Within mere hours, the news of Tang Hao's audacious attack on the Holy Son of the Spirit Hall in the heart of the Heaven Dou Empire's capital had spread across the continent like wildfire, carried by swift messengers and precious communication spiritual tools.
In the Star Luo Empire, within the heavily guarded palace, Emperor Dai Xing and his wife, Empress Zhu Qinyun, received the news with a grim satisfaction. "Tang Hao attacked the Holy Son?" Dai Xing murmured, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Excellent. Perhaps the Spirit Hall will finally understand the consequences of their arrogance."
"Indeed," Zhu Qinyun agreed, her eyes gleaming with a cold light. "Let them taste the bitterness of their own medicine. This might even weaken their hold on the continent."
'That little brat caused Weisi so much humiliation,' she thought, a flicker of vengeful pleasure in her eyes. 'Maybe this Tang Hao has done us a favor.'
However, the reaction within the Spirit Hall was the polar opposite. Disbelief quickly turned into outrage and then a chilling fear. The Holy Son, their future, their hope, had been attacked! The news reached the ears of Pope Bibi Dong with terrifying speed.
What happened next sent shockwaves through the entire Spirit Hall. Bibi Dong, upon hearing the news, descended into a cold, terrifying fury unlike anything anyone had witnessed before. Her normally composed and regal demeanor shattered, replaced by a raw, primal rage.
"Tang Hao…" she hissed, her voice barely a whisper, yet it carried an immense pressure that made even the Titled Douluo present tremble. "Find him. Find Tang Hao, or find the entire Clear Sky Clan. Leave no stone unturned!" Her command echoed through the halls, sending every member of the Spirit Hall into a frenzy of action.
Then, in a display of power that left everyone present in utter shock, Bibi Dong unleashed her full might. A terrifying aura erupted from her body, a swirling vortex of dark and ethereal energy that painted the very air around her with shades of purple and black. Her soul power, reaching an unimaginable peak, revealed her true level to the world for the first time: Level 99, an Extreme Douluo.
The sheer force of her unleashed power caused the very foundations of the Spirit Hall to tremble. High above, in the Elder Hall, the golden gates swung open, and a figure descended with divine grace – Great Elder Qian Daoliu, the 'Invincible of the Sky', the other level 99 Extreme Douluo of the Spirit Hall.
Qian Daoliu landed before Bibi Dong, his usually serene face etched with shock. He could sense the immense power radiating from her, and a flicker of disbelief crossed his eyes. 'Her soul power… it feels even greater than mine!' he thought, a rare sense of astonishment washing over him.
"Bibi Dong," Qian Daoliu said, his voice grave, "what has happened?"
Bibi Dong's eyes, usually filled with a cold intelligence, now burned with a terrifying intensity. "Tang Hao," she spat out the name like venom. "That damned Tang Hao dared to attack my Qing'er! He will pay. The Clear Sky Clan will pay. I will slaughter them all, without mercy!" Her voice was filled with a chilling resolve that left no room for argument.
Qian Daoliu's own anger flared at her words. He had never forgiven Tang Hao for the grievous injuries he had inflicted on his son, Qian Xunji, years ago, injuries that had ultimately led to his death. And now, this same man had dared to attack the Holy Son, the future of their Spirit Hall. Tang Hao had truly crossed a line.
"I will support you fully, Bibi Dong," Qian Daoliu declared, his voice firm. "I will mobilize all our resources to find the location of the Clear Sky Clan. Tang Hao will face the consequences of his actions."
Standing beside her grandfather, Qian Renxue watched the exchange with wide, disbelieving eyes. The raw fury on Bibi Dong's face was something she had never witnessed before. 'That's… that's my mother?' she thought, a strange mix of shock and a flicker of something akin to understanding washing over her. The woman who had always been distant and cold towards her was now consumed by such intense emotion… for someone else.
However, the Clear Sky Clan's location remained a closely guarded secret. Bibi Dong, unable to immediately unleash her wrath upon her primary target, needed to vent her fury. Her next command was swift and brutal.
"Order an immediate attack on the Power Clan!" she roared. "They have always been closely associated with the Clear Sky Clan. Make them cough up their location. And declare this to the entire continent: any force that dares to offer refuge or support to Tang Hao or the Clear Sky Clan will be considered an enemy of the Spirit Hall and will be flattened without mercy!"
With these terrifying declarations echoing through the Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong didn't waste another moment. Her figure blurred, and she shot into the sky, heading directly towards the Heaven Dou Empire's Capital City with terrifying speed, her heart filled with a burning rage and a desperate worry for her beloved disciple.
She arrived at Dugu Bo's mansion like a storm, her overwhelming aura causing the Titled Douluo who were still anxiously gathered there to gasp in shock and alarm. They had been on edge, fearing Tang Hao's return, and the sudden appearance of the Pope, radiating such immense power, sent a fresh wave of fear through them.
Bibi Dong ignored their startled greetings and worried inquiries. Her eyes scanned the room, her focus solely on the unconscious figure lying on the bed. She moved with lightning speed towards Song Qing, her expression a terrifying mix of fury and anguish.
Seeing her precious Qing'er lying so still, his handsome face contorted in pain even in unconsciousness, sent another wave of rage crashing through Bibi Dong. Moreover, as she approached, she could sense the lingering insidious power clinging to his body… the power of the Deathgod Domain. A power she herself wielded!
