Lin Feng had single-handedly beaten both of the Clear Sky Sect's twin stars into the ground.
The explosive news swept through the soul master world like the wind.
Spirit Hall!
As Qian Xunji listened to his subordinate's report, his eyes widened. He sprang to his feet and shouted in disbelief.
"Do you take me for a three-year-old?"
"How dare you try to fool me with this nonsense!"
"I personally used angel divine power to strip Lin Feng of his soul power and soul rings. There is no way he could have recovered his soul power, much less absorbed five Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings."
"He should be huddled beside a garbage bin in some city, scraping by on leftovers, or grubbing in the dirt in some desolate village, bent over the fields from dawn to dusk."
"He defeated the Clear Sky Sect's twin stars, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, all by himself? Impossible, absolutely impossible. This is absurd."
The subordinate knelt on one knee, trembling beneath Qian Xunji's oppressive aura. Still, he gritted his teeth and reported the truth:
"Your Holiness, it is absolutely true!"
"According to the report from the Spirit Hall Main Hall in Xilu City, his appearance and martial soul both match. It was Lin Feng."
"During his clash with Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, Lin Feng used only his fifth soul skill to overpower Tang Xiao, a Soul Saint. For a Soul King to overpower a Soul Saint, that had to be a ten-thousand-year soul skill—possibly even one over fifty thousand years old."
Qian Xunji's expression shifted uncertainly, fear rising in his heart at Lin Feng's recovery.
He knew perfectly well how he had falsely accused Lin Feng back then.
If Lin Feng had recovered, he would surely come seeking revenge.
"How could he recover? He must not recover!"
"Send orders to the Demon Wolf Elder and the Blood Tiger Elder. Have them hunt Lin Feng down in secret. That villain harbors a deep hatred for Spirit Hall. If he does not die, he will bring irreparable losses upon us."
"Also, keep this information under strict wraps. That old geezer in the Worship Hall must not find out. If he does, he will certainly make me set aside my dignity as Pope and beg Lin Feng to return. Hmph! As the Pope of Spirit Hall, how could I possibly go begging that ungrateful disciple?"
Boom!
An overwhelming aura erupted outside the Pope's Palace, and Qian Daoliu's voice, heavy with suppressed rage, thundered inside.
"You bastard! Who are you calling an old geezer?"
"You even want to keep information from me? Getting too big for your boots, are you?"
Qian Daoliu flew in, seething with anger.
"Hmph, you certainly know your father well. I already know about Xiaofeng. He is a genius of our Spirit Hall. Now that he has recovered his soul power and absorbed soul rings to become a Soul Master again, this is wonderful news."
"Qian Xunji, go apologize to Xiaofeng in person. Tell him you falsely accused him. You must persuade him to change his mind."
"You can tell Xiaofeng that once his soul power reaches the required level, I can hunt hundred-thousand-year soul rings for his remaining four rings."
"I believe he will never be able to resist the lure of hundred-thousand-year soul rings. He will surely return to our Spirit Hall family."
Qian Xunji, who had been so imposing a moment earlier, reacted to Qian Daoliu like a mouse facing a cat. His shoulders sagged as he spoke with a bluster that concealed his fear:
"Father, if we bring Lin Feng back, how are we supposed to face Dong'er? She still hasn't recovered from the trauma of being molested, and you want to bring the culprit back to Spirit Hall? Dong'er will go mad."
Qian Daoliu's gaze wavered, but he still did not change his mind.
When he had valued Bibi Dong, he had allowed Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong to falsely accuse Lin Feng.
But now Bibi Dong was crippled, while Lin Feng had risen unexpectedly. Not only had he recovered his soul power, but he had also absorbed five Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings, gaining enough strength to overpower the Clear Sky Sect's twin stars.
For Lin Feng's sake, he could disregard Bibi Dong.
"Then keep Xiaofeng and Dong'er from meeting. Dong'er's soul power is already crippled. Staying in Spirit Hall will only expose her to judgmental looks. We might as well send her to the countryside. Perhaps a change of surroundings will allow her soul power to recover naturally."
"We must bring Xiaofeng back. Xiaofeng is Spirit Hall's future. This is the mess you made, you wretch, and now you must personally put it right."
Qian Xunji looked at Qian Daoliu with contempt. He had known that the old opportunist would drive Bibi Dong away for Lin Feng's sake.
His feelings for Bibi Dong would not change just because her soul power had been crippled.
"Listen here, old geezer!"
"I will never drive Dong'er away for Lin Feng's sake. Even without her soul power, I, the Pope, am willing to protect her for the rest of her life!"
Qian Daoliu bristled with fury.
"You just lust after her body, you shameless scoundrel!"
"When the two of you falsely accused Xiaofeng, did you not feel even the slightest regret?"
Qian Xunji shook his shoulders and straightened up again.
"As the Pope of Spirit Hall, I absolutely did not falsely accuse Lin Feng. I will never ask him to return."
Qian Daoliu finally lost his temper and lashed out with a flying kick.
"I'm your father!"
"You dare defy me? I'll beat you to death, you unfilial brat!"
For the next half hour, Qian Daoliu gave Qian Xunji a lesson in fatherly love.
Under his old father's persuasive influence, Qian Xunji reluctantly agreed to try to win Lin Feng back, though he made no promises of success.
Before long, all the rumors reached Bibi Dong as well.
As Bibi Dong listened to her maid's report, her eyes immediately reddened, and her face filled with hurt.
"What did you say? Lin Feng has a new woman by his side? What woman would fall for a useless cripple with no soul power or soul rings?"
Looking at the tearful Bibi Dong, the maid reported quietly:
"We still don't know her background, only that she is as beautiful as a goddess. The Clear Sky Sect's twin stars, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, clashed with Lin Feng because of that woman."
"Lin Feng beat both of the Clear Sky Sect's twin stars into the ground in one go. By now, the news has probably spread throughout the soul master world."
With a series of crashes, Bibi Dong went wild, smashing every vase and ornament in the room that she could get her hands on.
Tears filled her eyes as she sobbed and raged.
"Lin Feng, that scumbag! We've barely been apart, and he's already found another woman."
"He's nothing but a bastard. All those things he said about loving me—he's forgotten every last one."
"That damned scumbag, that damned scumbag! No, I have to make Lin Feng love me again. If he refuses, I'll expose his molestation to everyone and let that woman who likes him see what he really is."
Bibi Dong lifted her skirts and hurried off to find Qian Xunji. She wanted to go with him to win Lin Feng back.
Lin Feng and I can merge our soul power. Since he could recover his, he can help me recover mine too. Lin Feng, even though you molested me, I'm still willing to forgive you. As long as you cut ties with other women, I'll allow you to return to my side.
With these thoughts in mind, Bibi Dong quickened her steps.
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