Douluo: When the piano sounds, the hidden weapon returns to the factory

At this moment, the crimson force field that enveloped the heavens and earth began to tremble slightly, and the suffocating absolute stillness gradually loosened. The first to recover were the consciousness of everyone trapped within the domain.

Hu Liena's pink eyes gradually regained their luster, and what came into view was the disappearing red figure; the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum in Yue Guan's hand trembled unconsciously, and the petals still had a blood-red halo; the body under the ghostly black robe swayed slightly.

Bibi Dong silently observed everything before her. She watched as Xiao Wu, gradually becoming transparent in the center of the crimson halo, found herself still unable to move an inch—the sacrificial ritual continued irreversibly.

Yue Guan glanced at Bibi Dong discreetly, then used his soul power to transmit a message to the ghost: "Old ghost, what's going on?"

Before he could finish speaking, the ghostly voice echoed in his mind: "Since the person was arranged by His Majesty, let's just wait and see."

The rare chrysanthemum in Yue Guan's hand trembled slightly, and the golden light flowing on its petals betrayed his inner turmoil. But seeing that the figure under the ghostly black robe remained motionless, he had no choice but to suppress his doubts.

As for the three members of the Golden Generation and the experts from the Spirit Hall, they were all frozen in place, dumbfounded. Not one dared to utter a sound in this eerie atmosphere, fearing they would become the target of the Pope's wrath. Even though they knew perfectly well that once Feng Yao successfully absorbed the spirit ring, even His Holiness the Pope would be powerless against him.

Yan stared intently at Feng Yao, who was absorbing the power of the spirit ring, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, his knuckles turning white from the force. He couldn't understand why that 100,000-year-old spirit beast would sacrifice itself for Feng Yao without hesitation. Unless... a terrifying thought flashed through his mind: unless there was some unknown connection between Feng Yao and the spirit beast.

This thought caused Yan's pupils to contract sharply. He subconsciously looked at Hu Liena, only to find her staring intently at Feng Yao's figure, her pink eyes gleaming with a complex light.

When the invisible force field finally dissipated, Yan feigned confusion and leaned closer to Hu Liena, lowering his voice to say, "Nana, this is too strange. Why did that soul beast choose him as its sacrifice? Could it be..."

Although his voice was soft, everyone present was a Soul Saint or higher, and every word he spoke reached their ears. Yue Guan's Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum paused slightly, and his ghostly black robe fluttered for a moment without any wind.

Hu Liena glanced coldly at Yan, a hint of undisguised contempt flashing in her golden eyes. "How is it?" she deliberately raised her voice so everyone present could hear, "The teacher will make his own judgment."

These words were perfectly worded, demonstrating absolute obedience to the Pope while subtly warning Yan against spreading rumors. Xie Yue stepped forward at the opportune moment, blocking Yan from speaking further. A subtle silence fell over the entire Spirit Hall contingent, all eyes involuntarily drawn to the Pope holding the scepter and Feng Yao absorbing the spirit ring.

Standing beside Feng Yao, Bibi Dong's lips curled slightly upon hearing Hu Liena's response, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes. However, when she turned her gaze to Feng Yao, who was absorbing a soul ring, a subtle doubt appeared between her brows.

"Could it be simply because they both came from Notting Junior Soul Master Academy?" she pondered to herself, the gem on her scepter gleaming faintly as she thought. "But this child's appearance has changed drastically, and he hasn't even revealed his martial soul. How did the Soft Bone Rabbit recognize him?"

A gentle breeze stirred, lifting a corner of her magnificent robe. Bibi Dong gazed at Feng Yao's figure, suddenly recalling the unique affability she possessed.

She deliberately placed Feng Yao by her side, intending for him to be in charge of escorting Xiao Wu after her capture. This way, she could test the young man's loyalty while freeing up her hands to continue hunting the Titan Ape and the Azure Bull Python. However, despite all her calculations, she never expected that Xiao Wu would directly choose to sacrifice herself to Feng Yao, causing her entire plan to fall apart.

As it turned out, Xiao Wu's risky move in this desperate situation was the right one. Just as the powerful force field generated by the sacrifice had not yet dissipated, the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python seized the opportunity, forcibly breaking through the bipolar stillness domain despite their severe injuries. Chrysanthemum and Ghost, suffering a backlash from the broken Martial Soul Fusion Technique, were temporarily unable to pursue.

Bibi Dong gazed in the direction the two soul beasts had fled, then looked at Feng Yao, who was absorbing the soul ring, her expression becoming complex and unreadable. This meticulously planned soul-hunting operation had unexpectedly become a victory for this young man—who had obtained a 100,000-year soul ring unscathed. Even the Goddess of Fate would likely be astonished by this outcome.

