Through Spirit Hall's intelligence network, Bibi Dong had also learned that several powerful Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts lived in the Star Dou Great Forest.
If she could turn all those Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts into her Spirit Rings and Spirit Bones, she would no longer have to be threatened by Qian Daoliu.
With a plan in mind, Bibi Dong summoned Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.
"Greetings, Your Excellency the Pope."
"Mm. Elder Ju, Elder Gui, make your preparations. This Pope will be going to the Star Dou Great Forest for soul hunting. The targets are Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.
Your Martial Soul Fusion Skill, the Two Forms Static Domain, will be the key to the success of this hunt. You must ensure that the targets are restrained."
"Your Excellency the Pope, Spirit Hall has many affairs to attend to. As the Pope, is it really appropriate for you to leave Spirit City and go soul hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest at a time like this?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo had merely raised the matter, but it was like lighting a powder keg.
Bibi Dong slammed her hand on the table and rose, shouting furiously.
"Yue Guan, who gave you the nerve to meddle in this Pope's affairs? What this Pope does is not for you to criticize."
"Please calm your anger, Your Excellency the Pope. He only has Spirit Hall's interests at heart. Yue Guan..."
"Your Excellency the Pope, this subordinate misspoke. Please calm your anger."
"Hmph. Leave, all of you. This is the first and last time."
Bibi Dong believed her imposing manner had cowed Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, unaware that she had personally pushed away her own right-hand men.
"Old Ghost, you saw it too. To her, we're just dogs she can summon and dismiss at will. She's never taken us brothers seriously."
"You're right, but for now, we can only follow her orders."
"Hmph. She won't sit in that Pope's seat for much longer."
Afterward, Chrysanthemum Douluo sent Xiao Chenlong a letter, informing him that Bibi Dong intended to go soul hunting in the Star Dou Great Forest.
On Xiao Chenlong's side, the person meant to replace Xue Ye had already arrived. He was a collateral descendant of the Qian Family named Qian Sheng, over fifty years old and a Soul Sage. His talent was not particularly high, but he was steady and dependable.
"Your Highness the Saint Son, the Great Enshrined instructed me to obey all your commands."
"Good. Next, you don't need to do anything. Just sit here."
"We don't need to infiltrate the Imperial Palace?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo asked in confusion. To exchange souls, they had to meet Xue Ye somehow.
"We do. I alone will be enough."
Xiao Chenlong raised his hand and knocked Qian Sheng's soul out of his body. Qian Sheng's body instantly collapsed onto the table.
Carrying Qian Sheng's soul with him, Xiao Chenlong transformed into an inconspicuous little sparrow and flew toward the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
He had long since surveyed the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace thoroughly. He knew exactly where Xue Ye rested, how many guards there were around his quarters, and whether any concubines attended him at night.
The Monkey Talisman's ability to transform into anything was truly useful for gathering intelligence.
Transformed into a moth, Xiao Chenlong arrived beside Xue Ye's bed and activated the Goat Talisman on the sleeping emperor, drawing his soul out of his body. Since Xue Ye had already been asleep, his soul remained in a sleeping state even after leaving his body.
"Go in."
Xiao Chenlong pushed Qian Sheng's soul into Xue Ye's body.
The sleeping "Xue Ye" immediately opened his eyes. He turned toward Xiao Chenlong and dropped to one knee in salute.
"Greetings, His Highness the Holy Son!"
"Mm, it looks like everything went smoothly. From now on, you are Xue Ye. Right, show me your Martial Soul."
"Yes, Your Highness the Saint Son."
"Xue Ye" summoned his Martial Soul. It was still a swan, without the slightest change.
"Good. If there is anything you need to do next, someone will notify you."
"This subordinate understands."
Xiao Chenlong nodded in satisfaction, then turned into a flying bird and flew away from the bedside with Xue Ye's soul.
Upon returning to Spirit Hall, Xiao Chenlong threw Xue Ye's soul into Qian Sheng's body. Only then did he finally wake up.
"Mm... No, where is this? Why am I here? Guards! Guards!"
"Stop shouting. Even if you scream yourself hoarse, no one will hear you. Here, look in a mirror first."
Xiao Chenlong smiled as he handed the mirror to Xue Ye. Seeing a completely unfamiliar face reflected in it, Xue Ye was instantly struck with terror.
"What is going on? My face? What happened to my face? No, this isn't my body at all! What did you do to me?"
Only then did Xue Ye understand. His gaze locked tightly onto Xiao Chenlong.
"Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, does your Spirit Hall intend to go to war with my Heaven Dou Empire?"
"Heh. Why don't you go outside and try? See whether anyone will believe you if you say you're Xue Ye."
Xue Ye was immediately choked speechless. He had completely become another person now; even if he told others, no one would believe him.
"Why didn't you kill me?"
"Kill you? Why would I kill you? Letting you watch with your own eyes as your Heaven Dou Empire falls into Spirit Hall's hands while you can do nothing—and letting outsiders believe that you were the one who handed over the entire empire—isn't that far more interesting than killing you?"
"You're a monster! A devil! I curse you!"
Xue Ye completely broke down and became hysterical.
"There really is a demon hidden inside my body, and he is far more ruthless than I am. In my hands, at least you can stay alive. If you run into him, he'll crush you as casually as an ant.
All right, enough nonsense. I hope you have pleasant dreams tonight."
Xiao Chenlong had someone take Xue Ye away to rest, while he himself could finally get a good night's sleep as well.
The next day, Qian Renxue arrived. Early that morning, she had gone to the Imperial Palace and met the Xue Ye who had been replaced by Qian Sheng.
From here on, the Heaven Dou Empire's policies would gradually shift toward closeness with Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall could now be considered to have basically gained actual control over the Heaven Dou Empire.
Only Xiao Chenlong, Qian Renxue, and Golden Crocodile Douluo remained in the room.
Both Xiao Chenlong and Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Qian Renxue. After calming down over the past few days, she should have reached a decision.
"Second Grandfather, I've decided. That woman Bibi Dong cannot be allowed to remain in the Pope's position, no matter what."
"Mm, Second Grandfather understands. Once I return, I'll speak with Elder Brother. We must drive Bibi Dong from the Pope's seat."
Xiao Chenlong spoke up at that moment.
"Don't make things sound so simple. If I'm not mistaken, even you, Second Worship, don't know why Teacher has been so tolerant of Bibi Dong."
"I truly don't know that. Elder Brother refuses to speak of it too. You know?"
"Mm. Setting other matters aside, you should know how she came to be, right?"
"Cough, cough. I do know about that. Xiao Xue's father really did handle that matter shamefully."
"'Foolish' would be a more fitting word."
Hearing that, Qian Renxue could not help shooting Xiao Chenlong a glare, but he acted as though he had not seen it.
"If he was going to do it, he should have done it thoroughly. After doing something like that, he still foolishly hoped to win Bibi Dong's heart back. It was utterly idiotic."
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