Teacher, You're Almost Fifty, Aren't You?

"You mean, you want me to go with Chrysanthemum Elder and Ghost Elder to intercept the Soul Master team from the Heaven Dou Empire participating in the competition?" Su Cheng glanced at the documents in his hand, a strange look flashing in his eyes.

Bibi Dong noticed the unusual look in his expression and assumed that this disciple still had some psychological issues. She said in a deep voice, "Tang San in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team is the son of Tang Hao, the Haotian Douluo, who is wanted by the Spirit Hall. His mother died because of the former Pope of the Spirit Hall, and he has a life-and-death feud with the Spirit Hall. Coupled with his powerful talent of twin martial souls, if he is not eliminated, he will definitely become a great threat in the future. For the sake of the overall situation, it is inevitable to use some special methods."

"The big picture?"

"That's right, the big picture." The Pope's expression was unusually calm. "The Two Empires have been at odds with each other for a long time. If it weren't for the Spirit Hall's mediation, the continent would probably be engulfed in war and the people would be suffering. Now, in these two countries, many incompetent people occupy high positions, incompetent nobles control a lot of resources, and commoners suffer from oppression and have no way to get ahead. The path to advancement has been almost completely blocked."

At this point, she looked at Su Cheng and said, "In fact, if it weren't for the Spirit Hall's efforts to save the world and benefit the people, those Soul Masters from commoner backgrounds wouldn't even have the chance to Martial Soul Awakening. You are the best example. Su Cheng, you might as well think about it: if the Spirit Hall hadn't sent Soul Master to various places to conduct free awakening ceremonies back then, would you and your sister, with your backgrounds, have been able to embark on the path of Soul Master?"

Upon hearing this, Su Cheng glanced at her, surprised that she would say something like that.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Teacher, it's not that I have a problem with what you're doing, but I'm just a Soul King."

Hearing his answer, Bibi Dong secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it was good that he could accept this approach.

The fear is that this kid is too pure and innocent, and won't be able to accept the way the Spirit Hall does things.

"Don't worry, this operation will not only be led by two Titled Douluo, but also accompanied by several Soul Douluo, ensuring your safety will not be a problem."

"Teacher, you've misunderstood. What I mean is, why do I have to go along? A team with this kind of strength won't affect the final result whether I participate or not, right?"

"What are you thinking? Of course I'm not asking you to contribute much in this operation. But as Soul Master, daily struggles are inevitable, and this is a good opportunity for you to train. Going out and seeing the world won't hurt you."

"..."

Su Cheng felt somewhat helpless.

He had no desire to participate in such a meaningless activity.

With Ning Rongrong in the team, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will likely accompany them. Given Sword Douluo Chen Xin's strength, Chrysanthemum Ghost and Ghost might not be able to succeed.

Besides Chen Xin, Su Cheng also didn't know Dugu Bo's current situation or whether he had any connection with Tang San.

Even if these people didn't make a move for various reasons, Tang San still had Tang Hao secretly protecting him. If he didn't actually take action, it was clear that Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo alone wouldn't be his match.

The ultimate move of Chrysanthemum Ghost is nothing more than the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Two Extremes Stillness Domain.

However, given Tang Hao's personality, he wouldn't insist on a direct confrontation based on martial virtues. If he chose to launch a sneak attack, the two elders would inevitably suffer a crushing defeat.

At that point, Su Cheng would not choose to expose himself.

He doesn't need much time to return to God-level, and Su Yue is still rapidly accumulating and improving. There's absolutely no need to create trouble at this critical juncture.

However, these things were obviously not easy to explain to Bibi Dong in detail, but if he kept refusing, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.

After a brief moment of thought, he decided to avoid the matter in another way.

"Teacher, I don't think this kind of action is very meaningful."

"What do you mean?" Bibi Dong frowned, a hint of dissatisfaction rising in her heart.

She had already noticed that her apprentice was somewhat resistant to the tasks she had assigned.

"You said it yourself, Tang San is very likely the son of the long-lost Clear Sky Douluo. If that's the case, would Tang Hao really be so at ease about his son's safety? His identity is already very sensitive, and now that the Clear Sky Sect has been forced to close its mountain, its relationship with the Spirit Hall is extremely strained. Since Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer has already been exposed on the field, Tang Hao will definitely be on guard."

