Ice Spear Douluo wasn't sure how to explain it.
From what she had observed,
Su Chen's behavior seemed a little off.
Yet she couldn't quite put her finger on why.
So she could only say, "The Saintess bought a large quantity of Whale Rubber."
"She even went out of her way to ditch the people around her and act alone."
Whale Rubber?
Bibi Dong's eyes flickered.
She immediately realized that Ice Spear Douluo had taken issue with Su Chen.
After all, without knowing what Whale Rubber was really used for,
any woman would feel repulsed.
Before Bibi Dong could say anything, Ice Spear Douluo's cool voice rang out again:
"Su Chen is still young, yet he's already taking an interest in such things. The Saintess will have to keep a close eye on him, lest he... go astray."
In everyone's mind, Whale Rubber was an aphrodisiac meant to nourish men, and its purpose was quite clear. Ice Spear Douluo felt that Bibi Dong ought to understand without needing her to spell it out.
But Bibi Dong's expression remained calm. Even after hearing this, she showed no sign of anger.
This wasn't quite what Ice Spear Douluo had expected, and a stir rose in her heart.
How could this be?
Her disciple had secretly bought something like that—and he was still just a boy. Yet Bibi Dong, his teacher, wasn't even angry?
An old book she'd once happened upon began to surface, unbidden, in Ice Spear Douluo's mind.
There was a kind of fondness and indulgence that transcended the rules between master and disciple. It made those in power endlessly tolerant of their young pupils, even turning a blind eye to their outrageous behavior.
Ice Spear Douluo's heart pounded. A bold thought slowly took root within her.
Could it be... that the Saintess's feelings for her personal disciple, Bibi Dong, had long since gone beyond a simple teacher-student relationship...
Could it be...
This...
was motherly love?
"Ice Spear Elder, leave this matter alone for now. You may go back."
"I'll reprimand Xiao Chen. He's young, and may just be curious. I'll ask him about it when he gets back."
Noticing Ice Spear Douluo's gaze, Bibi Dong realized her reaction had been off, too. She immediately changed her tone. She still had to make a show of it.
Ice Spear Douluo nodded lightly. Since her teacher didn't seem to care, there was nothing for her to worry about.
Ice Spear Douluo had barely been gone a moment when Su Chen returned to the room.
Seeing Bibi Dong, Su Chen smiled and walked over. Her voice was cool as she asked, "What did you run off to do? And why did you ditch the guard I assigned to you?"
"Teacher, I went looking around the city for some Whale Rubber. Here, this is a gift for you."
Su Chen took out a box. Inside were two pieces of Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue. Under Bibi Dong's gaze, he slowly explained, "Teacher, you're about to become a Soul Emperor. The hundred-year and thousand-year varieties won't have any effect, so I thought the ten-thousand-year kind would be just right."
Bibi Dong lowered her eyes, warmth stirring in her heart. She hadn't expected her disciple to have bought it for her.
She pretended not to care and nodded lightly. "I appreciate the thought, but I don't need the gift. You should keep it for yourself."
"Teacher, I've got more!" Su Chen chuckled to himself. There was more Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue in Vast Sea City than he'd expected.
"Then I'll accept it. But be more careful next time. You thought that ditching your guard meant no one would notice you? A Title Elder's power is far beyond what you can imagine."
"A Title... Elder?"
Su Chen's pupils contracted. At last, he understood what had happened.
So a Title Elder had been spying on him—or, no, protecting him.
The Elder had noticed his every move in secret, too, and reported him to Bibi Dong.
A sense of wariness crept over Su Chen. It seemed he had no secrets at all.
Thinking of how he'd bought the Dragon Abyss Boat, Su Chen suppressed his unease and asked quietly, "Did they... notice anything unusual? Did they suspect anything about what I bought, or question my motives?"
Bibi Dong looked up at him, thinking he was asking about the Whale Rubber, and shook her head.
"I don't think so."
She paused, studying Su Chen's profile, then added coolly, "They just thought your behavior was... rather lewd."
Su Chen: "..."
At first light the next day, the horns at Vast Sea City's harbor blared, their sound carrying across the sea.
The Spirit Hall Soul Masters who would set out to conquer Devil Island assembled as scheduled. At Bibi Dong's command, the fleet set sail in a grand procession.
A few days passed in the blink of an eye. The isolated Sea God Island soon received word that Spirit Hall's army was crossing the sea to attack.
The Sea Soul Masters and Sea Soul Beasts of Sea God Island all worshipped the Sea God.
Out on this vast ocean, the Sea Soul Beasts were naturally impossible to avoid, and the news reached Xiao Bai first.
As Sea God Island's guardian beast, Xiao Bai immediately informed its elders.
In the meeting hall of Sea Dragon City, Sea Dragon Douluo sat with Sea Spear Douluo, Sea Maiden Douluo, and Sea Horse Douluo.
Also present were the candidates for the sacred pillars: Sea Horse, Sea Ghost, Sea Illusion, and Sea Star.
After Demon Soul Great White Shark King Xiao Bai finished explaining, the atmosphere grew tense.
Sea God Island had known peace for many years. No one had ever attacked it before, let alone with such a massive force.
The Deep Sea Demonic Whale King was the exception.
Sea Dragon Douluo spoke up. "The enemy is launching a large-scale invasion. We must inform the High Priest at once. Xiao Bai should gather all the deep-sea Sea Soul Beast tribes, while we rally every Sea Soul Master on the island. Sea and land must join forces to repel the invaders with everything we have."
As soon as he finished, everyone else nodded in agreement. Apart from the High Priest, Sea Dragon Douluo held the highest position on Sea God Island, and they all agreed with him.
"I'll inform the High Priest!"
Demon Soul Great White Shark King Xiao Bai rose and was about to head to Sea God Temple.
"I already know."
Just then, a graceful figure stepped slowly into the hall.
She wore a red robe.
She was tall, with a graceful figure.
Her sea-blue hair fell loose down her back. She was noble, yet carried an air of icy aloofness.
The Grand Pontiff of Sea God Island, Bo Saixi—the level-99 Sea God Douluo.
"High Priest!"
Everyone rose as one. Bo Saixi's arrival put them at ease.
"I already know what's happened."
Bo Saixi's voice was calm and composed.
"They've come from far away, waging war across the sea. They must be exhausted, so they're no cause for concern."
"I'll personally oversee Sea God Island during this battle. You need only lead your troops and fight the enemy with all your strength. Drive back the invaders and safeguard the island. We absolutely cannot let them profane the Sea God. Otherwise..."
Bo Saixi's eyes darkened, her confidence and authority absolute. "If anything goes wrong, I'll intervene personally."
Her brief words carried the confidence of a Peerless Douluo and filled everyone present with confidence. With the High Priest herself assuring them, no one would be able to set foot on Sea God Island and profane the Sea God's majesty.
"High Priest, that's wonderful! We have to teach them a lesson. They actually dare attack Sea God Island and offend the Sea God. We'll make sure they never leave!"
Xiao Bai was furious. The Sea God was a truly great being in her eyes, and she wouldn't allow anyone to make the Sea God angry.