Tang San gazed seriously at Ning Fengzhi’s eyes,
“Uncle Ning, can you tell me why you did not reveal their identities just now?”
Ning Fengzhi sighed,
“So you also noticed. That’s right, those people should be from Spirit Hall, even those normal black clothed people are also spirit masters. Furthermore, they are all at least Spirit Elders with three spirit rings. Only Spirit Hall is able to mobilize two Title Douluo and over a thousand Spirit Elders. Even if the seven big schools were to try their hardest and compete with them, it’s still impossible for them to gather as many people as Spirit Hall did. The reason why I did not reveal their identities is because I do not wish for everyone here to die over this matter. Do you think the Spirit Hall would let anyone off if they clearly knew that it was the Spirit Hall behind this?”
Tang San’s eyes flashed,
“Killing all witnesses?”
Ning Fengzhi nodded,
“Previously Dragon Duke and Serpent Grandmother did not intend to say it, but when Senior Dugu was about to say it, he was stopped by Chrysanthemum Douluo. We also did not say anything. That was because we did not wish to give Spirit Hall a reason to kill all the witnesses. This time they suffered a loss, in order to not reveal Spirit Hall’s identity, those lower level Spirit Elders did not release their spirits. If not, you would not have been able to kill them so easily. By the time they reacted, the losses had already appeared.”
Tang San lowered his voice:
“Uncle, Spirit Hall making a move against me, is it because of my father?”
Ning Fengzhi muttered:
“Not entirely. I think that although Spirit Hall making a move against you is partially because of your father, at the same time it is also because of your own talent. They should have already investigated your age. Having not yet reached fifteen years old but already having such strength. Furthermore you have twin spirits and are a direct descendant of the Clear Sky Clan. All these identities will undoubtedly make you into another Clear Sky Douluo. Once you’ve become strong, you will definitely become Spirit Hall’s largest threat.”
Tang San said:
“Just because of this, they want to kill me? But why did they not send a Title Douluo to directly assassinate me? Won’t that be much easier?”
Ning Fengzhi smiled calmly and said:
“Title Douluo also have their Title Douluo’s pride. The two Title Douluo who appeared today are both members of the Spirit Hall Elders, loyal supporters of the Supreme Pontiff. They can also be said to be the Deva Kings who stand alongside the Supreme Pontiff. A Title Douluo’s status is extremely revered, how would they be willing to sneak attack a child? If the people who previously attacked you were lowered to Spirit Douluo level, then with Flender and Liu Erlong around, it wouldn’t be easy for them to complete their mission. Actually, the biggest variable today was not us but Senior Dugu, you should thank him. The reason Spirit Hall sent out two Title Douluo must be because they already guessed that me and Uncle Sword would be here. It’s only after adding Senior Dugu that they fell into a disadvantageous situation.”
Dugu Bo laughed loudly, looked at Tang San and said:
“Little freak, you don’t have to thank me.”
Tang San looked at him and did not say any thanks. But in his heart, Dugu Bo who unhesitatingly went out to battle, left a deep mark in his heart. In order to save him, Dugu Bo had offended Spirit Hall.
Ning Fengzhi said:
“I think, there’s a need for you to learn about the two Title Douluo who appeared today. The white clothed one that appeared first is called Yue Guan[5], his spirit is the Chrysanthemum[6] and his title is Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum Douluo. His spirit rank is probably between rank ninety four and rank ninety five. That weird chrysanthemum is very powerful, luckily he was countered by Uncle Sword today.”
“The black shadow that appeared later, his title is Ghost and his rank is about the same as Chrysanthemum Douluo. His spirit is very special, Ghost Demon[7]. And his own name is also called Gui Mei[8]. According to rumors, besides the Supreme Pontiff, no one has seen his true face. He’s a strong agility attack based spirit master. It is very difficult to harm him with physical attacks. He’s definitely one of the toughest among the Title Douluo.”
Dugu Bo’s face turned red,
“That fellow Gui Mei is indeed powerful, if we were to continue fighting, I would definitely not be his opponent.”
Ning Fengzhi heavily said:
“These two Title Douluo do not only hold a high rank in the Spirit Hall, they are also in charge of upholding the law. They are both important pillars in Spirit Hall. Other than the few other elders who are hidden inside the Elder Hall, any matter relating to the outside world is decided by the Supreme Pontiff and the two of them. They are important helpers of the Supreme Pontiff, given your strength now, if you were to meet them alone, there’s no chance of surviving. That’s why I hope that you can return with Uncle Sword to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile School. I can only guarantee your safety if you are there.”
Tang San lowered his head and started thinking. Suddenly he raised his head, looked at Ning Fengzhi and said:
“Uncle Ning, thank you for your good intentions but I cannot just give up like this. Shrek Academy being able to walk until this step in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament is not only due to me working hard. If I were to abandon my teammates because of personal safely, then I will never forgive myself forever. Once such a knot appears in my heart, then my training from now on will never be successful. Therefore, I must participate in the finals this time. Didn’t you just say that before the finals end, Spirit Hall should not be openly making a move against me.”
