The Pursuit

The purple lightning transformed from Qian Qizhou tore through the night sky like a thunderbolt, rushing toward Spirit City at an unimaginable speed, regardless of the cost.

Violent lightning elements boiled and roared around his body; wherever he passed, a lingering scent of scorching air and piercing thunderclaps remained, creating a truly terrifying momentum.

This anomaly caught the attention of countless spirit masters and factions along the way, causing people to look up at the sky in shock.

After all, the speed of that lightning was so great that even a Title Douluo would struggle to identify it as a person without focusing intently.

Qian Qizhou's mind was in total chaos; countless pieces of information wove into a massive torrent, battering his sanity.

He did not know what he intended to do upon reaching Spirit Hall. Demand an explanation? Weep? Seek an answer?

Or perhaps, he simply wanted to see that one person... the sister with whom he shared a blood bond in this world.

Perhaps even he could not distinguish what lay beneath the surging emotions of anger and confusion.

In the distant night sky behind him, three streams of light were pursuing at an astonishing speed, yet they could only watch helplessly as the purple lightning ahead pulled further and further away, the distance between them constantly widening.

Guang Ling and the others had pushed their speed to the absolute limit, their faces etched with anxiety, yet they were powerless to catch up.

Ice Empress's face was filled with astonishment; she truly had not expected the speed this human boy could erupt with to be so monstrous.

"Too fast! This child's control over lightning has improved again!" Guang Ling said anxiously, his voice laced with disbelief.

As a level 97 peak Douluo, how could he fail to catch up to a Spirit Ancestor?

Could it be said that he was truly worthy of being the successor of that lord?

They could only pursue with all their might, praying that Qian Qizhou would not do anything irreversible.

Qian Qizhou's speed was simply too fast!

The guards on the high walls of Spirit City felt only a blinding flash of lightning streak past their eyes, accompanied by a deafening sonic boom and a shockwave.

Before they could react, or even see the silhouette of the intruder, the lightning had already surged into the city, heading straight for the Consecrated Hall.

The guards were in an uproar, and the entire Spirit City instantly entered a state of high alert.

However, Qian Qizhou turned a deaf ear to it all; his target was clear—the Consecrated Hall!

"BOOM!"

Like a falling star, he slammed violently into the solemn plaza in front of the Consecrated Hall, the massive impact cracking the sturdy ground and sending debris flying!

Such a massive disturbance immediately alerted the surrounding guards.

At that moment, a cyan-clad figure walked over quickly; it was the Third Consecrator, Qing Luan Douluo.

He frowned slightly, clearly disturbed by the loud noise and commotion outside, and was about to inspect the situation.

When he saw Qian Qizhou in the center of the plaza, the lightning around him gradually fading to reveal his face, a look of surprise immediately appeared on his face: "Xiao Zhou? Why have you returned? And why cause such a stir?"

But immediately after, Qing Luan keenly sensed the abnormality in Qian Qizhou.

The boy before him was pale, his eyes slightly red, his breathing ragged, and his aura was incredibly violent.

It seemed he had seen the letter left by the Pope...

"Xiao Zhou, are you alright?" Qing Luan stepped forward and asked with concern.

Qian Qizhou, however, seemed not to hear his inquiry and asked, "Third Consecrator, where is my sister?"

He only wanted to see Qian Renxue now, to see the sister with whom he shared the closest blood ties in this world.

Watching Qian Qizhou in this state, Qing Luan felt a faint sense of unease in his heart.

He was silent for a moment before speaking slowly: "The Young Lady... she has gone to carry out a mission and will not be back for several years."

"Not here...?" Upon hearing Qing Luan's reply, Qian Qizhou felt as if his strength had been instantly drained, and he staggered back half a step.

The eager light in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a sense of bewilderment.

He had rushed back to Spirit City regardless of everything, his only thought being to find his sister.

To find this relative, for whom a shred of reliance and trust perhaps still lingered in his subconscious, and to pour his heart out to her...

But she was not here...

"Where did she go? When did she leave? Who sent her?" Qian Qizhou suddenly raised his head, grabbed Qing Luan's arm, and asked urgently.

Facing Qian Qizhou's near-obsessive questioning and the irrepressible pain and confusion in his eyes, Qing Luan sighed inwardly.

Qian Qizhou's status was special, not that of an outsider, and given his current state, it would likely be impossible to manage him without providing an explanation.

He hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice to say to Qian Qizhou: "Xiao Zhou, calm down and listen to me."

"The Young Lady... is acting under the orders of the Pope and the Grand Consecrator to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire."

"This matter is of great importance, concerning the future layout of Spirit Hall, and is top secret."

He paused, his tone becoming more solemn: "Moreover, the situation within Spirit Hall is complex right now, and the Pope, she..."

"Sigh, since you're back, don't leave. Calm your heart and rest for a while; the Grand Consecrator misses you too."

But... upon hearing this, the light in Qian Qizhou's eyes dimmed completely, leaving only a hollow void.

After a long while, he nodded slowly. Without looking at Qing Luan again, he turned silently and walked toward the Pope Palace, looking utterly soul-broken.

"Xiao Zhou!" Qing Luan cried out in alarm as he watched the boy's state.

But Qian Qizhou seemed not to hear him at all, continuing to walk forward with a numb expression.

Qing Luan's expression shifted, sensing that something was wrong.

If Qian Qizhou ran to the Pope Palace in this state, heaven only knew what might happen.

His figure flickered, transforming into a streak of cyan light as he sped toward the Consecrated Hall.

This whole family is truly... better to let the Great Consecrator deal with this headache himself.

Qian Qizhou walked, soul-lost and dejected, toward the Pope Palace, which stood towering, magnificent, and radiating an aura of majesty since its reconstruction.

The guards before the hall had already been alerted by the earlier commotion and stood at the ready.

But when they saw that the person approaching was Qian Qizhou, expressions of surprise and hesitation appeared on their faces.

The guards were the same ones from years ago; they hadn't been replaced. Although Qian Qizhou's appearance had changed as he grew older, they still recognized him.

His status within Spirit Hall was too special; they dared not stop him lightly.

They could only let him step, one pace at a time, onto the cold jade stairs and push open the doors of the Pope Palace.

The interior of the Pope Palace was vast and silent, with light filtering through the stained-glass windows to cast mottled shadows across the floor.

At the far end of the hall, upon the high papal throne, a figure sat quietly.

She was draped in luxurious papal robes, wearing a purple-gold crown, and holding the scepter that symbolized supreme authority.

It was Bibi Dong.

From the moment Qian Qizhou entered Spirit City, her spiritual power had already detected him.

Those deep, purple eyes watched the youth walking toward her from the hall entrance with calm detachment.

"Why have you returned?" she asked coldly.