Fourteen days remain before the secret realm closes. Please proceed to the entrance as soon as possible.]
The "alarm" went off.
Lin Fan froze. His fists clenched.
He wanted nothing more than to reach into his mind and rip the system out by the roots.
Waking people up at the crack of dawn… unforgivable.
Fourteen days remain. Please act quickly.]
"AHHHHH!!!"
"System, you're so damn annoying!"
"This broken system—if anyone wants it, they can have it!"
Lin Fan leapt out of bed, cursing furiously.
Mainly… yesterday had been exhausting. Two battles in a row, each harder than the last.
Today, he had planned to rest properly for once.
But nope.
The system came with a "reminder" function—like an alarm clock urging you to get to work or school—
Except instead of ringing in your ears, it blasted straight into your mind.
Who could stand that?
Still, when Lin Fan thought about the route on the map, he had to admit the system had a point.
Judging by its assumption of his Soul Emperor strength, reaching the secret realm entrance in fifteen days was already tight.
But as a Titled Douluo who could fly on a sword, he could probably get there in about seven days.
In short, the system was doing its job… just at the completely wrong time, to the completely wrong person.
And it was the system's fault for showing up late in his life.
"Still… fourteen days isn't much time, especially since I have to go to the Star Dou Great Forest first," Lin Fan mused as he sat on his bed.
He knew he couldn't delay anymore. After all, hunting a hundred-thousand-year soul beast there would take several days.
Without further hesitation, Lin Fan washed up, stepped out of his courtyard, and headed straight for Bibi Dong's residence.
"Lin Fan? What are you doing here?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked in surprise as they crossed paths.
Neither he nor Ghost Douluo had heard a word about Lin Fan arriving.
Yesterday, the moment Lin Fan showed up, Bibi Dong had dragged him into a secret chamber—and he hadn't emerged for a whole day.
"Of course, I'm here at the Pope's invitation," Lin Fan said, stopping in front of her courtyard gate.
"Really? Then you've already met Her Holiness?" Chrysanthemum Douluo asked curiously.
"Of course," Lin Fan replied—and then promptly pushed the gate open.
"Wait—without Her Holiness's permission, you can't just barge into the back courtyard!" Chrysanthemum Douluo was momentarily stunned, then hurried to stop him.
He hadn't expected Lin Fan to be so bold—to just force his way into Bibi Dong's courtyard without a second thought.
"Move. I need to discuss serious business with Bibi Dong."
The brief pulse of Lin Fan's aura made Chrysanthemum Douluo flinch.
"You… you've reached level 96?" he asked, shocked by the sudden surge of power.
"What's going on here, Yue Guan? Why is Lin Fan in the Spirit Hall's back courtyard?" Ghost Douluo appeared just then, equally surprised to see him.
The three of them ended up in a tense standoff at the courtyard gate—
until a calm, icy voice drifted from within the house:
"Yue Guan, Gui Mei—let Lin Fan in. Stand guard outside."
"Yes, Your Holiness!" the two Douluo replied respectfully.
Lin Fan gave them a faint glance before strolling inside.
They closed the gate behind him, taking up positions on either side.
Lin Fan, well acquainted with the way, walked through the courtyard, reached the front of the house, and pushed the door open.
A moment later, he saw Bibi Dong, dressed in a thin robe, lounging lazily on the sofa.
"So early in the morning—what do you want from me?" she asked in a languid tone.
"You didn't forget what you promised, did you? You said you'd help me with something," Lin Fan said, sitting down opposite her, taking a moment to appreciate her rare, relaxed expression.
"Of course I didn't forget. Speak—what do you want me to do?" she replied, nodding slightly.
After all, Lin Fan had helped her yesterday, and she had agreed to return the favor.
"Oh, and don't you dare make any unreasonable demands, or I'll refuse," she added suddenly, as if reminded of something.
"What are you thinking? I want you to help me hunt a soul beast—for the soul ring for my second martial soul."
"Or… did you think I'd ask you to do that again?" Lin Fan said with a sly smile.
"Get out!"
Bibi Dong's delicate face flushed slightly as she snapped,
"You dare mention your second martial soul after disguising yourself as some 'nephew' named Lin Xuan to compete in the Elite Tournament?!
"Such a disgrace to the title of Titled Douluo—only you, Lin Fan, could pull something like that off!
"Do you have any idea how much honor my disciple, my team, and the entire Spirit Hall lost because of you?"
She didn't hold back, scolding him without mercy.
Back in the Rakshasa Secret Realm's arena, when she saw Lin Fan release the Sword of Slaughter martial soul, she had naturally realized the truth about Lin Xuan.
She just hadn't had time to confront him then.
"You should be grateful I have a second martial soul—otherwise you'd have never passed your Fourth God Trial," Lin Fan replied.
"Now that I've done what you asked, what—Her Holiness the Pope is planning to go back on her word?"
He didn't take her anger seriously at all. Under the system's influence, he'd long since grown thick-skinned about doing "undignified" things.
"Forget it—what's the point of scolding you now? The Elite Tournament is over. I just didn't expect you to trick me right under my nose.
"I'm curious—how did you manage it?" she asked with genuine puzzlement.
"It's similar to Qian Renxue's angelic bone disguise—only I used a certain herb," Lin Fan said with a smug grin.
Seeing that look made Bibi Dong's expression darken.
"You are shameless—your skin's thicker than Spirit City's walls!"
"Right back at you—last night you pinned me to the floor and tore my clothes," Lin Fan reminded her pointedly.
"Don't you dare bring that up again, or I won't help you," she warned, suddenly standing—her ample curves shifting distractingly.
The sight was… eye-catching, to say the least.
"Bibi Dong, wearing something like that this early—are you trying to seduce me? Is the Rakshasa power acting up again? I'd be happy to help you one more time," he teased.
"Lin Fan!"
She stepped forward and grabbed his collar.
But compared to Lin Fan's height, she was still short enough that—even on tiptoe—she had to look up at him.
They were so close he could smell her fragrance.
Without hesitation, his hands slipped around her waist, pulling her against him.
"Bibi Dong, how did I never notice how tempting you are?"
She clutched his collar; he held her waist. Neither backed down.
Then Lin Fan leaned down, aiming for her soft, cherry-red lips.
Bibi Dong's eyes widened—then she came to her senses and shoved him away.
He stumbled backward into the table behind him.
"You've got some nerve—believe it or not, I'll kill you!" she snarled.
"Go ahead!" Lin Fan lunged forward and began tickling her sides.
"Ah—hahaha!!"
Bibi Dong instantly broke character—her carefully built-up anger dissolving into helpless laughter.
Stop!
Bleh!
Outside, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged confused looks as they heard the sounds of scuffling and laughter from within.
…What the hell is going on in there?