Warm spring water washed over her shoulders, and the rising steam blurred her vision, enveloping Bibi Dong's figure in a hazy, warm light.
She leaned against the carved sandalwood bathtub, her dark hair cascading like a waterfall onto the water and her shoulders. A few wet strands clung to her smooth forehead, making her already stunning face appear even more aloof. Her skin was an exquisite white, yet reddish scrub marks remained on her neck, shoulders, and even arms—the result of her almost frantic rubbing, the force nearly tearing her skin apart, as if she wanted to rub away every inch of her skin that had been tainted with "filth."
Her fingertips, reddish-white from being soaked in hot water, still gripped the edge of the bathtub tightly, her knuckles taut and blue. Her eyes were lowered, long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath her eyelids. An unspeakable humiliation and resentment surged within them. Her lips were pressed into a cold arc, and she murmured repeatedly, her voice hoarse as if sanded, filled with endless resentment: "Again…again…"
This frantic rubbing continued for a long time, until her fingertips went numb and her skin was rubbed until it was hot and red. Only then did she seem to have exhausted all her strength, slowly leaning her head against the edge of the bathtub, her eyes slightly closed, her sharp aura gradually settling down as she fell into boundless contemplation.
My thoughts surged back like a tide, going back to several months ago.
At that time, a chilling message arrived from Heaven Dou City—four Title Douluos had encountered a mysterious powerhouse in the city. This person was surrounded by a dense aura of dragon-like martial spirit, yet never released any spirit rings. Whether he was an ultimate dragon-type spirit master or a super spirit beast over 100,000 years old, no one could tell. Yet, with a mere wave of his hand, he repelled all four Title Douluos from the Spirit Hall, leaving them utterly powerless to retaliate.
"Besides the three Limit Douluos, there are actually beings of this level?"
At that moment, Bibi Dong sat on her high throne in the Papal Palace, her fingertips caressing her scepter, her heart churning with turmoil. She had always believed herself to be at the pinnacle of the Soul Master world, but this news made her realize that the Douluo Continent had never truly been peaceful, and that hidden dangers lurked everywhere. And her plan could not afford to go wrong.
She wants to become stronger, to control even greater power.
The first priority is to add a spirit ring to her second spirit. Only when her second spirit is fully formed can her strength reach a new level, truly control the Spirit Hall, and fight against those hidden threats.
Therefore, she had to temporarily suspend her investigation into "Lin Yuan." Those four Title Douluos who were repelled, though ineffective, were still valuable Title Douluos for the Spirit Hall. Looking at the entire Spirit Hall, she could only directly mobilize a handful of Title Douluos, and most of them were of mediocre strength; each one was a treasure. Severely punishing them would only weaken her own power, a net loss.
Even so, including herself, she initially only had six Title Douluos available. This amount of power was far from enough to support her plan.
So she went to the Hall of Worship several times to meet with Qian Daoliu. She abandoned all her papal airs and humbly pleaded with the Hall of Worship to help her, even if it was just by sending one or two worshippers to accompany her. But Qian Daoliu always shook his head, his attitude resolute.
This was one of the most humiliating moments of her life—she had to set aside her pride and bow down to the old man who controlled the Hall of Worship and harbored complicated feelings towards her. But she had no choice; power was her only reliance, and for the sake of the plan, she had to do even the most humiliating things.
Perhaps Qian Daoliu was annoyed by her constant pestering, or perhaps out of a sense of guilt towards her, he finally relented and allowed the two titled Douluo, Serpent Spear Douluo and Porcupine Douluo, to be under her command.
Bibi Dong wanted to try again and get more offerings, but Qian Daoliu only left her with the words "This is my bottom line" and turned her away.
She had no choice but to back down.
This effort delayed her departure for several months. Furthermore, the numerous affairs of the Papal Palace she needed to handle prevented her from setting off immediately. She had to send the five Title Douluos, excluding Serpent Spear and Porcupine, ahead to wait for Porcupine and Serpent Spear in Heaven Dou City, along with herself. She, however, only followed closely behind after completing all her tasks, quietly arriving in Heaven Dou City.
The steam rising from the bathtub couldn't conceal the bitterness welling up in Bibi Dong's eyes. All her previous scheming and forbearance crumbled at this moment. In truth, besides joining the elders and preparing for the Star Hunt plan, she had come to Tiandou City alone with a hidden, most tender and humble purpose—to see the man she had loved and longed for for half her life, the man who had sustained her through humiliation and hardship: Yu Xiaogang.
