Drip. Drip.
From the tip of the Spider Lance that had pierced through his back, a mixture of crimson and greenish blood slowly dripped onto the stone bed.
"Cough, cough… Pfft!"
In the cold and desolate secret chamber, blood continuously overflowed from Qian Xunji's mouth.
Bi Bi Dong snapped back to her senses from her frenzied state, her tear-filled eyes brimming with a dazed look. The loathing on her face was covered by the viscous blood.
The Spider Lance was rigid, trembling faintly.
Had her revenge succeeded?!
Bi Bi Dong felt it had all gone too smoothly, almost unreal.
The moment her hatred dissipated, it brought with it an immense, nameless emptiness. It made Bi Bi Dong lower her eyes in a fluster, staring at her blood-soaked hands.
With the Spider Lances on her back, impaling the barely breathing Qian Xunji, she staggered backward, laughing loudly, then couldn't help but start sobbing.
"Haha… sob…"
Bi Bi Dong covered her face, weeping softly.
Qian Xunji's words had dredged up the memory she was most unwilling to accept.
In the very beginning, Qian Xunji was clearly not like that…
Bi Bi Dong's murky tears dripped into the pool of blood on the floor, creating ripples.
"Teacher, I… I thank you for raising me!"
"Ye Tian was right,"
"I was the one at fault first… I'm sorry!"
"But… but I really, really can't forgive you!"
Bi Bi Dong covered her face, biting her red lips until they bled, her words broken by choked sobs.
"Heh…"
Suddenly, Qian Xunji let out a hoarse laugh.
"So it was that kid, Ye Tian, huh~"
His internal organs were almost completely shredded, hanging on the Spider Lance. He spat out bits of flesh and black blood.
As if experiencing a final burst of life, his dimming gaze flickered. With a bruised and blackened face, he pulled out a strangely gratified smile.
He took a deep, forceful breath.
Meeting Bi Bi Dong's repentant gaze, he parted his lips and said indistinctly:
"Tell him…"
"I approve of his and Little Xue's relationship."
"!!!"
Hearing this, Bi Bi Dong froze on the spot.
She dazedly lowered her hands.
Did Qian Xunji just say… he was giving her disciple to that child?
"On what grounds!"
"I don't agree! I don't agree!!!"
Bi Bi Dong's eyes turned bloodshot as she shrieked repeatedly. Her beautiful face, stained with blood, looked even more ferocious and terrifying. She gnashed her silver teeth, glaring at Qian Xunji.
Unbeknownst to her, the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor had begun to autonomously devour him.
Just like that, Qian Xunji hung suspended on the Spider Lance, his body shriveling slightly, his aura growing weaker and weaker.
In an instant, his heart stopped, and his pupils dilated!
Qian Xunji… was dead!
"!!!"
Bi Bi Dong's expression faltered, a sharp pain twisting in her heart.
All her accusations became powerless at this moment.
Faintly…
She could feel it.
It seemed a different kind of power had appeared inside her, gathering and waiting to be unleashed.
But she was in no mood to pay attention to it now.
Puchi! Puchi!
Bi Bi Dong's delicate body trembled as she pulled back, violently ripping the Spider Lances out of his flesh.
Pshhh—
Blood gushed out like a pillar!
The bowl by the bed was already filled to the brim with blood.
The pungent, metallic scent of blood filled every corner of the secret chamber.
Thud!
Qian Xunji's stiff body slammed onto the bed, looking somewhat shriveled.
The smile on his face was even more rigid and horrifying!
With a soft thud, Bi Bi Dong dropped to her knees.
At this moment, even without Ye Tian's Bright Soul Nourishing Pill, her mind was incomparably clear.
Kneeling by the stone bed, she kowtowed to send him off.
—
"Grandfather! Hurry and save Father!"
In the pouring rain, the three Purple Soul Rings at Qian Renxue's feet appeared exceptionally dim.
She had finally managed to run to the front of the Hall of Worship, but it was too late!
The moment Qian Xunji lost his life, Qian Daoliu, who was meditating in Douluo Hall behind the Hall of Worship, suddenly felt a series of palpitations in his heart.
He clutched his chest and opened his eyes.
As a 'tomb keeper,' Qian Daoliu could clearly sense that within Douluo Hall, a new heroic soul seemed to be gathering.
Swish—!
Qian Daoliu's gaze was like lightning.
He glanced back at the dozens of golden plaques engraved with the word 'Angel.' He saw them swirling with golden light, as if giving the newly arrived heroic soul the warmest of welcomes!
Immediately after, Qian Daoliu's expression changed drastically!
"It's Ji'er!"
With a cry of alarm, his figure vanished in an instant.
Beneath the majesty and sanctity radiating from the Angel Statue's blurred face, there seemed to be a hint of compassion.
Boom!
A clap of thunder tore through the night sky.
"Grandfather!"
Qian Renxue stopped in her tracks.
She saw a golden rainbow break through the sky from behind the Hall of Worship, speeding downward!
