True Face
Zhang San gripped the Asura Demon Sword tightly, and a scarlet light suddenly burst forth from the blade.
At that moment, he launched an attack on Bibi Dong, and the two forces clashed violently in the courtyard.
Bibi Dong was worried about Hu Liena and the child being affected, so she did not use her full strength. Moreover, the Asura Power naturally restrains the Rakshasa Power, and Zhang San's advantage of wielding the Asura Demon Sword further amplified this suppression.
After dozens of moves, Bibi Dong was forced back by a single sword strike.
She didn't linger in the fight. She turned around, grabbed Hu Liena's arm, and, carrying her and the child, soared into the sky, transforming into a purple streak of light and flying out of the city.
Zhang San stood in the courtyard, his eyes filled with an unfathomable coldness.
He didn't chase after it, his gaze remaining fixed on the receding purple light until it completely disappeared into the horizon before slowly withdrawing his gaze.
Zhang San stood silently for a while, then turned around, picked up his sword, and walked towards the direction of the Pope's Palace.
That day, he summoned all the high-ranking officials of the Spirit Hall Empire, crushed everything with absolute power, and announced his succession as Emperor of the Spirit Hall Empire.
No one in the main hall raised any objections.
Those cardinals and elders who had once been loyal to Bibi Dong all chose to remain silent when Zhang San exuded a terrifying aura.
Zhang San, acting as emperor, took over all resources within the territory of Spirit City and the Spirit Hall Empire, including Soul Bones, medicinal herbs, and various cultivation resources.
He had someone fetch a list of Soul Bones from the Spirit Hall Empire's inventory, which detailed the age, attributes, and origin of each Soul Bone.
Zhang San flipped through the pages one by one, selecting from the inventory the five Soul Bones most suitable for his Martial Soul attribute.
The torso, arms, and legs—every part was carefully selected.
Those Soul Bones were between 50,000 and 80,000 years old, and of superior quality.
While it can't compare to beings of the 100,000-year level, it's the best option for Zhang San to quickly boost his combat power right now.
He unceremoniously stored the Soul Bones into his Storage Soul Tool without explaining to anyone.
The Spirit Hall Empire's inventory is now his own inventory.
That night, he entered a new secret chamber and absorbed the five Soul Bones one by one.
As one Soul Bone after another merged into his body, Zhang San's Soul Power steadily approached the threshold of Level 99.
However, the amount of Soul Power required to break through from Level 98 to Level 99 is enormous and cannot be filled by a few Soul Bones.
The absorption of the five Soul Bones only brought him a little closer to breaking through to Level 99.
While consolidating his position in the Spirit Hall Empire, Zhang San also seized the time to cultivate, striving to break through to Level 99 as soon as possible.
When the message reached the Worship Hall, Qian Renxue had just completed her Seventh Trial and gained the approval of the Angel Holy Sword. Now her strength had broken through Level 98.
The Demon Subduing Douluo quietly reported the message he had just received.
Qian Renxue's expression remained unchanged after hearing this.
"Ignore him, let him do whatever he wants. Once I finish the Angel Nine Trials, this so-called empire will be nothing but a joke."
Her voice carried a hint of disdain, "Tell the other five elders to just guard the Worship Hall. Let the Spirit Hall Empire cause trouble on their own."
The Demon Subduing Douluo bowed and accepted the order, then turned and quickly left.
Qian Renxue prepared to move on to the next exam, and for the time being, she did not want to pay attention to the turmoil in the outside world.
On the other side, after Bibi Dong and Hu Liena flew north some distance away from Spirit City, seeing that Zhang San was not chasing them, they stopped on a hillside.
Hu Liena hugged Hu Yao tightly, her eyes red and her voice hoarse. "Teacher, why... why won't Xiao San let us go? Even if this child is Tang San's, we've had a relationship for twenty years."
Perhaps this is his true nature.
Bibi Dong was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"From a young age, I sensed that he was very profound, completely unlike a normal child. His respect and obedience were always just superficial. Now that he's powerful, there's naturally no need to maintain those things anymore."
