The sun had climbed high enough to cast sharp, angular shadows across the training grounds. The air, warm and still, held the faint scent of sweat and pine—a testament to Yorrichi's grueling, solitary practice. Bibi Dong, sitting silently with her children, realized the window of opportunity for her covert operation was rapidly closing. The day had to be seized.
She took a final sip of her refreshing drink, placing the empty glass carefully on the ground. She looked at her two children, both leaning against the sturdy redwood, their quiet, content presence a balm to her constantly warring soul. She knew the lie she was about to tell had to be utterly convincing.
"Children, that was excellent work from both of you today," she said, her voice warm, laced with maternal pride. "Your body demands some proper nourishment. Stay right here. I'm going to personally fetch us something truly delicious from the kitchen and bring it back so we can eat lunch together here, under the shade. Do not wander anywhere. The forest perimeter is extensive, and I want you safe in my sight line."
Renxue, already half-dozing from her own exertion and the peaceful afternoon lull, murmured, "Okay, Mama. We'll wait."
Yorrichi, whose senses were perpetually sharper, simply met her eyes. He saw no deception, only a mother's concern for their meal. He nodded once, a gesture of quiet affirmation. "We'll be here, Mom."
Bibi Dong rose from the ground with the effortless grace of a master, her purple robes swaying only slightly. She offered them a final, gentle smile and turned, walking deeper into the dense trees bordering the training area. Her steps were measured, outwardly suggesting a casual journey toward the sprawling compound's main buildings.
Once she was shielded by the thick canopy of ancient cypress and redwood—beyond the immediate sight and keenest spiritual sense of her resting children—the casual stride vanished.
Now, she thought, the single word snapping her into the cold, calculating mindset of the Supreme Pontiff.
She stopped by a particularly large, gnarled tree trunk. Her gaze swept the surrounding forest floor, her spiritual sense unfolding like a vast, silent web, confirming absolute solitude. With a subtle, nearly soundless exhalation, she executed the her most fundamental technique: The Doppelgänger Clone.
A phantom image shimmered beside her, solidifying into a duplicate, an exact replica of Bibi Dong down to the wrinkle in her robes. This clone, devoid of the primary Soul Power but infused with just enough spiritual energy to maintain appearance and basic cognitive function, was her insurance.
"Maintain the vigil," she instructed the clone in a low, sharp whisper. "Observe them from the path. If they move, gently guide them back here. If anything—anything—approaches the perimeter, alert me immediately."
The clone's eyes, duller than her own, gave a precise, acknowledging look. Its presence was sufficient to fool two five-year-olds and perhaps even a lower-level Soul Master, given its high-level Soul Master aura mimicry.
With her double in place, Bibi Dong herself melted away. She employed the silent, shadow-weaving movement technique honed through decades of secret training. She moved not just with speed, but with a deadly, surgical stealth, using every shift in shadow and every subtle breeze to mask her passage. Her primary spiritual sense, now far stronger than that of any Elder save the Grand Worship, blanketed the path ahead, checking for unforeseen patrols or sudden changes in security detail.
As she moved closer to the administrative heart of Spirit Hall, the presence of powerful auras became undeniable. One by one, the crushing weight of high-level Soul Power began to register: the sharp, cutting presence of She Long, the dense, earth-like solidity of Ci Xue, the delicate, yet overwhelming fragrance of Yue Guan (Chrysanthemum Douluo), and the cold, shadowy depth of Gui Mei (Ghost Douluo). The full complement of the Elder Hall's power was congregating.
Just as I suspected, Bibi Dong thought, a cold flicker of triumph in her eyes. The Pope has mandated another high-level council meeting to review the findings of the Blue Silver Empress hunt. This is my chance.
She made her way to the Throne Room, bypassing the main entrances, moving like a phantom along the ancient, ornamental carving of the exterior walls. She slipped into the massive, echoing chamber not through a door, but through a high, obscure maintenance vent that only a Title Douluo with the most flexible of spirits would ever consider using.
Inside, the silence was already thick enough to choke on. The vast, cavernous room, built to inspire awe and subservience, felt oppressively heavy. The Nine seated Elders, all Titled Douluos, sat around the immense, horseshoe-shaped mahogany table. They were silent, their expressions ranging from expectant to bored, all awaiting the arrival of the Pope, Qian Xunji.
Bibi Dong descended swiftly, silently, landing on a narrow ledge behind one of the colossal, heavily carved marble pillars near the throne itself. This spot was not just hidden from sight but also insulated from sound, positioned in a specific acoustic dead zone. She minimized her breathing, reduced her soul energy signature to zero, and became nothing more than a part of the stone and shadow.
