Chapter 45 A Tough Stance.
What shocked Qian Daoliu even more was that after the nine 100,000-year soul rings appeared, the sword intent emanating from Li Bai's body was not only not concealed by the fierce aura of the soul rings, but instead became even purer and more vast!
It was a kind of "intention" that transcended the level of soul power and pointed directly to the source!
Under the shroud of this sword intent, he even felt that the angel soul power within his body was being suppressed and stagnant!
"Boom boom boom!"
The powerful sword intent was like an invisible mountain, heavily pressing down on the hearts of every Spirit Hall expert.
Soul masters below the Title Douluo level had already collapsed to the ground.
Even elders like Gui Mei and Yue Guan felt difficulty breathing, their soul power was not circulating smoothly, and cold sweat seeped from their foreheads.
"Damn it!"
Bibi Dong barely managed to resist with the divine power brought by the Rakshasa God Trial, but her face was also extremely ugly.
At this moment, she no longer had any intention of testing him, only deep fear and a trace of regret remained in her heart.
Is it really worth provoking such a terrifying opponent and force for a Nine-Hearted Begonia?
Qian Daoliu took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart.
He glanced at the pale-faced Bibi Dong, then at the elders behind him struggling under the oppressive aura, and made his decision.
Now was definitely not the time to break ties with the Beidou Academy, especially given that he knew nothing about the academy's background and that they had displayed such terrifying strength. Although the Spirit Hall had its foundation, facing a force with at least one Limit Douluo comparable to or even surpassing itself, as well as that mysterious dean and numerous geniuses, a rash attack would have unimaginable consequences!
"Enough!"
Qian Daoliu spoke in a deep voice, his voice containing the peak of his level 99 soul power. He barely managed to create a small area amidst the vast sword intent, slightly easing the pressure on the Spirit Hall members.
He looked sharply at Bibi Dong, his tone carrying an unquestionable command.
"Bibi Dong, release them!"
Bibi Dong's delicate body trembled, and she glared at Qian Daoliu, her eyes filled with resentment and humiliation.
In front of the entire city, the Spirit Hall had been attacked, yet they were forced to yield and release their captors. Where did this leave her, the Pope's, dignity?
"Grand Elder!"
Bibi Dong gritted her teeth, still wanting to argue.
"I said, release them!"
Qian Daoliu's voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable air of authority. Golden angelic soul power emanated from him, subtly fluctuating, rivaling Li Bai's Azure Lotus Sword Intent.
"Now is not the time for rash actions! Do you intend to shake the foundations of my Spirit Hall for the sake of a few people?!"
Bibi Dong bit her lower lip hard, almost drawing blood.
She understood Qian Daoliu's meaning; before thoroughly understanding the Beidou Academy's strength, especially before completing the Rakshasa God Trial, engaging in a deadly battle with such a powerful enemy was indeed unwise.
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her surging anger and killing intent, and squeezed out a single word through clenched teeth:
"...Release!"
The order was given.
Soon, the imprisoned Old Master Ye and the core members of the Ye family were brought to the plaza amidst the complex gazes of the Spirit Hall's soul masters.
Although somewhat disheveled, they had not been mistreated, clearly indicating that the Spirit Hall had previously harbored intentions of recruiting them.
"Grandpa!"
Ye Lingling burst into tears upon seeing her family, excitedly rushing forward, but Ye Zhong held her back tightly.
The old master Ye watched the confrontation in the sky.
Especially the nine blood-red spirit rings and the suspended azure lotus giant sword; his old eyes were filled with shock and lingering fear.
He bowed deeply in Li Bai's direction.
Seeing this, Li Bai nodded in satisfaction, and the terrifying sword intent and nine hundred-thousand-year spirit rings around him receded like a tide.
The suspended azure lotus giant sword also slowly dissipated into nothingness.
He seemed to revert to his lazy, drunken self, yawning and casually waving to Qian Daoliu:
"Thanks, old man. Now that everyone's here, we'll be going."
With that, the invisible sword energy once again swept up the Ye family members, including Ye Lingling and Ye Zhong, transforming them into a streak of azure light, instantly disappearing above Martial Soul City.
They came suddenly, and left even more gracefully.
All that remained was the chaotic scene of the Spirit Hall and countless terrified gazes.
Qian Daoliu stared in the direction Li Bai had disappeared, his face so grim it was almost dripping with water.
Today, the Spirit Hall had lost all face.
Having a wanted criminal forcibly taken away in front of the entire city—how could he easily swallow this insult?
But the strength displayed by the other party made him hesitant to act.
