Chapter Four: Departure

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, Bibi Dong summoned Ye Qianqian and the others to the Pope's Hall.

"Ye Qianqian, your one-year term has ended. Today, you may return to your family with your daughter," Bibi Dong said, seated, looking down at Ye Qianqian and Ye Lingling.

"Ah... yes!" Ye Qianqian replied, feeling a twinge of reluctance, for she had cared for Lingxiao for an entire year.

Ye Lingling's eyes also held a trace of sadness. Since Lingxiao could talk, walk, and run, he had followed her around every day, calling her Sister Lingling and sharing whatever delicious food he found. She truly loved this little brother, and the thought of suddenly parting made her feel hollow inside.

Bibi Dong observed them with some displeasure. Although she had found Lingxiao, over the past year, Lingxiao had grown closer to Ye Qianqian and her daughter instead.

At that moment, Elder Ju entered carrying an exquisitely crafted large box.

After placing the box on the ground, Elder Ju opened it to reveal seven soul bones, each radiating a distinct hue.

"These are seven ten-thousand-year soul bones. You may each choose one at will," Bibi Dong said to Ye Qianqian.

Hearing this, Ye Qianqian looked carefully at the soul bones in the box, thoughtfully considering which to select.

Bibi Dong remained silent, patiently waiting. These soul bones were all of high quality—difficult even for a Soul Saint to obtain. Among them was a torso soul bone so rare that even titled Douluo would compete fiercely for it.

After more than ten minutes, Ye Qianqian finally made her choice.

"Your Holiness, I choose this right arm soul bone," Ye Qianqian said, holding a soul bone that emitted a faint blue glow.

Seeing Ye Qianqian select her soul bone, Elder Ju carefully stored the other soul bones back in the Wuhun Hall’s treasure pavilion.

"Good choice. This one belongs to the plant category and grants the soul master powerful regenerative abilities."

"Since you have made your selections, you may leave now. Elder Ju will accompany you to ensure your safety," Bibi Dong declared, just as Elder Ju returned.

Ye Qianqian and the others cast a reluctant glance toward the inner chamber of the Pope’s Hall, where Lingxiao was sound asleep. They sighed softly, said no more, secured the soul bones, and exited the hall with Elder Ju following behind.

Bibi Dong paid them no further mind and turned her attention back to the affairs of the Wuhun Hall.

An hour later, Lingxiao appeared in the Pope’s Hall.

"Xiao’er, you’re awake!" Bibi Dong sensed Lingxiao’s aura, smiled, set aside her tasks, and beckoned him over.

Lingxiao ran over, and Bibi Dong picked him up, placing him on her lap.

"Aunt Dong, where are Aunt Qianqian and Sister Lingling?" Lingxiao asked, looking up at her.

"They’ve returned," Bibi Dong replied.

"Returned? Returned where?"

"To their home—the Ye family of the Heavenly Dou Empire."

"Can I go to the Ye family in the Heavenly Dou Empire to find them?"

"You can, but only after you become stronger!"

"Become stronger?" Lingxiao lowered his head and pondered, "What does it mean to be strong? Do I have to become a titled Douluo?"

"If you become a titled Douluo, you will be among the top experts on this continent, and there will be no place you cannot go," Bibi Dong said with a light laugh.

"Top experts are the strongest in the world?" Lingxiao asked.

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment. She knew that titled Douluos were not the strongest—gods were. Only by becoming a god could one wield overwhelming power on the continent.

Perhaps even gods were not the ultimate power; there might be differences among gods themselves.

Moreover, becoming a god was incredibly difficult! As the Pope of the Wuhun Hall, she knew only of the angels worshipped by the Offering Hall, the Sea God revered on Sea God Island, and the Raksha God she had recently encountered.

After a pause, Bibi Dong looked into Lingxiao’s eyes and softly said, "A titled Douluo is one of the top experts on Douluo Continent, but not the strongest."

"Then who is the strongest?"

"Gods."

"Gods?"

"Yes. The strongest are gods. If you become a god, then titled Douluos are merely mortals. However, gods might not be the ultimate either, because there isn’t just one god."

"How does one become a god? Aunt Dong, can you become a god?" Lingxiao asked.

"Becoming a god is very difficult. As for whether I can become one, I don’t know—maybe yes, maybe no," Bibi Dong said. She was uncertain, for no one on the continent had become a god in a thousand years.

"Is it really that hard to become a god?" Lingxiao asked with curiosity.

"For you, Xiao’er, perhaps it’s not impossible," Bibi Dong replied. "In the future, you will definitely become a god, travel to the Divine Realm, and even become one of the powerful gods. At that time, you can do whatever you wish."