Without hesitation, Bibi Dong reached out, her hand glowing with a dark, ethereal light. She gently placed it on Song Qing's chest, her own Deathgod Domain power flowing into his body, a dark yet controlled force battling the remnants of Tang Hao's attack. She meticulously neutralized the foreign, harmful energy, her control absolute.
It was only after a few tense moments, as the dark energy within Song Qing's body subsided under Bibi Dong's expert manipulation, that his pained expression finally eased. A slight tremor ran through his body, and the tension in his brow lessened, a small sign that the insidious grip of the Deathgod Domain had finally been broken. Bibi Dong finally let out a shaky breath, her eyes still filled with a fierce protectiveness.
~~
It was only after the oppressive aura surrounding Song Qing began to recede, his breathing becoming slightly more regular, that Bibi Dong finally turned her attention to the other occupants of the room. Her gaze swept across the chamber, seemingly dismissing the presence of the younger girls – Dugu Yan, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing – as if they were mere background noise in her current state of intense focus.
However, her eyes did linger momentarily on Ye Lingling, who had instinctively moved closer to Song Qing, her Nine Heart Begonia spirit radiating a soft, emerald glow. Bibi Dong observed with a keen eye as the gentle healing energy now seemed to be having a minuscule effect, slowly knitting together some of the surface wounds that the insidious power had ravaged. A flicker of approval crossed her face before her gaze finally settled on the five Titled Douluo present: Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Dugu Bo, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo.
Her gaze, though devoid of the raw fury she had displayed moments ago, still held a sharp edge of anger as she fixed it upon Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo. "Explain," she commanded, her voice low and dangerous, each word laced with barely suppressed rage. "Tell me exactly what happened here."
Ghost Douluo, his ghostly form flickering slightly under her intense gaze, stepped forward, his raspy voice filled with a rare hint of fear. "Your Holiness, we were accompanying the Holy Son as he was showing Young Miss Zhuqing around the market when… when Tang Hao suddenly appeared."
Chrysanthemum Douluo, his usual flamboyant demeanor replaced by a somber expression, continued the explanation. "He attacked without warning, Your Holiness. His target was clearly the Holy Son. We did our best to protect him, but Tang Hao's power… it was immense."
As they recounted the events – Tang Hao's sudden appearance, his stated intention, the fierce battle that ensued, and the sheer power of his final attack – Bibi Dong's expression darkened further. Her initial fury seemed to reignite, her eyes narrowing into dangerous slits.
'Tang Hao… that wretched man!' she thought, her fists clenching beneath her sleeves. 'He dared to lay a hand on my Qing'er! I will make him regret the day he was born.'
However, despite the burning rage within her, Bibi Dong maintained a semblance of her formidable intellect. She knew that these five Titled Douluo had stood against Tang Hao to protect her beloved disciple. A wave of gratitude, profound and sincere, washed over her, especially towards the three who were not directly under her command.
Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at Dugu Bo, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo. "Senior Dugu Bo, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo," she said, her voice now carrying a genuine warmth. "I… I am deeply grateful for your actions today. You risked your lives to protect my Qing'er, and I will never forget this."
Dugu Bo merely grunted, though a hint of pride flickered in his emerald eyes. "That little brat has grown on me, Pope Bibi Dong. Besides," he added, a touch of his usual gruffness returning, "he saved my entire family. I owed him this, and much more."
Sword Douluo Chen Xin offered a slight bow, his expression stoic. "Holy Son Song Qing is an ally of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Your Holiness. And he is a good friend of our young miss. Protecting him was simply the right thing to do."
Bone Douluo Gu Rong chuckled softly, his skeletal face turning towards Ning Rongrong, who was still clutching Song Qing's hand, her eyes brimming with tears. "Indeed, Your Holiness. Our granddaughter holds the Holy Son in high regard. We couldn't stand idly by while he was in danger."
Bibi Dong's gratitude deepened at their words. "Regardless of your reasons," she said, her voice sincere, "your actions were invaluable. The Spirit Hall will not forget this. I offer you my deepest thanks, and I assure you that you will be handsomely rewarded for your bravery and loyalty. Whatever you desire within the Spirit Hall's power, it shall be yours." Her offer was genuine, and the weight of her authority made it clear that this was not an empty promise.
Her expression then hardened once more, her gaze turning steely as she addressed all five Titled Douluo. "Now, listen carefully. My orders are absolute. I will personally hunt down Tang Hao and every single member of the Clear Sky Clan. They will all pay for this transgression." Her voice was cold, devoid of any emotion other than a chilling resolve.
"If any of you encounter Tang Hao, or any other member of the Clear Sky Clan, do not engage them. Understood? Do not engage. You are to inform me immediately. I will be the one to tear that man apart, piece by agonizing piece, for daring to harm my Qing'er." The intensity in her eyes left no doubt about the depth of her wrath.
She paused, her gaze sweeping over each of them, ensuring her words had been fully understood. "The Clear Sky Clan has been hiding for too long. Their time of reckoning has come. And Tang Hao… he will learn the true meaning of despair." Her final words hung in the air, heavy with the promise of retribution. The chamber fell silent, the only sound the soft, rhythmic breathing of the unconscious Song Qing, a stark reminder of the brutal attack that had just occurred and the storm of vengeance that was about to be unleashed.