2 chapters will be uploaded on daily basis i.e. 14 Chapters will be uploaded every week apart from the bonus chapters.
1 Bonus Chapter will be uploaded for every 50 Power Stones or 1000 Collections.
All interested readers can read advanced chapters on: Free Members of Patreon can read 10 Chapters ahead of Webnovel for FREE.
[email protected]/Kingdom_Of_Ink
×××××××××××××××
Spirit City, inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
In the majestic hall, the morning light streamed through the stained-glass windows, casting mottled shadows on the ground. Gui Mei's figure appeared like a ghost in the center of the hall, his black robe billowing without wind. He knelt on one knee before the opulent throne high above, his voice like a chilling wind from the netherworld: "Your Majesty, the Star Dou Great Forest has been prepared."
The figure on the throne leaned slightly forward, and the gem-encrusted scepter tapped the ground with a crisp sound. A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, which were as unfathomable as a cold abyss.
"Oh?"
A single, simple word seemed to cause the temperature of the entire hall to plummet. For a ruler, the appearance of the unexpected was not welcome. Gui Mei's head drooped even lower, and his body beneath the black robe unconsciously tensed.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, your subordinates have located the precise whereabouts of that escaped fish." Gui Mei's voice echoed in the vast hall, "Feng Xiao has also converged with the team as scheduled."
Bibi Dong's gem-encrusted scepter tapped lightly on the gilded floor tiles, emitting a crisp sound. "It's much faster than anticipated."
Gui Mei maintained his bowed posture: "It's all thanks to Your Excellency's strategic planning. As soon as that child arrived at the camp, he used a special ability to help us find the target. Your subordinate personally verified it; it is absolutely certain."
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong's fingertips unconsciously caressed the gem at the tip of her scepter. The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the motes of dust floating in the morning light witnessing this moment of contemplation.
"Since that is the case," she finally spoke, her voice like a flowing spring, "once this Supreme Pontiff has arranged the affairs within the palace, we shall depart immediately."
"As you command." Gui Mei bowed deeply, his black robe slowly dissipating like smoke outside the palace gate. Within the vast Supreme Pontiff Palace, only Bibi Dong remained, seated alone on the throne. She gazed at the painted dome of the hall ceiling, a meaningful curve gracing her lips.
Once Gui Mei's figure had completely vanished outside the palace gate, Bibi Dong leaned back on the Supreme Pontiff's throne, her profound gaze piercing through the stained-glass windows, looking towards the Star Dou Great Forest. Her red lips parted slightly as she murmured, "Coincidence… or has that child already seen through my plan?"
Her fingertips unconsciously caressed the gem on the scepter as she pondered to herself: Spirit City and the Star Dou Great Forest were close at hand. At the pace of a Titled Douluo, it would only take half a day to reach the core area. Feng Xiao's rapid targeting, however, disrupted her plans—even if Heaven Dou City received the news she intentionally leaked, by the time they arrived, she would likely have already completed her spirit ring absorption.
"If I deliberately delay…" A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, "With that child's intelligence, he would surely notice something amiss." More importantly, if it interfered with Qian Renxue's plan…
Thinking of her stubborn daughter potentially coming to question her, a complex emotion flitted across Bibi Dong's eyes. She suddenly raised her hand, and several mental transmissions spread out like ripples, meticulously arranging the affairs within the hall.
"So be it." She sighed softly, tapped her scepter on the ground, and slowly rose. Her luxurious Supreme Pontiff's robe trailed behind her, sweeping an elegant path across the gilded floor tiles as she walked towards the morning light outside the hall.
As Bibi Dong stepped out of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, the morning light Just right fell upon the gilded carriage reserved for the Supreme Pontiff. Sixteen pure white horses stood quietly, their silver manes glowing softly in the morning light. She looked up at the sky; clouds shrouded the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest, and a deeper sense of inquiry about that mysterious young man involuntarily arose in her heart.
"Your Majesty, please." Gui Mei stood respectfully beside the carriage shaft, his black robe swaying gently in the breeze.
Bibi Dong elegantly raised her hand and placed it on the brocade armrest offered by a servant. Although with her cultivation as a Titled Douluo, traveling a thousand miles a day was not difficult, as the supreme ruler of Spirit Hall, such displays of majesty were indispensable.
The moment the carriage curtain fell, her lips curved slightly. The wheels slowly turned, leaving shallow marks on the red-carpeted road. The Spirit Hall members along the way knelt in homage, yet none knew that the esteemed Supreme Pontiff was pondering how many more surprises that young man, who always managed to surprise her, still held.
The lingering glow of the setting sun dyed the entire camp red. Feng Xiao's slender fingers gently pressed the vibrating strings of his zither, and the last wisp of melodic music dissipated like smoke into the twilight.