"The Divine Realm! One of the powerful gods!" Lingxiao’s heart stirred with longing.

"In the future, I will definitely become a god and go to the Divine Realm! And not just become one of the gods—I want to be the strongest. I want to surpass all gods, become the mightiest in the Divine Realm, possess the power to defeat all gods, even transcend the gods themselves," Lingxiao declared, his gaze fixed beyond the hall.

Bibi Dong stared in astonishment. Her greatest wish was to become a god and destroy the Wuhun Hall—the place that had brought her nightmares.

But she had never dared to imagine, let alone hope, to become an existence above all gods. Yet this little one, only one year old, already harbored such ambition.

What lies above the gods? She did not know, nor could she achieve it. But Lingxiao was an unknown entity—perhaps he truly could.

Smiling, Bibi Dong said, "Very well! Becoming a god may not make you the strongest. Xiao’er, you must train hard to become an existence above the gods, wielding overwhelming power!"

"Yes!" Lingxiao nodded firmly, his eyes resolute. In the future, he would surpass the so-called gods.

He would become a god in the eyes of gods!

...

When Lingxiao was two years old, Bibi Dong accepted a disciple—Hu Liena—and also took Lingxiao as her disciple. They became the Sacred Maiden and Sacred Son of the Wuhun Hall.

Time quickly passed another year. Inside the Pope’s Hall, a girl around ten chased after Lingxiao.

Though young, the girl exuded a captivating charm, her eyes as bewitching as a fox’s.

The boy she chased—now three years old—looked like a child of seven or eight. His delicate features and radiant, flawless eyes bore a cheerful smile.

"Xiao’er, don’t run! If you run again, I’ll get angry. Beware my ruthless hands!" Hu Liena shouted, clenching her fair fist as she ran behind him.

"Nyah-nyah-nyah! Sister Na’er just scares me. I’m not listening to you!" Lingxiao didn’t stop; instead, he turned his head and made a face at Hu Liena.

Hu Liena twitched at the corner of her eye, her soul energy rippling. Suddenly, her speed surged, and she leapt in front of Lingxiao, scooping him up in her arms.

Pouting, she pressed her pretty face close to his, "Hmph, Xiao’er, you run? How could you possibly outrun me?"

Though she spoke with a hint of pride, she was secretly shocked. Being five years older and a soul master herself, she couldn’t outrun Lingxiao without using soul power.

Lingxiao rolled his eyes and said, "Sister Na’er is cheating. You used soul power to chase me."

Hu Liena blushed but retorted, "Hmph, so what? There’s no rule saying you can’t use soul power in a chase. Now you’ve lost."

Lingxiao opened his mouth in shock, staring at Hu Liena as if she had spoken something incredible.

Seeing his incredulous expression, Hu Liena felt embarrassed but maintained a calm demeanor.

Just then, a ghostly figure appeared before them.

Seeing the figure, Hu Liena quickly put Lingxiao down and saluted.

"Greetings, Elder Gui."

"Mm." The Ghost Douluo nodded expressionlessly, his personality as such.

Lingxiao merely glanced at the Ghost Douluo without showing respect or speaking, yet the elder was unperturbed.

After all, from the elders to the guards and attendants of the Wuhun Hall, everyone knew how precious the Sacred Son was to Pope Bibi Dong. No one could bear to see him suffer even the slightest grievance.

Hu Liena was the Sacred Maiden; the elder accepted her salute since her status was not higher than an elder’s.

But for the Sacred Son to salute? What a joke! The elder was of sound mind. If he dared accept such a salute now, Bibi Dong would make sure he understood the gap between him and the ultimate Douluo immediately afterward.

His friend, Ju Yueguan, had always told him to respect the Sacred Son, to obey him in all matters, and never to do anything that might displease him, not even a little.

No one in the Wuhun Hall dared to challenge Bibi Dong’s authority, so naturally, he did not offend the favored Sacred Son. Yet he was curious why Ju Yueguan, knowing all this, still kept reminding him.

Until one day, Ju Yueguan revealed his soul ring in front of him.

The red glow radiating from the hundred-thousand-year soul ring stunned him.

They had been friends for decades; he knew all about Ju Yueguan.

But this was a hundred-thousand-year soul ring!

Ju Yueguan had suddenly acquired it.

This revelation shocked him even more than the sudden extermination of the Three Sects.

Only after relentless questioning did Ju Yueguan reveal that this matter was in some way related to the Sacred Son.

Since then, he had remembered: no matter if it was the Pope or the Grand Offering, one must never provoke the Sacred Son. The former might only punish, but the latter could cost him his life.