Chapitre 11: [DD]: 11
They arrived at the place where Guang Ling was in seclusion. The vast soul power, carrying a hint of chill, surged around, making Han Li and Xiu'er feel a slight sense of suffocation. Instinctively, they opened their mouths wide, trying to take in more oxygen.
Seeing this, Azure Luan hurriedly condensed a soul power shield in front of them, allowing the two to return to normal.
Han Li suppressed the shock in his heart. Although he had successfully become a soul master, in his understanding, Title Douluo was still the butt of everyone's jokes. Experiencing it firsthand now, he quickly put away his disdain.
"Martial Uncle, does the breakthrough of my master cause such a big commotion?"
He looked at the clouds in the sky being blown away, observed the items around that were constantly being damaged under the pressure of the overflowing soul power, and recalled the moment when it felt like his throat was being choked. With a dry mouth, he asked.
"Yes, to be precise, only after reaching level ninety-five does each breakthrough cause such a commotion. When your second uncle broke through, the commotion wasn't as great as your master's. This should be related to the fact that he comprehended some elements. As for your first uncle, I'm not sure."
Azure Luan looked thoughtfully at the intertwined icy aura in mid-air and slowly responded.
"Is that so?"
Han Li silently memorized his words and stopped talking, waiting quietly.
The three of them were the first to arrive here. Fortunately, Guang Ling had already given instructions before going into seclusion to evacuate everyone in the mansion, so no one dared to approach now.
As the surging aura continued to intensify, a few more people approached one after another; they were the other Worships, except Qian Daoliu was not present.
"Why are they here too?"
The Lion Douluo turned its head, gesturing towards the three who had just reached the mountaintop, with a hint of puzzlement in his voice.
The other Worships shook their heads, no one responding, and they also did not mean to greet them.
Following their gaze, Han Li's eyes narrowed slightly. Although no one introduced them, he recognized who they were at a glance.
The leading woman appeared very beautiful, wearing a dazzling golden gown from head to toe, extremely fitting. The resplendent gown glittered with over a hundred red, blue, and gold gemstones. She wore a nine-curved purple-gold crown on her head and held a two-meter-long scepter inlaid with countless gems.
Such attire looked very sacred in the bright daylight on the worship mountain. Coupled with her extremely beautiful appearance and fair skin that seemed to glow, the first impression she gave was no less than that of seeing the Angel Statue for the first time, making one feel the urge to worship.
Who else could this be but the current Pope, Bibi Dong? Unfortunately, Han Li did not buy it. Instead, he raised his guard to the highest level, not daring to let his gaze linger too long. He turned his attention to the two people behind her.
Yue Guan, Chrysanthemum Douluo, dressed in an extremely bright red robe with gold and silver patterns, had a gemstone the size of a baby's fist hanging on his chest. His bewitching face made it hard to distinguish his gender. Seeing Han Li look at him, he even smiled and winked.
Damn, Han Li's heart churned, quickly shifted his gaze to the other person, but found he could only see a blurry black figure, even in this bright daylight, unable to make out any details.
Gui Mei, Ghost Douluo, truly mysterious, Han Li thought, but he stopped scrutinizing and looked forward again.
After he retracted his gaze, the three people opposite began to scrutinize him and Xiu'er. This was their first time seeing the lucky boy from their intelligence reports, who had unexpectedly risen to become a disciple of Guang Ling. Furthermore, Guang Ling's actions to mobilize the followers' families did not escape their notice.
It seemed that Guang Ling was very attentive to this disciple. The soul power fluctuations around him indicated that he had just broken through, but was it to the thirteenth or fourteenth level? Bibi Dong glanced at the little boy and had a fleeting thought, but then dismissed it. A newly minted soul master was not worth her concern.
Just then, a stronger surge of energy erupted from Guang Ling's closed cultivation place. The room collapsed in the turbulent air, and a crystal-clear bow slowly rose into the air, radiating intense ice and light elements, almost illuminating the entire sky of Wuhun City.
"Hahaha, I've successfully broken through to level ninety-seven."
In an instant, the radiant bow vanished, transforming into a streak of blue-white light that returned to the ground. Guang Ling's figure emerged from it, a smug smile on his face.
"Congratulations, Fifth Brother."
"You brat, that's enough. Stop showing off and retract your aura."
"Guang Ling, your luck is something. I just wonder when I'll be able to break through."
Several Worships continuously congratulated Guang Ling, ignoring his provocative smile—they were long used to it.
Meanwhile, the three people in the distance also approached, seemingly to offer their congratulations.
"It seems the Fifth Worship has grown much stronger. Congratulations."
Not far away, Bibi Dong's voice also rang out, though it carried no hint of joy.
The Woships exchanged glances, cupped their hands together, and spoke in unison, "Greetings, Your Holiness."
Han Li frowned and discreetly pulled Xiu'er back a few steps, blending in among the Worships and bowing.
Bibi Dong didn't pay attention to their greetings but instead focused her gaze in Guang Ling's direction.
