"Demon-Suppressing Elder, congratulations, congratulations. I am Qian Jun Douluo."
"Demon-Suppressing Douluo, I am Ghost Leopard Douluo. We will be comrades from now on. I look forward to your guidance."
"Congratulations, congratulations. I am Snake Lance Douluo..."
Zhao Ling said little in response to the congratulations from these elders and enshrined, merely smiling and nodding at everyone with graceful poise.
After an entire morning, Zhao Ling finally finished dealing with everyone and hurried out of the Papal Hall.
He found the probing looks the elders and enshrined kept casting his way very uncomfortable.
So he felt it would be better to find Bibi Dong and Ah Yin quickly. After all, both were his bedmates and harbored no ill intentions toward him.
When Zhao Ling arrived at Bibi Dong's bedroom, he saw her and Ah Yin playing Chinese chess.
"Cannon eight across to nine, horse three advances to five, chariot one across to two..."
The two women were so absorbed in their chess game that neither reacted when Zhao Ling entered and came to stand beside them.
Only after Bibi Dong put Ah Yin in check with a narrow advantage, leaving her nowhere to go, did the two look up and notice Zhao Ling beside them.
"You two certainly have plenty of leisure, playing chess in here. Your husband was almost pestered to death by those elders and enshrined."
At his words, the corners of Ah Yin's lips lifted slightly. She smiled at Bibi Dong. "Sister Dong'er, could you give our husband your seat? I want to play a few rounds with him."
Zhao Ling's expression instantly stiffened, and he shook his head like a pellet drum.
"No, no. I don't want to play chess or any other games. Playing with idle things saps ambition. I don't have that much time to spend playing those things with you."
With that, Zhao Ling sat straight down on the floor and closed his eyes, looking ready to enter serious secluded cultivation. Ah Yin and Bibi Dong immediately covered their mouths and laughed.
"Pfft, hahaha! Honey, if you can't beat Sister Yin'er, you can't beat her. Don't make excuses."
"Exactly, honey. You were the one who taught us to play those things in the first place. Weren't you having a wonderful time trouncing us back then?"
"Get up. We sisters would really love for our husband to trounce us some more."
Zhao Ling kept his eyes tightly shut, the corner of his mouth twitching wildly. These two women were simply too wicked.
They knew perfectly well that over the past two days, whether he played Chinese chess, Fight the Landlord, or mahjong, they had thrashed him until he hovered between ecstasy and agony, yet they still provoked him like this.
If he did not properly discipline them, how would he ever assert his authority as their husband?
At that thought, he opened his sharp eyes, slowly walked to the door, and locked it.
Only then did the two women's hearts begin to pound in alarm, and they backed toward the corner together.
They knew their husband could not take losing at games and was about to take revenge...
Chapter 99: Desperately Clinging to Powerful Legs
After more than a week of preparations, everything needed for the engagement was ready, and all of Spirit Hall had been decorated festively.
Originally, Zhao Ling and Bibi Dong had felt that since it was only an engagement, there was no need to make it too grand.
But Qian Xunji insisted that his only disciple was getting engaged, and they could hardly hold a shabby ceremony.
Otherwise, if the two imperial families and those great clans heard about it, wouldn't they laugh at Spirit Hall for having no money?
Qian Xunji also said he had already announced to all of Spirit City that Bibi Dong would be appointed Spirit Hall's Saintess on the day of her engagement to Zhao Ling.
Zhao Ling was somewhat taken aback by this. Bibi Dong would be appointed Spirit Hall's Saintess on the day they got engaged.
This was certainly earlier than in the original work, though Zhao Ling was not quite sure how much earlier.
The only certainty was that the butterfly effect triggered by his transmigration was becoming increasingly apparent. Still, that was fine, as long as it did not interfere with his pursuit of women.
The day before the engagement, for certain reasons, Zhao Ling did not spend the night in Bibi Dong's bedroom, instead staying with Ah Yin in the Side Hall.
The following morning, Ah Yin tenderly straightened Zhao Ling's formal attire, her movements exceedingly gentle.
"Honey, when you stand beside Sister Dong'er later, take the initiative. There will definitely be lots of people in the hall. Sister Dong'er is a woman, after all, and she gets shy too. Don't be too wooden."
Listening to Ah Yin's reminders, Zhao Ling nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Understood, my dear wife. I'll definitely take the initiative. I absolutely won't make Dong'er do it."
Just then, the clacking of high heels sounded outside the door.
Soon, Bibi Dong entered in a purple evening gown edged with gold and a crystal crown. The nobility and elegance she radiated would involuntarily leave many who saw her feeling inferior.
"Sister Ah Yin, have you finished helping our husband put on his evening attire?"
"Yes, he's dressed. He can go greet the guests now..." Ah Yin nodded slightly and had Zhao Ling turn around, presenting him in his evening attire to Bibi Dong.
