The Talisman Is Fake?

Spirit Hall.

In the silence of the secret chamber.

Bibi Dong's slender fingers pinched the talisman, rubbing it as she examined it closely.

"Is this a talisman?" she asked with curiosity.

A Shadow Ninja rose from beneath her feet, taking the talisman from Bibi Dong's hand.

The talisman, marked with the pattern of a sheep, was held by the Shadow Ninja as it approached the statue, preparing to embed it into one of the twelve grooves on the body of Shendu.

However, just as the talisman drew near, Shendu suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Fool! This talisman is a fake!" he roared in fury, his aura forcing Bibi Dong to take a step back.

"How can that be?" Bibi Dong was shocked, her beautiful brows knitting together.

She forced herself to remain calm, frowning as she said, "I retrieved it exactly from the location you told me."

"My people sensed the correct aura, but what you brought back is wrong. You have been played." Shendu flicked the talisman away, and with a bang, it smashed through the ceiling.

"What?" Bibi Dong gritted her teeth in secret, finding it hard to believe. But when she thought of her daughter, with whom she had a strained relationship, she couldn't help but feel angry and suspicious. Could she really have dared to defy her will?

If that were the case, she would never show her mercy.

Hmph! Just as I thought. She is as cunning and treacherous as her father. She thought coldly to herself.

But Shendu did not care about her excuses.

"Useless trash, you can't even handle this simple task. Go and retrieve it yourself, at once." The angry voice made Bibi Dong's scalp tingle, fearing he would inflict the same punishment upon her as he had that day.

Bibi Dong clenched her hands, her teeth grinding together, and turned to leave in silence.

Damn it!

If not for her lack of strength, she would have wanted to shatter this overbearing statue with a single punch.

Just wait. Once I possess power that transcends the gods, I will surely...

She trailed off, suddenly falling silent.

If she wanted to possess that kind of power, she had to obtain it from the statue. In that case, did she truly have any chance of defeating Shendu?

Am I to be forever under the control of this statue? She gritted her teeth, feeling an intense sense of unwillingness.

As she walked, a dark, obscure aura flickered through her mind, and within her body, an evil divine power rippled slightly. Dark thoughts began to stir deep within her heart.

She wanted power, but she did not want to submit. What was she to do?

Bibi Dong walked calmly through the corridor, her mind constantly racing. Ultimately, it came down to her knowing too little about Shendu—or rather, about demons in general. If only she had a deeper understanding.

She would immediately have others search the continent for information on demons. She did not believe that in the vast Douluo Continent, Spirit Hall was the only place with legends of demons.

And that Sun Moon Continent that Shendu had mentioned earlier; she would have to look into that as well.

Her gaze was inscrutable, her mind filled with a thousand thoughts.

"Tap, tap—"

Her sharp high heels struck the metal floor, producing a crisp sound that faded into the corridor.

Pope Palace.

Bibi Dong stood atop the high dais, looking down at the people below with indifference.

Just after she had announced a few matters, a bishop reported that someone wished to defect to Spirit Hall.

Bibi Dong felt a surge of irritation. Did such a trivial matter really need to be brought to her?

"Your Holiness, the person who has come is a fifteen-year-old genius whose soul power has already reached level 38. His talent and strength are both exceptional, and his identity is quite unique..." the bishop reported with a bow.

"Understood. Then I shall see him."

Hearing that the man wished to report something to her in private, she waved her hand to dismiss those around her.

However, she did not expect that the bishop would give her such a surprise.

Looking at the golden-haired youth before her, Bibi Dong was greatly taken aback. This fellow was actually the Third Prince of the Star Luo Empire?

Interesting!

Bibi Dong felt a spark of interest. A prince of the Star Luo Empire defecting to Spirit Hall—this was truly fascinating.

In an instant, countless plans she could execute flashed through her mind.

But in the blink of an eye.

Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, her pupils shrinking. She suddenly noticed the familiar dragon-head sculpture at the youth's waist. This thing looked just like the dragon on Shendu!

Although she had never seen this sculpture before, she felt in her gut that it had a massive connection to Shendu.

Bibi Dong could not help but feel a surge of excitement, and she pressed her immense aura down upon him.

"Boom—"

Dai Xieyue was shaken to the point of trembling, barely able to remain standing, his body shuddering as he gritted his teeth to endure.

Does she refuse to accept me?

That's impossible. Given my status, they should be overjoyed that I'm defecting to Spirit Hall.

While the reality was indeed as he had imagined, there was a slight discrepancy.

Bibi Dong sneered and said indifferently, "So you are Dai Mubai. Welcome to Spirit Hall. However, I have one question: where did this thing on your waist come from?"

"This?"

Dai Xieyue felt a surge of nervousness, but he still feigned a calm demeanor as he replied, "It's nothing more than a decoration. There's nothing worth looking at."

Although his tension was fleeting, it did not escape Bibi Dong's eyes.

This guy is so nervous; it shows that this item is truly a treasure with extraordinary effects! Perhaps I can find a way to deal with Shendu through this.

At this thought, Bibi Dong felt a surge of joy and immediately stood up, walking toward him without delay.

A powerful aura bore down on Dai Xieyue, rendering him unable to do anything.

Dai Xieyue's face turned deathly pale. Had he truly guessed wrong? Was Spirit Hall actually going to kill him?

Damn it!

I hate you, Spirit Hall, for your shortsightedness. I hate you, Bibi Dong, you scheming bitch...

His entire body trembled, his face filled with unwillingness.

Just as he was about to meet his end:

"Bibi Dong, bring him to me."

A cold voice echoed through the Pope Palace, causing Bibi Dong to freeze in her tracks.

Her slender arm remained stiffly suspended in mid-air, her expression shifting uncertainly.

Damn Shendu. She was just a hair's breadth away from obtaining this treasure.

But now, urged by Shendu, she had no choice but to stop. She grabbed Dai Xieyue roughly and dragged him to the secret chamber, throwing him onto the floor.

"Thud—"

Dai Xieyue hit the ground, gasping for air with a look of terror. Although he didn't know who that voice belonged to or why he had been brought here, he knew one thing: he had survived.

Just as he was trembling in fear, he suddenly felt a hand grip the item at his waist.

"Ah! What is that?"

Dai Xieyue jumped two meters high in fright. He saw a hand reaching out from the shadows, and the Sacred Dragon Carving that had been at his waist was now clutched in the stranger's grip.

Then, a pitch-black figure gradually emerged from the wall, its red eyes staring straight at him, sending a chill down his spine.

"The Sacred Dragon Carving! I never expected it to return to my hands in such a manner." Shendu laughed gloomily, his voice raspy.