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"It seems I've lost."
In the VIP section, after the referee announced the results, Bibi Dong stood up and looked at Xuan Ming.
"Let's go. I'll take you to get a small gift."
Xuan Ming's expression was a little unnatural. "Can I not?"
Bibi Dong leaned down, and under everyone's varied gazes, she put her face close to Xuan Ming's, reached out, and pinched his cheek. "What do you think?"
"…"
"Is she flirting?" Gu Rong watched this scene with a strange expression.
Although Xuan Ming looked tall and strong, he was still just a child!
Xuan Ming sighed helplessly, knowing he couldn't refuse Bibi Dong. He could only stand up and follow behind her.
Walking to the second row of the VIP section, Bibi Dong glanced at Hu Liena.
Hu Liena, who had been stared at by Xue Qinghe for a long time, seemed to have found her savior. She quickly stood up and followed them.
Seeing this, Emperor Xue Ye looked at Ning Fengzhi, who understood immediately and likewise stood up with Gu Rong.
"Qinghe, since the Supreme Pontiff is looking for Xuan Ming, you should also go and see," Emperor Xue Ye said.
"Yes, Imperial Father." Xue Qinghe quickly followed suit and stood up, the three of them hurrying after them.
However, after only a few steps, Yue Guan, who had received instructions from Bibi Dong, turned and stopped, blocking Xue Qinghe and his party.
"Gentlemen, Supreme Pontiff has something to say to Xuan Ming alone. Perhaps you shouldn't disturb them?" Yue Guan said.
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward. "May I ask what business Supreme Pontiff has with Xuan Ming?"
"Didn't I just say? A gift," Yue Guan said.
"…"
...The VIP lounge of the Great Spirit Arena.
"Nana told me that you have some contact with the two young ladies from Tianshui Academy and Blazing Academy? And you invited them to your room?"
As soon as the door closed, Bibi Dong went straight to the point.
"I didn't invite them; they went themselves," Xuan Ming said helplessly.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not here to question your relationship with them," Bibi Dong said.
"I just want you to try and see if you can use them to warn the people behind these two academies, to make them… more sensible in the future."
Of the two girls Xuan Ming had contact with, Huo Wu was the daughter of the Blazing Academy's dean, and Shui Bing'er was the Tianshui Academy's dean's… illegitimate daughter.
Spirit Hall's expansion in the Spirit Master's world was already more than halfway complete. Advanced Spirit Master Academies were not only concentrated areas for cultivating young Spirit Masters but also centers of interest for various Spirit Master forces in different regions.
The Five Element Academy were among the strongest Advanced Spirit Master Academies in the Tiandou Empire, besides the Tiandou Royal Academy.
If these Advanced Spirit Master Academies could take the lead, dealing with the other Advanced Spirit Master Academies would be much simpler.
She had originally hoped for Elephant Armor Academy to do this, but unfortunately, Elephant Armor Academy was not very competent, and the Elephant Armored Academy behind it was already part of Spirit Hall's power, so doing such a thing couldn't truly influence the decisions of these Advanced Spirit Master Academies.
Thunder Academy was backed by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, so it was not within her consideration. Those guys were not much different from the Clear Sky Sect, almost impossible to subdue, and could only be suppressed by absolute force.
The remaining ones were Shenfeng Academy, Blazing Academy, and Tianshui Academy.
"My identity doesn't seem suitable for discussing such topics with them, does it?" Xuan Ming said.
"You can talk to them about this as a friend, and this is just a suggestion from me," Bibi Dong said.
"It's not a bad thing for them either, after all, you know my methods."
"Of course, if you're unwilling, then just pretend I didn't say anything."
Once Qian Renxue's plan was completed, Spirit Hall would use the power of the Tiandou Empire to forcefully control all Spirit Master forces within its territory, in order to strengthen Spirit Hall's power.
At that time, these Advanced Spirit Master Academies and the forces behind them would either submit to Spirit Hall or completely disappear!
Originally, these minor matters concerning Advanced Spirit Master Academies were handled by the Platinum Bishop, so she didn't need to worry. However, she heard Hu Liena say that Xuan Ming seemed to have some connection with those two young girls, so she thought of mentioning it.
"It depends on the situation. If I can, I'll try my best," Xuan Ming said.
Bibi Dong nodded. "As for the other matter, the final venue for the Soul Master Competition, I can only try my best to ensure it's not held in Spirit City, but the Elder Palace also disagrees with holding it in Tiandou City. The final negotiated result will most likely still be on the border."
The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, the competitions within the Two Great Empires, were held to select talents. The promotion rounds also involved the struggle for interests among the various forces behind these Advanced Spirit Master Academies.
As for the final, it was entirely hosted by Spirit Hall. In the past, the final existed for Spirit Hall to select and recruit talents, as a substitute for the struggles between the major forces in the Spirit Master's world, and to showcase Spirit Hall's authority. It had always been held in Spirit Hall's main city.
But after she took office, she used this matter as a tool to stabilize the situation of the Two Great Empires, and the final venue became unfixed.
In the past, she would decide the final venue based on the situation of the Two Great Empires. If Xingluo had just won a battle, she would set the final venue in the Tiandou Empire. If Tiandou defeated Xingluo, she would set the final venue in Xingluo.
