Chapter 10: Standing Up to Bibi Dong
Qian Daoliu looked at the taller, increasingly composed Qian Yang before him, the joy in his eyes nearly overflowing—the child's growth speed had long since exceeded his expectations and even overturned the common knowledge of Spirit Master cultivation on the Douluo Continent, where even geniuses like Tang San required years of accumulation.
But the next second, Qian Yang frowned and spoke with some helplessness: "Grandfather! I feel the spirit power within me starting to surge again; it seems I am about to have another breakthrough."
Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu shook his head helplessly. Just as he was about to advise him to let the realm rise naturally, Qian Yang interrupted: "Grandfather, I don't want to break through now! After absorbing the hundred thousand year spirit bone, I always feel that my spirit power foundation is a bit unstable. If I blindly advance again, problems will definitely arise in my subsequent cultivation."
Hearing this, a flash of approval crossed Qian Daoliu's eyes—if an ordinary child had such an opportunity for rapid advancement, they would likely be impatient, but Qian Yang could remain clear-headed and knew how to consolidate his foundation; this heart-nature was far rarer than talent, even among Spirit Hall's golden generation.
He smiled slightly and said slowly: "Mm, that you can have this realization makes Grandfather even happier than your reaching the Spirit Elder realm. Then, starting tomorrow, go to the Spirit Hall Academy in Spirit City to attend school. Cultivate and spar with other children; it will allow you to polish your spirit power and also learn how to get along with others."
"Alright!" Qian Yang agreed without hesitation.
He had long wanted to make contact with the younger generation of Spirit Hall; he could understand the strength level of his peers and also use the academy's structured training methods to consolidate his foundation, much like how elite Spirit Masters refine themselves through constant combat and meditation.
Before leaving, Qian Yang turned around again, looking at Qian Daoliu with bright eyes, and smiled with a touch of youthful arrogance: "Grandfather, just you wait! Once I have thoroughly consolidated my spirit power, for my third spirit ring, I will directly absorb a ten-thousand-year one!"
Qian Daoliu was amused by his ambition and waved his hand: "Go on, go back and rest first. Tomorrow, Grandfather will have someone take you to the academy."
Qian Yang acknowledged and turned to run out of the Hall of Worship.
While running, he shook his head gently and muttered to himself: "No, my physical body foundation is still too weak. This time, absorbing the hundred thousand year spirit bone—if not for the taiji diagram suppressing and converting the energy, I would have likely been backlashed by the Spirit Bone long ago. If I want to absorb a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, or even assault the Divine Rank in the future, I must first raise my physical body strength."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Yang's eyes suddenly lit up, and he slapped his forehead: "That's right! The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well! In the original records, even Tang San relied on the Immortal Herbs there—like the extreme Yin and Yang energies—to temper his body; the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and ice-fire dual attributes there are absolutely perfect for body forging!"
Thinking of this, Qian Yang could no longer restrain himself; he turned his footsteps and ran straight toward the direction of the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
To go to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, he must first learn about those Immortal Herbs, and Yue Guan—known as Chrysanthemum Douluo, who specialized in botanical knowledge—was the person who understood Immortal Herbs the most within Spirit Hall.
Along the way, the guards saw Qian Yang wearing robes with Angel patterns and dared not stop him, allowing him to walk into the main hall of the Supreme Pontiff Palace without obstruction.
The main hall was solemn and majestic. Bibi Dong, dressed in luxurious Supreme Pontiff attire, sat upright on the high throne, her body radiating a cold and oppressive aura characteristic of a peak Titled Douluo, far surpassing ordinary Spirit Masters.
Seeing Qian Yang break in suddenly, she frowned slightly, and her cold, clear voice rang out in the hall: "You are not staying properly in the Hall of Worship; why have you run to my place again?"
Before the words fell, a massive amount of spirit power descended upon Qian Yang like an invisible mountain, similar to the overwhelming pressure she once displayed against powerful opponents in the Spirit Hall.
Qian Yang was prepared; he gritted his teeth to withstand the pressure, looked up at Bibi Dong on the throne, and responded without showing any weakness: "What I come here for, what does it have to do with you? It's not like I came to find you."
