Chapter 149 – Shifting Currents
When Chrysanthemum Douluo and his group arrived at the base of Pope's Hill, Bibi Dong already sensed their presence.
By rights, Hu Liena's advancement to Spirit King should have been a moment of triumph. Yet something felt wrong.
Her face was deathly pale, her aura weak—as though she'd survived a severe illness. Something dire had happened.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others wore heavy expressions, not a trace of joy among them.
Bibi Dong's brows furrowed in fury. She was only absorbing a fifth ring—how could there be an accident?
Chrysanthemum Douluo opened his mouth to report, but Hu Liena stepped forward first.
"Teacher, my fifth spirit ring came from a thirteen-thousand-year-old Three-Eyed Demon Fox. The absorption was smooth—I've broken through to level fifty-one!"
She spoke quickly, cutting him off.
He had rescued her; if she spoke first, perhaps she could ease her teacher's anger and spare him punishment.
Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at her gratefully and chose silence.
"Then explain your condition," Bibi Dong said evenly, her tone deceptively calm.
"Teacher," Hu Liena's voice trembled, "the Three-Eyed Demon Fox not only gave me the fifth ring but also manifested an external spirit bone—a fox tail."
"An external spirit bone?" Bibi Dong's eyes flickered with surprise. "And then?"
Hu Liena lowered her head. "That was when a dark soul master appeared.
He lured Elder Yue Guan away using two ten-thousand-year beasts, then used an earth-tunneling technique to seize me. Even Elder Yue Guan's power couldn't stop him…
My external spirit bone was stolen—and devoured."
Her tone sank with every word as she recounted the horrifying moment.
Bibi Dong rose sharply from her throne and strode forward.
Reaching Hu Liena, she grasped her disciple's hand.
Soul power surged through her fingertips—and she felt the damage: the weakness of her spinal bones, the hollow wound left behind by the ripped-away bone.
A violet gleam burned in her eyes as she turned toward Chrysanthemum Douluo, wrath swirling.
"Your Holiness, please punish me!" Chrysanthemum Douluo dropped to his knees, struck with shame.
Bibi Dong's cold snort echoed through the hall. "My rewards and punishments are clear.
You were deceived by an evil soul master, and because of your failure, Liena lost her external spirit bone. That is your sin.
However, you pursued the enemy and retrieved her alive. That is your merit.
But merit cannot outweigh failure. I strip you of your Elder privileges for three years. Do you accept?"
Had it not been for Hu Liena's intercession, she might have vented her anger with a deadly blow.
After all, this wasn't just any loss—it was the loss of an external spirit bone.
Bibi Dong herself possessed one—from the Violet Winged Spider Emperor. Six wings that granted her terrifying speed and the power of aerial combat, far above other Titled Douluo of her rank.
Hu Liena's fox tail had been just as perfect—a natural match for her fifth ring.
It could have elevated her strength immensely.
And now? Gone. Torn from her.
Fire raged silently beneath Bibi Dong's regal composure.
"Thank you, Your Holiness," Chrysanthemum Douluo said quickly, relief flooding him.
This punishment was merciful—lighter than he had dared to hope.
He silently thanked Hu Liena.
Bibi Dong's gaze softened as she looked to her disciple.
"My child," she said warmly, "when that dark soul master consumed your spirit bone, you must have felt the touch of death itself.
That experience is a trial—and it will temper you. You are strong. Though the loss pains me, the fact that you recovered so quickly proves your will.
I believe your future achievements will not be less than mine."
Her gentle tone left everyone stunned.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yan, and Xie Yue exchanged glances.
The ruthless, imperious Pope—speaking so kindly?
Even they couldn't hide their envy.
The Pope treated Hu Liena as if she were her own daughter.
What they didn't know was that no blood daughter could ever compare to Hu Liena in Bibi Dong's heart.
Hu Liena's eyes blurred with emotion.
To her, Bibi Dong's understanding felt like the embrace of a parent after long suffering.
Her grief and pain—the violation of losing something so personal and precious—none of them could possibly imagine.
She had survived by sheer will.
And Bibi Dong… she understood.
"Elder Yue Guan," Bibi Dong commanded suddenly, her eyes flashing cold once more, "issue a decree under Spirit Hall's seal:
From this day onward, all of Douluo Continent will hunt this evil soul master.
Whoever provides information leading to his capture will receive a spirit bone as reward.
Once a trace is found, you and Elder Gui will personally act—life or death, I don't care, but bring me his body."
Her voice turned frigid. "Dare harm my disciple, and I'll make you pay tenfold."
"Yes, Your Holiness!" Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed deeply, energy surging—his spirit rekindled.
He knew this command would stir the entire continent into chaos.
And in truth, such a purge could serve another purpose—it was the perfect pretext to sweep away lesser factions under Spirit Hall's rule.
He hid his satisfaction behind loyalty's mask.
The ripples were already spreading.
Because of one man—Dugu Feng's theft of Hu Liena's external spirit bone—wave after wave of conflict would soon sweep through the Douluo Continent.
Deep underground in his hidden training ground, Dugu Feng continued cultivating resolutely, unaware—or perhaps indifferent.
Through Old Nine's secret communications, he'd begun learning of the world's turmoil.
First came the news from Soto City.
Rumors told of a massive battle outside the city—witnesses saw a colossal blue dragon and a gigantic dark mountain clashing in the skies.
Even miles away, soul masters had felt the reverberations.
Speculation spread—it had to be Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Hao.
No one knew the result, but the city had fallen silent again afterward.
At least that fight restored a shred of pride to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Had Yu Yuanzhen not confronted Tang Hao, their clan—whose heir had been slain—would have become the continent's laughingstock.
Now people remembered: the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons were still one of the Upper Three Sects, still the mightiest beast-spirited family, still possessed of true Titled power.
Dugu Feng also heard another curious detail—Yu Yuanzhen had recently visited Spirit City, coinciding with the time of the Six Clan Assembly.
When combined with his later battle against Tang Hao, one truth became clear.
The cracks among the Upper Three Sects were deepening.
Ning Fengzhi, wary of the Clear Sky Sect's might, would tread even more carefully in the future.
And after recent humiliation, the Blue Lightning Clan would inevitably lean closer to the Spirit Hall.
A possibility stirred in Dugu Feng's mind.
In the original timeline, Bibi Dong's great "Soul Hunt" targeted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragons.
But now, with this altered balance… would she really do the same?
If he were Bibi Dong, he certainly wouldn't waste time on lesser sects while the Clear Sky Clan still housed so many Titled Douluo.
If she launched another Soul Hunt now, they would become the true focus.
Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Sect would rise to center stage once again.
Dugu Feng smirked faintly.
Bibi Dong surely knew where Tang Hao was hiding—and her silence wasn't fear.
She wasn't the type to back down.
No, she was waiting.
That madwoman was undoubtedly preparing for something vast and catastrophic—an assault that would shake the heavens themselves.
(END CHAPTER)
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