Holy Light streaked across the mountaintop. A configuration of eight black and one red Spirit Rings spiraled around Qian Daoliu.
At this very moment, he had focused all his Soul Power on speed.
The bean-sized raindrops hit his still-middle-aged face without any hindrance, stinging his skin!
Yet it was nothing compared to the piercing pain in his heart.
Inside the Hall of Worship, sensing the terrifying pressure, figures began to flicker into existence.
The remaining six Elders had all arrived!
Glowing Feather Douluo floated beside Qian Renxue, quickly opening an umbrella.
"Grandfather Light Feather~"
Qian Renxue tilted her pretty face up toward the sky. She could no longer tell if what was on her face was rain or tears.
Demon-Subduing Douluo immediately asked, "Young Miss, what happened? Why is the Grand Elder in such a hurry! Should… should we go and see?"
The last sentence was directed at Golden Crocodile Douluo.
"There's no need."
After a moment of contemplation, Jin E shook his head, a trace of sorrow on his face. He had already guessed most of what had happened.
"Just wait for the Grand Elder's orders. The Soul Master Realm is about to get lively."
"Second Brother, what do you mean by that?"
Lionheart Douluo scratched his messy hair.
Azure Luan Douluo's eyes lit up slightly. There weren't many things that could make Qian Daoliu so anxious.
Azure Luan didn't connect it to Bi Bi Dong, merely saying softly, "Perhaps… it's time to properly knock the Clear Sky School down a peg for their arrogance."
"Oh?"
Demon-Abasing Douluo crossed his arms, frowning as he glanced at the eager Demon-Subduing Douluo.
"Alright!"
"Let's escort the Young Miss into the Hall of Worship first."
Jin E stepped forward and gently stroked Qian Renxue's hair.
The golden Holy Light tore through the rain curtain, its terrifying pressure stopping abruptly as it reached halfway up the mountain!
A golden sword light slashed down from the black dome of the sky. Bi Bi Dong, who had just stepped out of the Papal Hall's vicinity, was instantly torn to pieces, dissipating in a flash.
Bi Bi Dong, who was rushing toward Wisteria Residence, suddenly turned pale. She looked back at where the golden rainbow had descended.
Instead, she slowed her pace.
She saw the golden figure hovering in the air, hesitating for a moment.
Bi Bi Dong could feel that gaze, filled with enough rage to pierce her very soul.
But it vanished in the span of a breath.
Qian Daoliu still chose not to pursue her directly, instead landing inside the Papal Hall.
In an instant, he arrived before the secret chamber.
"Who's there?!"
Ghost Douluo, who had just returned to his post, immediately barked. But when he saw who it was, he instantly became terrified.
Chrysanthemum Douluo also hurried to bow.
"Greetings, Grand Elder!"
"All of you, withdraw. Leave the Papal Hall," Qian Daoliu commanded, his eyes fixed on the door to the secret chamber.
Even in the face of the pain of losing his son, his rationality still allowed him enough restraint.
"!!!"
Even so, Ju Gui couldn't help but tremble with fear.
The fluctuation of Soul Power erupting from Qian Daoliu was simply terrifying!
Ju Gui didn't dare to hesitate for a second. They immediately bowed and complied.
"Yes! Your subordinates will take their leave!"
As their voices fell, they hurried away.
Qian Daoliu's ramrod-straight posture now seemed somewhat stooped.
With hesitation, he waved his sleeve.
The door to the secret chamber slowly opened, and a gust of cold wind, thick with the stench of blood, rushed out to meet him!
It was only a few meters away, but Qian Daoliu seemed frozen, not moving for a long time.
His eyes began to redden, and his chest felt tight, his breath short.
Resolutely, he lifted his foot and strode forward. After a dozen steps, in an instant, his vision was filled with the color of blood.
In the faint light, a large pool of blood reflected a dark red glow throughout the entire secret chamber.
Qian Xunji's shriveled corpse lay on the stone bed. Blood was still sliding down the stone walls.
"Ji'er!"
Qian Daoliu's throat felt raw.
Despite his cultivation as a Limit Douluo, his legs couldn't help but feel weak.
A white-haired man sending off a black-haired one!
It had become a self-fulfilling prophecy!
Qian Daoliu approached step by step, slowly.
Looking at the bizarre smile on Qian Xunji's face, at the countless holes stabbed into his ravaged body, tears welled up in Qian Daoliu's eyes but refused to fall.
He never thought his worries would become reality so quickly.
"My Ji'er…"
Qian Daoliu took a deep breath.
Like a decrepit old man, he stepped forward to tend to Qian Xunji's remains.
Qian Daoliu couldn't help but ask himself, why did he always choose to be indulgent when he shouldn't have been?
—
By the time Qian Daoliu had collected the remains, the torrential rain had come to an end.
After instructing Chrysanthemum and Ghost to guard the Papal Hall and forbid anyone from approaching before dawn, Qian Daoliu headed in the direction of Wisteria Residence