"She's really here!"
Qian Daoliu let out a long sigh, his tone carrying an ambiguous weight.
"There's no reason for that one from the Star Dou Forest to deceive us," Bibi Dong said, adorned in luxurious gold-trimmed attire, walking unhurriedly to Qian Daoliu's side.
"The matter of Tang Chen being injured should also be true. But what are you going to do about Bo Saixi?"
"The Asura God instructed the Sea God to go to the Star Dou Forest to rescue Tang Chen," Qian Daoliu said with a bitter smile, shaking his head. "The Divine Realm really thinks highly of our Spirit Hall."
What virtue or ability did Spirit Hall possess to be remembered by a God King and several first-level gods?
Why was he so certain of this?
Not long ago, Bi Ji had come to the Papal Palace and spoken with him and Bibi Dong, mentioning intelligence gathered by the Myriad Demon King.
Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong were quite clear about the Myriad Demon King's situation.
Though its cultivation and divine abilities had been partially severed by some unknown entity, it still possessed level 98 strength.
Most importantly, the Myriad Demon King's sensory range could cover nearly a quarter of the Star Dou Forest.
How terrifying was that?
Even Tang San in the original story, with a Title Douluo's detection range, could only reach 1,500 meters.
A quarter of the Star Dou Forest was something ordinary Title Douluo wouldn't even dare to dream of.
This was thanks to the Myriad Demon King's main body, the Demon Eye Demon Tree, the strongest plant-type soul beast.
Through its vast sensory range, it had overheard the conversation between Bo Saixi and Tang Chen, relaying the contents to Di Tian and the Silver Dragon King.
"Qian Daoliu, you know that's not what I'm asking," Bibi Dong said, noticing his distracted demeanor. "Spirit Hall and Sea God Island are at odds. Moreover, since the Asura God involved the Sea God and sent Bo Saixi to rescue Tang Chen, can we assume the Sea God and Asura God have allied?"
"Does that mean Sea God Island, their affiliated force, has become an enemy of Spirit Hall?"
"Bibi Dong, let's not jump to such hostility," Qian Daoliu sighed. "The attack on Sea God Island back then was our initiative. The fault doesn't lie with Sea God Island or Xi—er, Bo Saixi."
"Xi… Xi…" Bibi Dong's eye twitched.
Bo Saixi was a level 99 Limit Douluo. What kind of relationship did Qian Daoliu have with her to call her Xi Xi?
It was like how Yu Xiaogang used to call her Dong'er.
"Ugh…"
The more she thought about it, the more disgusted she felt.
Bibi Dong forcibly erased the memory of a certain someone from her mind.
Then, her expression hardened, and she looked coldly at Qian Daoliu. "Qian Daoliu, Great Worshipper of Spirit Hall, are you trying to ruin Spirit Hall?"
Bo Saixi was 99% an enemy, utterly loyal to the Sea God.
What was he still holding onto?
"Have you forgotten that the Angel God's statue bears traces of the Sea God's power?" she asked.
"How could I? I am Qian Daoliu of the Six-Winged Angel Clan," he retorted. "I would never let anyone destroy Spirit Hall."
"Hmph, I hope so," Bibi Dong said coldly. "Qian Daoliu, if you can't keep your head clear and stay lovesick, I'll take Xiao Xue and go into seclusion."
"With a Great Worshipper like you, Spirit Hall is doomed."
"Heh, Bibi Dong…" Qian Daoliu chuckled, unbothered. "Now you're finally acting like a Pope."
"No need for you to remind me. Mind your own business," Bibi Dong said, rolling her eyes.
"Yes, yes, Your Holiness the Pope. Even if you wanted to take Xiao Xue and go into seclusion, her personality wouldn't agree. Besides, she's closer to me than to you, her mother."
"And?" Bibi Dong replied coldly, not arguing.
"Since she's here and hasn't caused trouble in Spirit Hall, let's wait for tomorrow's revival match between Shrek Academy and Spirit Academy," Qian Daoliu said. "No matter how you look at it, meeting her won't hurt."
"Qian Daoliu, I'm warning you—don't let your lovesickness take over," Bibi Dong huffed. "I don't want to clean up your mess."
"Of course. Besides, she ultimately chose Tang Chen, heh…" Qian Daoliu's tone carried a trace of bitterness.
"Qian Daoliu," Bibi Dong took a deep breath, "you'd better watch yourself. You're a grandfather now. Don't do anything to upset Xiao Xue."
With that, Bibi Dong didn't wait for a reply and turned to leave quickly.
Qian Daoliu didn't follow, only watching silently as Bibi Dong's graceful figure grew smaller and eventually disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
"Bibi Dong, if Ji'er could see you now, he'd be pleased," he murmured.
"If it weren't for Yu Xiaogang back then, things might not have turned out this way."
Qian Daoliu knew Qian Xunji's temperament.
Even if he looked for a woman, if it wasn't out of desperation, he wouldn't have chosen Bibi Dong.
Qian Xunji had the Six-Winged Angel martial soul. For the sake of Spirit Hall's purity, any partner would have been from the holy attribute category to avoid unpredictable anomalies in the martial soul.
"Sigh, it's all in the past."
"Some things are truly hard to look back on."
Qian Daoliu looked up at the sky, where a full moon hung in the dark night.
The wind blew, cold and dry.
"Bo Saixi, I hope you don't walk down a dark path."
…
The next day, in Spirit City, atop Giant Sword Mountain, the atmosphere was lively.
Since it wasn't the finals, Bibi Dong didn't appear publicly to confront Grandmaster as she did in the original story.
An hour before the match began, Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu were in a building with a good vantage point.
They noticed Bo Saixi and Tang Chen in the audience stands.
They weren't in the VIP room but had come out, seemingly waiting for someone from Spirit Hall.
Both Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu noticed this.
"They're being so obvious. Aren't you going to check it out?" Bibi Dong glanced at Qian Daoliu beside her.
"Sigh… I suppose I should," Qian Daoliu replied.
"I'll go with you. Don't end up in a situation where you can't escape."
Qian Daoliu: "…"
If you want to watch the drama, just say so. What's this about not escaping?
The match hasn't even ended yet!
Given Tang Chen's personality, would he act when his younger generation might shine?
If he were to act, it would be after the match.
Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu descended from the building to the audience stands.
Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu, Tang Chen, and Bo Saixi—four individuals standing at the pinnacle of soul masters—met in a small section of the stands in an epic encounter.
It felt somewhat like, "Though the room is humble, my virtue makes it fragrant."
"Tang Chen, we meet again," Qian Daoliu greeted first, then his gaze shifted slightly. "I didn't expect you to come too. It's been a while, Xi Xi…"
"Don't call me Xi Xi. I'm not that close to you, Qian Daoliu," Bo Saixi replied.
"Sigh, so why are you here, Bo Saixi?" Qian Daoliu asked, unbothered.
"Rumor has it that our Sea God Island's treasure, the Heart of the Sea God, once appeared in your Spirit Hall. I came specifically to ask you about it," Bo Saixi explained.
"The Heart of the Sea God?" Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong exchanged a glance, and Qian Daoliu's face showed confusion. "What's that? If it's a treasure, shouldn't it be kept on Sea God Island?"
"How could it appear in Spirit Hall, High Priestess Bo Saixi of Sea God Island?"
"That joke isn't funny at all."