"Fifth Worship, as a colleague in the Martial Soul Hall, would you mind sharing some insights on your breakthrough? You know, Elder Chrysanthemum and Elder Ghost have been stuck at level ninety-five for quite some time. If they could gain some understanding, it would greatly enhance the strength of the Martial Soul Hall."
Indeed, this was Bibi Dong's purpose for bringing the two elders here. Though she knew the chances were slim, she wouldn't give up without trying. That's why she invoked the name of the Martial Soul Hall rather than using her authority as the Pope—Guang Ling didn't care about her status.
Hearing her words, a flash of anger crossed Guang Ling's face. He had no reason to guide them; who did Bibi Dong think she was to use the Martial Soul Hall to pressure him?
He then recalled the instances where he had suffered losses in their repeated clashes and forcefully suppressed his urge to curse. He responded indifferently, "Your Holiness, didn't you also break through the level ninety-five barrier? Why don't you personally guide the two elders? Are you unwilling, or are you afraid that they will join the Worship Hall after their breakthrough?"
Bibi Dong's expression remained unchanged, but her grip on the staff tightened slightly.
She wasn't worried about them joining the Worship Hall after their breakthrough, but Guang Ling's words hit a sore spot. Was she unwilling to guide them? No, she simply couldn't. Though she had become a Super Douluo, her path was entirely different from others. Her strength came from forcefully breaking through by absorbing the soul rings of her second martial soul. Moreover, the Rakshasa God's assessment, while not providing much help, still gave her a green light for this breakthrough. Thus, she had no real insights to offer.
Or rather, her second martial soul is the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor. After devouring Qian Xunji, along with accumulating soul rings along the way, she unintentionally met the requirements. However, being influenced, she didn't notice at all. Now, she is entirely focused on destroying the Qian family legacy and dealing with the divine tests, leaving no time to consider these things. After all, she has already achieved it.
Unexpectedly, Guang Ling's unintended words put her in a difficult position, leaving her with no way to advance or retreat.
For a moment, the scene fell into a strange atmosphere.
It wasn't just Bibi Dong feeling uncomfortable; the faces of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo behind her were also troubled. Whether they spoke up or remained silent, it was a difficult situation.
They had considered this issue before. As Bibi Dong's most trusted subordinates, they had been stuck at level ninety-five for a long time. More than anyone, they wanted to break through. The problem was that they had witnessed Bibi Dong's gradual rise in levels, and they had even helped her add some soul rings. However, Bibi Dong had never mentioned how she managed to break through as if she didn't need any insights at all.
Their leader never brought it up, and more importantly, this leader often seemed to lose her mind. They frequently sensed a dangerous aura from Bibi Dong. Would they dare to ask? At the very least, they didn't. Now, Guang Ling had brought this issue to the forefront, leaving them at a loss for what to do.
Not only were the three newcomers feeling uncomfortable, but Han Li, who stood behind the Worships, also felt a mix of emotions. He hadn't expected his teacher's verbal attacks to be so fierce. He knew his teacher was a die-hard loyalist of the Angel lineage, but the relationship was this hostile? This was practically a direct slap in Bibi Dong's face.
Teacher, you should be more mindful. This woman is not a good person. If it weren't for the divine trials suppressing her power, at her peak, Han Li did not doubt that Bibi Dong would seize any opportunity to secretly kill Guang Ling, who often sneaks out
In the current situation, Bibi Dong couldn't do anything to Guang Ling, but could she do something to him? Han Li believed she definitely would. He trusted that Bibi Dong had thought of this too.
Seeing his reckless teacher about to speak again, Han Li quickly activated his soul bone skill to urgently contact Guang Ling. Over the past three months, he and Azure Luan had tested it: as long as Han Li intentionally controlled it, in one-way communication, even Azure Luan would find it hard to detect unless he deliberately investigated. Weaker individuals wouldn't notice even if messages were passed right in front of them.
It was time for the skill, nurtured for a hundred days, to prove its worth. Telepathic tide, activate.
Just as Guang Ling was about to press his advantage, he heard his precious disciple's voice in his mind, causing him to pause.
"Teacher, stop berating her. You don't want your beloved disciple to be killed by Bibi Dong someday, do you? Remember, you're not alone now. I'm only six years old. How could you bear to see that happen?"
Guang Ling's body stiffened for a moment. He closed his open mouth and didn't continue his verbal assault.
The Worships present were somewhat surprised to see Guang Ling open his mouth and then close it again. Was this Guang Ling? How did he become so much more composed after a breakthrough?
Only Azure Luan's eyes flickered, seemingly guessing something. He glanced unobtrusively at Han Li behind him.
Of course, it wasn't just him. Bibi Dong, not far away, also noticed, her eyes flickering. Possessing divine power, she naturally sensed the nearly imperceptible energy wave from Han Li to Guang Ling and roughly guessed the reason for Guang Ling's sudden pause.