The surging crimson flames suddenly contracted, exploding in a series of deafening explosions around Feng Yao. As Xiao Wu's figure gradually faded and dissipated, Feng Yao's original seven soul rings appeared one by one, while the eighth, bewitching crimson soul ring was slowly condensing around him.

Suddenly, a blinding beam of blood-red light shone on his left arm, the crimson soul bone flashing and disappearing beneath his skin. In that split second, Xiao Wu's almost transparent body suddenly reformed, finally transforming into a dim red sphere. As the outer layers of light peeled away, a palm-sized, snow-white rabbit quietly curled up at Feng Yao's feet, its chest rising and falling slightly, a testament to the continuation of life.

"roar--"

From the depths of the forest came the heart-wrenching howls of the Titan Giant Ape and the Azure Bull Python, causing the entire Star Dou Great Forest to erupt in chaos. Countless soul beasts surged and ran rampant through the sea of ​​trees, shaking the earth as if the entire forest was mourning this tragic scene.

As the palm-sized, soft-boned rabbit tried to hop away, Feng Yao swiftly caught it in his palm. The little rabbit kicked its hind legs restlessly in his hand, its pinkish-white fur slightly ruffled from the struggle. Clearly, this sacrifice was not as complete as in the original story—Xiao Wu's original consciousness still stubbornly remained in this weak rabbit body.

Feng Yao lowered his eyes and gazed at the struggling little life in his palm, feeling the surging new soul power within his body and the warmth emanating from the soul bone in his left arm.

Bibi Dong's scepter struck the ground with a crisp sound as she slowly approached, her gaze sweeping back and forth between Feng Yao and Rou Gu Tu.

"She recognized you?" Bibi Dong's voice rang in Feng Yao's ears like a secluded spring.

Feng Yao snapped out of his daze, meeting Bibi Dong's probing gaze, and gently shook his head: "Under your watchful eye, how dare I act rashly?" He lightly stroked the soft-boned rabbit's fur with his fingertips, his words carrying a deeper meaning, "I'm afraid she has already seen through your scheme."

Bibi Dong paused slightly with her scepter, and a voice that seemed to be both laughing and not laughing came from behind her: "Are you saying that my decision was wrong?"

Feng Yao didn't answer directly, but instead looked into the depths of the Starry Sky Forest: "You underestimate the bonds between them," his voice deepened, "and the deep-seated hatred they harbor for you."

These words were like a sharp blade, piercing Bibi Dong's heart. Her hand gripping the scepter tightened slightly, and her expression behind the mask shifted several times. No one knew better than her how much power hatred could grant—it was this power that had propelled her to the papacy.

"So be it." After a long silence, she sighed softly, a rare hint of weariness in her voice. "Indeed, I acted too hastily." Her personal involvement was solely for the purpose of capturing all three 100,000-year-old soul beasts in one fell swoop. In her meticulous plan, she should have successfully hunted down at least two—this would not only significantly enhance her strength but also lay a solid foundation for the upcoming divine trial. But now, her plan had failed, and she could only wait for the right opportunity to continue cultivating her abilities.

Thinking of this, Bibi Dong's eyes darkened slightly. She raised her head to look at the sky; the morning light pierced through the clouds and fell on her magnificent papal robes, but it couldn't dispel the trace of regret in her heart. As the successor of the Rakshasa God, she knew better than anyone that every bit of strength was a crucial bargaining chip in order to complete the final divine succession.

Feng Yao winked at Bibi Dong and said in a lighthearted tone, "Please consider this a token of your appreciation for nurturing a younger generation. I'll have Xue'er come to thank you personally another day."

Bibi Dong glanced at him indifferently, her red lips parting slightly: "No need." The two simple words conveyed an undeniable authority.

She turned and walked towards the Spirit Hall members, and everyone she passed immediately bowed in respect. Just as Feng Yao was about to follow, Bibi Dong's voice suddenly echoed in his mind: "Protect her well. If anything goes wrong, I will personally retrieve your soul bone."

Watching Bibi Dong's retreating figure, Feng Yao's lips curled into a slight smile, a smirk playing on his lips: "This mother and daughter are practically identical in their stubborn personalities."

He immediately bowed respectfully, his voice clear and resonant: "Respectfully seeing off His Holiness the Pope!"

With her back to the crowd, Bibi Dong's lips unconsciously curved into a barely perceptible smile. She lightly tapped her scepter and commanded, "All personnel of the Spirit Hall, withdraw."

In the blink of an eye, the elegant purple figure disappeared into the vast forest with everyone. Only Feng Yao remained standing alone by the lake, holding the pink and white rabbit in his arms.

