The next morning, at dawn.
Lin Chen slowly woke and looked at the gentle, beautiful blue-haired woman in his arms, the corners of his lips lifting slightly. It had been too late the previous night, so he had accepted an invitation to stay over. Shui Ningrou had originally wanted Bing'er and Hairou to share his bed, but he had firmly refused.
He had said they were too young and that he could not hurt them, leaving the women of Skywater deeply moved. And so, in the middle of the night, he had slipped into Shui Ningrou's room and played the academy dean's husband once more.
"Mm~"
Before long, Shui Ningrou slowly woke as well.
Her blue eyes were misty, and a beauty mark graced the corner of one eye. Her exquisite face held a mature charm that made Lin Chen's appetite stir.
"Lord Emperor, please don't~"
Smack!
Lin Chen's face darkened, and he gave her pert backside a hard slap. "Rou'er, what should you call me?!"
"Mm~" Shui Ningrou let out a soft moan, her pretty face flushed as she begged for mercy. "Husband, I truly can't take any more. Please spare me this time. N-next time, I'll serve you properly~"
The corners of Lin Chen's lips lifted slightly. "This time is just fine. Why wait until next time~"
And so he gave her another order.
Shui Ningrou's face turned crimson the moment she heard it. Within moments, the blush spread down to her snow-white neck. In a voice as faint as a mosquito's, she said, "Husband, I've never done that before. What if..."
"It's fine if you haven't. Just follow your husband's orders."
"Mm~"
Lin Chen was now the heavens above her and Skywater Academy. Her fate and the fates of all the women of Skywater were in his hands. She did not dare... nor did she want to resist.
Women admired the strong. It was only natural!
Shui Ningrou slowly leaned toward his neck, then, following Lin Chen's order, gradually lowered herself...
An hour later, Lin Chen left with Ling Yuan, refreshed and invigorated. On this trip, he had brought Skywater Academy completely under his control, which had strengthened his power and foundations.
When he returned to the Pope's bedchamber, Xiao Wu and Hu Liena immediately threw themselves at him, demanding to know why he had not come back the night before. Liu Erlong and Ling Yuan attended him on either side, one rubbing his shoulders and the other massaging him.
And so Lin Chen reveled in the blessings of a man with many beauties, like an emperor.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye. During that time, Bibi Dong had not emerged from seclusion. Clearly, she had reached a critical point.
At noon, Lin Chen was enjoying being fed and served tea from Liu Erlong's and Xiao Wu's own mouths when the sharp clatter of high heels rang out beyond the hall.
Click, click...
The beautiful Ling Yuan strode in wearing black over-the-knee boots, her expression slightly grave. "Lord Emperor, the Worship Hall would like to invite you over~"
Lin Chen's body jolted, and he instantly perked up. "What do they want me there for?"
Ling Yuan Douluo shook her head. "I don't know. Should we report this to His Holiness the Pope?"
"She should still be in seclusion at the Pope's Palace. Let's not disturb her for now," Lin Chen instructed. "Go notify Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. You'll accompany me inside later, and they can stand by outside."
"All right!"
After Ling Yuan left, Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly as all the clues in his mind rapidly fell into place. He did not believe Qian Daoliu would make a move against him now, because it would very likely spark internal conflict within Spirit Hall and be immensely detrimental to its development.
Qian Daoliu probably... had something else in mind!
A trace of worry appeared on Hu Liena's charming face. "Brother Chen, could it be dangerous?"
"Don't worry. They don't dare touch me now!" Lin Chen said confidently.
Half an hour later, at the Worship Hall.
Lin Chen brought Ling Yuan to the grand Worship Hall within the forbidden grounds and entered under the guidance of two guards in golden armor.
Ordinary disciples and deacons were not permitted to enter the Worship Hall in the forbidden grounds. Even members of the council of elders needed verbal permission from the Worship Hall to enter.
Rumble... boom!
The great doors slowly opened, and a shaft of light shone into the dark hall. At the far end, the silhouette of an exceptionally tall woman was faintly visible.
Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly, his thoughts racing.
"You're here?"
The woman slowly turned and walked toward him with a catlike gait. Her golden hair flowed, her long, striking legs were exceptionally sexy, and she carried herself with an aloof, icy air.
A flash of admiration crossed Lin Chen's eyes. "It's you?"
Qian Renxue's voice was pleasant but cool. "Why did you bring a bodyguard, Lord Emperor? What are you afraid of? Could it be that our Worship Hall can't keep you safe?"
"Hehe..." Lin Chen chuckled and motioned for Ling Yuan to withdraw. "Had I known Your Highness Xue was the one inviting me, why would I have brought anyone?"
Before long, Ling Yuan withdrew.
Qian Renxue asked with interest, "Oh? Why is that?"
Lin Chen teased, "Your Highness Xue is my wife's daughter, after all. Surely you wouldn't make a move against this father you gained for free?"
At the mention of Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue's pretty face instantly turned icy, and her golden eyes fixed on him. "Lin Chen, you have a lot of nerve!"
"Other parts of me are big too. Would you like to try them, Xue'er?"
The corners of Qian Renxue's lips lifted slightly. "Sure~" she said lightly.
The moment the words left her mouth, she lunged at Lin Chen.
Bang! Boom, boom, boom...
A powerful shockwave surged in every direction. Lin Chen was driven back several yards by the tremendous force, while Qian Renxue's body swayed slightly.
How was this possible?!
Qian Renxue's pupils contracted. She was a peak Soul Saint; even an ordinary Soul Saint could not withstand fifty percent of her Soul Power. Yet he was only a peak Soul King at rank fifty-nine, and he had taken the blow so easily.
No, though his cultivation is only rank fifty-nine, his Soul Power is already close to that of a peak Soul Emperor. Even a rank sixty-five Soul Emperor doesn't have Soul Power as strong as his.
Terrifying to such an extent! No wonder he earned Grandfather's praise.
"Whew..." Lin Chen let out a breath and said with a smile, "Your Highness Xue's strength is extraordinary. I'm impressed. I wonder, are you satisfied with my performance?"
"Not bad~" Qian Renxue said coolly. "You have the qualifications to act arrogantly before me. Name your terms!"
"Hm?" Lin Chen narrowed his eyes slightly. "What do you mean, Your Highness Xue?"
Qian Renxue's cool voice echoed through the hall. "You should be aware of the relationship between her and me. As long as you come to our Worship Hall and work for me, I'll give you half of Spirit Hall and the entire Douluo Continent in the future!"
Lin Chen chuckled. "That sounds quite good, but I'm already the honored Lord Emperor of Spirit Hall, and my wife is its current Pope. Why should I follow you to the Worship Hall?"
Qian Renxue said meaningfully, "Do you think she can hold the Pope's seat for long?"
Lin Chen frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
"You should know perfectly well what I mean~" Qian Renxue continued laying out her terms. "Once it's done, I'll be the Pope and you'll be the Great Enshrined, or you can be the Pope and I'll be the Great Enshrined."
"Hehe..." Lin Chen chuckled but said nothing.
"That's only one of my terms~" Seeing no reaction from him, Qian Renxue said coolly, "Most of Spirit Hall's opportunities are in her hands, but the finest spiritual treasures are held by our Worship Hall."
"If you agree to come, I can give you an eighty-thousand-year Soul Bone right now. Besides that, money, power, women-whatever you want, our Worship Hall can provide!"
Lin Chen said calmly, "I have little interest in power, and I don't lack money. As for beauties, hehe... who do you think can compare to my wife?"