She deliberately removed her papal robes, concealed all her Soul Master aura, and shed her sharp and imposing demeanor, appearing only in her most ordinary form as she wandered alone through the streets and alleys of Heaven Dou City. Every step she took was cautious, her heart churning with a mixture of suppressed joy and trepidation. So many years had passed since that separation that destroyed everything she had experienced; finally, she would see this person etched into her very bones again. She had imagined their reunion countless times, even just a glimpse from afar would be enough to settle a lifelong obsession.
But when she followed the trail and saw Yu Xiaogang in the distance, all her joy and anticipation instantly shattered into dust.
The man she longed for was tenderly beside Liu Erlong, his eyes filled with a gentle smile she had never dared to hope for, his every gesture full of care. The two leaned on each other, their actions intimate, creating a peaceful and serene world of their own. That was their peace and happiness, from beginning to end, with no place for Bibi Dong whatsoever.
Her soul power suddenly became chaotic, and Bibi Dong froze on the spot, her face ashen white, nearly losing control and exploding on the spot. Overwhelming hatred and heartbreak instantly consumed her. She screamed hysterically in her heart, repeatedly questioning: Why?! Why?! She had endured Qian Xunji's torment, humiliated herself and lay low in the Spirit Hall, carefully plotted her way through countless infamy, and survived countless dark days and nights, all for the day she could break free of her shackles and return to Yu Xiaogang's side. But after waiting so long, after hoping so long, this man turned around and spent his life with his cousin, discarding all her deep affection, all her forbearance, all her obsessions like worthless trash!
How ridiculous! She, the Pope of the Spirit Hall, who controls half of the Spirit Master world, is decisive and ruthless, and no one dares to provoke her, yet she lost miserably in this relationship, like a complete clown!
Her fingertips dug deep into her palms, drawing blood without her noticing. She desperately wanted to rush forward and tear apart the blinding happiness before her, but gazing at Yu Xiaogang's familiar smiling face, she ultimately couldn't take a step. He was the man she had deeply loved. Even after being betrayed, even with a heart full of resentment, she couldn't bring herself to harm him. She could only let the wound in her heart be ripped open, bleeding profusely, the pain piercing her soul.
A distraught Bibi Dong wandered aimlessly through the streets. Her gaze vacantly fell upon a dimly lit tavern on the side of the road, and she walked in woodenly. Without a word, she ordered a table full of strong liquor, then huddled alone in the most secluded corner, chugging down one glass after another.
The strong alcohol burned her esophagus and heart, the pungent taste making her eyes red, but she didn't use a single bit of her soul power to sober up. She just wanted to get completely drunk, to numb herself with alcohol, to forget this heart-wrenching betrayal, to forget the years of humiliation and resentment, to forget everything that caused her pain, even if only for a brief moment.
Cup after cup, the strong liquor seeped into her sorrowful heart, only intensifying her grief. She drank until her consciousness blurred, her vision sluggish, and her entire body enveloped in the strong stench of alcohol. When she could no longer hold on, she stood up with the last vestiges of her clarity, wanting nothing more than to find a quiet place to get some sleep and temporarily escape this suffocating pain.
But she never expected that this drunkenness would lead her to be ambushed by the Soul Saint of the Spirit Hall, causing her to inhale aphrodisiac powder, and then to that absurd thing that made her feel extremely ashamed and indignant and that she would never forget.
Once again... she had once again engaged in such a shameful affair with a strange man.
The moment this thought crossed Bibi Dong's mind, she could no longer hold back. Scalding tears streamed down her pale cheeks without warning, splashing into the warm water of the bathtub and creating tiny ripples. This high-ranking, proud pope, who had never bowed to anyone, now shed all pretense and majesty, her shoulders trembling slightly as she wept. In her silent tears lay years of suppressed grievances and despair.
She had almost forgotten when the last time she cried was.
Oh, I remember now, it was the day when Qian Xunji forcibly defiled me, completely destroying everything and utterly losing my right to be with Yu Xiaogang.
