Chapter 161: The Opening of the Grand Finals

With a crisp, metallic chime, the side doors of the Papal Palace slowly swung open. Twelve cardinals, ranking just below the platinum bishops, emerged from within.

They walked all the way to the front of the Papal Palace and lined up in two rows, six on either side. The leader among them called out in a resonant voice, "His Holiness the Pope has arrived!"

"Long live, long live, long live!"

The three thunderous cheers swept across the entire Spirit City like a crashing avalanche of sound.

Amidst the intense gaze of the gathered multitudes, the main gates of the Papal Palace also slowly opened. Bibi Dong, dressed in an elaborate floor-length ceremonial gown, wearing a purple-gold crown, and holding a scepter, stepped out at the forefront.

The very instant Bibi Dong appeared, all members of the Spirit Hall dropped to one knee, shouting at the top of their lungs, "Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope!"

Unfazed by the deafening, fanatical cheers echoing around him, Xiao Yu stood calmly in place, raising his head to gaze directly at Bibi Dong as she slowly walked out from the hall.

She is truly breathtaking!

According to Xiao Yu's deductions, Bibi Dong had met Yu Xiaogang during her impressionable youth, likely around eighteen or nineteen years old. After a few years of association—or rather, under the influence of Yu Xiaogang's master-level manipulation—she had developed the urge to defect from the Spirit Hall and elope with him. That plan was discovered by Qian Xunji, leading to her tragic confinement in the secret chamber and the subsequent birth of Qian Renxue.

Since Qian Renxue was twenty-four years old this year, Bibi Dong should be around forty-five.

Even approaching fifty, time had left no marks upon her whatsoever. Her face remained as delicate and pretty as that of a woman in her early twenties, and her figure was exceedingly voluptuous, radiating a deep, mature charm from head to toe.

Bibi Dong had reached the ninety-ninth rank long ago. Although the constraints of the Rakshasa God's divine intent prevented her from displaying her full power, her spiritual perception remained unrestricted. She instantly noticed Xiao Yu's up-and-down, scrutinizing gaze.

Bibi Dong was instantly filled with fury. Even before she became Pope, she had been the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, holding a lofty status. Under the protection of Qian Xunji, no one had ever dared to stare at her so rudely from head to toe. Her sharp gaze immediately swept toward Xiao Yu, while simultaneously casting a provocative look at Qian Renxue, as if silently saying: Is this the man you've set your sights on?

The three teams that had advanced to the final round stood in parallel rows. As the strongest members of their respective teams, Qian Renxue and Xiao Yu naturally stood at the very front of their formations. As the host, the Spirit Hall Academy team was naturally placed right in the dead-center C-position, meaning Qian Renxue was standing directly beside Xiao Yu.

Catching Bibi Dong's provocative look, Qian Renxue suddenly understood, and an unnamed anger flared up inside her. Without a sound, she raised her foot and ruthlessly stomped down on Xiao Yu's instep, twisting her heel around mercilessly for good measure, causing Xiao Yu to nearly cry out in pain.

Shrek Academy stood on the other side of the Spirit Hall Academy formation. They hadn't noticed Qian Renxue's petty gesture, but the teammates standing right behind Xiao Yu and Qian Renxue saw the entire exchange. In an instant, countless gazes converged upon Xiao Yu's back.

Among them, one particular gaze was filled with a bone-deep hatred that left Xiao Yu somewhat baffled. Quietly turning his head to look, he saw that the owner of the glare was none other than Xie Yue from the Spirit Hall Golden Generation.

I shouldn't have offended him, right?

Xiao Yu was slightly stunned before realization dawned on him. This guy must have fallen for Qian Renxue.

Indeed, Xie Yue had indeed set his heart on Qian Renxue.

Qian Renxue's beauty was top-tier, coupled with her exceptional innate talent and the fact that Xie Yue had vaguely guessed her formidable background. In the future, his younger sister Hu Liena was slated to inherit Bibi Dong's position; if he could marry the Holy Maiden of the Elder Palace, wouldn't the entire Spirit Hall essentially become their family's domain? Over the years, rumors had circulated that the Elder Palace and the Papal Palace maintained a facade of harmony while harboring underlying friction, something Xie Yue was well aware of. If he could marry the Holy Maiden of the Elder Palace, it would undoubtedly bridge the gap between the two factions significantly. Surely, Your Holiness the Pope would support him... surely!

Harboring these beautiful dreams, Xie Yue had racked his brains over the past few days trying to figure out how to capture his goddess's heart, only to witness this heartbreaking scene right before his eyes.

Xie Yue's strength was second only to Qian Renxue among the Spirit Hall team members, placing him right behind her. He had clearly seen the pettish anger flickering across the side of Qian Renxue's face when she turned back to glare at Xiao Yu after stepping on his foot.

If this wasn't a couple deeply in love, he, Xie Yue, would gladly chop off his own head and use it as a football.

The hatred of having one's beloved stolen was irreconcilable; right now, Xie Yue wished he could tear Xiao Yu to pieces!

Others who noticed Qian Renxue's little stunt were the three Titled Douluo trailing behind Bibi Dong: the Sword Douluo, the Ghost Douluo, and the Chrysanthemum Douluo. As for Ning Fengzhi, who had emerged from the main hall alongside the Sword Douluo, he was ultimately only a Soul Saint. His spiritual perception wasn't sensitive enough, and his attention was entirely captivated by Bibi Dong, leaving him completely oblivious to the minor commotion playing out in the plaza.

As elders of the Spirit Hall, the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos had heard rumors about the relationship between Qian Renxue and Xiao Yu, so they paid it no mind.

The Sword Douluo, however, furrowed his brows. Although the Sword Douluo was entirely devoted to the Dao of the Sword—to the point of neglecting thoughts of posterity—he wasn't a fool. Much like Xie Yue, he deduced that Qian Renxue's stomp was an act of lovers quarreling.

Xiao Yu's relationship with the Spirit Hall is extraordinary as well. I must warn Fengzhi about this!

They were standing right in front of the Papal Palace, and three Titled Douluo were flanking the Sword Douluo. Even if he used soul power sound transmission, it would be intercepted by them, potentially earning him a charge of disrespect. He decided to wait until the match concluded before informing Ning Fengzhi of the matter.

After glaring at Xiao Yu a few more times, Bibi Dong shifted her gaze toward the Shrek Academy delegation, quickly locking onto Tang San upon a subtle sound-transmission reminder from the Chrysanthemum Douluo.

This was, after all, the direct disciple of her white moonlight, and the biological son of her great benefactor.

Tang San was also someone devoid of fear. Sensing Bibi Dong's intense gaze, he actively channeled his Purple Demon Eyes to push back against her scrutiny.

They were standing right before the Papal Palace. Aside from Bibi Dong, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo, there were numerous Soul Douluo and high-ranking Soul Saints present. All of them sensed Tang San's defiant act of challenging Bibi Dong.

"Audacious! How dare you show disrespect to the Pope!"

The cardinal leading the procession from the side door barked angrily at Tang San.

"There is no need for that. Young people are always somewhat high-spirited!"

Bibi Dong raised a hand to stop the cardinal, offering Tang San a faint smile as she asked, "Are you Tang San, the disciple of Grandmaster?"

Tang San replied in a low, steady voice, "Yes, Your Holiness."

Bibi Dong nodded toward him. "You are good. You truly possess a bit of your teacher's backbone from back in the day."

Hearing this, Xiao Yu couldn't help but curl his lip in silent mockery. Yu Xiaogang had backbone? How come I never saw it? Aside from living off women, and damn it, living off two women at that, I've never seen him display any other skill!