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Suddenly, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances, each seeing the shock mirrored in the other's eyes. In that instant, they seemed to understand why Bibi Dong had appeared so pleased earlier.
Tang Hao's rampage within Spirit Hall City had given Spirit Hall the perfect excuse to attack the Clear Sky Sect!
After all, Tang Hao had slaughtered countless spirit masters in Spirit Hall City. If Bibi Dong turned her fury upon the Clear Sky Sect, killed some of Tang Hao's relatives and clansmen in return, would that be unreasonable? No, not at all!
Reasonable? It was more than reasonable—it was downright flawless!
As for the fact that Tang Hao had already severed ties with the Clear Sky Sect… that hardly mattered. He had slain so many of Spirit Hall's comrades. Naturally, the Clear Sky Sect would become the scapegoat, the outlet for her vengeance!
In that moment, both Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo realized something chilling. Perhaps when Tang Hao had been rampaging, Bibi Dong had deliberately refrained from stopping him. Her true aim was to allow the destruction to spread, inflating Spirit Hall's losses, so she could seize the chance to strike at the Clear Sky Sect.
At this time, a faint, murderous smile curved Bibi Dong's lips. Her eyes gleamed with a cold, sinister light as she thought silently: Dai Weisi, Dai Weisi… my spirit bones are not so easily taken. Hehehe…
Her declaration of war upon the Clear Sky Sect was nothing more than a smokescreen. A sword dance meant for another target entirely.
Even without Tang Hao present, the Clear Sky Sect still had six Title Douluo in residence. Hidden deep within the mountains, their stronghold was a fortress of natural defenses—difficult to breach and even harder to destroy in silence. To annihilate them overnight was all but impossible. And if Spirit Hall struck without justification, the entire spirit master world would condemn them. The backlash could outweigh the gain.
But now, with Tang Hao responsible for the deaths of so many Spirit Hall spirit masters—and even innocent children—Bibi Dong could raise the banner of righteous vengeance, rallying under the cause of avenging their fallen. Even if others wished to object, they would find no ground to stand on. Slaughtering helpless children was unforgivable no matter the reason.
Crushing the Clear Sky Sect was only the surface. Bibi Dong's true ambition was aimed at the Star Luo Empire. Everyone knew the Clear Sky Sect had long since allied with Star Luo—one's rise was the other's rise, one's fall was the other's fall. If Spirit Hall attacked the Clear Sky Sect, the Star Luo Empire would be compelled to intervene. And once they did, Bibi Dong would have her justification to wage open war upon them.
But if the Star Luo Empire chose to stand idly by and remain neutral, then the bond between them and the Clear Sky Sect would inevitably be shaken, their so-called alliance reduced to nothing but a mockery.
Defeat the Star Luo Empire, and she could then force the Star Luo Emperor to cede territory and pay tribute. In this way, Spirit Hall's influence would expand even further. Perhaps she might even coerce Dai Pojun himself to behead Dai Weisi with his own hands, offering his son's head as sacrifice. Then, all three spirit bones would fall neatly into her grasp.
The thought alone made Bibi Dong's lips curl into a cruel and ferocious grin. In her mind's eye, she already saw Dai Pojun kneeling before her, clutching his own son's severed head with trembling hands, weeping bitterly, begging her to spare the Star Luo Empire.
"You—summon the sect masters of the Four Single-Attribute Clans. Order them to send spirit masters to the frontlines. Then, you will secretly march to the Clear Sky Sect. Strike with thunderous force before they even realize what is happening. Destroy them as swiftly as possible! Do you understand?!"
"Yes, Your Holiness!"
The eight elders answered in unison. They quickly dispersed to gather troops, setting forth with grand momentum toward the Clear Sky Sect's stronghold.
"Heh… hehehehe… hahahahahaha!"
Once the Pope's Hall was empty, Bibi Dong no longer restrained herself. Her laughter burst forth, echoing like the cackles of a demon straight out of hell.
Deep within the Star Dou Great Forest, only a few kilometers from the Lake of Life, an eerie stillness lingered.
At this moment, the lifeless body of a Blade Mantis lay sprawled upon the ground. From its corpse rose a pitch-black spirit ring—the aura of a ninety-thousand-year beast.
Nearby, under the protection of Emperor Dai Tianxing and Empress Zhu, Lin Qiuyang sat cross-legged, absorbing the Blade Mantis's spirit ring. The three had spent days hunting through the Star Dou Forest before finally tracking down this terrifying beast. Over three meters long, taller than a man, its razor-sharp scythe-like forelimbs could reap life itself like a harvest of wheat.
Among metal-type spirit beasts, the Blade Mantis was a top-tier beast, second only to the Dark-Gold Dreadclaw Bear. This one had cultivated for ninety thousand years—it was a perfect ninth spirit ring for Lin Qiuyang.
Five to six hours passed before Lin Qiuyang slowly opened his eyes, his aura surging to the peak of rank ninety-one.
"Dean Lin, congratulations on becoming a Title Douluo."
"Hehehe, many thanks to the Supreme Emperor and Her Majesty for protecting me. From this day forward, I shall serve the Star Luo Empire with every drop of blood, ready to charge through fire and blades without hesitation!"
"Excellent! Excellent! Dean Lin's loyalty brings comfort to my heart. Come, this place is dangerous. Let us return."
"Yes!"
Now a Title Douluo, Lin Qiuyang felt as though decades of weight had lifted from his body. His strength soared, and with it came the wondrous gift of flight. Together with the Emperor and Empress, he departed the Star Dou Forest, bound for Star Luo City.
After they left, the scent of blood drew a pack of ten-thousand-year Nether Wolves. They swarmed toward the Blade Mantis's corpse, ravenously tearing at its flesh.
Boom… boom… boom!
Suddenly, the earth shook violently. The ground cracked open in countless jagged fissures, sending terror rippling through the Nether Wolves. They huddled together, eyes darting in panic, wary of the danger closing in.
Bang!
From the earth erupted a colossal black ant, its monstrous mandibles snapping shut with terrifying force. In an instant, it slaughtered the dozen Nether Wolves, blood spraying across the forest floor. It was none other than the last surviving brother of the Thousand-Jin Ant Emperor trio.
After killing the wolves, the Ant Emperor opened its gaping maw, devouring the Blade Mantis's corpse in frenzied gulps. Then, it turned its blood-red gaze upon the fallen Nether Wolves, consuming them as well. Hatred burned in its scarlet eyes like molten fire.
When the feast ended and every shred of flesh was devoured, a horrifying aura exploded outward, sweeping through the entirety of the Star Dou Forest. Save for the Azure Bull Python and the Titan Giant Ape at the Lake of Life, every other soul beast cowered in paralyzing fear.
The Thousand-Jin Ant Emperor had already cultivated for close to ninety thousand years. After devouring its brothers' remains, it had spent years hunting and consuming countless other soul beasts. Now, having eaten the ninety-thousand-year Blade Mantis, its spirit power reached a limit and finally erupted—transforming it fully into a hundred-thousand-year soul beast! Its strength now stood second only to the twin emperors of the Lake of Life.
Its crimson eyes locked upon the direction Dai Tianxing had left, brimming with rage and venomous hatred.
It hated! Oh, how it hated!
It hated Dugu Bo for turning its third brother into stone.
It hated Dai Weisi for shattering that stone into pieces.
It hated Dai Tianxing for killing its eldest brother and stealing his spirit ring.
For years, it had devoured beast after beast, growing stronger, all for this moment—for vengeance! Now, as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the time to begin its revenge had finally come.
(End of Chapter)