After leaving the Star Lou Palace, they walked along the wide but sparsely populated streets of Star Lou City. The Third Elder glanced back at the majestic palace walls. His face openly showed contempt and anger as he spat quietly and muttered,
"Hmph! What a fool he is!"
"Our Clear Sky Sect humbled itself and prepared to become their guardian sect once more. At least this way we saved face, yet they still make excuses. They really don't know what's best for them!"
Tang Xiao's gentle smile disappeared, replaced by a deep and serious expression. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked back at the palace and said in a calm tone,
"In the end, he is the ruler of a nation. He has his own thoughts and attitude, which is understandable."
Yet, in that moment, a cold killing intent flickered deep in his eyes. "When things stabilize, we can simply replace him with someone more suitable."
The Third Elder's heart skipped a beat, and he hesitantly asked, "Sect Master... You're referring to the eldest prince of the Star Lou Empire, Dai Weisi? I heard he's capable and ruthless..."
Tang Xiao turned his head and gave a half-smile to the Third Elder. That look made the elder uneasy, but then Tang Xiao slowly said,
"One of Xiao San's classmates is the third prince of Star Lou. I met him once—he's a sharp boy."
The Third Elder immediately looked awkward. Up to this point, their only impression of Tang San had been negative, never caring who his classmates were at the academy. Now that Tang Xiao revealed the prince's identity, there was nothing left to say.
But Tang Xiao had no time for trivial matters. His tone turned flat, giving new orders,
"Enough, let's swiftly return to Heaven Dou City. Find Xiao San and the rest of the Shrek Academy group and bring them back to the Star Lou Empire."
The Third Elder's expression changed slightly. "Right now? Isn't that... a bit hasty?"
"Heaven Dou Empire is controlled by the Body Sect and Spirit Hall now," Tang Xiao cut him off. "It's basically become Body Sect's backyard. For Xiao San to remain there isn't just dangerous for him—it could give them leverage over us."
"Besides, Shrek Academy has lost its royal title, and Yu Xiaogang is now infamous and crippled."
"This is no longer a worthy land for Tang San. Wouldn't it be better to come to Star Lou for better training and protection?"
These words made the Third Elder's face turn solemn as he understood the meaning. "You are wise, Sect Master! Understood!"
Since Bo Saixi began leading the Clear Sky Sect, discipline had become far stricter. The Second and Third Elders no longer dared to feign outward obedience while secretly plotting or resisting Tang Xiao's orders.
Just then, a sharp eagle cry echoed from above. A dark gold-feathered eagle swooped down and landed on Tang Xiao's raised arm. He frowned slightly, removing a small paper from a copper tube tied to the eagle's leg. Unfolding it, a look of shock crossed his face as he thought to himself,
"This bastard… does he really have such guts?"
The Third Elder, curious, inched closer, and Tang Xiao handed him the message. As he read it, the Third Elder's face became complicated.
"Sect Master, about this... Should we save his life? After all, he's Tang San's teacher. If Body Sect truly kills him..."
Tang Xiao's eyes turned cold. He sneered,
"Save him? He hasn't even atoned for seducing his lover! Always chasing fame—ignorant trash like him doesn't deserve the Clear Sky Sect's help!"
"Let's hope the Body Sect is more thorough. That way, we save ourselves the trouble in the future."
The Third Elder's heart skipped again and nodded quickly. "Yes, Sect Master! Understood!"
The two said no more and quickly disappeared into the bustling crowd of Star Lou City.
…
Spirit City – Spirit Hall
Bibi Dong transformed into a streak of light, blasting through the dome of the Pope's palace and hurtling toward Heaven Dou City.
But before she could leave the skies above Spirit City, a sacred golden figure blocked her path. Qian Daoliu, wearing a platinum golden robe, gazed calmly at the frenzied Bibi Dong.
"Bibi Dong," his voice was cold and emotionless, "where do you think you're going?"
Bibi Dong, consumed by anxiety, snapped,
"My actions are none of your concern! Get out of my way!"
Qian Daoliu stood unmoving. "Go back."
"Qian—Dao—Liu—!"
Bibi Dong's body surged with her deathly aura, and behind her manifested the enormous figure of the Death Spider Emperor, fierce and terrifying.
Nine spirit rings appeared: two yellow, two purple, four black, one red. At the peak of level 98, her wild Douluo pressure radiated outward, blanketing half of Spirit City. Countless low-level spirit masters were overwhelmed, looking up in fear.