"..."

Bibi Dong's expression froze, and she fell silent.

Tang Hao had been out of the public eye for so long that she didn't even think of the existence of this once-famous Clear Sky Douluo.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Su Cheng continued, "Tang Hao is Titled Douluo with a 100,000 Year Spirit Ring and a powerful Martial Soul like the Clear Sky Hammer. He was able to seriously injure the Former Pope back then, so even if he was injured, he should have recovered after so many years of seclusion. If Tang San is in mortal danger and Tang Hao chooses to intervene, the seniors of the Spirit Hall might be in mortal danger."

"Moreover, if we fail to achieve anything but alert the enemy, making Tang Hao and his son Tang San wary, they might as well give up the competition and hide, making them very difficult to find. After all, Tang Hao had evaded the Martial Soul Hall Pursuit for over a decade before this."

"Teacher, if you really want to kill Tang San, wouldn't it be better to find an opportunity to do it after the Spirit Master Competition starts? Spirit City is our home ground. With the help of the elders, we can always find a pretext to get rid of him. I'm sure that by then, even if Tang Hao takes action, he won't be able to save Tang San's life, and he might even lose his own life here."

Su Cheng didn't care whether Tang San lived or died.

If Bibi Dong could really kill him directly in Spirit City, it would actually be a good thing. As long as he doesn't do it himself and doesn't attract the attention of higher-level beings, there wouldn't be any problem.

However, he thought to himself that such an idea would probably be difficult to realize, and there would likely be other variables, allowing Tang San to escape with his life.

Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow, feeling that what Su Cheng said seemed to make some sense.

He got a little anxious after learning about Tang San's situation, but there was really no need for that.

But this apprentice...

She scrutinized Su Cheng with a strange look in her eyes, her tone playful. "You seem to have no qualms about this kind of thing. I thought you would be very resistant to your teacher's behavior."

"As a disciple, of course I will stand on the same side as my teacher." This was the only explanation Su Cheng could give, while secretly trying to figure out what the other person was thinking.

Bibi Dong in this world is strange; she seems to really want to be a good person, but she often can't quite figure it out.

Fortunately, Bibi Dong seemed extremely satisfied with Su Cheng's answer. She gently patted his shoulder and said softly, "It's good that you think this way. As for Tang San, there's no need to be too nervous. Even if he has Twin Martial Souls, I believe he won't be your match in the future."

"Hmm." Su Cheng simply nodded and didn't say anything more.

"Thump, thump, thump."

"Your His Holiness the Pope."

Just then, a faint knock sounded on the door. Bibi Dong quickly regained her composure and calmly asked, "What is it?"

"Someone possesses Elder Token and wishes to see you."

"Elder Token?"

Bibi Dong was somewhat puzzled.

Apart from the elders of the Spirit Hall, only the sect leaders of the Upper Three Sects can possess Elder Token.

But which of those people would come to Spirit City to see me at this time?

His Spiritual Power spread out instantly, and the next moment he sensed the presence of the person waiting outside the hall.

With a cultivation level of just over 30 and extremely mediocre Soul Power, he was utterly unremarkable in the entire Spirit City.

However, Bibi Dong knew this person.

At the same time, Su Cheng also sensed Yu Xiaogang's presence.

"Soul Elder?"

A thought struck him.

Yu Xiaogang's cultivation level had been stuck at the Soul Grandmaster level for many years due to limitations in his talent and abilities. His breakthrough could not possibly have been achieved through his own efforts.

So, Tang San did obtain some herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?

Su Cheng chuckled inwardly, but didn't seem to care.

He had already dealt with all the immortal Immortal Herb there. As for the other rare and exotic herbs, their effects on Soul Master were limited. They could provide energy to help Soul Master level up, but they could not fundamentally upgrade their aptitude.

Moreover, this kind of improvement also has side effects; if not handled properly, it can accumulate a lot of drug toxicity, which is detrimental to the future.

Otherwise, even if it were a place where the remains of the Ice and Fire Dragon King were buried, he would have cleaned it all up in front of Su Yue.

However, Tang San is indeed quite capable. It's unclear how he managed to concoct an antidote and defeat Dugu Bo, given that he no longer possessed an immune system to all poisons.

Just as Su Cheng was pondering this, he heard Bibi Dong directly refuse, "I won't see him. Let him go back to where he came from."

