Though this approach was rather unorthodox, it suited Ning Rongrong perfectly—after all, the girl had long since tied her heart to Wu Tong.
Fortunately, Wu Tong was a decent young man who treated Rongrong well. With his current strength and influence, he could easily protect her, so the two elders had no objections to their relationship.
…
—
Spirit City.
Pope's Hall.
Bibi Dong sat on her papal throne, lazily tapping the armrest with her index finger while crossing her legs. Below her, a red-robed bishop reported on the two towering pillars of fire.
Her expression was relaxed, yet it did nothing to diminish her regal and majestic aura—instead, it added a unique charm.
Bibi Dong had been in a good mood lately. Her disciple, Hu Liena, had not disappointed her. After consuming the immortal herb Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox Flower—obtained in exchange for the Luminous Dream Butterfly—Hu Liena's Martial Spirit had fully evolved.
Now, her Nine-Tailed Demonic Fox Martial Spirit ranked among the top-tier Martial Spirits, even surpassing most of them.
Bibi Dong treated Hu Liena as her own daughter, so seeing her progress naturally filled her with joy.
'Should I send Nana to Wu Tong's academy? I don't want her to leave my side, but she'd likely grow even stronger there…'
Lost in thought, Bibi Dong half-listened to the bishop's report.
It wasn't that she didn't want to act—she simply couldn't.
In her judgment, the sheer power behind those fiery pillars had undoubtedly reached the realm of the gods.
As the inheritor of the Rakshasa God's legacy, Bibi Dong understood divine power all too well. Even if she mobilized every Titled Douluo in Spirit Hall, they would stand no chance against a god.
After all, those below the gods are but ants.
And judging from the Rakshasa God's inherited memories, the one responsible for those fiery pillars was undoubtedly a powerhouse even in the God Realm.
In short, Bibi Dong was convinced this was the work of a god.
Faced with such overwhelming divine might, what could she possibly do?
She couldn't fight it. She couldn't outmaneuver it. A god's insight would likely see through any scheme before it even took shape.
Ah, whatever. I give up.
(Bibi Dong in full slacker mode.jpg.)
The red-robed bishop, oblivious to her distraction, continued his earnest report.
—
Red-Robed Bishop's Report:
"Your Holiness, the investigation concludes that the incident was caused by… Wu Tong."
After delivering the news, the bishop bowed deeply.
Bibi Dong's absentminded demeanor vanished instantly.
This outcome was unexpected.
She had assumed it was the work of a descending god—but if it was Wu Tong, then perhaps there was room for maneuvering after all.
Her fingers stilled on the armrest as she crossed her arms, deep in thought.
No matter how strong that boy is, he's still just a twelve-year-old. Surely I can outwit him.
But then again…
Bibi Dong hesitated, massaging her temples with a sigh.
If she tried to manipulate him and failed, the backlash would be catastrophic. Wu Tong wasn't the type to tolerate deception.
'Just don't get caught?'
Easier said than done. As the saying goes, "Walk by the river long enough, and your shoes will get wet."
Weaving a lie was simple—keeping it forever hidden was another matter entirely.
After a long silence…
"Sigh…"
Bibi Dong exhaled, her thoughts still tangled. In the end, she abandoned the tempting idea of controlling Wu Tong and resolved to focus on winning him over instead.
"Understood. You may leave. I will handle this matter."
She paused, then added, "Also, summon the Holy Maiden and the Golden Generation. I have orders for them."
"As you command, Your Holiness."
…
—
Star Luo Empire.
Capital: Star Luo City.
Imperial Palace.
Though it wasn't court hours, the emperor's study was packed with the empire's highest-ranking officials.
Present were the Star Luo Emperor, the Empress, Crown Prince Dai Weis, Crown Princess Zhu Zhuqing, the Duke of Youming, the empire's Titled Douluo elders, the imperial ancestor, the Grand Marshal, and more—all crammed into the small room.
"Speak. What should we do next?"
The emperor tossed a secret missive onto his desk, eyeing the silent crowd. Each person held an identical letter detailing Wu Tong's massacre earlier that day.
Though the Douluo Continent was small, its rapid information networks were a boon. News of Wu Tong's actions had spread almost instantly, with spies from every faction reporting in real-time.
The emperor narrowed his eyes, sensing the stifling atmosphere.
These old foxes…
Just as he prepared to speak again, Crown Prince Dai Weis stepped forward and bowed.
"Father, I may have a solution."
Oh? Since when was my son this capable?
The emperor's thoughts raced, but his face remained impassive.
"Speak. Let us all hear whether your idea holds merit."
After a brief pause, Dai Weis spoke confidently.
"Father, Ancestor, Esteemed Elders…"
"My plan is simple. Given Wu Tong's well-documented character—his willingness to share knowledge freely, elevating the entire Spirit Master system without seeking reward, and his insatiable thirst for learning—he strikes me as nothing more than a harmless scholar."
A harmless scholar?
You've got some nerve saying that.
The corners of everyone's eyes twitched, but no one dared to voice the thought aloud.
...
Read 50 advance at patreon.com/CNBLUE
(End of Chapter.)