"So, why, Brother Hao..."
Ah Yin was not foolish. She could think through the tangled interests involved.
She wanted to believe Tang Hao, but as Luo Chen's Aspect, Ah Yin was no longer entirely swayed by her original subjective feelings.
And viewed objectively, Tang Hao really was deeply suspicious!
"You were a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and he just happened to break through to rank 90 at that moment."
"Then Spirit Hall discovered you two."
The whole affair was far too much of a coincidence.
At any rate, Na'er did not believe there was nothing fishy about it.
Having shared in quite a bit of Luo Chen's knowledge, Na'er knew far more than Ah Yin.
For instance, Luo Chen's soul came from another world. Like Tang San, he was a transmigrator.
Moreover, Luo Chen had also given Na'er much of his knowledge of the Douluo World.
That included various forum posts and other users' analyses.
Thus, after making some cuts and removing information about the other world, Na'er told Ah Yin the theory Luo Chen had read in a certain post-that Tang Hao had schemed to obtain the Blue Silver Emperor's Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
"This!"
After hearing it, Ah Yin nearly shut herself off from the world on the spot.
Ah Yin desperately wanted to say it was impossible.
But...
It was too coincidental. Far too coincidental.
"Sister Ah Yin."
Just before Ah Yin sank into a whirlpool of suspicion and self-doubt, Luo Chen noticed her distress in time. "Don't worry. With me here, I'll definitely help you find the truth."
"Whether it's Tang San's transmigration or Tang Hao..."
"If he really is that kind of person."
Luo Chen said, "I'll definitely help you get revenge!"
"Thank you, Xiao Chen."
Touched by Luo Chen's concern, Ah Yin said, "But let's just leave it at that..."
Ah Yin gave a bitter smile.
She would rather believe Tang Hao had truly loved her than learn such a cruel truth.
Whether it was true or not, Ah Yin was now Luo Chen's Aspect.
The Celestial Star Crown's reconstruction and rebirth did not come without a price.
Ah Yin had been given a new mission: to protect Luo Chen and serve at his side.
Ah Yin felt no resistance to this.
Unable to regard Tang San as her child anymore, she had placed that affection in Luo Chen instead.
In Ah Yin's eyes, Luo Chen was the compensation heaven had given her after she lost her child.
Thus, she simply could not abandon Luo Chen to seek out Tang Hao.
Now that even her love for Tang Hao had begun to waver, Ah Yin wanted to see that father and son even less.
"All right."
Luo Chen stopped trying to persuade her. He realized that he seemed quite popular with older women, possessing a particular appeal to mature women like Bibi Dong and Ah Yin.
Well, being treated like a son felt rather peculiar.
"Xiao Chen."
In the real world, Bibi Dong asked, "What Soul Skill did you gain after absorbing the Blue Silver Emperor?"
"Oh, I nearly forgot about that."
Luo Chen summoned his crown with a smile. First pointing to the damage on the Star Crown, he said, "Teacher, you mentioned my Star Crown breaking earlier. That's actually a good thing."
"What?"
Bibi Dong could not understand. How could a shattered Martial Soul be a good thing?
"It's like this."
Luo Chen explained, "My Martial Soul is extremely powerful. The Star Crown is more like a seal, a means of self-protection to keep me from being unable to withstand my Martial Soul's power."
Bibi Dong had never heard of such a thing.
But Luo Chen was special to begin with. His powerful Martial Soul abilities were beyond her imagination.
"That's good, then."
Bibi Dong chose to believe Luo Chen, then heard him say, "As for my second Soul Skill, take a look, Teacher."
Two White Soul Rings appeared around Luo Chen. He held his right hand out flat, and a plant somewhat similar in outline to the original Blue Silver Emperor, yet entirely different in appearance, emerged in his palm.
With a crystal-clear stem and tender, dewy leaf buds, it shone with a deep blue light. A river of stars swirled within it, as though it held a miniature night sky.
"This is..."
"This is my second Soul Skill. I call it Star Grass."
Luo Chen said, "Star Grass has three effects. First, extremely powerful healing. Second, it can increase a Soul Master's cultivation speed. Third, like a food-type Soul Master, I can create edible Star Grass that grants an all-attribute boost."
"???"
Bibi Dong stared at Luo Chen in astonishment, rather bewildered. "This... this is one Soul Skill?"
Healing, cultivation assistance, and an edible boost.
Was he sure this was one Soul Skill rather than three?
"Ahem. Strictly speaking, it should count as two Soul Skills."
Luo Chen told Bibi Dong that Star Grass's healing and cultivation assistance were actually a domain skill.
Within this domain, Luo Chen would scatter Soul Power seeds, growing stalks of Star Grass around himself.
