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Xiao Ruier stood in the middle of the clearing, her heart racing as she looked at Tang Chen. She saw his profile, which was filled with a mix of anxiety and a strong sense of purpose. Without thinking for even a second, she spoke up. She told him that she would go back with him.
When Tang Chen heard those words, he stopped walking instantly. He turned around to face her with a very serious look on his face. He reached out a hand as if to physically stop her from moving forward. He told her no and explained that it was far too dangerous for her to come along. He admitted that while he had grown much stronger over the last few months, Spirit Hall was still a massive and terrifying power.
He worried that if they ran into someone as powerful as Bibi Dong again, he would not be able to keep her safe. He explained that the world of humans was much more complicated and cruel than the life they knew in the forest. He finished by saying she would be much safer staying right here in the Star Dou Great Forest.
Xiao Ruier was not convinced. She shook her head with a stubborn look, her golden eyes glowing with a determination that no one could argue with. She spoke in a deep, firm voice and told him she must go back with him. She said that where he went, she went, and that she simply was not afraid of the danger.
Tang Chen looked into her eyes and saw how desperate she was to stay by his side. He felt moved by her love, but he was still very worried. He opened his mouth to try and persuade her again, but he was interrupted.
A sharp whooshing sound cut through the air. Suddenly, a heavy and powerful pressure fell over the entire area. Di Tian appeared in front of them like a ghost, his tall figure commanding respect. He looked directly at Xiao Ruier with eyes that held great authority. He told her that she could not be willful this time and follow him into the human world. He explained that he could not secretly leave the Star Dou Great Forest to watch over her from the shadows like he had done in the past.
Di Tian looked toward the edge of the Great Fierce Land, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. He mentioned that news had just arrived from the borders. They had discovered traces of human Titled Douluo activity, and no one knew what they were planning. He said that in these uncertain times, he had to stay in the forest and could not leave his post.
Then, Di Tian turned his attention to Tang Chen. He thought for a moment before making a new plan. He reached out and gently patted Tang Chen on the shoulder. He said that it was indeed worrying to let him return to Heaven Dou City all by himself. He decided that he would have the Scarlet King go with him to the human world.
He assured them that with the Scarlet King at his side, ordinary Titled Douluo would not be a threat. He added that if a crisis happened that the Scarlet King could not handle, the beast could either get him away quickly or send a message back to the forest. He pointed out that this was a much safer plan than having Xiao Ruier go along.
As soon as Di Tian finished talking, a low roar echoed from a distance. A huge, crimson shape tore through the air and raced toward them. Di Tian's plan was smart because it kept Tang Chen safe, kept the forest stable, and stopped Xiao Ruier from taking a huge risk.
Tang Chen looked at Di Tian and nodded with great respect. He thanked the Beast God for his help. However, Xiao Ruier still looked very uneasy. Her beautiful face was full of worry and she was clearly not happy. She furrowed her golden eyebrows and asked what would happen if Spirit Hall sent many Peak Douluo to attack them.
She worried that even the Scarlet King might not be enough to guarantee Tang Chen's safety. She knew very well that the power of Spirit Hall was much deeper than just one or two masters.
Di Tian saw how much she was worrying, and for a rare moment, his majestic face softened with a bit of gentle kindness. He told her to rest easy and looked back at Tang Chen. He reminded her that the boy was carrying his reverse scale.
He explained that if things got bad, he could use the bond with that scale to send a portion of his own power to Tang Chen from far away.
He said that while the power would not last a long time, it would be enough to give him a massive boost to handle any crisis. He promised that even if multiple Peak Douluo from the human world attacked at once, they would not be able to truly kill him under those conditions.
After hearing this promise, Xiao Ruier finally felt a little bit better. She knew that Di Tian was a man of his word. If he said Tang Chen would be safe, then there was no more reason to fear for his life. She took a deep breath and looked back at Tang Chen. Her golden eyes were full of deep love and care. She did not say another word, but she waved her hand gently.
A bright golden flash filled the air. A long spear appeared in her hand. It was made entirely of gold and featured an ancient design of a dragon's head. It was the golden dragon spear. She held it out to him and told him to take it. She said it was connected to her heart and that it might be able to help him when he needed it most. She gave him this precious Divine Artifact without any hesitation at all.
Tang Chen felt a wave of warmth in his chest as he looked at the spear. He did not say no. He nodded and stepped forward to pull her into a hug. He whispered into her ear, telling her to wait for him to come back. After holding her for a moment, he let go and took the heavy golden spear into his hands. He took one last long look at her, trying to memorize her face, before turning toward the direction of Heaven Dou City.
