Half a day later, the Martial Soul Hall.
Qian Daoliu emerged from retreat and arrived at the Pope Hall.
"Pope, can my granddaughter come back now?"
Bibi Dong shook her head: "Not yet, the mission hasn't begun. Why, is there something on the Great Tributor's mind? Not continuing the retreat?"
Qian Daoliu sighed: "I can't progress any further, so I have to place my hopes on Xiaoxue. I don't plan to continue the retreat, it's a futile effort; I want to fully dedicate myself to nurturing Xiaoxue."
"Not retreating is good too, you have been in seclusion for a long time. During this period, the Martial Soul Hall has suffered setbacks, you should come out and be active."
Qian Daoliu nodded: "Yes, staying in retreat for too long is dreary and tedious. I should come out and walk around."
"Report!"
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Just then, two figures in red and blue swiftly arrived; they were the Red-robed Bishop and Ghost Leopard Douluo.
Their faces were extremely grim, heavy, and panicked.
Bibi Dong frowned: "What happened?"
The expressions of the two inexplicably made them uneasy.
The Red-robed Bishop said solemnly: "Pope, we encountered... the Apocalypse Black Dragon!"
"What?!"
Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong's face changed drastically, and Qian Daoliu's expression also underwent a dramatic transformation.
Bibi Dong's eyebrows furrowed tightly: "What's going on?"
Originally, she thought the Apocalypse Black Dragon couldn't appear yet; they still had time, an opportunity. As long as she and Qianren Xue became gods, they would not fear. Even if the Apocalypse Black Dragon appeared at that time, the dual gods would have a chance against the not fully restored Apocalypse Black Dragon.
The best scenario was to become gods quickly, before the Apocalypse Black Dragon appeared, then Ye Yu and the Titled Douluo of the Upper Three Sects would be as insignificant as ants.
The two explained the situation gravely, and Bibi Dong's face became as gloomy as water.
"It's able to appear now? How much has it recovered this time..."
"We don't know. How could we dare to engage? If we did, it would be certain death."
The two were grateful they retreated immediately, of course, not daring to engage, simply following orders, not daring to resist the Apocalypse Black Dragon.
At this moment, Qian Daoliu stood straight, momentum surging, and said with resolution: "Since the Apocalypse Black Dragon can appear again, it's an utter misfortune for us. I can't remain active outside; though breakthrough is unlikely, I can't give up. For the future of the Martial Soul Hall, I have to continue the retreat! I'm going now, during this period, I'll retreat again, Pope, don't disturb me unless necessary."
With that, Qian Daoliu turned and left, with a demeanor of accepting a divine mandate.
Bibi Dong: "..."
Watching Qian Daoliu leave, Bibi Dong was silent.
Outwardly calm, but inwardly frustrated.
Bibi Dong felt like cursing; he just said retreat was pointless, came out to walk around, and upon hearing the Apocalypse Black Dragon could appear, he ran back into retreat.
Bibi Dong raised her hand to rub her forehead, sighing: "Ugh."
Watching the resolute departure of Qian Daoliu, the Red-robed Bishop and Ghost Leopard Douluo pinned their hopes on him.
Ghost Leopard Douluo admired: "We used to think the Great Tributor was timid, but we didn't expect him to have such determination. Truly admirable, we misunderstood."
The Red-robed Bishop corrected: "The Great Tributor isn't timid, facing it now would be handing over one's head. Only by becoming gods is there hope; the Great Tributor bears a heavy burden, hopefully, he succeeds."
Seeing the excited and expectant faces of the two, Bibi Dong was speechless and scolded: "You fools! Do you really think the Great Tributor is striving for the divine position? He's avoiding the Apocalypse Black Dragon!"
"Huh?"
The two were taken aback, exchanged glances. Is that so?
Ghost Leopard Douluo sighed lightly: "Seems like the Great Tributor is still as timid as ever."
Bibi Dong glared at them: "You two are no better! Why don't you test the Apocalypse Black Dragon's current strength? Since it let you go, it obviously can't kill you; otherwise, would it still let you leave? You two are timid too, even as Titled Douluo."
