Chapter Two: Seizing Control of the Spirit Hall

A few days later, a carriage slowly entered Spirit Soul City. Bibi Dong glanced down at Ling Yunxiao, who was quietly sleeping in her arms, and whispered softly, “Xiao’er, we’ve arrived at Spirit Soul City. Soon, we’ll be home.”

In these past days, Elder Ju, despite being a Douluo-level elder of the Spirit Soul Palace, had to rush about tirelessly, searching through cities, towns, and villages for a wet nurse to care for Ling Tian. The wet nurse had to be of high quality, which cost a considerable amount of gold spirit coins.

But as long as the quality was good, spending more gold spirit coins was no problem. After all, for Elder Ju, gold spirit coins were insignificant. However, if Ling Xiao were to suffer any injustice, it would not be something easily resolved.

When the two returned to the Spirit Soul Palace, everything was calm, without alerting anyone. Yet the next development stirred unrest among all the palace’s attendants and elders.

Bibi Dong sat behind the Pope’s Hall and instructed Elder Ju to announce a notice.

“The Spirit Soul Palace is hiring wet nurses, starting at one hundred gold spirit coins per day, for a one-year term during which departure from Spirit Soul City is prohibited.

Requirements: Healthy body, must be a soul master, young and beautiful. Those who perform excellently by the end of the term may choose a millennium spirit bone as a reward.”

The announcement caused a stir in Spirit Soul City, and many people gathered in front of the Spirit Soul Palace gates.

The crowd stared at the notice in astonishment.

“One hundred gold spirit coins a day—that’s no small sum. Only the Spirit Soul Palace could afford such extravagance,” someone remarked enviously.

“Who could be so distinguished to make the Spirit Soul Palace pay such a price just to find a wet nurse?” another wondered.

“The reward for excellence is a millennium spirit bone! That’s a treasure many soul masters can’t obtain! Just being a wet nurse could win me one—I’m going to try!” a beautiful woman exclaimed excitedly and rushed to the palace gate to sign up.

She was not alone in her thoughts. At the gate, over a dozen women waited, all soul masters and all strikingly beautiful.

They were nervous and fearful because in front of them sat Elder Ju personally presiding over the selection.

This was a Douluo-level powerhouse, supremely respected, yet willing to handle such a trivial matter.

Elder Ju’s expression was stern as his gaze swept over the crowd. His scrutinizing look instilled pressure and dread in all present.

This was all about Ling Xiao; if the selection was lax and something went wrong, no one could bear the responsibility.

At the same time, the matter stirred not only Spirit Soul City but also the Spirit Soul Palace.

Eight elders of the Elder Hall—the Ghost Douluo, Demon Bear Douluo, Ghost Leopard Douluo, Flame Eagle Douluo, Serpent Spear Douluo, Stingray Douluo, Sea Turtle Douluo, and Holy Dragon Douluo—along with seven attendants of the Attendant Hall—the Lion Douluo, Light Feather Douluo, Azure Phoenix Douluo, Thousand Weight Douluo, Demon Subduer Douluo, Second Attendant Gold Crocodile Douluo, and Chief Attendant Angel Douluo—all gathered at the Pope’s Hall.

“Bibi Dong, what exactly are you thinking?” Upon arrival, the burly Gold Crocodile Douluo lost his temper and confronted Bibi Dong without any respect.

After all, he was the eldest in age and second only to Qian Daoliu in strength within the Spirit Soul Palace. Bibi Dong was a junior, and only at level ninety-six.

Yet Bibi Dong ignored him entirely, not even bothering to glance his way, merely toying with Ling Xiao in her arms.

Anger flared on Gold Crocodile Douluo’s face—just a junior! When he rose to fame, Bibi Dong wasn’t even born!

At that moment, Qian Daoliu stepped forward to restrain him, silencing the Gold Crocodile Douluo instantly.

The Demon Bear Douluo of the Elder Hall also spoke up: “Your Holiness, it’s just a wet nurse. Paying gold spirit coins should suffice. Offering a millennium spirit bone seems excessive; these spirit bones are priceless and scarce. Even many geniuses and elders in the Spirit Soul Palace don’t have one…”

Before he could continue, Bibi Dong looked up coldly, and an icy chill enveloped the Demon Bear Douluo.

