Bibi Dong's Anger, a Continent-Wide Manhunt!

Ning Chen then reached over and brushed a jade pendant at his waist. It was the storage Soul Tool Bibi Dong had given him.

With a flash of light, a heavy money pouch appeared in his hand.

He handed the pouch to Zhu Zhuqing and said:

"You're still injured, and your Soul Power hasn't fully recovered."

"There's a bag of Gold Soul Coins in here. Take it. Once you enter town, use the money to find a healing-type Soul Master to treat your injuries, then find somewhere to rest properly."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at the pouch held out before her but did not reach for it.

She raised her head and stared straight into Ning Chen's eyes.

"Ning Chen, you... where are you going?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

Seeing her like this, Ning Chen could not help wanting to tease her again.

"I'm heading to Sunset Forest to take care of something." Ning Chen moved closer with a wicked grin.

"What? You already can't bear to part with me? If you can't, you can come with me."

Zhu Zhuqing guiltily looked away and stubbornly said:

"Who can't bear to part with you?! Narcissist! I can't wait for you to leave so I won't have to look at you anymore."

Ning Chen chuckled but did not expose her.

He forcibly stuffed the money pouch into Zhu Zhuqing's hand, then took a blue jade necklace from his storage pendant.

The necklace gave off a faint blue glow. Its jade was crystal-clear, and it was obviously no ordinary item.

Ning Chen handed the necklace to Zhu Zhuqing, his tone turning more serious.

"Alright, Zhu Zhuqing, I'm leaving."

"Take care of yourself. The people of the Star Luo Empire may come looking for trouble with you again."

"I was at fault before. If you ever encounter any difficulty you can't resolve, or if you truly have nowhere left to turn..."

Ning Chen paused and looked into Zhu Zhuqing's eyes.

"You can take this necklace and come find me in Spirit City."

"Spirit City?"

Upon hearing that name, Zhu Zhuqing stared at Ning Chen in utter shock.

"Could it be... you're from Spirit Hall?"

Spirit City was the sacred land of Soul Masters across the continent, as well as the location of Spirit Hall's headquarters.

Yet Ning Chen had told her to go to Spirit City to find him.

Combined with his terrifying talent and strength, a bold guess arose in Zhu Zhuqing's heart.

This man's status in Spirit Hall was definitely not low!

Ning Chen did not answer her question. He merely gave her a knowing smile before saying:

"Don't worry. The two of us will definitely meet again someday."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Chen turned and summoned the Emperor-Slaying Sword. Stepping onto the blade, he flew directly toward Sunset Forest.

Zhu Zhuqing stood where she was, tightly clutching the money pouch and blue jade necklace in her hands.

With her head tilted up, she watched Ning Chen's figure vanish beyond the horizon, and she truly felt a little reluctant to see him go.

That man might have had no filter and always bullied her, but when she had been in the greatest danger, he had been the one to save her.

The scene of Ning Chen forcibly kissing her in the river surfaced uncontrollably in Zhu Zhuqing's mind.

That domineering, irresistible force, along with that warm touch, made her feel something strange in her heart whenever she recalled it.

"I wonder what your strength will be like when we meet again."

Zhu Zhuqing murmured softly, carefully putting the blue jade necklace around her neck and tucking it close against her body.

She turned to look at the town, took a deep breath, and walked inside.

At the same time, within Pope Hall in Spirit City, a hundred miles away.

The atmosphere in the great hall was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Pope Bibi Dong sat upon the lofty throne.

She wore a ceremonial gown of brilliant gold, a violet-gold crown upon her head, and her face was cold to the extreme.

In her hand, she held a scepter inlaid with an enormous gemstone.

At the center of the hall stood a feminine-looking man dressed in an ornate robe.

He was Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, one of Spirit Hall's elders.

At that moment, cold sweat beaded on Chrysanthemum Douluo's forehead, and he hardly dared breathe.

"Your Holiness." Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed slightly and carefully reported.

"I have led men to search all of Spirit City. We even searched several Soul Hunting Forests outside the city, but we found no trace of Saint Son Ning Chen."

"It seems... the Saint Son truly isn't in the city. He must have slipped out in secret."

After hearing the report, Bibi Dong's grip around her scepter suddenly tightened.

"Damn it!"

Bibi Dong abruptly rose to her feet, and an immense pressure instantly swept through the entire hall.

Chrysanthemum Douluo was forced half a step back by that pressure, lowering his head even further.

"That brat!" Bibi Dong said through gritted teeth, furious.

"He carries that damned Evil Fire within him. He could lose control and go berserk at any moment."

"I repeatedly warned him not to leave Spirit City and to cultivate under my watchful eye. Yet he still dared to sneak out! He's truly taking my words less and less seriously!"

Bibi Dong was both furious and anxious.

Ning Chen was the orphan she had adopted, as well as her direct disciple.

Over the past eight years, she had cared for Ning Chen with meticulous attention, even devoting most of her energy to him.

Ning Chen's talent had not disappointed her expectations either. At fourteen, he had already reached level forty-four.

However, the Evil Fire problem with Ning Chen's first martial soul, the Scorching Heaven Evil Emperor Armor, had always been a major hidden danger.

As his strength grew, the Evil Fire erupted more and more frequently and violently. That brat was gradually becoming unable to suppress it.

In Spirit City, with her watching over him, she could still help him suppress it.

But if he had run outside, what if the Evil Fire erupted and he lost his mind, causing some huge disaster or encountering danger? What then?

"That brat never lets his master have a moment's peace!"

Bibi Dong paced back and forth through the hall, her high heels clicking crisply against the stone floor.

She stopped, looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo below, and coldly issued an order.

"Chrysanthemum Elder, convey my command!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately straightened and respectfully awaited her orders.

"Notify every major Spirit Hall branch across the continent. Mobilize them all and conduct a full-scale search for Ning Chen!"

Bibi Dong's voice carried unquestionable authority as she continued:

"The moment there is any news of him, report it to me immediately through the highest-priority urgent dispatch! Do you understand?"

"This subordinate understands. I will see to it at once."

As though granted a pardon, Chrysanthemum Douluo hurriedly bowed, turned, and quickly left the hall.

At that moment, Bibi Dong was the only person left in all of Pope Hall.

The doors of the hall slowly closed, cutting off the light from outside.

Bibi Dong returned to her throne and rubbed her throbbing temples.

Thinking of Ning Chen's usual scheming, shameless demeanor, she felt rather helpless.

That brat had always had a mind of his own since childhood. He must have had some purpose in sneaking out this time.

"Hmph, I've spoiled him too much!"

"No matter what that brat intends to do, I must use this chance to punish him properly and make him remember the lesson! Let's see whether he dares run off behind my back again."

Leaning against the back of her chair, Bibi Dong looked at the dome of the great hall and silently made up her mind.

Brat, just you wait for your master...