Being scolded, the Red-robed Bishop smiled wryly: "It's not timidity, it's discerning. We wondered too, why it didn't kill us. Knowing it perhaps still can't wield its strength, but we dare not; even if the Apocalypse Black Dragon is weak, battling it we are far from opponents. Back then facing the terrifying celestial tribulation and the divine being, so weak yet bearing celestial thunder alongside the War God, truly terrifying."
Ghost Leopard Douluo nodded: "Yes, we naturally knew then it couldn't wield strength, or it wouldn't let us leave. But if engaged, it might, exhausting itself, try to kill us — that would be a greater loss for the Martial Soul Hall."
Listening to the two's explanation, Bibi Dong was resigned, sighed inwardly: "Timidity aside, they love excuses."
"Never mind, you may withdraw."
"Yes."
Though the Apocalypse Black Dragon appeared again, since it let the two leave, they knew action was impossible, which eased her mind slightly.
"Time is pressing, must hasten, become gods quickly!" Bibi Dong's gaze was resolute.
At this moment, the Nine-Hearted Begonia Sect.
Being one of the Lower Four Sects, though mainly support soul masters, there were still many combat soul masters.
Five thousand soul masters in the sect, four thousand war soul masters, one thousand support type, none were treatment type — all attribute enhancing, as Nine-Hearted Begonia Sect was the strongest treatment sect, not needing treatment type soul masters.
Now, five thousand soul masters of the sect were ready, gathered, neatly arranged in the vast sect plaza.
At the forefront were nine people, with Ye Lengqiu and her daughter Ye Lingling in the center. On both sides were seven elders, among whom two were Soul Douluo who followed Ye Lengqiu to Xingdou Great Forest during the Apocalypse Black Dragon's tribulation — eighty-ninth level, and one was the Agile Attack Soul Douluo who transformed into a leopard as a mount — eighty-eighth level. The other four resembled each other remarkably, seventy years old, surprisingly quadruplets, all eighty-eighth level.
"Sect Leader, are we really surrendering to the Martial Soul Hall?"
"What else?" Ye Lengqiu said coldly: "Didn't expect that vile woman's son wasn't dead, and grew to such a terrifying degree; the most troublesome is..."
Speaking of this, Ye Lengqiu's eyes showed fear, heart terrified.
"That Apocalypse Black Dragon isn't dead, and might appear; its terror you witnessed back then. Not joining the Martial Soul Hall, should it come to our door, it's certain death. Joining the Martial Soul Hall, though no longer independent, will lead to better development. Only the Martial Soul Hall could possibly obliterate the yet fully grown Ye Yu."
The other three Soul Douluo shivered, knowing well the Apocalypse Black Dragon's terror.
Ye Lengqiu said: "Lingling, are you willing to go to the Martial Soul Hall? Joining them, you'd become the Pope's personal disciple."
"Of course, this has been my dream." Ye Lingling nodded.
Ye Lengqiu asked: "Won't you inquire about Ye Yu? Our sect's feud with him."
"I know some; I believe we're not wrong. Being the original successor of the sect yet aligning with Soul Beasts, hunted by Martial Soul Hall is rightful. Without remorse, even planning revenge. Mother, I'll face it with you all!"
Hearing this, Ye Lengqiu was relieved: "Worthy of my daughter. Yes, humans and Soul Beasts together are wrong. We did right back then; without capturing her, or collaborating with Martial Soul Hall, our entire sect would face catastrophic punishment due to her alone. Now, we shall become a part of Martial Soul Hall, and in the future, with Martial Soul Hall, annihilate the wicked offspring of that vile woman and Soul Beast."
As Ye Lengqiu finished speaking, suddenly, her chest felt stifled, cold, sharp, and the terrifying killing intent of resentment enveloped the entire Nine-Hearted Begonia Sect, the murderous aura suffocating her.
Not just her, everyone felt it, for the first time experiencing such terrifying killing intent.
The entire Nine-Hearted Begonia Sect suddenly plunged into an icy hell, temperatures dropped, then a roar exploded like heavenly wrath.
"Nine-Hearted Begonia Sect, I, Ye Yu... have arrived!!"