As his words fell, Qian Xunji retrieved a token engraved with six great Martial Souls from his Soul Guidance Device...
And solemnly handed it to Ye Tian.
"Since you could propose this condition, you likely understand what it represents. I hope you will use it appropriately."
"I will!"
Ye Tian extended both hands and accepted the Pope Order.
His face showed genuine delight...
The Pope Order!
As far as Ye Tian knew, the Spirit Hall had only issued three of these, each given to the leaders of the three great sects.
Any holder held a status equivalent to an elder within the Spirit Hall, or at the very least, could be called an honorary elder.
During the Soul Master Grand Tournament, this Pope Order had played a significant role.
Setting aside Yu Xiaogang's bluffing for now, even Ning Fengzhi had to use this identity to stand in the same row as Titled Douluos like Sword Douluo and Bibi Dong.
This was enough to demonstrate the weight carried by the Pope Order.
Within Spirit Hall City, it might not grant Ye Tian any real authority to command others...
But outside, seeing this token was like having the Pope himself present—it was extremely effective!
Definitely more useful than his status as the Pope's grand-disciple...
It also spared him from having to borrow Bibi Dong's authority whenever he needed to do something.
Ye Tian chuckled and quickly stored the Pope Order away.
"Hmm?"
Qian Xunji noticed Ye Tian's movement and glanced at the wrist guard...
"Do you not like the Soul Guidance Device I gifted you?"
"Ah..."
"Of course not, it's just that Teacher didn't like it, so I had to keep it privately."
Ye Tian explained with an awkward smile.
He didn't want Bibi Dong to think he and Qian Xunji had become too close...
Naturally, he didn't want Qian Xunji to think so either.
"I see."
Qian Xunji nodded slightly as he looked at the ring Ye Tian had taken out.
To Ye Tian's surprise, after giving the Pope Order, Qian Xunji actually asked again:
"Then, is there anything else you need?"
"?!"
Ye Tian was stunned.
He looked at Qian Xunji with some confusion, not understanding why the man had become so generous.
To be safe, Ye Tian still shook his head.
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty. Having this Pope Order is already more than enough for me."
"Haha... Good, very good!"
Upon hearing this, Qian Xunji couldn't help but laugh.
He found himself liking Ye Tian more and more.
Ambitious but not insatiably greedy, young yet understanding gratitude and reciprocity...
How bad could such a person truly be?
This was the main reason he felt comfortable entrusting the Pope Order to Ye Tian...
Qian Xunji waved his hand with a smile.
"Alright, you may leave now."
"Go find Sigma to update your Soul Master information and collect your subsidy..."
"Also, take another one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"!!!"
Ye Tian's eyes widened.
One hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins—this was a huge sum he had never even seen before.
He felt relieved that he hadn't been greedy earlier.
Staring at the card Qian Xunji handed over...
Ye Tian suddenly felt a little reluctant to let this benefactor die too soon.
But such matters would not change because of the momentary will of an ant like him...
For now, he could only be an observer!
After accepting the Amethyst Card, Ye Tian soon left the Papal Hall in high spirits.
He found Sigma to update his Soul Master Handbook.
Then...
He set off on the road back to Wisteria Residence.
The previous spring breeze of triumph instantly dissipated, leaving only gravity behind...
When Bibi Dong asked,
how should he prove that he hadn't betrayed her?
What a headache!
Ye Tian suddenly felt that the Gold Soul Coins in his Soul Guidance Device were burning his hands...
——
Inside Wisteria Residence, Bibi Dong stood in the pavilion, gazing into the distance from her high vantage point.
Ye Tian had been gone for so long,
making her restless!
If Ye Tian wanted to use the Qian Family to break free from her, what should she do?
If she couldn't have him, should she destroy him?
Bibi Dong stared vacantly into the distance, urgently wanting to know...
what exactly had happened in the Papal Hall.
How should she treat Ye Tian!
"!!!"
Suddenly.
Bibi Dong's empty eyes trembled as she spotted a figure in the distance.
With a whoosh,
Bibi Dong's figure vanished from the pavilion.
Not long after.
Ye Tian had already arrived at the gate of Wisteria Residence.
After hesitating for a moment,
Ye Tian somewhat apprehensively pushed open the rosewood door...
Creak—
Pressing against the door panel, Ye Tian peered inside through the crack.
Only when he detected nothing unusual...
did he smoothly push the wooden door open and slip inside.
Just as he turned to close the door properly, a chill drifted from behind Ye Tian...
"What did he say to you?"
"!!!"
Hearing Bibi Dong's slightly cold voice, Ye Tian's heart tightened.
His door-closing motion paused before continuing...
He calmly turned around and greeted Bibi Dong.
"Teacher."
"What did he say to you?"
Bibi Dong leaned against the fence wall by the door,
arms crossed in front of her, looking down at Ye Tian with a sidelong glance.
Her eyes swept over him...
"Actually, it was nothing much."
A faint smile appeared on Ye Tian's face,
"The Pope encouraged me and gave me some rewards."
"Explain the rewards in detail."
Bibi Dong frowned, pricking up her ears.
"..."
Ye Tian understood that hesitation was absolutely not an option at this moment,
so he immediately told the truth.
"I asked the Pope for a Pope Order."
"A Pope Order?!"
Bibi Dong was somewhat surprised,
As the Saintess,
she certainly knew what a Pope Order represented.
Having no time to be shocked by Ye Tian's audacious request, Bibi Dong immediately pressed further:
"He agreed?"
"Yes."
Ye Tian nodded.
"The Pope agreed, and also gave me one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins. Additionally... the Pope promised to give me a Ten Thousand Year Spirit Bone when I achieve Soul King rank."
"Hah, he's really willing to be generous."
Bibi Dong sneered coldly,
though inwardly she felt somewhat heavy, her eyes looking at Ye Tian with complexity.
Since Qian Xunji had offered such terms...
what should she use to keep Ye Tian by her side?!
Bibi Dong stared directly at Ye Tian, not hiding her feelings at all, making Ye Tian feel somewhat uneasy.
He couldn't help but explain:
"Teacher, don't misunderstand, I won't collude with the Pope."
Mockery flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes,
"Collude? That's not what you used to say."
"I..."
Ye Tian opened his mouth, question marks forming above his head.
But Bibi Dong clearly remembered.
During that period in the past, Ye Tian had been full of lies about supporting her!
Remembering this...
Bibi Dong's eyes slightly brightened, the corners of her mouth quirking up as if she had found a solution.
With a teasing expression, she glanced at Ye Tian and said quietly:
"Didn't you say you wanted to become the Holy Son?"
"???"
Ye Tian first looked strangely at Bibi Dong, then showed some astonishment.
"!!!"
At this moment, Bibi Dong seemed to have undergone some changes...
Ye Tian tentatively inquired, "Teacher, what... what do you mean by this..."
"I will grant you what you desire."
Bibi Dong gazed intently at Ye Tian, speaking without any pretense or beating around the bush.
Her eyes held an unprecedented ambition!
"As long as you support me to become the leader of Spirit Hall, once I ascend to power, I will appoint you as the Holy Son of Spirit Hall! I can swear this with my soul..."