Marrying Ling Yuan!

"Xiaogang will be heartbroken..."

"But if he isn't heartbroken, then the one who is heartbroken will be me!"

Another voice roared from the depths of her heart, Why? Why can Liu Erlong marry Xiaogang with a clean slate, while I can only hide in the shadows, watching their happiness?

Why did Qian Xunji ruin me, yet Liu Erlong gets to walk away unscathed?

It's not fair...

This is not fair!

Bibi Dong's gaze gradually shifted.

Her figure flickered, and she arrived behind a large tree outside the wooden house. Her cold eyes peered through the gaps in the leaves, once again looking into the distance at Liu Erlong, who was sitting with Yu Xiaogang in front of the cabin, laughing and chatting.

A sense of jealousy and indignation began to burn from the depths of her heart.

"Liu Erlong..."

She murmured, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "Don't blame me."

"If you must blame someone... blame your own bad luck."

As her words faded, Bibi Dong stood up and vanished silently into the shadows of the trees.

In the distance.

Liu Erlong suddenly shivered and instinctively looked around.

"What's wrong?"

Yu Xiaogang asked with concern.

"It's nothing."

Liu Erlong shook her head, "I just felt... as if I were being watched by something."

"It's probably just a spirit beast."

Flender said nonchalantly, "Don't worry, with me here, no spirit beast can get close."

Liu Erlong smiled and said nothing more, but for some reason, she felt a lingering sense of unease in her heart, as if she were being targeted by a prehistoric beast.

Could it be... him?

Liu Erlong thought distractedly. Suddenly, the image of her biological father crossed her mind, and her heart skipped a beat. This... surely not?

She felt that she couldn't have this sense of unease without a reason.

After racking her brain, she couldn't think of a second person who would pay attention to her, other than that biological father who cared nothing for her.

So...

What was she supposed to do?

Yu Xiaogang was unaware of Liu Erlong's complex state of mind; he kept chattering away, showing off his knowledge of spirit master theory.

Time passed quickly.

By the time midnight passed that day, Spirit City had already begun to bustle with activity.

By three or four in the morning, lanterns had already been hung, and the city was decked out in festive decorations, looking extremely joyous.

Not only that, but a red carpet had been laid out on the main thoroughfare leading to the Pope Palace. Many Spirit Hall deacons were deployed to prohibit spirit masters from walking in certain areas to avoid dirtying the carpet.

Of course, this wasn't the setup for the entire city; it was merely a fixed route from the Pope Palace to the city gates that had been covered in red carpet, nothing more.

After all, the person getting married was only a cardinal.

In other places, the status of a Spirit Hall cardinal was indeed quite lofty, but this was Spirit City—where if you threw a brick, you'd likely hit a dozen cardinals.

"Sect Master, do we really not need a guardian or the Supreme Sect Master to come in person?"

"No need. Just have a few elders come; they need to preside over the ceremony."

"Understood!"

Inside the Seven Kill Sect's outpost in Spirit City, the inner disciple in charge received Chen Fan's reply, bowed, and hurried off to deliver the message.

Chen Fan watched the disciple's retreating figure, his brows furrowed in deep thought. He then spoke, "Someone come."

"Sect Master!"

"Is the Spirit Hall Saintess, Bibi Dong, part of this wedding procession?"

"Sect Master, according to rumors from within Spirit Hall, it seems she has gone out for training..."

Gone out for training?

Chen Fan frowned. Could it be Slaughter City?

That shouldn't be right... I already told Bibi Dong that Yu Xiaogang was about to marry Liu Erlong. She shouldn't be so indifferent, should she?

For the past three days, Chen Fan had been wandering around Spirit City, secretly observing Bibi Dong's movements.

However.

The result, however, was nothing.

Chen Fan's investigation into Bibi Dong's movements was not because he wanted to take another shot at her.

Rather, he was thinking of using Bibi Dong as a path to intercept Hu Liena, or to see if he could profit while she was busy tearing into Liu Erlong and Yu Xiaogang.

The three beauties of Spirit Hall.

Qian Renxue, Ling Yuan, and Hu Liena.

The first was definitely off-limits; if he touched her, he feared Qian Daoliu would chase him down with the Angel Holy Sword and mince him into meat paste.

The second was already a duck on his plate, so there was no need to worry.

Therefore, only the third one remained...

But right now, this Bibi Dong... why did it feel like she wasn't playing by the rules?

After thinking for a while, Chen Fan still couldn't figure out what Bibi Dong was up to, so he simply stopped trying.

Forget it, ignore her!

Get married first!

Soon!

The sky brightened.

At this moment, inside Spirit City, the main streets were all decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, filled with a festive atmosphere.

Red silk stretched from the city gates all the way to the Spirit Hall outpost. Although the merchants along the street didn't know what day it was, seeing the grand display, they all hung red lanterns in front of their shops as if joining in the fun.

If you hung them, it might not mean much, but if you didn't, you would likely be marked down for it!

One had to know, this was an initiative led by the Pope Palace!

If you didn't follow the crowd, someone would definitely remember you!

"Have you heard? The new Sect Master of the Seven Kill Sect is marrying one of our Spirit Hall's Red Cardinals."

"Indeed, and the display—tsk tsk, eighteen chests of betrothal gifts, every single one worth a fortune!"

"The Seven Kill Sect is looking to form an alliance with Spirit Hall through marriage..."

On both sides of the street, soul masters gathered in twos and threes, whispering and discussing.

There were no mishaps or accidents along the way.

The wedding procession set off from the Spirit Hall outpost, moving in a grand, sweeping formation through the city.

