"Are you saying that you want me to follow Elder Ju and Elder Gui to ambush the Heaven Dou Empire's participating Soul Master team?" Su Cheng glanced through the materials in his hand, a flicker of strangeness flashing in his eyes.
Bibi Dong noticed the odd expression on her disciple's face, mistaking it for a psychological barrier. She spoke solemnly, "That Tang San in the Heaven Dou Royal Academy team is the son of Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo, who is wanted by Spirit Hall. His mother died because of the former Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, so there is a deep blood feud between him and our Spirit Hall. With his powerful twin spirits, if we don't eliminate him, he'll become a major threat in the future. For the greater good, using some special means is sometimes necessary."
"For the greater good?"
"That's right, for the greater good," the female Supreme Pontiff's expression remained indifferent. "The two great empires have been at odds for a long time. If Spirit Hall hadn't mediated between them, the continent would have already been ravaged by wars, and the people would be suffering. Right now, many incompetents occupy high positions in these two nations. The aristocrats, who hoard vast resources, oppress the commoners, and avenues for advancement are almost entirely closed off."
At this, she turned her gaze to Su Cheng. "In fact, if not for Spirit Hall aiding the common people, even the soul masters from humble origins wouldn't have the chance to awaken their spirits. You're a perfect example of this. Su Cheng, think about it: if it hadn't been for the Spirit Hall dispatching soul masters to conduct free awakening ceremonies, would someone like you and your sister, with your backgrounds, have ever had the chance to become soul masters?"
Upon hearing this, Su Cheng glanced at her, slightly surprised she would bring up such an argument.
After some thought, he responded, "Teacher, it's not that I have an issue with your methods, but I'm only a Soul King."
Hearing his reply, Bibi Dong secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he could accept this approach, that was enough. She had been worried this disciple would be too morally rigid to agree with Spirit Hall's ways.
"Don't worry, this mission not only has two Titled Douluos leading it, but also several Soul Douluos accompanying them, so your safety will be fully guaranteed."
"Teacher, you misunderstand me. What I meant is, why do I have to go along? With such a powerful team, whether I participate or not won't affect the final outcome, right?"
"What are you thinking? Of course, I'm not asking you to contribute much in this mission. However, as a soul master, battles and conflicts are unavoidable. This is also a chance for you to gain some experience; going out into the world will do you good."
"…"
Su Cheng was rather helpless.
He had no interest in participating in such a meaningless operation.
With Ning Rongrong in the team, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan would likely accompany them. Given Sword Douluo Chen Xin's strength, it was uncertain whether Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo could succeed.
Moreover, aside from Chen Xin, Su Cheng had no idea about Dugu Bo's current situation or whether he had allied with Tang San.
Even if these individuals didn't intervene for one reason or another, Tang San still had Tang Hao secretly protecting him. If Su Cheng didn't take serious action himself, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo alone would not be a match for Tang San.
The two Douluo's strongest move was their Spirit Fusion ability, the "Polarized Stillness Domain." However, knowing Tang Hao's character, he wouldn't engage in a fair fight. If he chose to ambush them, those two Elders would undoubtedly fail.
At that point, Su Cheng wouldn't step in to expose himself either.
He was close to regaining his God-level power, and Su Yue was also rapidly improving. There was no need to stir up unnecessary trouble at this critical juncture.
But explaining all of this to Bibi Dong wasn't easy. If he kept refusing, it might arouse suspicion.
After a brief thought, he decided to avoid the matter in a different way.
"Teacher, I don't think this mission holds much significance."
"What do you mean?" Bibi Dong frowned slightly, a trace of displeasure arising in her heart. She had already sensed that this disciple was somewhat resistant to the task she had assigned.
"You said it yourself: Tang San is likely the son of Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo who has been missing for a long time. Would Tang Hao be so careless about his son's safety? His identity is already highly sensitive. With the Clear Sky Sect forced into seclusion and its strained relationship with Spirit Hall, now that Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer has been revealed on the battlefield, Tang Hao will surely be on guard."
"…"
Bibi Dong's expression froze, and she fell silent.
Tang Hao had been out of sight for so long that she hadn't even considered the existence of the once-famous Clear Sky Douluo.
