Thinking of that perfect plan, and that stunningly beautiful face that he was about to possess completely, Qian Xunji's smile grew even more shameless, filled with the excitement of impending success.
His gaze slowly moved down and landed on the man standing respectfully with a slight bow below the main hall.
Yu Xiaogang.
"You did a great job."
Qian Xunji's voice was gentle and approving.
Upon hearing the Pope's praise, Yu Xiaogang's face, which had been twisted with jealousy, immediately filled with a fawning smile.
"It is my honor to share Your Majesty's burdens."
He chuckled awkwardly, adopting an extremely humble posture.
After being publicly expelled from the library by Bibi Dong, he became angrier and more resentful.
On what grounds?
Why did that guy named Ning Lin take everything away from me the moment he appeared?
Bibi Dong's trust and affection should have belonged to Yu Xiaogang!
When he hid in the dark alley and saw Ning Lin and Bibi Dong chatting happily at Tianxiang Tower, and even going to Xingdou Great Forest together, the fire of jealousy in his heart completely burned away the last bit of reason.
Without hesitation, he went to the Papal Palace and told Bibi Dong's teacher, the current Pope, Qian Xunji, all of this, embellishing the story!
He's going to destroy Ninglin!
He wanted to show Bibi Dong the consequences of betraying him!
Just then, the palace doors were slowly pushed open.
Several guards escorted a figure in.
"Your Majesty, Her Highness the Holy Maiden has arrived."
Bibi Dong has arrived.
Her pretty face was frosty, and her phoenix eyes held a hint of anger at having her date abruptly ended.
But when her gaze swept across the main hall and she saw Yu Xiaogang standing there, the anger on her face instantly froze, then turned into utter disgust.
I see.
So it was you.
In that instant, Bibi Dong understood everything.
Why did the teacher suddenly summon me?
Why were the guards so adamant?
It's all because of this despicable and shameless informer!
She couldn't even be bothered to look at Yu Xiaogang again; it would only taint her eyes.
She just felt disgusted.
It was disgusting like never before.
Bibi Dong raised her head and looked directly at Qian Xunji on the throne, her voice clear and cold.
"Teacher, didn't you say you had something important to say?"
Her tone was accusatory.
The smile on Qian Xunji's face faded.
"presumptuous."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the imposing authority of a pope.
"I am your teacher, the Pope of the Spirit Hall."
"Is this the kind of attitude you use to speak to your master?"
Bibi Dong remained silent.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger.
She could sense that something was wrong with the teacher today.
The look in his eyes beneath that gentle mask made her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
But she had no evidence.
Qian Xunji did not take any substantial action against her.
All her anger now stems from the fact that this man rudely broke the agreement she made with Ning Lin.
Ninglin...
Is he awake now?
Did he see the letter?
Will he wait for me at the back of the mountain?
The thought that Ning Lin might be waiting in vain on the back mountain made Bibi Dong feel a surge of irritation.
She didn't want to waste her time here.
"If there's nothing else, teacher, I'll be going now."
Bibi Dong bowed slightly and turned to leave.
"stop!"
Qian Xunji's voice suddenly rose in pitch!
Are you in such a hurry?
He stood up from his throne and walked down the steps, his eyes fixed intently on Bibi Dong's back.
"Are you in such a hurry to go see your lover?"
"Bibi Dong! Do you even remember who you are?!"
"Do you even deserve to be the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall looking like this?!"
His words struck Bibi Dong's heart like a heavy hammer.
Bibi Dong turned around abruptly, her beautiful phoenix eyes blazing with anger.
"What does my romantic relationship have to do with whether or not I am the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall?"
She argued her case logically.
"Teacher, the Holy Maiden is also a human being, not a heartless tool in your hands!"
"Well said!"
Yu Xiaogang, who was standing to the side, finally found a chance to interject.
He stepped forward, adopting a pained and indignant expression.
"Your Highness! You are mistaken!"
"The Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, what an honorable title! You bear the future and glory of the entire Spirit Hall on your shoulders!"
"You should be single-mindedly focused on cultivation, dedicating everything to the grand ambitions of the Spirit Hall! How can you indulge in romantic love and shun worldly affairs?"
His words were grand and righteous, as if he were some noble defender of morality.
Looking at his hypocritical face, Bibi Dong felt nauseous.
"Yu Xiaogang, do you even have the right to speak here?"
"What right does a swindler who plagiarizes others have to point fingers at me?"
"you..."
Yu Xiaogang choked and his face turned red.
Just as he was about to continue his sophistry and use those grand principles to suppress Bibi Dong.
Boom—!
A loud bang!
The two large doors of the Papal Palace, made of heavy metal, were smashed open from the outside by brute force!
The two door panels warped and twisted, flying in backwards and crashing heavily onto the floor with a deafening sound.
Amidst the billowing smoke and dust, a figure covered in blood staggered in.
The newcomer's clothes were already tattered and covered with crisscrossing wounds, some so deep that the bone was visible.
Blood dripped from the hem of his clothes onto the ground, instantly staining a patch of obsidian red.
He leaned on a longsword he had stolen from somewhere, panting heavily, his chest heaving violently.
Despite his disheveled state, he stood ramrod straight.
His gaze pierced through the obstacles, past the astonished Pope, and finally landed on Yu Xiaogang, who was still rambling on.
Those eyes burned with boundless rage.
"You're talking complete bullshit!"
Ninglin!
When they saw the newcomer's face, the three people in the hall had different expressions.
Qian Xunji's pupils suddenly contracted.
How is that possible?!
For the first time, cracks appeared on the gentle and composed expression on his face.
After Yu Xiaogang came to inform him that Ning Lin and Bibi Dong had gone to the Star Dou Great Forest together, he immediately issued a kill order.
He dispatched a full twelve of the Spirit Hall's most elite cardinals!
Twelve Soul Emperors!
Among them, two were even at the peak of the Soul Emperor level 69!
With such a lineup, they could easily take down a Title Douluo!
But now, this Ning Lin, this Soul King who, according to intelligence, is only at level fifty-one, has actually broken out of this seemingly inescapable killing trap?!
Not only did he break out, he fought his way all the way to the entrance of the Papal Palace?!
Is this kid a monster?!
A hint of surprise flashed in Qian Xunji's eyes.
Bibi Dong was completely stunned when she saw Ning Lin.
Her heart felt as if it were being gripped by an empty hand, the pain making it hard to breathe.
Joy and heart-wrenching pain, two completely opposite emotions, exploded in her chest at the same time.
(End of chapter)