Two streams of tears flowed continuously, blurring her vision, but Bibi Dong suddenly tugged at the corners of her mouth, revealing an utterly desolate smile. The smile froze on her tear-streaked face, devoid of any joy, only filled with a deep-seated sorrow and self-mockery. She had lived a life of pride, a life of obsession, half a life of enduring humiliation, half a life of deep affection, only to be betrayed by her beloved and subjected to further unwarranted humiliation, ending up in this wretched and miserable state.
It turns out that her entire life, from beginning to end, was a joke that no one pitied.
The warm bath water had long since cooled, and Bibi Dong didn't know how long she had been immersed in grief and crying, until her whole body ached and the grievances and desolation surging in her heart were gradually suppressed by an extreme coldness.
She slowly raised her hand to wipe away the tears on her cheeks. Her phoenix eyes, which had been misty and full of vulnerability, instantly lost all softness, regaining the coldness and decisiveness unique to the Pope of the Spirit Hall. She knew better than anyone that all the helplessness and humiliation she had endured stemmed from her own lack of power! If she possessed overwhelming strength, she wouldn't have been tormented and controlled by Qian Xunji, wouldn't have lost her beloved, and wouldn't have ended up in such a wretched state in the streets of Tiandou.
Power! She must possess even greater, more unshakeable power!
In that instant, her determination grew even stronger. No matter what obstacles she encountered on this trip to the Star Dou Great Forest, she was determined to successfully hunt down the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python, attach a top-tier spirit ring to her second martial soul, completely break through her own limitations, and become a truly powerful being who could control her own destiny and no one dared to bully her!
No longer dwelling on past pain, Bibi Dong slowly rose, supporting herself on the edge of the bathtub. Glistening water droplets slid down her fair, taut skin. She casually picked up a soft silk nightgown and wrapped it around herself, pulling the collar tight. The chilling aura emanating from her transformed her once again into that of the decisive and unyielding Pope. She turned and entered her bedroom, closing her eyes to rest. Even though her emotions were still turbulent, she forced herself to suppress them, gathering her strength for the next day's journey.
The next day, at the crack of dawn, Bibi Dong shed all worldly emotions, donned the magnificent and majestic papal robes, and donned a crown inlaid with soul crystals. The aura of a Limit Douluo subtly permeated her being. The seven Title Douluos, already fully prepared and waiting, stood respectfully by her side. Without uttering a single superfluous word, she coldly uttered two words: "Depart!" She then led her team at breakneck speed, heading straight for the Star Dou Great Forest, her aura chilling and her determination unwavering.
Meanwhile, in the courtyard of Dugu Bo's mansion, the aroma of tea wafted through the air, creating a faint warmth, but Lin Chen, sitting at the table, remained completely listless.
He came to Dugu Bo's place specifically to relieve the embarrassment and confusion in his heart by being with his relatives and friends. At this moment, he was sitting at the tea table, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cold cup, his eyes unfocused, and his face was listless, completely lacking his usual liveliness and spirit.
Across from him, Dugu Bo stroked his white beard and stared at Lin Chen for a long time. Seeing that Lin Chen still looked lost and dejected, he finally couldn't help but speak, his tone full of concern and doubt: "Little monster, what's wrong with you? You've been listless ever since you came back from Yuexuan yesterday. What's bothering you?"
As soon as Dugu Bo finished speaking, the five girls sitting beside him—Di Qiu'er, Xiao Wu, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and Ning Rongrong—immediately came forward and started talking all at once, their eyes filled with unconcealed worry.
"Lin Chen, are you feeling unwell?"
"If something's on your mind, just say it. Don't keep it bottled up inside. We're all here for you!"
"No matter what happens, we'll face it together. There's no problem we can't solve!"
Gentle words of comfort rang out one after another, the girls' eyes filled with sincerity, all deeply worried about his condition.
Seeing everyone's concerned expressions, Lin Chen felt a slight warmth in his heart, but the absurd facts of last night were too embarrassing to talk about. If he were to speak of them, he would truly have no face to face everyone again. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but in the end, he swallowed them back.
He quickly coughed twice, deliberately hiding his embarrassment, forced himself to cheer up, straightened his face, and said in a relaxed manner, "Don't worry about me. What could be wrong with me? I've just reached a bottleneck in my cultivation recently and plan to go out to hunt for spirit rings to advance. I specifically asked Teacher Tang for leave to come back and spend some time with you all, and also to adjust my condition."
After saying that, he forced a faint smile, trying to hide the strangeness in his eyes, just wanting everyone to stop worrying about him.
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