Facing Gai Yue's question, Bibi Dong simply shook her head. "Oh? Could it be that the Grand Elder is referring to Ailan?"
Gai Yue nodded slightly. "It seems the Pope also knows of him. I've heard that he's quite close to the Holy Maiden. It's been so long since I last saw that young man. I wonder if the Pope could return him to us?"
At that, a faint smile appeared on Bibi Dong's face. "Regarding that child, I happen to have some good news to share with you, Grand Elder."
Gai Yue raised his eyebrows. "Good news?"
Noticing his expression, Bibi Dong's mood improved considerably. "Since this was just a misunderstanding, there's no need for you to take it to heart. Please, come into the city so we can talk."
Although Gai Yue was still displeased, he did not wish to embarrass Bibi Dong in public, so he led several elders into the city.
Inside the Pope's Hall, Gai Yue looked at Bibi Dong. "May I ask what good news the Pope was referring to?"
Holding a delicate porcelain cup, Bibi Dong smiled brightly. "Your sect's genius Ailan has been very close to Na Na in recent years. Half a year ago, the two of them actually pledged themselves to each other. I only learned of this recently."
"Although this matter came about rather suddenly, I thought about it and decided that since two young talents admire each other, it's a joyous occasion. So I agreed to Na Na's request."
After pausing, she looked at Gai Yue's darkened face and continued, "Since the Grand Elder has come personally, let us discuss this today and talk about arranging a marriage alliance with the Sword Sect."
Upon hearing this, Gai Yue's face grew even uglier. Wasn't this just using status to pressure him?
Ailan's betrayal hadn't even been proven yet, and now Bibi Dong was proposing marriage? Clearly, she was trying to protect him.
The atmosphere, which had just calmed, once again became subtle and tense.
The worst part was that Gai Yue couldn't easily refuse. After all, it was the Pope herself proposing the match.
If he were to reject her by bringing up Ailan's identity now, that would be an open insult to Spirit Hall.
But anyone with eyes could see that Bibi Dong's proposal of marriage practically confirmed that Ailan was suspicious.
Seeing Gai Yue remain silent, Bibi Dong asked, "What does the Grand Elder think?"
After a long silence, Gai Yue finally replied, "This is not a matter I can decide on my own. It's certainly a good thing if the two young people are fond of each other, but as for the Fourth Elder's faction…"
Before he could finish, Bibi Dong interrupted with a soft laugh. "I've also heard about that. I can assure you that Ailan's feelings for Na Na are sincere, and your sect has misunderstood this child."
Being interrupted, Gai Yue's displeasure was obvious, but even with five Title Douluo accompanying him, none dared to contradict the Pope inside her own hall.
He could only reply helplessly, "I'll need to report this to our Sect Master for his decision."
"But before that, I'd like to see Ailan. I hope he can return to the sect with us."
Bibi Dong's expression showed a trace of apology. "I'm afraid that's not possible. Three months ago, Ailan left with Na Na to train on the continent. I don't know their current whereabouts. It may take at least half a year before he can return."
"Perhaps the Sword Sect can send people to search the continent. Once Ailan learns of it, he'll naturally return to the sect. Of course, Spirit Hall will also send people to help. As soon as there's news of him, I'll inform you right away."
Gai Yue seemed to have expected her excuse and said only, "Then I'll trouble the Pope."
Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "It's no trouble. Now that Ailan and Na Na are so close, once they're married, Spirit Hall and the Sword Sect will be one family. Family matters aren't troublesome."
Hearing this, Gai Yue sneered inwardly. She was determined to shield Ailan and use this marriage to strengthen his position.
Her intention couldn't have been clearer. Ailan and Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden Hu Liena had pledged themselves to each other, with Bibi Dong personally arranging the match. Whether for pride or diplomacy, the Sword Sect could hardly refuse.
This marriage left no room for a second option, meaning that Ailan now had the full support of Spirit Hall. Would the Fourth Elder's faction now lean toward Spirit Hall as well?
Though the Sword Sect currently dominated the continent, if they expelled Ailan and his faction merely on suspicion, how would other powers view them?
As one of the top forces on the continent, every move they made was being watched. They couldn't act rashly.
