Chapter 71 – Bibi Dong: Why Do I Feel a Sense of Déjà Vu?
Inside the Pope's Hall—
Bibi Dong sat upon the Pope's throne, her expression calm and unreadable.
Standing before her were Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena.
Tomorrow would be the final showdown among the top three teams. The strength of Wuming far exceeded Bibi Dong's expectations and had become the biggest obstacle preventing the Spirit Hall team from seizing the championship.
Feeling uneasy, Bibi Dong decided to reveal the rules of tomorrow's top-three finale in advance.
"Everything I just explained… You understand it clearly?"
"We understand!"
Bibi Dong nodded slightly before continuing:
"You've all witnessed the strength of Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Second Team, as well as that of the Shrek Academy team."
"Wuming's power is unfathomable. He should be stronger than the three of you combined. However, the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's Second Team can only send one participant into battle. I believe you still have a real chance to defeat him."
"As for Shrek Academy—although their overall strength is far inferior to yours—you must not underestimate them. Their leading instructor is the theory grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang. With his guidance, anything is possible."
The three looked at one another.
Xie Yue stepped forward and said:
"Your Holiness, please rest assured. We will take the championship."
Bibi Dong rose to her feet. Her gaze swept coldly over the three, and her eyes suddenly sharpened with a chilling intensity.
"When facing Wuming, each of you must unleash your full strength. With me here, he wouldn't dare harm you."
"Yes!"
"Good. Leave now and prepare."
The three of them slowly retreated from the Pope's Hall.
In the vast and quiet hall, only Bibi Dong remained.
"Wuming… I'll finally get to see you tomorrow. How interesting."
A seductive smile appeared on her face.
No matter what, she would never allow those three soul bones to fall into Wuming's hands.
---
The long-awaited day of the top-three finals had finally arrived.
Early in the morning, Xue Qinghe arrived at Gui Mei's room accompanied by two bodyguards.
These two bodyguards were from the Spirit Hall. Though not as strong as the two Titled Douluo—Snake Lance and Porcupinefish—they were still powerful Soul Douluo.
"Wuming, your performance throughout the competition has been astonishing. The Second Team of the Royal Academy has achieved results far beyond everyone's expectations. Today's battle concerns the honor of the Empire. I hope you will continue your excellence and win the championship."
"I will."
Gui Mei's expression was calm.
He knew very well that Qian Renxue was not thinking straight.
Since childhood, Qian Renxue had lived undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire. She was pitiful in her own way, but also extremely proud, arrogant, and consumed by her desire to conquer.
Even if someone were the son of her greatest enemy, she would still try to recruit him.
Regardless of whether she was Qian Renxue or Xue Qinghe, Gui Mei wanted nothing to do with her.
After the competition ended, their paths would naturally diverge.
Seeing Gui Mei's cold attitude, Qian Renxue didn't mind.
Her smile remained gentle and composed, maintaining her perfect façade of kindness and nobility.
"Then I won't say more. I believe you will create a miracle and bring honor to the Royal Academy."
Gui Mei simply nodded.
Qian Renxue left with her two guards.
"Young Lady, that brat Wuming is far too disrespectful! He didn't show up during the Heaven Dou Award Ceremony, showing no regard for Emperor Xue Ye. Even when you came in person, he didn't show you the slightest courtesy."
"Exactly! That kid is too arrogant!"
The other guard also complained.
"That's enough," Qian Renxue said softly. "Wuming is no ordinary person—he's a genius among geniuses. If you were in his place, you might be even more arrogant."
The two guards immediately fell silent.
Qian Renxue smiled faintly and thought to herself:
"Geniuses are always lonely, never understood. Wuming… the more you act like this, the more I want to conquer you…"
Bright sunlight poured across the land, coating Pope Mountain in a golden glow. Under its radiance, the Pope's Hall appeared even more majestic and sacred.
The stone avenue leading down the mountain stretched straight and imposing. On both sides, the Guardian Knights stood in flawless formation.
Their postures were rigid and noble, their faces resolute. Dressed in gleaming silver armor and wielding heavy knight swords, they embodied the unshakable authority of the Spirit Hall.
The three finalist teams arrived at the plaza before the Pope's Hall.
Eliminated teams had no right to spectate, and the instructors of the three remaining academies were also forbidden from entering the plaza—forced instead to watch from the outer perimeter.
In the center of the plaza stood twenty-one young students.
Gui Mei was among them.
He stood quietly with his eyes closed, patiently waiting for Bibi Dong's entrance.
At last, a procession emerged from the side door of the Pope's Hall.
A total of twelve people—each dressed in a crimson robe—each a Bishop of the Spirit Hall.
The twelve Red-robed Bishops split evenly on both sides of the Hall's entrance, six to the left and six to the right.
"His Holiness the Pope has arrived!"
"Long live! Long live! Long live!"
A thunderous roar filled all of Spirit City.
Everyone turned toward the great doors of the Pope's Hall.
Bibi Dong finally appeared.
Her face was solemn. She wore a purple-gold crown, a radiant golden ceremonial gown, and held the Pope's scepter—her noble presence overpowering and absolute.
Ghost Leopard Douluo, Spirit Kite Douluo, Sword Douluo Chen Xin, and Ning Fengzhi followed slowly behind her.
"Greetings to Your Holiness!"
In that instant—
All members of the Spirit Hall knelt on one knee, paying homage to their Pope.
The seven members of the Spirit Hall team also knelt.
But Gui Mei and the Second Team of the Royal Academy all remained standing.
As members of the Heaven Dou imperial faction, they naturally would not kneel to Bibi Dong.
The Shrek group followed their lead and also chose not to kneel.
Dai Mubai, as a prince of the Star Luo Empire, would never kneel before Bibi Dong.
Tang San viewed the Spirit Hall as his mortal enemy—kneeling was impossible.
So ultimately, everyone remained standing.
Seeing this, many in the Spirit Hall were visibly angered.
A Red-robed Bishop barked:
"Presumptuous! Before Her Holiness the Pope, how dare you not kneel?!"
But Bibi Dong lifted her left hand slightly, signaling the bishop to be silent.
Her gaze swept across the fourteen standing youths—and instantly locked onto Gui Mei.
The boy dressed in black stood out starkly amid a group wearing matching uniforms. His temperament was unique—cold, detached, impossible to overlook.
The moment her eyes fell on him, Bibi Dong's heart trembled, and a flicker of faint shock flashed in her eyes.
Although this was their first official meeting, this black-clad youth… gave her an inexplicably familiar feeling.
Bibi Dong stared at Gui Mei with her deep, cold eyes, as if trying to uncover the secrets buried in his soul.
She briefly thought of Qian Renxue's disguise techniques.
But she quickly dismissed the idea.
If this black-clad youth were truly Gui Mei in disguise, he would never escape her perception.
"You are Wuming?"
"Yes."
Gui Mei's tone was calm and firm. He neither lowered his head nor avoided Bibi Dong's gaze.
Bibi Dong nodded lightly.
"Wuming… you are indeed extraordinary—just as mysterious as the rumors describe."
After saying this, she shifted her attention to Tang San.
"And you… You must be the Grandmaster's disciple, Tang San?"
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"Very well. Fourteen years old, a five-ring Soul King—you have set a new record. As expected of the Grandmaster's disciple."
"Your praise is too generous, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong said nothing more. She raised her scepter slightly.
All members of the Spirit Hall rose to their feet in unison.
—
End of Chapter