The old man collapsed in grief, weeping bitterly. A white-haired man now sending off a black-haired youth — a sorrow no one should endure.
Qian Daoliu's heart sank even deeper.
His sharp gaze fell coldly upon Yue Guan and the others. "Speak! What happened? Who did this?"
"It… it was Tang Hao!" Yue Guan stammered, his voice trembling. He quickly recounted everything that had taken place in full detail.
"Jin Ming is dead, the Pope is barely clinging to life — why didn't you all die instead?!"
The Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly stood, his face twisted in rage, bellowing in fury.
Crash!
With a thunderous wave of pressure, the aura of a Rank 98 Super Douluo slammed Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and Demon Leopard to the ground.
"I'll have you buried with him!"
His wrath uncontrollable, the Golden Crocodile was ready to execute them on the spot.
"Golden Crocodile, calm yourself!" Qian Daoliu raised a hand to stop him.
Though Qian Daoliu shared the grief and rage, he remained fair in judgment. After hearing the full story, he knew the trio had failed in their duty, but their crime did not warrant death.
He could understand the Golden Crocodile's heartbreak at losing his son, but killing three Titled Douluo would be too great a loss for the Spirit Hall — they couldn't afford to lose four Titled Douluo in a single incident.
Qian Daoliu's voice turned cold and steady. "The real culprit here is none other than that so-called heir of the Clear Sky Clan — Tang Hao!"
The Golden Crocodile slowly regained his composure, though his expression remained ugly. Eventually, he withdrew his aura.
"For the sake of your cultivation efforts, I'll spare your lives. But you'd best reflect on your failures."
"Thank you, Second Worship, for sparing us!" Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and Demon Leopard kowtowed in gratitude, their voices shaky.
The Golden Crocodile no longer wished to remain. He bowed toward Qian Daoliu. "Great Worship, I'm exhausted. I'll take Ming'er home for now."
"Very well." Qian Daoliu nodded and patted his shoulder. "My condolences. I promise you, there will be justice for Jin Ming. Let him be properly buried — the Hall of Douluo shall honor him."
"Thank you, Great Worship."
Cradling his son's body, the Golden Crocodile Douluo slowly exited the Pope's Hall. The many worshippers and elders bowed as he passed. His once upright figure now stooped, as if he had aged decades in mere moments.
Qian Daoliu then addressed the crowd with stern command.
"I have but one order."
He swept his cold gaze across everyone present.
"Everything you saw and heard today is to be kept secret. Lock it in your hearts and never speak of it. Understood?"
"Yes, Great Worship!" Everyone shuddered, not daring to disobey, and responded in unison.
"Dismissed." Qian Daoliu waved them off.
"We take our leave." The worshippers and elders bowed deeply and swiftly exited the grand hall.
When they were gone, Qian Daoliu turned his gaze back to the gravely injured Yue Guan trio.
"Go. Tend to your wounds. Rest well."
"Thank you, Great Worship." Relieved as though they had just escaped death itself, the three supported each other and slowly departed.
At last, the Pope's Hall stood empty.
Only Qian Daoliu and the unconscious Qian Xunji remained.
One standing. One lying motionless.
With a controlled surge of spirit power, Qian Daoliu lifted Qian Xunji's body and, in a flash, arrived at the opulent private chambers of the Pope, laying him gently upon the bed.
"Go!" Qian Daoliu ordered the guards stationed at the palace gates. "Summon every healing-type Soul Master of Spirit Sage level and above within Spirit City. Now!"
Before long, over a dozen healing-type Soul Masters were brought in, led by five Soul Douluo, the rest being Spirit Sages.
"Milord," they said in unison, bowing respectfully to Qian Daoliu's back. Though they didn't recognize him, anyone standing within the Pope's private palace was undoubtedly of immense status.
"No need for formalities. Begin treatment immediately," Qian Daoliu ordered without turning around.
The healers promptly activated their soul skills.
Brilliant lights of various colors enveloped Qian Xunji's broken body. His physical wounds began visibly healing — a result of the combined efforts of more than a dozen high-level healers.
