Chapter 73: Bibi Dong: Would You Be Willing to Take Me as Your Master?
Several days later, Douluo Hall.
"How has your cultivation been these past few days?"
As the girl entered, Qian Daoliu stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the angel statue.
Zhu Zhuqing respectfully replied, "Thank you for your concern, Teacher. Everything has been going smoothly."
"I can see your aura has grown stronger again. Did you break through?"
Without turning his head, Qian Daoliu spoke.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded.
"I successfully broke through to rank 50."
"Good that you broke through… how many? Rank 50?!"
Qian Daoliu's body paused slightly before he suddenly turned around.
He had thought Zhu Zhuqing had only advanced by one level. He never expected her to jump two levels at once.
"Earlier, I happened to obtain an Immortal Herb. After taking it two days ago, my soul power improved somewhat."
Zhu Zhuqing spoke calmly, as if she had merely eaten a wild fruit.
"You truly possess extraordinary fortune."
Hearing this, Qian Daoliu could not help but sigh in admiration.
With Zhu Zhuqing's talent and luck, if one day she reached a higher level and suddenly received a divine inheritance, he would not find it surprising at all.
After a few seconds, he spoke directly.
"I received news that a hunting squad discovered a 30,000-year Man-Faced Demon Spider in the Star Dou Great Forest. A red-robed bishop has already gone to confirm it."
'Man-Faced Demon Spider?'
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes lit up.
She had not expected that in such a vast forest, the creature would be found so quickly.
According to Bai Lu, as long as she could kill and devour that Man-Faced Demon Spider, the Eight Spider Lances would evolve into their complete form.
At that time, their devouring ability would reach perfection.
Unable to wait any longer, she said, "Teacher, I request leave to go there."
"Don't rush. A 30,000-year Man-Faced Demon Spider is not an ordinary existence."
"Without luck, even a Soul Douluo, or even a Titled Douluo, could suffer a fatal mishap."
Qian Daoliu paused, his tone somewhat complicated.
"I was originally debating whether to let you go alone as a form of training."
"But since you've broken through, I'll have other worship elders accompany you. You can also obtain your fifth soul ring along the way."
"Thank you, Teacher…"
Zhu Zhuqing had only spoken halfway when Bai Lu's voice suddenly sounded.
"Refuse first. Say you're confident in hunting the soul beast yourself. If it doesn't work, come back and ask for help."
Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing changed her tone, her eyes firm.
"I am confident in hunting the soul beast alone and do not require assistance. If I fail, I will return to Spirit Hall and seek assistance."
Qian Daoliu looked at her for a long time.
In her eyes, he saw neither fear nor hesitation, only the desire to become stronger.
Finally, he nodded slowly.
"Very well."
He raised his hand slightly. A small box flew out and landed in Zhu Zhuqing's hands.
"If you encounter danger, take this Recovery Yuan Pill. It can greatly accelerate the recovery of both injuries and soul power."
"Thank you, Teacher!"
Warmth filled Zhu Zhuqing's heart as she bowed in gratitude.
At that moment, a figure walked in. His body was shrouded in a faint, illusory radiance, and even his appearance was difficult to discern clearly.
He respectfully bowed to Qian Daoliu.
"Greetings, Grand Worship. The Pope requests to see the secret disciple Zhu Zhuqing. Would that be convenient?"
'Bibi Dong is looking for me?'
Zhu Zhuqing was somewhat surprised.
She had been in Spirit Hall for some time but had never formally met the Pope.
Being suddenly summoned now… hopefully, nothing has happened.
"…"
Qian Daoliu pondered briefly before nodding.
"Xiao Qing, go with Ghost Douluo."
"Yes, Teacher."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded to the legendary Ghost Douluo.
The two left Douluo Hall, walked through the corridors, and entered the Pope's Palace.
At the high platform of the magnificent hall sat a beautiful woman dressed in luxurious robes, wearing a crown and holding a scepter.
The current Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong.
Her features were exquisite yet imposing, and her purple eyes were as deep as an abyss.
Ghost Douluo naturally stood beside the Pope. On the other side stood a man with an alluring face and a delicate, feminine aura.
It seemed to be the legendary Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan.
All three were top-tier powerhouses of the continent.
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
Zhu Zhuqing bowed slightly, neither servile nor arrogant.
Bibi Dong's gaze fell upon her, carefully scanning every inch of her body.
After a moment of silence, she slowly spoke.
"Zhuqing, you have been in Spirit Hall for some time now. How do you feel about it?"
"Life here is fulfilling, and the atmosphere is peaceful. I like it very much."
Zhu Zhuqing answered calmly.
"I heard you easily defeated several teachers at the Spirit Hall Academy. Is that true?"
"Yes."
"And what are your thoughts about it?"
