"It seems Patriarch Yu has finished his discussion," Bibi Dong remarked.
Yu Yuanzhen nodded and said, "I will have someone deliver the materials before the finals begin. As for Xiaogang... I must trouble Your Holiness to show him some leniency."
"Of course. Although there have been some disagreements between the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall, there was also a time when our relations were quite amicable."
"If I were to make a fuss over a mere Soul Elder, people would say I'm petty."
"Then Xiaogang's safety is in Your Holiness's hands." Yu Yuanzhen wasn't sure how much of Bibi Dong's words were genuine, but at the very least, Yu Xiaogang's life shouldn't be in danger.
A Limit Douluo wouldn't stoop to such petty actions.
His earlier words had been out of concern that Yu Xiaogang's insults might have earned Bibi Dong's hatred. But since Bibi Dong claimed not to care, she definitely wouldn't take Yu Xiaogang's life.
As for beatings?
Even his own father wanted to hit him—why wouldn't others?
After bidding farewell to Bibi Dong, Ning Fengzhi, and the others, Yu Yuanzhen left the Pope's Hall first.
Once the Thunder Dragon Douluo had departed, Ning Fengzhi also took his leave, bringing Ning Rongrong and the two Title Douluo with him.
Outside the Pope's Hall.
Bone Douluo finally couldn't hold back any longer. "That Yu Xiaogang... something seems off about him."
Though Yu Xiaogang had something of a reputation for being a fraud, after decades of hardship, he shouldn't be someone who couldn't read the room.
To actually curse at Pope Bibi Dong in Spirit City—that was beyond absurd.
"Indeed, I thought so too," Sword Douluo agreed. "But I didn't detect any signs of him being controlled."
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo both looked to Ning Fengzhi, hoping for his analysis.
After a moment of contemplation, Ning Fengzhi turned to his silent daughter.
"Rongrong, what do you think?"
"He was indeed influenced—though 'controlled' isn't quite the right word. It was more like a mental suggestion."
"Mental suggestion?" Ning Fengzhi and the two Title Douluo exchanged glances.
"Correct."
There were no obvious signs of Yu Xiaogang being forcibly controlled. If there had been, it wouldn't have gone unnoticed.
Everyone present was a Title Douluo of Rank 95 or higher. If Yu Xiaogang had truly been controlled in a way that could deceive so many, just how terrifying would the perpetrator's abilities have to be?
Even if they could fool everyone else, could they fool her, a half-step Divine expert?
The reason Yu Xiaogang had been affected was, in simpler terms, like certain online games.
The first purchase of six coins marks you as a true player.
Then, at thirty coins, there's another big reward, making it hard to resist spending more—all designed to keep you hooked.
Seeing the inquisitive looks from Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo, Ning Rongrong explained, "Most likely, someone amplified a certain aspect of Yu Xiaogang's inner world."
Yu Xiaogang had been dissatisfied with Bibi Dong for refusing to share the twin martial souls cultivation method. Someone had magnified this resentment, causing him to voice it outright.
"Especially for someone like Yu Xiaogang—strong in self-esteem but insecure and deeply inferiority complex—amplifying his inner world would easily lead to delusions of persecution."
"That might also be why he got beaten up."
"Is such a thing really possible?" Ning Fengzhi asked, astonished.
Martial souls came in all forms, but amplifying someone's inner thoughts without affecting them otherwise? It didn't sound like conventional mental control.
"No, it's not control. It's more like guiding emotions."
Ning Rongrong sighed.
"Ordinary soul masters might not be capable, but a certain existence can do it. And from the very beginning, she's been watching us."
"Watching us? You mean... Qian Daoliu?" Sword Douluo exclaimed.
In Spirit Hall, the only ones who could surveil them undetected were likely Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu.
But Bibi Dong had been right in front of them.
Eliminating all other possibilities, no matter how improbable, the only remaining truth was...
Qian Daoliu, a 99th-ranked Limit Douluo and Quasi-God expert, had been secretly observing them.
