Chapter 264: The Destructive Power of Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong
In this era, close-fitting undergarments weren't made with metal rings or stiff materials, but rather from fairly good-quality cloth fashioned into simple wraps.
Qian Xunji's head rested against Ah Yin's chest. Without exerting any force, it sank naturally into a soft, springy mound. Ah Yin held the back of his head.
Moreover, because of Liu Erlong's slander and Qian Xunji's predictions about what might follow, dark thoughts welled up uncontrollably within him. The hands around Ah Yin's slender, supple waist inched downward.
Ah Yin's cheeks heated instantly, and she hastily glanced around, whispering in embarrassment, "Husband, this is the meeting room."
The meeting room was akin to a leader's office.
"Don't worry. I'll order that no one come in."
Wearing a devilish smile, Qian Xunji sat down on a chair and pulled Ah Yin onto his lap, pressing his lips against her luscious red lips. One broad palm held Ah Yin's soft waist, while the other slid beneath her skirt.
Feeling his roving hand, Ah Yin's face turned even redder, and her body grew almost scalding.
Maybe she figured Qian Xunji felt wounded over Spirit Hall's tarnished reputation and needed comforting, or maybe she wanted the thrill of something never before experienced. Either way, Ah Yin offered little resistance, merely releasing the Blue Silver Domain discreetly, worried someone—like their daughter—might disobey Qian Xunji's orders and barge in.
Not long after, Qian Xunji and Ah Yin, still clothed, were vigorously entwined on that meeting-room chair.
Over an hour passed swiftly. Even then, Qian Xunji sensed within himself a cluster of extremely dark energy—the polar opposite of his Six-Winged Angel—and yet it gave him no impression of danger as it slowly formed.
In response to Liu Erlong's slander, Spirit Hall naturally declared at once that it had nothing to do with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's annihilation. They proclaimed themselves a benevolent group dedicated to maintaining peace and stability across the continent; never would they commit such an act.
But the people of the Douluo Continent didn't buy it. It was laughable—after all, the lone survivor of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan pointed to Spirit Hall as the culprit, which seemed indisputable. Did denial really help?
As a result, Spirit Hall's prestige—once at its peak—plummeted overnight. Countless spirit masters planned to withdraw from Spirit Hall, and Qian Xunji, without hesitation, told them all to leave.
Meanwhile, the two great empires, aside from covertly keeping watch on Spirit Hall and reining in its local branches, seized on Spirit Hall's crisis of reputation. They announced an end to spirit master subsidies for free-roaming spirit masters on the continent, awarding funds only to officially recognized advanced academies.
On this continent, there were three kinds of academies: elementary, intermediate, and advanced. One could graduate upon reaching ranks ten, twenty, and thirty, respectively. Elementary academies roughly equated to a senior high level; the gap between advanced and intermediate academies was like the difference between a first-tier and second-tier institution.
Any child with innate spirit power could attend an elementary academy. Those unable to afford the tuition could enroll as work-study students. Without spirit master subsidies, a gifted spirit master who truly displayed outstanding talent might still gain exceptional admission to an advanced academy.
From the standpoint of both empires, only those who graduated from advanced academies were worth recruiting. Those graduating from intermediate academies might manage merely to reach Spirit Elder, Spirit Ancestor, or Spirit King in a lifetime, offering scant value to the empire.
After all, spirit masters on the entire continent numbered only about a hundred thousand, whereas imperial armies could field two or three million soldiers. Fully equipped and professionally trained, the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Royal Knight Corps were on par with Spirit Elders one-on-one, and a hundred knights could handle a Spirit King easily. Spirit masters only underwent a true qualitative change at Spirit Sage.
Subsidizing free spirit masters and intermediate-level students simply didn't yield sufficient return on investment, so from the empire's perspective, canceling these stipends maximized their own interests.
Both empires were delighted; they saved countless gold spirit coins every month. Yet it was a devastating blow to the free spirit masters, intermediate academies, and the many small to mid-sized clans across the continent. Nearly all in these three groups depended on their monthly subsidies for their elevated standard of living. Take that away, and just how could these self-important spirit masters deign to labor like ordinary folk?
Qian Xunji found it amusing, wholeheartedly endorsing the empires' approach. Without subsidies, any troublesome spirit masters unwilling to work diligently ended up shipped off to the Slaughter City.
As for the suffering inflicted on ordinary citizens of both empires, they could blame Bibi Dong and Liu Erlong, who were still in Thunder Canyon.
In the depths of Thunder Canyon, within the rubble of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's base, Bibi Dong sat cross-legged. After destroying the clan, she had kept her presence hidden while the Heaven Dou Imperial Family sent soldiers to bury the bodies. Exploiting the gap in information, she couldn't afford to be exposed.
By now, she had mostly recovered from her injuries caused by Yu Yuanzhen's self-destruction.
In that razed compound, filled with newly dug graves, Liu Erlong knelt before the Yu family tombs, tears coursing down her cheeks. She had absorbed three precious spirit bones that burst from Yu Yuanzhen's body, plus the valuable spirit bones in the clan's reserves. Harnessing the entire clan's legacy, she now had six spirit bones and a seventy-thousand-year eighth spirit ring. Her cultivation skyrocketed from rank 77 Spirit Sage to rank 86 Spirit Douluo—a leap of nine full levels.
Her eyes bloodshot, Liu Erlong silently vowed: "Family… once I've avenged Xiao Gang, I'll drag Bibi Dong with me to the grave for what she did to you all! The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan! The Clear Sky Clan! Spirit Hall! Anyone who hurt Xiao Gang, insulted him, or made him suffer—I won't forgive a single one!"
After hearing from Bibi Dong that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the Clear Sky Clan, and Spirit Hall were all responsible for Yu Xiaogang's death, Liu Erlong had lost her sanity and joined forces with Bibi Dong. First, she would rely on Bibi Dong's power to avenge Xiao Gang—then she would turn on Bibi Dong to avenge the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Throwing the blame for the clan's demise onto Spirit Hall was precisely Bibi Dong's proposal. Liu Erlong had simply complied. At any rate, she needed first to placate Bibi Dong and win a measure of her trust—only then would she have the chance to strike unexpectedly and kill Bibi Dong.
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