Spirit City.
Tang San stepped down from the carriage and raised an eyebrow as he looked at the familiar buildings ahead.
"Five years already..."
Behind him, Yue Guan wore a worried expression as he spoke. "Xiao San, His Holiness the Pope's sudden summons this time isn't a good sign."
"After all, you thwarted her plans. I'd hoped to have you stall for a while, but I didn't expect you to come back just like this."
"The Soul Hunting Operation is about to begin. His Holiness won't allow anyone inside Spirit Hall to oppose her."
Having followed Bibi Dong for so long, Yue Guan knew her temperament well.
A sudden summons meant something had happened. Given everything that had happened before, it couldn't be anything good.
Tang San wasn't worried in the least. He waved a hand.
"It's fine."
"It's precisely because the Soul Hunting Operation is imminent that nothing will happen to me."
"I'm her disciple. If she makes a move against me at a time like this, what will everyone else think?"
Although Bibi Dong, like a certain crown prince, didn't really treat the people of Spirit Hall as people, at least she didn't make that obvious. She'd do anything to win over Great God King Tang.
If she did make it obvious, wouldn't that be the same as sending everyone else to their deaths? How could anyone possibly risk their lives for Spirit Hall then?
Since Tang San had put it that way, Yue Guan said no more. He watched Tang San enter Pontiff Hall, then silently stood guard outside.
Pontiff Hall.
Bibi Dong sat at the top, clad in a purple robe that showed off her perfect figure. She looked down at Tang San.
"Xiao San, you're finally back."
"You've spent several years out in the world, and you've certainly grown. Tell me, why did you protect that Soul Beast?"
At this, Tang San smiled faintly, not at all surprised.
As expected, the first thing Bibi Dong asked about was this. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast that had taken human form, and wasn't even fully mature-there wasn't a person alive who wouldn't covet such a walking treasure.
He considered his words for a moment, then lowered his head. "That Soul Beast was an old friend of mine. And I imagine you already know about my background, Your Holiness."
"I was indeed in the wrong first. I hope the Pope will forgive me."
Though Tang San said he was at fault, his face showed no sign of it. He remained composed.
Bibi Dong sighed, came to stand beside him, and studied his face.
"It's been so long, and you've changed."
"Xiao San, your talent surpasses Hu Liena's. You also did very well in Slaughter City. I sent you to Heaven Dou City because I wanted you to inherit Spirit Hall."
"I've heard about what happened in Heaven Dou City, too. You did well. When you and she take over, you'll do an even better job than I did."
As she spoke, Bibi Dong touched Tang San's face, as if recalling something.
"How could I not know your background? I knew your father, too... Hmph, I should thank him."
"We'll let this matter go. It's only natural for you to have some selfish motives."
"But don't take such risks again. With your current Soul Power, being able to absorb a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring is already a miracle. I don't know how you managed it, but don't do it again."
Bibi Dong's voice was gentle. It seemed she truly saw Tang San as her heir.
After all, during his time in Spirit Hall, Tang San had always performed exceptionally well.
By the time he heard the rest, Tang San knew Bibi Dong had misunderstood something.
Since she already knew Tang San had beaten up Qian Renxue in Heaven Dou City, there was no way she could have missed the Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring he carried.
Clearly, Bibi Dong thought Tang San had snatched Xiao Wu away. That wasn't entirely wrong, either.
That changed the nature of Tang San's actions. In Bibi Dong's eyes, he'd done it for himself, not because he had betrayed Spirit Hall. That was something she could tolerate.
"The Soul Hunting Operation is about to begin. You said you could bring the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect under your control. Is that true?"
Suddenly, Bibi Dong changed the subject and asked about the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Tang San nodded, his tone certain.
"That's right. You could say I'm already in control of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I just can't have them formally join Spirit Hall yet."
Bibi Dong considered this for a moment. "Good. But words aren't enough. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is richer than a nation, and its wealth would be a great help to Spirit Hall."
Tang San immediately understood. "No problem. I can control the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's wealth. Once I'm back in Heaven Dou City, I'll send people to bring it here."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong smiled and took Tang San's hand, leading him to sit down.
"By the way, Xiao San, I hear Dai Mubai and the others are old friends of yours?"
"I don't know what grievances you had between you before, but they're people Spirit Hall values. Now you're all under one roof. Can you put aside your differences?"
"Dai Mubai and the other young men aren't particularly gifted, but they have qualities worth valuing. I'm planning to send them to an island to undergo trials and improve their strength. Would you be interested in going with them?"
Bibi Dong still held Tang San's hand. Her words sounded like casual conversation, but the more Tang San heard, the more alarmed he became.
That was it. It seemed the Rakshasa God had taken an interest in Dai Mubai and the others.
It made sense. In Douluo I, the biggest troublemaker was the Rakshasa God, who went around stirring up trouble and causing destruction. If anyone knew how to make trouble, it was him.
But the Rakshasa God alone wasn't enough to pull this off. There had to be a God King backing him, though they hadn't come out into the open yet.
The Rakshasa God Trial...
Tang San murmured to himself. Without the slightest hesitation, he rejected Bibi Dong's offer.
"I appreciate your kindness, Your Holiness, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needs me. The Soul Hunting Operation is underway, so I can't get away."
As if! He was someone Asura had taken an interest in. How could he possibly take part in the Rakshasa God Trial?
Never mind anything else-even if the Rakshasa God didn't kill Tang San, there'd be no explaining it to Asura. Did anyone really need to ask whether to choose Asura or the Rakshasa God?
At the same time, Tang San continued, "Besides, I've always felt that there's no such thing as a free lunch. Those people had decent dispositions to begin with, but there's something I'm not sure I should say: only recently did their temperaments change so drastically."
"In my view, there's something very wrong with that island."
He was warning her, too. Later, under the Rakshasa God's influence, Bibi Dong would grow more and more deranged, until she even wanted to destroy the Douluo Continent.
Even if he couldn't change Bibi Dong's divine position, making her hesitate and delaying her increase in strength would still be a good way to buy himself time.
Hearing this, Bibi Dong fell into thought for a long while, as if weighing something. Only after a long time did she make up her mind.
"Enough of that. Since you don't want to go with Dai Mubai and the others, there's someone else you must meet next."
As her words fell, a figure slowly emerged from behind the hall, wearing a cold smile.
"Tang San, you didn't expect me to be here, did you?"
"You think becoming Spirit Hall's Young Master means you can rest easy? You're completely wrong!"
"Your good days are coming to an end!"
The newcomer was none other than the renowned Grandmaster, famous throughout the Soul Master World: Yu Xiaogang!
Before you continue