Chapter 26 — "The Crime Is Not Worth Death; Give Them Another Chance"
With Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo determined to leave, Bibi Dong's faction within the Spirit Hall suffered a severe blow.
Yet, as the Pope, her decisiveness was unquestionable—she immediately laid out two contingency plans.
First, she appointed Spirit Kite Douluo and Ghost Leopard Douluo to take over as substitutes for the departed two, overseeing the Spirit Hall Academy team and ensuring they won the upcoming Soul Master Tournament.
Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena—those three children had grown up under Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo's protection.
Hu Liena, especially, was Bibi Dong's cherished disciple—her chosen successor.
Originally, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo had guarded her secretly on Bibi Dong's orders. Now, that responsibility has passed to Lingyuan and Ghost Leopard Douluo.
Both had once been neutral elders, but Bibi Dong intended to use this opportunity to draw them fully into her camp—the same way she had once won over Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo.
As for her second plan, she entrusted the troublesome matter to Qian Daoliu, letting the Elder Hall handle it. She knew her subordinates could never match Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo in strength, yet it still wasn't time for her to act personally.
Inside the Elder Hall, every Worship was a being above level 96.
The Holy attribute of Qian Daoliu's Seraphim Martial Soul, coupled with the Evil-Breaking attributes of the Panlong Staffs wielded by the twin brothers—Fifteen Ton Douluo and Falling Devil Douluo— all held a natural restraining effect over Ghost Douluo's dark-type martial soul.
Furthermore, the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, with his Golden Crocodile King; the Third Worship, Azure Luan Douluo, with the Azure Luan Divine Bird; the Fourth Worship, Mighty Lion Douluo, with the Golden Lion; and the Fifth Worship, Glowingfeather Douluo, with the Glowingfeather Divine Bow—all possessed attributes that countered Ghost Douluo's darkness to varying degrees.
Bibi Dong knew Qian Daoliu had long since withdrawn from worldly affairs and would not personally act. Golden Crocodile Douluo, being the oldest and most senior, also would not move easily.
But the remaining five Worships—they might.
After all, the defection of two high-ranking Elders had sent shockwaves throughout Spirit Hall. Someone had to take responsibility.
---
Bibi Dong arrived at the Elder Hall.
Although the Pope's Hall and Elder Hall stood close within the Spirit City complex, she and Qian Daoliu had not met in over ten years.
Inside the vast, quiet hall stood a single man.
He appeared to be in his thirties or forties—handsome, tall, but not overly muscular. He wore a simple gray robe, his long black hair neatly brushed and tied back. Despite the plain attire, merely standing there, he exuded an aura that inspired reverence— as if the world itself bowed before him.
This man was none other than the Grand Worship of the Spirit Hall's Elder Hall—
Qian Daoliu, a Level 99 Ultimate Douluo.
When he saw Bibi Dong, a faint, gentle smile appeared on his lips.
"Bibi Dong, you've come."
His tone was calm and peaceful, his presence carrying a serene grace that could ease the heart of anyone before him.
But Bibi Dong felt no warmth from it.
To her, the surname Qian was a curse.
Because of Qian Xunji, her life had been ruined—her soul scarred beyond repair.
She hated the Qian Clan to her very core.
Even though she had devoured Qian Xunji's body and soul, her hatred still burned.
She knew Qian Daoliu understood everything—yet he had chosen silence instead of justice.
To her, his guilt meant nothing but hypocrisy.
If not for her current lack of strength, Qian Daoliu would already have been a corpse beneath her feet.
Her cold voice echoed through the hall.
"Grand Worship, you've already heard the news, haven't you?"
"You're referring to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, I presume?"
"Yes. Those two have betrayed the Spirit Hall—and they won't be coming back."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, expression still calm.
"I've heard something about it. Those two have served the Hall for many years, loyal and diligent. Could there be… some misunderstanding?"
"Misunderstanding?"
Her tone sharpened, icy as a blade.
