"I understand." Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes lifted slightly, but she didn't press him for details.
Dugu Bo's source had been damaged, and he was busy treating his injuries. There was no need to worry that he would retaliate against Qin Xuan.
Seeing how calm Bibi Dong seemed, Qin Xuan couldn't help wondering in surprise:
Bibi Dong actually didn't pry or ask what I'm going to Heaven Dou City for. That's a little unexpected!
He put the thought aside and still asked, more out of courtesy than anything:
"Teacher, aren't you going to ask why I'm going to Heaven Dou City?"
Bibi Dong replied evenly, "Everyone has their privacy. If you don't want to tell me, why would I press you?"
"Once you've taken care of your business in Heaven Dou City, return to Spirit City as soon as possible."
"After all, the Spirit Hall Branch stationed in Heaven Dou City doesn't have many top experts. If something unexpected happens, they won't be able to protect you completely."
At that, she murmured, "Qian Renxue." Then she closed her eyes and said nothing more, unpleasant memories surfacing in her mind.
That night in the secret chamber was a wound buried deep in her heart, one that would never heal.
When the luxurious carriage reached the outskirts of Heaven Dou City, Qin Xuan got down early and parted ways with Bibi Dong.
He didn't immediately retrace his route. Instead, after the carriage had gone, he found a nearby hotel and stayed there for three days.
During those three days, he refined the energy of the Nether Demon Spirit Tiger. His Soul Power advanced another level, making him a Level 34 Soul Elder.
Only then did Qin Xuan leave the hotel at an unhurried pace and head back toward Sunset Forest alone.
He wasn't the least bit flustered. Judging by Dugu Bo's injuries, there was no way he could fully recover in just a few days.
A side hall in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Dugu Bo sat cross-legged on the bed. His complexion was still poor, but he looked much better than he had in Sunset Forest.
Beside him sat a girl with short purple hair and striking features, dressed in a short, green skirt patterned like snake scales.
She looked deeply worried. It was clear she was Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan.
Besides her, three other people were in the hall: Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and Sword Saint Chen Xin.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin had only just arrived at the palace after receiving Emperor Xue Ye's summons, so they didn't know what had happened to Dugu Bo.
Feeling Dugu Bo's aura, Chen Xin couldn't help asking in surprise:
"Brother Dugu, why has your Soul Power fallen to Level 85?"
"Who could have forced you into such a dire situation?"
"Alas!" Dugu Bo let out a heavy sigh. "Bibi Dong!"
"How could it have been the Pope?" Ning Fengzhi furrowed his brows, thoroughly puzzled.
At that, Dugu Bo recounted what had happened in Sunset Forest to Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin, though he naturally made himself look better.
Bibi Dong had gravely injured him with a single move.
But in his version, he had held out for ten rounds before being defeated.
"It seems that if Bibi Dong hadn't cared about that boy, Senior Poison, you might not have escaped with your life," Ning Fengzhi remarked. Then his gaze shifted to Emperor Xue Ye. "May I ask why you summoned Uncle Sword and me?"
Emperor Xue Ye's expression was grave. "The Spirit Hall's influence has grown enormous, and it's becoming ever more brazen."
"Bibi Dong is the Pope, yet she gravely injured a guest elder of the imperial family without even giving us a word of warning. She truly has no regard for the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"I summoned you both to ask you to help me teach the Spirit Hall a lesson!"
"This..." Ning Fengzhi hesitated.
Emperor Xue Ye added, "I won't wage a direct war against the Spirit Hall."
"I only want to completely destroy the Spirit Hall Branch they built in Heaven Dou City!"
Just then,
Ning Fengzhi was about to say something when Xue Qinghe strode into the hall.
"Father, that would be unwise."
"Destroying a mere branch would barely sting the Spirit Hall."
"Besides, every year, countless children in Heaven Dou City rely on the Spirit Hall to awaken their Martial Souls."
"Wouldn't that end up doing us more harm than good?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince has said exactly what I was thinking," Ning Fengzhi chimed in.
"Are we just supposed to let this go?" Emperor Xue Ye pounded his chest in anger, then slumped into his chair.
Xue Qinghe pondered for a moment before speaking:
"We should make expanding the empire's military strength our top priority."
"Once our forces are several times stronger than Spirit City's, wouldn't it be better to take the city head-on?"
As he replied, he looked toward Dugu Bo and asked in confusion, "Senior Poison, why do I feel that your Soul Power has dropped so much?"
Recalling the battle, Dugu Bo gave a bitter smile.
"Bibi Dong's strength is terrifying."
"The scythe blades she casually unleashed were frighteningly destructive."
"I blocked one head-on with the head of my Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor Martial Soul. I immediately felt dizzy and experienced excruciating pain. But all I could think about then was escaping, so I thought I'd only suffered a minor concussion and didn't dwell on it."
"Only when I returned to the palace did I realize how serious my injuries were."
"That scythe blade cut a crack into my Medusa Skull, and all the Death Spider Emperor poison flowed through it into the Soul Bone."
"To keep the poison from spreading, I had no choice but to endure the agony of separating the Soul Bone from my body. That was the only way I could forcibly remove the Medusa Skull and save myself."
"Losing the Soul Bone caused my Soul Power to drop four levels. Then, to neutralize the Death Spider Emperor poison, I overtaxed my life force, making my Soul Power fall another two levels."
"Senior Poison fell from a Level 91 Titled Douluo to a Level 85 Soul Douluo!" Xue Qinghe pretended to look shocked, while inwardly marveling, That woman's pretty capable. I really underestimated her!
Dugu Bo went on to describe more details about Bibi Dong's Martial Soul, as well as Qin Xuan's absorption of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Only then did everyone understand why Bibi Dong had gone to such lengths to protect the boy.
If Dugu Bo was telling the truth and the boy had absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as his third, who could stand against him in the future?
After hearing this, Xue Qinghe quickly turned the matter over in his mind.
No wonder Bibi Dong let the weakest Titled Douluo escape, despite her strength. I never expected her to accompany Qin Xuan to Sunset Forest in person to hunt Soul Beasts.
After gathering the information he wanted, Xue Qinghe paid the others no further attention and left without looking back.
It was noon, and the sun shone brightly.
Qin Xuan finally reached the Core Circle of Sunset Forest.
Bibi Dong had dispelled most of the poisonous fog. Only the area around the circular mountain valley remained shrouded in a hundred meters of it.
Qin Xuan tried to use his mental power to scout the valley, but it couldn't penetrate the poisonous fog.
"Looks like the legendary Herb Garden is inside the valley!"
"The Nine Nether Evil God Tiger is immune to all poisons, and the Evil Emperor Hook can devour anything. What can a little poisonous fog do to me?"
As Qin Xuan spoke, a dark sphere of light enveloped his body.
A moment later,
he transformed into the Nine Nether Evil God Tiger, whose body stretched over six meters long!
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