Douluo Continent: Long Live the Spirit Hall

"Mommy~"

The girl being held in Bibi Dong's arms was none other than the younger sister of the brother and sister who had used the Martial Soul Fusion Technique. At this moment, she seemed to be in a daze due to the battle just now, burying her head in Bibi Dong's arms and murmuring what seemed to be her mother.

Chapter 42 First Contact with Bibi Dong

"This child..."

On the high platform of the Soul Master Academy, Bibi Dong gently held Hu Liena, a hint of tenderness appearing in her eyes.

Bibi Dong looked towards the plaza, but as the smoke from the collision of flames and red light dissipated, only one person stood on the vast plaza. Yan was in poor condition, his forehead covered in sweat, while opposite Yan, Xie Yue was in even worse shape, collapsing unconscious from exhaustion.

Let's leave it at that for today.

Bibi Dong felt a strange emotion welling up inside her, and lost the will to watch any longer. She casually gave an order, and then carried the little girl away from the platform.

Pope Bibi Dong's departure seemed to signal the end of the event. One after another, the titled Douluo also left, and many powerful figures from the Spirit Hall left the academy with the Pope, bringing the farce to a close.

This group of students fought fiercely for a few spots, but in the end, they didn't even get to go on stage to present a gift. It seemed like everything they did was meaningless and quite foolish, but in reality, Yan had already achieved his goal.

He knew perfectly well when he started this fight that even if someone did win, they could not replace the three student representatives to present the gift, because that would be against the rules and a challenge to the authority of the college's higher-ups.

The high-ranking experts from the Spirit Hall who came to observe this ceremony may appreciate some of the geniuses who performed well in the battle, but they will never accept or condone such a challenge to the authority of the academy.

So when this chaos broke out, the academy's subsequent arrangements were already ruined. Forget about offering gifts; not being punished was already the best-case scenario.

However, all of this has nothing to do with Yan anymore, because he has already achieved his goal of becoming famous. Besides, he was not the one who stirred up the conflict, nor was he the one who acted the most arrogantly. Even if the higher-ups in the academy wanted to cause trouble, they couldn't find him. Isn't that enough?

After the experts from the Spirit Hall left one after another, the once quiet academy suddenly became noisy. Countless students were discussing the chaotic battle that had just taken place, while all the teachers and leaders had rather grim expressions.

However, all of this was no longer relevant to Yan. After greeting the homeroom teacher and the teacher in charge, he helped Xie Yue up from the ground and then walked towards the rest room. How the teachers and leaders would punish him was a matter for later. Right now, they should focus on healing their injuries.

As for Huliena, it's obvious that she and Bibi Dong were indeed destined for each other. The Pope himself carried her away; could there be a better situation?

Yan has made all the arrangements, and Hu Liena has successfully attracted Bibi Dong's attention. He has done everything he can. As for what happens next, he'll leave it to fate and see how things unfold.

"Boss, let me help you."

A solicitous voice came from the side, and the chubby Tuoba Hong had come to his side. He carefully took Xie Yue from Yan's hands, and then put his other hand on Yan's shoulder. With his help, Yan quickly arrived at the rest room.

After being treated by a support-type recovery-type Soul Master in the academy's lounge, Yan and Xie Yue basically recovered. Then it was another simple and uneventful day, as if the events of the morning had never happened. They went to class, finished class, read books, went home after school, ate, cultivated... Finally, Yan went to the study alone.

……

The soft candlelight made the study rather dim. Yan sat at his desk, engrossed in writing, occasionally getting up to browse through books on the bookshelf.

On one side of the desk was a bookshelf, and on the other side directly opposite the bookshelf was a wall with a large map hanging on it. The wall was covered with many markings, and Yan would occasionally walk up to the wall and add a few strokes while he was thinking and writing.

Just as Yan wrote another line on the map on the wall, he suddenly felt that the candlelight had changed slightly, and the light in the room seemed to have dimmed a little.

He noticed a long shadow cast by the lamplight beside him. His grip on the pen tightened slightly, and then he slowly turned around. He saw someone he had never expected to see in this situation.

"His Holiness the Pope."

Yan's expression was slightly puzzled and surprised. Hu Liena was carried away by Bibi Dong. He had guessed that he would meet Bibi Dong again, but he did not expect it to be so soon, nor did he expect it to be in this kind of situation.

The study, which was originally empty except for Yan, now had another person inside. It was Bibi Dong, the current Pope of the Spirit Hall, whom he had met during the day.

Bibi Dong was dressed in a dark black dress, still possessing her beautiful face and captivating charm, but revealing a different kind of temperament. If she was a gentle and elegant goddess during the day, giving people a warm feeling, then she was now a cold and aloof ice goddess, her eyes filled with a scrutinizing coldness.

"What did Nana and you say to each other?"

