Two Paths at Once: Undercurrents in the Star Luo Ice Plains and the Spirit Hall Sanctuary

Even the wind in Heaven Dou City seemed charged with urgency. The alliance's Soul Masters split into two teams, setting out for the Star Luo Empire's Far North Ice Plains and Spirit Hall's sacred grounds respectively.

The Star Luo team led by Dai Mubai was small but elite: Tai Long's Great Strength Gorilla would break the ice and clear a path, Oscar's sausages would provide various enhancements, and three Soul Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect accompanied them to deal with any powerful enemies they encountered. Before leaving, Dai Mubai sought out Tang San and handed him a Star Luo imperial token. "If we run into trouble, this token can mobilize the troops stationed on the Star Luo Empire's border."

Tang San gripped the token and nodded firmly. "Take care."

Watching the Star Luo team disappear over the horizon, Tang San turned and walked toward Lin Ye. Both had changed into the clothes of low-ranking Spirit Hall deacons and wore simple disguise masks-Ning Fengzhi had obtained them through secret channels, and they were enough to withstand questioning by ordinary guards.

"Everything ready?" Lin Ye patted the storage pouch at his waist. Inside were Oscar's specially made "Concealment Sausages" and Tang San's improved "smoke bombs."

"Mm." A trace of Blue Silver Grass green curled around Tang San's fingertips. "My father and uncle have already set out. They'll cause a commotion on the outskirts of the sacred grounds to draw Bibi Dong's attention. We only have two hours. We have to get in and out quickly."

Spirit Hall's sacred grounds lay in the center of Spirit City, deep in the heart of the continent. A sanctuary towered into the clouds at the city's center, its golden spire gleaming in the sunlight and radiating an inviolable majesty. Unlike the tense atmosphere in Heaven Dou City, Spirit City was peaceful. Quite a few civilians could even be seen bringing their children on pilgrimage-clearly, they had no idea what darkness lay hidden beneath the sanctuary.

Tang San and Lin Ye mingled with the pilgrims and walked slowly toward the sanctuary. Tang San's Blue Silver Grass spread silently, analyzing the sanctuary's defensive formations, while Lin Ye used Golden Crow Perception to detect every fluctuation of Soul Power in the air, especially any presence resembling the Azure Lotus Soul Bone's.

"The defenses are tighter than we imagined," Tang San said quietly. "An Angel Barrier surrounds the sanctuary. It can sense the Soul Power of anyone who isn't a core member of Spirit Hall."

Lin Ye pointed to a side door on the sanctuary's flank. "There's a gap in the barrier there. It should be a passage for servants to come and go. My Golden Crow Fire can briefly mask our Soul Power fluctuations. We'll enter there."

After pretending to kneel and worship devoutly, the two slipped through the side door like shadows during a change of guards. Beyond it lay a narrow passage filled with the faint smell of blood-clearly, it was not just a servants' passage, but also a place where dissidents were secretly executed.

At the end of the passage was a huge basement filled with Soul Bone containers, each giving off different Soul Power fluctuations. But Tang San and Lin Ye's eyes were immediately drawn to the crystal platform in the center-a seven-colored Soul Bone floated above it, resonating strongly with the fragments in their possession!

"We found it!" A flicker of delight crossed Lin Ye's eyes.

Just as they approached the crystal platform, an icy voice suddenly came from the shadows of the basement. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

Tang San and Lin Ye instantly went on guard. A woman dressed in papal robes stepped out of the shadows. Her face was breathtakingly beautiful, but she exuded a pressure that made their hearts tremble-it was Spirit Hall's Pope, Bibi Dong!

"Bibi Dong?!" Tang San was both shocked and furious. "My father and the others..."

"You mean Tang Hao and Tang Xiao?" Bibi Dong gave a soft laugh, her eyes full of contempt. "They're busy fighting a clone I created. By the time they realize what's happening, you'll already have become sacrifices to the Angel God."

It had been a trap from the beginning! The supposed diversion on the outskirts was nothing more than bait Bibi Dong had used to lure them in.

"Why are you so determined to revive the Angel God?" Lin Ye could not help asking. "You already possess immense power. Why place yourself beneath someone else?"

"Place myself beneath someone else?" Bibi Dong sounded as though she had heard the greatest joke in the world. "Once I merge with the Angel Godhood, the entire continent will submit to me! When that time comes, I'll make everyone who looked down on me pay!" A trace of madness flashed in her eyes. "That includes you, heir to the Three-Legged Golden Crow, and you, Tang Hao's son-your Soul Bones are just what I need to perfect my Godhood!"

Soul Power erupted in an instant, and the phantom of a Six-Winged Angel appeared behind Bibi Dong. Half its wings were sacred white, while the other half were an eerie black, giving off a suffocating presence.

"Attack!" Tang San shouted, his voice low. Blue Silver Grass grew wildly, winding toward Bibi Dong. At the same time, he gave Lin Ye a look-Retreat!

Lin Ye understood. Golden Crow Fire condensed into a wall of flame, blocking Bibi Dong's view. At the same time, he snatched the Soul Bone from the crystal platform and rushed toward the entrance to the passage with Tang San.

"Trying to run?" Bibi Dong snorted coldly. A ribbon of black Soul Power lashed out like a whip, easily tearing through the wall of fire and striking Tang San in the back.

Tang San grunted and spat out a mouthful of blood, but he still did not stop. Blue Silver Grass pushed Lin Ye forward. "You go first! I'll cover the rear!"

"We leave together!" Lin Ye turned and shoved the Soul Bone he had just taken into Tang San's arms. Golden Crow Fire surged violently. "Golden Crow-Blazing Sun!"

The dazzling golden light temporarily blinded Bibi Dong. Lin Ye seized the chance to pull Tang San along, rushing deeper into the passage.

