Chapter 56: Bibi Dong's Curiousity (Patreon)

A Temptation of Nuclear Proportions.

That was the only way Lu Feng could describe it.

This kind of allure could shatter a man's willpower, his very thoughts.

Who could resist?

Unless he wasn't a man at all.

Lu Feng was hit by a wave of heat, his body practically bursting at the seams.

Crazy. This is absolute madness.

An earth-shattering surprise, one he never saw coming.

His delicate, devoted wife, Zhu Zhuqing, had wrapped herself up like the most coveted gift in the world and delivered herself straight to him.

Shock. Overwhelming tenderness.

She was doing this for him.

Even if part of her still recoiled from the pain, even if it wasn't something she naturally enjoyed—she was pushing past it. For him.

Lu Feng's rationality hadn't completely drowned in desire.

Because he'd already sworn to himself: Be gentle.

And there was another factor her sister, Zhu Zhuyun, was asleep in the next room.

Better not wake her.

That's why Zhu Zhuqing had pressed a finger to his lips earlier, her eyes pleading: "No loud noises."

In fact, The moment Zhu Zhuqing shut the door, Zhu Zhuyun's eyes snapped open. She quietly slipped out of bed, tiptoed to the door, and cracked it open just enough to peek, just like before.

She knew it was wrong, knew it wasn't right.

But she couldn't stop herself.

Her curiosity burned, fueled by a certain fixation.

That feeling stirred a strange anticipation in her.

Now, that anticipation was blazing hotter than ever.

Her little sister had followed her advice, slipping into the provocative outfit she'd suggested buying.

It gave Zhu Zhuyun a twisted sense of being there, as if she were living through her sister, entwined with Lu Feng…

Peering through the door's narrow gap at the sofa…

Zhu Zhuyun's heart pounded so hard it might burst.

A tidal wave of sensation crashed over her, her legs starting to shake.

Outside, A'yin, bathed in moonlight, her branches quivered faintly too.

Meanwhile, in the Pope's Chambers…

Inside the opulent halls of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong stood before a full-length mirror, admiring herself in an exquisite, newly tailored Eight Treasures Soft Armor.

She traced a hand through her golden tresses, tilting her head as a self-satisfied smile curved her lips. For once, her mood seemed light.

Then, Hu Liena's report sliced through the tranquility.

"Lu Feng has vanished from Star Luo City. No traces left."

A glint of steel flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes. "Hmph. Expected. I knew the Star Luo Empire would pull something like this."

Hu Liena clenched her fists. "Teacher, I won't rest until I find him, alive or dead."

"Why would I want his corpse? I need him alive completely unharmed, His god-tier martial soul is one in a million. With my guidance, the two of us could become invincible, enough to stand against even Qian Daoliu himself."

"Understood, Master." Hu Liena bowed respectfully, though a flicker of bitterness crossed her heart.

Before Lu Feng appeared, she had been Bibi Dong's most cherished disciple. Now, her teacher's obsession with securing him as a student was so intense that she was willing to sacrifice Hu Liena's own body to lure him in.

And Hu Liena knew better than anyone, once Bibi Dong set her mind on something, nothing could stand in her way.

"For now, focus on your cultivation," Bibi Dong continued, her piercing gaze locking onto Hu Liena's face as if reading her thoughts. "Once our scouts locate Lu Feng, you'll have your role to play."

A knowing smile curled on her lips. "You are blaming me for using you as bait, don't you?"

"This disciple wouldn't dare," Hu Liena murmured, lowering her head in deference.

Bibi Dong's eyes gleamed with ruthless wisdom. "Foolish girl. I'm doing this for your own benefit. The Holy Texts of Spirit Hall speak of the 'Cosmic Tree', a martial soul that nourishes all life. If my deductions are correct, proximity to Lu Feng could enhance your soul power. The closer you are the greater the gains."

Hu Liena's breath hitched. "Teacher, are you saying that if I… with him… my cultivation speed would increase?"

"Precisely," Bibi Dong confirmed. "The effects may be subtle now, but as his own strength grows, so too will the benefits. And perhaps…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "He could even raise your limit."

"My limit?"

"Indeed. Suppose your limit is Rank 98. With him, you might break through to 99 or even beyond. But of course…We won't know until we test it."

"I understand, Teacher."

Suddenly, Hu Liena's reluctance evaporated.

A fiery hunger ignited in her chest, she wanted Lu Feng now, to seize this chance at power she'd once thought impossible.

In a world where strength ruled all, absolute power was everything.

And Lu Feng?

He might just be her key to it.

Bibi Dong had once told her that, no matter how gifted she was, reaching Qian Daoliu's fabled Rank 99 was beyond her.

But now…

Lu Feng was hope.

His name blazed in her mind, dazzling and irresistible.

She'd never met him, yet she already burned with the same desperate craving as her teacher.

And if the rumors were true?

He was devastatingly handsome, too.

"Enough. You may leave, focus on your training."

Bibi Dong waved a hand dismissively, her tone languid.

"Yes, Master. This disciple takes her leave."

With a bow, Hu Liena retreated from the pope chambers, a privilege granted only to her, Bibi Dong's most trusted disciple.

Alone again, Bibi Dong's gaze drifted back to the mirror.

The Eight Treasures Soft Armor clung to her curves like liquid silver, its intricate design accentuating both her divine grace and a rarely seen, alluring charm.

Even the Pope was not immune to vanity.

In public, she wore the heavy, ceremonial robes of her station stiff with gold embroidery, radiating authority. But here, in solitude, she could admire the armor's artistry, a gift that stirred something almost girlish in her.

"Exquisite," she murmured, tracing a finger along the delicate filigree. "Every time I wear this, my spirits lift. You've outdone yourself, Alliance Leader, Truly, the finest gift I've ever received. How should I repay you?"

A wry smile touched her lips.

"You're the first man who's given me so much yet asked for nothing in return. Not even a meeting."

Her reflection tilted its head, eyes narrowing in contemplation.

"To command the loyalty of a Transcendent Douluo… I'd underestimated you. Far more than I thought."

"What kind of man are you?" she mused aloud. "Too old? Too ugly to face me? Or is there some shadow you hide from?" A low laugh. "My curiosity only grows."

Beyond vanity, beyond power plays, Bibi Dong's vision burned brighter:

To shatter the two empires' corrupt aristocracy. To forge a world where lineage meant nothing where resources flowed to the talented, the driven, not the privileged.

The Xue Family's pathetic "Swan" martial soul ruled an empire by birthright alone, hoarding wealth wrung from peasants' taxes. They let villages starve, denied children their rightful awakenings, and left gifted commoners to rot in obscurity.

The Dai Family of Star Luo was no better.

Bibi Dong saw their game clearly:

Crush the weak. Dull their minds. Keep them begging for scraps so the nobles' thrones stay unchallenged.

This was no true meritocracy. Countless potential heroes died as nameless farmers, their sparks smothered before they could ignite.

This was not a world where the strong were purely respected, because the path to strength for many commoners was cut off from the beginning.

Spirit Hall defied the empires, offering free awakenings to all.

When imperial coffers closed, Bibi Dong sold her jewels, even took loans from the Merchant Alliance, to keep subsidies flowing.

And the Alliance itself, led by that enigmatic man, had become a lifeline for the oppressed.

Their ideals aligned perfectly.

And with his gold, his resources, he'd armed her revolution.