Although Yan uttered a question, he used an affirmative tone.

"You are really smart."

Bibi Dong spoke for the first time after entering the room. She took light steps and walked slowly to within three feet of Yan. Her beautiful eyes were full of scrutiny. After looking at him for a long time, she continued, "I still find it hard to believe that the series of chaos that caused in the academy today was actually the idea of ​​a child."

"Oh, why don't you believe it? Is it because you've compared yourself to it and find it hard to believe that someone could do such a thing at this age?"

Yan casually replied, naturally passing by Bibi Dong, and walked to the bookshelf to browse through a book, seemingly not taking Bibi Dong seriously at all.

"Nana has already told me everything."

Bibi Dong's gaze towards Yan changed slightly. This man, no, he should be called a boy, was actually ignoring her like this. "To be honest, before I came here, I really couldn't believe what Nana said."

A child who was only six years old actually began to plot to sabotage an event arranged by the academy after learning that high-ranking officials were about to visit.

You found a way to gather information on upperclassmen within the academy, and then you orchestrated this morning's chaos. I know all of that. Do you have anything else to say?

"Hmm, not bad. It seems that Nana listened to everything I told her and explained it to you very clearly, which saved me a lot of trouble."

Yan sat down at his desk, nodded, and then picked up his pen again to write. From the few pieces of information Bibi Dong had revealed, he had already deduced some things, which gave him more confidence and made him appear more self-assured.

Bibi Dong's eyes widened in surprise, then a hint of disbelief flashed in them. She looked down at Yan, who was writing, and couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that?"

Chapter 43 Dialogue

"I think I've made myself quite clear, it's exactly what I said."

Yan paused writing for a moment, then turned to look at Bibi Dong and said quite seriously, "If I really only wanted to attract the attention of the higher-ups during the chaos during the day, don't you think that would be a bit ridiculous?"

"Even if a group of novice Soul Master academy students perform exceptionally well in a fight, will they truly earn the respect of the Spirit Hall's experts?"

Yan's question stunned Bibi Dong. She unconsciously followed this line of thought and quickly came up with an answer.

Despite the impressive performance of Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena during the day, which drew comments from numerous titled Douluo, in the hearts of all the powerful figures, including Bibi Dong, the events of the day were nothing more than a farce, and not worth paying attention to.

Bibi Dong will come to see Yan tonight, not because of the chaos during the day, but because of Hu Liena. Hu Liena confessed many things to her, and she felt that the girl had been deceived, so she was quite dissatisfied and came.

Yan continued, "I have never pinned my hopes for advancement on a small-scale battle between junior soul master academies, because I know very well that such a small disturbance is nothing more than a farce in the eyes of true powerhouses."

What I really wanted was simply to leave an impression on the higher-ups of the Spirit Hall, especially Your Holiness the Pope.

Then, I'll find the right opportunity to seize it and truly impress you. But what I didn't expect was that this opportunity would come so soon.

Yan earnestly told Bibi Dong that his original plan was indeed like that. However, he hadn't fully explained some of the steps involved, particularly the scheme they had devised during the day.

On the surface, the scheme that took place during the day was Yan's plan to make himself famous. But in reality, it was all about his outstanding performance on the field, Yao Mei's dominance on the playground, and their final, spectacular battle.

In the end, it was all just a setup, a logical way to bring Hu Liena into contact with Bibi Dong. Despite their near-exhaustion from the fight, Yan's initial plan was simply to have Hu Liena make contact with Bibi Dong.

In the original novel, Hu Liena and Bibi Dong were like mother and daughter. Yan gambled on the connection and bond between them. He shattered the evil charm and sent Hu Liena flying to the high platform, where she landed in Bibi Dong's arms. This was never a coincidence, but his scheme.

After that, Hu Liena and Bibi Dong revealed that Yan had planned that chaos, which were all things he had emphasized he should reveal.

If Hu Liena wanted to evoke Bibi Dong's empathy, at the very least, a genuine relationship had to be established between them. The most basic requirement for this was to build trust. Therefore, he asked Hu Liena to reveal everything she knew.

Hu Liena knew something, just like Xie Yue and Tuoba Hong, that Yan had schemed against everyone in the junior academy and caused that chaos.

What happened next, such as the girl's contact with the Pope and the bond they formed, was something no one but himself could have imagined was a scheme.

Of course, he wouldn't talk about this scheme, but in Bibi Dong's eyes, the plan that caused the chaos during the day was just a bit clever.

But if she knew that Yan had been scheming against her and Hu Liena from the very beginning, she might just kill him in a fit of rage.

Yan was, of course, also gambling. He was betting on the fate of these two people, relying on his foresight, that the two, who shared a deep mother-daughter bond in the original story, would form an unbreakable bond upon meeting. Fortunately, he won his gamble; Bibi Dong actually came to find him tonight, something he hadn't expected.

