Inside the Pope's Palace, in the council hall.
Bibi Dong sat at the main seat, her fingertips tapping the table in a steady rhythm, her expression pensive.
Elder Chrysanthemum thought for a moment before speaking. "Your Majesty, what is it you are worried about? With Xiao Hai's strength, even if he cannot kill Tang San outright in tomorrow's individual elimination matches, he can at least injure him enough so that he won't be able to fight at full strength in the following rounds."
"There will still be the losers' bracket team battles and the final match. We'll always have opportunities."
Bibi Dong raised her head and slowly shook it. "Tang San is not what worries me—it is the Grandmaster. Many years ago, I came to know him. His intelligence is the greatest I have ever seen in my life. Though his martial soul mutated and prevented him from advancing further, his wisdom is unmatched. We all witnessed Godwind Academy perform the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill today—and so did he."
"During the Heaven Dou Empire's qualifiers, Shrek Academy already revealed the Seven-in-One Fusion Skill against Skywater Academy. That was undoubtedly his creation."
"Now, so much time has passed. I worry he may have prepared something even more, adding unpredictable variables to this tournament."
'That man is even worth praising? Calling him a "master"? Only this crazy woman would treat him like treasure…' Elder Chrysanthemum sighed inwardly.
"Your Majesty, why don't I just kill him?" Ghost Douluo suddenly said. "He's only protected by Flender and Liu Erlong—neither could stop me. I can guarantee a clean kill in one strike."
"And if Tang Hao is hiding nearby, then as a wanted criminal of Spirit Hall, once he shows himself we can surround and finish him."
Bibi Dong's gaze instantly chilled. She glanced coldly at Ghost Douluo and said evenly, "The Grandmaster holds the honorary elder token of Spirit Hall. We must not touch him. More importantly, this is Spirit City, during the Continental Soul Master Tournament. If a man were killed here—an Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall, no less—what would the outside world think of us? Without a doubt, all the prestige we have built up over decades would collapse in an instant."
"And besides, he still has the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan behind him. Even if he severed ties, he is still direct bloodline."
"Remember this: without my explicit order, none of you are to lay a hand on him."
Her eyes dimmed slightly as she waved her hand. "It's late. Go and rest. I need to think quietly."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Elder Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo bowed together and departed.
Bibi Dong remained seated, her gaze complicated. After a long silence, she murmured, "Xiaogang… perhaps, in this life, you and I truly are destined never to be."
"All I can do now is protect you in my own way. As for others… I cannot care so much."
Outside the hall, Elder Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo walked together under the shade of trees. They stopped, turned to glance at each other, and their eyes flickered with cold light.
"Hmph." Elder Chrysanthemum threw one last look back at the Pope's Palace, flicked his sleeve, and strode away. Ghost Douluo followed in silence.
Morning light spilled softly across the eastern horizon.
At the foot of the mountain beneath the Pope's Palace, Yang Yunhai led his teammates slowly up the long steps. On either side, rows of palace knights stood rigidly in shining silver armor, heavy knight swords at their waists. The formation stretched from the base of the mountain to the summit, exuding solemn majesty.
Climbing the stairs, they soon reached the vast square before the Pope's Palace. Only three teams stood there, neatly arrayed, the surrounding space empty and silent.
By the rules, eliminated teams were forbidden from standing here to witness the finals. Even the teachers of the top three academies could only wait outside the square until Bibi Dong herself appeared.
Before long, crisp footsteps echoed. From the side door of the Pope's Palace, twelve red-clothed bishops emerged in formation—six on each side of the gate.
"The Pope arrives!" one of them announced loudly.
"Long live! Long live! Long live!"
A deafening chorus answered from all directions, not only from the knights but from the countless Spirit Hall soul masters across Spirit City.
Creak…
The doors of the Pope's Palace opened slowly.
Yang Yunhai's eyes shifted. The first figure to step out was an extraordinarily beautiful woman clad in a brilliant golden gown, crowned with purple-gold, holding a gem-encrusted scepter. In the sunlight, she shone resplendent, appearing no more than thirty years old, dignified and regal.
'So this is Bibi Dong?' Yang Yunhai thought, before moving his gaze past her.
Bibi Dong's beauty did not stir his heart. After all, he had Yiner, who fit perfectly his inner ideal of a goddess, as well as Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing—both stunning, both with figures even better, both young and devoted.
She could never compare to them—especially not this madwoman already over fifty.
"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope!" All Spirit Hall members knelt in unison.
Yang Yunhai's expression did not change, his stance straight as ever. His gaze swept quickly over Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Elder Chrysanthemum behind Bibi Dong, then faced forward again. Since he didn't move, neither did his teammates. They stood calmly in place.
On the other side, the Shrek team also remained standing.
Seeing the two teams refuse to kneel, many Spirit Hall soul masters glared in anger.
But Bibi Dong's expression stayed the same. Her eyes passed over the three teams, lingering briefly on Yang Yunhai.
Yang Yunhai instantly felt the weight of her gaze—an invisible pressure pressed upon him. He frowned slightly. Then it shifted away—no doubt onto Shrek.
He glanced aside. Tang San shuddered, purple light flickering in his eyes.
"How dare you show such disrespect to the Pope!" the red-clothed bishop roared.
Bibi Dong raised her hand gently, her lips curving into a faint smile as she fixed her eyes on Tang San. "You must be the Grandmaster's disciple, Tang San?"
"Yes, Your Holiness," Tang San replied without fear.
Bibi Dong nodded. "Impressive. You truly do carry some of your teacher's spirit."
"I dare not compare with my teacher." Tang San's voice was calm.
'So biased… why don't you just adopt him as your son already?' Yang Yunhai sneered inwardly. He noted the knights and bishops shifting—anger melting into calm after Bibi Dong's friendly words. But more of their hostility turned his way instead.
"Rise." Bibi Dong's voice resounded once more.
Yang Yunhai lifted his eyes just as Bibi Dong smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over the three teams. "From each of you, I see hope. But before the Pope's Palace, I expect to see even greater displays in the matches ahead."
"The final victors will receive the richest of rewards."
She raised her scepter. Three soul bones shimmered into existence, hovering midair.
'That Wisdom Skull Bone—I must win it.' Tang San's pupils shrank, a glint of desire flashing in his eyes.
"These are the three soul bones," Ghost Douluo began, introducing each one.
"There can only be one victor. One champion," Bibi Dong said calmly.
"Thus, all three soul bones will belong solely to the final champion team."
"The morning's matches will be individual elimination battles. Each team sends out seven. The team left standing will gain the advantage heading into tomorrow's final."
"The two losing teams will fight this afternoon in team format for the last spot in the final."
"Now, you may each send out your first competitor."
With that, she turned and sat gracefully upon her gilded throne.
(End of Chapter)
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