The Celestial Nine-Tailed Fox Flower, capable of evolving fox-type Martial Souls?
As Lin Yu introduced the flower, Bibi Dong's regal, beautiful face showed a slight change in expression. She gazed at the white and green flower with its nine long, tail-like leaves covered in soft white fur, resembling the tail of a fox. The petals of the flower even took the shape of a fox's head.
This Nine-Tailed Fox Flower… it's perfect for Nana. I'll give it to her when I return, Bibi Dong thought to herself.
"There's no need for apologies, nor gifts. I wouldn't say you offended me, and neither I nor the Spirit Hall are so small-minded as to hold grudges over such trivial matters," Bibi Dong stated calmly.
"But these two immortal herbs are indeed useful, and I'll shamelessly accept them on behalf of the Spirit Hall. Consider it as Spirit Hall owing you a favor."
"As for your idea about refining medicinal pills—if you manage to succeed and start selling them in large quantities, rest assured, we'll send people over to check them out."
Bibi Dong spoke as she stored the two jade boxes containing the immortal herbs in her spatial soul tool, giving Lin Yu a final glance before turning to leave.
With a casual flick of two of her eight spider legs, Bibi Dong shot out webs, binding Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, both still recovering from their injuries. Her figure blurred as she soared through the air, flying toward the central city of Heaven Dou.
Behind her, the two bound Titled Douluo were yanked into the sky, vanishing from sight alongside Bibi Dong.
Watching their departure, Lin Yu deactivated his Golden Dragon Martial Soul and withdrew all his other Martial Souls.
Even though he had defeated Bibi Dong, Lin Yu did not allow himself to become overconfident. He was fully aware that neither of them had fought with their full strength.
While Lin Yu had restrained himself, only using his first and second gears, and hadn't touched his third or fourth, he knew Bibi Dong had also held back considerably.
Bibi Dong, after all, was the successor to the Rakshasa God and had undergone multiple divine trials. Her power had already reached the pinnacle of Rank 99, the limit of a human Titled Douluo.
Moreover, Lin Yu knew she possessed the Rakshasa God's artifact, the Rakshasa Scythe, which she hadn't used in their battle. She had also kept her ninth spirit ability, Undying Body, and her second Martial Soul, the Devouring Soul Spider Emperor, in reserve.
Lin Yu recalled that Bibi Dong's ninth spirit ability, Undying Body, had two abilities: resurrection after death and the ability to transform her body into pure energy. Bibi Dong had likely mastered these techniques to an extremely high level. Combined with her exceptional combat skills, they would make her a truly formidable opponent if unleashed.
Her second Martial Soul, the Devouring Soul Spider Emperor, was a spirit-type Martial Soul. Although Lin Yu had begun cultivating the Lotus Meditation Technique, his soul and spiritual power still lagged behind Bibi Dong's.
If she had used that Martial Soul, Lin Yu would have found it much more difficult to deal with her.
Sigh… it looks like I'll need to keep training and remain low-key for now, Lin Yu thought to himself, reflecting on how much of Bibi Dong's power she had yet to reveal. He shook his head slightly as he turned to fly back to the Dugu Bo's Mansion in a flash of lightning.
Upon his return, he was greeted by Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan, who immediately came forward to ask about the situation.
…
Elsewhere, after leaving the Dugu Bo's Mansion, Bibi Dong, holding her Pope's Scepter and dressed in her flowing purple robes, flew rapidly through the sky with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo in tow. Soon, they reached the Spirit Hall branch in Heaven Dou City and descended into its confines, carrying the injured Titled Douluo with her.
This entire series of events had been closely observed by a member of the Strength Clan who had been tasked with tracking Bibi Dong.
The spy from the Strength Clan wasted no time in returning to the clan's headquarters, where he reported everything to their leader, Taitan.
"Bibi Dong has entered the Spirit Hall branch with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo?" Taitan and Tang Hao gathered in a secret chamber, both frowned deeply upon hearing the report.
Initially, they believed Bibi Dong's visit to Heaven Dou City was merely to acquire the immortal herbs in Dugu Bo's possession. But to their surprise, Bibi Dong had left Dugu Bo's estate empty-handed, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo seriously injured.
This development left the situation ambiguous and uncertain.
Taitan was confident that the spies sent by Spirit Hall had not uncovered any trace of Tang Hao or Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang in the Strength Clan's territory.
Tang Hao, a Rank 95 Titled Douluo, was more than capable of hiding his presence, making it impossible for anyone to detect him. As for Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, Taitan had hidden him in a secret chamber deep within the clan's grounds, ensuring he couldn't be discovered.
Meanwhile, Tang San, skilled in disguise, had already left the Strength Clan's residence and was staying near the Great Spirit Arena with Dai Mubai, honing his combat skills daily. No one would suspect him there.
Despite these precautions, Taitan still feared that Spirit Hall might fabricate a reason to act against the Strength Clan, accusing them of harboring Tang Hao and his companions. If Bibi Dong were to inspect the premises, there was a chance she could discover something.
"Taitan, are you sure Spirit Hall hasn't found us?" Tang Hao asked in a low, steady voice from the secret chamber.
"Master, you have nothing to worry about. I've had our people on high alert, and while Spirit Hall has indeed sent spies to infiltrate our grounds several times, they've found nothing," Taitan responded confidently.
"Let's hope so," Tang Hao replied, though there was a hint of lingering unease.
The Strength Clan's spies continued to monitor the Spirit Hall branch closely.
Not long after Bibi Dong had entered, the Hall sent someone to the Nine Heart Begonia Clan, requesting the presence of their clan leader, Ye Zixin.
Before long, Bibi Dong emerged from the Spirit Hall branch, accompanied by Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, who had finally recovered. The trio flew off into the distance, leaving Heaven Dou City behind.
Once the Strength Clan received confirmation of Bibi Dong's departure, Taitan and Tang Hao both breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed Spirit Hall hadn't discovered them after all.
…
Time passed quickly, and soon over a month had gone by.
The biennial gathering of the Four Great Clans was fast approaching, with the Strength Clan hosting the event this time.
As the gathering drew nearer, the leaders of the Breaking Clan, Defense Clan, and Agility Clan set off with their entourages, heading toward Heaven Dou City. They were expected to arrive within a month, just in time for the grand event.