Chapter 240: Has it finally come?
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong turned around, coldly glancing at Yan, and said in a deep voice, "Are you questioning my judgment?"
Yan froze in the face of Bibi Dong's powerful aura. All his dissent and explanations were forcefully shut down. His face instantly turned pale, and he hurriedly lowered his head, trembling as he said,
"This subordinate...this subordinate wouldn't dare!"
Xie Yue and Hu Liena, seeing this, also felt a tightness in their chests and quickly lowered their heads even further, not daring to anger the Pope who was clearly already agitated.
After intimidating her own teammates, Bibi Dong's gaze swept over the still-discussing crowd. Her clear, cold voice held an undeniable authority as she slowly stated:
"The Spirit Fusion Technique that Tianxing Academy just unleashed was no small feat."
"I can tell you definitively that that attack, let alone the Spirit Hall's Golden Generation, would be impossible for any Spirit Master below the Title Douluo level to withstand head-on."
No one below the Title Douluo level could withstand it?!
These words shocked the entire audience!
Especially those Spirit Masters with high cultivation levels, their faces filled with horror.
Such an evaluation, spoken by the Pope herself, carried immense weight!
The Spirit Hall supporters, who had initially been somewhat unconvinced, were now speechless, their gazes towards Tang Chuan and Xiao Ruier filled with fear and admiration.
Having explained, Bibi Dong said no more. She raised her right hand and gently waved it.
Instantly, three-colored light flashed, and the three soul bones she had previously displayed reappeared, floating silently before her.
These were the Skull of Wisdom, the Right Arm Bone of Blazing Flames, and the Left Leg Bone of Wind Chaser. The appearance of these three ten-thousand-year-old soul bones immediately attracted countless greedy gazes.
"Tianxing Academy, step forward to receive your well-deserved championship rewards." Just then, Bibi Dong's gaze fell on Tang Chuan again, her tone calm.
The glory and treasures of the competition were within reach.
But at this moment, whether it was Tang Chuan, Dugu Bo, or Ning Fengzhi, Xue Qinghe, and the others in the VIP seats, they all knew that this might not be the end.
It was merely a brief calm before an even greater storm was about to arrive.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo and Tang Chuan exchanged a quick glance, their eyes communicating rapidly.
"Boy, go collect your championship reward. Just be careful, but I doubt she'll dare to openly do anything to you under such public scrutiny. Don't worry, I'll be watching." Dugu Bo's lips moved slightly, his voice a thin line reaching Tang Chuan's ears.
Hearing this, Tang Chuan nodded slightly, indicating he understood.
The next second, he took a deep breath, calming the somewhat disordered soul power within him caused by the recent use of his Martial Soul Fusion Technique. Then, under the gaze of tens of thousands of eyes, he walked steadily towards the center of the plaza, towards the Pope who held the highest authority on the continent.
Tang Chuan's steps were steady, his expression calm, as if he were merely collecting an ordinary item, not the coveted treasure that countless soul masters dreamed of.
This composure earned silent nods of admiration from many powerful figures in the stands.
When Tang Chuan finally stood before Bibi Dong, he then realized that Bibi Dong possessed a breathtaking beauty—noble, elegant, serene—all the most beautiful adjectives seemed to fit this woman.
Bibi Dong did not immediately hand over the three spirit bones floating beside her to Tang Chuan. Instead, she fixed her deep gaze on the young man's calm face, scrutinizing him for a moment before slowly speaking:
"You are outstanding, far exceeding my expectations."
"With your talent and strength, staying at Tianxing Academy or wandering elsewhere would be a waste. The Spirit Hall is where you can truly unleash your talent and reach the pinnacle."
"I can make you a promise. If you are willing to join the Spirit Hall, you will directly obtain the title of Elder, enjoying power and resources second only to the Venerable Ones. Your future is limitless."
A Spirit Hall Elder? This recruitment offer was incredibly generous.
It caused countless Soul Masters who heard it to gasp in shock.
After all, even Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo had served the Spirit Hall for decades before becoming an elder ten years ago, while Tang Chuan was merely a six-ring Soul Emperor.