The wait was minimal. A sudden, jarring shift in the room's atmosphere announced his arrival before the massive oak doors even swung open.
Qian Xunji strode in. He walked with a casual, almost contemptuous arrogance, his platinum-blond hair catching the light, his gold-encrusted Seraphim robes seemingly incapable of being wrinkled. He did not possess the calm, quiet dignity expected of a Pope; instead, he exuded a powerful, entitled swagger—the arrogance of a man who knew his father's influence and his own absolute power protected him from all critique.
He moved directly to the elevated, ornate throne, seating himself not with reverence, but with a proprietary slump.
"The meeting begins," he announced, his voice carrying the deep resonance of his Super Douluo power. The Elders all rose, saluting him in unison: "We salute His Holiness, the Supreme Pontiff."
Qian Xunji waved a dismissive hand, "Yes. Sit. Now, I wish to know the progress for the mission I had given last week. The mandate was clear: information on the rumored ten-thousand-year-old soul beast who has taken human form. Have you found anything, or has the collective wisdom of the Elder Hall failed me?"
He released a small, calculated pulse of his Level 96 Soul Pressure. The air in the room became instantly heavy, pressing down on the nine Titled Douluos. They were high-level masters, but in the presence of a Super Douluo, they were forced into respectful compliance.
Yue Guan, the Chrysanthemum Douluo, a man known for his flamboyant cruelty and his politically astute tongue, stepped forward first, a thin, rolled report held delicately between two fingers. He maintained an air of composure that belied the internal pressure he felt.
"Your Holiness, we have collected a significant amount of information within the week, utilizing all of Spirit Hall's resources," Yue Guan began, his voice smooth as silk. "Myself and the other eight Elders have worked tirelessly. We have a huge clue regarding the specific Soul Beast in question. However, Your Holiness, there is also a piece of news that presents a substantial… tactical complexity that you may have to personally resolve."
Yue Guan felt and saw the immediate, cold hardening in the Pope's eyes at the phrase 'tactical complexity.' He quickly averted the looming fury. "Forgive me, Your Holiness. It is not an insolvable problem, merely a unique challenge. We all know that Your Holiness is the most capable person in this whole Douluo Continent, and this is merely our collective insight on the challenge."
Gui Mei, sensing his friend's danger, glided forward to intercept the mounting tension. His shadowy, shifting form seemed to absorb some of the pressure. "Your Holiness, forgive my intrusion. Yue Guan is fatigued from the sheer scale of the information gathering. May I deliver the remainder of the report?"
Qian Xunji, slightly mollified by the sycophantic praise and the Elder's quick recovery, nodded curtly. "Yes. Continue, Gui Mei. Be precise."
Gui Mei stepped fully into the light, his tone measured and grave. "We found out that the soul beast that transformed into a human is a Blue Silver Empress—a very rare occurrence, a legend of Blue Silver Grass species forgotten in the millennium. She is currently at the Soul King level. As Your Holiness knows, once a transformed soul beast reaches the Soul Emperor level, they can perfectly mask their aura and identity. Thus, due to her lower Soul King level, we managed to gain this crucial piece of information before she became truly untraceable."
Qian Xunji's previous indifference was replaced by a sharp, predatory excitement. "Oh? That weak grass managed to get this powerful?" he exclaimed, a rare sound of genuine surprise in his voice. "Truly, the Douluo Continent is vast and full of surprises. A Blue Silver Empress… that is worth more than a thousand mountains of gold."
Yue Guan interjected, his voice regaining its smooth confidence. "Indeed, Your Holiness. We witnessed a rare event. We dismissed the legends of the Blue Silver Empress until now. But here she is, roaming between human lands, an untapped spiritual treasure."
From the opposite end of the table, She Long (Snake Lance Douluo) rose, his movements serpentine and swift. "Your Holiness, this is the crude sketch we managed to have commissioned—a visual rendering of the Blue Silver Empress as she has been sighted."
She Long handed a long, rolled parchment to a nearby attendant, who respectfully presented it to Qian Xunji. The Pope unfurled the paper, getting a glimpse of the meticulously drawn portrait.
Qian Xunji paused, a flicker of appreciation in his cold eyes. "Hmm, a beautiful woman indeed, with a strong presence. As expected of an Empress." He allowed himself a small, chilling smile. "Alas, it is unfortunate for her that we need to capture her. She will make the Spirit Hall infinitely more powerful."
In the shadows, Bibi Dong's lips curled into an infinitesimal, cold smirk. Hoh, Xunji still has time for appreciating a beauty when his destruction is marching toward him. Good. This predictable arrogance is the first thread I shall use to weave his demise.
