Chu Tianxiu rode the Amethyst Winged Lion King at breakneck speed, returning to Spirit City from the Heaven Dou Imperial City in just three days. Upon arriving in Spirit City, Chu Tianxiu first went to Dongxiu Clothing Store, entrusting Old Purple to Old Lange for feeding.
Although he had never seen such a terrifying and ferocious spirit beast before, out of loyalty to Chu Tianxiu, Old Lange still left the Amethyst Winged Lion King behind. Chu Tianxiu then returned to the Spirit Hall with Ghostly Charm.
The two walked side by side on the road leading to the Spirit Hall, and Ghostly Charm asked with concern, "Little Xiu, do you want to go to the Pope's Palace to see His Holiness the Pope first? She's quite worried about you."
Chu Tianxiu couldn't help but think of that angelic face, and realizing he missed her a little, he replied, "Okay, I'll go see Master Sister Dong'er as soon as I get back to the Spirit Hall."
At this moment, Chu Tianxiu thought of something, and with a wave of his hand, two immortal herbs appeared in his hand: the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum and the Youming Devouring Soul Vine.
The Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum is an enormous chrysanthemum, its color a magnificent purple. Strangely, each petal appears fuzzy and exceptionally cute. The entire flower is perfectly integrated, yet it emits no fragrance. The central stamen rises more than half a foot above the petals, its tip shimmering with a faint purplish-gold light. It is a neutral, celestial herb; consuming it can invigorate the limbs, unblock the eight meridians, and even cultivate an indestructible body.
The Youming Devouring Soul Vine does not appear in the original work, but Chu Tianxiu discovered it while searching Dugu Bo's herb garden. At that time, no other plants grew around it; not even a weed could survive.
It appears as a slender vine with branches hanging down from the main stem, primarily a dark purple color, looking extremely eerie. Chu Tianxiu felt it was perfect for ghosts and demons at first sight, so he took it as well.
Chu Tianxiu said to Gui Mei, "Uncle Gui, one of these two rare and precious plants is for Uncle Ju, and the other is for you. Please accept them first, and also pass the other one on to Uncle Ju for me."
Gui Mei immediately recognized the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum. The reason was simple: this chrysanthemum was exactly the same as his good friend Ju Yueguan's martial soul. As for the other plant, although he had never seen it before, his martial soul had felt a surge of excitement and longing ever since Chu Tianxiu took it out.
Gui Mei didn't refuse Chu Tianxiu and directly accepted both celestial-grade plants.
After Gui Mei received them, Chu Tianxiu greeted him and then walked alone towards the Papal Palace.
As Chu Tianxiu pondered the gains from his trip to Sunset Forest, his mind drifting back to the unforgettable beauty before him, he found himself standing before the Papal Palace. He was about to push the door open when he remembered his awkward situation with Bibi Dong, and his raised hand fell back to the ground. He sighed and turned to leave.
Just then, a clear, cold voice came from inside the palace: "Since you're here, come in."
Hearing this incredibly familiar voice, Chu Tianxiu pushed open the door and entered, once again seeing that celestial beauty.
Perhaps because it had been some time since they last met, Chu Tianxiu felt the woman before him had become thinner, making her eyes, as bright as the starry sky, appear even larger.
Bibi Dong looked at her beloved disciple, wanting to embrace him, but refrained. She asked Chu Tianxiu with concern, "How was your trip? Were you injured?" At this moment, any third person present would be astonished; the usually domineering Pope of the Spirit Hall was now somewhat incoherent.
Seeing Bibi Dong's conflicted expression, Chu Tianxiu felt a sudden pang of guilt. 'She cared so much for him, yet he had unearthed the darkness hidden deep within her heart. Yes, even if he wanted her to completely break with that scumbag Yu Xiaogang, he shouldn't have acted so violently before, tearing her already wounded heart to pieces once more.'
Thinking this, Chu Tianxiu took a deep breath and, while Bibi Dong was still struggling with her decision, stepped forward and embraced her in a respectful, disciple-like hug.
Bibi Dong was completely stunned by his sudden attack. Looking down at her young disciple, who was only a head shorter than her, the cheeks of this incomparably noble female pope inexplicably flushed.
"Xiao Xiu, you, you let me go!"
Hearing this, Chu Tianxiu hugged Bibi Dong even tighter. Her childish voice rang out, "Sister Dong'er, let's not worry about Yu Xiaogang anymore, okay? Let's go back to how we were before, okay?"
Hearing Chu Tianxiu's firm yet pleading tone, Bibi Dong could feel her disciple's deep infatuation and care for her.
After hearing Chu Tianxiu's words, Bibi Dong released the papal scepter she was holding, and hugged Chu Tianxiu back.
Time seemed to pass before Chu Tianxiu spoke again.
"Sister Dong'er."
"Xiao Xiu, what's wrong?"
"I brought you a gift from Sunset Forest."
"Oh, my Xiao Xiu brought Sister Dong'er a gift again!"
Bibi Dong felt another wave of emotion. Every time Chu Tianxiu went out to obtain spirit rings, he would bring her a gift. Even for a treasure like an external spirit bone, which every spirit master dreams of, he would think of her first. Thinking of how good Chu Tianxiu was to her, she couldn't help but compare him to Yu Xiaogang.
She had given her whole world to Yu Xiaogang. To protect the seemingly useless Yu Xiaogang, she had even asked Qian Xunji for a papal decree, but he had never given her anything, not even the cheapest hairpin. After Qian Xunji treated her so cruelly, Yu Xiaogang abandoned her without hesitation.
Bibi Dong's heart wavered once again. 'Was all she had done for Yu Xiaogang really worth it?'
"Sister Dong'er, Sister Dong'er..." Chu Tianxiu's call interrupted Bibi Dong's thoughts. She came back to her senses and asked Chu Tianxiu, "Little Xiu, what gift did you bring for Master this time?"
A light shone in Chu Tianxiu's hand, and in the next moment, a jade box appeared in his palm. Opening it, a strange orchid lay quietly there—the very eight-petaled fairy orchid that Tang San had given to Oscar in the original story.
Its petals trembled slightly, its entire body pure white and crystalline, giving it a noble and otherworldly feel. It possessed the function of strengthening the body's foundation and expelling impurities.
Chu Tianxiu had his own considerations in giving Bibi Dong this fairy herb. He felt that in the original story, it was a waste for Oscar, a useless food-type soul master, to consume this fairy herb, but it was perfectly suited for Bibi Dong.
Although Bibi Dong possessed unparalleled talent and later achieved the divine status of the Rakshasa God in the original story, the corruption of the Rakshasa God's power caused her face to become unsightly, a regret that remained in Chu Tianxiu's heart. The Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid could improve Bibi Dong's body and repair the hidden injuries caused by cultivation, a double benefit.
Seeing Bibi Dong accept the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid, Chu Tianxiu happily smiled and quickly fled the Papal Palace.
Bibi Dong watched Chu Tianxiu's figure and burst into laughter, a laugh that surpassed all the beauty in the world.
Watching Chu Tianxiu completely disappear on the horizon, Bibi Dong also began absorbing the Eight-Petaled Immortal Orchid…