"Young Master Gu, do you think the business I run is inferior to that of the other factions?"
Bibi Dong's tone was displeased.
The business she ran was doing far better than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan's. At the very least, the Gu Clan had been extremely satisfied with her throughout their cooperation.
"It isn't inferior to the other factions'.
"Naturally, the other factions can't compare with His Holiness the Pope when it comes to business, but they receive fewer goods as well. The crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe, has always wanted more, though.
"His Highness Xue Qinghe is no worse than His Holiness the Pope. If one day His Holiness the Pope's sales don't go well, I can only set some aside, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Gu Wuchen smiled.
At the mention of Xue Qinghe, Bibi Dong's gaze turned cold. As the Pope, how could she possibly be inferior to Qian Renxue?
She could see that Gu Wuchen was deliberately setting the two sides against each other, but she was mostly angry.
He could say she was inferior to Gu Wuchen, but she would not stand for being looked down upon.
"Young Master Gu, you really do have a way with words, using Xue Qinghe to pressure me."
Bibi Dong snorted coldly and tapped her fingertips on the table.
She knew perfectly well that Gu Wuchen was deliberately using Xue Qinghe to provoke her, but she simply could not stand it.
She was the Pope of Spirit Hall. How could she be inferior to a disguised crown prince?
Gu Wuchen smiled faintly. "I'm only telling the truth. Now that we've finished discussing business, I won't disturb His Holiness the Pope's official duties any longer."
Sure enough, mother and daughter were like fire and water. A single casual remark was enough to ignite a war between them.
With that, Gu Wuchen turned and headed straight for the doors of the Pope's Palace without the slightest hesitation.
Watching Gu Wuchen's unhurried retreating figure despite his young age, Bibi Dong's face darkened with anger. She clenched the brush in her hand, snapping its shaft in an instant.
A mere seven-year-old brat actually dared to provoke her again and again, even comparing her to Qian Renxue. She was furious!
But after her anger subsided, she looked at the closed palace doors, and a trace of complicated admiration flickered in her eyes.
He had talent, a powerful background, courage, and a mind and business sense far beyond those of his peers. No wonder Qian Daoliu doted on such a child like a treasure. Even she could not help wanting to cherish his talent.
Unfortunately, the child's heart was not with her at all. Neither oil nor salt could penetrate him; neither softness nor force would work.
Outside the Pope's Palace, Gu Wuchen had just pushed open the doors and stepped out when he saw Ye Yuan'er waiting at the foot of the steps.
When she saw him emerge, Ye Yuan'er hurried over, concern on her face. "Young Master, are you all right? His Holiness the Pope didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"
"What could possibly happen?" Gu Wuchen shook his head with a smile. "I just talked to her about cooperating on the new fragrance and provoked her a little while I was at it."
Ye Yuan'er breathed a sigh of relief and could not help laughing. "Only you would dare speak to His Holiness the Pope like that in the Pope's Palace, Young Master."
"Why wouldn't I dare? It was just business; we each get what we need." Gu Wuchen waved a hand and headed toward the Elder Hall. "Did Grandpa Qian go back first?"
"Yes. The Great Enshrined said he would return to the Elder Hall and wait for you, and told me to stay here and watch over you." Ye Yuan'er hurried after him, smiling. "Oh, right, Young Master, the Elder Hall has already sent over my Elder Token. From now on, I'm an elder of Spirit Hall."
"Then congratulations, Sister Yuan'er." Gu Wuchen looked up at her, a smile in his eyes. "From now on, I'll have to call you Elder Ye."
Ye Yuan'er's cheeks flushed slightly, and she gave him a reproachful look:
"Please don't tease me, Young Master. Everything I have today is thanks to you. Whether I'm a Platinum Bishop or an elder, I'll always be someone who assists you."
Young Master is such a little rascal. He loves teasing me so much.
After they returned to the Elder Hall,
Qian Daoliu asked with concern, "The Pope didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"
"No. Dealing with the Pope was more than easy enough," Gu Wuchen said confidently.
That reminded Qian Daoliu that Gu Wuchen handled all the Gu Clan's business himself, while Gu Linchuan and Shen Suwei assisted him.
As someone who regularly dealt in business, he naturally could not come off worse in a clash with Bibi Dong. Bibi Dong might even be the one to suffer a loss.
Things were indeed just as Qian Daoliu thought. After Gu Wuchen left, Bibi Dong had not thought much of it at first, but the more she thought about it in the Pope's Palace, the angrier she became, until she was in no mood to attend to her duties.
Qian Daoliu took an exquisite wooden box containing a Soul Bone from the Second Worship.
"Wuchen, this is a small token from Grandpa Qian."
As he spoke, he opened the exquisite wooden box containing the Soul Bone.
The moment the box opened, a chill swept over them, but to Gu Wuchen, it felt like bathing in a spring breeze.
"An ice-attribute Soul Bone!"
An ice-blue left arm bone came into view, its surface covered in fine ice patterns.
An extremely icy presence washed over him, yet it was not the least bit biting. Instead, it flowed slowly along Gu Wuchen's meridians, instantly resonating with the Dustless Sword Intent and the Snow Empress's origin ice power within him.
"An eighty-thousand-year ice-attribute left arm bone!"
Gu Wuchen's eyes lit up instantly, his face full of undisguised delight.
He could clearly sense that this Soul Bone was extremely compatible with him.
"Thank you, Grandpa Qian! This gift is far too precious!"
Gu Wuchen spoke excitedly.
Seeing his delighted expression, Qian Daoliu burst out laughing and reached out to tousle Gu Wuchen's hair, his voice full of affection:
"There's no need to stand on ceremony with Grandpa Qian, or to thank me. Your talent is outstanding, and your heart is set on the path. You deserve this."
He pointed to the Soul Bone in the wooden box and explained slowly:
"This is a left arm bone dropped by an Extreme Ice Abyss Sacred Mark Saber-Toothed Dragon. That Soul Beast was born with sacred, icy power.
"Nowhere in Spirit Hall has there ever been a Soul Master with the ultimate ice attribute. This Soul Bone has finally found its destined owner."
Qian Daoliu closed the wooden box and tucked it, Soul Bone and all, into Guchen's arms.
Beside them, Ye Yuan'er stared at the eighty-thousand-year Soul Bone, her face full of shock.
An eighty-thousand-year Soul Bone was one in ten thousand to begin with, let alone one whose attribute was a perfect match. There were only a handful of such Soul Bones to be found on the entire Douluo Continent.
Seeing how happy Gu Wuchen was, Ye Yuan'er was happy for him from the bottom of her heart.
Qian Daoliu waved a hand with a smile. "Wuchen, go back with Elder Ye and try to absorb it as soon as possible."
After absorbing the eighty-thousand-year ice-attribute left arm bone, Gu Wuchen would presumably be able to break through to the Soul Elder realm before long.
Then he could compete for the position of captain of the Spirit Hall Academy Team.
At present, the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall Academy had only reached the Soul Elder realm themselves.
"Then, Grandpa Qian, I won't disturb you and Grandpa Golden Crocodile any longer."
Hugging the wooden box, which was taller than he was, Gu Wuchen turned and left the Elder Hall.
Ye Yuan'er followed close behind, leaving with him.
After the two left, Golden Crocodile Douluo said, "Great Enshrined, it seems Wuchen likes it very much."