Hu Liena lowered her head, her gaze falling on Hu Yao's face in her arms. "So where are we going now? Are we going back to Spirit City?"
Bibi Dong shook her head. "It's probably impossible to return to Spirit City. If I'm not mistaken, Zhang San has probably already declared himself emperor of the Spirit Hall Empire."
Hu Liena abruptly raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelief. "No way? Xiao San has always listened to you; he wouldn't do such a thing..."
"That's because you don't understand him," Bibi Dong interrupted her. "Before, he lacked strength, so he didn't reveal his true colors and treated everyone with utmost respect. Now that his strength has greatly increased, there's no need for him to hold back anymore."
She paused, then continued, "I used to hope that you could be with him and, through your connections, keep his violent temper under control. But now, no one can calm him down anymore."
Hu Liena lowered her head and said nothing more.
She looked at Hu Yao's sleeping face in her arms, at that small face that resembled hers but also bore traces of another person, and a hint of confusion appeared in her eyes.
"Teacher, where do we go now?"
Bibi Dong thought for a moment and said, "I'll settle you two in first, then pick up your brother, and then we'll go to Heaven Dou City."
Hu Liena raised her head, her eyes filled with obvious resistance. "Ah? Heaven Dou City? Teacher, I don't want to go."
Bibi Dong glanced at her and then said, "Going to Heaven Dou City isn't necessary. I heard that Tang San grew up in Nuoding City; it should be quieter there. Let's go to Nuoding City and settle down temporarily."
Hu Liena nodded. "Okay."
Ten days later, Bibi Dong, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena brought Hu Yao to Nuoding City.
Bibi Dong quickly found out the location of the small courtyard where Tang San used to live.
When she pushed open the door and went inside, there were some of Tang San's old belongings piled up in the corner of the courtyard.
When they saw the Vajra Hammer that Tang San used for practice, they quickly realized they hadn't gone to the wrong place.
Xie Yue has already started cleaning on her own initiative.
He swept the yard inside and out, and wiped down all the dusty spots inside the house.
Although the conditions were rudimentary, they were quickly tidied up to make it barely habitable.
Hu Liena sat down on the edge of the bed in the room with Hu Yao in her arms, looking out the window, momentarily lost in thought.
Bibi Dong pushed open the door and walked in, sitting down in the only chair in the room.
She looked at Hu Liena and asked, "Nana, what do you think of Tang San?"
Hu Liena's gaze flickered slightly, avoiding Bibi Dong's eyes. "Teacher, I don't know."
Bibi Dong didn't press further, and continued, "It's strange, actually we don't have any deep-seated hatred for him. It's only because of Qian Renxue that we had a conflict with him."
"The Soul Master Tournament, the chase, and your encounter in Death Canyon and the Heavenly Frost Duchy were all related to Zhang San's feud with him over killing his father. The biggest grudge, really, is that he stole two of my Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings not long ago."
"Tang San's strength and appearance go without saying; otherwise, he wouldn't have so many beautiful women around him, and even Qian Renxue wouldn't be so devoted to him. It's clear that he cherishes those who truly follow him."
She paused, then looked at Hu Liena earnestly and said, "Nana, when the Spirit Hall Empire and the Heaven Dou Empire finally settle their score, if he is still alive and can accept you, I hope you will try your best to go to his side for Yao Yao's sake. After all, he is the child's father, and Yao Yao cannot be without a father."
Hu Liena lowered her head, her gaze falling on Hu Yao's peaceful sleeping face, lost in thought.
Bibi Dong continued, "You don't need to rush into a decision; you still have time to consider. If you don't want to go to him, then you can stay here in seclusion and raise Yao Yao."
Hu Liena looked up at Bibi Dong and said, "Thank you, teacher."
Bibi Dong smiled, stood up, and said, "Take good care of Yao Yao. Teacher needs to go and finish her own business."
Hu Liena nodded, her voice soft. "Okay, teacher."
Bibi Dong's figure quickly disappeared into the twilight outside the door.
Hu Liena withdrew her gaze and gently shook the swaddled baby in her arms. "Yaoyao, let's stay here for a while."