A few days later, in front of Spirit City's Pope Hall.
"Stop!" Two silver-armored guardian knights blocked Yu Xiaogang. Around them, over a hundred comrades all turned their gazes, hands gripping sword hilts.
Yu Xiaogang's expression was indifferent. He raised his hand, revealing a token, and said calmly, "Take me to see the Pope."
"Yes, Elder!" The leading knight bowed respectfully, instructing one subordinate to lead Yu Xiaogang toward the council hall while he himself went to report to Pope Bibi Dong.
Before long, inside the council hall, the three-meter-high side door opened.
"All of you wait outside. Without my order, do not disturb." Bibi Dong's gentle voice sounded.
Yu Xiaogang set down his tea and turned. Bibi Dong walked in slowly from the entrance. She wore a luxurious robe, a purple-gold crown on her head, and in her hand a gem-studded scepter nearly two meters long. She looked about thirty, skin fair, features stunning, her bearing noble and regal—time seemed to have left no trace upon her.
His gaze grew slightly dazed, emotions complex—apology, memory, and more, a sense of melancholy.
Their eyes met. As if reading Yu Xiaogang's feelings, Bibi Dong's eyes too revealed complexity, but quickly regained calm. Her scepter struck the floor with a light sound, a reminder of Yu Xiaogang's discourtesy.
Her tone, however, was soft. "You've come."
Yu Xiaogang's face showed a trace of bitterness. He supported himself on the table and stepped forward. "Yes, I've come. How have you been?"
"Above ten thousand, what could be bad?" Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "As the Pope of Spirit Hall, even the emperors of both great empires must give me courtesy. The great sects fear me as they would a tiger. Do you think I could be unwell?"
"Bibi Dong, I know the suffering in your heart." Yu Xiaogang sighed.
"Bibi Dong? Had you not said it, I might have forgotten that name." Her fingers tightened slightly as she said coolly, "Now, you should call me Pope, or address me as Your Holiness. I am no longer that foolish Bibi Dong of the past."
Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank, his face showing pain. "Yes, Your Holiness."
He turned back, lifted his tea, and sank into silence, as if immersed in memories, saying nothing.
Such acting! If Yang Yunhai were here, he would definitely applaud.
On the other side, seeing Yu Xiaogang's back so lonely, the coldness in Bibi Dong's eyes faded, replaced by a trace of unwillingness. She lifted her foot as if to step forward, but her hand clenched the scepter tighter. In the end, she suppressed it and her face returned to calm.
"Yu Xiaogang, speak. Why have you come to me? It has been twenty years since we last met, hasn't it?" Her tone was flat.
The token Yu Xiaogang used today was the Spirit Hall Honorary Elder token. There were only six on the continent—three belonging to Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo, and three in the hands of the upper sects. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's was with Yu Yuanzhen, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's with Ning Fengzhi. Neither would ever give theirs to Yu Xiaogang. Spirit Hall's own would not be leaked. She didn't even need to guess—Yu Xiaogang's token must have come from Tang Hao.
Which meant Yu Xiaogang had come for Tang San.
"Your Holiness, I have come to ask a favor." Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, his tone and expression once again that familiar indifference.
Bibi Dong's gaze flashed, then she looked surprised. "Oh? You would ask me? That is not your style. It seems time truly can change a person. Speak—what is it?"
"Your Holiness, I want to know—back then, how did you overcome the hurdle of twin Martial Souls?" Yu Xiaogang asked lightly.
As for his own changes, he had no intention of explaining. If it were only about himself, he would never beg Bibi Dong for anything. But for Tang San, his disciple whom he treated as a son, for his disciple's future, he had no choice.
This was his duty as a teacher!
'As expected.' Bibi Dong's pupils contracted. She said coolly, "And what use is this knowledge to you?"
"I have a disciple. He has followed me for seven, eight years. Fortunately, like you, he possesses twin Martial Souls. This child is gifted beyond measure. I want to raise him into a mighty figure." Yu Xiaogang's eyes glowed with pride as he spoke.
"Why should I help you?" Bibi Dong's tone turned sharp. "Do you think I don't know your disciple's identity? With what his father once did, he will surely hate Spirit Hall. If I help you cultivate him, will it not only make an enemy for myself?"
"Of course not!" Yu Xiaogang's brows furrowed, his voice firm. "Bibi Dong, if you are willing to tell me how you did it, I can promise you—my disciple will never oppose Spirit Hall in his lifetime."
"On what grounds? With your strength, can you stop him?" Bibi Dong sneered.
Yu Xiaogang's face flushed.
Bibi Dong suddenly smiled faintly. "Besides, are you not a so-called master of theory? And yet there are things you don't know? Too bad, you came too late. Just a few days ago, I already sent people to intercept the Heaven Dou Empire's team on their route. Their target was that disciple of yours, the twin Martial Soul holder of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang San. By now, it should be done."
"So you no longer need to know the secret of twin Martial Souls."
"What did you say!?" Yu Xiaogang's body shook violently. He spun, eyes blazing at Bibi Dong.
"If he cannot be mine, and will surely be my enemy in the future, then only elimination remains." Bibi Dong's tone was icy.
"You!" Yu Xiaogang lunged forward, seizing her shoulders with both hands. His eyes were bloodshot, his whole body trembling.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's twisted face and gaze of hatred, Bibi Dong froze. She even forgot to break free. She had never seen him like this before. Unconsciously, she murmured, "Does he truly mean that much to you?"
Yu Xiaogang's breath was rough. Word by word, he spoke coldly, "Bibi Dong, listen clearly! If anything happens to Xiao San, for the rest of my life, I will spare nothing to destroy Spirit Hall. I have no son. Xiao San is my son."
'Then what about me?' Bibi Dong's face flushed slightly red, her breathing quickened. She said coldly, "Yu Xiaogang, so you can be anxious too!"
As her words fell, her body shook. Soul power surged, and Yu Xiaogang was blasted back.
Her eyes locked onto him, icy as a serpent. "Yu Xiaogang, I want you to suffer. Not only will I kill your disciple, I will kill Liu Erlong as well."
"No, I will capture them alive, let you watch them suffer endless torment, while you remain powerless."
"So you were lying to me just now?" Yu Xiaogang's expression suddenly turned calm, his tone indifferent.
(End of Chapter)
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