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In the grand and majestic hall of the Pope's Palace, candlelight flickered, illuminating the gold and jade ornaments. A solemn silence filled the air. Seated on the highest platform was the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong.
She wore a luxurious purple-gold robe, a nine-curved purple-gold crown, and held a two-meter scepter encrusted with countless gems. Her noble and beautiful face was framed by an expression of cold authority, and her purple eyes, as deep as an abyss, commanded respect.
"Are you saying a 100,000-year Spirit Beast with three heads?" Bibi Dong's voice was as cold as ice, laced with disbelief as she addressed Hu Liena.
"Yes, Teacher," Hu Liena replied respectfully, a trace of shock still in her voice. "That's what we saw."
Bibi Dong's purple eyes narrowed, but she didn't speak. Chrysanthemum Douluo, standing nearby, took a step forward. "Your Holiness, in my opinion, its strength is definitely more than 100,000 years.
It's much stronger than the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python. What's strange is that I've reviewed all of Spirit Hall's Spirit Beast data, and there's no record of a Spirit Beast like that."
A cold snort escaped Bibi Dong's lips. Her eyes lifted slightly as she spoke with indifference. "The Star Dou Great Forest is vast. There are too many areas that humans have never explored, so it's normal for Spirit Hall to not have discovered every Spirit Beast there.
" A cold smile appeared on her lips, and a glint of ambition flashed in her eyes. "However, this is good news. Once I'm free, I'll personally lead a team to investigate. If this Spirit Beast is truly as strong as you say, then hunting it and using its spirit ring for my second Spirit would be perfect."
Hu Liena paused for a moment, then stepped forward again. "Teacher, there's something else I must report. On this trip, we also met a Spirit Master with a Blue Silver Grass Spirit. He was able to remain calm and direct us during a critical moment, and if he hadn't, we probably wouldn't have escaped from the Spirit Beasts."
Her tone became more serious and puzzled. "Blue Silver Grass is considered a useless Spirit, yet he's cultivated it to an incredible level. He could instantly heal our injuries, and his recovery ability was far superior to Xu Yu's. He's definitely not a normal support-type Spirit Master.
Judging by his spirit power, he's around level thirty. A genius like him, with both talent and ability, would be a great asset to Spirit Hall in your goal of unifying the continent."
A deep silence fell over the hall. Bibi Dong frowned and slowly rose, tapping the ground twice with her scepter. The sound echoed through the hall as she gazed into the distance. "A Blue Silver Grass Spirit?" she murmured to herself. "Blue Silver Grass..." A complex emotion flashed in her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by her usual cold majesty.
She then turned to Ghost Douluo, her voice stern. "Gui Mei."
Ghost Douluo, who was standing beside her, knelt on one knee. "Your subordinate is here."
"I want you to immediately investigate all the Spirit Masters across the continent who have awakened a Blue Silver Grass Spirit with innate spirit power in the last fifteen years," Bibi Dong commanded. "Especially those whose cultivation speed has accelerated abnormally recently. I want all their information, no matter where they are or what their family background is."
"Yes, Your Holiness," Ghost Douluo replied, bowing his head. His figure flickered and silently vanished from the hall as if he had never been there.
Bibi Dong remained standing, her deep purple eyes fixed on the empty space where he had been. "Blue Silver Grass... Blue Silver Grass... could it be him?" she muttered.
The Crown Prince's Secret
At the same time, in the Crown Prince's Mansion in Heaven Dou City, the sun shone through the leaves of the garden, casting patches of light on the bluestone path and the flowerbeds. Deep within the garden, a golden-haired young man held a silver pot, quietly watering a blooming purple orchid.
This was none other than the current Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, Xue Qinghe. In reality, it was Qian Renxue, disguised as the Prince. Just as she was about to tilt the pot, a shadow appeared silently behind her.
A black-robed figure knelt on one knee. "Young Lord!" he said in a low voice.
Qian Renxue's eyelids lowered, her tone indifferent. "What is it?"
"The person you were waiting for has arrived at Heaven Dou Royal Academy," the black-robed man reported, his voice low. "Your subordinate has already ordered people to follow and observe him. We just received news that as soon as he arrived, he caused some trouble by beating up Xue Beng."
Qian Renxue paused her watering motion, a playful glint in her eyes. "Xue Beng?" A cold smile touched her lips. "If that good-for-nothing didn't always hide behind Prince Xue Xing and have that old man Dugu Bo protecting him, I would've sent him to join his two brothers a long time ago."
The black-robed man remained silent, his eyes lowered, waiting for his next command. A moment later, Qian Renxue calmly looked away and spoke softly. "Go tell Uncle She Long to secretly look after my savior."
She then lowered her eyes, gently raised the pot, and poured the last drop of water onto the adjacent flower. The petals trembled, and the water droplets glistened in the sunlight.
"Yes," the black-robed man said with a bow. His figure trembled as if swallowed by the night, and he vanished instantly, as if he had never been there.
Qian Renxue remained, gazing at the purple orchid. A faint smile lingered on her lips as she murmured to herself, "It's been years. You've finally come to Heaven Dou City."
A Masked Request
Meanwhile, at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Sun Buyu pushed open the door to the teaching committee office and stepped out. He looked at Tang Chuan, who was waiting outside, and said calmly, "I've already reported your situation to the three committee members.
They told me to take you directly to the leader of the Royal Fight Team so he can assess you and decide whether you can stay." He paused, looking at Tang Chuan. "They said if they have time, they'll come personally to supervise the assessment."
Tang Chuan nodded. "Good." But then he changed the subject, a hint of meaning in his expression. "However... before we go, I have a request."
"Oh?" Sun Buyu frowned, a little puzzled. "What request?"
"I've had a brief encounter with members of the Royal Fight Team," Tang Chuan said calmly. "You mentioned that the three committee members might come to supervise the assessment, so I'd like to wear a mask to temporarily hide my identity.
This way, they won't recognize me right away and it won't look like they're deliberately going easy on me. When I join the Royal Fight Team, there won't be any room for criticism."
"Oh? You've already met people from the Royal Fight Team?" Sun Buyu seemed surprised, a half-smile on his face. "That's a good idea.
After all, you're not getting in by the normal academy assessment. If people knew you already know the Royal Fight Team members, there would be gossip. This way, no one will dare say anything behind His Highness's back."
Tang Chuan nodded without another word. With a flick of his hand, he pulled a black, gold-patterned, palm-sized ghost mask from his portable soul tool.
He slowly put the mask on, and it seemed to merge with his presence. His entire aura subtly changed. The handsome young man instantly became mysterious.