"Yes."

"Etc."

Just as the guard was about to leave, Bibi Dong stopped him again, and then, under Su Cheng's strange gaze, continued, "Take back his Elder Token as well; it doesn't belong to him."

"...yes."

Upon hearing this, the guard outside the door paused for a moment, but the Pope's decision was clearly not one he could question.

The Elder's Elder Token for Guest Elder was originally issued by the Spirit Hall and was used as a tool to curry favor with the Upper Three Sects.

While it's somewhat unreasonable to arbitrarily reclaim something, we do have that right.

Moreover, since the Pope said that the person was not a real elder, the problem naturally did not lie with the Spirit Hall. Taking back the token was only right, and it would be good enough if they didn't arrest that person.

In fact, the guards were already puzzled as to why Soul Master with such low cultivation could possess Spirit Hall Elder Token.

Looking at it now, it really is a fake.

After the guards left, Bibi Dong noticed the surprise in Su Cheng's eyes.

After a slight hesitation, she took the initiative to explain, "That person is an old friend of mine, with mediocre talent. We haven't been in contact for many years. I don't know where he got an Elder Token and then came to Spirit City."

"Since you're an old friend, why not meet up?"

Bibi Dong smiled and casually said, "I haven't paid attention to his news for many years... It's been almost ten years, if I count. If he hadn't come today, I would have almost forgotten about him. There's no point in meeting him, I guess it won't be anything good."

"I guess that person probably wouldn't think that way, otherwise they wouldn't have dared to impersonate an elder of the Spirit Hall and come to see the Pope of the Spirit Hall." Su Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he suddenly asked, "Isn't impersonating an elder of the Spirit Hall a bit against the rules?"

"Theoretically, that's true, but I'm too lazy to see him. Arresting him would just cause a lot of trouble, so I might as well take back the token and let him go. Anyway, he's just a Soul Elder, he can't cause any trouble."

"Is the teacher's old friend merely Soul Elder?"

"Yes. Don't let my status as Saintess, which I joined the Spirit Hall at a young age, fool you. I've never liked using my position to intimidate others. Actually, I'm just like you, from a very ordinary family... Would you like to hear about my past experiences?"

"Are you willing to tell me?"

"Well, there's nothing I can't say."

Bibi Dong's expression shifted, and she slowly turned around and walked to the huge French window, lost in thought.

The afternoon sunlight, shifting to a lower angle, cast a long shadow at her feet.

"Let's not talk about it."

"Um?"

Hearing this, she turned her head in surprise.

Her delicate and three-dimensional features cast a faint shadow on one side of her cheek, creating a striking and captivating look, yet also giving off a slightly subdued feeling.

"Didn't you tell me before that we should let bygones be bygones, not let those things affect us, and that things will get better in the future?" Su Cheng also stepped forward and looked at the setting sun outside the window.

He stretched and said softly, "The morning sun looks so much better. I always feel a bit down around this time of day."

Bibi Dong followed his gaze and looked back out the window, chuckling, "Indeed, the sunrise feels better. But after sunset, it won't be long before a brand new sun rises again the next day, so there's no need to feel sorry. But for people, we can't start over like the sun. I'm getting old too."

"Teacher, you're almost fifty, aren't you?"

Bibi Dong's expression froze, then her eyes flashed with coldness. "If you can't speak properly, you don't have to. Do you really think I won't get angry?"

She was just making a casual self-deprecating joke, but who knew this guy would actually take it so seriously and keep responding to whatever came next.

How dare he bring up a woman's age?

"Age is just a number. The sun has risen and set for countless years, but who cares about its real age? I used to hear the old people in the village say that a person is only truly old when they start to reminisce about the past and enjoy recalling old times."

"..."

Bibi Dong was taken aback by what he said.

"So, teacher, if you feel you're still young, then stop thinking about all those messy things from the past and look forward instead. I read in a book that once you reach the Titled Douluo level, Soul Master's lifespan will be greatly extended, and they might even live for several hundred years longer."

Su Cheng turned to her with a smile, "If you keep bringing up old stories like you do today, I have to wonder if you're really getting old."

Bibi Dong's eyes flickered, but she immediately pursed her lips and turned her head away, pretending to be serious, saying, "You brat, you're so glib. When did I ever need you to teach me?"