An invisible aura enveloped them, and despite the distance, the pressure was immense.
Ma Hongjun emitted a faint golden light, using the power of his martial soul to resist.
The leading cardinal glared angrily at Ma Hongjun and his Shrek Seven Devils team; it was he who had just shouted.
Ma Hongjun remained unmoved. The pressure from the cardinal was far from enough to force him to summon his martial soul.
Ma Hongjun's physical endurance, after absorbing and fusing the spirit rings and spirit bones of the 50,000-year-old Jianmu tree, had reached a very powerful level.
A 50,000-year-old spirit beast was equivalent to a human Soul Douluo, while this cardinal hadn't even reached Soul Douluo level, so the pressure he exerted on Ma Hongjun was nothing to fear.
Ma Hongjun even gave him a contemptuous look.
Bibi Dong raised her hand, signaling the cardinal to step back.
The moment she raised her hand, the Cardinal's imposing aura vanished, replaced by a burning, worshipful gaze fixed on Bibi Dong, utterly respectful.
Bibi Dong's expression was serene, like an empress, reigning supreme, her noble bearing inspiring awe in all.
Her face was near perfect; one couldn't tell she was fifty.
She glanced indifferently at Ma Hongjun, remaining silent, and lightly waved her scepter.
"Rise!"
The Shrek Academy members weren't from the Spirit Hall, so there was no need for them to kneel before their Pope. While respect for the strong was necessary, such groveling was unnecessary.
As long as Ma Hongjun and the others didn't commit any offense, they had no reason to punish Shrek in the face of so many other forces. After all
, the purpose of the competition was recruitment, and from the current perspective,
the Cardinal's actions seemed more like playing the bad cop, while Bibi Dong was likely the one playing the good cop.
The reaction of Shenfeng Academy was quite telling; their actions were undoubtedly an act of siding with the Spirit Hall.
It's no wonder they managed to exploit loopholes in the competition rules and merge the Blazing Fire Academy team; it was all the Spirit Hall's doing.
Bibi Dong smiled, briefly surveying the three teams.
"I see hope in you. Before the Pope's Palace, I hope to see your full talent and strength. The ultimate victor will receive the Spirit Hall's greatest reward."
As she spoke, she lightly waved her scepter.
No one saw how she did it. Three points of light instantly magnified before Bibi Dong, floating in mid-air.
They were three different objects, none large, shaped like bones: a right arm bone, a skull, and a left leg bone. They shimmered with fiery red, pale blue, and dark green light respectively.
"Soul Bones!"
"Three pieces!"
Exclamations of surprise came from all around.
The preciousness of Soul Bones needs no further explanation; even most Soul Saints and Soul Douluos don't possess them, demonstrating their rarity and value. The fact
that the Spirit Hall could offer three spirit bones as a reward was beyond many people's imagination. In previous years, the rewards were titles and gold coins from the two great empires, or a suitable spirit beast for the contestants to obtain a spirit ring.
Spirit bones were a rare reward.
Ma Hongjun was oblivious to the astonishment of those around him; he was truly a chosen one.
From his third spirit ring onwards, every spirit beast he hunted had dropped a spirit bone for him.
He already possessed a torso bone and two even more precious external spirit bones.
Therefore, he wasn't too surprised by the three spirit bones.
Having already acquired something far more valuable, his standards had naturally risen.
Among the four standing behind the Pope, one spoke in a deep voice:
"The three soul bones are
the Skull of Spiritual Condensation,
the Right Arm of Explosive Burning Flames,
and the Left Leg of Rapid Advancement.
All three soul bones originated from ten-thousand-year-old soul beasts. Among them, the Skull of Spiritual Condensation came from a soul beast that was over fifty thousand years old. It was personally killed and obtained by His Majesty the previous Pope. It is
a top-grade soul bone, second only to external soul bones and the top-tier soul bones produced by one-hundred-thousand-year-old soul beasts."
Pope Bibi Dong said calmly: "There can only be one victor, and the same goes for the champion. Therefore, these three soul bones will belong to the final champion team. I hope that the three academies that have entered the top three will give their all and win this honor."