In no time, Qian Xunji's injuries appeared completely mended.
Yet, no one dared to stop the healing. Without Qian Daoliu's explicit command, they continued channeling their spirit power.
Eventually, every healer was drained. Their foreheads were soaked with sweat, bodies trembling with exhaustion.
"Milord," the eldest among them stepped forward. "The Pope's physical injuries have fully healed. However… his spiritual damage is beyond our abilities. Only time and rest may restore it."
Qian Daoliu nodded. "Very well. Not a word of this to anyone. Should I hear even a whisper… you know the consequences."
"We understand completely."
These elite healers of Spirit Hall were no fools. They knew exactly what they could — and could not — say.
"Your efforts will be rewarded. Spirit Hall repays merit with reward. Someone will deliver it to you later."
"For Spirit Hall and the Pope, we serve with honor. We dare not ask for rewards," the healers replied in unison.
"Service deserves reward. Accept what is given." Qian Daoliu said calmly.
"In that case, thank you, Milord!" they bowed again.
"You may leave."
"We take our leave."
They backed away slowly and quietly exited the chamber.
Now alone again with the unconscious Qian Xunji, Qian Daoliu murmured solemnly, "Xun'er… don't worry. I will avenge you. Tang Hao… he won't escape."
Then, his thoughts turned to his granddaughter, Qian Renxue.
"Xue'er is still young… She can't know her father has been so gravely wounded. If it worries her or affects her emotions, it could disrupt her cultivation."
After a moment of thought, Qian Daoliu made a decision.
"I should go check on her."
He turned to the palace maids and guards.
"Take care of the Pope. Not a single mistake. Or I'll hold you personally responsible."
With that, he vanished from the Pope's chamber.
Meanwhile, in the Holy Maiden's Hall...
At the very moment Qian Daoliu left the Pope's chambers—
Bibi Dong's eyes snapped open.
Her amethyst pupils gleamed with a chilling light.
A cruel, twisted smile curled at her lips.
Concealing her presence entirely, she moved silently toward Qian Xunji's sleeping quarters.
In moments, she stood before his bed.
With a flick of her wrist, she cast a spirit power barrier around them, sealing them in.
Glaring down at the unconscious Qian Xunji, her eyes burned with hatred. Her once-beautiful face contorted into madness.
Finally — the moment she'd waited so long for.
"This day... I've waited far too long for it. Qian Xunji — go to hell!"
From her soul tool, she drew a blade gleaming with cold light and stabbed it viciously into Qian Xunji's heart, twisting it cruelly.
Though unconscious, the violent trauma triggered a nervous response — his body jerked, face contorted in agony.
Seconds later, his life extinguished.
Bibi Dong pulled out the blade, and blood erupted from the wound.
It splattered across her face and body.
She stumbled back, stunned, momentarily overcome by panic and fear. The blade fell from her trembling hands.
But only briefly.
A surge of overwhelming satisfaction and vengeance flooded her heart.
Her expression twisted further into hatred and madness.
With a cry, she summoned her second Martial Soul — the Soul-Eating Spider Emperor.
A monstrous spider erupted behind her. Its abdomen swelled like a bloated orb, covered in steel-like bristles. Its grotesque mouthparts drooled poisonous green liquid. Eight blade-like legs waved hungrily in the air.
"Martial Soul Possession!"
Bibi Dong shouted.
Her body was immediately covered in dark purple spider armor. A spider head formed atop her own, with two extra pairs of small, sinister eyes beneath her real ones.
Her elegant white legs transformed into a massive spider thorax, and from her back sprouted eight spider legs dripping venom.
Now, she had become a terrifying, grotesque spider demon.
Raising her eight legs, she brought them crashing down on Qian Xunji's lifeless body.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The Soul-Eating Spider Emperor's devouring power surged.
Qian Xunji's remaining life force and spirit power were drained in an instant, absorbed completely by Bibi Dong.
Moments later, his body was gone — only his clothes and two golden-glowing Angel God Leg Bones remained.
Bibi Dong's aura surged violently.