The Scarlet King had arrived just outside the cave. He let out a low growl to show he was ready to leave. Di Tian gave a small nod. The group shared one last look, and then Tang Chen and the Scarlet King moved. They turned into two streaks of light, one red and one blue, and sped away toward the edge of the forest.
At the same time, inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace in Spirit City, the atmosphere was very different. The hall was large and very quiet. Bibi Dong sat high up on her throne. She wore a purple-gold crown, and her face was as cold as ice. She was listening to a report from a Cardinal who was kneeling below her.
The Cardinal reported that the operation from the night before was a massive success. He said they had ruined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and destroyed their home. He went on to list the numbers. He said over 4,400 people from the school had been killed, including many powerful masters like Spirit Saints, Spirit Kings, and Spirit Emperors. They had taken all the gold and supplies, and the castle was mostly burned to the ground.
The Cardinal sounded a bit excited at first, but his voice became serious as he talked about their own losses. He admitted that they had lost over five hundred Spirit Masters and one Elder who was a Titled Douluo. Several Cardinals had also been killed or badly hurt. He looked up at Bibi Dong's face very carefully as he continued.
He told her that Ning Fengzhi and the Bone Douluo, Gu Rong, had managed to escape even though they were badly injured. Their students had protected them as they fled, and no one knew where they were now. He also mentioned that the Sword Douluo, Chen Xin, was also missing after losing an arm in a fight against four Titled Douluo.
The Cardinal finished by saying that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was now destroyed. He said they would not be able to recover for a very long time. Bibi Dong sat perfectly still while she listened. She tapped her fingers on the arm of her throne. She did not seem to care at all about the soldiers she had lost. The numbers did not move her.
However, when she heard that the leaders had escaped and that Chen Xin was still alive, she frowned just a little bit. she remarked that letting the leaders escape meant there would be trouble later on. Then she decided it did not matter because the school was no longer a threat. She gave the order to keep searching and to wipe out any members of the school who were still hiding outside.
The Cardinal bowed low and left the room. Just then, Yue Guan, who was known as the Chrysanthemum Douluo, stepped forward. He had been standing by her side the whole time. He bowed and asked what the next move should be. He asked if they should keep going with the Soul Hunting Operation or if they should go to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt the two Hundred Thousand Year Spirit Beasts.
Bibi Dong looked out into the distance, her mind already working on the next part of her plan. The room remained cold and silent as she thought about her enemies. The power of Spirit Hall was growing, and she would not stop until everyone submitted to her will. The fate of the mainland was resting in her hands, and she felt no pity for those who stood in her way.
Back in the forest, the wind blew through the trees where Xiao Ruier stood watching the spot where Tang Chen had disappeared. She held her breath, hoping that the golden dragon spear would keep him safe. She knew the path ahead of him was full of blood and battle, but she trusted in his strength.
The Scarlet King and Tang Chen moved through the trees like lightning. They did not stop to rest. Every step brought them closer to the human cities and the brewing war. Tang Chen gripped the spear tightly. He knew that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had been attacked, and he knew that his friends were in danger.
He had to get to Heaven Dou City before it was too late. He could feel the power of the reverse scale humming under his skin, a gift from the Beast God that might be the only thing that saves him.
In the world of Spirit Masters, power was everything. Rank and rings decided who lived and who died. As a Spirit Ancestor, Tang Chen was strong for his age, but he was going up against the strongest people in the world.
He knew that even with the help of a Great Beast, the journey would be the hardest thing he had ever done. He looked at the sky and saw the sun beginning to set, casting long shadows over the land. The war had begun, and there was no turning back now.
Bibi Dong stood up from her throne and walked to the window. She looked out over Spirit City, a place of beauty and terror. She knew that the world was changing. The old powers were falling, and a new era was coming. She did not care who had to die to make it happen. Her eyes were fixed on the future, a future where she ruled over everything.
The Cardinal's words about Yu Xiaogang echoed in the back of her mind, but she pushed them away. There was no room for the past in her heart. She had a mission to complete, and she would let nothing stop her.
The hunt for the Spirit Beasts would come soon enough, but first, she had to make sure the human world was under her thumb. The pieces were all moving on the board, and she was the one playing the game.
The Scarlet King let out another roar, signaling that they were almost out of the forest. Tang Chen looked back one last time. He promised himself that he would return to the forest and to the girl who gave him her heart. But for now, he had to be a warrior. He had to be the hero that his friends needed. With the golden dragon spear in hand, he leapt forward into the unknown.