In the sky.
Thousands of white doves and dazzling flying Soul Beasts circled and wheeled, scattering a rain of petals across the heavens.
The melodious, sacred tolling of bells echoed over all of Spirit City, ringing without end.
Just as Qian Yu had commanded half a month ago.
This wedding for the Saintess was unprecedented in scale, surpassing even the succession ceremonies of every Pope in history!
The vast square before Pope Palace was already packed with people, every seat filled and the crowd buzzing with excitement.
Every top power of any renown on the Douluo Continent had come to witness the ceremony, whether willingly or compelled by Spirit Hall's absolute might.
Today, they had all gritted their teeth, prepared their most lavish gifts, and come to pay their respects.
At the very front of the VIP section.
Representatives of the Upper Three Sects were conspicuously present.
Ning Fengzhi wore a pristine white robe, his manner refined and easygoing.
Yet deep in his eyes lay a hint of grave wariness. He spoke quietly to Sword Douluo Chen Xin beside him:
"Uncle Jian, this Holy Son of Spirit Hall, Qian Yu, has hidden his true strength too well.
"This wedding today is probably about more than just getting married. It's also a show of force to the entire continent..."
Not far away, representatives of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, along with royal envoys from the two great empires, Star Luo and Heaven Dou, sat in their seats, their expressions varied.
They exchanged covert glances with one another.
Everyone knew that Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall's Saintess, was a peerless genius with Twin Martial Souls, the likes of whom appeared only once in a century.
Now, she was joining in marriage with Qian Xunji's junior brother, the equally unfathomable Qian Yu.
Spirit Hall's prestige was sure to reach an unprecedented peak!
Meanwhile.
Inside the lavish chambers of the Saintess's residence behind Pope Palace.
A dozen of Spirit Hall's finest maids knelt carefully on the floor.
They were arranging Bibi Dong's phoenix crown and bridal robes, which trailed for several meters and were set with countless precious gems.
The bronze mirror reflected a peerless beauty capable of eclipsing the sun and moon.
The bright red wedding gown set off Bibi Dong's already flawless figure, making her appear even more noble, sacred, and untouchable.
Yet beneath this splendor, enough to drive any woman in the world mad with envy.
Bibi Dong's eyes were as lifeless as two dried-up wells, without the faintest spark.
She was like an exquisite puppet, fashioned to perfection but stripped of her soul.
She let the maids arrange her body and apply bright rouge, covering her pallid, paper-white face.
Xiaogang...
Bibi Dong murmured the name in her heart, numb with despair.
I did it... I put on the wedding gown... You have to stay alive, no matter what...
That was the only conviction that had kept her alive until now, the only thing stopping her from biting through her tongue and taking her own life.
She had offered herself to the abyss, all to secure a lifetime of peace for that man, far away.
"Your Highness, the auspicious hour has arrived.
"Lord Qian Yu... is waiting for you outside."
A Cardinal's respectful announcement came from beyond the door.
Bibi Dong's delicate body trembled despite herself.
She slowly closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. When she opened them again, only icy stillness and resolve remained in their depths.
"Let's go."
"Creak—"
The heavy, gilded doors of Pope Palace slowly swung open.
Beneath the watchful eyes of the masses.
Amid wave after wave of awestruck gasps and praise.
Bibi Dong emerged from the palace, wearing her phoenix crown and bridal robes, escorted by two lines of maids.
She descended like a celestial maiden from the heavens.
At the far end of the White Jade Stairs before the palace.
Qian Yu stood with his hands behind his back.
He wore a magnificent dark-gold ceremonial robe, his posture straight as a sword.
His peerlessly handsome face bore a warm, spring-breeze smile.
His innate aura of nobility and holiness.
Made the daughters of countless powerful families stare at him, their faces flushing despite themselves.
In the eyes of the world, Qian Yu and Bibi Dong looked like a match made in heaven.
The perfect union on the Douluo Continent.
Qian Yu strode gracefully down the steps and stopped before Bibi Dong.
Smiling, he held out a long, pale hand.
With effortless ease, he took Bibi Dong's cold jade hand, trembling faintly beneath her wide sleeve.
"You look beautiful today."
Qian Yu's voice was as warm and smooth as jade.
To the onlookers, it sounded like a groom's tender, adoring words to his bride.
But only Bibi Dong, standing right beside him, could hear what he said next.
The moment Qian Yu took her hand.
In a voice only the two of them could hear, he whispered in her ear like a demon:
"It's been half a month, my fiancée. Are you still dreaming about that good-for-nothing?"
Bibi Dong clenched her teeth and glared at Qian Yu.
Her eyes burned with humiliated hatred. She lowered her voice and snapped:
"You promised me. I came out, just like I said I would. You'd better keep your word and leave him alone!"
"Of course."
The smile at Qian Yu's lips deepened.
He even reached out and gently brushed a stray lock of hair back from Bibi Dong's temple.
In his deep eyes gleamed a merciless light that sent a chill down the spine:
"Not only have I left him alone, I've also prepared a... very special wedding gift for you."
"A grand gift that will let you see reality clearly at last.
"One that will make your proud heart shatter in my hands, willingly..."
Qian Yu held Bibi Dong's stiff hand.
He turned to face the thousands of guests from the great powers gathered in the square.
Qian Yu raised his hand slightly, and the once-bustling square fell completely silent.
"Thank you all for coming to Spirit City today to attend the wedding of Saintess Bibi Dong and me, Qian Yu."
Wrapped in Soul Power, Qian Yu's voice carried clearly to every corner of Spirit City.
It was imposing, domineering, and utterly imperious.
"However, before we proceed with the ceremony."
Qian Yu tilted his head slightly.
He looked at Bibi Dong, whose body had begun to tremble faintly, and his smile widened to its utmost:
"I'd like to show the whole world a... very interesting 'treasure' first."
The moment the words fell.
A brilliant light suddenly flared in Qian Yu's hand.
A transparent crystal, radiating strange fluctuations, slowly floated into the air.
It was an Image Recording Stone!
As Qian Yu poured his refined Soul Power into it.
The Image Recording Stone in the air erupted in a dazzling flash.
The light swiftly wove itself together above Pope Palace, growing larger.
At last, it formed a vast screen, dozens of meters long and wide.
Clear images, accompanied by lifelike sounds.
Were laid bare before every top power on the continent.
In the once-quiet square, everyone instinctively held their breath and looked up.
Among the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's seats, several elders furrowed their brows, a foreboding feeling rising in their hearts.
The first scene on the screen showed a dark, damp, muddy ditch that reeked of rot.
Rain poured down in torrents.
A man covered in blood and dressed in rags writhed and wailed in the muck like a maggot.
"My legs... My legs!!!"
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