If there was no war, or if the situation was stable, she would set the final venue on the border between the Two Great Empires, or move it to Spirit City.
Whichever side was at a disadvantage, she would help them out, not allowing the other side to be too arrogant.
In recent years, the situation of the Two Great Empires had been relatively stable, and the final should be held on the border or in Spirit City. If the final venue were set within the territory of the Two Great Empires, it was very likely to cause a new war, which was not conducive to Spirit Hall's plan.
Therefore, the Elder Palace firmly disagreed with holding the final in Tiandou City. The only concession they could make was not holding it in Spirit City.
"I'm not in a hurry. In fact, even if it's in Spirit City, there's no big problem. It depends on your needs," Xuan Ming said.
Bibi Dong was startled. "Are you sure?"
If he were in Spirit City, once Xuan Ming made a move against Golden Crocodile, the old guys from the Hall of Offerings would inevitably intervene!
Even Qian Daoliu would be provoked!
That was her concern as well.
Otherwise, crippling Golden Crocodile in Spirit City would have the best effect, whether for her to regain power in the Supreme Pontiff Palace, to deter the Elder Palace, or to deter the Two Great Empires.
But the problem was, doing this in Spirit City was too dangerous.
"Given my current situation, even that old geezer can't keep me," Xuan Ming said.
"What's more, I don't think he dares to move."
Qian Daoliu had completed the Angel God's Eight Trials and possessed a demigod body. He could mobilize divine force, but that old geezer was too timid!
To put it nicely, he was cautious; to put it harshly, he was indecisive and cowardly.
Qian Daoliu dared not do anything he wasn't absolutely confident about, just as he hesitated to act against the Clear Sky Sect because of Tang Chen.
If Qian Daoliu attacked the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Chen returned as a god, both the Seraphim family and Spirit Hall would be annihilated!
Similarly, Qian Daoliu had already witnessed his talent. If he revealed a demigod-level trump card in Spirit City, would that old geezer still dare to move?
He wouldn't!
If he dared, Qian Daoliu would have fought Tang Chen back then!
Why would he be worried for decades because of someone whose whereabouts were unknown?
"It's too dangerous," Bibi Dong shook her head.
"I'd quite like to go," Xuan Ming said.
"Why?" Bibi Dong asked, puzzled.
"Don't you think it would be very interesting to slap him in the face on his own turf?" Xuan Ming said.
"Besides, don't you also want everyone to think Spirit Hall isn't strong enough, making it easier to infiltrate secretly?"
Bibi Dong was silent for a moment. "Let me think about it again."
Crippling Golden Crocodile in Tiandou City, although the effect would be slightly less, and she would still face some resistance from the Elder Palace after returning to Spirit City, it would be the safest and most secure option.
In Spirit City, Qian Daoliu's danger was too great. If that old geezer got serious, she could only protect herself and wouldn't be able to look after Xuan Ming.
Moreover, she was also uneasy about those two dragon Spirits.
"Teacher, then what is the gift you said you wanted to give Xuan Ming?" Hu Liena couldn't help but speak up to change the subject and break the strange atmosphere.
Bibi Dong paused, then took out two specially crafted boxes from her spirit tool and placed them in front of Xuan Ming and Hu Liena respectively. "Open them and see."
Xuan Ming and Hu Liena exchanged glances, then, with a mix of curiosity and doubt, they both stepped forward and opened the boxes.
"Spirit Bones?" Hu Liena exclaimed.
Both boxes contained a Spirit Bone, and both were extremely rare head Spirit Bones—one emitting a soft blue light, and the other a faint white glow.
"These two head Spirit Bones are both of the mental force attribute, and both are over fifty thousand years old. The white one can interfere with mental force and enhance illusion abilities, which is more suitable for Nana. The blue one primarily enhances a Spirit Master's mental force, and its other effect is especially important for you," Bibi Dong said.
"Concentrates and stabilizes the mental force."
Xuan Ming's expression was a little unnatural. "Last time I…"
Bibi Dong raised her hand to interrupt. "A long time ago, I wanted to take this Spirit Bone from the Elder Palace and give it to you, as your mental fragmentation is always a hidden danger. But I never had the chance. It wasn't until a year ago, when I came from Spirit City to Tiandou City, that I found an excuse to take this Spirit Bone out."
"Next, if you want to go to that place, you must absorb this Spirit Bone, otherwise I won't let you go!"
In Slaughter City, the most dangerous thing was never the battles in the Hell Slaughter Arena, but what lay outside the arena!
Xuan Ming's psychological state was very unstable, not only because of his experiences but also because of his unique mental fragmentation. Most of the time, he forced himself not to think too much, so he could appear calm and composed.
But once an external force intervened and broke his self-control and balance, everything he had been suppressing would rush out!
Once something suppressed for too long erupted, Xuan Ming would instinctively resort to slaughter and destruction as the only solution!
Xuan Ming's desire for slaughter was extremely strong! He just managed to control it!
If his mental state wasn't stabilized, once he entered Slaughter City, with its special environment, he would likely go berserk every few days!