SoulLand:Ascending to Godhood through Science

Yu Xiao Gang's downfall offered Bibi Dong a chance to escape into a fantasy where, in another timeline, Yu Xiao Gang displayed unmatched wisdom, surpassing even You Chen, achieving extraordinary feats, and sharing a perfect, harmonious life with her. However, how Bibi Dong maintained this idealized image of Yu Xiao Gang in her mind was merely an aside.

The crucial matter was that You Chen's demonstrated capabilities were so formidable that they could shake Bibi Dong's imagined reality.

In a way, You Chen was the perfect PLUS version of Yu Xiao Gang, an embodiment of the ideal "white moonlight" figure that Bibi Dong cherished.

Had You Chen not been so young at the time, Bibi Dong might have shifted her affections to him before falling for Yu Xiao Gang.

Without the incident where You Chen embarrassed Yu Xiao Gang in the soul master community, Bibi Dong might have simply appreciated You Chen for his talents.

However, without that incident, You Chen might not have risen to prominence at such a young age, leveraging Qian Xunji's influence to secure resources for himself.

His story might not have been the inspiring tale of perseverance and overcoming personal limitations that it is today.

These are, ultimately, hypothetical scenarios with no real significance.

As the Pope, Bibi Dong no longer harbored hopes for love. What remained was an obsession twisted from love.

In short: No matter how much someone fits her preferences, she no longer had the desire for intimacy. Her only wish was to destroy the Spirit Hall and ravage this damned world!

Though not entirely equivalent, this was essentially the sentiment.

Bibi Dong's desire to recruit You Chen was primarily due to his abilities, accounting for over seventy percent of her motivation.

During Qian Xunji's lifetime, she viewed You Chen as merely a puppet propped up by him, not worthy of her "Giegie" Yu Xiao Gang.

But after ascending to power and reading You Chen's comprehensive work...

Well, surprise! This guy is genuinely impressive!

He wasn't just a puppet propped up by the old manipulator Qian Xunji but a true scholar of great repute!

Different positions offer different perspectives.

It's like playing a Douluo-themed RTS and seeing a hero unit you must grab.

Even with You Chen's past insolence towards her "Giegie," Bibi Dong decided to recruit him with respect.

As for her previous actions against You Chen due to her belief in his unworthiness compared to Yu Xiao Gang?

She, as the Pope, didn't care about that anymore. Why should You Chen, a mere professor, hold a grudge against his superior?

Does he want to keep his job?

It's important to note that in recruiting You Chen, Bibi Dong harbored no malice—at least not towards You Chen personally.

At most, because You Chen had been her despised daughter's mentor, Bibi Dong entertained twisted thoughts of taking You Chen from Qian Renxue to make her feel cuckolded.

Apart from that, he would be destroyed along with everyone else after she achieved her revenge goals of destroying the Spirit Hall or the world.

Until then, You Chen likely faced no life-threatening danger.

However, due to the information gap between them, You Chen couldn't pledge allegiance to Bibi Dong without knowing if she had moved past their past issues.

This only increased Bibi Dong's frustration, transferring some of her resentment towards the Qian family onto You Chen, escalating her hostility.

She couldn't appreciate You Chen's intellect and abilities while simultaneously wanting to kill him.

But due to Qian Daoliu and Qian Renxue, she couldn't act too harshly against You Chen.

This led to her subsequent actions of banning You Chen's works and openly suppressing him.

Bibi Dong both admired and despised You Chen, yet she couldn't recruit or completely eliminate him...

In short, it was a rather complicated situation.

In fact, Hu Liena's harassment of You Chen was subtly orchestrated by her.

Of course, for her most beloved disciple, still a child, Bibi Dong didn't resort to direct orders. With her influence, a few words naturally led Hu Liena to act.

Her motive was straightforward, without the elaborate schemes You Chen imagined, merely to irritate him.

Despite becoming the Pope, having the Worship Hall's support, she still had to endure the frustrations from those old fogeys, and she couldn't handle a mere research professor?

How could Bibi Dong find satisfaction in that?

So even if it brought no benefit, just to annoy You Chen, she would still do it!

She suddenly remembered You Chen's application for a transfer, and a small smile crept onto her face.

'Can't take it anymore, can you? Choosing to exile yourself to such a remote place, isn't that too ridiculous, too funny? Hehehehe! You Chen, I really enjoy your clown act!'

However, her expression quickly turned grim.

'Damn it! Running so far away, does that mean I can't continue to toy with you? Without seeing your frustrated yet helpless face every day, how can I enjoy my meals!? Damn it! Damn it!'

With a darkened expression, she turned to her aide, "Have you finished the investigation? Any issues with the people You Chen invited to that banquet?"

Feeling the malice and pressure emanating from Bibi Dong, the aide knelt tremblingly, "Your Holiness, no significant issues were found. Those people were his classmates and teachers from his time at the Spirit Hall Academy over twenty years ago. There are no records of close contact with You Chen before this. It seems he merely wanted to reconnect with old friends before leaving Spirit City."

Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes, "Don't let your guard down just because nothing suspicious has surfaced. Continue monitoring and investigating, and report any secret connections to me immediately."

Reconnecting with old friends?

Bibi Dong sneered inwardly.

That guy wasn't entirely a rational monster, but he wasn't someone who valued relationships deeply, either.

In Bibi Dong's judgment, even his cherished disciple Yan would likely be abandoned without hesitation if it truly endangered himself!

After all, there was already a precedent...

However, with Yan's close friendship with Hu Liena and Xie Yue, and You Chen never instilling improper thoughts about her in Yan, Bibi Dong never considered targeting Yan.

In Bibi Dong's eyes, You Chen's actions were less about ruthlessness and more about... caution!

'You Chen, are you so determined not to give me any leverage over you?'

Bibi Dong's eyes gleamed coldly.

This guy was unexpectedly... disciplined!

He never mentioned his role as Qian Renxue's teacher to outsiders, not even to Yan, who didn't know he had a senior sister, let alone using it for privilege.

To truly hit You Chen's weak spot, she'd need concrete evidence of his disloyalty to the Spirit Hall. Not even Qian Daoliu could argue against that, allowing her to legally detain or even execute You Chen!

Of course, that would silence Qian Daoliu, but not necessarily Qian Renxue...

But at this point, Bibi Dong had yet to acknowledge her hidden maternal affection for Qian Renxue, so in her eyes, once Qian Daoliu was dealt with, the rest was inconsequential.

'Perhaps it could be a side amusement before I establish the Spirit Empire.'

Bibi Dong mused.

This matter wasn't of paramount importance to her; You Chen's fate was already determined after refusing her recruitment.

Even if the cat-and-mouse game failed, it would only delay his demise a bit longer.

...

In no time, the banquet held at You Chen's residence concluded.

The entire event lasted over half a month, and the expenses of the banquet and hosting friends around Spirit City were substantial for a Soul Elder.

But by all appearances, it was an entirely normal gathering.

The spies from the Pope's Palace found nothing amiss.

Although Bibi Dong's intuition suggested You Chen's motives weren't so simple, she had too many responsibilities for her vengeance to focus solely on him, so she ceased her scrutiny.

In reality, You Chen had already achieved his objectives.

Notably, while the Pope temporarily shifted her attention, one persistent tail remained adamant about finding "evil evidence" against You Chen...