Bibi Dong's Invitation

Qian Daoliu glanced at Bibi Dong as she stepped forward to speak. Though he had no idea what she intended, he did not stop her.

Before long, afternoon arrived, and the match between the Spirit Hall Team and Heaven Dou Royal Academy was about to begin.

Zhu Zhuqing asked Lan Yu, "Will we even get to fight the Spirit Hall Team tomorrow?"

Lan Yu replied, "Unless I announce outright that I won't be taking the stage, the Spirit Hall Team will almost certainly concede.

"And even if I do announce that, Spirit Hall's championship victory would hardly seem fair.

"So no matter how you look at it, conceding is the more dignified choice for the Spirit Hall Team."

"Does that mean our journey through the Soul Master Tournament is already over?"

"You could say that. It's over!"

"Ah... I still haven't had my fill."

Lan Yu looked at Ning Rongrong and smiled. "Don't be like that. You'll have plenty of chances to fight other people in the future."

As they spoke, the match began.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy had barely taken their stances when the siblings Hu Liena and Xie Yue unleashed their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Enchantress.

Against Enchantress, Heaven Dou Royal Academy could not hold out at all. They were swept aside in short order.

"So they had a Martial Soul Fusion Skill. It really would have taken some effort for us to beat them on our own."

After watching the Spirit Hall Team defeat Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Bibi Dong stepped forward again.

"Will the Botanical Academy Team please come onto the stage? The Spirit Hall Academy Team concedes. The champions of this Soul Master Tournament are the Botanical Academy Team."

Lan Yu had not expected Bibi Dong to announce the tournament champions right then. He had thought they would at least wait until tomorrow and go through the motions.

He also wondered whether Bibi Dong was doing this to get him out of Spirit City sooner.

Even as he considered that possibility, he had already led the others onto the stage.

Bibi Dong had the three soul bones brought out and personally presented the championship rewards to Lan Yu.

The warmth Bibi Dong displayed was downright strange.

As Lan Yu accepted the three soul bones, he heard Bibi Dong's voice transmission.

"Come to XXX tonight. Let's talk..."

Lan Yu merely glanced at Bibi Dong without responding.

Bibi Dong then announced the conclusion of the Soul Master Tournament.

For the spectators, the tournament felt as though it had started with a bang and ended with a whimper, though few people had been able to watch the finals.

As for the three soul bones, Lan Yu naturally distributed them among the others.

The Wisdom Head Spirit Bone went to Ning Rongrong, the Gale Left Leg Bone went to Zhu Zhuqing, and the Flame Right Arm Bone went to Yao Zi.

Lan Yu also promised the other members of the Botanical Academy Team that he would help them condense fungus spirit spirits when they next broke through.

Naturally, everyone was delighted. After returning to their lodgings, Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Yao Zi began absorbing their soul bones, while the others packed their belongings in preparation to leave Spirit City and return to Botanical Academy.

Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo were there as well. Still concerned, they stood guard over Ning Rongrong.

Dugu Bo, meanwhile, arrived with Dugu Yan.

"Lord Sage!"

Dugu Yan echoed his greeting.

"Lord Sage!"

"Have you made your decision?"

"Yes. I've already broken up with Yu Tianheng."

"Hm? Have you misunderstood something? I'm not interested in your love life. I'm asking whether you're prepared to become a follower of the Sage Lord of Fungi and never betray him!"

"Y-yes!"

"Lord Sage, please begin!"

"All right. Then I'll transform her martial soul into one like yours."

Dugu Bo nodded, and Dugu Yan raised no objections.

Mycelium soon enveloped Dugu Yan. With experience from the first attempt, and given Dugu Yan's relatively weak cultivation, the transformation proceeded much faster.

By the time Ning Rongrong and the others finished absorbing their soul bones, Lan Yu had also finished transforming Dugu Yan's martial soul.

Lina brought over some tea and set it beside Lan Yu, looking every bit the attentive little maid.

Lan Yu accepted the tea and took a sip. It tasted quite good.

Dugu Yan summoned her martial soul. Seeing that its attributes had changed completely still astonished her.

"Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! Our Dugu Family has finally escaped the curse of spirit poison for good!"

Dugu Bo's eyes reddened, and he was on the verge of tears.

"Lord Sage, whatever you command, I will brave fire and water without hesitation."

"All right. If I need something, I'll let you know. You can return to Heaven Dou City first. If you have nothing else to do, erect a statue of the Sage Lord of Fungi.

"You've seen the Sage Lord of Fungi. Just model it after that appearance."

"Yes, Lord Sage."

After sending Dugu Bo and his granddaughter on their way, Lan Yu finally remembered Bibi Dong's invitation.

After some thought, Lan Yu decided to go and see just what Bibi Dong was up to.

That night, Lan Yu arrived at a secluded lakeside in Spirit City. His spreading Mycelium Network had alerted him to Bibi Dong's presence well in advance. Besides her, two other people were concealed nearby.

Those two were familiar faces as well: Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

With those two accompanying her, Bibi Dong clearly had no good intentions.

But whatever Bibi Dong was planning that night, it was destined to come to nothing.

Lan Yu approached the lake without making any attempt to conceal himself. Bibi Dong turned toward him, undisguised greed in her eyes.

Lan Yu could not quite understand what he possessed that could inspire such greed in Bibi Dong. Surely she was not after a much younger man?

"You're finally here!"

"Bibi Dong, you specifically asked me to come here. What did you want to say?"

"I'd like to discuss a partnership."

"A partnership? What kind?"

"That creature you summoned was a 100,000-year spirit beast, wasn't it?"

"A 100,000-year spirit beast? You mean the Jadeplume Terrorshroom? I suppose you could count him as one!"

"Give me that 100,000-year spirit beast, and I'll owe you a favor. I, too, am the successor to a deity. A favor from a future god in exchange for a 100,000-year spirit beast—that's quite a good deal, isn't it?"

Bibi Dong's expression, as though he were getting a bargain, left Lan Yu speechless.

"Putting aside whether a favor from you is worth that much, Bibi Dong, we aren't nearly close enough to discuss a partnership on those terms.

"Besides, helping you would mean offending Spirit Hall's Worship Hall faction. That would leave me even worse off.

"If you can't offer something that shows a little more sincerity, stop wasting my time.

"Even going back to sleep would be better than standing out here in the breeze with you."

Bibi Dong's expression darkened at Lan Yu's words.

"Must you insist on opposing me?"

"It's not that I insist on opposing you. I simply haven't seen any sincerity from you."

"Sincerity! Heh. Then what if I give you my daughter? Is that sincere enough?"

"So you still remember you have a daughter? Are you sure you want me to stand here and discuss your family affairs?

"In that case, why don't we go somewhere else? The secret chamber behind the Pope Palace, for example."

At the mention of that place, Bibi Dong instantly lost her composure. Concentrated killing intent swept toward Lan Yu.

Lan Yu remained unmoved, simply watching Bibi Dong, ready to act at any moment.