Ye Tian pulled Hu Liena back to their room, quietly waiting for Bi Bi Dong's return.
He wondered just how badly Qian Xunji was injured.
With a God-level Soul, he shouldn't have been hammered to the point of being unable to get up, right?
After all, the power of Martial Souls of different qualities varied immensely. Hadn't Tang San been able to wreak havoc with a Clear Sky Hammer that had no Spirit Rings? As a God-level Soul, its strength couldn't possibly be weaker than the Clear Sky Hammer, could it?
Under Bi Bi Dong's command.
The entire Spirit Hall City instantly awoke, and a continuous stream of healing-type Soul Masters was sent to the Papal Hall.
The darkness of night was about to be dispelled by the dawn's light breaking over the mountain peaks.
The Pope, Qian Xunji, was on the verge of death. Such a momentous event would naturally not only be reported to the Saintess of the Papal Hall, Bi Bi Dong.
The existence atop that mountain peak.
He was the one who most needed to learn of this life-and-death news as soon as possible.
At the same time that Mei Bensi came to inform Bi Bi Dong, the Titled Douluo, Elder Demon Bear, was already rushing towards the mountain's summit.
Behind the Douluo Hall, which was suffused with the power of devout faith, gathered the most powerful combatants in the Soul Master Realm, who worshipped the legendary Angel God.
Qian Daoliu sat cross-legged beneath the Angel Statue.
As if sensing something, he had been unable to enter a state of stable meditation the entire night. His usually gentle and calm expression was now markedly more somber.
Knock, knock!
Urgent knocking sounded from the entrance of the great hall.
"Has something happened to Ji'er?"
Qian Daoliu murmured softly and slowly opened his eyes.
His brow, which had been furrowed all night, finally relaxed slightly.
His eyes held piety, as well as deep worry.
After pondering here for a long time, the only thing Qian Daoliu could think of was that his not-so-promising son, Qian Xunji, had met with an accident while hunting a 100,000-Year Soul Beast to atone for his transgressions.
"Big Brother! It's him..."
The Golden Crocodile Douluo's face was grave as he spoke quickly, "The Soul Hunt failed. The casualties are heavy. The Pope is critically injured and on the verge of death. He is about to arrive at Spirit Hall City!"
"..."
Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu's eyes widened slightly.
After a long silence, the Soul Power around him rippled faintly before quickly calming down again.
The most urgent matter was not to investigate the reason for the defeat. Qian Daoliu placed his hands in front of him, forming a peculiar hand seal.
He closed his eyes piously and asked leisurely, "Have arrangements been made to receive them?"
"Yes," Jin E immediately relayed the news that Azure Luan had brought back after a trip down the mountain.
"The Papal Hall is currently under her command. The Pope will be placed in a quiet room within the Papal Hall. Furthermore, an order has been issued to summon all healing-type Soul Masters."
"Her?"
Qian Daoliu's brow furrowed.
Thinking of the purpose of Qian Xunji's Soul Hunt, and what Qian Renxue had said about Bi Bi Dong's attitude towards her changing in recent days, Qian Daoliu hesitated.
Still, he set aside much of his wariness.
"If that's the case, let her handle the arrangements for now. It will be a good opportunity to see... what that woman is truly planning."
Before his voice had even faded, Qian Daoliu slowly lowered his hands and sighed helplessly.
"When he wakes up, I'll bring Little Xue over."
"Understood!"
The Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded. Just as he was about to leave, Qian Daoliu called out to him again.
"Wait, I think I'll go take a look as well."
Qian Daoliu stood up and turned to walk towards Jin E.
"Tell me the specifics of the battle."
"That boy Tang Hao's Soul Beast wife sacrificed her life to help him break through to the Titled Douluo realm. Tang Hao used Ring Detonation. The battle lasted for three days and three nights. Aside from Guimei and the others, Spirit Hall was almost completely wiped out."
Jin E's face was heavy as he spoke, walking outwards with Qian Daoliu.
"Is that all?"
Qian Daoliu frowned.
"With Ji'er's strength, along with Guimei and the others, this shouldn't have been the result."
"Big Brother suspects someone interfered in secret?"
Although the Golden Crocodile Douluo didn't understand the Clear Sky Hammer as well as Qian Daoliu, he absolutely refused to believe that a young brat like Tang Hao possessed such strength.
Even if Guimei and Yue Guan's cultivation levels weren't considered high, their Spirit Fusion Skill should have been able to hold its own even against a rank ninety-five Titled Douluo.
Not to mention Qian Xunji, who possessed a God-level Soul.
No matter how useless his big brother thought him to be, who among those who could cultivate to the Titled Douluo realm could possibly be weak?
