The funeral of Emperor Xue Ye proceeded as scheduled.
The warning from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect proved effective—no unexpected incidents occurred during the ceremony.
However, the gathering of numerous Title Douluo in Heaven Dou City gave the impression of an impending storm.
After the funeral concluded, Xue Qinghe summoned the envoy from the Balak Kingdom who had come to pay respects. He demanded the surrender of Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing, as well as the return of Princess Xue Ke.
Yet, the envoy was stubborn, having never intended to return alive from the start. He bluntly told Xue Qinghe that it was impossible!
Xue Qinghe did not force the envoy. Instead, he had him escorted away, instructing him to relay a message to Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing: after three days of mourning, the coronation ceremony would be held.
Afterward, he would send envoys to the Balak Kingdom to demand their compliance, hoping the king—a "distant relative" of Emperor Xue Ye—would know better than to resist.
Xue Qinghe cared little about the Balak Kingdom. This was, in a way, his final act of cruel mercy.
He hoped Princess Xue Ke could live safely, forever unaware of the truth.
Once the funeral ended, Xue Qinghe remained at the mourning site to observe filial rites. The coronation ceremony and its arrangements were entrusted to his teacher, Ning Fengzhi, and the three Soul Douluo deans, who took full charge.
Dressed in white mourning robes, Xue Qinghe sat in the specially designated mourning office near the imperial mausoleum. Even She Long and Ci Xue followed local customs, wearing white—a final gesture of respect for Emperor Xue Ye.
Two Title Douluo and the young master of the Spirit Hall stood vigil for three days.
As Xue Qinghe read the letter handed to him by She Long, his furrowed brow refused to relax.
"That woman—she came to the Heaven Dou Empire and immediately went to Shrek Academy?"
"Yes. She didn't even meet with Elder Ju or Elder Gui." She Long sighed.
Xue Qinghe's frown deepened. "Can we find out what she's doing there? I recall Tang Hao and Tang Xiao are both present, no?"
"Indeed. Not just the Twin Stars of the Clear Sky, but even Yu Yuanzhen is there as well."
"As for what she's doing…" Ci Xue also sighed. "The information I gathered suggests she ordered the Spirit Hall to dispatch a healing-type Soul Douluo to assist Ye Renxin in treating Yang Wudi."
Xue Qinghe slammed the paper in his hand onto the table.
"That woman—how long does she plan to betray us while pandering to those people at Shrek?"
His face darkened with anger.
Could Grandfather really have lied to me?
Were Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang truly in love, while Grandfather concealed the truth, acting as a traitor all along?
Otherwise, there was no explanation for the information obtained from Qian Daoliu—that Bibi Dong had not been acknowledged by the Heartbroken Acacia.
If she wasn't even acknowledged, why would she still go to Shrek, humiliating herself?
Or was it that both sides' feelings were flawed?
Like Mirror Flower, Water Moon —illusory and unattainable—yet that woman still threw herself into the flames like a moth?
Xue Qinghe's chest rose and fell slightly as he took a deep breath, suppressing his irritation and calming his mind.
"Is there any other information? Specifically about the Spirit Hall."
She Long thought for a moment before continuing. "Bibi Dong sent Ling Yuan to the Fasnuo Province to assist Tuoba Xi in dealing with Marshal Ge Long. I'm not sure if that counts."
"Ling Yuan… That's a Title Douluo from the Spirit Hall, right?" Xue Qinghe's frown returned. He couldn't quite grasp Bibi Dong's intentions.
Helping?
If that woman didn't cause trouble, he should already be burning incense in gratitude.
Qian Renxue leaned back in her chair, hands behind her head, lost in thought for a long moment.
"She Long Uncle, Ci Xue Uncle… What do you think about Bibi Dong's actions?"
"Young Master, we—"
"Don't hold back." Xue Qinghe waved a hand, signaling that they needn't overthink it—she wasn't petty enough to hold their words against them.
Ci Xue nodded cautiously.
"Perhaps… it might be best to wait a little longer. Clarify Bibi Dong's purpose in coming to Heaven Dou City before discussing your plans."