Qian Xunji rolled up the sketch decisively. "Good work, all of you. We will use this drawing for an immediate Imperial Warrant to find and capture her across the entire Douluo Continent. Remember this, Elders," he commanded, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "do not include the detail that she is a soul beast. Write that she is a high criminal and a threat to the Empire, and make the bounty extremely high—high enough to drive every roaming Soul Master in the land mad with greed, searching for her. Also add that any information on her location will be rewarded generously."
Yue Guan dipped his head low. "Yes, Your Holiness. We shall execute the warrant drafting immediately after this meeting."
Qian Xunji leaned back, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest of the throne. "Now then, tell me what is the 'tactical complexity' you wished to share."
A hushed tension fell over the room. The elders exchanged nervous glances. It was one thing to report a Blue Silver Empress; it was another to name the guardian of that Empress.
Ci Xue, the Porcupinefish Douluo, a man of blunt, direct speech, stepped forward, his eyes locked on the Pope. He knew there was no delicate way to deliver this blow.
"Your Holiness, the problem is not in capturing the soul beast, but the human she is currently traveling with—and indeed, they appear to have become a couple."
Qian Xunji let out a short, cynical bark of laughter. "Oh, a human and a soul beast love story? How quaint, how utterly funny. Do they not know the reality of the food chain, the reality of this world? Tell me, Ci Xue, who is this foolish romantic who is about to become collateral damage?"
Ci Xue began to spell the name slowly, letting each syllable hang heavy in the charged air. "The human whom she is with is none other than Tang Hao… the Clear Sky Douluo. The genius of the Tang Clan. The grandson of the Limit Douluo Tang Chen."
CRACK!
The sound was not a shout, but the abrupt, violent snapping of Qian Xunji's knuckles as he clenched his hands into fists. A wave of invisible, terrifying pressure slammed against the mahogany table, making the Elders flinch. The casual arrogance was instantly replaced by an incandescent, murderous fury.
"Tang Hao," Qian Xunji repeated, the name escaping his lips like venom. His Seraphim Spirit Aura, uncontrolled for a moment, surged—a suffocating, oppressive wave of golden light that made the air feel electrified. "Good. Oh, that is very good. The genius of the Tang Clan. It will be... fun then."
In the darkness behind the pillar, Bibi Dong finally allowed herself a silent, deep breath of satisfaction. Haah, at last. They managed to find them. Her mind raced, linking this precise moment to the historical records of her past life.
This is the critical juncture. It will not be long before they clash, and I need to take full advantage of the resulting chaos, just as my future self did.
Qian Xunji managed, with visible effort, to bring his immense Soul Power back under control, though his eyes remained blazing with focused rage.
"Hmm," he finally said, his voice deceptively calm. "Since it is about the Tang Clan—the most powerful spirit tool user clan—I want you to issue an order immediately. Order all major Spirit Hall branches and outpost leaderships to pursue and track them. Give them the necessary information about the woman—the criminal—but not the identity of Tang Hao. That name must remain confidential to the Spirit Hall for now."
He paused, a chilling smile returning to his face. "However, I have decided on the final deployment. He is a powerful Soul Master, yes, but he is merely one man. I will visit personally. When we get their confirmed location, I will go, along with a few of you, to personally capture that soul beast. What do you all think of this plan?"
Ling Yuan, ever the mischievous and eager to butter up the Pope, immediately exclaimed, "As expected, Your Holiness! A plan of undeniable genius. With your divine leadership and your Seraphim Spirit, the capture is assured. Tang Hao, even with his talent, is no match for the Supreme Pontiff."
Others quickly echoed the sentiment, praising the Pope's decisiveness and bravery, subtly inflating his ego until the rage in his eyes turned into self-satisfied pride.
Qian Xunji rose, basking in the predictable tide of flattery. "This meeting is concluded for today. You may be dismissed. Make sure to hurry up fast on the plan for capturing that soul beast and establishing the tracking network. I will discuss the deployment details with the Grand Worship, and if anything needs to be changed, I will call you. The meeting is adjourned."
Qian Xunji turned and strode out, his presence receding rapidly. The Elders, relieved and energized by the prospect of such a valuable catch, slowly began to filter out of the Throne Room, discussing the warrant details in low, excited voices.
Bibi Dong remained perfectly still behind the massive pillar. I need to wait, she instructed herself. Every single Elder, every attendant, every shadow must clear the room. I need confirmation that the final, critical piece of intelligence—Tang Hao's name—remains confined to this inner circle.
It was a slow, agonizing wait. The afternoon deepened. She stayed for nearly two more hours, a silent, invisible assassin of information, until the last whisper faded and the great oak doors finally clicked shut, leaving her alone in the cold, echoing sanctuary of her greatest enemy. The information was secured. Now, the seeds of chaos could be sown.