Dark Stirring

Bibi Dong did not answer at once. She only glanced at Ning Fengzhi, her right hand gripping the Pope Scepter, her little finger, ring finger, and middle finger moving one after another along the shaft.

"It is indeed difficult. Treating physical injuries is not hard. What is hard is clearing away that thread of dark gray that seems like poison yet isn't poison. Otherwise, why would I need to send a seven-year-old Support Soul Master onto the field? Sect Master Ning is also Support System, and yours is the continent's number one support, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda. Why not give it a try?" Bibi Dong said lightly.

"Your Majesty the Pope knows that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda spirit does not lean toward healing. I am even less capable. I believe Your Majesty the Pope has also sought out Ye Tianxin," Ning Fengzhi replied modestly. Indeed, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda leaned more toward supporting assault systems.

"Ye Tianxin is benevolent, and there is nothing to fault in her healing effect. Unfortunately, it still does not carry a Purification Ability and cannot clear the poison within the body." Bibi Dong was helpless. Ye Tianxin's spirit was Nine Heart Begonia.

Nine Heart Begonia was the spirit with the best healing effect, but its flaw was that no matter how many Soul Rings it had, the Nine Heart Begonia Spirit possessed only one skill: group-wide healing.

"Then the Spirit Hall Holy Son has truly worked hard. The Holy Son is only seven, yes? When the Holy Son released his Martial Soul Avatar, we had just arrived in Spirit City and happened to witness that soul-shaking scene of the Martial Soul Avatar," Ning Fengzhi said with a faint smile.

"Xiao Fan's spirit is indeed not bad. His full name is Duanyu Fan. I am one hundred percent satisfied with this disciple, Xiao Fan. The only slight pity is that it is a support spirit. I hear Sect Master Ning has also accepted a disciple, and he is the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire," Bibi Dong said just as lightly.

"Hehe. Aside from Qing He's spirit talent being a little poor, he is acceptable in every other aspect. In the future, he will surely be a wise ruler," Ning Fengzhi said with a knowing smile.

"Hehe. Is that so? Then that truly is the Heaven Dou Empire's good fortune." A faint, meaningful smile touched Bibi Dong's lips.

"Let us not speak of these things. Your Majesty the Pope has been busy all morning, so we will not disturb you. We will stroll around Spirit City. It is rare for us to come to Spirit City." Ning Fengzhi intended to end the conversation.

"Very well. I hope Sect Master Ning enjoys himself, though the west side of the city is somewhat deserted," Bibi Dong said, not insisting that they stay.

"I understand. Sword Uncle, let's go." Ning Fengzhi took his leave of Bibi Dong for the time being.

"Your Majesty the Pope, what is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's intention? They could not have come to probe for information, could they?" After watching Ning Fengzhi and the other man leave, Ghost Douluo spoke softly to Bibi Dong.

"They should only have come to offer some aid, then probe into Xiao Fan's situation in passing. But they should already believe it is a support spirit. At most, they will only marvel at Xiao Fan's talent. Unfortunately, that is only the tip of the iceberg. No need to bother with them," Bibi Dong said faintly.

"Yes, Your Majesty the Pope. Then this subordinate will go patrol first." Ghost Douluo also left, continuing to investigate the traces of the Evil Soul Master.

After Bibi Dong went to check on Duanyu Fan, she returned to the Pope Palace.

The next morning, when Duanyu Fan came out, Bibi Dong was already waiting for him in the West Hall. Aside from the usual Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, there were two unfamiliar people in the hall, both with extraordinary bearing. One sat with a cane, wearing a spotless white robe, looking to be in his forties.

The other had silver-white hair and a majestic presence. Even standing quietly beside the man with the cane, he gave off an aura as though all things in heaven and earth belonged beneath him alone.

"Good morning, Teacher. You came over so early." Duanyu Fan stepped forward and greeted Bibi Dong.

"Xiao Fan, I'll introduce two people to you. They arrived yesterday. Seeing that it was inconvenient for you, they did not disturb you," Bibi Dong said lightly.