“Your Holiness, I misspoke!” he bowed his head and stepped back, silent thereafter.

On the other side, the Ghost Douluo remained silent, curious but restraining himself. The Pope must have her reasons.

Then Qian Daoliu spoke.

“Bibi Dong, why do you care so much about this child? This is unlike you, especially since you never cared for ‘her’ before.”

Hearing this, Bibi Dong’s eyes turned icy as she met his gaze. She knew well who ‘her’ referred to.

“Qian Daoliu, why do you think I treat her that way? Do you really not know why?” Bibi Dong’s voice was low and filled with murderous intent.

Qian Daoliu faltered. He understood the reason, which was why he did not oppose Bibi Dong’s succession as Pope and rarely interfered with the palace’s affairs thereafter.

“No, the Spirit Soul Palace cannot let you act recklessly like this. Remove that last condition,” Qian Daoliu said after a pause, his voice stern.

Gold spirit coins were abundant in the palace; wasting them was inconsequential.

But spirit bones were different. Their appearance was rare—hardly one in a hundred spirit beasts carried one, let alone a millennium-grade, selectable spirit bone. Some millennium spirit bones were only slightly less valuable than five-thousand-year ones.

Though these bones were of little use to Qian Daoliu, they were precious to the weaker elders.

Bibi Dong’s gaze turned icy as she retorted coldly, “Qian Daoliu, I am the Pope of the Spirit Soul Palace. You, as an Attendant Hall elder, dare to dictate terms to me?”

“You are indeed the Pope, but you cannot be so presumptuous,” Qian Daoliu replied calmly, his aura as a level ninety-nine peak Douluo pressing down on Bibi Dong.

Previously, his presence alone would immobilize Bibi Dong, as the gap between level ninety-six and ninety-nine was vast.

Moreover, his spirit was the divine-level six-winged angel. Though Bibi Dong possessed twin spirits, they were only top-level spirits.

All the elders and attendants expected Bibi Dong to back down.

But the next moment, an unimaginable event occurred. A tremendous, unparalleled aura radiated from Bibi Dong, even faintly overshadowing Qian Daoliu.

Everyone in the Pope’s Hall stared in shock and fear, especially Gold Crocodile Douluo and Qian Daoliu.

Gold Crocodile Douluo could hardly believe his eyes. The last time they met, at level ninety-six, he could easily suppress her. Now she had reached level ninety-nine and was even stronger than Qian Daoliu.

Qian Daoliu’s eyes widened in horror and confusion, unable to express his feelings.

“Hmph!” Bibi Dong snorted coldly, releasing a wave of overwhelming pressure that all present felt as if a mountain were pressing down on them.

Even Qian Daoliu took a step back; Gold Crocodile Douluo managed to resist slightly.

The other elders and attendants were utterly overwhelmed, nearly collapsing, their faces pale, struggling to breathe. Fortunately, the pressure soon subsided.

Only then could everyone breathe again.

Qian Daoliu remained silent, gazing at Bibi Dong, his thoughts inscrutable. The atmosphere in the Pope’s Hall grew unbearably heavy.

Suddenly, he sighed deeply, looked at Bibi Dong one last time, then slowly turned away. His once straight back now bent slightly, his youthful vigor replaced by sudden aged weariness.

“From now on, the Spirit Soul Palace is entirely under your control, including the Elder and Attendant Halls. I shall no longer intervene,” Qian Daoliu declared before vanishing from the Pope’s Hall.

Gold Crocodile and the others followed suit, knowing that from now on, the Spirit Soul Palace belonged solely to Bibi Dong. This spirit bone incident was perhaps her demonstration of power, a warning that cemented her supreme status.

After everyone left the Pope’s Hall, Bibi Dong looked down tenderly at Ling Xiao in her arms.

“Xiao’er, it’s all thanks to you. Had I not met you, I might still be constrained by the Attendant Hall.”