Bathed in the light of Star Grass, any Soul Master could enjoy its healing and cultivation assistance as long as Luo Chen gave permission.
"The effects are much weaker than what I get, but they're still quite good."
To determine the specifics, Luo Chen intended to have Bibi Dong try it. He immediately deployed the Brilliant Starlight Domain, enveloping her within it.
"Let me try."
Bibi Dong promptly sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating her Soul Power.
Her current Soul Power cultivation was rank 97.
Although self-fusion of her Martial Souls could let her reach rank 99, that was not her normal state, after all.
To break through to ranks 98 and 99 through her own abilities, even Bibi Dong, who had been strengthened by Luo Chen, would probably need four or five years.
Of course, if Bibi Dong chose to add Soul Rings to her Second Martial Soul, she could reach the maximum rank immediately.
"What a powerful boost."
Bibi Dong emerged from cultivation, her eyes full of delighted surprise. "Xiao Chen, my cultivation speed has increased by at least twenty percent."
"Twenty percent?"
Luo Chen compared it with his own situation. His cultivation efficiency within the Starlight Domain had increased by a full hundred percent.
That meant that where a year of cultivation could originally raise him three to four ranks, that would now be doubled.
"Your cultivation speed doubled, Xiao Chen?"
The effects of Luo Chen's second Soul Skill startled Bibi Dong, prompting her to marvel once more at the power of a God-Level Martial Soul. "It looks like you'll soon set a new record for the youngest Titled Douluo, Xiao Chen."
"Just what I'd expect from my disciple."
Bibi Dong was happy with Luo Chen's excellence.
However, Bibi Dong did not know that Luo Chen's second Soul Skill could also grow.
Luo Chen was still unsure of its precise effects.
He could only wait until he added his third Soul Ring and observe again.
"You must be tired, Xiao Chen?"
Bibi Dong picked Luo Chen up with a smile. "Come on. I'll take you for a bath. Get some rest early tonight."
"Huh?"
In the blink of an eye, Bibi Dong had brought a bewildered Luo Chen to the most luxurious bathing pool beneath the Papal Palace.
"Teacher, um..."
Unfortunately, before Luo Chen could say anything, Bibi Dong had already removed her papal crown.
"Xiao Chen?"
Seeing no response from Luo Chen, Bibi Dong smiled. "Do you want your teacher to help you undress?"
"Huh?"
Luo Chen was rather dazed, but seeing Bibi Dong's expectant gaze, he shook his head repeatedly. "I-I can undress myself. There's no need to trouble you, Teacher."
"All right."
Bibi Dong was a little disappointed, but still turned to remove her various accessories.
The moon shone brightly amid sparse stars. A gentle breeze stirred the pale purple gauze curtains hanging before the balcony, outlining a graceful figure in the light of the illuminating Soul Tools.
Bibi Dong slipped off her papal robes, revealing smooth, delicate, snow-white skin.
Her dainty feet touched down lightly, her fair, long legs parting the curling mist as she slowly sank into the steaming bath. The exquisite Supreme Pontiff gave a soft sigh of comfort, then leisurely pinned up her long burgundy hair.
"Xiao Chen, why are you still standing there?"
Bibi Dong glanced back at her disciple, who was still standing there, holding a snow-white bath towel over himself with both hands.
"Come here. I'll wash you first."
"Uh..."
Luo Chen tilted his head upward, his face slightly flushed, his eyes unsure where to look.
The exquisite Supreme Pontiff had submerged half her body, leaving only her shoulders, pinkened by the hot water, and a portion of snow-white skin exposed. Yet she did not mind exposing herself before her beloved disciple at all.
Indeed, Bibi Dong had no guard whatsoever against a child of only six.
"Um, Teacher."
Luo Chen said awkwardly, "Why don't you wash first? I'll come back later."
"Pfft."
Seeing Luo Chen's bashfulness, Bibi Dong simply found him far too adorable. "You silly child, Xiao Chen. Why be shy in front of your teacher?"
"Come on, come over here."
"..."
Helpless, Luo Chen could not win against Bibi Dong and could only choose a slightly more distant spot and obediently sit down.
Splash!
"Honestly, why are you sitting so far away?"
Bibi Dong could not stand watching anymore. She pulled Luo Chen straight over, then bent her legs slightly and settled her disciple in her arms.
Then, as though punishing his disobedience, she pinched Luo Chen's cheeks and gently tugged them outward.
"Teacher, hiss..."
Luo Chen now lay entirely in Bibi Dong's arms.
In an instant, even his breathing quickened somewhat.
"Splash... splash..."
Bibi Dong clearly noticed Luo Chen's reaction, but paid it no mind.
To her, Luo Chen was an orphan who had never experienced maternal love growing up. Simply holding him like this had left him so ill at ease.