"You think I drove them to this? Do you know what they've done outside? They robbed the Speed Clan of their heirloom and severed Bai He's arms! Then they went to Gengxin City and cut off the arm of Divine Craftsman Lou Gao! I never ordered them to do any of that! They've gone mad!"
"From what I've learned," Qian Daoliu said calmly, "everything they did was under their own names. None of their actions has tarnished the Spirit Hall's reputation.
However… they did break their oaths and abandon the Hall. Leave this matter to me."
He saw through Bibi Dong's intent immediately. He knew she had come seeking his judgment—or rather, his sanction to kill. But he also knew her temperament all too well: ruthless, cold, and merciless. If she personally acted, Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo would have no chance to live.
After all, reaching the level of a Titled Douluo was no easy feat, and those two even possessed a devastating Martial Soul Fusion Technique. They were talents worth saving.
He was willing to give them one more chance.
A faint, eerie smile curved across Bibi Dong's lips.
"If you can bring them back alive, all the better. I want to ask them myself—why they betrayed me."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly.
"They may have sinned, but their crimes are not unforgivable. If they're willing to return, wouldn't that be for the best?"
Bibi Dong's expression darkened, fury flickering in her eyes.
"They will never return!"
With that, she turned sharply and strode away.
Qian Daoliu watched her retreating figure—her silhouette bathed in the dim light of the hall. He sighed softly, shaking his head.
"Bibi Dong… you've become someone I can no longer understand. I only hope my choice back then wasn't a mistake…"
Not long after Bibi Dong left, Qian Daoliu summoned several Worships to the Elder Hall and explained the situation briefly.
"It seems the one who initiated everything was Ghost Douluo.
If we can bring Ghost Douluo back, Chrysanthemum Douluo will surely follow."
The assembled elders exchanged uncertain looks.
"To think those two would betray the Spirit Hall… It's been ages since such a scandal occurred."
The speaker was the Seventh Worship, Falling Devil Douluo—a peak-level Rank 96 Super Douluo.
His Panlong Staff sealed within it the soul of a Break Evil Dragon, giving it immense demon-banishing power—a perfect counter to Ghost Douluo's dark attribute martial soul.
Confidence gleamed in his eyes.
"I'll go. I'll drag Ghost Douluo back myself."
A youthful voice suddenly chuckled from the side.
The speaker looked like a teenage boy, yet his true age was close to a hundred.
This was the Fifth Worship, Glowingfeather Douluo—another Rank 96 peak Super Douluo.
His martial soul granted him dual Light and Ice attributes, and a pair of crystalline ice wings could sprout from his back, granting him unparalleled speed.
"Oh? You think you can catch Ghost Douluo? His speed surpasses even Bai He's—the world's fastest. Perhaps you should let me handle it. I'd quite enjoy testing his limits."
Falling Devil Douluo scoffed.
"Even if you catch him, can you guarantee you'll bring him back? Against a martial soul as vile as Ghost Douluo's, the Panlong Staff's evil-breaking power is far more effective."
Qian Daoliu's calm yet commanding voice interrupted them.
"Enough. Both of you will go together."
The two Worships exchanged a glance, then nodded.
"Remember—Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo served the Hall faithfully for many years. Their sudden departure may hide deeper reasons.
Bring them back alive. Do not kill them."
"Understood."
---
Meanwhile, at the foot of a vast mountain range…
A pair of eyes snapped open—bright and sharp like lightning.
Tang San slowly exhaled, feeling the tremendous surge of power within him.
A faint, dark-red aura pulsed around his body, the scent of blood thick in the air.
After a year and a half in the City of Slaughter, he had finally achieved one hundred victories—earning the title of Death God and surviving the Hell Road.
Through endless slaughter, his combat instincts had sharpened to the extreme, and his killing intent had grown dense and tangible.
His Blue Silver Grass had evolved—transformed into the Dark Blue Silver Emperor, capable of devouring the life force and soul power of others.
By absorbing the essence of countless fallen souls, he had shattered the bottleneck at Rank 50.
A fierce, confident light burned in his eyes.
"I, Tang San… have finally returned!"
—
End of Chapter