Douluo Continent: Bibi Dong's Start with the Secret Chamber and Qian Xunji

Bibi Dong's brow twitched slightly.

"I know you harbor resentment."

Chihiro took a slow step forward, her voice carrying a serious tone.

"You hate me for stopping you from being with Xiao Gang, you hate me for keeping you in the Spirit Hall that way. I understand all of that."

He paused, a hint of reminiscence appearing in his eyes.

"But Dong'er, have you ever thought about why I did this?"

Bibi Dong did not answer, but simply looked at him quietly.

"Because you are my disciple." Qian Xunji's voice lowered.

"You are the saintess I nurtured. Your talent and your future should not be ruined by a good-for-nothing. Yu Xiaogang is not good enough for you. You are an unparalleled genius with twin martial souls, while he is just a failed product of martial soul mutation. There will be no good outcome for you two together."

"I admit, my methods were indeed..."

He gave a wry smile. "It was indeed excessive. But think about it, what else could I do? You were determined to go with him back then, and no matter how I tried to persuade you, you wouldn't listen. As your teacher, as the Pope of the Spirit Hall, could I just stand by and watch my most prized disciple ruin his future?"

Bibi Dong's fingers twitched.

Qian Xunji noticed this detail, and a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. He continued speaking, his tone becoming even more sincere.

"And do you think I kept you here just for my own sake?"

"The Spirit Hall needs a successor. Your talent and abilities make you the most suitable candidate. If I let you leave, what will become of the Spirit Hall's future? What will become of the entire Spirit Master world on the continent?"

His voice carried a hint of pity.

"Dong'er, as you know, the Spirit Hall is more than just an organization. It bears the heavy responsibility of managing all the spirit masters in the world and maintaining the stability of the continent. The two great empires are eyeing it covetously, the three upper sects are outwardly respectful but inwardly harbor their own ambitions, the four lower sects are engaged in open and covert struggles, and countless kingdoms and duchies are coveting the resources of spirit masters..."

"If the Spirit Hall doesn't have a sufficiently powerful successor, everything will fall into chaos. Who will suffer then?"

They are the lower-level Soul Masters, the common people who need the protection of the Spirit Hall.

Qian Xunji looked deeply at Bibi Dong, his eyes full of "sincerity".

"Everything I've done is for the Spirit Hall, for all the spirit masters in the world, and for you. I'm your teacher, how could I possibly want to hurt you?"

The secret room fell silent.

The candlelight flickered gently, illuminating Bibi Dong's face. Her expression was hidden in the shadows, indistinct.

Chihiro held his breath, waiting for her response.

He didn't know where Bibi Dong got that strange power from, but he knew it was his only chance.

As long as you can move her with words, as long as you can pry open a crack in her heart...

He was her teacher. He had taught her for so many years, he understood her.

Deep down, she is tender.

Just like how we treated Yu Xiaogang back then.

However, Bibi Dong remained silent.

A voice kept echoing in her mind.

That was the content of the divine test, that cold and grand divine oracle.

[The first test of the gods: to conceive an offspring with exceptional bloodline and talent.]

[Timeframe: Within two years.]

[Failure Penalty: Soul Power permanently reduced by 20 levels.]

Soul power permanently decreased by 20 levels.

Bibi Dong knew all too well what that meant.