"Such a good boy, Xiao Chen."
Seeing that Luo Chen no longer struggled, Bibi Dong contentedly used her Soul Power to draw over the cleansing fragrance placed some distance away.
Luo Chen's hair was not short, and it was very fluffy, feeling quite pleasant to the touch.
As Bibi Dong washed Luo Chen's hair, she enjoyed the wonderful experience of having her disciple sit in her arms and let her tend to him attentively.
"Teacher, um, isn't my hair about done?"
"Mm."
Bibi Dong gathered her Soul Power and controlled the water to rinse the foam from Luo Chen's head.
The next moment, the cleaning Soul Tool beneath the water began operating, filtering out the foam and restoring the pool's cleanliness.
"Phew..."
Seeing Bibi Dong finally stop, Luo Chen was about to breathe a sigh of relief when the exquisite Supreme Pontiff spoke. "All right, stand up now, Xiao Chen. I'll wash your body."
"!!!!"
A quarter of an hour later, having finally satisfied her overflowing maternal affection with Luo Chen, Bibi Dong took his clothes and her own from her Soul Tool.
The moon-white sleeping robe had been specially rushed out for Luo Chen by Spirit Hall and was extremely comfortable. His injuries had only just been healed today, and he had also performed the Ascension Ritual for Bibi Dong. Mentally exhausted, he fell asleep the moment he touched the bed.
"Xiao Chen? Xiao Chen?"
Bibi Dong came to Luo Chen's side. Her long burgundy hair was now loose, and she wore only a pale purple gauze nightdress.
"Asleep?"
The exquisite Supreme Pontiff elegantly reclined beside Luo Chen, propping her chin on her hand, her beautiful eyes moving as she admired her disciple's adorable sleeping face.
"So cute."
Bibi Dong unconsciously placed her hand on Luo Chen's chest and gently patted him.
Xiao Chen is wonderful.
Not only clever and considerate, but especially good at caring for others, too.
Recalling how well Luo Chen treated her, Bibi Dong could not help thinking enviously, I wonder who will be lucky enough to win my Xiao Chen's favor.
"Hm?"
For some inexplicable reason, a sense of familiarity, of déjà vu, arose in Bibi Dong's heart.
"Come to think of it, Xiao Chen won't be seduced away by some fox spirit outside, will he?"
"If the person Xiao Chen likes doesn't belong to Spirit Hall, then he..."
Bibi Dong startled herself with her own thoughts. "No, he won't. Xiao Chen is such a good boy. He definitely won't leave me."
At the thought that Luo Chen might leave her, lured away by some woman outside, Bibi Dong felt utterly unsettled.
At that very moment, Bibi Dong actually found herself understanding Qian Xunji a little.
"Damn it!"
Bibi Dong hurriedly banished the thought. "No, I absolutely cannot let something like that happen again."
She admitted that she had indeed been far too naive in the past, letting that scumbag Yu Xiaogang toy with her feelings.
But Qian Xunji had been at fault too.
"Then how can I prevent it?"
Bibi Dong was not Qian Xunji. She would never hurt Luo Chen.
Yet, by the same token, Bibi Dong was even more unwilling to let Luo Chen leave her.
"That's it!"
Suddenly, the stunningly beautiful Supreme Pontiff thought of a solution. "Wouldn't everything be fine if I could get Xiao Chen to fall for someone from Spirit Hall early on?"
At that moment, Hu Liena's figure surfaced in Bibi Dong's mind.
"Uh..."
Hu Liena was certainly an excellent candidate, yet for some reason, whenever Bibi Dong imagined Luo Chen falling in love with Hu Liena, waves of sour heartache filled her chest.
And besides Hu Liena, there was also Qian Renxue.
"Tch!"
For some inexplicable reason, Bibi Dong felt even worse.
Though she did not want to say it, Bibi Dong had to admit that Qian Renxue was indeed the best choice for Luo Chen.
It was not that Qian Renxue was so outstanding.
Bibi Dong: Compared with Xiao Chen, that child is nothing!
What truly satisfied Bibi Dong was the relationship he would have with her after Qian Renxue married Luo Chen.
"Xiao Chen's parents died when he was young. Once he marries that child, I will be his only mother in this world."
At that moment, Bibi Dong's thoughts coincided with Qian Daoliu's without either having consulted the other.
The only problem was that Bibi Dong really disliked Qian Renxue and truly did not want to hand her such a windfall for nothing.
Little Angel: Which one of us is actually your biological child?
Bibi Dong: Hmph, a mere daughter isn't worth even one ten-thousandth of Xiao Chen!
If she could make the exchange, Bibi Dong would absolutely toss Qian Renxue out.
Hesitating for even a second would be disrespectful to Luo Chen.
(End of chapter)