Chen Fan rode on a tall horse, dressed in a red-based, gold-patterned ceremonial robe styled like a top scholar's gown.

However, embroidered on the chest of his robe was not a dragon, but a Seven Kill Sword, outlined in silver thread and inlaid with gold, shimmering in the morning light as a symbol of the Seven Kill Sect.

Behind him followed an eight-bearer sedan chair embroidered with the Ling Yuan totem.

The curtains of the sedan were made of high-quality Shu brocade, with a fiery red spirit bird embroidered on a vermilion base, looking as if it were about to take flight, vivid and lifelike.

The curtains swayed slightly, and one could faintly see a figure inside wearing a bright red wedding dress and a phoenix coronet.

On both sides of the red carpet, there were many soul masters watching the excitement, but they were all kept outside the carpet by Spirit Hall guards maintaining order.

This brand-new red carpet was reserved solely for the wedding procession; any other soul master was forbidden from stepping on it.

Soon, the procession moved away from Spirit City, heading in the direction of the Seven Kill Sect.

Qian Xunji, as the Pope, stood on the gate tower of Spirit City, looking down at the receding wedding procession. His eyes narrowed slightly, his thoughts churning, Seven Kill Sect...

His gaze was primarily focused on Chen Fan, who was riding the horse.

An eighteen-year-old Sect Master, a level 49 Soul Ancestor.

Such talent would be considered genius in ordinary places, and even a good seedling in a common sect.

But, placed in a top-tier sect like the Seven Kill Sect, it was truly insufficient.

In Qian Xunji's mind, the Seven Kill Sect was already on par with Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect.

As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan...

Apologies, in the current era, the former was still just an ordinary sect.

And as for the latter, Yu Yuanzhen was just a small fry who had only recently broken through to become a Titled Douluo.

In the eyes of Spirit Hall, these two were as ordinary as could be, completely unworthy of being mentioned.

If the Seven Kill Sect Master were only at the level of an ordinary Titled Douluo, this talent would indeed be heaven-sent, but... in a sect with a level 98 powerhouse, this talent really seems a bit lacking.

But why would Chen Jianjun pass the position to him?

Qian Xunji couldn't wrap his head around it.

If he remembered correctly.

Chen Jianjun had a son who was rumored to have broken through to become a Titled Douluo a few years ago, possessing the strength to challenge those of higher ranks.

Could it be... that there is some secret hidden within this Chen Fan?

Qian Xunji muttered to himself.

He recalled the aura he had sensed from Chen Jianjun during their meeting three days ago, an aura that was not the least bit inferior to Golden Crocodile Douluo.

Coupled with the fact that he had been observing Chen Fan both openly and covertly over these past three days, he could confirm that the man was truly just an unremarkable level 49 Spirit Ancestor; there was simply nothing peculiar to be found.

After pondering for a long time without success, Qian Xunji snapped back to reality, withdrew his gaze, and beckoned.

Seeing this, the red-robed bishop beside him immediately stepped forward. "Your Holiness the Pope."

"Spread today's news."

Qian Xunji's tone was casual. "No need to embellish it; just state that the Sect Master of the Seven Kill Sect is betrothing a red-robed bishop of my Spirit Hall as his wife."

The red-robed bishop was stunned. "Your Holiness, are we to publish it as a formal betrothal?"

There was a world of difference between a formal betrothal and a simple marriage announcement.

A formal betrothal emphasized the "betrothal" aspect, referring to the process of offering dowries and completing engagement rites to bring the other party into the fold. It highlighted that the union was "properly wed with all due respect," with the bride's side also preparing the necessary gifts and everything required for her life ahead.

Such a formal betrothal did not necessarily imply the status of a matriarch, but it was not far off. Its implication served as a weather vane for the cooperation between the backgrounds of both parties.

If it were merely a marriage announcement, it would only signify a preliminary cooperation and a deepening of ties.

"Yes, publish it as a formal betrothal."

The red-robed bishop was no fool; he immediately understood that this was meant to be published specifically for the Clear Sky Sect to see!

The Clear Sky Sect was currently at the height of its power, and Spirit Hall was locked in constant open and covert conflict with them.

If they could win over the Seven Kill Sect at this time, it would undoubtedly put pressure on the Clear Sky Sect.

"Understood. I will have it published with urgency, and I will prioritize sending it toward the Star Luo Empire."

The Clear Sky Sect's sphere of influence lay within the Star Luo Empire.

"No."

Unexpectedly, Qian Xunji shook his head and rejected the bishop's suggestion. "Not just toward the Star Luo Empire, but toward the entire continent."

"Spread it as far as it can go."

At this, the red-robed bishop finally understood.

His Holiness was not just showing this to the Clear Sky Sect; he was setting a benchmark for the entire spirit master world, signaling that the reclusive Seven Kill Sect had reached an intention of deep alliance with Spirit Hall!

In other words.

The Seven Kill Sect was going to be in bed with Spirit Hall, so the other sects had better watch themselves!

"Yes, Your Holiness."

Meanwhile, the wedding procession!

The procession had already entered the territory of the Star Dou Forest.

This was the essential route from Spirit City to the Seven Kill Sect; otherwise, they would have had to bypass several kingdoms to the north of Spirit City to reach their destination.

Chen Fan rode his horse, his gaze sweeping across his surroundings as he frowned, feeling that something was not quite right.

It was too quiet.

Logically speaking, there should at least be some birds chirping in the Star Dou Forest; it shouldn't be this deathly silent.

"Sect Master, does it feel like something is a bit off?"