Bibi Dong stood suspended in midair, her Pope's Robe billowing in the wind. The Uncanny Black Aura swirling around her shrouded heaven and earth as nine soul rings slowly revolved. Her supreme pressure, towering above all soul masters, plunged the entire Arena Square into deathly silence. Even the air seemed to freeze.
Simply standing there in silence, she made every soul master present feel an urge to submit. Even the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Consecrations and the experts of the two great sects wore grave expressions, not daring to make the slightest rash move.
The woman closest to godhood in this age, the Spirit Hall Pope, the bearer of twin martial souls—Bibi Dong's fearsome reputation had held the entire Soul Master World in awe for decades.
"You have a death wish."
Bibi Dong parted her red lips and spoke those words lightly. Her tone was calm, yet carried unquestionable killing intent. She slowly raised her delicate hand. Without activating a single soul skill, she gathered soul power far beyond that of a Titled Douluo in her palm, compressing space until it twisted and hummed.
If that blow fell, not only Lin Chen but the entire arena would be reduced to ashes!
Lin Chen's entire body tensed. Soul power surged madly within him, his Emperor Grass Origin erupted at full strength, and the Life Emperor Pendant in his palm blazed with dazzling light. Even knowing their strength was as far apart as heaven and earth, he did not retreat an inch.
Behind him stood Su Qingyuan, Yue Huaxi, his companions from the Heaven Dou Royal Team, and countless people who had witnessed his victory. He could not retreat, and there was nowhere left to retreat to!
"As the Spirit Hall Pope, you openly commit violence at the tournament arena and disregard the laws of the Two Great Empires. Do you truly believe no one in the Soul Master World can hold you in check?" Lin Chen raised his head, his clear voice ringing across the arena with the dignity of the Emperor Grass Inheritor. "The Life Emperor Grass Origin is a gift from heaven and earth. If you insist on seizing it, you make yourself an enemy of every soul beast in Star Dou and of the vitality of heaven and earth!"
As his words fell, Lin Chen activated the Emperor Pendant. The vast life aura of the distant Star Dou Great Forest instantly crossed space and resonated with him. A gentle yet majestic beastly pressure quietly spread, faintly resisting Bibi Dong's oppressive might.
This was the deterrent power of the Soul Beast Co-Ruler. Even from ten thousand miles away, it was enough to make Bibi Dong wary.
"An enemy of heaven and earth?" Bibi Dong sneered, disdain filling her eyes. "Why should I concern myself with anything beneath heaven and earth? Today, no one can save you!"
The soul power in her palm suddenly surged. Her lethal attack was about to descend!
"Your Holiness, do not overstep!"
At that critical instant, two aged yet powerful voices suddenly rang out from either side of the raised platform!
Two figures shot through the air, one in blue-green and one in gold, each surrounded by nine soul rings. The pressure of Titled Douluos swept across the arena as they positioned themselves directly in front of Lin Chen, confronting Bibi Dong in midair.
The figure on the left wore blue-green robes, lightning coiling around him. He was Yu Yuanzhen, patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, whose title was Dragon! The Titled Douluo with the world's foremost beast martial soul possessed unparalleled strength.
The figure on the right had a gentle bearing, yet his sword aura pierced the heavens. He was Chen Xin, the guardian Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose title was Sword! The greatest attacking Titled Douluo of the age could cleave heaven and earth with a single stroke.
Two Titled Douluos had rushed to his aid at once!
Thunder roared around Yu Yuanzhen, his draconic might shaking the heavens as he stared straight at Bibi Dong. "Spirit Hall has repeatedly broken the rules and attacked talented youths. Do you truly think the Upper Three Sects are mere ornaments?"
Sword aura flowed around Chen Xin's fingertips, his gaze icy. "With me here today, you will not touch him."
The situation reversed in an instant!
On the raised platform, Ning Fengzhi, master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, slowly stepped forward with a composed expression. "Your Holiness, Lin Chen is an honored guest of our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. If you insist on attacking him, you make yourself our sect's enemy."
The elders of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan also rose together, soul power surging around them. Their stance was clear: they would protect Lin Chen at all costs.
The two great sects, four Titled Douluos, and several Soul Douluo experts of the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial family instantly formed a powerful force capable of standing against Spirit Hall!
As Bibi Dong surveyed the assembled experts, her expression darkened slightly.