Seeing that she remained quiet, Su Cheng continued, "Tang Hao is a Titled Douluo with a 100,000-year spirit ring, and his Clear Sky Hammer is one of the most powerful spirits. Years ago, he severely injured the former Supreme Pontiff. Even if he was wounded, he must have recovered after all these years. If Tang San's life is in danger, and Tang Hao intervenes, the elders of Spirit Hall might face mortal danger.
"Moreover, if the mission fails and alerts Tang Hao and Tang San, they might choose to retreat from the competition and go into hiding. Tracking them down will become nearly impossible. After all, Tang Hao has evaded Spirit Hall's pursuit for over ten years."
"Teacher, if you truly wish to kill Tang San, wouldn't it be better to wait until the Soul Master Tournament begins and seize an opportunity then? In Spirit City, we'll have the home advantage. With the assistance of the elders, we can always find a pretext to deal with him. By then, even if Tang Hao intervenes, he won't be able to save Tang San, and he might even lose his own life here."
Su Cheng didn't care much about Tang San's fate.
If Bibi Dong could actually kill Tang San in Spirit City, that would be a good outcome. As long as Su Cheng didn't have to expose himself or attract the attention of higher-level powers, it wouldn't be a problem.
However, he suspected that this plan wouldn't be easy to execute, and some other unexpected factors might allow Tang San to escape once again.
Across from him, Bibi Dong raised her eyebrows slightly. She felt that Su Cheng's points were somewhat reasonable.
Upon learning of Tang San's situation, she had become overly anxious, but there really was no need to rush.
Yet, this disciple...
She gazed at Su Cheng with an unusual look, her tone playful. "You're surprisingly nonchalant about this. I thought you would be strongly opposed to such actions."
"As your disciple, of course, I stand on the same side as my teacher." Su Cheng could only respond this way while trying to gauge her thoughts.
Bibi Dong in this world was strange, almost as if she wanted to be a good person, which often left Su Cheng unsure how to deal with her.
Fortunately, Bibi Dong seemed quite satisfied with Su Cheng's answer. She gently patted his shoulder and said softly, "It's good that you think that way. As for Tang San, there's no need to worry too much. Even with his twin spirits, I believe he won't be able to surpass you in the future."
"Mm." Su Cheng simply nodded and didn't say much more.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Your Majesty."
Suddenly, there was a light knock at the door. Bibi Dong's expression quickly returned to its usual calm, and she asked, "What is it?"
"Someone is holding an Elder's token and seeks an audience with you."
"An Elder's token?"
Bibi Dong was puzzled.
Besides the elders of Spirit Hall, only the heads of the upper three sects had the right to possess an Elder's token.
But who among them would come to Spirit City at this time seeking her audience?
She spread her spiritual power instantly, and in the next moment, she sensed the presence of the person waiting outside the hall.
A soul master with a power level just over 30, possessing extremely ordinary soul power. In the entire Spirit City, this person was quite unremarkable.
Yet, Bibi Dong recognized him.
At the same time, Su Cheng also sensed Yu Xiaogang's presence.
"A Soul Elder?"
His mind stirred.
Yu Xiaogang had been stuck at the Soul Grandmaster level for years due to his limited talent, so this breakthrough couldn't have been achieved by his own ability.
So, had Tang San managed to obtain some herbs from the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well?
Su Cheng smirked inwardly but wasn't particularly concerned about it.
The immortal herbs there had long been dealt with by him. As for the other rare and precious herbs, they had limited effects on Spirit Masters. While they could provide energy to help Spirit Masters improve their levels, they couldn't fundamentally upgrade one's aptitude.
Moreover, this kind of enhancement also came with side effects. If not handled properly, it could accumulate a lot of toxic residue from the herbs, which would be detrimental in the future.
If it weren't for this, even though that place was blessed by the remains of the Ice and Fire Dragon Kings, and even in front of Su Yue, he would have cleared it all out.
However, Tang San did have some skills. Even without the constitution that rendered him immune to all poisons, it was still unknown how he managed to concoct an antidote and deal with Dugu Bo.
Just as Su Cheng was deep in thought, he suddenly heard Bibi Dong decisively refuse: "I won't see him. Let him go back the way he came."
"Yes."
"Wait."
The guard was just about to leave when Bibi Dong called out to stop him again. Then, under Su Cheng's surprised gaze, she continued, "Also, take back his Elder's Token. That's not something that belongs to him."