However, this was the opportunity he had been waiting for all this time. For someone so young to try and rise to prominence by displaying his talent was nothing short of a pipe dream; the reactions of the titled Douluo during the day clearly demonstrated this. They might have shown a little appreciation, but they didn't care about these child prodigies.

When Yan contacted Bibi Dong, the bargaining chip he prepared was certainly not his own talent, but rather what he had carefully written over the past few days.

Bibi Dong was silent for a moment before speaking again: "You want to seize the opportunity to stand out from the crowd, but what makes you think I will give you that opportunity?"

"Just based on... these things."

Yan casually flipped to a page in his notebook, turned around, and pointed to the map behind Bibi Dong. "If Your Holiness is willing to give me a chance, please take a look at these things."

Bibi Dong turned around in the direction Yan was pointing and looked at the map under the dim light. Her expression was relatively normal at first, but after looking at it for a few more times, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Yan spoke again at this moment, and then handed over the notebook, "Your Holiness may also take a look at this notebook I wrote."

Bibi Dong couldn't help but turn around and take it. Then, comparing it with Yan's notes and map, she kept looking through the map, and the surprise in her eyes became more and more undisguised.

Yan did not speak again at this moment. Instead, he got up and walked slowly to the oil lamp. After a series of operations, the light became brighter, and the entire study became much brighter.

"Hu~~"

After a long while, Bibi Dong slowly placed the notebook back on the table, closed her eyes, and let out a long sigh, as if she was pondering something.

Bibi Dong spoke again, her eyes filled with complex emotions, "How did you obtain these things, and why are you interested in this information?"

"The map and notes are, of course, the result of my integration of information, and should be of some help to His Holiness the Pope."

Yan picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup, then sat down at the desk again. "I've always felt that the most important thing about a person isn't their so-called innate talent, but this."

Yan pointed a finger at his head and then continued, "If I want to rise above others by relying on Your Holiness the Pope, then I must make sure you see my value."

His Holiness the Pope, upon assuming the papacy, was eager to relocate the Papal Palace and build the Spirit City. What does this indicate? It shows that His Holiness the Pope is ambitious and, coupled with a deep sense of insecurity, likely has few capable people at his disposal.

Then, based on your initial actions, I became even more certain of these conclusions, and naturally, I began planning accordingly. Now it seems I was right; they should have been of some help to you.”

Bibi Dong walked up to Yan, looked down at him slightly, and said, "Do you know how dangerous your actions are? I've seen these things, and I've memorized their contents. I can kill you at any time."

Chapter 44 Persuasion

"Of course you can kill me, but that's all you'll get. I don't think His Holiness the Pope would be so impatient."

Yan appeared quite calm as he spoke, but inside he was panicking because he knew the most crucial moment had arrived—the moment that would determine his fate.

Instead of refuting Bibi Dong, he went along with her words and affirmed the fact that his life could be taken by her at any moment.

Bibi Dong was a capable person. Without the support of Qian Daoliu and the Hall of Offerings, she took control of the behemoth that was the Spirit Hall on her own, and eventually even established the Spirit Empire and became its empress.

After Bibi Dong ruled for more than a decade, the Spirit Hall directly influenced 70% of the spirit masters in the world, and this number continued to rise after the establishment of the Spirit Empire. Of the seven major sects at that time, apart from the original three sects, the remaining four sects all chose the Spirit Empire.

Ning Fengzhi praised her as the most powerful leader in the history of the Spirit Hall. Although this was somewhat of an exaggeration, it also showed that she was very capable, which shows that Bibi Dong was a pretty good leader.

However, some of her actions in the later stages of her rule, such as demanding that Qian Renxue hastily launch a coup and the Soul Hunting Operation when the timing was not right, also reveal her impulsive side.

Therefore, Yan was quite nervous at this moment because he couldn't grasp Bibi Dong's thoughts. If she came as a qualified leader, Yan was confident that he could persuade her.

However, she came today because of Hu Liena, which adds a disadvantage. If this person happens to be in a bad mood and acts impulsively, Yan is worried that he will be slapped to death.

The atmosphere in the study was somewhat tense. Yan stared intently at Bibi Dong, his palms sweating and his forehead beaded with sweat from nervousness.

"puff……"

Suddenly Bibi Dong laughed, a very happy laugh. She took out a handkerchief and gently wiped his forehead, then teased, "I thought you were such a brave little guy, but it turns out you can be scared too. Am I that scary?"

"Uh...no, it's just that I'm nervous."

Yan was somewhat bewildered. Bibi Dong's reaction was not what he had expected. However, he had no better way to deal with it at the moment. He could only tell the truth and show some childlike innocence, instead of pretending to be an adult.