The All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament had concluded.
Both the Heaven Dou and Star Luo contingents had left Spirit City.
The Star Luo Empire team, having failed to place in the top three, had left a few days earlier.
As for Heaven Dou, they were still led by "Xue Qinghe" on their return journey to the Heaven Dou Empire.
At this moment, inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace in Spirit City, a heavy atmosphere hung over the gathered figures. It seemed they were discussing an important matter.
After a long silence, a certain elder could no longer hold back and finally spoke:
"Your Holiness, I believe that hunting down Tang San does not conflict with the wager."
"The premise of that bet is that Tang San survives for five years. If Tang San dies before then, the wager naturally becomes void."
"Besides, Lord Martial God never said we couldn't kill Tang San. In this bet, Lord Martial God has already shown the utmost mercy by not personally striking him down."
Hearing this, the others nodded in thought.
Originally, there would have been no need for this meeting, but the so-called five-year pact forced them to reassess their approach.
What if Zhongli placed great importance on this agreement?
If Tang San died, who would face Xiao Feilian in the five-year challenge?
Elder Devil Bear supported the idea:
"Devil Bear Douluo Elder makes a good point. No one knows whether tomorrow or an accident will come first. Hunting Tang San and seizing his hundred-thousand-year soul bone should be our top priority."
Although Xiao Feilian also possessed a hundred-thousand-year soul bone, and the abilities he displayed were in no way inferior to Tang San's, perhaps even stronger in some aspects, none of them dared to set their sights on Xiao Feilian.
Thus, Tang San's hundred-thousand-year soul bone became the most viable target.
The murmur of discussion brought Bibi Dong back to her senses, a hint of displeasure flashing in her beautiful eyes.
Were these people trying to teach her how to do her job?
Hmm...
It wouldn't be the first time.
These elders frequently pointed fingers and meddled in her decisions, she had long grown accustomed to it.
As for whether Tang San should be hunted down, she had already made up her mind.
Kill him!
"If Elder Devil Bear believes this is feasible, then Elder Devil Bear and Elder Ghost Leopard shall proceed to Heaven Dou City and eliminate Tang San."
Under normal circumstances, aside from Yue Guan and Gui Mei, the other elders held little regard for Bibi Dong's commands.
But this was not a normal situation.
This was an opportunity. If they seized it, they could gain significant contribution points, and obtaining a soul bone might allow them to further strengthen themselves.
That was one of the main reasons the elders were so eager.
Hearing this, Ghost Leopard Doulou and Devil Bear Douluo were momentarily stunned. They exchanged glances, feeling uneasy, this was too easy.
Something didn't seem right.
Bibi Dong's behavior was suspicious.
Wouldn't a mission like this normally be assigned to Yue Guan and Gui Mei?
Why had it fallen to them?
The two exchanged puzzled looks, unable to decipher Bibi Dong's true intentions.
After a brief moment of thought, Devil Bear Douluo spoke up:
"Your Holiness, I believe we should send two more elders. After all, Tang Hao is a Title Douluo..."
Tang San had Tang Hao backing him, and Tang Hao was a formidable opponent.
Years ago, even three against one, the Spirit Hall had lost, and two of their own had died.
Devil Bear Douluo suspected Bibi Dong merely wanted them to probe Tang Hao's strength. Otherwise, why wouldn't she send Yue Guan and Gui Mei?
Bibi Dong paused, she honestly hadn't thought about Tang Hao.
That man had fought Du Bafang, the deputy leader of the Body Sect, to a standstill.
That battle had also exposed Tang Hao's severe injuries.
If they couldn't defeat a "fully healthy" Tang Hao, surely a gravely wounded Tang Hao would be easy to handle?
"Gui Mei, Yue Guan, you two go as well."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
The two immediately accepted. This was an excellent assignment.
"If you encounter Tang Hao, do your best to kill him. Do not hold back."
"He is already seriously injured. I believe the four of you should have no trouble taking him down."
Bibi Dong added a final remark.
Tang Hao's injuries were no secret. Du Bafang had publicly mentioned it.
Unlike the original timeline, neither Yue Guan nor Gui Mei seemed particularly fearful.
In fact, Gui Mei was eager to fight Tang Hao.
His second awakening had granted him immense power and an overwhelming sense of confidence.
More importantly, Tang Hao was still injured!
This was the perfect opportunity.
After further discussion, the meeting adjourned.
Some went back to training, while the assigned elders prepared for their mission.
To prevent Tang San from fleeing, they planned to wait until "Xue Qinghe's" party reached Heaven Dou City before making their move.
If Tang San left the group early, that would be his death sentence!
Once the elders departed, only Bibi Dong and Hu Liena remained in the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Hu Liena had been unaware of the earlier discussion, her status was not high enough to stand among the elders.
Now that the hall was empty, she finally stepped forward.
"Teacher, I have disappointed you."
Hu Liena lowered her head, her voice tinged with frustration, completely missing the change in Bibi Dong's expression.
Bibi Dong shook her head, her expression calm and indifferent.
Disappointed?
When had Hu Liena ever disappointed her?
She wasn't aware of such a thing.
She had never expected anything, so what was there to be disappointed about?
From the very start, Bibi Dong had never believed that Hu Liena's team would win this year's All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament.
What surprised her, however, was that they had only managed to place third.
Of course, the unforeseen changes on the battlefield had caught everyone off guard.
None of the powerful figures present had managed to discern that the rabbit's true identity was a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast.
Yet, for some reason, she had been so desperate that she willingly sacrificed herself to help Tang San win the championship.
Even Bibi Dong found herself wondering, was Xiao Wu out of her mind?
If her identity had been exposed and she had sacrificed herself for someone she deeply cared about, that would have been understandable.
After all, there had been cases of spirit beasts doing this in the past.
But she hadn't even been exposed.
Did she do it just for honor?
Or for those three soul bones?
Did she not realize that Tang San obtaining a hundred-thousand-year soul bone would make him a target for countless powerful individuals?
"Soul beasts are just soul beasts."
"No matter how long they live, they still lack intelligence."
Bibi Dong thought to herself, but her face remained expressionless.
Right now, she was in desperate need of high-year-level spirit rings. The stronger, the better.
Watching a hundred-thousand-year spirit beast willingly sacrifice itself for a human was incredibly frustrating.
"Before, there were at least two hundred-thousand-year soul beasts near the lake in the Star Dou Forest. But ever since Zhongli and the Body Sect appeared..."
Bibi Dong fell into deep thought again, her eyelid twitching.
She had already sent people to investigate the Star Dou Forest.
There was no sign of the Sky Azure Bull Python or the Titan Giant Ape.
If her guess was correct, they had already been hunted down by the Body Sect.
That was two whole hundred-thousand-year spirit rings gone!