But none of that was reflected on her face. The Saint of Spirit Hall remained composed.
Her calm voice cut the silence.
"Guard."
A guard from outside the Pope's Hall entered swiftly and bowed.
"Your Highness."
Bibi Dong tossed him a black-gold token, its surface carved with an intricate sigil of the Saint's Office.
"Take this Saint Token. Arrange for the boy's admission into the Spirit Hall Academy."
The guard caught the token with both hands and bowed again.
"As you command, Your Highness."
He turned to Lin Yuan, eyeing him from head to toe. The boy's clothes looked like he had rolled out of a garbage heap.
"…First, we need to visit a clothing store. You can't go to the Academy dressed like that," the guard muttered.
'This kid must be someone important. Why else would the Saint personally bring him here?'
The man straightened and waved at Lin Yuan.
"Come on, kid. Let's get you cleaned up."
...
Inside Lin Yuan's mind:
[Host, it appears your "disciple route" has been delayed. However, proximity to the Pope's Palace ensures future opportunity.]
'Tch… the world's will may press on me, but I will not falter.'
Lin Yuan followed the guard, eyes gleaming with renewed ambition. This was just the beginning.
...
From behind, Bibi Dong watched the two silhouettes retreat into the distance.
Her lips moved softly.
"Niu."
A shadow flickered into existence behind her, a black-robed figure kneeling silently. Despite the darkness of his attire, his spirit pressure pulsed at the level of a Soul Sage, his cultivation hovering around Rank 76.
"Your command, Your Highness?"
Bibi Dong didn't turn.
"Watch that child. His Every step and every word."
The figure nodded without sound, then vanished into the gloom, melting into the shadows of the palace like he had never existed.
.....
Back to the moment when Bibi Dong left the Elder's Hall with Lin Yuan.
The grand hall slowly fell silent again. The oppressive tension that had come with Bibi Dong's arrival faded like a receding tide. But not everyone relaxed.
She Long's brows were furrowed, and his grip on the Snake Lance remained tight.
He finally broke the silence.
"Young Master," he said, his voice low but edged with frustration, "why didn't you let me capture that brat? I could have squeezed every secret out of him. That bottle... that spatial trick... even a Titled Douluo like me couldn't see through it!"
Qian Renxue didn't respond right away.
She was pressing her fingers against her temples, her breathing just a bit uneven. Overusing the Telepathist ability had taken its toll. Her mind was foggy, echoes of emotions and whispers still rattling in her head.
She closed her eyes and exhaled.
'You think I let him go because I pitied him?'
'You have no idea how many thoughts I had to juggle, how much mental strength it took to read, act, mislead,.'
She opened her eyes and waved her hand weakly.
"Uncle She Long... I believe someone is behind Lin Yuan. Something possibly very powerful. Any rash move could've triggered retaliation."
She Long stiffened.
Her words sank into his mind like ice-cold water.
'Behind that boy... someone powerful? Only a strong man who was hiding behind the scenes could control space?'
Then he remembered the way the jade bottle had appeared, spatial summoning, but without any ripple.
That wasn't something a beggar boy could pull off.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down his spine.
'If a strong being was nearby and I couldn't sense them at all… that's terrifying.'
Sensing his growing unease, Qian Renxue added lightly, as if casually reminding him:
"Grandfather is currently residing in the Elder's Hall."
She Long and Ci Xue exchanged glances. The pressure weighing on their hearts eased instantly.
"Ah… yes." She Long exhaled.
'Grand Worshipper, Qian Daoliu… if anyone can keep things in check, it's him.'
Ci Xue chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"That's right. With 'Grand Worshipper' present, even hidden tigers would think twice."
Qian Renxue then added, her voice calm
"Find someone with a stealth-type martial soul. Soul Douluo-level at minimum. I want them to monitor Lin Yuan quietly."
She Long and Ci Xue looked at each other and nodded.
"Understood."
As they went to make arrangements, Qian Renxue massaged her temples again, the ache from prolonged use of her Telepathist ability still throbbing behind her eyes.
'He's a system user, yes... but also an idiot. His expressions reveal too much. His schemes are shallow. And his lies... laughably transparent.'
'Even Bibi Dong, with all her madness, will be suspicious after a few questions.'
But Qian Renxue knew not to underestimate any unknown variable.
'Still... Bibi Dong is just a Saint now, her influence is limited. She can only mobilize Soul Sage at best. '
Her fingers paused as she thought.
'...I wanted Elder Gu Mei to watch over him. But requesting him would raise too many flags, Grandfather or Father would immediately notice. I'll keep that card for later.'
Then her thoughts shifted.
'That blood wine brew… a product of the system.'
'It's not just alcohol. It's a powerful cultivation resource, likely from a hundred-thousand-year-old dragon-type beast. If I could obtain even a single barrel, it could be used to boost a trusted subordinate, or gain someone important's favor.'
'Even if I don't use it myself… it's a strategic tool.'
She sighed and whispered internally,
'I'll inform the shadow sent to watch him. They'll report any movement of the wine. If the boy tries to use it… I'll have it stolen.'
The moment she made that mental note, her body wobbled slightly. The exhaustion was setting in.
"Uncle She Long, Uncle Ci Xue… I'm tired., I'll rest now," Qian Renxue said softly, pressing her palm to her forehead.
The two old guards straightened and respectfully made way.
"Yes, Young Master. We'll stand guard outside."
Qian Renxue walked slowly to her chambers. The doors closed behind her with a gentle thud.
As she reached her bed and sat down, her purple eyes seemed to shimmer faintly.
' A system user who gets everything from system must be unfamiliar with the sentence- 'Price is always exacted for what fate bestows'.
'I really was lucky… that this Reincarnator was just beginning. No cheats, no hidden trump cards yet...'
Her fingers undid the ribbon in her hair. Golden strands fell over her shoulders.
She laid back on the soft bed, eyes staring at the ceiling.
'If someone like those mature Reincarnators, with martial soul upgrades, divine guidance, and world knowledge, appears before me now…'
Her eyes slowly turned from purple to a radiant gold, and her expression twisted into something eerie and calm, like the whisper of fate behind a curtain.
The thought completed itself not in her mind, but as a whisper of destiny, as if spoken by something far older than her own soul.
"...it would be very, very fascinating."
A gust of wind outside rustled the curtains, though no window was open.
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Hey Guys!! It is me the Author. So, Arc 1 of Douluo Dalu 1 volume is over finally. Complete Arc 2 is already available in advanced chapters.How do you guys like the chapters till now?