Facing Bibi Dong's merciless mockery, Yu Xiaogang did not grow angry.
For Tang San's sake, he was willing to swallow his pride.
"Your Holiness, to tell you the truth, I have taken on a disciple. The child is extraordinarily gifted and, like you, possesses twin martial souls. I hope to cultivate him into a peerless expert."
Bibi Dong let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"So that's your goal? Aren't you supposed to be a grand 'theory master'? Yet there are things even you don't know? And why should I help you? So you can raise another opponent for me?"
"No. He will not oppose you."
"Oh really? His surname is Tang, and he possesses the Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer. Yu Xiaogang, tell me—how could someone like that not oppose me? Do you really take me for a fool?"
Yu Xiaogang was startled.
"You already know about him?"
"What do you think the Spirit Hall is? Of course I know. I'd rather believe you're here begging me to spare that abomination's life."
"What do you plan to do to him?"
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's anxious expression, a trace of smugness flashed across Bibi Dong's face.
"I assume you already know that Tang San is a hybrid born of Tang Hao and a soul beast. A creature like that could very well bring calamity to the world one day. As such a monstrosity, the Spirit Hall must eliminate him. Save your breath—I've already sent people to kill him on the road. That abomination is likely already dead."
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang felt as though thunder had struck him.
He had spent seven or eight years at Tang San's side, watching him grow step by step, pouring countless efforts into him. He could not accept that Tang San might have been taken from him just like that.
Yu Xiaogang suddenly stood up, glaring sharply at Bibi Dong.
"Bibi Dong, you know he is the son of the Clear Sky Douluo and you still dare lay a hand on him?! Aren't you afraid of Tang Hao's retaliation?!"
"Tang Hao? You think I'd fear him?! You useless waste probably don't even know what level my power has reached now. Tang Hao killed my teacher Qian Xunji and has been hiding like a coward ever since. I kill his son Tang San—what's wrong with that?"
"Bibi Dong, you—"
Yu Xiaogang trailed off.
Twenty years of time could change many things.
He could clearly feel that the beautiful woman before him was no longer the Bibi Dong he once knew.
"Bibi Dong, you've changed. You've become vicious… I hardly recognize you anymore."
"Is that so? You've changed too. You actually defend an abomination born from a human soul master and a soul beast."
At that moment, a guard walked in.
Bibi Dong's expression darkened.
"Didn't I order that no one may disturb me without my permission?!"
"Your Holiness, please forgive me. The two elders say they have urgent matters to report. They are waiting outside."
"Let them in."
Bibi Dong smiled faintly, expecting good news from the two elders.
Yu Xiaogang, however, felt only dread. His heart thumped uncontrollably.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei entered the hall, their expressions heavy.
Seeing their faces, Bibi Dong's expression shifted.
"What? You two failed your mission?"
Yue Guan replied,
"Your Holiness, we were about to complete it, but an unexpected situation occurred—"
As he spoke, Yue Guan glanced at Yu Xiaogang, clearly reluctant to describe the details in front of him.
Bibi Dong only smiled. She did not seem angry about their failure.
"Yu Xiaogang, congratulations. That abomination has escaped for now. But the Spirit Hall will not let him go."
Yu Xiaogang was completely enraged.
"Bibi Dong! You actually tried to kill my beloved disciple! From this moment on, you and I are finished! If anything happens to him—anything at all—I will spend my entire life getting revenge on you and the Spirit Hall!"
Bibi Dong was also infuriated.
"Yu Xiaogang! Remember what you just said! You and that abomination Tang San truly are alike. Not only will I kill Tang San, I will torment Liu Erlong as well! You—the man who shamelessly fell in love with your own cousin—are the biggest joke in the world! I'll make sure you, this faithless beast, experience pain like never before!"
Yu Xiaogang's face flushed bright red from the humiliation. Rage mixed with shame.
"Bibi Dong, you're insane!"
"Yes! I am insane! Before I decide to kill you as well—get out!"
Yu Xiaogang glared at her one last time before turning and leaving without another word.
The vast hall became eerily silent, with only Bibi Dong's harsh breaths echoing within it.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei had never seen her lose control like this. They did not dare breathe too loudly.
A moment later, Bibi Dong finally calmed down.
"Speak. What exactly happened?"
Yue Guan replied,
"Your Holiness, we almost succeeded. But unexpectedly, Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin were all there—and they all wanted to protect Tang San, so…"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? How bold of them, daring to oppose me. I understand. You two have worked hard—go and rest."
Her voice was cold and mocking, yet she showed no intention of blaming them.
The two elders exchanged relieved glances and quickly left the hall.
Once they were gone, the hall again felt empty and desolate. Thinking of her confrontation with Yu Xiaogang just now, a pang of pain struck Bibi Dong's heart.
"Xiao Gang… Twenty years, and you're still so heartless? Why? Why must you treat me this way? Those were just angry words… I never wanted to hurt you…"
After returning to his residence, Yue Guan summoned Yan.
Yan noticed the strange look on Yue Guan's face.
"Teacher, what happened? Did the mission fail?"
Yue Guan nodded.
"Yes. The secret mission granted to us by the Pope was not completed. But… she did not blame us."
"Then why do you look so—"
Yue Guan stood up and whispered in Yan's ear:
"To tell you the truth, the Pope sent me and Gui Mei to assassinate someone. We failed to kill that person, but made an unexpected discovery: those young soul masters also had immortal herbs in their bodies—and they were with Dugu Bo."
Yan froze.
He instantly understood Yue Guan was referring to the Shrek Seven Devils.
He had long suspected Tang San would go to the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, yet he had been unable to stop it.
Fortunately, he himself had already picked the truly precious immortal herbs. What remained were only ordinary herbs.
"Teacher, those herbs must have been picked at the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well."
"Mm. They were all ordinary herbs—not comparable to the ones you harvested."
"Besides that, you didn't find anything unusual?"
Yue Guan thought for a moment, puzzled.
"No… Why do you ask?"
"No reason, just curious."
Yan knew the elders hadn't sensed the soul-beast aura on Xiao Wu—likely because Tang San used some substitute. With Tang San's mastery of medicine, such a trick would be easy.
Yue Guan sighed.
"The herbs don't worry me. What worries me is that the place might not be known only to the three of us. If Dugu Bo brought others there, those remaining herbs might fall into someone else's hands."
"Teacher, don't worry. The best herbs are already in our possession. Without the nourishment of the spring's energies, those ordinary herbs will never become immortal-grade."
"You're right."
Yue Guan suddenly brightened.
"This time, Dugu Bo has angered the Pope. He's as good as dead. Once he dies, that secret garden will belong to us."
"Mm."
Yan knew Tang San had also been there. If they wanted full control of the Ice-Fire Yin Yang Well, they would have to eliminate Tang San too.
Under Crown Prince Xue Qinghe's guidance, the fifteen teams representing the Heaven Dou Empire arrived at Spirit City.
Three days later, the finals officially began.
Early in the morning, all participating academies, led by Spirit Hall officials, arrived at the competition grounds.
A total of thirty-three teams were participating in the finals. Each academy had its own resting area surrounding the arena.
According to the rules, the finals consisted of five rounds, using a single-elimination format. Losing even one match meant immediate elimination.
The Spirit Hall Academy team, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team, and the Star Luo Royal Academy team—all of which had been granted byes—did not need to compete in the first round.
Thus, Yan had no match today.
Nevertheless, he and his teammates still came to the arena to watch the thirty other teams compete.
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