Ning Fengzhi’s eyes revealed a trace of praise, but the words from his mouth were actually:
“But once the finals ends, if you all really become the champions, the assaults from Spirit Hall will be much scarier than today. At that time, even I might not be able to protect you. I can reveal a secret to you. Within the seven large clans, only the upper three clans are not under the influence of Spirit Hall. Spirit Hall can make two big empires fear them, why is that? That’s because of their absolute strength. I dare say, the spirit masters controlled by the two big empires added up, are not even half as much as Spirit Hall.”
* * *
[1] Chrysanthemum is also slang for anus, and the phrase can equally be read as “ravage your ass”. Guan also means “pass”, creating the pun “Chrysanthemum Guan/Anal Passage”
[2] Again, chrysanthemum is slang for anus.
[3] (鬼魅) “Ghost Demon”
[4] (剑道尘心) Literally “Way of the sword Chen Xin”, but that doesn’t really work as a title in English.
[5] (月关) “Moon Pass”
[6] (菊花) “Chrysanthemum Flower”, which is also slang for anus. His Title is only the first character, which doesn’t necessarily have the same connotations.
[7] (鬼魅)
[8] (鬼魅) “Ghost Demon”. Yes, he’s named the same as his spirit.
Chapter 121: Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong
Part 1 (TL by Bagelson)
After a moment’s pause, Ning Fengzhi went on:
“The depths of the Supreme Pontiff is even more unfathomable. Known as the most formidable leader in the history of Spirit Hall. In your present condition, you’re in no way suited to oppose them from the front. Yielding isn’t shirking, you’re still young, even if you want to confront Spirit Hall, there will still be time later. Is there a need to be so stubborn this time?”
Tang San’s brows tightened. After thinking deeply for a moment, he still shook his head,
“No, I have to participate in this competition. Uncle Ning, I understand your meaning, but I think this is also an important tempering in my life. If I can crash my way through, then when Spirit Hall wants to deal with me again in the future, it will also be severely difficult. It’s impossible for them to always hide the truth.”
Seeing the radiance in Tang San’s eyes, Ning Fengzhi couldn’t help recalling the appearance of his father in his youth. Their expressions were so similar. Even though Ning Fengzhi and Tang Hao weren’t very familiar in those days and they weren’t far apart in age, the feeling Tang Hao gave him was always like looking up at a tall mountain. Among the people of his generation, no one could compare to Tang Hao. Right now Tang Hao’s son had apparently duplicated this marvel, to the extent that he was even more outstanding than his father. ‘Clear Sky School, don’t tell me your genes really are that good?’
“Fine, since you’ve already decided, there’s no need for me to say more. Uncle will guarantee your safety as far as possible.”
Ning Fengzhi’s words were very flat, but as the master of a school, this was already equivalent to him giving Tang San a pledge.
Tang San sensed that Ning Fengzhi’s words right now weren’t out of pragmatism, or an attempt to rope him in. It was entirely the concern of an elder for a junior.
“Uncle Ning, I might not be able to enter Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, but as long as I still live, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will forever be my friend.”
……
Spirit City.
A plain clothed Grandmaster entered the city after passing the Spirit Master inspection. At his age, thirty something ranked strength naturally wouldn’t arouse any attention.
Without resting a bit, without even catching his breath a moment, Grandmaster came straight to the highest governing body of Spirit City. Supreme Pontiff Palace.
In front of Supreme Pontiff Palace.
“Halt.”
Two silver armored palace guard knights barred Grandmaster’s path, altogether a hundred palace guard knights raised the longswords in their hands,
“This is a restricted area. Approach one more step, and you will be killed without question.”
Facing more than a hundred palace guard knights with strength clearly above his, Grandmaster’s expression was still as apathetic as always. Raising his hand, he suddenly revealed his warrant tile.
The palace guard in the lead quickly stepped forward, when he saw the six insignia on the warrant tile, he couldn’t keep from shivering. With a putong sound, he knelt on one knee,
“My respect, elder.”
The hundred palace guards uniformly made the same motion. Contrasted by them, the originally ordinary Grandmaster seemed a lot less ordinary.
“Bring me to the Supreme Pontiff.”
Grandmaster used the simplest possible words to inform them of his purpose.
After an hour, in the official business hall of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Grandmaster quietly sipped top quality fragrant tea, quietly waiting.
Right now he was the only person in the more than a thousand square meter official hall.
Grandmaster’s gaze was all along focused on the fragrant tea in his hand, without so much as a glance at all the gold and jade splendor around him, he just waited quietly.
The three meter high arched doors opened, and a soft voice echoed from outside,
“You wait outside. Without my order, nobody is allowed inside.”
“Yes.”
Grandmaster’s gaze finally shifted from the tea, turning in the direction of the great doors of the official hall.
The door opened, and a woman walked in from outside.
Not tall, dressed in black gilt-lined luxurious robes, wearing a nine tipped purple gold crown, a more than two meter long scepter in her hand, inlaid with countless precious stones. Fair skin and close to perfect complexion made her stand out from the masses.
