Bibi Dong watched Yan's determined expression, and a trace of satisfaction flashed through her eyes.
This was exactly the effect she wanted. She needed Yan to stir up these troubled waters and intensify the conflict between Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Only then could she find a suitable excuse to move against the sect.
"Good!" Bibi Dong's voice held a hint of approval. "You truly are one of the Golden Generation I took a liking to! What courage! Go and do as you please. I and all of Spirit Hall will be your strongest backing!"
She paused, her voice turning coaxing. "It's only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. What is there to fear? When Spirit Hall unifies the continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will both be nothing but dust in history! When that day comes, you, Yan, will be a hero! What does one woman matter?"
Yan listened, his blood boiling. He could almost see the day he would win his beauty and achieve fame and glory. He thumped his head against the floor. "Thank you for granting my wish, Your Holiness! I swear I won't fail you!"
With that, he stood, held his head high, and strode out of the Pope Palace. He was going to find Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo at once and set out for Skywater Academy immediately!
Only Bibi Dong remained.
She slowly rose and walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window. As she watched Yan's spirited figure disappear at the far end of the plaza, the approving smile on her lips gradually turned into a cold, cruel curve.
"Lovers end up together?" she murmured. Her voice was steeped in bone-deep venom and mockery. "Heh... How ridiculous."
Her gaze grew distant, as though it had pierced through time and space and returned to that night many years ago.
Back then, she had been an innocent young woman who fell in love with someone she should never have loved—Yu Xiaogang.
She had thought love could overcome any obstacle. She had thought that if she just held on long enough, she and he would surely be together.
But reality had dealt her the cruelest blow. Her teacher, the former Pope, Qian Xunji, had discovered their relationship, imprisoned her, and forced himself on her.
Those dark days had utterly destroyed every fantasy she had about love and twisted her heart beyond recognition.
From then on, she understood one thing: there was no such thing as love in this world, only power and strength.
Only by wielding absolute power could she control her own fate and make everyone bow at her feet.
If she couldn't be happy, then no one else would be!
To her, all those couples whispering sweet nothings and entwined in loving embraces, all those stories about "lovers ending up together," were nothing but mockery—painfully glaring mockery!
So she would destroy them. She would destroy every beautiful thing and make everyone live in pain and despair, just like her.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Ning Xiaochun? Shui Bing'er?
Heh...
A cruel glint flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes. "You want to end up together? Dream on!"
"This time, if you obediently let go and allow Yan to take her away, then so be it. But if you dare resist..."
Her voice was a frigid wind from the deepest pits of hell. "I won't mind sending the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect on its way ahead of schedule!"
Her gaze seemed to pierce the vast distance and fall upon Skywater Academy. A storm was about to break.
At that moment, far away at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Xiaochun stood on the top-floor terrace of the Soul Guidance Device Research Institute, gazing in the direction of Skywater Academy.
He had changed into a brand-new moon-white brocade robe, with a belt set with seven-colored gemstones around his waist. He looked dashing and extraordinary.
"Young Sect Master, everything is ready." A middle-aged steward hurried onto the terrace and respectfully reported,
"The wedding procession has assembled. As you instructed, they've been equipped with the latest Soul Tools. In addition, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo have emerged from seclusion. They're waiting in the front hall for your instructions."
Ning Xiaochun nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the distance. "I know. Let them wait a little longer."
He took a deep breath, feeling the cool morning air, but his heart burned with excitement.
Six years.
Six years of waiting, six years by each other's side, six years of plotting—and today, it would finally all come to a perfect end.
He turned to the steward, a confident smile curling his lips. "Come on. Let's go bring her home."
Seeing his young sect master so full of spirit, the steward felt his own blood surge. He nodded firmly. "Yes, Young Sect Master!"
The wedding procession rumbled out of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and headed toward Skywater Academy.
At that very moment, another procession arrived outside Skywater Academy at nearly the same time.
At its head was a burly, imposing man with short, fiery-red hair: Yan. Behind him followed an ornately decorated sedan and dozens of elite Spirit Hall guards radiating powerful auras.
At the very front of the procession stood two figures, one gold and one black, like a pair of divine guardians. Their Titled Douluo pressure was suffocating.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Skywater Academy was unusually lively today.
Early in the morning, a large crowd had gathered at the academy gates: passersby, students, and spies from various factions who had rushed over after hearing the news. Everyone's eyes were fixed on the grand procession, which stretched out in a magnificent display.
At the very front was an incredibly luxurious sedan carried by eight strong men. Gold and silver threads adorned its body, which was covered in gemstones of every color that glittered in the sunlight.
On either side of the sedan stood dozens of elite guards in matching Spirit Hall uniforms. They held their heads high, their auras imposing, and every one of them had at least Soul Ancestor-level cultivation.
At the very front of the procession stood the two figures, one gold and one black, like a pair of divine guardians. They weren't deliberately releasing their auras, but the natural pressure of Titled Douluos still made the air around them heavy. They were none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
In the middle of the procession, Yan rode a magnificent horned horse. He wore a bright red wedding robe, with a bowl-sized red flower pinned to his chest. He looked spirited and triumphant.
"What's going on? It looks like someone's here to propose."
"That's Spirit Hall's insignia. And those two... Damn, they're the legendary Titled Douluos, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo!"
"The young man at the front is so handsome. Is he one of Spirit Hall's prodigies?"
The crowd murmured among themselves. There was no helping it—Yan was certainly making a scene.
He looked around at the shock and envy in the onlookers' eyes, and his smugness swelled.
This was exactly the effect he wanted! He wanted everyone to know that today, he, Yan of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, was going to marry Skywater Academy's greatest prodigy, Shui Bing'er, in the grandest way possible!
Before you continue