Spirit Hall.
Golden Crocodile Douluo sat in the seat below Bibi Dong, his deeply wrinkled old face wearing a complicated expression.
"Everyone," Golden Crocodile Douluo began slowly, "since the Genius Ranking was announced, people from the two great empires, the various academies, and all the sects and factions have made the list one after another. Only our Spirit Hall..."
"hasn't had a single person make the list."
As soon as he said this, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more oppressive.
Third Offering Azure Luan Douluo said slowly, "This may not be a bad thing. No one making the list means our Spirit Hall hasn't been infiltrated by that Brother Cao. Brother Cao's origins are mysterious, and his methods are bizarre. If he infiltrates us..."
Fourth Offering Mighty Lion Douluo nodded and chimed in, "Azure Luan is right. Every girl Brother Cao cultivates breaks with her family and flies off on her own. What if someone in Spirit Hall catches his eye? That would be a disaster."
Fifth Offering Guangling Douluo snorted. "That may be true, but look at those geniuses on the list: Doudou, Zhu Zhuyun, Meng Yiran, Ning Rongrong, Shui Yue'er, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu... Every one of them started at Level 89, and some are even Titled Douluo!"
He slapped the table. "Now look at our so-called Golden Generation! Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan—they have decent talent, but compared to whom? Put them next to these cheaters, and they're nothing!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo waved a hand, signaling Guangling to calm down.
He turned to look at Pope Bibi Dong, seated in the main chair.
"Bibi Dong," Golden Crocodile Douluo said, his voice carrying a hint of accusation. "Have you found any information about Brother Cao?"
Bibi Dong sat upright on her throne. Her dignified, elegant face revealed no emotion as she spoke calmly:
"Not yet. Brother Cao has only made a move once. Aside from that, there are no clues. He is mysterious and impossible to investigate."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's expression darkened. "Hmph! After all this time, you haven't found a single lead? Is this how you serve as Pope?"
A trace of coldness flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes, but her face remained calm. "Hasn't the Worship Hall come up empty as well? If Offering Golden Crocodile has the ability, he can investigate it himself."
"You!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo was left speechless, his expression growing even uglier. He snorted and ignored Bibi Dong, turning instead to the three people standing below.
Spirit Hall's Golden Generation: Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's gaze lingered longest on Hu Liena.
"Hu Liena."
Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke slowly. "You're stunningly beautiful, and your Martial Soul is unusual. By all accounts, you're exactly the type Brother Cao likes. Have you... sought him out?"
Hu Liena lifted her head. Her enchantingly beautiful face showed no emotion.
Meeting Golden Crocodile Douluo's gaze, she answered calmly, "I haven't."
Golden Crocodile Douluo stared at her for a long while. At last, he snorted. "Hmph! See that you haven't! If I find out you've betrayed Spirit Hall..."
He paused, then continued, "Brother Cao is at most a Level 99 Limit Douluo. Even if you add those girls who've just broken through to Titled Douluo, the advantage is still ours. Don't even think about doing anything you shouldn't!"
Hu Liena lowered her eyes and said nothing.
But inwardly, she dismissed Golden Crocodile Douluo's words.
A Level 99 Limit Douluo?
Hah.
How could people like you, frogs at the bottom of a well, imagine Brother Cao's strength?
In her heart, Brother Cao could do anything. He was the greatest being in the world! Even the gods had to step aside! Spirit Hall? It was nothing but a slightly larger colony of ants!
Those day and night she had spent in the dream, those moments cultivating with Brother Cao—some intense, some tender.
They were the most precious memories of her life.
In the Dream Space, she had learned the course her life was originally meant to take. She had actually betrayed her teacher for Tang San, and the thought disgusted her a little.
It wasn't the betrayal of Spirit Hall that disgusted her; it was that she had done it for that Little Scumbag.
This time would be different. Brother Cao was different.
Putting the facts aside, she was in the right!
So what if she was lovestruck? As long as it was Brother Cao!
As for her teacher, with her teacher's peerless beauty, Brother Cao would definitely like her.
When the time came, she could introduce her teacher to Brother Cao, and the two of them could join forces against the other girls!
What she didn't notice was the burning gaze fixed on her from beside her.
Yan.
The man who had always admired her was gazing at her now, his eyes full of complicated emotions.
Nana... what did that smile just now mean?
Had you... really been taken by that Brother Cao...?
He didn't dare think any further.
At that very moment.
A dazzling golden pillar of light descended from the sky, enveloping Hu Liena's alluring figure.
[The Genius Ranking, Fourth Place: Hu Liena.] [Identity: Disciple of the Spirit Hall Pope.] [Strength: Level 95 Titled Douluo.] [Technique: Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique.] [Reward: Youth-Preserving Pill, which can preserve one's youth forever; God-Level Divination, which can divine all information on the Douluo Continent.]
Boom!!!
The entire Spirit Hall erupted!
"It's Hu Liena!"
"Level 95 Titled Douluo! Three levels higher than the previous ones!"
"Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique! She cultivates the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique too!"
"She... really was taken by that Brother Cao..."
Countless shocked gazes swept toward the figure bathed in golden light.
Yan was dumbstruck.
He stood rooted to the spot, staring at the familiar figure in the golden light: her golden hair flying, her enchanting eyes, her gorgeous face, her tall figure... The goddess he had long yearned for, the woman he'd thought he could win over someday.
Now she, too, had been taken by that Brother Cao.
No... Nana... my Nana!
Golden Crocodile Douluo's face had gone black as the bottom of a pot.
"Hu... Lie... Na!"
He spat out each syllable, his heart ablaze with rage!
"What did you just say? You hadn't? Hm?"
"You lied to my face, and got exposed in the blink of an eye! Do you take me for a fool?"
Hu Liena slowly opened her eyes in the golden light and looked at the furious Golden Crocodile Douluo, a cold smile curling her lips.
"Offering Golden Crocodile, I truly never sought Brother Cao out. Brother Cao was the one who came to me."
"You!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo was beside himself with rage. Hu Liena was still playing word games!
"You reached Level 95 Titled Douluo without a word! If you're allowed to keep growing, who knows what you'll become? I must take you down today!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, he suddenly stepped forward!
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red Soul Rings appeared in an instant!
The phantom of a massive Golden Crocodile King appeared behind him. Its terrifying pressure instantly engulfed the entire hall!
Martial Soul Avatar, Golden Crocodile King!
"Die!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo struck with his palm. His terrifying Soul Power transformed into a massive golden crocodile claw that hurtled toward Hu Liena!
Hu Liena's pupils contracted. She hurriedly circulated her Soul Power to defend herself!
"Boom!!!"
Hu Liena was blasted back several steps, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. Although she was already a Level 95 Titled Douluo, she had only just broken through. Against the full-force attack of Golden Crocodile Douluo, who was Level 98, she had still suffered a minor injury.
That was only because she had cultivated the Yin-Yang Reincarnation Technique; otherwise, she would have been severely injured, if not killed.
"Nana!"
Yan cried out and tried to rush over, but Xie Yue beside him held him back tightly.
"Don't be rash! You'd only be throwing your life away!"