Chapter 148: Bibi Dong and Her Disciple Reunite

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At the same time, a terrifying aura swept across the entire Spirit City. The once clear and cloudless sky turned dark with thunderclouds, lightning rumbled, and every spirit master within Spirit City felt their limbs go cold, as though they had fallen into an icy abyss. It was as if an invisible hand was gripping their throats.

With six wings unfurled, Qian Daoliu transformed into a golden meteor and shot out from Douluo Hall, vanishing into the sky. His speed was so fast that no one could see his figure. All they witnessed was the heavy cloud layer in the sky splitting in two as golden light streamed down, forming a breathtaking spectacle. In the blink of an eye, the golden meteor disappeared beyond the horizon.

At the base of the Pope's Mountain, Ye Lingling sat at a table, summoning her Holy Spirit Begonia Martial Soul to heal spirit masters from the Spirit Hall. Before her stood rows of spirit masters—some stationed in Spirit City, others drawn from across the continent. The treatment fee was extremely cheap: regardless of the severity of the injury, the cost was only one gold spirit coin.

After the conclusion of the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament, Qian Renhan realized that Ye Lingling had never truly integrated into the Spirit Hall. The respect others showed her stemmed more from her status as the future Pope's wife than genuine admiration. So, he had her treat the wounded and save lives.

Due to her low treatment fees, top-tier healing abilities, and stunning beauty, Ye Lingling quickly became beloved by thousands of Spirit Hall spirit masters. Her popularity soared, and the smile on her face grew ever more radiant.

Though her treatment was inexpensive, her spirit power had its limits, and she couldn't heal too many people at once. While her presence disrupted the livelihoods of some Spirit City healing spirit masters, it didn't affect the entire healing profession's income chain. Given her esteemed status, no one dared cause her trouble.

Golden sunlight spilled over Ye Lingling's body. She looked up at the sky, now split in two, and felt a wave of unease rise in her heart. 

"This spirit power... it belongs to my husband's Angel Clan. And this terrifying aura—it feels even more powerful than Sword Douluo. Could it be Grandfather? Did he leave in such a hurry because my husband hasn't returned yet?"

Inside the Pope's Palace, in a luxurious chamber, Bibi Dong sat in a wheelchair, her limbs lost. Several maids quietly tended to her. After being rescued from the Spirit Sanctuary, she was sent back to the Spirit Hall to live out her days.

Her aged eyes scanned the resplendent decor of the Spirit Hall—once her own chambers. As she recalled the heartless words from Yu Xiaogang, and the noble life she had led before leaving Spirit Hall, her heart churned with emotions too complex for words.

After returning to Spirit Hall, although she lacked for nothing materially and was well cared for, she would be confined to a wheelchair for life, reliant on others for even the most basic movement. She had returned to a life of luxury, yet her status was gone. She was now completely isolated and abandoned.

Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji ignored her, sparing her only a distant glance before walking away. Qian Renxue, though visiting her once a day to check on her condition, treated it more as a duty than an act of love. Her face bore little expression, never shedding tears or showing sorrow. She now referred to her as "Mother" instead of "Mom."

Though both words mean the same, the emotions behind them are worlds apart. "Mom" is warm and affectionate, while "Mother" is cold and formal. Qian Renxue's feelings for Bibi Dong had grown icy and distant.

As for Qian Renhan, no one knew where he had gone to hunt soul beasts. Whether Bibi Dong lived or died didn't seem to concern him. In all of Spirit City, the only one who treated Bibi Dong with a hint of kindness and respect—without knowing what she had done—was Ye Lingling, simply because she was Qian Renhan's biological mother.

Comparing her own experiences chasing after Yu Xiaogang with how Qian Renhan treated Ye Lingling made Bibi Dong's regret and heartache even deeper.

Qian Renhan had no romantic feelings for Ye Lingling, and she had made no great sacrifices for him either. Yet, just by holding the title of fiancée, she received a celestial herb to enhance her talent, a hundred-thousand-year soul ring and bone for protection, the life of a saintess, and status worshiped by thousands within the Spirit Hall.

