Chapter 268: The Eve of Extermination
Following the sound, he vaguely spotted a wolf cub amidst the rubble at the site of Alang's "sacrifice."
"Alang!" Tang Hao excitedly stepped forward, parting the rubble and picking up the wolf cub. Hearing the cub's aura, which echoed exactly like his own ninth spirit ring, he wept as he cradled both the cub and Tang San in his arms, bursting into tears.
Hearing Tang San's cries, Tang San joined in his own.
Tang Hao, assuming his son was hungry, wiped away his tears and soothed him, "Don't cry, don't cry. Daddy'll take you and your sister to find something to eat."
Because they had another child, Tang Hao assumed Alang had left his daughter, Tang Lang, the time traveler Tang Weiwei, at the cabin.
That's why he had deliberately stayed away from the cabin during the earlier battle.
With that, he carried Tang San and the wolf cub into the cabin.
High up in the hills behind the cabin, Lin Hanye and Bibi Dong watched all this unfold.
Glancing at the receding Qian Xunji and Yin Chui, then at Tang Hao entering the cabin, Lin Hanye turned to Bibi Dong and said, "Dong'er, it's your turn to clean up the mess at the Spirit Hall."
Bibi Dong nodded, and the two of them vanished simultaneously.
Shortly after they left, Tang Hao's roar echoed from the cabin below: "Lang'er, where's my Lang'er? Spirit Hall, it must be the Spirit Hall. What a Spirit Hall!"
Then, Tang Hao's mind flashed back to the scene of Alang's sacrifice, and he burst into tears of self-blame. "Alang, I'm sorry. I failed to protect our daughter. I'm useless, I'm a waste."
Now that Qian Xunji was dead, Alang was very likely to fall into the Spirit Hall's hands. He was likely dead. The Haotian Sect would be no exception.
Fortunately, his father had expelled him from the sect a year ago.
For now, he could only hope that the Spirit Hall would uphold martial ethics and not vent its anger on the Haotian Sect.
Thinking of this, Tang Hao felt a surge of regret and a wave of dejection.
After a moment of impotent rage, he smashed the wooden house he and Alang had lived in for a year to pieces.
Then, kneeling on the ground, he held the wolf cub and howled for a long time before heading dejectedly towards the Holy Soul Village. His face was filled with dejection.
He had previously promised Alang that after obtaining his ninth spirit ring, he would live in seclusion in the nearby Holy Soul Village, never to see the world again.
As for the Haotian Sect, his body was now riddled with wounds, and he was no longer able to protect it.
For a demigod like Bibi Dong, who possessed a complementary Yin-Yang spirit core and was in the process of condensing her third spirit core, her speed was naturally far beyond that of an ordinary Titled Douluo like Silver Hammer.
Half an hour later, after nearly fifteen years, Bibi Dong returned to Spirit City.
Without any attempt to conceal her cultivation, Bibi Dong, like Lin Hanye, transformed into a streak of light and flew recklessly towards Spirit City during the sect competition.
Such a powerful aura was naturally immediately detected by the Spirit Hall's eight great priests, led by Qian Daoliu.
Upon realizing the arrival was a woman, all seven of them, save Ling Yuan—who had always known Bibi Dong was with the Spirit Master Guild—were stunned. Ling Yuan feigned surprise, exclaiming, "Are you the Saint?"
"Long time no see, priests, and Elder Phoenix—no, perhaps you should call me Phoenix Priest now."
Bibi Dong's noble features betrayed no emotion, a look of indifference.
Compared to when she left the Spirit Hall after the first Spirit Master Competition, Bibi Dong's appearance had changed significantly. First, the baby fat had vanished, and her neck appeared longer and fairer. Then, her figure, having undergone secondary growth spurts from childbirth, had matured and swelled.
Though less endearing than her youth, she had become even more beautiful and captivating.
This was why Qian Daoliu and the others didn't immediately recognize Bibi Dong.
After hearing the conversation, Qian Daoliu and the others carefully identified Bibi Dong. Confirming it was her, they secretly marveled at her astonishing growth, yet also felt a surge of relief.
They were pleased with Bibi Dong's strength, which had clearly reached the ninety-ninth level of Peerless Douluo.
And judging by her aura alone, she was no less powerful than Lin Hanye's back then.
If she returned, Spirit Hall would suddenly possess two Peerless Douluos, further widening the gap with the Spirit Master Guild.
As for whether Bibi Dong would pose a threat to Qian Renxue's succession as the next Pope, there was no need to worry too much.
Qian Xunji was still relatively young, considering the lifespan of a Titled Douluo. Even if it were time for her to abdicate, with Qian Renxue's supreme innate talent at level twenty, and the training of Lin Hanye—the world's foremost theoretical master—she would have already matured by then.
Qian Daoliu smiled and said, "Bibi Dong, it appears you've already cultivated twin spirits."
"Indeed," Bibi Dong said noncommittally, feigning ignorance before asking, "Where's my teacher?"
"Ji'er has gone off with his men to hunt a hundred-thousand-year-old humanoid spirit beast. I think he should be back soon."
Qian Daoliu was naturally aware of Qian Xunji's pursuit of the hundred-thousand-year-old humanoid spirit beast, but he didn't object.
After all, preventing spirit beasts from invading the human world was one of the Spirit Hall's tenets, and Qian Xunji, as Pope, had done nothing wrong.
He continued, "Your former residence in the Pope's Palace remains, and it's maintained daily. Of course, you could also choose to move into the Elders' Hall. With your current strength, it's clearly unsuitable for you to continue serving as the Saintess. Becoming a Spirit Hall attendant is more than adequate."
"No need. Just arrange a new manor for me. I prefer quiet and solitude, and don't want to be disturbed."
Bibi Dong shook her head.
"That's good. Your spirit power has reached level ninety-nine, right?"
While he didn't know what Bibi Dong had been through all these years, she was willing to return to the Spirit Hall. Having another Peerless Douluo was a good thing for the Spirit Hall.
Qian Daoliu was delighted.
"Not bad," Bibi Dong said noncommittally.
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