Powerful as she was, facing Sword Douluo and Dragon Douluo, two elite Titled Douluos, together with the forces of the Heaven Dou Imperial Family and the two great sects, would not yield an easy victory even with her three Titled Douluo subordinates. If battle broke out, Spirit Hall would also suffer devastating losses.
Moreover, the Life Emperor Pendant in Lin Chen's hand was constantly drawing on the power of the Star Dou Great Forest. If she truly enraged him and brought forth an army of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts from Star Dou, the situation would spiral completely out of control.
Spirit Hall's grand plan had not yet reached the point where they could openly tear away all pretense with the Upper Three Sects and the Two Great Empires.
Killing intent churned in Bibi Dong's eyes, but she ultimately forced it down. Her icy gaze remained fixed on Lin Chen. "Good. Very good. I shall spare your life for now."
"Lin Chen, remember this. The Emperor Grass Origin does not belong to you. Sooner or later, it will fall into my hands. Today's matter will not end here. The next time we meet will be the day you die!"
She knew perfectly well that she could no longer kill Lin Chen today. Persisting would only cost her more than she stood to gain.
As her words fell, black aura roiled around Bibi Dong. She lingered no longer, gesturing to her three Titled Douluo subordinates before turning into a black shadow and streaking through the air. Moving at incredible speed, she vanished beyond the horizon in an instant.
Only after everyone from Spirit Hall had departed did the taut atmosphere throughout the arena finally ease.
The pressure overhead dissipated, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. A moment earlier, they had all thought a world-destroying battle was about to erupt.
Lin Chen withdrew his soul power, and his body went slack. Another trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. Taking the combined blow of three Titled Douluos head-on had already left him with internal injuries; he had merely been forcing himself to hold on.
"Lin Chen!"
Su Qingyuan and Yue Huaxi hurried forward and supported him on either side, their eyes filled with pain and worry.
"I'm fine." Lin Chen waved a hand. With the two women's support, he barely managed to steady himself. He turned toward Sword Douluo, Yu Yuanzhen, and the members of the two great sects before bowing. "Thank you, seniors, for saving me. I am deeply grateful."
Had the two great sects not come to his aid in time, he would certainly have died today.
Sword Douluo nodded lightly, his eyes full of approval. "To possess such resolve and fighting strength at your age, your future is boundless. Protecting you also means protecting the future of the Soul Master World."
Yu Yuanzhen also laughed heartily. "There's no need to stand on ceremony. Spirit Hall's ravenous ambition has long made it the common enemy of the Soul Master World. We should be joining forces against them."
The Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire also hurried down from the platform and personally approached Lin Chen, helping him straighten with admiration written across his face. "Lin Chen, not only have you won the tournament championship for our Heaven Dou Empire, but you also had the courage to stand against Spirit Hall. You are truly a pillar of our empire!"
Deafening cheers erupted from the spectators once again, even more fervent than when he had won the championship.
Lin Chen had single-handedly resisted Spirit Hall's three Titled Douluos and faced Pope Bibi Dong directly. His courage and strength had utterly won everyone over.
Afterward, surrounded by the crowd, Lin Chen accepted the championship trophy and a vast array of rewards. Among them happened to be a Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Herb containing Life Force, just what he needed to heal his injuries and strengthen his foundations.
The turmoil had finally subsided, for now.
Yet Lin Chen knew that Bibi Dong's departure was merely a temporary act of restraint. Spirit Hall's retaliation would only become more frenzied. Between him and Spirit Hall, there could ultimately be no end until one side was dead.
Through this battle, Lin Chen had also firmly bound himself to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial family, forming the core of a force that could stand against Spirit Hall.
Night fell, and Heaven Dou City gradually returned to calm, but Lin Chen's room remained brightly lit.
He sat cross-legged, refining the spirit herb awarded by the tournament to heal and cultivate. As he looked at the Emperor Pendant in his hand, he had already mapped out his next steps.
Consolidate my cultivation, find the Emperor Grass Shard, unite the various forces, and prepare for war against Spirit Hall...
The road ahead remained fraught with danger, but he was no longer afraid.
A Soul Master Emperor of his generation advanced steadily through wind and rain. His journey had only just entered a new stage.
The next time he faced Bibi Dong, he would possess the strength to stand against her!
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