In a secluded valley, Hu Liena stood facing her teacher, tears sliding uncontrollably down her cheeks and dripping onto the earth.
It had already been two months since Bibi Dong was driven out of Spirit Hall and forced to abdicate.
During those two months, Hu Liena naturally knew everything about her teacher's situation.
Although she kept telling herself that everything was worth it—for Yin Zhang's sake—when she truly saw Bibi Dong again, no longer the Supreme Pontiff, her appearance haggard and worn, Hu Liena's eyes still reddened.
Her heart was filled with guilt.
It was precisely because of this guilt toward Bibi Dong that Hu Liena had remained in this small town, never returning to Spirit City.
"Teacher… do you really have to leave?" Hu Liena asked softly. "How long will it be before you come back to see me?"
Bibi Dong, dressed in plain black and looking utterly different from her former dignified self, nodded.
"Yes, Nana. Now that I am no longer the Supreme Pontiff, what I once planned is no longer possible. I originally intended to appoint you as Holy Maiden after you graduated from the academy, but now… that road is closed."
She paused, then continued calmly.
"I once opposed your relationship with Yin Zhang. But now, Yin Zhang is about to become the new Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall. To be honest, he is exceptional—the most outstanding person I have ever seen. At fifteen or sixteen years old, he has already reached the Spirit Saint level and is even about to ascend as Supreme Pontiff."
Bibi Dong let out a faint chuckle.
"If I were a young girl again, the same age as you… perhaps I would have fallen in love with him as well."
Hu Liena fell silent.
Bibi Dong continued, her voice low but steady.
"I won't cause trouble for Yin Zhang in the future—at least, not until the time is truly right. Look at you, so worried. Rest assured. Even if one day I really make a comeback, I won't kill him."
"I only want to show those who once belonged to me, yet abandoned me, that their choice was wrong. As for everything after that… I don't want to care anymore. When that time comes, aside from you, there will be nothing left in this world that I'm attached to."
What Bibi Dong meant was clear—after becoming a deity, she would leave the Douluo Continent and ascend directly to the God Realm.
With that, she turned and left.
Watching her teacher's receding figure, Hu Liena felt dazed.
It was only after returning to the local Spirit Hall branch and hearing her colleagues mention that the new Supreme Pontiff's coronation ceremony would be held next month—on December 1st—that she finally set out on the road back to Spirit City.
---
Spirit Hall Academy
Ning Rongrong, who had only just arrived at Spirit Hall Academy, felt deeply wronged.
In the original timeline, Ning Rongrong had been spoiled into a little witch. But in this world, because Ning Fengzhi's Spirit had evolved, he later had two more children—a younger son and a younger daughter.
Ning Fengzhi doted on the younger siblings so much that, for a time, he practically forgot Ning Rongrong even existed.
Her mentality deteriorated badly, and that state lasted for several months.
Not long ago, Ning Fengzhi sent her to Spirit City, which only made her feel the cruelty of this world more keenly. She even wondered if her father no longer wanted her.
Alongside Ning Rongrong was Hu Yan Li from Elephant Armored Academy.
Compared to Ning Rongrong, Hu Yan Li's mentality was far more stable.
He understood very clearly why he had been sent to Spirit City. He knew the relationship between his sect and Spirit Hall, and he admired the man named Yin Zhang greatly.
More importantly, Hu Yan Li had a firm resolve—he wanted to cultivate to the Titled Douluo Realm, become the first Titled Douluo his sect had produced in hundreds of years, and lead Elephant Armored Academy into the ranks of the Upper Three Sects.
Between the two, because of Ning Rongrong's Spirit and her special identity, she still attracted considerable attention even within Spirit Hall Academy.
She was only seven years old, cute and lively, and extremely popular among her classmates.
That day, Ning Rongrong heard from her classmates that someone from the academy's Elite Class was about to fight on the training ground. Naturally curious, she immediately followed them to watch.
In the crowd, she noticed a red-haired young man accompanying a beautiful woman, his expression utterly doting.
According to those around her, the red-haired man was called Yan, a very famous figure in Spirit Hall Academy—well-known for treating his girlfriend like a treasured jewel.
But what truly surprised Ning Rongrong were the two Elite Class students who were about to fight.
"They both have turtle Spirits?" she blurted out.
A classmate beside her immediately corrected her.
"Rongrong, their Spirits aren't turtles."
Ning Rongrong was stunned.
"Then what are they?"
"They're biological brothers—twins," the classmate explained. "Their Spirits are called Xuanwu."
"Xuanwu?" Ning Rongrong asked curiously. "What's that?"
As the pampered princess of her sect, she didn't have a deep understanding of such Spirit lore.
"Xuanwu is the divine beast among turtle-type Spirits, just like the White Tiger is the divine beast among tiger Spirits. It's a turtle with a snake—see? The snake coils around the turtle. That's Xuanwu."
"It's said they can even perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill together. It's extremely powerful."
Ning Rongrong widened her eyes.
"They can use a Martial Soul Fusion Skill? But they look like pure defense-type Spirit Masters. Can they even attack?"
"Of course they can," the boy replied. "Xuanwu isn't an ordinary turtle—it's a fusion of turtle and snake…"
---
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City.
Xue Qinghe returned to her chambers after handling state affairs.
Once inside, she dismissed the disguise and revealed her true appearance—Qian Renxue.
She stretched lazily across the bed, letting out a satisfied sigh.
"This feels so good. It won't be long before I can finally leave this place. Still… I'm a bit reluctant. After all, I've stayed in this palace for nearly ten years."
"Being told to leave all of a sudden really does feel…"
She trailed off, then chuckled softly.
"The Dugu Family has already moved out of the city ahead of time, and all the valuable assets have been transferred to Spirit Hall. Honestly, the Heaven-and-Earth treasures, gold, silver, jewelry, and property deeds those great noble families possessed…"
"They're truly staggering. I knew they were rich—but not this rich. Well, it just so happens that all of it can now be taken for our Spirit Hall."
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