"Hmph!" Qian Daoliu snorted coldly. Without moving, a six-winged angelic shadow unfurled behind him, its holy glow erasing most of the deathly darkness in an instant.
"Level 98... You hid this well!" Despite his calm, a trace of anxiety flickered in Qian Daoliu's eyes. He'd guessed Bibi Dong was hiding her true strength, but not that she'd reached the peak of level 98!
"This isn't yours to decide!" Bibi Dong tried to force her way past.
"Stubborn and pigheaded." Qian Daoliu said no more, simply raising his right hand, palm upward.
In a flash, the enormous angel statue in the background shimmered faintly, a vast, pure holy light shooting across the space, enveloping Qian Daoliu.
His aura soared. His entire body exuded a golden sacred light, looking as if a true angel had descended to earth, majestic and divine.
"God said: Let evil be gone." His solemn chanting began, and under that golden light, his right hand reached for Bibi Dong.
This grasp seemed slow but froze the space itself. Bibi Dong felt an inescapable terror—no matter how she tried, she couldn't dodge.
Her pupils shrank. As strong as she was, she'd always been slightly weaker than Qian Daoliu, and now, without hesitation, he invoked the angel power, leaving her no opening!
But the thought that Yu Xiaogang's life was in danger left her no other option. With wild determination, she bared her teeth and screamed,
"Qian Daoliu! Do you think only you possess divine power?!"
She frantically circulated her soul power, trying to awaken the dark god force hidden deep within her—the power of the First Seat God, the Rakshasa God, which she refused to believe was weaker than the Angel God!
If she could just use even a bit of that power, she could break the deadlock and escape.
But in the next moment, her fierce desperation froze into shock and disbelief; no matter how she urged her soul power, no matter her efforts, the Rakshasa's god power slumbering in her body remained sealed, completely unresponsive.
No—it wasn't just unable to move, but tightly constrained and sealed by a higher power, ignoring her calls. In that instant, she, the inheritor, lost any sense of control over her godly power.
Only the Rakshasa God herself could do this.
"Rakshasa!!!" Bibi Dong shrieked skyward. Who would have thought, at this critical moment, the Rakshasa God would betray her—severing her from her source of power!
Utter betrayal!
During that brief gap, Qian Daoliu's sacred golden hand was already nearly upon her. Staring at the descending palm, radiating an aura that would cleanse all evil, madness and ruthless resolve flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes. Barred from escape, she gathered all her soul power and launched herself headlong at Qian Daoliu's hand.
Even if it meant grave injury, she had to rush to Heaven Dou City—for Xiaogang's life!
But without her god power's blessing, how could she, with mere soul power alone, withstand the Angel God–infused grip of Qian Daoliu?
Bang!
A muffled collision echoed as her violet-black death aura clashed violently with the golden holy light, but the stalemate lasted not a moment; like melting ice, her power faded instantly.
Qian Daoliu's hand pierced her defense with ease. His five fingers gripped Bibi Dong's shoulder firmly, and a pure, overwhelming spiritual force surged into her body, completely suppressing her soul power.
Expression unchanged, Qian Daoliu flipped his left hand, extracting a pair of ancient shackles engraved with angelic runes from his storage tool. This was an heirloom passed down by the Angel God to suppress the most powerful heretics, especially effective against the powers of evil and darkness.
Clap!
The shackles closed around Bibi Dong's wrists.
"Ahhh—!"
In that instant, the deathly aura swirling around her receded like the tide. Her nine soul rings vanished, even the Death Spider Emperor's illusion behind her let out a wail and dissolved. Her spirit dropped rapidly, falling quickly below that of an ordinary soul master. Her face turned ashen. Drained and powerless, she only managed to stand by leaning heavily on Qian Daoliu.
"I told you, you're not to leave," Qian Daoliu said calmly, holding the almost entirely subdued Bibi Dong as though this were trivial.
She lifted her head, her eyes burning with endless hatred and madness,
"Qian—Dao—Liu—!"
"If anything happens to Xiaogang, I, Bibi Dong, swear to the heavens, I will slaughter the entire Angel Clan—none will escape!!!"
A cold light flashed in Qian Daoliu's eyes—his killing intent nearly materialized. "Is that so? Unfortunately… you won't live to see that day."
With that, he ignored her manic curses, his figure transforming into golden light as he carried her deep into Spirit Hall.
With the terrifying clash above now ended, countless Spirit Hall soul masters below were still struck dumb with shock, exchanging nervous glances among themselves.
…