...
After obtaining the Eight Spider Spears, Xuan Hao did not delay at all and immediately put them into his storage soul tool.
"Thanks, Sister Bing."
Xuan Hao severed his fusion with the Ice Dragon King's dragon soul, and the icy blue color on his body quickly faded, restoring his original appearance of silver hair and blue eyes.
The terrifying pressure belonging to a Title Douluo receded like the tide, and he returned to being the seemingly harmless Soul Emperor.
He looked up to determine the direction.
The Star Dou Great Forest is not too far from Wuhun City; at his current speed, half a day should be enough.
"Buzz—"
Golden dragon wings unfurled behind him, and Xuan Hao slammed his legs against the ground, transforming into a golden streak of light that shot into the sky, heading straight towards Martial Soul City.
...
It was evening.
The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the majestic Wuhun City in a sacred and solemn golden light.
Inside the Papal Palace, Bibi Dong had just finished a long and tedious day of handling government affairs. She rubbed her slightly sore temples, dismissed her attendants, and prepared to return to her palace to rest.
Xuan Hao didn't go through the main gate and disturb the Holy Emperor warriors on guard.
Instead, he slipped in through the side gate, which was only accessible to a few high-ranking officials.
Along the way, the female paladins on patrol and the maids in charge of the palace did not stop the silver-haired boy when they saw him.
Instead, they all showed knowing and respectful smiles, bowed slightly, and didn't even bother to announce his arrival.
After all, everyone in the Spirit Hall knew that this "Holy Son," who had been pampered and spoiled by His Holiness the Pope since childhood, could enter and leave the Pope's palace as casually as if he were going home.
Everyone was used to his unruly behavior.
If he were to obediently wait outside for an announcement one day, it would probably mean he had gotten into some serious trouble.
Xuan Hao walked into the luxurious yet empty papal palace without any hindrance.
The palace was dimly lit, and the air was filled with Bibi Dong's unique and intoxicating fragrance, but the hall was empty.
"Not outside?"
Xuan Hao casually took off his coat and, following the familiar faint fragrance and slight moisture, headed directly towards the bathing pool deep within the palace.
"Splash..."
Through a thin veil, one could faintly hear the sound of water, accompanied by swirling mist, creating an extremely hazy and alluring atmosphere.
"elder sister."
Xuanhao stopped outside the frosted jade screen and deliberately drew out his voice as he called out.
Inside the bathtub.
Bibi Dong, who was leaning against the wall of the white jade pool with her eyes closed, enjoying a rare moment of relaxation, suddenly opened her eyes when she heard this voice that was so familiar that she had even dreamed of it several times.
"Xuan Hao?"
Bibi Dong's voice came through the mist, carrying a slight, almost imperceptible tremor:
"Why did you suddenly come back?
You didn't even give me a heads-up?"
"Of course I miss you."
Xuan Hao, speaking through the screen, said half-jokingly and half-seriously:
"I haven't been back for almost two years. I've been in seclusion in that wretched place, the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, eating grass.
If I don't come back to see you soon..."
"I'm afraid that you're such a busy person, you might not even remember what my younger brother looks like. What if you mistake me for an assassin and kill me?"
Stop being so cheeky.
Bibi Dong gave a light, somewhat annoyed rebuke, but the corners of her lips couldn't help but curl upwards slightly:
"Go sit on the sofa in the front hall and wait for me. I'll come out after I've finished washing up."
"Okay!"
Xuan Hao agreed very readily.
However, his body is extremely honest.
Instead of turning back to the hall, he quietly slipped through the side gap of the gauze curtain.
The bath was filled with steam, severely obstructing visibility.
Xuan Hao stared wide-eyed, trying to find that perfect figure in the hazy light, secretly hoping to see something that was "Top Secret of the Pope".
However, he had only leaned halfway out, before he could even see what was in front of him...
"call--"
A very faint whooshing sound suddenly came from behind him!
Holy crap!
Xuan Hao felt a strong sense of alarm and was about to use teleportation to dodge.
But that jade-like foot, which smelled of shower gel and seemed delicate and boneless but actually contained terrifying strength, had already kicked him in the buttocks with perfect accuracy!
"Thump—!!!"
With a loud splash, water sprayed everywhere.