Even without love, Ye Lingling enjoyed such immense treatment. If Qian Renhan were ever truly moved by someone, what unimaginable blessings might follow? A fiancé like him seemed like something out of a dream—rare and unattainable. Even if Bibi Dong's actions had utterly ruined Qian Renhan's reputation across the continent, there would still be a line of women from Spirit City to Heaven Dou City eager to be his fiancée.

And what about Bibi Dong herself? She had been willing to give up everything for Yu Xiaogang—her status, her life, even her heart if it meant winning him over. In return, he coldly abandoned her, left her to be abused by his disciple, and had her body mutilated.

Before long, Bibi Dong began to sob once more. Her eyes reddened, but no tears fell. She wasn't faking it to gain sympathy—her tear glands were blocked. She simply couldn't cry anymore.

"Teacher! Teacher!"

A familiar voice echoed through the room as a stunning figure rushed inside. The one calling Bibi Dong "teacher" was, of course, Hu Liena.

"Nana, you've grown up." 

Bibi Dong looked at Hu Liena, forcing a faint smile. Her mood lightened considerably. Besides Qian Renxue, Hu Liena was the person she cared about most in this world.

When she heard Bibi Dong call her "Nana," Hu Liena looked at the aged, crippled woman before her. Gone was the graceful, dignified beauty she once knew—this was a frail shadow of her former self. Tears welled in Hu Liena's eyes as she dropped to her knees. 

"Teacher, how did you end up like this? Who did this to you? I'll kill them for you!" 

"Your teacher trusted the wrong person, and now I've ended up like this... But the one responsible has likely already been eliminated by the Spirit Hall." 

Bibi Dong had learned from Qian Renxue that Yu Xiaogang had been completely erased—down to the very soul. The Clear Sky Sect had also been wiped out. That likely meant Tang San was dead as well.

"Teacher, was it someone from Shrek Academy? Was it that Tang San and his group who did this to you?"

Based on what Liu Erlong had said—that Bibi Dong had once been at Shrek Academy—Hu Liena pieced together a theory. Liu Erlong had also revealed the truth about Qian Renxue and Qian Renhan's origins, as well as the tragedy involving Tang San during the Spirit Master Tournament.

"You're still as clever as ever," Bibi Dong said with a satisfied smile. "The Clear Sky Sect is gone now, and your teacher's revenge has been fulfilled." 

She tried to lift her hand to ruffle Hu Liena's hair—but alas, she no longer had hands to do so.

"Teacher," Hu Liena said suddenly, still kneeling, "I want to go to the Slaughter City." 

Bibi Dong's expression immediately turned serious. 

"Nana, the Slaughter City is far too dangerous!"

Hu Liena said firmly, "Teacher, during the time you were gone, I saw the Spirit Hall for what it truly is. Without strength, you're nothing here. The geniuses from the Worship Hall look down on me, my brother, and even Yan. The Pope certainly doesn't take me seriously either. The best resources never reach us. I want to go to the Slaughter City to become stronger. I don't want to be looked down on anymore."

"Even if the Spirit Hall forbids it, I'll still go. Even if it means being expelled for acting without permission!"

Bibi Dong looked into Hu Liena's determined, beautiful eyes and smiled with pride. She knew her disciple had made up her mind completely. Hu Liena was just like her—truly, painfully similar. Ambitious, hardworking, and unafraid of death.

"Nana, you must return alive. In the Spirit Hall, strength is everything. Your talent is already outstanding. As long as you survive the Slaughter City and obtain the Killing God Domain, the Spirit Hall will have no choice but to acknowledge a genius like you."

"But remember—Slaughter City is a land of sin. There are no rules there, no one you can trust. Only killing. Only through killing can you survive."

Bibi Dong carefully explained the crucial things to watch out for in Slaughter City, her voice heavy with both warning and love.

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(End of Chapter)