In the Pope's Palace
Lin Chen sat cross-legged and sprawled on the Pope's throne, holding the utterly naked, peerlessly beautiful Pope in his arms. He had forcefully claimed both the throne and the heart that had once belonged to her.
Bibi Dong's beautiful hair was disheveled, and her voluptuous, graceful figure was drenched in fragrant sweat, as though she had just emerged from a bath. Her exquisite face was deeply flushed, its noble, aloof beauty softened by a touch of languid allure.
Lin Chen stroked her hair with one hand and caressed her slender waist with the other, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Madam, do you know who rules the heavens now?"
"Lin Chen, you bastard!" Bibi Dong cried, sinking her teeth into his shoulder.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss... Dong'er, easy~"
This time, Lin Chen really was in pain. He could even feel her little canine teeth piercing his flesh.
Several dozen breaths later...
Only when Bibi Dong saw that he had stopped crying out did she slowly release him. A wave of grievance welled up in her heart. Though she was the Pope, she was also a woman.
Lin Chen had just been congratulating himself on escaping a calamity, but a greater trouble followed: the aloof Pope in his arms actually gave a few sobs.
Although Bibi Dong was doing her utmost to hold them back, he could still feel them.
Lin Chen panicked. At a loss, he said, "Dong'er, I'm sorry. I just missed you too much, so... If you're angry, bite me a few more times~"
Bibi Dong's eyes were red, and her cool voice was a little hoarse. "None of you men are any good!"
Lin Chen said gently, "Dong'er, as long as you're not angry, it doesn't matter whether I'm any good or not~"
"Bastard..." Bibi Dong could no longer hold herself together. Two streams of clear tears slowly ran down her cheeks. "Why did you have to get involved with Nana? Wasn't having me enough~"
"I'm sorry..."
Bibi Dong cupped his cheeks, and there was a hint of pleading in her cool voice. "If I asked you to give up Nana, would you?"
"I might be... a little greedy~"
"Lin Chen, you're a bastard! I'll kill you~"
"Mmph!"
As the two struggled, Lin Chen leaned down and captured her soft lips again.
Another incense stick's time passed, and after his careful training, Bibi Dong finally agreed to his greedy request.
"What time is it?" Bibi Dong asked languidly, lying in his arms.
"Three quarters past the hour of the dragon. It's almost the hour of the snake~"
Bibi Dong immediately sat up, her expression changing slightly. "What? It's the hour of the snake? Then the tournament..."
Lin Chen said nonchalantly, "What are you afraid of? You're the Pope of Spirit Hall. So what if it's delayed a few hours? Who would dare object?"
Bibi Dong pinched his waist hard. "This is all your fault. I've never been late before. If they start wondering..."
"It's perfectly normal for husband and wife to be affectionate. So what if they find out?" Lin Chen said with a cheeky grin.
The hour of the snake, outside the Pope's Palace
Outer Sect Elder Yang glanced helplessly at Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. It had been an hour already. Could the two elders give him some direction?
Ghost Douluo's eyes shifted, and he promptly had an idea. "Chrysanthemum, how about having Her Highness the Saintess go in and ask?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. "That works. Her Highness the Saintess is the only suitable person for this~"
A cup of tea's time later, at the doors of the Pope's Palace
Hu Liena had just made an inquiry outside. Before long, the doors slowly opened, and Bibi Dong walked out in a close-fitting purple dress, holding her scepter in her left hand and a young man's arm with her right.
Bibi Dong was already tall, and in her high-heeled sandals she stood nearly 1.8 meters. Lin Chen, beside her, was only a little taller.
Today he wore a fitted cyan outfit, his figure straight and tall, his black hair tied high and his swordlike brows striking. His handsome face and bearing made him an exceptionally good match for Bibi Dong at his side.
Bibi Dong had personally chosen Lin Chen's outfit today. After what had happened, this handsome young man had utterly conquered her heart and body...
The Soul Masters present were stunned and envious. The men envied and resented Lin Chen, while most of the female Soul Masters had their eyes on him.
Huo Wu's pupils contracted and her lips parted slightly. Lin Chen's bearing left her a little dazed, and she thought to herself, What a handsome young man.
Not far away, the Tianshui Girl Group was also slightly taken aback, especially Shui Bing'er and Shui Yue'er, their blue eyes fixed on Lin Chen.
Yu Hairou teased, "What a handsome young man! He's even stolen the hearts of our Bing'er and Yue'er~"
Shui Yue'er's face reddened. She stamped her foot and said, "Sister Hairou, he has not!"
When the disciples and elders of Spirit Hall saw the two emerge, they hurriedly saluted:
"We pay our respects to His Holiness the Pope!"
"We pay our respects to His Holiness the Pope!"
At this, the various academies and factions around them also paid their respects. Only those from Shrek and the two great empires did not kneel.
Lin Chen glanced at them and sneered. "As expected of the son of destiny. What backbone!"
Bibi Dong scratched his palm, signaling him not to be angry. Then her cool voice rang out. "You may all rise."
"My husband and I had important matters to discuss just now, which delayed us for a while. Please forgive us."
"The tournament will follow a one-on-one elimination format. The last team standing will be the champion!"
"As you have presumably already heard, the ultimate prize for the champions is three Soul Bones supplied by Spirit Hall!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the crowd was filled with excitement. Those were three Soul Bones! Although most factions knew they had no chance of obtaining them, they were still thrilled to have the news confirmed!
Shrek Academy
When Yu Xiaogang heard Bibi Dong openly call Lin Chen her husband in front of everyone, bitterness appeared on his face. He even felt a trace of regret. If he hadn't left Spirit Hall back then, would he be the one standing beside her now?
Feeling Yu Xiaogang's gaze, Lin Chen smiled mockingly. His possessiveness surged, and he wrapped his broad hand directly around Bibi Dong's slender waist.
Bibi Dong's body stiffened slightly. It was her first time being so intimate with Lin Chen in front of so many Soul Masters. But she soon guessed his intention, and instead of resisting, she leaned closer to him.
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists, jealousy and hatred welling up in his heart.
Seeing his expression, Liu Erlong, who stood beside him, also gritted her teeth in anger. Fury filled her heart. Yu Xiaogang, I gave you my youth and everything the academy had. You still can't forget that woman, can you?
She already has a husband!
Flender noticed that something was wrong with her and was just about to step forward and comfort her. "Uh... Erlong..."
"Hmph!" Liu Erlong snorted coldly, ignored him, and went to sit in an empty corner nearby.
Flender watched her leave, then looked at Yu Xiaogang's expression and sighed...
On the main platform
Bibi Dong's cool voice carried across the entire plaza and arena. "I now declare the tournament officially open!"