Did Han Li know he would be discovered by Bibi Dong? Of course, he did. This was intentional. Although he didn't like Bibi Dong and didn't want to be her lapdog, he also didn't want to be targeted. This desperate measure was his way of temporarily maintaining stability.
He could only hope that Bibi Dong would remain rational and not abandon her restraint because of the butterfly effect from his small interference. Based on the original storyline, Bibi Dong maintained a stoic demeanor for a long time, settling and biding her time.
"Teacher, she's still the Pope, appointed by the Grand Worship. Even if you dislike her, you have to show some respect for the Grand Worship's sake. She wants you to guide the two elders. Then do it. Make them trade something for it. Give them something that sounds profound but is useless. Wouldn't that work?"
"Think about it. This way, you get something in return and receive the gratitude of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. You also give a face to the Grand Worship. If they can't break through after listening, that's their problem, not yours. You gain tangible benefits, and they lose valuable items. Even if they realize it later, they'll have to swallow their anger. When others bring it up, they'll still have to thank you. Isn't this better than confrontation?"
"Tell me, isn't this the right approach? Letting Bibi Dong suffer continuously or settling things now—what's the better choice? We get both respect and benefits."
Guang Ling's eyes lit up as he listened. Why hadn't he thought of that before?
"Hey, this kid is like me. Yes, he truly takes after me. As expected of my disciple. Let's do it this way."
So, amidst the strange looks from the crowd, Guang Ling adjusted his collar, cleared his throat, took a few steps forward, and proactively shifted the topic. He slowly said, "It's not impossible to hear my insights. But as the old saying goes, even brothers settle accounts. Even though we're all part of the Martial Soul Hall, I can't just give you such important insights for free, can I?"
The Worships were momentarily stunned, but they nodded in agreement, though puzzled. Opposite him, Bibi Dong showed no expression, while Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo nodded eagerly like pecking chickens. No one wanted to break through more than they did, and it was only normal to pay a price for something so valuable.
Guang Ling's expression seemed a bit strange as if he was listening to something. After a brief pause, he looked at the three people opposite him and spoke:
"Want to hear it? Fine, but let me be clear upfront—I don't guarantee it'll be useful to you."
"After all, at this level, everyone's insights are different, right?"
"And these are my lifelong insights. How could I share them so easily?"
"So, there has to be a price."
Guang Ling enunciated this last sentence word by word. His words, when they reached everyone's ears, were like thunderclaps. Could this be Guang Ling speaking? When did Guang Ling become so money-minded?
Before anyone could respond, Guang Ling continued, "Soul bones..."
As soon as he mentioned this, Bibi Dong gripped her scepter tightly, and Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo looked desperate. But then they heard Guang Ling's next words, and they breathed a sigh of relief.
"Soul bones—you probably don't have any. So, let's trade with something else."
He glanced at the two of them and said unhurriedly, "Each of you give me one million gold soul coins, plus some herbs. Don't say you don't have any—if you don't, the deal's off. Also, having just broken through, I plan to take some time to cultivate myself. Little Chrysanthemum, give me your flower cultivation notes and all your plant catalogs. Remember, all of them. Hmm, and it'd be best if you also provide samples."
"These terms, in exchange for insights at level ninety-seven, aren't too much, right?"
Guang Ling looked at Bibi Dong with a smile, seeming very sincere.
"Of course, it's not too much. But, Fifth Worship, how can you guarantee the authenticity of your insights?" Bibi Dong shot back with a veiled barb.
"Guarantee? I can't guarantee. I'm also worried you might say you gained nothing after reading them. I can only say that my insights are genuine. I swear on the honor of the Angel God," Guang Ling retorted before adding solemnly.
The Angel God, huh? Bibi Dong first sneered inwardly but then realized Guang Ling was probably sincere, given his unwavering loyalty to the Qian family.
Thinking of this, she glanced at the small figure among the Worships who had been keeping his head down. So, Guang Ling's change was for his sake? Fine, that works for her. Her goal was achieved, and she also discovered the weakness of this mad dog, Guang Ling.
Just wait, Guang Ling. Now is not the time for reckoning. In the future, when you have to choose between the Qian family and your disciple, then you'll truly feel the pain. Enjoy this warmth while it lasts, because it will make the eventual suffering all the more bitter.
"Alright, let's do it that way."
Bibi Dong looked at Guang Ling, seemingly waiting for him to speak.
"No, Your Holiness. Payment first. That's only fair. I'll write down my insights and have them ready by tomorrow. They can bring the items to me then."
Guang Ling directly refused, as he hadn't even come up with the insights yet. How could he explain them now?
"Fine."
Bibi Dong gave him a deep look. Although she still had her doubts, she didn't continue to press him. She couldn't refuse, even if she knew there might be issues. Any hesitation on her part would be a fatal blow to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. Besides, it wasn't her giving up the items, so she might as well agree.
With the deal struck, she had no desire to stay any longer. She turned and left with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo in tow.
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