Chapter 138: Bibi Dong’s Interception

"Do you all understand the mission for this journey?"

Bibi Dong’s indifferent voice resonated among the five individuals. The five Title Douluo were slightly taken aback, exchanging glances before Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who had served under Bibi Dong the longest, stepped forward and said, "Your Holiness, is the target of this journey not Tang San, the son of that sinner Tang Hao?"

"Does a mere Tang San require the deployment of five Title Douluo?" Bibi Dong offered a scornful smile. "Tang San, that mongrel born of Tang Hao and a soul beast, is nothing but a decoy. Your true target on this trip is Xiao Yu, the Young Master of the Nine Stars Palace!"

Bibi Dong was never truly keen on killing Tang San. After all, if Tang Hao had not severely wounded Qian Xunji, she would never have had the opportunity to personally execute the enemy who had defiled her. In a sense, Tang Hao could even be considered her benefactor. However, in front of her subordinates in the Spirit Hall, she had to maintain a facade of irreconcilable enmity toward him.

Similarly, Qian Daoliu, knowing the true culprit behind his son’s death, was not particularly focused on killing Tang San either. He still had to respect his old friend Tang Chen’s reputation, and of course, he was wary of that ninety-nine-level Peerless Douluo. Otherwise, in the original events, Tang Hao would never have been allowed to act so arrogantly at the gates of the Spirit Hall; he would have been slapped into oblivion.

With both leaders adopting a laissez-faire attitude toward the father-son duo of Tang Hao and Tang San, it was the subordinates—ignorant of the truth—who spent their days clamoring for the destruction of Tang Hao and the Clear Sky School.

Upon hearing the name Xiao Yu, the expressions of the five elders shifted. They had all reviewed the intelligence on the qualifying tournament sent back by Salas: nineteen years old, level sixty-six, a soul ring configuration far exceeding the optimal standard—a thousand-year second ring, a ten-thousand-year fourth ring—and possessing a high-quality Dragon-type right arm soul bone. Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others had every reason to believe that with the talent Xiao Yu had displayed, he would reach the pinnacle of the soul master world within twenty or thirty years. If such a prodigy belonged to a hostile faction, the Spirit Hall should indeed spare no cost to eliminate him before he could fully mature.

The problem, however, was that Xiao Yu did not appear to be their enemy. As the highest-ranking elders of the Spirit Hall, they naturally knew of Qian Renxue’s existence, that she had formed an alliance with Xiao Yu, and that Qian Daoliu had even warned Bibi Dong not to move against the Nine Stars Palace. Bibi Dong’s current order clearly contradicted Qian Daoliu’s wishes. The men looked at one another, filled with hesitation; they could not withstand a strike from a ninety-nine-level Peerless Douluo.

"Your Holiness!" Chrysanthemum Douluo said, steeling himself. "Did the High Priest not state that we were not to interfere in the affairs of the Nine Stars Palace? Furthermore, regarding the Young Master..."

A flicker of jealousy crossed Bibi Dong’s eyes. If Yu Xiaogang had possessed even a fraction of Xiao Yu’s talent, she would never have been trapped in that secret chamber by Qian Xunji and forced to bear Qian Renxue. "Xiao Yu’s aptitude ensures he will inevitably become a Peerless Douluo. How could such a prodigy be content to submit to the Spirit Hall? She is still young; she has simply been led astray by a man’s flowery words!"

*You have the nerve to say that!* Chrysanthemum Douluo had been in the Spirit Hall for fifty or sixty years and knew exactly what had transpired between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang. At least the Xiao Yu that Qian Renxue had taken a liking to was exceptionally gifted; it was hardly strange for a young woman to harbor secret feelings for him. But what kind of person had *you* chosen?

Chrysanthemum Douluo dared only to grumble this in his heart, never daring to say it aloud before Bibi Dong. As the elder who had followed her the longest, he knew her strength well. While she might not yet be a match for Qian Daoliu, she was more than capable of handling the five of them. Having broken through to Title Douluo in her thirties, Bibi Dong made Tang Hao—the so-called "youngest Title Douluo"—look like a joke.

Seeming to sense their concerns, Bibi Dong continued, "Do not worry. On the battlefield, soul skills have no eyes. As long as you say nothing, who will know it was intentional? Do you truly believe the High Priest would take your lives over a dead man? I, as Pope, would never allow the High Priest to commit such an act of self-mutilation!"

The group had long since boarded Bibi Dong’s ship. Seeing that her mind was made up, they found no room to persuade her further and took their leave.

Once they had gone, Bibi Dong stood up, her gaze cold and merciless, sharp as a blade. She peered toward the direction of Heaven Dou City and murmured to herself, "A nineteen-year-old Soul Emperor... this talent is no less than that of the innate level twenty Seraphim. Is this the support you have found? Do you intend to use him to rise against me? In your dreams!"

Three days later, including the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team that had qualified directly for the finals, a total of fifteen teams—originally sixteen, but the Elephant Armored Academy had been disqualified for rule violations—escorted by five hundred Royal Knights and led by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, set off in a grand procession toward Spirit City.

In addition to the slight changes in the academy teams compared to the original events, there was one more person in the ranks: Princess Xue Ke.

After returning, Qian Renxue had made up an excuse for Xiao Yu to reject the marriage proposed by Xue Ye, but as she had described, Xue Ye was not the type to give up until he achieved his goal...