"Mm... not bad." Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction, then shifted her gaze to Ah Yin a moment later.
"Huh? Sister Yin'er, what's going on? Why haven't you put on the evening gown I prepared for you? And you haven't done your makeup either. What's going on?"
Her brows drew together slightly, and dissatisfaction showed on her face as she softly reproached her.
Ah Yin smiled sweetly. "Sister Dong'er, you and our husband are the stars today, not me. The evening gown you prepared for me is almost identical to yours, with only a slight difference in color.
"If I wore that gown and appeared beside you two in full view of everyone, I'd feel as though I were stealing the hosts' limelight. Anyone who didn't know might think all three of us were getting engaged together."
"Then let them think so. We sisters both already belong to our husband anyway. Are you really worried people might mistakenly think all three of us are getting engaged together?
"Besides, when I prepared that evening gown for you, I did intend for all three of us to get engaged together. My teacher didn't object, so what if anyone else does?"
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at her in exasperation, her flawless face turning stern.
"Hurry up and get that evening gown. I'll help you put it on. Stop dawdling. If we miss the auspicious hour, watch out, or I'll have our husband torment you for three days and nights."
Ah Yin's pretty face instantly froze. She hurried to fetch her blue-and-gold evening gown, and Bibi Dong began helping her put it on.
But when she saw Zhao Ling watching eagerly from the side, her beautiful eyes shot him a fierce glare.
"Why aren't you leaving? Sister Ah Yin needs to change. How long are you planning to keep watching?"
Thus, Zhao Ling was miserably driven out of the Side Hall, his plan to linger in the room and admire his wife's sizzling figure a little longer completely dashed.
After roughly half an hour, the two stunning beauties emerged in evening gowns almost identical in style, differing only in color. They instantly captured Zhao Ling's attention, and he even swallowed despite himself.
As though they had not noticed, the two women stepped through the doorway together and each took one of his arms, speaking in unison.
"All right, honey. It's time for us to greet the guests."
Zhao Ling said nothing more, simply letting the two women hold his arms as he turned and headed toward the Papal Hall...
The Papal Hall, originally Qian Xunji's workplace, was now serving as the hall for entertaining guests.
Besides that, the square outside the Papal Hall was already a sea of people. Many were members of Spirit Hall's branches and subordinate halls who had traveled great distances back after receiving letters by messenger pigeon.
There were also people from numerous small kingdoms and minor clans attached to Spirit Hall. Upon learning that the Pope's only disciple was getting engaged, they had all sent people to Spirit City to offer congratulations.
In the square and inside the hall, many people in all sorts of formal attire were chatting with one another. After all, many had been posted elsewhere by the various subordinate halls and branches, and ordinarily found it difficult to return to the Main Hall without some particular business.
Now that they had returned for Zhao Ling and Bibi Dong's engagement ceremony, these people naturally began cultivating connections.
Stewards, chief stewards, bishops, and the like from branches and subordinate halls in relatively remote regions all wanted to use this opportunity to build ties with the elders.
Perhaps they could later be transferred out of those remote branches and subordinate halls to more prosperous cities, or even back to headquarters. Their benefits would then improve tremendously. Who wouldn't want that?
Of course, the person they most wanted to approach now was the Demon-Suppressing Douluo, whose star blazed like the midday sun. They had heard that he and Miss Dong'er had fallen in love at first sight, despite having met only recently.
Moreover, after this Demon-Suppressing Douluo returned to Spirit Hall with Miss Dong'er, he immediately received the approval of His Holiness the Pope and the Great Enshrined. To prevent another faction from luring him away, they had arranged his engagement to Miss Dong'er.
One could imagine just how highly His Holiness the Pope and the Great Enshrined valued this Demon-Suppressing Douluo. If they could gain his trust or appreciation...
A casual word from him could probably change their difficult circumstances.
At the thought, those assorted stewards, chief stewards, and bishops all looked around with burning eyes, hoping to find the Demon-Suppressing Douluo so they could cling tightly to his powerful legs.
Naturally, Zhao Ling had no idea that many people in the square and the Papal Hall were eagerly awaiting his arrival. Right now, walking toward the Papal Hall with the two women holding his arms made him quite happy.
When the three appeared outside the Papal Hall, Bibi Dong and Ah Yin's beauty swiftly attracted most of the people present.
But those people soon shifted their attention from Bibi Dong and Ah Yin to Zhao Ling. Their burning gazes gave him an ominous feeling...
Chapter 100: An Old Friend Arrived
Sure enough, before long, the people in the square who had returned from branches and subordinate halls across the Douluo Continent scrambled to crowd around them, throwing the scene into chaos.
"You must be the Demon-Suppressing Douluo? Truly, you are dashing and distinguished, a man of striking appearance. I am Mo Fang..."
"Greetings, Demon-Suppressing Douluo. I am Liu Feng, archbishop of the Longxing City branch."
