After playing in the streets for a little more time, Shi Hao returned home before his parents came back.
The guard who "escorted" Shi Hao also left after noting down the house.
He had followed in the hopes of finding that hooded man, just in case Shi Hao ran into him on the way. But it seems the man was clever at hiding. So, the guard went back. Anyway, his duty was to follow his superior's orders—he didn't have to meddle too much. If the superior wanted anything, he would be informed.
Inside the house, Shi Hao happily munched on snacks. "Next... I just have to wait for the events to unfold."
But then he wondered: "How many titled Douluos will Tang Hao kill this time? Will his injury get worse?"
"Sigh... Poor Tang Hao."
Shi Hao was sure that Tang Hao's injury would get worse, and he was also sure that he wouldn't go to any healing soul master. After all, that drunkard of a man was convinced he was suffering because he didn't protect his wife.
By the time Tang San awakens his twin martial souls and gets his spirit back, it will be too late.
Then, he'll have to cut off three or all of his limbs to transfer those injuries... Really foolish.
"Anyway, it has nothing to do with me. I'm innocent," Shi Hao said, putting up his hands in his mind, acting all innocent.
When the sun set, Shi Chen and Hu Rong returned.
Shi Hao keenly noticed that their affection for each other had been growing day by day over the past month. They were always clinging to each other.
"When will they finish making me a younger sibling? I can't stand watching them be all lovey-dovey!" Shi Hao shrugged his shoulders.
After spending time with them and having dinner, Shi Hao left for Aunt Hua's house. The couple needed some alone time. Meanwhile, he would shower all his dissatisfaction on Aunt Hua and secretly bully her at night...
....
A month passed.
Martial Soul City, Spirit Hall, Pope Palace.
A woman sat leisurely on the pope throne, wearing a purple robe and a nine-tipped purple gold crown, holding a two-meter-long scepter in her hand. The woman was fair-skinned and extremely beautiful.
Before her knelt the cardinal from Balak Kingdom's Spirit Hall branch.
He carefully informed her about the events that had unfolded, showing great respect.
"So, did you confirm it?" A pleasant voice came from the woman.
"I didn't, Your Majesty, as it would alert the snake. The letter clearly mentioned the precautions I needed to take." The cardinal wasn't looking for credit.
If he claimed to have been the one who discovered Tang Hao, no one would believe him. So, if he wanted a promotion, stating the facts without embellishing them and doing his job well was the only way.
After all, what if casualties appeared while hunting Tang Hao and someone died? Wouldn't that fall on him?
So, he stated everything truthfully. Of course, both Bibi Dong and the cardinal had dismissed the little character who had brought the letter to him a month ago.
They were just curious why such a powerful person—someone who could find out about Tang Hao without alerting the snake—hadn't notified the cardinal or even the Pope Palace directly but instead let a child bring the letter. Since they couldn't come up with a logical reason, they left it aside.
"Give me that letter..." the woman, Bibi Dong, spoke.
"Yes, Your Majesty." The cardinal took out a letter with candy stains on the back and passed it to Bibi Dong using his soul power.
Bibi Dong opened the letter and read it with interest, a small smile forming on her lips.
A specific sentence in the letter caught her attention: "Tang Hao can escape under the eyes of a Level 98 Titled Douluo."
She had some guesses in mind but kept reading the letter.
After reading it completely, Bibi Dong summoned someone in the air.
A ghost-like man appeared out of thin air at her side, bowing.
"Send this to Spirit Hall. Tell them that Pope Palace is willing to send three Titled Douluos. No more than that," Bibi Dong spoke nonchalantly.
"Oh, you two aren't going. Choose another three," she added.
"Yes, Your Majesty." With that, the ghost-like figure disappeared.
Then Bibi Dong turned her attention to the kneeling cardinal and said, "You shall wait in the city. It won't take long."
The cardinal, hearing the hint, joyfully thanked Bibi Dong and left quickly. His promotion was coming. Although, with his Soul Saint-level strength, he wouldn't be promoted to Platinum Bishop, his position would definitely improve, giving him more power.
The old cardinal thought to himself: "So... I just have to wait for him to die?"
.....
On the other side, inside the Worship Temple,
Kneeling under the holy statue of the Angel, Qian Daoliu, the Grand Worshiper of Spirit Temple, one of the three Limit Douluos of this world known as Sky Douluo, waited patiently for his brothers to finish their discussion.
Soon, Golden Crocodile Douluo arrived silently and handed him the candy-stained letter, waiting patiently.
Qian Daoliu took a look, and after a moment of contemplation, he said simply: "You, along with Qian Jun and Jian Long."
"Make sure," he added lastly.
"Understood." Golden Crocodile Douluo left after nodding.
Among the worshipers, he was the only one besides Qian Daoliu who knew the whole story about Qian Xunji's death.
But he also knew that Qian Xunji's death was closely tied to Tang Hao. If it weren't for that injury, how could Bibi Dong have taken advantage?
Within a breath of time, six Titled Douluos were mobilized, heading toward the north.
It included three people from the Worship Hall—2nd Worship, 6th Worship, and 7th Worship—who were respectively Level 98, Level 96, and Level 96.
The other three were from Douluo Palace: Sea Turtle Douluo, Devil Bear Douluo, and Ghost Leopard Douluo, all at Level 94.
Such a lineup was enough to destroy any of the upper three sects and two empires, including the Clear Sky Hammer Sect. But whether it could end Tang Hao's life remained to be seen.