"Presumptuous!" A flash of harshness crossed Bibi Dong's eyes. The Supreme Pontiff staff in her hand slammed heavily onto the ground. With a muffled "bang," the terrifying pressure surged instantly, sweeping down like a tsunami, carrying the authority of the ruler of Spirit Hall.
Qian Yang could not resist at all; his legs went weak, and he was pressed directly onto the ground. His chest felt as if it were being crushed by a giant rock, and even breathing became difficult.
Qian Yang was pressed firmly to the ground, the severe pain in his chest intertwined with the arrogance in his bones. He suddenly raised his head, staring fixedly at the cold figure on the throne. There was no fear in his eyes; instead, stubborn flames ignited.
A red light flashed in his left palm, and the pitch-black, reddish god slaying spear suddenly appeared. The spear body trembled, as if echoing his anger. A dense aura of slaughter began to spread in the hall, faintly contending with Bibi Dong's pressure, much like how powerful Spirits can resist suppression from higher-ranked Spirit Masters.
"Come again!" Qian Yang gritted his teeth and, using the power of the god slaying spear, forcibly propped up his body.
His voice was not loud, but it carried a sense of determination to burn his bridges, echoing in the empty Supreme Pontiff Palace.
The red light on the god slaying spear became increasingly intense, and even the air seemed to be dyed with a layer of blood color. That aura of slaughter, originating from a primordial treasure, actually caused even Bibi Dong on the throne to frown slightly—the aura of this Spirit was far more bizarre and domineering than she had imagined, even compared to top-tier Martial Souls.
Just as the atmosphere was tense and a trace of killing intent flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes, a chrysanthemum-yellow figure suddenly appeared in the hall; it was the Titled Douluo Yue Guan.
He walked quickly to Qian Yang's side, bowed to Bibi Dong on the throne, his tone respectful and urgent: "Your Excellency, calm your anger! Young Master Qian Yang is young and ignorant; he offended you. Please be magnanimous and do not hold it against him. He came here today, likely to find his subordinate; he did not intend to offend Your Excellency."
Bibi Dong's gaze lingered on Yue Guan for a moment, then looked at the red-glowing god slaying spear in Qian Yang's hand. The cold pressure around her body slowly dissipated.
She gave a soft hum, said nothing more, and her figure disappeared from the throne like a phantom, leaving behind only the majestic aura that had not yet completely dissipated in the hall.
Not until Bibi Dong had completely left did Qian Yang let out a sigh of relief. His tense body instantly collapsed, and his palms were soaked with sweat.
He put away the god slaying spear and turned to look at Yue Guan. Without any small talk, he went straight to the point: "Yue Guan, I want that immortal herb illustrated guide of yours that records rare flowers and grasses. Give it to me now."
Yue Guan shook his head helplessly, looking at the prickly yet gifted youth before him; his heart was filled with complexity—this child was Qian Daoliu's precious treasure and the future pillar of the Angel lineage; he simply could not afford to offend him.
Yue Guan raised his hand and took out a yellowed notebook from his storage soul tool. On the cover, the four characters "immortal herb illustrated guide" were written with a brush. He handed it to Qian Yang: "This is the result of decades of my hard work. You must keep it safe after you take it; don't lose it."
Qian Yang took the notebook and flipped through it casually. He saw that it contained detailed records of the forms, habits, and growth locations of various precious Immortal Herbs, especially the description of the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, which made his eyes light up.
He tucked the notebook into his bosom without the slightest bit of gratitude and turned to walk out of the hall. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned his head to look at Yue Guan, and said clearly: "Tell Bibi Dong, if one day I am stronger than her, I will hang her up and beat her, and let her know who is the one person in the Spirit Hall that truly cannot be provoked!"
After saying this, Qian Yang walked out of the Supreme Pontiff Palace without looking back, leaving only Yue Guan standing there, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly, his face filled with a wry smile.
Walking out of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, as the cool evening breeze blew, the anger in Qian Yang's heart calmed down slightly, but he disliked Bibi Dong even more.
As he walked, he muttered to himself: "Damn, what a crazy woman! Just because she's strong, she thinks she's amazing? She's just a young married woman whose brain was damaged by love! If I weren't unable to beat you now, I would have fallen out with you long ago!"