The colossal Throne Room, still heavy with the lingering echo of Qian Xunji's narcissistic authority, settled into a palpable, collective sigh of relief once the Supreme Pontiff's presence was gone. The Nine remaining Titled Douluos, the true pillars of Spirit Hall's power, allowed their rigid composure to finally relax.
Ling Yuan, Spirit Kite Douluo, was the first to break the strained silence. As the youngest among the Elders, her temper sharp and her sense of morality still uncompromised by decades of political cynicism. She heaved a profound, almost weary sigh, pushing back her ornately carved chair.
"I think I can finally breathe again," Ling Yuan muttered, running a hand through a strand of dark, slightly disheveled hair. "This week was truly a tough one. Chasing rumors, managing informants—I had to search the entirety of the Heaven Dou Empire's capital city and then jump to check the surrounding major cities. And still, it's so incredibly difficult to catch them. Tang Hao is an infuriating ghost."
She Long, the Snake Lance Douluo, remained seated but began polishing the surface of the mahogany table with a slow, hypnotic movement of her fingertip. He looked calculating, predatory, and yet thoughtful.
"We all know what Tang Hao is made of, Ling Yuan," She Long said, his voice a low, dry rasp. "He possesses brain with his strength, a rare combination in these martial-obsessed fools. But what truly bothers me is their constant evasion. Why are they always hiding, always on the move, maintaining such a low profile? I have a theory that this Soul Beast has already completed the 'deed,' and perhaps she is carrying his child. A true product of both the human and soul beast realms. This, to me, is the real mystery. Who agrees with this morbid curiosity?"
A flurry of skeptical, low-voiced debate immediately erupted around the table.
"Is that even possible?" Ci Xue, the Porcupinefish Douluo, questioned, his voice rumbling with doubt. "Soul Beasts transforming into humans are one thing, but crossing the species line? Has there ever been any official record of such an extreme union? The natural laws of the continent would surely forbid it."
"I agree with Ci Xue," another Elder chimed in. "The energies should repel each other. A child of that nature would be a catastrophic instability. If it were possible, however, it would be unique. A new evolutionary path for both realms."
The discussion spiraled into several minutes of heated, academic debate regarding the metaphysics of hybrid gestation—a momentary distraction from the grim reality of their mission.
It was then Gui Mei, the Ghost Douluo, who silenced the room. After listening silently, his veiled form raised a translucent, skeletal hand, commanding attention.
"The debate is unnecessary speculation," Gui Mei stated, his voice a cold whisper that sliced through the room's air. "I believe there is a high possibility that a child is involved. A few days back, when Ci Xue and I were pursuing a faint trail near the borderlands, I engaged my maximum stealth technique to briefly close the distance. I managed a very brief glimpse of the woman's entire figure, and what I saw confirmed the earlier, peripheral reports. Her belly was noticeably swollen, characteristic of late-stage gestation."
He looked toward his ally. "Ci Xue, you were also with me, right?"
Ci Xue, who had been listening intently, nodded grimly. "Yes, it's true, I remember now. It was fleeting, a glimpse through the trees as they sprinted, but the visual of the Blue Silver Empress was… distinctly heavy. We dismissed it then as simple fatigue or the difficulty of transformation, but in retrospect, given Gui Mei's specialized senses, his deduction is likely correct."
A palpable sense of shock mixed with excitement permeated the council. This was not just a powerful soul ring; this was a new biological entity, a fusion of power.
Yue Guan, who had been delicately preening a petal of his Chrysanthemum, smirked, his eyes sparkling with a mix of disdain and morbid curiosity.
"Why bother with all this philosophical debate, gentlemen?" Yue Guan asked, his tone utterly nonchalant. "If there is a child, we bring it here. We raise it in Spirit Hall, under strict observation, and we observe it. We can certainly dedicate a research department to study its spiritual evolution, its cultivation growth, its very essence. Of course," he added with a theatrical flourish, "we will operate within moral boundaries, even I have some empathy for a child. If not, then also no problem. We won't have the headache of tracking down a powerful hybrid later. It's as simple and practical as that."
Ling Yuan immediately bristled, her voice sharp with indignant fury. "Yue Guan, you merciless old man! How can you say that for a child, even if it is a Soul Beast's offspring? We are humans! We are meant to uphold morality and justice! What will the people think of us if we experiment on an infant?"
Yue Guan waved her off, his disdain evident. "You little girl do not know about the harsh world, Ling Yuan. You live in a bubble of naive ideals. Even if you disagree, the higher-ups will certainly plan it. Go out and gain some experience, Elder, not like your strength, which is all paper and show."