He turned, his icy gaze sweeping over Bibi Dong, whose face was equally ashen, and the group of elders who stood frozen in fear.
"What happened today is not to be told to anyone. Anyone who disobeys will be treated as a traitor to the Spirit Hall!"
Qian Daoliu's voice carried an undeniable authority, attempting to minimize the impact.
"Yes, High Priest!"
Everyone's hearts tightened, and they responded in unison.
"Furthermore," Qian Daoliu continued, his gaze sharp, "from this day forward, without my order, no one is permitted to provoke Beidou Academy or its related personnel!"
"Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, I order you two to use all your resources to thoroughly investigate all information about Beidou Academy, especially the backgrounds of that Lu Xiao and this Li Bai!"
"Your subordinates obey!"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei bowed hastily, their backs already soaked with cold sweat.
Bibi Dong gripped the Pope's scepter tightly, her knuckles white from the force. She stared in the direction Li Bai had disappeared, her eyes flashing with humiliation, anger, and deep resentment.
She would never forget this humiliation!
But she also knew that Qian Daoliu's decision was correct; before fully understanding the other side's background and completing the divine test, a direct confrontation was unwise.
"Beidou Academy… Lu Xiao… Li Bai…" she silently repeated these names in her heart, her killing intent coiling like a venomous snake.
"Just wait, once I complete the Rakshasa God Trial, I will repay this humiliation a hundredfold!"
After settling her family, Ye Lingling followed Li Bai back to Beidou Academy.
Given the ruthless methods Li Bai had displayed, she figured the Spirit Hall wouldn't dare attack the Ye family again in the short term.
This finally put Ye Lingling's mind at ease.
Not long after entering the academy, she sensed two shifting auras.
First, from the direction of Zhu Zhuqing's secluded meditation room, a sharp and profound aura surged upwards, then slowly subsided.
A moment later, the door to the meditation room opened, and Zhu Zhuqing, dressed in black, emerged.
Her aura was more refined, her eyes sharp as knives; clearly, she had gained much from her seclusion, her soul power now firmly established and enhanced.
Almost simultaneously, the array at the academy entrance fluctuated, and two beautiful figures walked in, chatting and laughing.
It was Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan, who had returned from leave.
"Dean! We're back!"
Ning Rongrong spotted Lu Xiao in the courtyard at a glance and greeted him cheerfully. Her gaze was then drawn to the unfamiliar faces of Ye Lingling and Ao Yin.
Dugu Yan also curiously observed the new members.
"Huh?"
Her emerald eyes lingered on Ao Yin for a moment.
She faintly sensed a powerful, yet more noble, aura of the dragon race, and her heart tightened slightly.
Lu Xiao smiled and introduced them: "You've returned just in time. These two are Ye Lingling and Ao Yin, the newest members of the academy. Lingling's martial soul is the Nine-Hearted Begonia, and Ao Yin's is the Elemental Dragon."
He then said to Ye Lingling and Ao Yin, "These two are Ning Rongrong, whose martial soul is the Nine-Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda; and Dugu Yan, whose martial soul is the Azure Phosphorous Serpent Emperor. You should have sensed Zhu Qing just now; she just emerged from seclusion."
Nine-Hearted Begonia!
Elemental Dragon!
Surprise flashed in both Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan's beautiful eyes.
They had been keeping an eye on the Heavenly Curtain while they were away, so they naturally knew about the impressive rankings of these two martial souls on the Special Martial Soul Ranking!
"Welcome!"
Ning Rongrong smiled brightly and took Ye Lingling's hand.
"We're classmates now! There are so many fun things to do at the academy!"
Dugu Yan nodded in greeting; she was relatively aloof, but her eyes held goodwill.
Ye Lingling felt their warmth, and a faint smile appeared on her usually cool face, her initial awkwardness dissipating considerably.
Ao Yin remained aloof, merely nodding slightly.
After getting acquainted, Ning Rongrong and Dugu Yan's curiosity immediately shifted to another matter.
They huddled around Ye Lingling, lowering their voices, their faces filled with gossip and excitement as they asked, "Lingling, we heard on our way back that Teacher Li Bai went to the Spirit Hall to pick you up?"
"Tell us, was Teacher Li Bai particularly impressive back then?"
"Just how powerful is he? We haven't even seen Teacher Li Bai truly make a move!"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't speak, but she also quietly took a few steps closer.
Her cool eyes also held a searching intent.
Li Bai had always been lazy and carefree at the academy; they only knew he was unfathomable.
But no one knew his actual strength.
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