Looking into Bibi Dong's eyes, Tang Chuan knew this was her last chance for him.
From the Spirit Hall's previous attack on him, it was clear that if his talent couldn't be used by the Spirit Hall, they would eliminate him without hesitation.
"Thank you for your kindness, Your Holiness. However, I'm used to being free and don't like being controlled by others, much less bound by any rules and regulations. The Spirit Hall… is not suitable for me." Tang Chuan spoke almost without hesitation, simply raising his head and shaking it, his tone polite yet distant.
His rejection was direct and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation!
The air seemed to freeze at that moment. Upon hearing this, everyone held their breath, staring in disbelief at the young man who dared to so decisively refuse the Pope's personal offer of recruitment.
The faint hint of appreciation on Bibi Dong's face vanished instantly, her eyes returning to their cold, deep intensity. She silently observed Tang Chuan for two seconds, offering no further persuasion.
"Very good," she said calmly after a moment, her tone unreadable.
Then, Bibi Dong gently waved her hand, and the three soul bones, radiating an alluring light, slowly floated before Tang Chuan.
"These are your rewards. Take them."
The subsequent process of claiming the rewards went unexpectedly smoothly.
After handing the three soul bones to Tang Chuan, Bibi Dong didn't say another word. She simply turned and, surrounded by cardinals and elders, entered the depths of the Papal Palace without looking back, shutting out the deafening roar and countless complex gazes from the plaza.
With the Pope's departure, the oppressive atmosphere seemed to dissipate instantly.
The plaza erupted in thunderous cheers, whether from those supporting Tianxing Academy's miracle or simply excited to witness history; the sound was enough to shake the heavens.
However, this celebration didn't last long.
Tang Chuan didn't even distribute the soul bones under the spotlight as in the original story. He simply quickly put away the three soul bones and exchanged a glance with Dugu Bo.
No words were needed; both saw the same word in each other's eyes: Let's go!
Without the slightest hesitation, they didn't even bother to exchange pleasantries with the other academies who had come to congratulate them. Led by Dugu Bo and Tang Chuan, the group from Tianxing Academy departed Wuhun City swiftly and orderly, like the receding tide. Their speed caught many who wanted to observe the young man with the 100,000-year spirit ring up close off guard.
Even more surprisingly, Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, along with Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and Sword Douluo Chen Xin, also set off almost simultaneously, naturally joining the Tianxing Academy group.
At this moment, inside a spacious and luxurious royal carriage, the group sat together. The elegant interior, equipped with shock-absorbing spirit tools, ensured a smooth ride.
The spacious carriage traveled smoothly along the official road for nearly two hours, already about fifty miles away from Wuhun City. Outside the windows lay lush, verdant forests, seemingly peaceful and serene.
Inside the carriage, after the initial casual conversation, a subtle silence fell.
Only the rhythmic rumble of wheels on the road echoed.
Finally, Dugu Bo couldn't contain himself any longer. He broke the silence, his brow furrowed, his voice laced with disbelief and wariness:
"We've been traveling for almost two hours, and it went so smoothly? Did that woman, Bibi Dong, really let us go back so easily? This isn't like her."
Something was amiss. This unusual calm only heightened his unease.
Sitting opposite him, Ning Fengzhi was about to speak, offering his wisdom and experience to analyze the situation, but before he could even open his mouth...
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh—!"
Dozens of sharp, piercing sounds of wind being cut through the air suddenly erupted from the dense forest surrounding the carriage!
The sound, dense as rain and swift as lightning, approached rapidly, almost instantly enveloping their moving carriage! Intense fluctuations of soul power, like invisible waves, pressed in from all directions, instantly locking the entire carriage in place!
The newcomers were numerous, and they made no attempt to conceal their presence or killing intent!
Inside the carriage, everyone's expression changed drastically!
Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them, his eyes blazing with sword energy.
Tang Chuan, who had been sitting by the window, seemingly dozing, also slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was calm and undisturbed, as if he had already foreseen all of this, and he simply uttered a few words:
"It seems that what was bound to happen has finally arrived."
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[end of the chapter]