When he slowly opened his eyes, a noble and elegant purple figure had silently appeared before the tent. The soft light of the setting sun cast a golden rim around her, her luxurious Supreme Pontiff's robe swayed gently in the evening breeze, and the light refracted from the gem at the tip of her scepter stung his eyes.
"Supreme Pontiff… Your Excellency?" Feng Xiao's pupils contracted slightly, and his fingertips trembled unconsciously. He clearly remembered that when he had just closed his eyes to play the zither, there had been no one around. This ruler of Spirit Hall had managed to silently bypass his Domain perception.
Bibi Dong's lips held a faint, almost imperceptible smile, and her eyes were unfathomable. She simply watched Feng Xiao quietly, tapping her scepter lightly on the ground, making a soft "tap" that startled the night birds perched on a nearby treetop.
Seeing this, Feng Xiao immediately put away his Fuxi zither and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Your Majesty. After several years, Your Majesty's demeanor is even more magnificent than before."
Bibi Dong's lips curved upward, and her jade hand gently lifted, a soft yet irresistible spirit power lifting Feng Xiao up: "You've changed quite a bit in appearance, but your words are as sweet as ever." Her voice was like a clear spring striking stone, "As her teacher, I must thank you on Nana's behalf for your guidance."
Feng Xiao looked up, meeting Bibi Dong's profound gaze. He was about to speak when he saw her tap her scepter lightly: "Are you wondering why this Supreme Pontiff specifically summoned you?"
Feng Xiao, whose thoughts had been exposed, paused slightly, then nodded with a wry smile. In the twilight, he noticed Bibi Dong's eyes, which were flickering with an inscrutable light. The evening breeze blew, carrying the faint crackling of a distant bonfire, adding a subtle atmosphere to the conversation.
Bibi Dong held her scepter, her gaze piercing directly at Feng Xiao, her tone startlingly frank: "This Supreme Pontiff hopes that you can truly become a person of Spirit Hall. For this, I deliberately leaked the news of this operation to Heaven Dou." She paused, her red lips curving into a meaningful arc, "It's just that this Supreme Pontiff didn't expect you to find the target so quickly."
Feng Xiao showed a wry smile upon hearing this. Bibi Dong's bluntness was clearly meant to silence him—not only to make him take on this hot potato, but also to clean up her mess. After all, with Qian Renxue's intelligence, it was only a matter of time before she noticed this matter.
"Does Your Majesty trust me so little?" Feng Xiao sighed helplessly.
Bibi Dong's eyes flickered, and her voice suddenly deepened a few shades: "You fickle young man, although I don't know how you convinced Xue'er to accept them…" She lightly caressed the gem on her scepter, "But you have a deep friendship with Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling. A change in stance can sometimes happen in an instant, just like—" Her words suddenly stopped there, as if she had fallen into some memory, a hint of darkness flashing in her eyes.
The night wind blew, swirling a few fallen leaves between them. Bibi Dong ultimately did not continue, only tapping her scepter heavily, producing a crisp sound. This action seemed to contain too many unspeakable emotions.
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiao secretly muttered to himself, "You should worry more about your precious disciple." On the surface, however, he remained composed, after all, she was his mother-in-law. He then respectfully said, "I understand Your Majesty's concerns. I will explain this matter properly to Xue'er."
Bibi Dong nodded gently, her tone unusually soft: "You are very intelligent. With you by her side to look after her, I am quite relieved. Is she doing well in Heaven Dou City?"
Feng Xiao's gaze dimmed slightly: "No matter how good Heaven Dou is, it's not home. Living under the shadows of others, wearing a mask all day, how can that be comfortable?"
"Crack—" The gem on the scepter made a barely audible sound. Bibi Dong's knuckles whitened slightly, then quickly returned to normal. She suddenly rose, and with a swirl of her robe, she had already turned towards outside the tent: "It's getting late. After dinner, we will act immediately and must finish quickly."
A complex ripple spread through Bibi Dong's heart. As a mother, Feng Xiao's words in defense of Qian Renxue indeed warmed her heart—to see genuine concern for her daughter in Feng Xiao's eyes, this affection secretly pleased her. But precisely because of this, an unspeakable bitterness welled up in her heart.
The gem on the scepter grew hot from her unconscious caress. The events of that year constantly echoed in her mind.
Bibi Dong suddenly remembered the look of reproach that had flashed in Feng Xiao's eyes when he spoke just now—that was a genuine emotion she had not seen in many years as the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, not for power, purely for Qian Renxue.
"Let's go."