Although the power gained from Ring Detonation was immense, it was destined to be expended in a short period. Otherwise, the one who would have exploded would have been Tang Hao himself.
No matter how he looked at it, this battle report seemed off, filling him with suspicion.
"Let's hope so," Qian Daoliu shook his head.
Everything would have to wait until he saw Qian Xunji to be certain.
He actually hoped that his old friend had returned. But if it really was Tang Chen, out of respect for their old friendship, he shouldn't have struck such a heavy blow.
Light pierced through the clouds. Dawn faded, and the morning sun shone upon the earth.
Guimei and his party, covered in dust and looking utterly wretched, hurried towards the gates of Spirit Hall City.
The three Soul Douluos who had been with them had long since fallen behind.
Atop the city gates, experts from the Elder Hall were already waiting. Seeing Guimei and the others, they dared not delay and immediately shouted, "Let them pass—!"
"Quick, quick! Get the healing-type Soul Masters over there!"
"..."
"Don't worry about me and Chrysanthemum, all of you treat His Holiness first, hurry!" Ghost Douluo couldn't help but panic at this moment.
Even with his and Chrysanthemum's Soul Power stabilizing him along the way, his clothes were still stained red with blood.
Qian Xunji had been struck head-on by the Great Sumeru Hammer.
The situation was far worse than imagined!
"All personnel, listen to my command! As per the Holy Maiden's instructions, move His Holiness into the Papal Hall. There must be no mistakes!"
"..."
As Spirit Hall City welcomed back its dying Pope, the news of Qian Xunji's defeat, pushed by those with an agenda, had spread throughout almost the entire Soul Master Realm.
Tang Hao broke through to Titled Douluo and turned the tables in a desperate battle!
He had severely injured three Titled Douluos and killed nearly ten Red Cardinals, along with a number of Soul Saints and Soul Emperors.
With this terrifying battle record, not only was he bestowed the title 'Clear Sky'! He was also the youngest Titled Douluo expert! He was even lauded as the number one power-type Soul Master!
Countless ignorant people celebrated with great joy, thinking that the Clear Sky School was finally about to produce another Tang Chen to counterbalance Spirit Hall.
But above the Clear Sky School, which was at the center of the storm, dark clouds had already gathered.
They were praying. Not for their bedridden Sect Master, nor for Tang Hao, but for Qian Xunji.
They prayed that Spirit Hall's wrath would not be unleashed upon them.
Within the Strength Clan, cheers were endless.
The other three clans were also in a state of peace and harmony.
Little did they know, the Clear Sky School had already begun to actively prepare for war, just in case.
Qian Xunji's initial treatment went very smoothly.
Bi Bi Dong stood in a corner, looking at Qian Xunji, who was lying paralyzed on the stone bed, his hair disheveled, his aura chaotic, and his chest caved in from the blow.
The killing intent in Bi Bi Dong's heart surged to an unprecedented height.
She wanted to laugh out loud with glee.
"You're so heavily injured! Teacher~"
Bi Bi Dong's gloomy face was buried in the shadows as she let out a hoarse, silent murmur, her delicate body trembling with excitement.
Qian Xunji's miserable state exceeded her expectations.
It was a huge, pleasant surprise!
But she did not act rashly. She just stood by silently, playing the part of a good disciple.
Qian Xunji still owed her disciple a Spirit Bone.
And she hadn't secured her own escape route yet.
No matter what, she had to at least show a small token of filial piety and display her maternal brilliance in front of those old geezers, right?
Otherwise, she would hardly have a chance to make a move. Even if she succeeded, her own fate would be uncertain.
"You, change Teacher's clothes. You, continue the treatment. If Teacher doesn't wake up, none of you will see tomorrow's sun."
"Did you all hear me?!"
"Yes! Holy Maiden, your subordinate will definitely do everything in my power!"
"..."
After giving her orders, Bi Bi Dong temporarily exited the secret chamber.
The moment she stepped out, she heard Elder Demon Bear's voice.
"Your subordinate, Demon Bear, pays his respects to the Grand Elder and the Second Elder!"
"Mm."
Hearing the voice, Bi Bi Dong immediately looked forward.
There stood two middle-aged men, both with golden hair. One was burly and rugged, the other solemn and dignified.
Around the taller figure, in particular, lingered a sacred angelic aura that she detested from the bottom of her heart.
Bi Bi Dong naturally understood their identities.
She curtsied gracefully.
"Bi Bi Dong pays her respects to the two Your Excellencies."
"Saintess, there is no need for such formalities. How is Ji'er's condition?"
Qian Daoliu's expression was calm, his golden eyes staring at the woman before him, filled with scrutiny.