Xuan Hao was kicked into the large white jade bathtub in an extremely disheveled "dog-faced" position.
"Gurgle..."
Xuan Hao choked on a mouthful of bathwater, splashed his head out of the water, wiped the water droplets off his face, and looked back with a somewhat resentful expression.
Bibi Dong was already standing on the edge of the bathtub.
She was only wrapped in a towel that barely covered her private parts, leaving large expanses of her fair and delicate skin exposed to the air.
Her exquisite and noble face held a mixture of speechlessness, amusement, and helpless indulgence as she looked down at Xuan Hao, who was thrashing about in the water.
"You brat..."
Bibi Dong crossed her arms and said, "You're such a grown-up, yet you're still acting like a little kid, all clumsy and impulsive!"
"Do you really think I'm made of clay and can't notice your little tricks?"
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at him.
Looking across the entire Spirit Hall, only this brat dares to be so shameless as to barge into her palace without even announcing his presence, and even dares to sneak towards the bathtub where she takes a bath!
Even Hu Liena wouldn't dare to do that!
"Splash..."
Xuan Hao climbed out of the water somewhat awkwardly, wringing out his wet clothes as he shamelessly argued:
"Ahem... I was just joking."
"Besides, I've seen you take baths when you were little, so what are you shy about, sister..."
"Shut up!" Bibi Dong's pretty face flushed slightly as she glared at him, annoyed.
This brat has been out having fun for two years, and his skin has really gotten thicker and thicker.
She didn't bother with the outspoken young man, casually waved the gauze curtain, and turned to walk towards the dressing room inside.
Seeing this, Xuan Hao didn't press his advantage any further.
He shook the water droplets off his head and turned to walk towards the main hall outside.
As he walked, a strange silver light shimmered around him.
This is the power of his second martial soul, the Silver Dragon.
Although the Silver Dragon martial soul has not yet been equipped with any soul rings, Xuan Hao's control over water, fire, and ice elements has long reached a pinnacle after years of seclusion in the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, under the personal guidance of the Ice Dragon King and Fire Dragon King, two remnants of true dragon souls.
With a slight thought, he first manipulated the water element to draw all the moisture out of the clothes, and then gently dried them with an extremely weak fire element.
In just a few breaths, the previously soaked clothes became dry and fit perfectly again, without even a single wrinkle.
Not long after.
A series of light footsteps came from inside the room.
Bibi Dong changed into a purple silk robe and slowly walked out.
The robe was made of an extremely form-fitting material, and the silky fabric perfectly outlined her mature and breathtakingly alluring curves.
Having just finished bathing, her long, smooth hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and her fair skin still had a faint pink hue.
She had lost some of her usual aloof papal majesty, but gained a fatal languor and allure.
Xuan Hao glanced over subconsciously, and when his gaze fell upon the faintly visible white skin, his heart skipped a beat.
He touched his nose somewhat guiltily, quickly turned his head to the side, and looked around, not daring to look any longer.
"What's wrong?"
Bibi Dong walked to the table, poured herself a glass of red wine, and raised an eyebrow in surprise at Xuan Hao's evasive manner.
"Ahem..." Xuan Hao coughed dryly, his eyes glazed over as he muttered, "Teacher... could you please change into something a little more formal?
I can't stand you dressed like this."
Bibi Dong paused slightly in the hand holding the wine glass.
She paused, her gaze falling on Xuan Hao's shoulders, which were beginning to show signs of becoming tall and straight, before she suddenly realized what was happening.
Yeah, this brat is no longer the little kid who used to collect protection money at the Martial Soul Academy.
At the age of fourteen or fifteen, their bodies have already grown taller, and since Soul Masters are naturally precocious, boys at this age are full of vigor and their minds are full of wild thoughts.
Thinking of this, Bibi Dong not only did not turn back to change her clothes, but a sly glint flashed in her eyes.
She carried her wine glass, walked to the velvet sofa opposite Xuan Hao, and sat down gracefully.
She casually crossed her long legs, her fair feet dangling in the air, and looked at him with a half-smile:
"oh?"
"Wasn't that person pretty shameless when they just walked into the bathhouse without even announcing themselves?"
"Why are you getting shy now that I'm showing it to you?"
"..."
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