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Heaven Dou City, this bustling metropolis, became even more lively as the opening ceremony of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament drew near.
Xuan Ming, accompanied by the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, Bi Ji, Zi Ji, and Xiong Jun, successfully entered Heaven Dou City under the cover of the Ice Dragon King's aura.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was like an unbridled wild horse, full of curiosity about everything around her. One moment she was pulling Bi Ji to watch street performers, the next she was clamoring for various snacks.
Along the way, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was extremely eye-catching, as her thousand-year Spirit Beast aura was very obvious. However, because there was someone even more eye-catching behind her, no one wanted to see any trouble occur.
"Why do I feel like a lot of people are looking at you?" Bi Ji couldn't help but ask.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion entered human territory in her Spirit Beast form, and she was initially very worried that it might cause some conflict.
But, unexpectedly, no one bothered them at all!
Although everyone along the way was looking at them, their gazes were mainly focused on Xuan Ming, and these looks were extremely complex!
Not only that, but many eyes were secretly watching them!
"I'm a bit of a celebrity here," Xuan Ming said.
"The specific situation is a bit complicated. If you're interested, ask A Rou."
With that, a dark spatial gate opened in front of them, and Xuan Ming led everyone inside.
"Quickly inform the Sect Master, Xuan Ming has returned!"
"Quickly inform His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
...
With Xuan Ming's return to the city, this already bustling city became even more lively.
...
A Rou's courtyard.
After pinpointing A Rou's location, Xuan Ming directly brought Bi Ji and the others over through spatial transfer, effectively shaking off the secret surveillance.
"Xuan Ming?"
Seeing Xuan Ming emerge from the void, A Rou breathed a sigh of relief.
"Where is this place?" The Three-Eyed Golden Lion followed closely behind, and Bi Ji and the others also slowly walked out.
"A place to live," Xuan Ming stepped forward and briefly explained Bi Ji and the others' situation to A Rou.
"Fierce beasts?" A Rou's expression subtly changed, and she was instinctively a little nervous, but then quickly relaxed.
Since Xuan Ming could bring them over, she didn't need to worry about their safety.
"For the next period, they will be staying here. I'm troubling you," Xuan Ming said.
"I need to go out for a bit. Please help me look after them first."
A Rou nodded, not asking any further questions.
Xuan Ming turned to look at Bi Ji, "This is A Rou, whom I mentioned to you before. I have something to do, so you all can rest here first."
"Aren't you taking me to play?" The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lightly leaped and pounced into Xuan Ming's arms, looking at him expectantly.
"I've been away for half a year. Now that I'm back, I need to greet my friends. I'll take you to play later," Xuan Ming said.
"Oh." The Three-Eyed Golden Lion rubbed against Xuan Ming's arms, then let go of him.
"Come back early."
"Mm." Xuan Ming nodded, and the dark void reopened, taking him away from the courtyard.
...
Spirit Hall.
"You boy, you're getting less and less discreet, aren't you?"
Outside the spatial gate, Yue Guan and Gui Mei, sensing an abnormally cold aura fluctuation, instinctively activated their Spirits and crouched down.
Seeing Xuan Ming emerge from within, Yue Guan's expression became a little strained.
Before, he at least came late at night, but now he's not even avoiding people during the day?
"I can't exactly walk through the front door, can I?" Xuan Ming said.
"Why has your aura changed?" Gui Mei asked, puzzled.
He remembered Xuan Ming's aura. Before, when this kid snuck into Spirit Hall late at night, they both pretended not to see him.
But today, the aura of this door was extremely unfamiliar, completely different from Xuan Ming's previous spatial doors!
"I absorbed a spirit ring and got a bit of an evil attribute," Xuan Ming said.
When attaching evil attribute energy, his spatial power would be more stable, and the distance would be greater. However, this cold aura was particularly conspicuous, just as conspicuous as a scorching sacred aura.
"Evil attribute?" Yue Guan's eye twitched slightly.
"Are you alright?"
Evil attribute was not an attribute that human Spirit Masters could bear!
Even among Spirit Beasts, it was something that only existed in legends, almost unseen by anyone!
"I'm fine, much better than before." Xuan Ming completely reined in his aura.
"Where's the Supreme Pontiff?"
"In the Council Hall, but I suggest you wait a bit now, it's more appropriate," Yue Guan said.
"Why?" Xuan Ming asked, puzzled.
"Elder Golden Crocodile has arrived," Yue Guan said.