"...Understood."
Hearing this, the guard outside the door paused for a moment, but the Pope's decision was clearly not something he could question.
The Elder's Token, which was originally issued by Spirit Hall to visiting guests, was merely a token of goodwill towards the Upper Three Sects.
Although it seemed unreasonable to retrieve it so casually, the Spirit Hall still had the right to do so.
What's more, since the Pope had declared that this person was not a true elder, the problem obviously didn't lie with Spirit Hall. Taking back the token was the right thing to do. The fact that they weren't arresting the man was already considered lenient.
In truth, the guards had already found it strange that a Spirit Master of such low strength could possess an Elder's Token from Spirit Hall.
Now, it seemed, the person really was an imposter.
After the guard left, Bibi Dong noticed the surprise in Su Cheng's eyes.
She hesitated slightly, then voluntarily explained, "That person could be considered an old acquaintance of mine. His aptitude is mediocre. We haven't had contact for many years, and I don't know how he managed to get his hands on an Elder's Token and come here to Spirit City."
"Since he's an old acquaintance, why not meet him?"
Bibi Dong smiled faintly and casually said, "We haven't kept in touch for nearly ten years... If he hadn't come today, I would have almost forgotten about him. There's no point in meeting him; it likely wouldn't be for anything good."
"I guess that person probably doesn't think the same way. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to impersonate a Spirit Hall elder and come to request an audience with the Pope." Su Cheng's eyes flickered as he suddenly asked, "Impersonating a Spirit Hall elder seems to be against the rules, doesn't it?"
"In theory, yes. But I can't be bothered to deal with him. Arresting him would only create a lot of unnecessary trouble, so I might as well just take back the token and let him leave. After all, he's just a Spirit Elder; he can't stir up any waves."
"Teacher, your old acquaintance is only a Spirit Elder?"
"Yes. Don't be fooled by the fact that I've been in Spirit Hall since I was young, holding the revered position of Holy Maiden. I never liked using my status to intimidate others. In fact, I'm just like you, having come from a common background, a humble family... Do you want to hear about my past?"
"You're willing to share it with me?"
"Hmm, there's nothing I can't say."
Bibi Dong's expression shifted as she slowly turned and stood in front of the large floor-to-ceiling window, lost in thought.
The slanting afternoon sunlight poured in, casting her long shadow at her feet.
"Actually, maybe you shouldn't tell me."
"Hmm?"
Hearing this, she turned around in surprise.
Her delicate and defined features, illuminated from one side, cast soft shadows, adding layers to her beauty yet also giving off a slightly oppressive feeling.
"Didn't you tell me before to let the past stay in the past, not to let it affect us, and that things would get better in the future?" Su Cheng also walked up to the window, gazing at the setting sun.
He stretched lazily and said softly, "The morning sun feels much more comfortable. Every time it gets to this hour in the afternoon, it always makes people feel a bit down."
Bibi Dong followed his gaze and turned her head back toward the window, chuckling, "Indeed, the rising sun gives a better feeling. But after the sun sets, it won't take long for a new one to rise the next day. There's no need to feel regret. However, unlike the sun, people can't start over again. I'm already getting old."
"Teacher, you're nearly fifty, right?"
Bibi Dong's face froze, and a cold light flickered in her eyes. "If you don't know how to speak properly, you don't have to speak at all. Don't think I won't get angry."
She had only been casually self-deprecating, but who would have thought this kid would take her words seriously and respond so bluntly?
Using a woman's age as a topic—how bold could he be?
"Age is just a number. The sun has risen and set for countless years, but who really pays attention to its actual age? I used to hear the old folks in my village say that someone only truly gets old when they start dwelling on the past and reminiscing about old times."
"..."
Bibi Dong was momentarily stunned by his words.
"So, teacher, if you still feel young, then stop thinking about all those chaotic things from the past. Wouldn't it be better to look forward? I read that once a Spirit Master reaches the rank of Titled Douluo, their lifespan is greatly extended, and they could live for hundreds more years."
Su Cheng turned his head and smiled at her. "If you keep talking about your past like today, I might have to suspect that you really are getting old."
Bibi Dong's eyes shimmered briefly, but she immediately pursed her lips and turned her head away, pretending to be serious as she said, "You little rascal, always so glib. Since when did I need you to teach me?"