Upon returning to Spirit City, the trio didn't waste any time and headed straight for the Douluo Hall.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, however, made a detour to the Pope's Hall to report to Bibi Dong.
"Wait a moment."
A voice called out from the Pope's Hall, and Bibi Dong walked out slowly.
Her figure, draped in a purple-gold papal robe, was even more striking than before.
It wasn't just their imagination—Lin Feng felt that Bibi Dong had changed over the past few years.
Like Qian Renxue, her stunning face now carried a hint of gentleness.
Was it the effect of the Aromatic Silk Beauty, or had she undergone some transformation during these years?
Looking at the now fully grown Lin Feng and Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong spoke softly:
"Consider that bet of ours my early surrender. The authority over the Knight Order can be handed over to you, Xiao Feng."
Qian Renxue frowned. She couldn't shake the feeling that Bibi Dong's gaze toward Lin Feng was... off.
"I've told you many times, you're not allowed to call him Xiao Feng!"
Qian Renxue stepped in front of Lin Feng, blocking Bibi Dong's line of sight.
Bibi Dong chuckled lightly:
"Xiao Xue, what's the point of being so hung up on this? Xiao Feng is the same age as you. Isn't it natural for me to call him that? Or should I only refer to him by his full name from now on?"
Qian Renxue's eyes widened in disbelief:
"You... what did you just call me?"
A glint of something flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes as she replied gently:
"Of course, Xiao Xue. As the heir of the Spirit Hall and my daughter, isn't it only natural for me to address you that way?
As the Pope, I should naturally be closer to you younger generation."
"You..."
Qian Renxue's expression was complex as she stared at the seemingly harmless Bibi Dong, her thoughts racing.
Was the immortal herb Lin Feng had given her really that effective? Had it changed her personality?
This was the first time she had ever heard her name from Bibi Dong's lips...
Qian Renxue bit her lip, then grabbed Ling Yuan and Lin Feng, turning away from Bibi Dong and heading toward the Douluo Hall without another word.
"Even if you've changed, I won't forgive you so easily!"
This time, Bibi Dong didn't stop them.
She watched the trio leave with a smile, her lips curving upward.
As she had expected, Qian Renxue, who hadn't experienced the tedious and unrewarding task of infiltrating Heaven Dou as Xue Qinghe, still held a place for her in her heart—albeit a small one.
Originally, before Qian Renxue took on the mission to infiltrate Heaven Dou, she had been trying hard to win Bibi Dong's affection.
The plan to infiltrate Heaven Dou and spend over a decade away from home, alone and in hiding, was supposed to turn Qian Renxue's love for her into hatred.
But now, without that experience, Qian Renxue still harbored a sliver of hope for their relationship.
Even though she had Lin Feng and Ling Yuan, familial love was still something she yearned for.
"Your Holiness, Yue Guan reporting."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's voice snapped Bibi Dong out of her thoughts. She smiled warmly:
"Elder Yue, there's no need to be so formal. You've had a long journey. Rest for now and return to the Pope's Hall tomorrow. I have a task for you."
Chrysanthemum Douluo was taken aback by Bibi Dong's approachable demeanor but nodded and left for the mountainside.
Bibi Dong's eyes held a mysterious glint as she returned to her room. She gripped her bedsheet tightly, her emotions in turmoil, twisting the fabric into a knot.
"Hah..."
She murmured softly:
"I'm sorry, Xiao Xue. You're too much like me. This desire to control what's yours can only be broken by a powerful external force."
Thinking of Lin Feng, whom she had just seen, a restless heat seemed to rise within her.
Not only had his strength grown rapidly, but his appearance had also become even more handsome and striking.
Back when Lin Feng had awakened with innate soul power level one, she had been impressed by his calm demeanor.
Why hadn't she paid more attention to him then? In a way, she had met Lin Feng before Qian Renxue.
Opportunities slipped through her fingers, and such a promising talent had slipped away from her grasp. It was truly regrettable.
"But it's fine. The plan is progressing smoothly. My relationship with them has improved. The next step is to address Lin Feng's status.
He's already broken through to the Soul Ancestor level. It won't be long before he announces another path. When his fame reaches its peak, I'll need to give him another title...
Being the head of the Knight Order isn't enough."
Bibi Dong's eyes gleamed with an unusual light. She wanted to bind Lin Feng completely to the Pope's Hall.
Even if he couldn't be controlled by the Pope's Hall, titles and positions were things she could give him. This way, she would have more opportunities to interact with him.
"Perhaps I can have Nana become his half-student? After all, I've been grooming Nana as the next Saintess. As a future pillar of the Spirit Hall, how could the great Scholar Lin Feng not offer some guidance?"
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up as another idea struck her. It was perfect.
She lay back on her soft purple bed, taking a deep breath, feeling her mind clear.
She took out the Aromatic Silk Beauty and gently stroked its petals.
"What a miraculous herb. Without it, the pain I endure would have been even worse.
Damn you, Rakshasa God!"
A murderous glint flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes.
"I am your chosen successor, yet you dare torment me like this? When I ascend to godhood, I'll make sure you experience the same pain I've endured all these years!
Xiao Feng, what should I do? It was you who made me see through Yu Xiaogang. Even this immortal herb was given to me by you. Can't you give me more? Help me a little more..."
Unbeknownst to her, Bibi Dong's obsession with Yu Xiaogang had shifted. Lin Feng had become her primary focus.
His image had grown increasingly vivid in her mind, and now, as the Rakshasa God's influence gnawed at her, Lin Feng had become the anchor for her thoughts.
---
Listening to Qian Renxue's explanation, Qian Daoliu sighed deeply.
My dear granddaughter, since when does the main wife ask for dowry on behalf of the concubine?
What? The soul bone is for Ling Yuan, not Lin Feng?
Come on, you said you'd exchange it for another soul bone. Isn't that soul bone essentially Lin Feng's? And giving it to Ling Yuan is the same as giving it to Lin Feng, isn't it?
Ling Yuan isn't even part of our Qian family. The only reason I gave her that soul bone in the first place was because of Lin Feng!
With a helpless shake of his head, Qian Daoliu took out a soul bone from his storage device.
"I don't have many soul bones over 50,000 years, and even fewer that suit a phoenix martial soul. This is a 60,000-year Gale Eagle right leg bone. Its soul skill is Instant Flash."
Lin Feng, feeling somewhat embarrassed under Qian Daoliu's reproachful gaze, said:
"Here's the 70,000-year Prairie Red Wolf left leg bone you gave me last time. Let's use this for the exchange."
Qian Daoliu's breath hitched. So you're just toying with me, huh? I gave you that soul bone to absorb, but you didn't.
Now you're saying it doesn't suit Ling Yuan's attributes, so you're here to ask for another one. Damn it!
You're no different from the middle management of the Spirit Hall, playing with the hardworking lower ranks! How despicable!
He glared at Lin Feng, then reluctantly handed over the 60,000-year Gale Eagle right leg bone, slapping it into Lin Feng's hand with a heavy thud.
Not only did you steal my precious granddaughter, but you also came to deceive and torment an old man like me. How outrageous!