Unmasking the Mastermind, Bibi Dong's Plans!

The blazing midday sun scorched Heaven Dou City's bustling streets, making the air above them shimmer.

As usual, Lu Xuan left Dugu Manor and headed toward the Great Soul Arena.

Dressed in red, Leng Yaozhu walked with light, graceful steps.

Like a dancing blaze, she kept an unhurried pace beside him.

Suddenly, Leng Yaozhu's steps faltered almost imperceptibly.

Within the reach of her Demigod-level Spiritual Power, vast as the sea,

several concealed yet sharp auras had abruptly appeared amid the bustling crowd.

"Hm?"

Leng Yaozhu narrowed her beautiful, elongated eyes, a trace of amusement flashing in their depths.

These people were all soul masters of considerable cultivation, and their concealment techniques were fairly sophisticated.

Elsewhere, they might have stood out.

But near the Great Soul Arena, where fish and dragons mingled,

the presence of high-ranking soul masters was perfectly normal, providing them with ideal cover.

Even so, they still put Leng Yaozhu on her guard.

"Xiao Xuan, be careful."

Leng Yaozhu's red lips moved slightly, her voice becoming a slender thread of sound that rang directly inside Lu Xuan's mind.

"A few sneaking rats have slipped into the area around the Great Soul Arena. They might be after us."

"All right."

Lu Xuan's expression remained unchanged as he discreetly surveyed his surroundings from the corners of his eyes.

Although his current cultivation was insufficient to expose those hidden tails,

not the slightest ripple disturbed his heart.

With Leng Yaozhu, a Demigod-level Limit Douluo, beside him,

who could harm so much as a hair on his head unless a Deity appeared?

The two entered the Great Soul Arena with composure.

Lu Xuan went straight to the front desk to register for today's soul fight.

Meanwhile, Leng Yaozhu headed ahead to the luxurious lounge the Great Soul Arena had reserved especially for Lu Xuan, already familiar with the way.

After entering the preparation area, Lu Xuan keenly noticed

that the prickling sensation of being watched still followed him like a shadow.

He sneered, then closed his eyes to rest without a care, waiting for his turn.

Amid deafening cheers, Lu Xuan stepped onto the Soul Fighting Platform once again.

The Three-Legged Golden Crow's domineering flames instantly set the crowd ablaze.

His assault swept through like a storm crushing rotten wood, leaving his opponent utterly unable to resist.

It was a crushing victory with no suspense whatsoever.

By the time the referee loudly announced his victory, Lu Xuan's record at the Great Soul Arena had soared to an astonishing eighteen consecutive wins.

Only two more victories stood between him and the Silver Soul Badge.

After the fight, Lu Xuan registered his victory and collected his prize money at the front desk.

His soul fighting points had now reached 955.

Night fell, and the city's lights began to glow.

Lu Xuan and Leng Yaozhu walked side by side along the street leading back to the manor.

As the crowds thinned, the auras trailing behind them became increasingly obvious.

"Sister, should we find a dead-end alley and deal with them?"

Lu Xuan's gaze turned cold, a flash of killing intent passing through his eyes.

"No need. Let them follow."

Leng Yaozhu's languid voice sounded beside Lu Xuan's ear, carrying a hint of lofty arrogance.

"I want to see what important figure is hiding behind these rats."

Lu Xuan nodded slightly and continued forward at his original pace.

Leng Yaozhu intended to use these lackeys as bait to fish out the mastermind directly.

She even found herself hoping that their backer had sufficiently powerful connections and strength.

They would make the perfect example with which to establish her authority and spread the fearsome name of Leng Yaozhu!

She would let the entire continent know that a formidable expert was here!

Reputation was a double-edged sword.

On the bright side, it deterred petty villains and spared one countless troubles.

On the other, a tall tree caught the wind, drawing hidden arrows that were difficult to guard against.

But before Leng Yaozhu's absolute strength, it mattered little whether the spears came openly or the arrows from the shadows.

They were all rotten wood that would crumble at a single blow!

Such was the absolute confidence of a Demigod.

The two made no attempt to conceal themselves, strolling boldly all the way back to their destination.

Only after Lu Xuan and Leng Yaozhu disappeared behind the vermilion gates

did several dark figures quietly emerge from a shadowed alley.

The black-clad man leading them raised his head.