Bibi Dong roared, broke through the golden light, and swept her six wings, catching up in an instant. "Leave the Soul Bone!"

At that critical moment, the ceiling of the passage suddenly collapsed. Tang Hao and Tang Xiao leaped out of the rubble, their Clear Sky Hammers smashing toward Bibi Dong with tremendous force!

"Despicable!" Bibi Dong was forced to turn and defend herself. Tang Hao and Tang Xiao seized the chance to grab Tang San and Lin Ye. "Go! We'll handle this!"

Tang San watched his father and uncle fighting a bloody battle, tears in his eyes, but he knew he could not let their sacrifice be in vain. He gripped the Soul Bone tightly and followed Lin Ye out of the passage, disappearing into the night in Spirit City.

Meanwhile, on the Star Luo Empire's Far North Ice Plains, Dai Mubai's team faced a different trial.

A frigid wind howled across the ice plains, and the temperature was low enough to freeze Soul Power. Though Tai Long's Great Strength Gorilla Martial Soul could withstand the cold, he still shivered, leaving a deep footprint in the ice with every step.

"According to what Lin Ye sensed, the Soul Bone should be in the glacier ahead." Dai Mubai pointed at an iceberg in the distance, cold mist rising from it. "But the Soul Power fluctuations there are strange. It's as though something is guarding it."

Oscar handed over a Cold-Resisting Sausage. "Let's replenish our strength first. In this godforsaken place, our Soul Power is being used up too quickly."

Once they drew close to the iceberg, they finally discovered what was guarding the Soul Bone-a giant ice plains bear more than ten meters long, its entire body covered in armor of solid ice. Its Soul Power fluctuations had reached the level of a Titled Douluo!

"It's a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, an Ice Prison White Bear!" a Clear Sky Sect Soul Douluo exclaimed. "They say it guards the heart of the ice plains. I never expected to encounter it here."

The Ice Prison White Bear roared and slammed a massive paw into the ground. Countless ice spikes burst from underground and shot toward the group.

"Tai Long, defend!" Dai Mubai roared. His Nether Civet Martial Soul possessed him, and his figure became an afterimage as he circled around to the white bear's flank.

Tai Long transformed into a Great Strength Gorilla and crossed his arms before him, taking the ice spikes head-on. Oscar's sausages fell like raindrops, enhancing everyone's defense and strength.

The Clear Sky Sect's Soul Douluo attacked at the same time, swinging their Clear Sky Hammers down on the white bear's ice armor.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The ice armor was so hard that it actually blocked the Soul Douluo's attacks. The Ice Prison White Bear roared and breathed out a blast of freezing air, turning one of the Soul Douluo into an ice sculpture.

"This is bad!" Dai Mubai's expression changed drastically. The white bear was far stronger than they had anticipated.

Just then, Tai Long suddenly roared. His muscles swelled, and his Soul Power broke through the bottleneck at level forty-five, reaching level forty-six! His fist shone with golden light as he smashed it into the Ice Prison White Bear's front leg.

"Crack!"

A small crack appeared in the solid ice armor.

"Now!" Dai Mubai seized the chance, Soul Power gathering in the Hell Spirit Cat's sharp claws as he drove them into the crack.

The Ice Prison White Bear let out a roar of pain and swiped its massive paw at Dai Mubai. He narrowly dodged it, but the fierce wind stirred up by the paw sent him flying.

Oscar hurriedly tossed him a Recovery Sausage. Dai Mubai caught it, and more than half his Soul Power was restored in an instant. He charged at the white bear again.

After a bitter struggle, the group finally exhausted the Ice Prison White Bear's Soul Power. Tai Long's final punch shattered its ice armor, and the white bear fell unwillingly, transforming into a Soul Ring that rose into the air.

With its guardian gone, the iceberg slowly split open, revealing a seven-colored Soul Bone wrapped in ice and snow-the final Azure Lotus Soul Bone fragment!

Dai Mubai picked up the Soul Bone with trembling hands. He felt the icy power contained within it as it resonated with the other fragments. "We found it... We found it!"

Just then, footsteps sounded across the ice plains. A group of black-clad Soul Masters appeared in the distance, led by none other than Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei!

"Looks like we arrived at just the right time." Gui Mei's voice was like ice. "Hand over the Soul Bone, and I'll spare your lives."

Dai Mubai handed the Soul Bone to Oscar, his gaze resolute. "Tai Long, cover Oscar's escape! The elders and I will hold them off!"

"Captain!"

"Go! That's an order!" Dai Mubai roared and charged at Gui Mei, the Hell Spirit Cat's claws glinting coldly.

Tai Long gritted his teeth, hoisted Oscar onto his shoulder, and ran deeper into the ice plains. The Clear Sky Sect's Soul Douluo formed a defensive formation to block the pursuing black-clad Soul Masters.

Battle erupted once more on the ice plains. The cold wind mingled with the light of clashing Soul Power, composing a tragic and heroic battle song.

By the time Tang San and Lin Ye escaped back to Heaven Dou City with the Soul Bone, no news had yet arrived from the Star Luo Ice Plains. Looking at the four Soul Bones in his hands, Tang San's heart felt heavy-he did not know whether Dai Mubai and the others were safe, or whether his father and uncle could escape Bibi Dong.

Lin Ye patted his shoulder. "Believe in them, just as they believe in us."

Tang San nodded and placed the four Soul Bones together. Seven-colored light intertwined, faintly forming the shape of a complete azure lotus. Only the final piece was missing.

He knew that the moment the five Soul Bones became one would mark the beginning of the decisive battle with Spirit Hall. For now, all they could do was wait, and... prepare to face the final storm.

A shooting star streaked across Heaven Dou City's night sky, as though foretelling the sacrifice and hope far away.