Bibi Dong looked at the girl curiously, waiting for her answer.
"My thoughts…"
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment before replying seriously.
"I'm too weak. I still need to grow."
Bibi Dong: "…"
Suddenly, an eerie silence filled the hall.
Too weak?
You, a Soul Ancestor, who can defeat a Soul Saint with a single punch and toy with a Soul Emperor, say you're weak?
Then what are the others? Trash?
Chrysanthemum Douluo covered his mouth and chuckled, while Ghost Douluo's blurry face seemed to become clearer for a moment.
'Wait… this aura…'
Suddenly, Yue Guan's nose twitched slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath and spoke.
"Zhuqing, would you be willing to take me as—"
"Xiao Qingqing, would you be willing to take me as—"
Their voices overlapped.
Bibi Dong suddenly turned her head and shot Yue Guan a sharp look.
'You're stealing my line?'
"Uh… that aura…"
Yue Guan chuckled awkwardly and asked,
"Xiao Qingqing, I smell a special fragrance from you. Have you taken an Immortal Herb?"
"I have."
Zhu Zhuqing admitted frankly.
Immortal Herbs are not easy to absorb.
The more one consumes, the harder it becomes to digest their medicinal power.
Her Daffodil Jade Flesh Bone had only been taken a few days ago. The accumulated soul power had nowhere to go, so it was normal for someone to notice.
So that's how it is…
Yue Guan suddenly understood, and the eagerness in his eyes grew stronger.
He truly wanted to take someone who had consumed an Immortal Herb as his disciple.
After all, he was now rank 95, only one step away from becoming a worship elder.
He felt he could compete to become Zhu Zhuqing's eighth teacher.
But since Bibi Dong had already spoken, he could only obediently shut his mouth.
One level of soul power difference could crush a person.
And a higher official rank could do the same.
Bibi Dong looked at the girl again and repeated,
"Would you be willing to take me as your master?"
"Reporting to Your Holiness, I already have seven teachers."
Zhu Zhuqing said seriously,
"I don't have anything else, but I do have many teachers."
When she had time later, she could ask them to take turns using pressure to help her digest the Immortal Herb's medicinal power.
One teacher per day. A full week without repeating.
If everything went smoothly, even though Immortal Herbs became harder to absorb the more one took, it would only take a few years for her to absorb them all.
"I know you already have seven teachers."
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, her tone becoming more serious.
"You only need to answer one question right now. Are you willing, or not?"
"…"
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment before speaking calmly.
"I am not willing."
This time Bai Lu did not interfere. It was purely her own decision.
Although she already had many teachers, adding one more would not really matter.
Especially when the one in front of her was the strongest woman on the entire continent.
But if adding another teacher angered the others, it would not be worth it.
From the information she had gathered so far, the relationship between the Pope and Douluo Hall did not seem very good.
Better to avoid trouble.
Unless Qian Daoliu and the other teachers agreed, she absolutely could not agree.
"Hmm?"
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, and the air in the hall suddenly froze.
She looked at Zhu Zhuqing. The girl's expression remained calm. She neither rejected nor feared her.
She was simply… avoiding trouble.
"I see."
Bibi Dong nodded faintly.
"You may leave."
"Yes."
Zhu Zhuqing did not understand what exactly the Pope had understood, but she quietly withdrew.
For a moment, silence filled the hall.
After a while, Bibi Dong looked at Yue Guan.
"The Immortal Herb you mentioned… what exactly is it?"
"Reporting to Your Holiness, every Immortal Herb is a treasure that seizes the fortune of heaven and earth. It can greatly improve one's aptitude and also possesses special effects."
Yue Guan respectfully replied,
"My martial soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, is itself one of the Immortal Herbs. Whoever consumes it can obtain an indestructible vajra body."
Bibi Dong asked again,
"Then between a genius with innate full soul power and a genius with innate rank seven soul power who has consumed an Immortal Herb, which one is more talented?"
"The latter, of course!"
Yue Guan answered without hesitation.
His tone made it seem as if hesitating even a second would be disrespectful to Immortal Herbs.
Consuming an Immortal Herb meant rebirth.
It meant limitless potential.
Innate full soul power was powerful, but it still had a limit.
Immortal Herbs could break that limit.
But soon, a strange expression appeared on Yue Guan's face.
"However…"
Bibi Dong asked, "However, what?"
"I feel that Xiao Qingqing's Immortal Herb medicinal power is only floating on the surface of her body. It seems she only consumed it recently."
Yue Guan carefully speculated,
"This means… her current achievements likely have little to do with that Immortal Herb."
"…"
Bibi Dong looked toward the hall entrance, her gaze complicated.
After a long time, she stood up and walked toward the outside.
Her destination—
Douluo Hall.
—
End of Chapter