Meanwhile, in Spirit Soul City, a fair-skinned, elegant, and alluring woman walked hand in hand with a little girl of about five or six. The girl’s face was pure and delicate, her large eyes crystal clear.

Curious, the woman approached the crowd gathered in front of the Spirit Soul Palace and saw the posted notice.

“Hm? They’re only hiring a wet nurse, yet the reward is a millennium spirit bone?” she murmured in surprise.

“Could this be some scheme by the Spirit Soul Palace? But that seems unlikely—the deal is completely uneven. Could it really be true?” she pondered, glancing at the little girl she held.

A selectable millennium spirit bone, if one could choose one suited to herself, would greatly aid future growth, she thought, looking at the girl.

Biting her lip, the woman decided to try. Success would mean gaining a spirit bone for free; failure meant no loss.

She pushed through the crowd to the palace gate, where dozens of beautiful women had gathered.

This must be the registration site, she thought, approaching the group.

Seeing Elder Ju sitting at the front, her eyes widened, further fueling her suspicion of the Spirit Soul Palace’s motives.

A Douluo-level elder personally overseeing the search for a wet nurse? This was highly unusual.

Gathering her composure, she moved forward and noticed that although dozens of women were present, only a few were lined up to register.

These few were no ordinary soul masters: the weakest was at the Emperor level, and the strongest a Saint.

Realizing this, the woman was shocked that even a Saint-level soul master was applying merely for a wet nurse position.

But on reflection, she understood. With such a position personally overseen by a Douluo, the patron must be highly esteemed. If one performed well, the rewards would surely exceed a mere spirit bone.

As she pondered, she joined the end of the queue.

At the front, a woman in a purple gown bowed to Elder Ju and introduced herself.

“Elder Ju, my name is Ziyun. I am a level seventy-one Saint with the spirit of a healing-type Purple Crystal Lotus.”

She summoned her spirit, revealing a purple lotus whose petals shimmered with crystalline light. The base was a purple crystal, radiating gentle purple glow.

“A healing spirit? Not bad,” Elder Ju nodded slightly. Within the Spirit Soul Palace, Ling Xiao was safe from major accidents, but minor bumps were inevitable. Having a healing soul master was beneficial.

“You may stay for now. Next!” Elder Ju instructed, signaling the guards to record Ziyun’s information.

“Thank you, Elder!” Ziyun smiled happily and stepped aside.

Next, a woman in red approached Elder Ju, bowed, and said, “Greetings, Elder. My name is Xu Yu, a level sixty-seven Emperor. My spirit is an offensive Fire Pattern Spear.”

A red spear appeared in her hands, ablaze with fierce flames.

Elder Ju frowned. Although offensive spirits were fine, and Xu Yu was young and talented, this role was unsuitable for her.

An offensive soul master was ill-suited for caring for infants. While useful as a guard, the Spirit Soul Palace was never short of offensive soul masters—even Douluos—so a mere Emperor was not impressive.

After consideration, Elder Ju said, “This position requires healing, defensive, or control-type soul masters. Offensive types are unnecessary. However, you may still join the Spirit Soul Palace.”

“Not suitable?” Xu Yu’s face darkened but then she considered it. Joining the Spirit Soul Palace was not bad—she had left the Xingluo Empire seeking protection, and nowhere was better than here.

“Thank you, Elder. I will join the Spirit Soul Palace!” Xu Yu said firmly.

“Good. You may be escorted in,” Elder Ju nodded to the guards.

“Yes, Elder.” The guards escorted Xu Yu toward the palace.

The remaining women, mostly offensive-type soul masters, looked disappointed, knowing they were unqualified and reluctant to join the palace.

“Next!” Elder Ju called.

But none of the women stepped forward.

“Is no one else coming?” Elder Ju frowned but did not force anyone. This was voluntary.

He stood to leave with Ziyun when a voice called out.

“Elder, may I try?”

Looking toward the speaker, Elder Ju saw a woman in a pale blue gown holding the hand of a little girl.

“Who are you? What is your spirit?” he asked.

“My name is Ye Qianqian, a level sixty-one Emperor. My spirit is the Nine-Heart Begonia,” she replied.