Seeing the situation, Xie Yue quickly intervened, trying to smooth things over.
"Nana, don't blame Yan. He must have his reasons for doing this. If it were me, I wouldn't easily reveal my trump card in front of others either."
"But we're best friends!"
Hu Liena was still somewhat upset.
In her view, since they were friends, there should be no secrets between them.
"Alright, you know about it now, don't you? If it weren't for Yan, we might not have been able to escape from that wolf pack."
Xie Yue said, patting Yan on the shoulder, seemingly signaling him not to mind his sister's unreasonable outburst.
Yan grinned and shook his head. Of course, he didn't mind.
"I'd prefer fewer people knowing about my external spirit bone. So, both of you, please keep it a secret."
"Don't worry, we won't say anything. But the Pope and the two elders will surely find out."
"Yeah, I know."
The three of them then set up camp and decided to spend the night there before returning to Spirit City the next day.
As night fell and the world grew quiet, Hu Liena lay tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
She simply couldn't understand why Yan had changed so much.
Not only had his attitude towards her changed, but his strength had increased dramatically.
He was still the same Yan as before, but to her, it felt like he had become a completely different person.
The next day, the three left the Death Canyon.
A few days later, the familiar walls of Spirit City appeared in their view, and the three couldn't help but smile with relief.
Walking side by side, they passed through the city gates and entered this vibrant and passionate city.
They headed straight for the Pope's Palace, ready to report to Bibi Dong.
Yan walked step by step up the marble staircase leading to the Pope's Palace, feeling the solemnity and grandeur emanating from all sides.
The magnificent building, golden and resplendent, stood tall at the center of Spirit City, like an insurmountable peak, symbolizing the Pope's majesty and power.
As they reached the large plaza in front of the Pope's Palace, they saw two figures emerging from the grand doors.
Though they were still far away, Yan immediately recognized them as Bibi Dong's two trusted subordinates: Elder Yue Guan and Elder Gui Mei.
Yue Guan was as enchanting as ever. His long hair flowed smoothly, naturally hanging on his shoulders and gently swaying with his steps.
His face was delicate and pale, his eyes sparkling with a unique light, as if they could see through people's hearts.
His tall, slender figure moved with a natural elegance, and his luxurious attire, embroidered with exquisite chrysanthemum patterns, complemented his refined demeanor.
In stark contrast to Yue Guan, Gui Mei was mysterious and elusive.
His face was blurry, his figure flickering and difficult to pin down, giving off an air of mystery. His black robe was as deep as the night sky, as though it could swallow all light.
The three of them quickly stepped forward and bowed to the two elders.
"Greetings, Elders."
Their voices were perfectly synchronized, full of respect.
Yue Guan smiled faintly, his eyes warm and gentle.
"You three are back. The Pope is waiting for you inside. Go in quickly."
"Alright."
They answered in unison.
As Yan looked up, he happened to lock eyes with Yue Guan.
From Yue Guan's gaze, Yan quickly sensed that he might already know about his external spirit bone.
Then, the three walked toward the grand entrance of the Pope's Palace. Upon entering, the dazzling golden hall was immediately visible, with a starry sky embedded in the ceiling as if the night sky had been turned upside down inside.
In stark contrast to the grandeur of the hall was its emptiness and coldness.
The lighting was dim, and the tall windows cast fragmented light, adding a mysterious atmosphere to the entire palace.
The marble floor was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting cold light that sent a chill down one's spine.
In the center of the vast and cold hall sat an extraordinarily beautiful woman, exuding an air of nobility.
Her gaze was deep and bright, as if she could see through all superficialities and peer directly into one's heart.
It was the Pope of the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong.
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
The three of them bowed to Bibi Dong.
A gentle smile appeared on Bibi Dong's noble face, as warm as the sun in spring.
"You're back. Good. It seems like you've completed the mission ahead of schedule."
Her voice was soft yet powerful, carrying an invisible authority.
Xie Yue stepped forward as the representative and began to report in detail about their experiences and gains in the Death Canyon.
When he mentioned that Yan had obtained an external spirit bone, Bibi Dong's eyes noticeably brightened for a moment, but she quickly returned to her calm demeanor, as if she had already known everything.
After listening to Xie Yue's report, Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction.
"You did well, you didn't disappoint my expectations."
As she spoke, her gaze turned toward Yan.
"Yan, you're lucky to have obtained an external spirit bone. Show me what it looks like."
As soon as Bibi Dong finished speaking, Xie Yue and Hu Liena wisely stepped aside to give Yan space to reveal his wings.
Yan took a deep breath, and with a surge of energy, his red wings suddenly spread out behind him, majestic and powerful, like a phoenix reborn.
Each of his wings stretched out three meters long, appearing strong and powerful, as though they had already fused with him.
Every feather on his wings seemed to be burning with fiery flames, showcasing his extraordinary power.
Bibi Dong studied Yan's wings carefully, a hint of admiration flashing in her eyes.
"Mm, this external spirit bone is impressive. Quickly put it away."
"Yes."
Yan quickly retracted his wings.
Whether releasing or retracting them, Yan was completely at ease, which made Bibi Dong look at him with renewed respect.
Bibi Dong also had an external spirit bone, which was a set of six wings. Unlike Yan's, hers were small and thin, as delicate as a cicada's wings, known as the "Six-Winged Purple Light Wings."
She had spent considerable effort and time adapting to her six wings.
Looking at Yan's wings now, she thought that he had done even better than she had back then.
She speculated that it might be because Yan had a better physique, allowing him to adapt more quickly.
"Yan, this external spirit bone will help you improve your strength, so make sure to use it well. But don't get too proud of it. It's a double-edged sword, and it could bring you trouble. So, before you are strong enough to protect yourself, don't easily show it in front of others."
"Yes, I understand."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly and gently said:
"You and Xie Yue can leave now, Nana, stay here."
"Yes."
Then, Yan and Xie Yue exited the Pope's Palace together.