmph!"
Bibi Dong showed no intention of offering her opinion. She silently walked in front of Luo Chen, leaving him room for the Ascension Ritual.
At the same time, Bibi Dong secretly resolved, It's fine if Xiao Chen suffers no harm, but if he consumes what little lifespan he has left to perform Ascension for me, Qian Daoliu, I will definitely make you regret it!
(End of chapter)