"Yue Guan, if you dare, then hit me!" Ling Yuan barked, her Soul Power threatening to erupt in uncontrolled rage. "I will show you how my 'paper' strength can burn your little flower! My Martial Soul is the great Phoenix lineage, and yours is a little flower!"
Yue Guan smiled cruelly. "My 'little flower,' dear Ling Yuan, is the majestic Chrysanthemum, one of the top-tier spirits. Not like your little, squawking bird. First, reach Soul Level 95, then fight me. I disdain the act of bullying the weak."
The two began bickering fiercely, their voices rising, their long-standing antagonism providing a rare moment of entertainment for the other, older Elders, who watched the sparring with weary amusement.
Ci Xue, recognizing the rising volume and the risk of attracting the attention of Qian Daoliu—the Pope—stepped in before the situation escalated.
"Alright, gentlemen and lady, please," Ci Xue commanded, his deep voice carrying authority. "Take a momentary break from the personal disputes and refocus on our task. If you bicker any further, the Pope will surely give us a joint punishment."
Yue Guan and Ling Yuan snapped their mouths shut, glaring daggers at Ci Xue, who merely shrugged, returning their hostility with cool indifference.
Gui Mei brought the discussion back to the critical path. "Let's just remove the topic of the child for now. It is a secondary concern. We must decide what to do next week. We need to capture that soul beast as soon as possible, or it will be Spirit Hall's massive loss. Just think about it: if this child is the reason they are constantly hiding and operating at a low profile, then this is our opportunity. Their movement is constrained by the pregnancy."
Yue Guan, now calm, nodded seriously. "Gui Mei is right. We don't know how long they have been roaming before we got this news, and we only got it because they have been forced to slow down. I suspect the child will be born soon. If we don't act now, they will surely get away. Then, not only would we lose the Soul Beast, we wouldn't even get our hands on this potential hybrid child."
Ling Yuan had calmed down, listening silently to the practical arguments. She swallowed her outrage, promising herself internally that she would intervene and take good care of the child if Spirit Hall captured them. It was harsh that she could do nothing for the Soul Beast, but saving the child was enough.
In the dark alcove, Bibi Dong absorbed this incredible new information. She felt a complicated mix of sympathy for Ling Yuan's naive idealism and cold agreement with Yue Guan's ruthless practicality. The world is harsh, she mused. Ling Yuan must learn that mercy is a weakness that only the truly powerful can afford to indulge.
But the revelation about the child—the fact that the Elders had deduced the pregnancy and the imminent birth—was a source of deep, cold surprise.
A child… so soon?
Bibi Dong realized this was a major inconsistency. In her past timeline, the existence of Tang San was kept entirely secret, a surprise that only became fully evident much later, well after the initial clash with Tang Hao, and certainly not something the Elders had deduced weeks in advance.
Maybe in my timeline, the Elders were too arrogant and focused solely on the 100,000-year ring to connect the small clues, she thought. Or perhaps my presence, my cultivation, or my past actions have again subtly changed the frequency of the timeline, making certain events happen faster.
She sighed internally, a shadow of weariness passing over her consciousness. The inconsistency was unsettling more, but ultimately, it didn't matter.
It doesn't matter, she decided, the iron will returning. The goal remains the same. What will happen will surely happen, and I will ensure the most important outcome: Qian Xunji's death. I will use that couple and that inevitable collision as the catalyst, regardless of whether the child, Tang San is born today or next month.
The Elders finished their tactical discussion. Gui Mei finally stood. "It's been an hour likely. It is time for us to go and act. One thing is certain: we need to capture that Soul Beast as soon as possible, as per the Pope's order. We will surely be rewarded greatly for this, so we need to give extra effort, do we not?"
They all nodded collectively, the thought of immense rewards—spiritual items, resources, and favor from the Pontiff—energizing them.
Yue Guan gave a final, exaggerated bow. "Then that's it. All of you, goodbye. And good luck," he smiled, adding pointedly, "especially to our newly appointed Elder, Ling Yuan. Try not to trip over the trees."
Ling Yuan let out a final, irritated huff, but joined the collective farewell. The Elders began to march out of the main hall, their immense soul auras finally receding.
Bibi Dong waited for another agonizing hour until the silence was absolute. The information was secured: Tang Hao is the target, the Empress is pregnant, and Qian Xunji is planning a personal, high-risk capture mission.
She finally rose, stretching the stiffness from her muscles. She made her way out of the hidden vent and, with smooth, silent motions, moved out of the compound and towards the palace garden. Her mind was a whirlwind of calculated thoughts. The piece she needed to complete her strategic puzzle was now in place. The time for passive waiting was over. The time for the Awakening Ceremony and the final steps of her revenge was at hand.