Xue Qinghe nodded slightly, then looked up, her gaze seemingly piercing through the palace walls to the Supreme Pontiff Palace standing in Spirit City.
"Continue to monitor closely. Report immediately if there's any unusual activity," she commanded faintly, her tone carrying a hint of gravity. "Also, have our people lay low for a while. No unauthorized actions without my orders."
"Yes! Your subordinate understands!" The black-robed figure bowed in acknowledgment, then flickered and vanished as if merging into the shadows.
Standing alone in the garden, amidst a riot of flowers, Xue Qinghe gazed at a vibrant Neishang Peony, her eyes gradually deepening and turning cold.
"Bibi Dong… you finally couldn't hold back, could you?"
"It seems I must find time to secretly return to Spirit City."
...Meanwhile, in Sunset Forest.
Master's brief, agonizing scream, though faint, was still caught by the acutely perceptive Tang Hao.
Both father and son's expressions changed simultaneously, and they immediately rushed towards the direction of the sound.
When they arrived, they saw Master slumped in the bushes like a discarded rag doll, covered in mud and blood. His breath was as weak as a flickering candle in the wind, barely clinging to life, on the verge of death.
"Father, what happened? Did Master… encounter a powerful Soul Beast attack?"
Looking at Master, who was now in an even more miserable state than before, Tang San frowned deeply. He immediately released his mental force, vigilantly scanning the surroundings, and asked in a low voice.
Tang Hao didn't answer immediately. Instead, he knelt down and placed his rough fingers on Master's wrist. Then, a pure Soul Power carefully probed into his body.
A moment later, he withdrew his hand, his expression becoming solemn, even tinged with disbelief. He slowly said, "It wasn't a Soul Beast. Although his injuries are severe, the true fatal wound is the Origin of his Golden Sacred Dragon, which mutated from his Martial Soul. It seems… to have been completely extracted."
"What? His Bloodline was extracted again?"
Upon hearing this, Tang San's expression changed once more. He instantly thought of someone and blurted out,
"You mean… the person Master encountered just now was Dugu Bo?"
Tang Hao nodded with a grim expression, saying,
"It should be him. That Old Poison's lair is deep within this Sunset Forest. It's not surprising that our commotion attracted him. It's just bad luck that this good-for-nothing ran into him."
Tang San's face immediately showed a hint of anger, but more so, anxiety. He asked,
"Father, what do we do now?"
"If Master dies, what about my Clear Sky Hammer Cultivation? Without him going to Spirit City to find Bibi Dong, who else can get the correct Cultivation method for twin spirits?!"
He had now placed all his hopes on Master's promise to get the Cultivation method from Bibi Dong. He absolutely could not stand by and watch this sole hope be extinguished.
"I do have a method, but… the final outcome can only depend on his fate." Tang Hao's brows were tightly furrowed as he looked at Master, whose breath was growing weaker. After a moment of contemplation, a resolute glint flashed in his eyes, and he said in a deep voice.
"What method?" Tang San eagerly pressed.
Slowly turning around, Tang Hao cast his gaze into the distance, as if penetrating layers of space to see the city that symbolized the authority of Spirit Hall. He said earnestly,
"In his current state, with all his internal organs damaged, his Bloodline extracted, and his heart pulse about to break, I cannot save him. Next, I will use Soul Power to forcefully stabilize his last breath, then immediately take him and rush at full speed to Spirit City! And then… throw him at the entrance of the Supreme Pontiff Palace!"
"Throw him at the entrance of the Supreme Pontiff Palace?" Tang San's eyes widened, a bit confused.
"Exactly!" Tang Hao nodded and slowly exhaled a turbid breath, saying,
"Didn't this good-for-nothing say he had a past connection with Bibi Dong? Then it depends on whether Bibi Dong is still willing to remember their old relationship and save him. If she is willing, with the resources of Spirit Hall and her own strength, she might be able to pull this good-for-nothing back from the brink of death. If he lives, he will naturally be able to fulfill his promise and get the Cultivation method for twin spirits for you."
"If Bibi Dong is unwilling… then this good-for-nothing dying at the entrance of the Supreme Pontiff Palace can be considered the end of his ill-fated connection with Spirit Hall."
This plan was incredibly crude and risky, completely entrusting Master's life and death to Bibi Dong's illusory old feelings.
Upon hearing this, Tang San opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But seeing Master's appearance, as if he could die at any moment, he knew this was currently the only potentially effective method. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and nod heavily… A few days later, in Heaven Dou Great Spirit Arena, the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Inside the colossal circular building, the roar of the crowd was deafening, and the atmosphere was as heated as boiling water.
The thunderous cheers, shouts, and roars of encouragement intertwined, forming a powerful wave of sound that almost threatened to lift the entire dome.
Sunlight streamed through the special crystals at the top, illuminating the mirror-smooth Douhun Stage and the countless excited faces in the stands.
The Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, the Heaven Dou Empire qualifiers, was in full swing here.
The stands, capable of holding tens of thousands of people, were packed, and even the aisles were filled with enthusiastic spectators. The flags of various academies waved in the stands, forming a colorful ocean.
On the huge scoreboards suspended high above, the wins, losses, and points of each academy constantly changed and updated, tugging at the heartstrings of countless people.
Just then, the passionate voice of the host, amplified by a spirit tool, echoed throughout the venue:
"Ladies and gentlemen! The qualifiers have already gone through twenty rounds! The intense and exciting competition is about to enter its final stage. Now, only a few crucial rounds of fighting souls remain to determine the teams that will advance to the finals from our Heaven Dou Empire region!"
"Currently, the top-ranked Tianxing Academy, Thunder Academy, Shenfeng Academy, Blazing Academy, and Tianshui Academy are still maintaining strong momentum! And the highly anticipated Shrek Academy, despite missing its main control system Soul Master Tang San, seems to have had some fluctuations in its performance in recent days, but still retains hope of advancing!"
"In this final sprint phase, every battle is crucial! Let's wait and see which five teams will emerge victorious!"
At this moment, inside Tianxing Academy's exclusive ready room, the atmosphere was relatively relaxed.
The qualifiers were nearing their end, and their advancement was already secured.
"Old Poison, which academy are we playing against today?"
Slowly rising from his seat, Tang Chuan briefly stretched his wrists, then looked at Dugu Bo, who was leisurely sipping tea nearby, and asked casually.
Hearing this, Dugu Bo put down his teacup, a hint of understanding flashing in his emerald pupils. He replied, "It's Tianshui Academy. What, are you interested, kid?"
"Tianshui Academy?" Tang Chuan paused slightly, a flicker of memory in his eyes, as if he recalled something. A faint smile unconsciously curved his lips, and he suddenly said,
"Then I'll go up for a match today."
"Oh?" Dugu Bo raised an eyebrow in surprise, sizing up Tang Chuan. He said, "You've been playing the absentee manager throughout these qualifiers, just watching the show from below, except for that one match against Shrek where you personally taught your brother a lesson."
"Why are you suddenly interested in going up against Tianshui Academy today? Don't tell me you're interested because their academy is full of pretty girls?"
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