Doulou Dalu 36

Bibi Dong—how could he save her? More importantly, how could he save her and her child?

Lin Fan pondered this question deeply, realizing the immense difficulty of his predicament.

Before encountering Bibi Dong in the Star Dou Great Forest, he had not been entirely certain whether she was pregnant. After all, such a thing could not simply be assumed.

If she were not with child, her status as a saint of the Spirit Hall would have ensured that she faced only restrictions on her freedom, not direct danger. Lin Fan could have continued growing in strength, waiting for Qian Xunji's eventual demise. Once Bibi Dong became the Pope, he could have entered the Spirit Hall and stood by her side.

But that fleeting hope had shattered the moment he met her in the forest.

Bibi Dong's haggard face, the exhaustion in her eyes, and the constant presence of Ju Douluo made it unmistakably clear—she was pregnant and trying to escape. That was why she had used the excuse of coming to the Star Dou Great Forest.

Lin Fan clenched his fists. No matter what method I use, facing three Title Douluo at once is a death sentence. If I could fight Qian Xunji alone, perhaps Bibi Dong and I would stand a chance. But in either the Pope's Palace or atop Douhun Mountain, he will never be alone. What should I do?

Hours passed as Lin Fan racked his brain for a solution. He eventually drifted into a restless sleep. When he woke, he realized the convoy had reached the barren mountain region near the Tiandou and Xingluo border.

A night had passed.

"Xiao Fan, how can you sleep so soundly in a situation like this?"

Liu Erlong's voice brought him back to reality. She handed him a small bag of dry rations.

Lin Fan took it, chewing absentmindedly. The food was tasteless in his mouth.

"Junior brother, are you alright?" Tang Huo'er, who sat across from him, studied his expression. "You look troubled."

Lin Fan forced a smile. "I'm fine, Senior Sister. Just didn't sleep well. How much longer until we arrive?"

Tang Huo'er glanced outside. "About another night. We should reach the top of Douhun Mountain by noon tomorrow."

Lin Fan nodded, leaning against the window again. The time was approaching. His wife and child were in mortal danger, and he could no longer afford distractions.

Liu Erlong frowned. "Xiao Fan, you weren't like this yesterday. If something's wrong, tell us. We're your friends."

"I'm fine," Lin Fan repeated, his voice distant. "Just tired. You guys go ahead and talk. I need some rest."

The girls exchanged glances but said nothing more.

Lin Fan stared at the darkness outside the window, feeling a weight unlike any before.

Bibi Dong… If I want to take you away, I will have to risk everything—my future, my allies, my sect. The Haotian Sect, my friends, my family… all could be lost.

Yet, if he did nothing, who else would save her and her child?

Tang Yiran and the Haotian Sect had treated him well, welcoming him as a true disciple. Liu Erlong and Ye Keke had become his trusted companions. If he dragged them into this, he would be putting them—and the entire Haotian Sect—in danger.

Even if Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, and the two Titled Douluo elders helped him, it would spark an all-out war between the Haotian Sect and the Spirit Hall. But the Haotian Sect had once retreated when Tang Hao's wife was hunted. Would they risk everything for a mere disciple like Lin Fan?

No.

If they helped him rescue Bibi Dong, they would be forced into early exile. The sect elders would never allow it.

Lin Fan exhaled sharply. He couldn't ask them for help. This was something he had to do alone.

---

Morning arrived, and at 11 AM, the Haotian Sect's convoy finally reached the summit of Douhun Mountain. Lin Fan, still exhausted, barely reacted when Tang Huo'er patted him.

"Hey, little brother, what's with that face? It's just a competition," she teased. "Where's that confidence you had when you defeated Tang Long and Tang Ye?"

"Are we here?" Lin Fan murmured, looking outside. The peak was filled with people from various sects, their colorful robes fluttering in the wind. Despite the chill, the energy in the air was intense.

"Yes, now get out of the car!" Tang Huo'er huffed. "If you keep sulking, I'll personally kick you out of Team Haotian."

Lin Fan stepped out silently, following his sect. When other groups saw the Haotian Sect's arrival, they instinctively parted, making way.

After walking for about a kilometer, Lin Fan finally saw the competition grounds. At the highest point of the summit stood an immense iron-and-stone arena, exuding an air of majesty and power. The soul energy here was overwhelming—several times richer than that of Haotian Sect.

Lin Fan narrowed his eyes. This place… someone powerful must reside here.

"Senior Sister," he turned to Tang Huo'er, "who lives at the top of Douhun Mountain? And why was this place chosen for the competition?"

Tang Huo'er gave him a curious glance. "You're suddenly full of questions now. Weren't you half-dead a minute ago?" She smirked. "Four masters live here. They enforce the competition rules, and their restrictions ensure that no one interferes with the fights."

Lin Fan's heart sank. "Who are these four?"

"Well," Tang Huo'er thought for a moment, "one is Golden Crocodile Douluo, the second priest of Spirit Hall. He's above Rank 95. Another is a hidden elder from our Haotian Sect—rumored to be the strongest among our elders. The third is one of the seven great priests of the Spirit Hall. As for the last one… I have no idea. He doesn't belong to the Spirit Hall or our sect."

Lin Fan stopped in his tracks, his body turning cold.

Golden Crocodile Douluo was here. Another Spirit Hall worshiper was here.

Even if Qian Xunji only brought Ju Douluo with him, his odds of rescuing Bibi Dong had already been slim.

Now, with two more high-level priests present, the situation was hopeless.

Am I really going to watch Bibi Dong and her child be destroyed without doing anything?

If he let her return to the Pope's Palace, her pregnancy would be discovered within a month. She would lose her child. She might even take her own life.

And if that happened…

What is the point of me being in this world?

A fiery rage ignited in Lin Fan's chest. His hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white.

"Xiao Fan?" Tang Huo'er's voice was laced with concern. "What's wrong?"

The others, including Tang Yiran, Liu Erlong, and Ye Keke, gathered around him.

"Xiao Fan, are you okay?" Tang Yiran asked. She frowned when she saw Tang Huo'er still holding his hand. "Huo'er, let him go. Let me talk to him."

"Oh." Tang Huo'er let go obediently.

Lin Fan took a deep breath. When he lifted his head, his expression was calm once more.

"Don't worry," he said, his voice steady. "I'm fine. You should all follow the sect leader. Don't worry about me."

Tang Yiran studied his face. "Are you sure? If there's anything—"

"I'm sure," Lin Fan interrupted. Then, quickening his pace, he walked ahead, leaving them behind.

His decision was made.

He would risk everything.

He had spent the past night cultivating, nearly breaking through to Rank 34. That meant two more system draws—two more chances to change fate.

Lin Fan looked at the arena, his gaze filled with cold determination.

Golden Crocodile Douluo? The seven priests? It doesn't matter. Even if ten thousand men stand in my way, I will take you away, Bibi Dong. And anyone who dares to stop me… will die.