However, Bibi Dong could never imagine that the Ailan she was trying so hard to win over was actually Oscar's clone.
Gai Yue was deliberately playing along with her so that Ailan's identity could take root within Spirit Hall,one day to deliver a fatal blow.
Seeing that Bibi Dong had made her position clear, Gai Yue said no more, though his face was dark with displeasure.
After some time, Gai Yue and his group left Spirit City with Xue Qingfeng, returning to the Sword Sect.
Besides sending Xue Qingfeng, Spirit Hall also paid one million gold soul coins as compensation, since Ghost Douluo had been one of their own.
Even though Ghost Douluo had been expelled from Spirit Hall, they still had to acknowledge the wrongdoing.
What had seemed poised to erupt into chaos was unexpectedly resolved so quietly.
The tension between the Sword Sect and Spirit Hall eased somewhat, and Bibi Dong sent them off with a gift.
She publicly announced that Ailan and Hu Liena were engaged, claiming that the Sword Sect's visit had been to clear up a misunderstanding and discuss the marriage.
Under Bibi Dong's skillful manipulation, other factions,who had thought the two sides were enemies,were shocked to learn they were actually becoming in-laws.
And with Ghost Douluo's wanted notice issued, everyone believed Bibi Dong's story. Even those who doubted it didn't dare say so aloud.
After Gai Yue's departure, only three people remained in the Pope's Hall: Bibi Dong, Ailan, and Ghost Douluo.
Ailan looked at Bibi Dong with tears in his eyes. "Teacher, I can't ever repay your kindness. I,"
Before he could finish, Bibi Dong cut him off. "Enough. This isn't the result we wanted, but since things have come to this, we can only move forward positively."
"Now that you have the full support of Spirit Hall, the Sword Sect won't dare act against your grandfather and the others. As for you… you're already a Soul Emperor. As long as you continue to grow within thirty years, everything will work out."
Ailan nodded solemnly. "Teacher, rest assured. I'll train harder and live up to everyone's expectations."
Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction. "You can't return to the Sword Sect for now, but if you reappear later with enough talent and strength, the sect won't object to your marriage with Na Na."
After a pause, a glint of light flashed in her eyes. "Within three years, everything will settle. That will be your time to shine. I believe you'll be no worse than your brother."
Ailan's face was full of confidence. "I won't let you down, Teacher."
Ghost Douluo then asked, "Your Majesty, what about me?"
After a moment's thought, Bibi Dong said, "First, recover from your injuries. Then you'll go with Ailan to the Death Canyon. Yan and Xie Yue are there."
Ghost Douluo bowed. "Understood."
Ailan didn't refuse, knowing Bibi Dong was preparing to let him work with her core disciples.
As he was leaving, Bibi Do,ng stopped him and took out a crystalline bone from her soul tool, handing it to Ailan.
"This is a fifty-thousand-year ice dragon torso soul bone from Spirit Hall's collection. It will greatly enhance your strength."
Ghost Douluo's eyes were filled with envy. Though its attribute didn't suit him, a torso bone of that age was an absolute treasure,one of Spirit Hall's rarest. If not for the lack of a suitable ice-type user, it would've been used long ago.
By giving it to Ailan, Bibi Dong's meaning was clear.
Ailan's face lit up with excitement. "Teacher, this,"
Bibi Dong tossed it into his arms. "Enough talk. Just focus on getting stronger. Once you surpass Oscar, the Sword Sect will still have a place for you."
Ailan clutched the soul bone, nearly in tears of gratitude, feeling closer to her than to his own mother.
Bibi Dong waved her hand. "Go rest."
After Ailan and Ghost Douluo left, a man wearing a golden dragon mask approached Bibi Dong and began to massage her shoulders.
A rare look of contentment appeared on Bibi Dong's face. "Yu Long, soon I'll be able to avenge you."
Master Yu Long replied gently, "You've worked hard. Ailan truly is an excellent child. With him, gaining control of the Sword Sect will be effortless."
…
Back in his quarters, Ailan could barely contain his excitement. A fifty-thousand-year soul bone,just like that?