By the dim moonlight, he made out the three large characters on the plaque, their strokes dancing like dragons and phoenixes, their green hue exuding an eerie chill—

Dugu Manor!

"Hiss—"

The pursuers all sucked in a sharp breath, feeling a chill shoot from the soles of their feet straight to the crowns of their heads.

Within Heaven Dou City, who would dare display the name "Dugu" on such an imposing residence

other than that temperamental, murderous Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo?!

"Quick! Retreat! Report this to Bishop Salas immediately!"

The leader's voice trembled as he scrambled into the darkness.

The bishop's study in the Spirit Saint Hall.

"What did you say?! That boy entered Dugu Manor? And a red-haired woman was with him?!"

Platinum Bishop Salas shot up from his broad chair.

Disbelief filled his eyes, and his voice warped under the sheer shock.

His mind raced.

According to the intelligence from Nuoding City,

the genius who had awakened an unknown, top-tier fire-attribute martial soul

had been forcibly taken away by a mysterious red-haired female Titled Douluo!

Now, the Golden Crow and the beautiful red-haired woman—both details matched perfectly!

But what horrified Salas most was

that these two had actually moved into Dugu Bo's manor, openly and without a care!

Dugu Bo was reclusive and ill-tempered, with enemies scattered throughout the soul master world. How could he possibly have friends?

Let alone allow someone to live in his lair!

"Did you see clearly? They never came back out after entering?"

Salas stared fixedly at the black-clad man kneeling below him, trying to find a flaw.

"Could they have noticed you following them and deliberately ducked into Dugu Manor to bluff?"

"Absolutely not, Your Grace!" The black-clad leader shook his head, cold sweat pouring down his face.

"We kept a close watch on the perimeter of Dugu Manor for a full hour."

"Not even a fly came out. They definitely live there!"

"Good... good, I understand. Leave at once, and keep your mouths shut!"

Salas drew a deep breath and dismissed his subordinates.

Inside the empty study,

Salas paced anxiously back and forth, fine beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

"Dugu Bo actually knows that mysterious female Titled Douluo? This is serious trouble..."

Although Dugu Bo was mockingly called the weakest Titled Douluo, he was still a genuine Titled Douluo!

With that unfathomable red-haired woman added to the mix, two Titled Douluos had gathered in Heaven Dou City.

This was hardly something he, a Soul Douluo in the eighties, could meddle in!

One careless move, and he might die without even knowing how.

"No. I must report this immediately!"

Salas abruptly stopped pacing, a glint of fervor flashing in his eyes.

This was a heaven-sent opportunity to earn tremendous merit!

Not only had he found the missing peerless genius,

he had also uncovered the mysterious female Douluo's whereabouts.

He had even unearthed her secret connection with Dugu Bo!

As long as he sent the information back to Spirit City,

the Pope's Palace would naturally dispatch elders to handle it. Not only would he bear no risk, but an enormous reward would fall straight into his lap!

There was no time to lose. Salas immediately decided to travel to Spirit City himself and report to Pope Bibi Dong!

Spirit City, the Pope's Palace.

Upon the lofty Pope's throne,

Bibi Dong held the scepter symbolizing supreme authority, a satisfied smile appearing on her exquisitely beautiful face.

"Salas, you did very well this time." Bibi Dong's commanding voice echoed through the spacious hall.

"I will send someone to accompany you to Heaven Dou City and probe that woman's true capabilities."

Kneeling beneath the steps, Salas was overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed in gratitude.

As she watched Salas withdraw, Bibi Dong's gaze gradually deepened.

Why was it that whenever she encountered a difficult matter, she could only turn to Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei?

The reason was simple—and cruel.

She had only recently ascended to her position. Although her methods were iron-fisted, her foundations remained too shallow.

Those old fellows in the Worship Hall obeyed her in public but defied her in private, while many in the Elder Hall were still waiting to see how things developed.

At present, the Titled Douluos truly willing to bow to her and obey her commands

were few and far between, aside from Yue Guan and Gui Mei, the Pope's Palace's two diehard loyalists.

Perhaps Ling Yuan Douluo, with whom she had shared a close friendship since her days as the Holy Maiden, could also be counted.

"A red-haired female Titled Douluo... Dugu Bo..." Bibi Dong murmured, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

Whoever they were, now that they had appeared in Heaven Dou City, the Spirit Hall had to uncover their true backgrounds.