"After all, she is still the Pope of the Spirit Hall… and your birth mother."
As Qian Renxue's guards, no matter what they thought now, they couldn't advise her to kill Bibi Dong. That was not their place.
The Young Master still had her God Trial…
Though they didn't know what the Grand Priest was thinking, if her mental state were compromised, the trial could go awry.
"Is that so? Waiting a little longer… Fine, that works." Xue Qinghe saw through their thoughts.
While sending people to assist her with Ge Long's affairs, she herself came to the Heaven Dou Empire to rendezvous with that lover of hers—though perhaps it wasn't a rendezvous.
In any case, she needed to clarify the situation, determine Bibi Dong's intentions and actions before proceeding.
Once this step was taken, there would be no turning back—it would be a fight to the death.
At this thought, Qian Renxue still wanted to give that woman one last chance.
In the end… she couldn't fully commit to the decision.
"Hey, She Long Uncle, Ci Xue Uncle… Do you think I might one day become a lovesick fool like her?"
"After all, my blood is still connected to hers… and my very existence was never welcomed."
Qian Renxue laughed self-deprecatingly, her golden eyes glancing back at the two men.
"Young Master, you're overthinking it." She Long and Ci Xue broke out in cold sweat.
This was not a question they could answer carelessly.
If the Grand Priest found out, they'd be beaten within an inch of their lives—unable to crawl back up afterward.
...
Heaven Dou City, Spirit Hall Branch.
Elder Ju and Elder Gui reported recent events to Bibi Dong, including the presence of two Limit Douluo from the Star Dou Great Forest who were likely still in Heaven Dou City.
They also relayed, word for word, the message left behind by the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect after their battle with the Emerald Swan, Bi Ji.
"Aside from that serpent and the gorilla, there are even stronger existences in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Before coming to the branch, Bibi Dong had first visited Yu Xiaogang—an unpleasant encounter.
Afterward, she returned to the branch to hear Elder Ju and Elder Gui's report.
Upon arrival, she had also ordered the Spirit Hall to dispatch a healing-type Soul Douluo to assist Ye Renxin, who was currently treating Yang Wudi at Shrek Academy.
But that wasn't important. What mattered was—the Star Dou Great Forest was terrifying!
"Yes, extremely so." Elder Ju nodded gravely. "In my opinion, that being called Di Tian is likely no weaker than the Grand Priest."
"Di Tian… I'd heard rumors before that Qian Daoliu was injured in a battle in the Star Dou Great Forest. It seems those rumors were true."
"Indeed." Elder Gui spoke uncertainly. "Your Holiness, if we attempt to capture those two spirit beasts here, I fear we lack the strength."
"Additionally, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect may side with the Young Mistress… As for the Clear Sky Sect—"
"I understand." Bibi Dong waved a hand dismissively. "You're worried about Qian Renxue's safety?"
"As I recall, Qian Xunji treated you two quite well. Why didn't you choose the Elder Hall, but instead sided with me—a Pope with no real power?"
The moment her words fell, swish—
Elder Gui and Elder Ju dropped to their knees, sweat beading on their foreheads.
"Your Holiness, please understand!" Elder Gui's hoarse voice trembled with emotion. "This old man and Ju have never been disloyal to you!"
"Hmph. Whatever you think, you know best." Bibi Dong picked up a fruit from the table and took a small bite. "No matter whose subordinates you were in the past, now you serve only me."
"I've come here in a private capacity to observe Qian Renxue's coronation ceremony."
"Unless absolutely necessary, I will not take action against any spirit beasts. Even if I do, it will be another time."
Bibi Dong gazed at the kneeling Elder Ju and Elder Gui, her eyes devoid of fluctuation as she spoke calmly:
"If you wish, you may report everything to Qian Daoliu directly."
"The Heartbroken Acacia did not acknowledge Yu Xiaogang. However, I've already given him that immortal herb—I won't take it back. Nor do I want anyone else retrieving it from him. Of course, this is the only exception."
"Tell Qian Daoliu exactly that. He'll understand."