Chapter 42: Bibi Dong's Madness: Impossible! How could Qian Xunji have treated me like that back then?
Faced with an opportunity that could make her stronger and allow her to see a wider world, the girl agreed without hesitation.
The scene shifts to the magnificent Spirit City, inside the Papal Palace.
The young Bibi Dong sees that man for the first time—the then Pope, Qian Xunji.
In the scene, Qian Xunji wears the Pope's golden robe, his face handsome, his temperament dignified yet gentle.
His eyes are full of appreciation and admiration as he looks at Bibi Dong, like looking at a peerless jade.
"Good, good twin spirits! Good peerless genius!"
Qian Xunji's voice echoes in the empty hall, full of joy.
"From this day forward, you are my only personal disciple, Qian Xunji.
All the resources of the Spirit Hall will be devoted to you!"
Everyone under the sky saw how Qian Xunji fulfilled his promise.
He personally guided Bibi Dong's cultivation, found the most suitable spirit rings for her, treated her as his own daughter, and nurtured her with utmost care.
Bibi Dong also displayed unparalleled talent, her soul power advancing by leaps and bounds, becoming the most dazzling new star among the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.
Those years were filled with deep affection between master and disciple, a time of great joy.
In the eyes of the world, it was a perfect script: a genius girl discovered by a talent scout, thriving under her mentor's guidance, and ultimately inheriting the throne.
The Spirit Hall's soul masters watched with fervent excitement; it was practically the Spirit Hall's most glorious promotional video!
However, in Notting City, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang stared blankly at the sky, his hands clenched into fists so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, oblivious to the blood flowing from them.
The smiling girl on the screen, her eyes sparkling with boundless hope for the future, slowly overlapped with the figure deep within his memory.
His heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand, the pain suffocating him.
But Yu Xiaogang knew it was all an illusion!
Meanwhile, on the throne in the Papal Palace, Bibi Dong gazed at her "innocent" self reflected in the celestial canopy, at her "kind" teacher. Her exquisite face remained utterly unmoved; deep within her purple eyes lay only an unyielding coldness and mockery.
Those years, once considered the warmest and most hopeful, now appeared so ironic and laughable under the celestial reflection.
The so-called mentor, the so-called cultivation… that teacher-student bond was nothing more than a sugar coating concealing the world's most filthy and vicious desires.
She waited quietly, waiting for the celestial canopy to shatter this hypocritical sugar coating, to reveal the secret she had hidden her entire life, the secret she had even risked her life to protect.
And the images in the celestial canopy continued.
A thought struck Bibi Dong.
This seemingly bright period was about to reach its darkest turning point.
Revealing to everyone Qian Xunji's ugly intentions!
The scene continued in the sky.
The adult Bibi Dong, under Qian Xunji's wing, still retained an innocent naiveté.
Dressed in the magnificent robes of the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, she walked up the steps of the Pope's Mountain, attracting respectful and adoring glances from every spirit master along the way.
She would leap with joy at a perfect spirit skill release, and laugh like a child at a compliment from her teacher, Qian Xunji.
This scene was as beautiful as a painting.
However, on the throne in the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong's body trembled slightly.
No!
This isn't right!
In her memory, although Qian Xunji had indeed nurtured her, deep within those gentle eyes...
Forever hidden within her was a chilling possessiveness she couldn't comprehend at the time!
The way he looked at her was never that of a daughter, but rather as a perfect possession, soon to be his!
He was kind to her because of her twin martial soul talents, because of her perfect appearance, capable of bearing him, and the Angel Clan, a prodigy combining the strengths of both families!
That kindness, from the very beginning, was filled with purpose, with calculation!
But why… why was the Qian Xunji displayed on the screen so dignified and benevolent, like a loving father?
His gaze towards her was so pure, so full of expectation and pride, without a trace of impurity.
"Sky Screen… what exactly do you want?"
Bibi Dong's nails dug deeply into the armrest of the golden throne, her purple eyes filled with unprecedented confusion and a fear she herself was unaware of.
Could it be… could it be that her memory was faulty?
No!
Impossible!
That deep-seated pain and humiliation could not be fake!
***
Meanwhile, deep within the Spirit Hall, in the Hall of Offerings.
Qian Daoliu, who had been sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes. His cloudy gaze pierced through the palace and landed on the celestial canopy.
In the image was his long-deceased son—Qian Xunji.
Looking at the gentle, loving son in the image, who treated Bibi Dong as his own, Qian Daoliu felt no relief; instead, his brows furrowed even more deeply.
"Ji'er..."
Qian Daoliu let out a long sigh.
How could he not know his own son?
Proud, arrogant, ambitious, and willing to do anything for the glory of the angel race.
He might admire Bibi Dong's talent, but he could never possess such pure paternal love.
The celestial canopy displayed a son he had never seen, a son he had once hoped for.
"This is not reality..."
Qian Daoliu slowly closed his eyes. "Celestial canopy, are you revealing a truth that no one knows...?"
Qian Daoliu sighed inwardly.
Regardless of Qian Xunji's initial attitude towards Bibi Dong, he had still committed that act.
This was a stain that the angel race could never wash away.
After today, the Angel Clan will likely bear a heavy burden of blame!
Although many won't openly defy the Spirit Hall due to their strength—or more accurately, dare not openly defy the Hall of Offerings—after all, the biggest victim, Bibi Dong, is now the Pope of the Spirit Hall.
***
Shrek Academy.
Yu Xiaogang stared blankly at the sky, his heart feeling as if it had been torn in two.
One half felt a sliver of comfort for the innocent and carefree Bibi Dong in the image.
So, before meeting him, she had experienced such happy times.
The other half, however, was overwhelmed by deeper pain.
If… if Qian Xunji was truly such a perfect teacher, then what caused all the subsequent tragedies?
A thought, like a venomous snake, burrowed into his mind, chilling him to the bone.
"Could it be… because of me?"
Yu Xiaogang's lips lost all color.
If it weren't for his appearance, could Bibi Dong have continued to be so happy, ultimately inheriting the Pope's position and becoming the most dazzling jewel of the Douluo Continent?
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(End of this chapter)