"Oh!" Duanyu Fan revealed a curious expression. Just from the two men's attire and bearing, he had already guessed who they were.

"You want to know, don't you? They are both from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. This seated one is Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the continent's number one Support System Spirit Master. The other is one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's guardian elders, Sword Douluo, known as the continent's number one Titled Douluo. Sect Master Ning donated three million Gold Soul Coins to the villagers yesterday," Bibi Dong introduced them properly to Duanyu Fan.

"Junior Duanyu Fan greets the two seniors." Duanyu Fan stepped forward with a faint smile and saluted Ning Fengzhi and Jian Dao Chenxin, saying nothing more.

"Yesterday, as soon as I arrived, I saw you treating the villagers. The Holy Son is even more outstanding than I imagined. Before I came to Spirit City, I had already heard of the Holy Son's reputation," Ning Fengzhi said, also smiling as he praised Duanyu Fan.

"Haha, it is all only empty reputation. I am merely doing what I can. Senior Ning overpraises me," Duanyu Fan said, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Mm! Rare indeed. The Holy Son's state of mind far exceeds my imagination." Duanyu Fan's answer left Ning Fengzhi and Jian Dao Chenxin somewhat surprised. They had thought that after being praised by outsiders, he would show a trace of pride, but what Ning Fengzhi saw was only a pair of calm eyes.

At that moment, Ning Fengzhi realized that the Duanyu Fan he had met was even more outstanding than the one he had heard of. At only seven years old, he already possessed a special charm that made others unable to help feeling close to him.

As several people conversed in the hall, outside the city, at the villagers' gathering place, someone dressed like a villager slipped in among them.

"Damn it. I spent so long meticulously preparing the Evil Bat Poison, yet someone could actually break it. It made all my efforts fail at the last step, and I was even cursed by the elder. And it was a child. I cannot endure this humiliation. What's more, this great plan concerns the life and death of our cult. It must succeed." After successfully blending into the villagers, the infiltrator thought to himself in secret.

In the hall, as the others chatted, the sun gradually rose and shone through the West Hall's doors.

"Teacher, although I temporarily cannot perform Soul Fusion with Chrysanthemum Elder to release the Martial Soul Avatar, after last night's rest, my Soul Power has basically recovered. I can use my First Soul Skill," Duanyu Fan said as he watched the sun rise.

"Xiao Fan, rest for another day or two. Don't be in such a hurry." Bibi Dong did not agree to let Duanyu Fan continue treating them.

"Teacher, I can wait, but the villagers cannot. If too much time passes and the illness worsens, that will be the real trouble. There are still more than twenty thousand villagers waiting for treatment." Duanyu Fan insisted. Bibi Dong and the others might not know, but Duanyu Fan knew that the Plague could evolve. He feared that when the time came, even his purification would no longer be effective.

"All right. I really can't win against your stubbornness," Bibi Dong said helplessly.

"The Holy Son is truly conscientious and responsible, and considers everything thoroughly," Ning Fengzhi said. He had also not expected Duanyu Fan to care so much.

"Senior Ning, you do not know this, but right now, my First Soul Skill can only be used once a day at most. Judging by the number of villagers, it will take at least another half a year. Half a year is too long. The villagers cannot wait," Duanyu Fan sighed.

"Good. The Holy Son truly makes me see him in a new light. To have such a sense of responsibility." This Duanyu Fan suited him very well.

Unfortunately, he was already one of Spirit Hall's people. Ning Fengzhi also sighed inwardly.

"In that case, let us go to the West City Wall together. Sect Master Ning, would you like to come along?" Bibi Dong invited Ning Fengzhi.

"Of course." Ning Fengzhi smiled and accepted Bibi Dong's invitation.

After that, the six of them headed toward the West City Gate. Ghost Douluo quickly went ahead first to arrange the villagers who were to be treated.

Halfway there, Duanyu Fan encountered Hu Liena, who had come to the west of the city alone. Xie Yue and Yan had not come with Hu Liena.