"It's not Qian Daoliu." Ning Rongrong dismissed Sword Douluo's speculation.
"Such delicate emotional manipulation isn't something a straightforward person like him would do. His martial soul isn't suited for it either."
"Not Qian Daoliu? Then could it be..."
Ning Fengzhi's pupils dilated slightly, clearly realizing something.
"The aura matches exactly what was on that box before," Ning Rongrong said after a pause. "She's been by Qian Daoliu's side all along."
"No way!"
Cold sweat broke out on Ning Fengzhi's forehead.
Damn. So the three of them had been in such danger just now—watched by two 99th-ranked Limit Douluos, with a first-rank deity observing as well?
If a fight had broken out, even with their martial soul fusion skill, Ning Fengzhi wouldn't have been confident!
Ning Rongrong sighed. "From Bibi Dong's earlier words, it seems she wasn't aware of what happened to Yu Xiaogang these past two days. But that doesn't mean no one was pulling strings behind the scenes."
"If the one who did it was Gu Yuena, then Qian Daoliu was an accomplice."
"She probably still doesn't fully trust Bibi Dong, which is why she had Gu Yuena intervene."
"What surprises me, though, is how close Spirit Hall and the Star Dou Great Forest have become."
The Silver Dragon King was the benevolent half of the split Dragon God, but no matter how kind, she was still a god!
To repeatedly help Spirit Hall—and even personally assist—was downright bizarre.
However, from what she sensed earlier...
The Gu Yuena beside Qian Daoliu likely wasn't her true form.
If it wasn't her real body, that probably meant the first-rank deity hadn't fully recovered yet. The danger was still within manageable limits.
"Rongrong, then what should we..."
Seeing Ning Rongrong lost in thought, Ning Fengzhi hesitated before speaking.
"Stay the course and adapt as needed. Don't worry—that Silver Dragon King observing us probably isn't in her true form."
"It's just an avatar capable of housing her consciousness. Its strength can't be too high—likely only at the level of a Limit Douluo."
"Only a Limit Douluo..." The corners of Ning Fengzhi's and the two Title Douluo's mouths twitched involuntarily.
Since when could the pinnacle existence of the continent be described with "only"?
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Spirit Hall was completely different.
"Lady Gu Yuena, you've overstepped."
When Bibi Dong noticed Yu Xiaogang's abnormal behavior, she had suspected interference. But there were no traces of soul power influence.
The only one in Spirit Hall capable of such a thing was the Silver Dragon King, Gu Yuena.
"I didn't control him," Gu Yuena said, spreading her hands.
"I wouldn't stoop to something as crude as mind control. I merely amplified his feelings toward you—both positive and negative."
"Everything he said came from his own thoughts."
"Hmph. Did Qian Daoliu ask you to intervene?" Bibi Dong's tone carried a hint of displeasure.
Hadn't she made it clear she had nothing to do with Yu Xiaogang? To still be treated with such suspicion was excessive.
Before Qian Daoliu could respond, Gu Yuena chuckled. "Not entirely Qian Daoliu's doing. I also wanted to see what kind of man could captivate the inexperienced Pope so thoroughly."
"And the result?" Gu Yuena grinned. "Truly a spectacle. As Bi Ji said, as long as you avoid becoming lovestruck, the human world has much to teach."
She tossed a recording soul tool to Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong's expression darkened as she channeled soul power into the device.
Instantly, scenes from the prison played out—Yu Yuanzhen and Yu Xiaogang's conversation, including Yu Xiaogang's fabrications about Bibi Dong.
The more she watched, the uglier her expression became.
"Good, very good, Yu Xiaogang."
"You thought of me as your personal soul coin dispenser?"
"You really think I, Bibi Dong, have no temper?"
Among other things, the recording also contained something that left Bibi Dong speechless.
For instance, Yu Yuanzhen's convoluted speculation about her killing Qian Xunji.
Absurd. Utterly absurd.
And beyond that, Yu Yuanzhen had reached the same conclusion as Gu Yuena.
That Qian Daoliu was an idiot for not killing her and even making her Pope.