Feng Yao gently pinched the back of Xiao Wu's neck and lifted her to eye level. The little rabbit flailed wildly in the air, her snow-white fur standing on end, clearly resisting.

“I know you want to go back to your companions,” Feng Yao chuckled, his fingertips lightly stroking her soft fur, “but I advise you to behave yourself. They are still the Pope’s targets.” He paused, his tone becoming more serious, “Considering the spirit rings and spirit bones you gave me, if you don’t want to become snacks for other spirit beasts, you’d better behave.”

Xiao Wu's struggles gradually subsided, but she still stubbornly turned her head away, her ruby-like eyes gazing into the distance, her ears drooping listlessly. This awkward appearance made Feng Yao chuckle—she did bear a resemblance to the Blue Silver Emperor.

"Oh, quite the temper." Feng Yao raised an eyebrow and chuckled, tapping the little rabbit's pink nose with his fingertip. "Looks like the gold coins I gave you back then weren't wasted; at least you can understand human speech now."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu immediately bristled, kicking her hind legs even more vigorously, her snow-white fur puffing up with anger.

"Stop fooling around, sweetie," Feng Yao suddenly lowered his voice, a sly glint in his eyes, "Maybe I can take you to see Tang San."

These words were like a spell, freezing Xiao Wu instantly. Her ruby-like eyes widened, and even her ears perked up. Feng Yao stroked her soft fur with satisfaction, unexpectedly finding it quite pleasant to the touch.

"That's more like it." He chuckled softly, his figure transforming into a streak of light as he sped away into the distance. The little white rabbit in his arms curled up quietly, but its red eyes remained fixed on the direction of the Starry Sky Forest, revealing endless longing and worry.

Meanwhile, Tang San frantically searched through the Star Dou Great Forest like a headless fly. When he entered the core area, the scene before him made his heart tighten—the once orderly spirit beast territory was now in chaos, with various spirit beasts restlessly fighting each other, and the air filled with the stench of blood and violence.

"Xiao Wu!!"

His heart-wrenching screams echoed through the forest, and an intense killing intent uncontrollably erupted from his body. This hostile aura immediately attracted more soul beasts to attack, but he could no longer care about that. The Eight Spider Lances unfolded menacingly behind him, and wherever they passed, all the soul beasts that blocked his path were sent flying.

With his Killing God Domain fully activated, Tang San's eyes gradually turned bloodshot, and each swing of his Clear Sky Hammer carried devastating power. Like a maddened beast, he rampaged through the forest, lost and directionless without his Blue Silver Domain.

In the distance, the mournful cries of the Titan Ape faintly drifted over, causing his heart to sink even further. The fear of losing someone important was sharper than the claws of any spirit beast, slowly eroding his reason.

Hearing that heart-wrenching scream, Tang San's figure blurred into a streak of light in the dense forest. He pushed his Ghost Shadow Steps and Eight Spider Lances to their limits, snapping grass and trees in his wake. When he broke through the last patch of bushes, the sight before him nearly stopped his heart—

The once tranquil lakeside is now a scene of devastation. Cracks spread across the ground like a spiderweb, and ancient trees that would take dozens of people to encircle have been uprooted. The air is thick with the aftershocks of violent soul energy, and the crimson stains spreading in the lake are particularly glaring in the setting sun. But what plunges him into the deepest abyss is the utterly destroyed ruins of the wooden house on the shore; every fragment still carries the aura of that person who haunts his dreams.
"Xiao Wu!!"

Tang San staggered and knelt before the ruins, his trembling fingers tracing a bloodstained wooden plank. The dark red blood on his fingertips transformed into the sharpest blade, slowly slicing away at his reason. The Killing God Domain erupted uncontrollably, instantly freezing the vegetation within a hundred-meter radius into scarlet ice crystals.

"No, this is impossible!" His hoarse voice broke in the wind, and the bloodstains before his eyes gradually blurred. In a daze, he seemed to see Xiao Wu's white skirt fluttering among the ruins, but when he reached out to grab it, he only grasped a handful of cold wood chips.

"ah--!!!"

A blood-curdling roar shook the heavens, and Tang San's eyes turned completely blood-red. The Eight Spider Lances stabbed out menacingly from behind, and the jet-black Clear Sky Hammer materialized in his hand, its terrifying killing intent forming a tangible blood-red storm. The surrounding soul beasts trembled and retreated.

"Bibi Dong of the Spirit Hall." He forced out these words through gritted teeth, each syllable brimming with deep-seated hatred. His fingernails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped from between his fingers, only to be evaporated into a blood mist by his violent killing intent before hitting the ground.

(End of this chapter)