Night Escape from Spirit Hall

"What... what did you say?"

Bibi Dong staggered back two steps, unable to believe her ears.

"I used our relationship to exchange for a three-thousand-year-old Spirit Bone from His Holiness the Pope."

Xia Yang closed his eyes, hardened his heart, and said, "So, from now on, we should never see each other again."

Xia Yang said such heartless words in order to protect Bibi Dong.

He didn't want to see her anger Qian Xunji because of this relationship, ultimately repeating the tragic ending he knew.

"Could it be... could it be that I'm only worth a three-thousand-year-old Spirit Bone?"

Bibi Dong covered her mouth, tears silently streaming down her face.

"I had no choice."

Xia Yang's tone remained cold as he said, "My Soul Power is stuck at level twenty-nine and I can't break through."

"So, if I don't take this opportunity to exchange for Spirit Bone, I don't know when I'll be able to break through my bottleneck."

"You're lying to me, aren't you?"

Bibi Dong shook her head, still clinging to a sliver of hope.

"Sorry."

Xia Yang took a deep breath and said, "When I received the Spirit Bone, I swore an oath to His Holiness the Pope to sever all ties with you."

"So, Bibi Dong... forget about me."

After saying that, Xia Yang resolutely turned around and walked straight out of the Outside the city without looking back.

Soon, Xia Yang's figure disappeared into the deepening night, leaving Bibi Dong standing alone in the same spot.

Bibi Dong gazed in the direction Xia Yang had left, tears streaming down her face.

At the street corner, Qian Xunji and Chrysanthemum Douluo hid in the shadows, taking in everything that had just happened.

"That kid knows what's good for him."

A satisfied smile curved Qian Xunji's lips.

Looking at the heartbroken Bibi Dong and Xia Yang walking further and further away in the distance, Chrysanthemum Douluo felt a mix of emotions.

However, upon glancing at Qian Xunji beside him, he couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief for the two of them.

At least, Xia Yang has temporarily saved his life.

"Director Xuan."

Qian Xunji suddenly spoke.

Xuan Jing, the Dean of Studies of the Martial Soul Academy, who had been standing quietly behind them, stepped forward in response.

"Xia Yang is, after all, your student."

"Leaving Spirit City alone so late is bound to be dangerous."

Qian Xunji said calmly, "Go and arrange for someone to protect him secretly."

Upon hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Qian Xunji in disbelief.

The implication of this statement is all too clear – the so-called "protection" is actually "silencing."

Xuan Jing instantly understood the Pope's intention. He hesitated, glanced at Chrysanthemum Douluo, and stammered, "Pope Holiness, Xia Yang's mother is, after all, a senior member of my Spirit Hall, and..."

Xuan Jing gritted her teeth and said, "Besides, Xia Yang has already separated from the Holy Maiden, so perhaps..."

"You're unwilling to make arrangements?"

Qian Xunji interrupted him, her tone revealing an unquestionable authority.

Xuan Jing swallowed hard, and under Chrysanthemum Douluo's sharp gaze, she finally mustered the courage to say, "Yes, Pope Holiness, I will send people to protect Xia Yang immediately."

After receiving the order, Director Xuan hurriedly left.

"I heard Xia Yang is your disciple?"

Qian Xunji had his back to Chrysanthemum Douluo, and his tone was unreadable.

Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed and replied, "Pope Holiness, he cannot be considered a disciple; he is merely a student who learns about herbs from me."

"Hmm, not bad."

Qian Xunji said calmly, "He's just a student."

"If you'd like, you can always find a few more with even better talent."

Having said that, Qian Xunji turned and stepped into the shadows around the corner, disappearing into the night.

"Yes, Pope Holiness."

Chrysanthemum Douluo responded respectfully.

After Qian Xunji, he looked in the direction Xia Yang had gone and sighed softly, "Young Yang, even your teacher can't help you..."

"Now, it's all up to fate."

After saying that, Chrysanthemum Douluo turned and left with a dejected expression.

At the entrance of the Martial Soul Academy, Bibi Dong sobbed alone for a long time before finally leaving dejectedly, her slender figure appearing particularly lonely in the night.

On the other side, Dean of Students Xuan Jing was frowning, pondering how to carry out the Pope's orders.

He pondered repeatedly the relationship between Xia Yang and the Holy Maiden, as well as his identity as Chrysanthemum Douluo's "student".

After careful consideration, Director Xuan finally selected one candidate – Meng Shan.

Meng Shan, Martial Soul Golden Snake Sword, is a level 39 Soul Elder and a student of the Martial Soul Academy.

He was also a Work-study Student and lived downstairs from Xia Yang.

This person is usually gloomy and has a poor reputation among his classmates.

Choosing him to carry out this task would at least provide a superficial explanation to the Pope.

As for why they didn't send experts at the Soul Ancestor or even Soul King level, it was because Xuan Jing secretly did Chrysanthemum Douluo a favor.

If Xia Yang manages to kill Meng Shan, that will be his good fortune, and Chrysanthemum Douluo and the Holy Maiden will likely not hold him accountable in the future.

If Xia Yang ultimately escapes, will the Pope have any reservations about him as the person in charge? Xuan Jing has his own judgment.

To Qian Xunji, who Qian Xunji, Xia Yang was just an insignificant nobody, whose life and death he had no time to care about.

The current arrangement is probably just a Shi Xing of the Pope.

As for whether Xia Yang lives or dies, the Pope doesn't really care.

Therefore, after carefully considering the thoughts of all parties, Xuan Jing finally made this seemingly compromise decision.

The night was deep, and the Work-Study Dormitory at the Martial Soul Academy was completely silent.

Director Xuan appeared in front of Meng Shan's dormitory door and gently knocked on the door.

When the door opened, Meng Shan looked at the head of teaching affairs with slight surprise.

"Meng Shan, there's an urgent mission I need you to complete."

Director Xuan got straight to the point, his tone unusually serious.

"Please go ahead, Director."

Meng Shan immediately responded seriously.

Director Xuan looked around to make sure no one was there, then lowered his voice and said, "Just now, student Xia Yang stole a three-thousand-year-old Spirit Bone and escaped from the academy."

"His Holiness the Pope personally decreed that anyone who can kill Xia Yang and retrieve the Spirit Bone will receive this Spirit Bone as a reward."

A look of shock flashed across Meng Shan's eyes, then he fell into deep thought.

After a few moments, Meng Shan cautiously asked, "Director, do you mean I should go after Xia Yang?"

"Good."

Director Xuan looked directly into Meng Shan's eyes and said, "Will you accept this mission or not?"

Meng Shan took a deep breath, a ruthless glint in his eyes, and said, "I accept!"

In fact, Meng Shan knew about Xia Yang.

Previously, Xia Yang had competed against other students in the college for the sake of the Work-study Student.

Meng Shan was also present at the time.

Meng Shan was very grateful for what Xia Yang had done.

Because this also benefited him.

However, now faced with this task, Meng Shan did not hesitate to choose to hunt down Xia Yang and obtain the Spirit Bone.

"Very good."

Director Xuan nodded and said, "Xia Yang shouldn't have gone far yet; it's still not too late to catch up."

"Yes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Meng Shan dashed out of the dormitory and quickly disappeared in the direction leading out of the Outside the city.

Director Xuan was not worried that Meng Shan would lose sight of the target.