"I am Qin Yi, archbishop of Barak City. Greetings, Demon-Suppressing Douluo."
Chaos. It was simply too chaotic. Zhao Ling worried that someone might accidentally grope Bibi Dong or Ah Yin.
They were his wives. If someone else took liberties with them, wouldn't he suffer an enormous loss?
Just as Zhao Ling was considering raising his foot and kicking away those crowded at the front, he heard Ghost Douluo shout coldly from outside the crowd.
"Have you made enough trouble? Hurry up and clear a path for the Demon-Suppressing Douluo and his companions! If they miss the auspicious hour, can you bear the responsibility?"
Hearing Ghost Douluo's words, those present who had still wanted to make their faces familiar hurriedly backed away and cleared a path.
Only then did Zhao Ling secretly breathe a sigh of relief. Kicking away those crowded at the front would have been effortless for him, but they were, after all, Spirit Hall personnel.
If he really injured them with his kicks, Qian Xunji and the elders might not say much, but those branch and subordinate hall personnel would certainly feel dissatisfied.
They had traveled so far to return to Spirit City and congratulate the couple, Zhao Ling and Bibi Dong, only to be injured by his kicks. What was that supposed to mean?
After breathing a sigh of relief, Zhao Ling led Bibi Dong and Ah Yin into the Papal Hall.
Seeing Zhao Ling enter the Papal Hall arm in arm with both women, Qian Xunji and the enshrined and elders showed no displeasure.
There was no helping it. In a mere fifteen years, this fellow had gone from an ordinary person to a Titled Douluo, and he possessed an unprecedented three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings.
With talent like that, never mind Zhao Ling getting engaged to one additional woman at his engagement ceremony with Bibi Dong-even if he got engaged to a dozen women at once, they would have no objections.
In any case, that girl Dong'er did not seem to object. If that was her own attitude, were they supposed to act like a dog catching mice and meddle in someone else's business? Forget it.
Once the three reached Qian Xunji, Zhao Ling and Bibi Dong hurriedly nodded to him.
"Teacher..."
"Mm..." Qian Xunji nodded with a smile and turned his gaze toward Zhao Ling. "Little Ling, from now on, I'm entrusting Dong'er to you. I hope you'll treat her well."
"Thank you, Teacher. Rest assured, I will definitely treat Dong'er well."
Zhao Ling nodded firmly, reached out to gently stroke Bibi Dong's face, and gazed at her tenderly.
Under Zhao Ling's tender gaze, Bibi Dong shyly lowered her head, not daring to meet his eyes.
"All right, the auspicious hour has arrived, and almost everyone is here. Let the engagement ceremony begin..."
Qian Xunji gave this instruction to Chrysanthemum Douluo nearby, and only then did the engagement ceremony officially begin.
Just after the engagement ceremony began, a woman with long sea-blue hair, exquisitely beautiful features, and an ever-present air of nobility, elegance, and warmth entered Spirit City in a carriage.
Looking at the exceptionally bustling Spirit City, she slightly furrowed her willow-leaf brows and murmured to herself, "I truly never expected Spirit City to be so prosperous. It's far more prosperous than Sea God Island. As expected of the city that houses Spirit Hall's Main Hall."
As she rode along the streets in the carriage, her tired, beautiful blue eyes occasionally surveyed the various shops lining both sides with curiosity.
When she reached the post station and alighted from the carriage, Bo Saixi turned her gaze toward the most luxurious complex of buildings in all of Spirit City. Presumably, that was where Spirit Hall's Main Hall stood.
The corners of Bo Saixi's lips lifted slightly, and she murmured, "Qian Daoliu, an old friend has arrived. How will you react?"
She knew her objective in coming to Spirit City was very clear: to find the man named Zhao Ling. Seeing her old friend Qian Daoliu was merely incidental.
She hurriedly quickened her pace. Over the past week and more, Bo Saixi had traveled beneath the stars and moon, scarcely resting at all.
There was no helping it. She feared Zhao Ling might leave Spirit City. If that fellow left, finding him would become even harder.
Thus, Bo Saixi had traveled at full speed the entire way, accomplishing the feat of crossing the ocean to the mainland and then reaching Spirit City by carriage in just over a week.
Even for a level-99 Limit Douluo like Bo Saixi, such a feat was somewhat more than she could endure, leaving her utterly exhausted.
But she knew she could not rest. She had to hurry and find that man surnamed Zhao and ask him exactly where Tang Chen was.
So Bo Saixi forced her body onward and reached the entrance to Spirit Hall's Main Hall, where more than a dozen guards stopped her.
"Hey, girl, who are you? This is Spirit Hall. Do you think you can just barge in?"
"Oh, this girl really is something special. Even compared with our Miss Dong'er, she's no less beautiful. Let me have a feel."
"I truly never expected it. Aside from Miss Dong'er and the woman the Demon-Suppressing Elder brought back, there's actually another beauty like this on the Douluo Continent."
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