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Inside the solemn and majestic Pope's Hall, Qian Renxue—disguised as Bibi Dong—wore a frosty expression. However, it wasn't genuine anger but rather a cold, calculating gaze directed at Hu Liena and her two companions below.
Having long suspected Ye Wen's identity, Qian Renxue no longer held any hope of the Spirit Hall securing the championship. What she found regrettable was that the grand prize for the tournament—a set of three soul bones—had already been announced before the competition and was originally intended for these three individuals.
Faced with the loss of three precious Blood River treasures, even though Qian Renxue had little interest in playing along with their drama, she still had to put on a show of authority.
Qian Renxue spoke indifferently: "Hu Liena, do the three of you know your crimes?"
Hu Liena and her companions, already pale-faced, now broke into a cold sweat. They knelt halfway to the ground, too afraid to utter a single word.
Though this was Qian Renxue's first time impersonating Bibi Dong, her performance was flawless. With the backing of two God Kings secretly funding her efforts, even Hu Liena—who had followed Bibi Dong for years—couldn't detect anything amiss. After all, she understood well that in matters of great importance, even Bibi Dong wouldn't let them off easily.
"Your Holiness Pope," Hu Liena stammered, unable to bring herself to use the familiar term "Teacher" in her usual tone. "We admit our guilt and will accept any punishment humbly. Please forgive us."
Qian Renxue remained silent for a long while, her thoughts weighing heavily on the matter. Xie Yue and Yan were different from Hu Liena—not only were their talents on par with hers, but they were also fiercely loyal to the Spirit Hall. Even during the future decisive battle, despite being only Soul Sages, they fought valiantly. This starkly contrasted with Hu Liena, who Qian Renxue now regarded as an ungrateful wolf.
Moreover, Qian Renxue realized that the Slaughter City was nothing but a trap. She absolutely couldn't allow Hu Liena to enter it and obtain the Killing God Domain.
After carefully weighing the pros and cons, Qian Renxue said coldly: "Your loss in this tournament is not due to lack of effort, but losing is losing. The Spirit Hall has lost three invaluable soul bones because of you, and you must face the consequences.
"After this tournament, the three of you will join the Punishment Knights for ten years. You will redeem yourselves by hunting down rogue soul masters for the Spirit Hall."
Upon hearing this verdict, Hu Liena and her companions immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Though serving as Punishment Knights was fraught with danger, requiring constant travel and grueling work, it was also the highest-ranking combat division within the Spirit Hall. The position came with excellent benefits that wouldn't hinder their growth.
This harsh assignment also eased their guilt somewhat. After all, even without considering the most precious 50,000-year head soul bone, the other two soul bones were exceptional treasures.
Each of these soul bones was a Blood River treasure of immense value. Without the backing of an organization like the Spirit Hall, they would never have had the chance to obtain such artifacts. Now, everything had been ruined by their failure—a devastating blow for individuals who had grown up under the Spirit Hall's care.
Thus, the three of them replied simultaneously: "Thank you, Your Holiness Pope, for your mercy."
But at that moment, Qian Renxue's eyes turned icy, and she added: "Furthermore, your loss has already brought shame upon the Spirit Hall. If you fail again in the loser's bracket while competing for second place, don't blame me, the Pope, for showing no mercy. To silence dissent, your punishment will be doubled!"
Humiliation flickered across Hu Liena and her companions' faces. Losing to Ye Wen's group of overpowered cheaters was one thing, but losing to Shrek Academy—a team with an average strength of only Soul Ancestors and no Soul Kings?
It was laughable! Thus, the three of them declared resolutely: "Please rest assured, Your Holiness Pope. We will give our all and defend the Spirit Hall's honor with our lives!"
Qian Renxue dismissed them with an indifferent nod. Such trivial matters were not worth her attention right now.
At this moment, Qian Renxue fully understood the importance of power. So-called schemes and manipulations were nothing but jokes. Her priority now was to focus on cultivation.
Under the dual nourishment of the Angel Clan's simulated environment and the divine energy left behind by Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue enjoyed a cultivation speed several times faster than what was available in Tian Dou.
Though many fans of Douluo criticized Qian Renxue's time spent as a spy in Tian Dou as wasted, those who truly understood the Divine Trials knew that these trials tested not only physical strength and mental fortitude but also one's state of mind. Without meeting the required mental conditions, even possessing immense power wouldn't qualify someone to inherit a godhood. In a roundabout way, this was another method through which Qian Daoliu had helped Qian Renxue grow.
Over the years, though Qian Renxue still lacked emotional fulfillment, her experiences in the political arena had made her far more mature than ordinary people.
After receiving the memories of the future from Ye Tianhun, Qian Renxue not only fulfilled her longing for maternal love but also completely severed her emotional ties, transforming into a strong, career-driven woman.
At this moment, Qian Renxue had reached clarity.
Love? Men? They were nothing but obstacles hindering her pursuit of a better future!
The tragic fate of the Spirit Hall? This time, she would ensure it didn't happen again!
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Meanwhile, in Shrek Academy's lounge...
Yu Xiaogang stared intently at his team's roster, data, and the apparent strength displayed by Ye Wen's team. His expression was conflicted as he muttered to himself:
"Should we really fight against Tian Dou tomorrow? Even I, as a master, can't fully grasp the true extent of Tian Dou's capabilities. It's too much of a stretch for Xiao San and his team to face them right now. Perhaps we should forfeit tomorrow's match to preserve our strength for the fight against the Spirit Hall and secure second place.
"At just fourteen or fifteen years old, leading a group of ordinary soul masters to second place is already an impressive achievement for Xiao San. After all, Erlong's Blue Tyrant Academy only ever reached the quarterfinals.
"And if these Medical Alliance members don't return to compete in the next tournament, perhaps Xiao San and his team could win the championship in the following Soul Master Tournament.
"But the grand prize is three soul bones—three Blood River treasures! How can I bear to give them up so easily? Even if the Spirit Hall offers better prizes in the future, they won't compare to the scale of this tournament."
At this moment, reason and greed clashed fiercely in Yu Xiaogang's mind.
After all, faced with three soul bones, how could any soul master not feel tempted? Moreover, in Yu Xiaogang's view, if the timing was right, even though their overall strength was weaker, there might still be a chance to pull off an upset and seize the championship.
But just then, Tang San—who was equally torn by greed—made his decision. He pushed open the door and declared: "Teacher, you don't need to struggle anymore. I've decided to compete. Let's face the Tian Dou team."
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