But he didn't actually need it, since after consuming a sausage made from Gai Yue's blood, his clone already possessed a full set of soul bones.
Coincidentally, Gai Yue's torso bone also came from an ice dragon, but even older,seventy thousand years.
So not only did Ailan not have to worry about being exposed, he also gained a free treasure.
Good thing Bibi Dong hadn't told him to absorb it on the spot, or that would've blown his cover.
Everything had worked perfectly,he'd infiltrated Spirit Hall and even earned a valuable soul bone.
When the time came to replace this clone, he could send the bone back to the Sword Sect.
Still, with Ghost Douluo now secretly watching over him, he would have to be extremely careful during the next switch. If his identity were revealed, this hard-won infiltration would be wasted.
After the assassination attempt on the Sword Sect's young master, Oscar no longer appeared publicly, and no one dared make another move.
After all, the Sword Sect's Guardian Douluo, Tianhun, was an expert in concealment. Who knew whether the next target might actually be Tianhun himself in disguise?
Because of that incident, Tianhun Douluo's reputation spread across the continent,defeating a level-95 Title Douluo was no small feat.
Ghost Douluo, as an old and powerful Title Douluo from Spirit Hall and one of Bibi Dong's trusted subordinates, was naturally formidable as well.
With Tianhun Douluo's fame rising, the Sword Sect's true strength became even more unpredictable.
Besides the five elders publicly known, who could say how many hidden Guardian Douluo the Sword Sect possessed?
The Sword Sect truly lived up to its reputation,quiet for years, then striking like thunder. How many other hidden sects like this still existed across the continent?
…
The Extreme North.
When Oscar arrived at the Heaven Ice Ravine, he was stopped before even entering,by a beautiful, charming little scorpion.
The Ice Empress studied him curiously. How could this human look so handsome? Wasn't Ao Rong supposed to be a clone? Why did the clone and the original look so different?
The man before her was the most handsome human she had ever seen, and she could sense a familiar, soothing aura from him,as if he belonged in the Extreme North.
In human form, the Ice Empress couldn't resist pinching Oscar's cheek with her soft hand. "Are you really the original?"
Oscar didn't mind the gesture. Despite her tens of thousands of years, the Ice Empress was still innocent compared to humans,her kind were like blank sheets of paper.
He smiled warmly. "The genuine article."
Feeling the smoothness of his skin, the Ice Empress asked curiously, "How do you maintain yourself like this? You feel so soft."
Oscar chuckled. "Born this way."
"Pfft." The Ice Empress rolled her eyes. "Come on, Snow Empress and the others have been waiting for you."
Oscar followed her easily into the Heaven Ice Ravine and into her icy cave. Ao Rong, his clone, wasn't there,he had been chased away by Xiao Bai.
When Snow Empress and the Titan Snow Demon King saw Oscar, they were both slightly startled. As the strongest beings of the Extreme North, they could feel the immense energy within him.
Though he wasn't hiding his power, they could tell his soul force was comparable to that of a Title Douluo. For someone his age, it was astonishing,and no wonder he'd created the concept of spirit souls.
After assessing his strength, the Snow Empress and Titan Snow Demon King relaxed.
Oscar, already familiar with them, didn't stand on ceremony. "Sorry to keep you waiting."
The Snow Empress smiled faintly. "Being able to witness the wonder of spirit souls is worth any wait."
Without wasting time, Oscar's brow glowed silver as he released a surge of spiritual power. Before the others could marvel at his strength, a mighty, domineering worm appeared beside him.
The giant insect circled Oscar and gazed at the Ice Empress. "Bing Bing, I've missed you so much!"
Hearing that voice, the Ice Empress looked in shock. "Tianmeng Ice Silkworm?! How is it you?"
The Snow Empress and Titan Snow Demon King were both surprised. "Bing Bing, you know his spirit soul?"
Without hiding anything, the Ice Empress recounted how she had once met the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm and nearly devoured him.
Then she demanded, "Explain yourself! How did you become Oscar's spirit soul? You were nothing but a lump of energy,using you as a spirit soul is a waste of a spirit ring!"
The Tianmeng Ice Silkworm looked pitifully at her. "Bing Bing, listen to me. I'm not the same as before…"
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