After hearing the introduction of these three soul bones, even the most foolish person would know that these three soul bones were prepared for the three members of the Golden Generation of the Spirit Hall team.
The Wisdom Skull corresponds to Hu Liena's fox,
the Flame Right Arm to Yan's Flame Lord, and
the Wind Chaser's Left Leg to Xie Yue's Moon Blade.
The Spirit Hall had great confidence in their team.
However, this time, with the emergence of Shrek Academy as a variable, did the Spirit Hall dare to offer this reward without fear of wasting it?
Bibi Dong shifted her gaze from the participating teams to the audience behind her.
Those present to watch the match were all leading figures from various academies.
Grandmaster, Liu Erlong, and Flander were among them.
Since his martial soul recovered, Grandmaster was radiant, no longer the dejected man he once was. Coupled with his reconciliation with Liu Erlong, his current spirited appearance and the scholarly air he had cultivated over the years made him incredibly charming. Even compared to the handsome older man Ning Fengzhi, he was no less attractive; he was a man of refined taste.
Grandmaster had already noticed Bibi Dong, his eyes lost in painful memories.
First love is always so unforgettable.
Liu Erlong's expression was not good; the usually assertive woman did not want to disturb Yu Xiaogang at this moment.
Bibi Dong's gaze finally fell on Grandmaster. Her eyes froze, her body trembling slightly.
More than twenty years…
Bibi Dong had not known Grandmaster was coming. When she saw him in the crowd, she was stunned.
To see her beloved again today, yet she didn't know how to face him; a myriad of emotions welled up inside her, indescribable.
Bibi Dong was a tragic woman.
In her youth, Bibi Dong fell in love with Yu Xiaogang, but their relationship was discovered by her teacher, the previous Pope, Qian Xunji.
Qian Xunji was furious. Bibi Dong was an unparalleled genius of the Spirit Hall, possessing twin martial souls, and he would not allow her to have relations with any other man, especially since Yu Xiaogang was considered a useless member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
As her master, Qian Xunji knocked Bibi Dong unconscious and raped her.
He then threatened to kill Yu Xiaogang if she didn't separate from him.
Left with no other choice, Bibi Dong hardened her heart and drove Yu Xiaogang away.
She knew in her heart that she was no longer pure.
From then on, Bibi Dong completely changed; the once innocent and kind woman became ruthless and vicious.
Her rise to the position of Pope of the Spirit Hall was also related to this personality change.
When a woman's heart is broken, she becomes incredibly rational and terrifying.
Thirteen years ago, Qian Xunji hunted down Tang San's parents, attempting to steal Tang San's mother, the Blue Silver Emperor's, 100,000-year spirit ring and spirit bone. Ultimately, the Blue Silver Emperor sacrificed herself, becoming Tang Hao's ninth spirit ring and helping him become a Title Douluo.
In that battle, Tang Hao displayed his might,
injuring Qian Xunji .
After being injured
, Qian Xunji was secretly killed by Bibi Dong. The Spirit Hall reported that Qian Xunji had been fatally wounded by Tang Hao, but the truth remained unknown.
Yu Xiaogang was unaware of Bibi Dong's ordeal.
Of course, given Yu Xiaogang's strength, even if he had known then, he couldn't have changed anything; knowing then would likely have meant certain death.
Therefore, only Bibi Dong herself knew her suffering.
Grandmaster awoke from his reverie, shaking his head. He recalled the ruthlessness Bibi Dong displayed when she drove him away, the heart-wrenching words she uttered.
"Xiaogang!"
Bibi Dong murmured softly.
That was the man she deeply loved.
The Grandmaster didn't meet Bibi Dong's gaze, but instead reached out and took Liu Erlong's arm.
He seemed to feel the need to cherish those around him, as the past was too painful to recall.
However, Liu Erlong, nestled in the Grandmaster's arms,
met Bibi Dong's eyes.
I've been busy these past two days, so only one chapter. I originally wanted to take a break, but I'm taking a break to write this.