She finally just uttered these two words, burying all her myriad thoughts deep within her mind. As she turned, her robe traced an elegant yet solitary arc in the setting sun. Some regrets were destined to be irreparable, just as some distances would always lie between the identities of Supreme Pontiff and mother.
"Yes." Feng Xiao bowed, his peripheral vision catching the purple figure's slightly hurried steps, and he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The awkward personalities of this mother and daughter were indeed carved from the same mold.
Feng Xiao followed Bibi Dong out of the tent and found that most of the Spirit Masters in the camp had been dispatched to perform outer interception tasks. They quickly arrived at the gathering point, and upon seeing the Supreme Pontiff herself, everyone immediately knelt on one knee and saluted in unison: "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Bibi Dong slightly raised her hand: "Rise. Depart immediately after dinner and proceed according to the predetermined plan." Her gaze swept over Feng Xiao, "As for young Feng…" Her tone carried an unquestionable authority, "Come with this Supreme Pontiff."
"Yes." Feng Xiao respectfully replied.
Hu Liena and the others all showed surprise, but no one dared to question her. Yan's fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, while Xie Yue looked at his sister thoughtfully. Under the moonlight, everyone had different thoughts, yet they tacitly maintained silence. The night wind stirred the embers of the bonfire, adding a hint of chilling solemnity to the upcoming Spirit hunting operation.
At the same time, on a dark path in the wilderness of the Heaven Dou Empire.
A shadowy figure moved through the forest like a ghost, his steps so ethereal they were almost illusory. Under the moonlight, one could only vaguely see the fine dust raised with each step, but no complete footfall trajectory could be captured.
"Xiao Wu, you must hold on."
The low murmur dissipated into the night wind. Purple light flowed in Tang San's eyes, his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track skill pushed to its limit, his entire being almost transforming into a black lightning bolt. The Eight Spider Lances flickered faintly behind him, each propulsion increasing his speed by three points.
The tree shadows by the roadside rapidly receded, and he was oblivious to the sharp branches that scratched his face, drawing blood. Mysterious Heaven Skill frantically circulated through his meridians, boosting his speed to an unprecedented level.
"Wait for me…"
These two words seemed to be squeezed from between his teeth, carrying an unprecedented urgency and determination. The moonlight shone on his taut profile, reflecting a pair of bloodshot eyes.
After dinner, Spirit Hall's team rapidly advanced in the direction Feng Xiao had indicated. However, the deeper they went into the forest, the more solemn Gui Mei and Yue Guan's expressions became—the powerful Spirit Beasts that had originally lurked in the shadows had mysteriously vanished, leaving only the faint chirping of insects and birds echoing in the night. This abnormal silence, instead, caused the two battle-hardened Titled Douluo to secretly tense their nerves.
"Rustle—"
The Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum in Yue Guan's hand moved without wind, its golden petals trembling slightly. He and Gui Mei exchanged a wary glance, and both of them simultaneously slowed their pace.
Bibi Dong suddenly stopped, tapping her scepter lightly on the soft soil: "It seems…" Her red lips curved into a cold arc, "We have already entered the territory of those two beasts."
Before her words finished, a strange silence suddenly enveloped the surroundings, even the last insect chirps ceased abruptly. Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the tree canopy, casting mottled shadows on the ground, like countless prying eyes. Hu Liena unconsciously moved half a step closer to Bibi Dong, having already summoned her Spirit, ready to strike at any moment.
Passing through the last dense thicket, the sight before them made all the Spirit Hall members instantly hold their breath—
A lake as clear as a jewel lay quietly nestled in the embrace of the forest, its surface reflecting the silhouettes of the towering ancient trees around it. Morning light pierced through the gaps in the tree canopy, scattering countless dancing golden specks on the water's surface, illuminating the entire lakeside like a dream.
At the edge of this ethereal scene, a mountain-like black shadow crouched quietly. It was a giant ape, entirely black, whose shoulder height exceeded seven meters even on all fours; if it stood upright, it would likely reach fifteen meters. Its body was covered in fur that shimmered with a metallic luster, and every muscle bulged like granite, full of explosive power. Most striking were its lantern-sized amber eyes, which gleamed with a terrifying sharpness in the morning light.
And on the shoulder of this supremely masculine beast, a supremely delicate young girl sat leaning. Her plain white dress flowed down, and her waterfall-like black hair cascaded along the giant ape's shoulder. On her exquisite, almost ethereal face, there was a spiritual elegance that blended perfectly with her surroundings. When a gentle breeze blew, her skirt and hair fluttered with the wind, as if all the spiritual energy of the entire forest had gathered upon her.
Hu Liena unconsciously tightened her grip on her clothes. She, who had always prided herself on her beauty, felt for the first time in her life a sense of inferiority.