"You are the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, and as your teacher, I must know your whereabouts to protect you," Qian Xunji declared righteously.
Bibi Dong's face flushed with anger.
Holy Maiden? Did being the Holy Maiden mean she had no freedom at all?
Ignoring her fury, Qian Xunji continued, "As the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, you have repeatedly met with someone secretly. What will people think of our Spirit Hall if this gets out?"
"Su Bai and I are innocent; we are just friends," Bibi Dong retorted.
Though their actions might have seemed intimate, they were friends and had not crossed any boundaries.
"Innocent?" Qian Xunji sneered, "Meeting with a man repeatedly, and you call that innocent?"
"Believe what you want!" Bibi Dong snapped, turning on her heel to leave.
Qian Xunji's face darkened with fury. His disciple had never been like this; never had he disobeyed him. It was all because of that man. "Su Bai? You'll regret this!"
…
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
During these three years, Bibi Dong continued to visit Su Bai occasionally. Their feelings for each other grew rapidly, though they had yet to take the final step.
Su Bai was in no hurry; he had abundant time.
Aside from spending time with Xiao Wu and his daughter, Su Bai devoted himself to nurturing his relationship with Bibi Dong.
Meanwhile, Qian Xunji continued in his attempts to eliminate Su Bai. He even sent Titled Douluo, but all efforts ended in failure. This resulted in a severe reprimand from Qian Daoliu. After all, nurturing a Titled Douluo in the Spirit Hall was no easy task, and losing one was a significant blow. Naturally, Qian Daoliu was furious.
After that, Qian Xunji became more restrained. He could do nothing besides Titled Douluo; he had no one capable of killing Su Bai. And clearly, Qian Daoliu had no intention of helping him.
Now, Su Bai and Bibi Dong sat by a tranquil lakeside. Bibi Dong nestled in Su Bai's arms, his hand resting naturally on her waist.
Bibi Dong felt a rare sense of peace while gazing at the calm lake. She sighed, "If only we could stay like this forever."
She was acutely aware that her teacher had relentlessly caused trouble for Su Bai over the past three years. More than ever, she longed to stay by Su Bai's side forever.
Despite her circumstances, Bibi Dong couldn't shake the sense of indebtedness to Qian Xunji and Spirit Hall. It was a reality she couldn't ignore.
"It will be alright, I promise," Su Bai reassured her with a gentle pat on her shoulder.
After a brief pause, he continued, "Dong'er, I have a gift for you."
Curious, Bibi Dong asked, "What kind of gift?"
Su Bai responded with a mischievous grin, "It's a secret. Just wait here for a moment."
With that, he left Bibi Dong slightly annoyed at his cryptic behavior.
When Su Bai returned, he wasn't alone. He brought a soul beast, a Man-Faced Demon Spider, and presented it to Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong's eyes widened in astonishment. "How did you know I reached level sixty? I haven't even told you yet!"
Indeed, during the past three years, Bibi Dong had undergone a remarkable transformation, progressing from acquiring her fourth spirit ring to attaining the formidable level of sixty. Her journey was marked by dedication and perseverance. Meeting Su Bai wasn't just a reunion but an opportunity to reconnect and embark on another soul beast hunt, driven by her continuous pursuit of growth and strength.
To her surprise, Su Bai had already prepared everything.
Touched by his thoughtfulness, Bibi Dong couldn't help but wonder about Su Bai's progress. What kind of sect had nurtured such an extraordinary talent?
Su Bai smiled, showing his confidence in Bibi Dong's abilities. He pointed at the Man-Faced Demon Spider and said, "Check it out; this spider's been around for seventy thousand years. With your strong body, you can totally absorb its energy."
Bibi Dong was stunned. A seventy-thousand-year-old spirit beast? And Su Bai had subdued it?
As she considered Su Bai's mysterious side, she realized she hadn't fully grasped his capabilities. Even though they were close, Su Bai had kept his background and true abilities hidden.
Su Bai gestured gently, "Dong'er, you should absorb the spirit ring quickly. I might have been a bit too forceful, and it won't hold up for much longer."
Bibi Dong pressed her lips together and shook her head. "No, this is too precious. I can't accept it."
A seventy-thousand-year-old spirit beast, even as a ninth spirit ring, was more than enough. After all, obtaining a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring wasn't easy. There weren't many hundred-thousand-year spirit beasts, and they were formidable. Capturing one was a daunting task.
Upon hearing this, Su Bai shrugged casually. "If you don't want it, that's fine. I'll just finish it off and dispose of it. It won't survive much longer anyway."
"No," Bibi Dong objected quickly, feeling reluctant. Then, she gritted her teeth and said, "I'll absorb it, okay?"
She knew Su Bai was trying to goad her, but what he said was also true. The Man-Faced Demon Spider was already on its last legs. Even if she declined, it would eventually perish.
Bibi Dong's eyes sparkled as she looked at Su Bai. "Why are you so kind to me?"
Su Bai shrugged again, a gentle smile playing on his lips. "Isn't it obvious? Because you're my beloved."
"You..." Bibi Dong covered her mouth, her eyes glistening with emotion.
They had spent three years together, their actions intimate, yet Su Bai had never openly expressed his feelings. Bibi Dong had been patiently waiting for him to take the lead, as societal norms dictated.
Finally, Su Bai spoke up.
Bibi Dong had long longed to hear those words. Still, before she could savor the moment, Su Bai gently urged her, "Let's save the sentimentality for later. First, absorb the spirit ring, or it might truly perish."
At his words, Bibi Dong shot Su Bai an annoyed glance but obediently dispatched the Man-Faced Demon Spider and began absorbing the spirit ring.
The pleasant atmosphere was momentarily disrupted.
An hour later, Bibi Dong finally completed the absorption.
Excitedly, she turned to Su Bai and said, "I did it, Su Bai! I'm also a Soul Emperor now."
"Congratulations," Su Bai replied, his smile warm.
"Huh... what's happening?" Suddenly, Bibi Dong exclaimed.
She felt eight sharp spider legs sprouting from her back, tearing her clothes apart.