Jialing Pass, within the Pope's residence.
Inside the luxurious hall, a faint scent of medicine still lingered in the air.
Bibi Dong leaned back on the soft throne. Having just absorbed the rewards from the Heavenly Curtain, her aura was several times stronger than before, but her face still had a pale look after recovering from her injuries.
She looked at the list on the sky, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"Just as I expected."
Her voice was slightly hoarse, yet it exuded an all-knowing confidence.
"Tang San's talent is about the same as mine. It's reasonable that I'm ranked fourteenth and he's ranked thirteenth."
Hu Liena, standing to the side, had astonishment written all over her peach blossom eyes.
"Teacher, how could that be?"
"Tang San's talent is unparalleled, shocking the continent. I witnessed his strength firsthand in the City of Slaughter... I never expected that he would only be ranked thirteenth?"
In Hu Liena's heart, Tang San was the most outstanding person she had ever met, without exception.
She even once believed that there was no one in the world more outstanding than Tang San of the same age.
But now, this cruel list tells her that above Tang San, there are twelve even more monstrous beings.
Bibi Dong glanced at her disciple and said indifferently.
"This shows that the Martial Soul Ranking is much more complex than we imagined."
Upon hearing this, Hu Liena subconsciously muttered to herself.
"Even Tang San can only be ranked thirteenth... I really don't know what kind of person can be ranked first."
Her gaze fell upon the sky once more, and this time, she noticed the enviablely generous rewards.
"Wow!"
Hu Liena couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
"Soul power solidified fivefold, all soul bones upgraded to 100,000 years, and the divine skill Golden Thirteen Halberds... This reward is too generous!"
Her eyes gleamed with an unusual light, and her tone carried a hint of infatuation.
"With these rewards, Tang San will probably become even stronger... Is there really anyone on the continent more outstanding than him?"
Hearing Hu Liena's almost worshipful words, Bibi Dong's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly before relaxing again.
She shook her head, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Tang San is excellent, that's to be expected."
"He is Xiaogang's best student."
"Xiao Gang's knowledge of martial spirit theory is unparalleled across the entire continent; no one can surpass him. Tang San is his student, so it's only natural that he has achieved this."
Upon hearing that name, Bibi Dong's eyes softened instantly, and her voice unconsciously slowed down considerably.
"Moreover, he is now going to inherit the position of the Sea God, and his future achievements are limitless."
Hu Liena listened to her teacher's words, but a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.
"But, teacher..."
She pointed to the comments on the sky and asked, somewhat puzzled.
"The celestial screen says that Tang San's Blue Silver Emperor martial soul should be a life-type, not a control-type. It also says that he... is putting the cart before the horse, a pearl being obscured?"
"Smack!"
Bibi Dong slammed her hand on the armrest, and the hard jade armrest of the throne cracked instantly.
Her face darkened, and her voice suddenly rose.
"nonsense!"
A powerful pressure of soul force instantly enveloped the entire hall, making it almost impossible for Hu Liena to breathe.
"How could Xiaogang's theory be wrong!"
Bibi Dong's voice was filled with an undeniable determination.
"This 'sky curtain' is just a charade to attract attention! Blue Silver Grass is a natural control-type martial soul. This is a theory that Xiao Gang has spent half his life researching, and it is the truth of the continent!"
Hu Liena was so frightened that she turned pale and quickly lowered her head, no longer daring to question anything.
"Yes, the teacher is right. Nana knows she was wrong."
She then quietly echoed.
"The teacher is right. Tang San's strength proves that the control system is correct."
Bibi Dong's expression softened, and she withdrew her oppressive aura, restoring calm to the atmosphere in the hall.
Hu Liena looked at her teacher, her eyes sparkling with excitement, and asked in a low voice with anticipation.
"Teacher, now that Tang San is on the list, when...when should we betray the Spirit Hall?"
Seeing Tang San become famous again, Hu Liena couldn't wait to follow her teacher and join the camp she had always longed for.
However, Bibi Dong shook her head.
She looked out the window, her gaze distant, as if piercing through the barriers of space to see the figure that haunted her dreams.
"Although I miss him very much, and I really want to see Xiaogang right away..."
There was a hint of vulnerability in her voice.
"But I'm too embarrassed to go see him directly..."
"He is so outstanding, and his students are so outstanding, and what about me? If I go to him empty-handed, wouldn't I be embarrassing him?"
With a sudden change in tone, Bibi Dong's gaze became incredibly resolute, and an aura of domineering arrogance arose spontaneously.
"I, Bibi Dong, will either not go at all, or if I go, I must bring a gift that will shake him and the entire continent!"
"I will personally deliver the entire Spirit Hall, no... I will personally deliver the entire continent to him!"
Hu Liena listened with a trembling heart, captivated by the powerful aura emanating from her teacher.
She swallowed hard and asked cautiously.
"Then... teacher, what do we do now?"
Bibi Dong fell into deep thought.
Although she received the reward from the Heavenly Curtain and her strength increased dramatically, those old guys like Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo were still insurmountable mountains standing in her way.
To completely control the Spirit Hall, she alone is not enough.
"Jing's betrayal taught me a lesson."
Bibi Dong spoke slowly, a cold glint flashing in her purple eyes.
"To achieve great things, we need more reliable helpers."
She rose from her throne and walked to a huge map of the continent.
Her fingers traced across the two great empires, Tiandou and Xingluo, and finally stopped on a vast territory that did not belong to either of the two empires.
"Teacher, this is..."
Hu Liena curiously leaned closer.
Bibi Dong's fingertip touched the capital city of that territory, a look of reminiscence appearing in her eyes.
"Nana, get ready, we're going to the Tang Dynasty first."
"I have a very close relationship with an old friend from that place."
Bibi Dong's lips curled into a smile.
"It's been many years since I last saw Empress Wu Zetian."
...
Inside the commander's tent at Jialing Pass.
Unlike the extravagance of Bibi Dong's residence, the furnishings here are simple, yet they exude a dignified and imposing atmosphere.
Qian Renxue, dressed in a light gold dress, stood quietly beside her father, Qian Yu.
Her long, golden hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, and her stunningly beautiful face, which inherited the best features of both her parents, was now showing a hint of surprise.
Her gaze was also fixed on the glittering list on the sky.
"Tang San?"
Qian Renxue softly uttered the name, her tone carrying a complex emotion.
"I never expected that he would be the thirteenth in the Sky Curtain."
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