The next morning
Lin Chen slowly woke up and immediately felt an ache in his back and waist. He really had slept standing up all night!
By now, it was broad daylight. Bibi Dong had long since left the bedchamber, and her mature, fresh fragrance still lingered in the room.
Crack... crack...
Lin Chen stretched slowly, and a series of pops and cracks rang out from his body.
"Hiss... that felt good~"
"Damn you, Bibi Dong, you really made me sleep standing up all night!"
On their wedding night, let alone sleeping with her, he hadn't even touched her!
Forget it. Who told him to be weaker than her?
I'm a magnanimous man, and a good man doesn't fight with a woman. I'll give way to her for now. Once I'm stronger than her, I'll make that temptress taste the might of my golden cudgel, hehehe...
"Cultivation!"
A strange light flashed in Lin Chen's eyes. Yesterday's wedding had made him fully realize the importance of strength. If he were still as useless as before, forget entering the bridal chamber-he probably wouldn't even have gotten through the door!
A gifted young man might not be able to win her heart, but a gifted young man who had already been intimate with her might have a chance!
She was the Pope, but she was also a woman...
Heaven Dou Empire, imperial palace
Bang!
A youth in white-and-gold brocade robes heard the news of Bibi Dong and Lin Chen's wedding and immediately slammed a hand on the table and sprang to his feet. His icy voice was surprisingly pleasant to hear:
"She really married that Lin Chen?!"
"Doesn't she know she's more than old enough to be his mother?!"
"Shameless! Bastard!!"
Beside her, two golden-armored guards, who were cardinals in disguise, exchanged glances. Though they were longtime members of the Saintess Hall and Worship Hall, they didn't dare comment on the current Pope.
As for the youth cursing Bibi Dong, she was naturally Qian Renxue disguised as Xue Qinghe, the current crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire.
"Uh... Your Highness, perhaps there's more to this. Under normal circumstances, even a Titled Douluo wouldn't catch His Holiness the Pope's eye, so how could she take a fancy to an ordinary disciple of Spirit Hall?"
Qian Renxue snorted coldly. "That Lin Chen is no ordinary disciple. He reached the Soul King level at just eighteen, absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring as his fourth Soul Ring, and defeated Yan, one of this generation's Golden Generation, in a single move."
"What?! A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?!" The two cardinals' expressions changed drastically. Though they had heard over the past two days that His Holiness the Pope was getting married, their current assignment had kept them from learning the details.
"No wonder His Holiness the Pope would..."
"No!" Qian Renxue analyzed expressionlessly. "If that were the only reason, she wouldn't marry him outright, because she has a hundred ways to control that young man!"
"There must be some other benefit she couldn't refuse that made her marry him herself, or a crisis she couldn't withstand. Or perhaps both."
The cardinals said in shock, "Your Highness, if your guess is correct, then presumably a powerful force is backing Lin Chen as well."
"Very likely!" Qian Renxue said coldly. "Send word to my grandfather and have him investigate this matter thoroughly. There mustn't be the slightest mistake."
"Yes!"
As the saying went, no one knew a daughter better than her mother, and the reverse was also true.
Qian Renxue gazed out the window, her beautiful eyes deep and unfathomable. A trace of hatred flashed in their depths.
Bibi Dong, I know what you want. Don't worry. I'll take back everything I've lost from you, one piece at a time!
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect
Ning Fengzhi, Bone Douluo, and Sword Douluo sat in the main hall discussing important matters. Sword Douluo recounted everything that had happened at Spirit Hall yesterday, down to the last detail.
Bone Douluo sighed. "As expected of Spirit Hall. Its foundations run deep. He reached the Soul King level at just eighteen and even absorbed a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring. His talent and strength are several times greater than those of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, and the young disciples of the other sects can't compare to him at all."
Ning Fengzhi frowned slightly. "There is one person who can be mentioned in the same breath as Lin Chen."
Sword Douluo said, "Fengzhi, do you mean Tang San?"
"That's right, him!"
Sword Douluo shook his head. "Fengzhi, Tang San's talent is indeed very strong, and he reached the Soul Ancestor level at such a young age. But his talent still falls far short of Lin Chen's. Speaking of Tang San, Fengzhi, I have to give you a few words of warning."
Ning Fengzhi said solemnly, "Please, Uncle Jian."
Sword Douluo said gravely, "You've been getting too close to that side lately. That's not a good sign. Yesterday, Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan openly provoked the Pope of Spirit Hall. I saw killing intent in her eyes!"
"And it wasn't directed at him alone..."
Ning Fengzhi said helplessly, "Our Upper Three Sects have coordinated with one another for many years. Although Tang Hao was expelled from the Clear Sky Sect, he is still one of them in the end. We can't help being close to them."
Sword Douluo said, "But have you considered what we'll do if it really comes to the final step, and Spirit Hall goes to war with the Clear Sky Sect and the two great empires?"
"When it comes to top-level strength, the Clear Sky Sect remains secluded, and the two great empires will have their hands full. Can we and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan alone withstand Spirit Hall's wrath?"
"Fengzhi, you're the sect master. Your every move represents the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's stance. If you take one wrong step, our entire sect could very well be wiped out in the future!"
Ning Fengzhi asked, "Then what do you suggest, Uncle Jian?"
Sword Douluo got straight to the point. "We can maintain good relations with the Upper Three Sects and the two great empires, but we mustn't make an enemy of Spirit Hall either. If Spirit Hall moves against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Clear Sky Sect in the future, we stay out of it!"
Ning Fengzhi's expression tightened. "Uncle Jian, is that really right? We've been on good terms with the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan for many years. If we abandon them when war finally breaks out, we could very well..."
Sword Douluo said expressionlessly, "There are no eternal friends, only eternal interests! Even if we help them, what would we gain?"
"But if we distance ourselves from them, at the very least we won't be caught up in the war. What do you say?"
Bone Douluo said mildly, "Fengzhi, I think this old fellow is right. If they want an alliance, they need to show some sincerity. The Clear Sky Sect stays hidden away, leaving our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan out in the open. Why should we be their cannon fodder?"
"Tang Hao killed the previous Pope, and there's a blood feud between the Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall wants to unify Douluo Continent, and the Clear Sky Sect will never agree. A battle between the two is inevitable!"
"But whether they win or lose, what good does it do our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a long while. "Uncles, I understand what you mean. On my trip to Spirit Hall, I'll meet with His Holiness the Pope."
"That's more like it!" Sword Douluo said mildly. "And as for Rongrong, don't let her get too close to Tang San. Bring her back to the sect after the finals."
"All right!"