The All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament was hosted by the Two Great Empires and assisted by Spirit Hall. The previous final was held in Heaven Dou City, and this final should be the Star Luo Empire's turn, to be held in Star Luo City.
The Elder Palace was preparing to change the final venue to Spirit City, while Bibi Dong insisted on continuing to hold it in Heaven Dou City.
They could roughly guess why.
It wasn't just about Xuan Ming; it was more about the power struggle between Bibi Dong and Golden Crocodile.
If it were held in Spirit City, Bibi Dong would have no choice but to return to Spirit City, otherwise, her authority as Supreme Pontiff would completely collapse, and it would be almost impossible for her to regain the Supreme Pontiff's power in the future.
Spirit City was now under Golden Crocodile's control. Not to mention the Elder Palace, even the Supreme Pontiff Palace's power had been seized by Golden Crocodile. If Bibi Dong returned at such a time, it would be an act of self-humiliation, or even walking into a trap!
But if it could be held in Heaven Dou City, Bibi Dong could use the opportunity to re-establish the Supreme Pontiff's authority and reclaim her power.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
Seeing Xuan Ming walk towards the Council Hall, Yue Guan quickly stepped forward to stop him.
"Going in to take a look," Xuan Ming said.
"Elder Golden Crocodile is inside," Yue Guan emphasized.
"I'm not deaf," Xuan Ming said.
Yue Guan's eye twitched, "What do you want to do?"
"I'm telling you, the two Qian Jun Jiang Mo Revered Elders are also inside. If it really comes to a fight, we can't beat them!"
Now that it had come to this, the two of them had no way out!
They were truly tied to Bibi Dong!
If Bibi Dong was finished, they would be finished too!
"I'm not going to fight," Xuan Ming said.
"I haven't seen her in half a year. I'm going to see her. Is there a problem?"
...
Inside the Council Hall, the atmosphere was tense. Bibi Dong sat at the head seat, while Gold Crocodile Douluo and the two Qian Jun Jiang Mo Revered Elders stood in the center of the hall.
"Bibi Dong, this final of the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament should have been held in Star Luo City. Why do you insist on keeping it in Heaven Dou City? What are your intentions?" Gold Crocodile Douluo crossed his arms, his voice as loud as a bell, making the air in the hall tremble slightly.
Bibi Dong sneered, "Elder Golden Crocodile, you're good at feigning ignorance. This dispute over the final's location is merely a power struggle between you and me. What, are you afraid that I will re-establish my prestige in Heaven Dou City and reclaim the Supreme Pontiff's power that rightfully belongs to me?"
Gold Crocodile Douluo's face darkened, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes, "Hmph, don't slander me! I'm doing this for the greater good of Spirit Hall. Spirit City is the foundation of our Spirit Hall. Holding the final in Spirit City can truly demonstrate the prestige and strength of our Spirit Hall. Your insistence on holding it in Heaven Dou City, could it be that you intend to collude with the Two Great Empires and harbor ill intentions?"
Bibi Dong stood up, "Golden Crocodile, stop your nonsense here. Heaven and Earth can attest to how much I've done for Spirit Hall. On the other hand, you, in this past year, what have you done to Spirit Hall?"
"It took me great effort to make the Seven Great Sects fall apart, but you, after only managing for a year, the situation in the Spirit Master's world seems to have returned to twenty years ago. Spirit Hall's prestige is gone, and its power has declined."
"Elder Golden Crocodile, truly a pillar of Spirit Hall!"
"You..." Gold Crocodile Douluo was so angry that his beard bristled and his eyes widened. spirit power surged around him, and a powerful sense of oppression washed over them.
"Bibi Dong, don't think you can still act as recklessly as before! Spirit Hall is no longer yours to command!"
Just then, Xuan Ming stepped into the Council Hall.
His appearance instantly made the already tense atmosphere even more subtle.
Bibi Dong, Gold Crocodile Douluo, and the two Qian Jun Jiang Mo Douluo's gazes all fell on him in unison.
Gold Crocodile Douluo frowned and said coldly, "Xuan Ming, what are you doing here? This is not a place you can enter and exit as you please."
Xuan Ming glanced at Golden Crocodile, ignored him, and walked straight towards Bibi Dong.
Seeing Xuan Ming ignore him, Gold Crocodile Douluo immediately became furious and shouted, "Xuan Ming, you audacious boy! How dare you ignore this Elder!"
Xuan Ming stopped, turned, and glanced at Golden Crocodile.
"Idiot."