She especially revealed an intangible noble sacredness, making people even more inclined to kneel and pay their respects.
Grandmaster sat, and after entering the room, that woman also halted. The two peoples’ gazes collided in the air like that. There were no sparks. Grandmaster’s gaze held a lot of things. There was apology, memories, and even more of disappointment.
The woman’s gaze instantly had a complex change. Even though she only looked thirty or so, in fact, she was even a year older than Grandmaster, her age long since past fifty. The scepter in her hand struck the floor, issuing an echoing ding.
“You came.”
The gentle and pleasant voice very easily gave people a feeling of bathing in the spring wind.
But Grandmaster’s gaze instead became astringent, pushing on the table in front of him with both hands to stand, turning to that woman,
“Yes, I came. Are you well?”
The woman’s face displayed a slight smile,
“With ten thousand subordinates, how would I be unwell? As the ruler of Spirit Hall, even the monarchs of the two great empires would have to show me some degree of courtesy. Where do you think I would be unwell?”
Grandmaster sighed,
“Bibi Dong[1], I know the pain in your heart.”
“Bibi Dong? If you didn’t say it, I would almost have forgotten this name. Please call me Supreme Pontiff, or Your Eminence. It’s been long since I was that foolish Bibi Dong.”
Yes, this seemingly gentle and beautiful woman before him was the current highest ruler of Spirit Hall, the target of pilgrimage for all Spirit Masters, the Supreme Pontiff.
She was the youngest Supreme Pontiff in the history of Spirit Hall, taking the seat before forty.
There were initially a lot of doubters, but as time passed, under her governance, Spirit Hall’s development was even faster and more violent, and also even more unified. A lot of people already believed she was the most outstanding Supreme Pontiff Spirit Hall ever had.
“Yes, Your Eminence Supreme Pontiff.”
Grandmaster’s pupils contracted somewhat, a trace of pain trickling through his eyes. He turned, walking over and standing where he sat before, hands clasping the fragrant tea, seemingly falling into old memories.
Watching Grandmaster’s back, the indifference in the Supreme Pontiff’s eyes faded away, a somewhat unable to endure mood flashing. Raising her feet, she seemed about to step forward, but in the end held back.
“What did you come to find me for? It’s already been twenty years since we last met.”
The Supreme Pontiff’s voice still sounded so serene.
Grandmaster drew a deep breath, suppressing his raging heart. Even he hadn’t expected him to lose control like this on seeing Bibi Dong again.
As he turned around, the mood in his eyes had completely disappeared, leaving only the usual apathy.
“Your Eminence Supreme Pontiff, I came to make a request.”
“Oh?”
The Supreme Pontiff looked at Grandmaster with some astonishment,
“You would come to request something of me? That doesn’t seem like you. It seems time really will change a man. Speak.”
Grandmaster didn’t explain. If it was only for himself, he would never come to make a request from the other person, but, for the disciple he thought of as a son, he had no choice but to make the trip.
“Your Eminence, I want to know, how did you pass the crisis of twin spirits at that time?”
The Supreme Pontiff’s eyes contracted a moment, and she calmly said:
“You don’t need to know. What’s the significance of this to you?”
Grandmaster didn’t hide it,
“I accepted a disciple, he has followed me to cultivate for seven or eight years. By luck, he possess twin spirits like you. This child is prodigiously talented, and I hope to foster him into a power.”
“Why would I help you? Let you cultivate a power to go against me later?”
The Supreme Pontiff’s voice suddenly became chilly.
Grandmaster lowered his voice:
“Of course not. If you agree to tell me how you did it, I can guarantee you that my disciple will never oppose Spirit Hall.”
The corners of the Supreme Pontiff’s mouth displayed a smile,
“Originally, it’s also this matter that not even this Grandmaster of theor
y knows. Yu Xiao Gang, You’ve come too late. Several days ago I already dispatched people to rob and kill along the route the Heaven Dou Empire participating teams must travel. Their target, is that Clear Sky School disciple of yours. Therefore, there’s also no need for you to know the secret of twin spirits.”
Grandmaster trembled violently, turning back fiercely, staring at the Supreme Pontiff,
“What did you say?”
The Supreme Pontiff didn’t hide it, and indifferently said:
“Platinum bishop Salas sent word that a Clear Sky School child appeared, prodigiously talented. Already breaking through fortieth rank at such a young age, twin spirits, possessing a ten thousand year level fourth spirit ring. Even possibly possessing spirit bones. Close to Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Heaven Dou Empire. My Spirit Hall can’t use such a person, but can only be killed.”
“You……”
Grandmaster stepped forward sharply, both hands fiercely grabbing the Supreme Pontiff’s shoulders, his eyes instantly covered with blood, his whole body trembling violently.
Seeing Grandmaster’s eyes brimming with hatred, Bibi Dong went blank a moment,
“To you, is he really so important?”
With her strength, she could naturally turn away Grandmaster, but she didn’t do it, only letting his scorching hot hands hold onto her shoulders.
Grandmaster’s breath became ragged, speaking word by word:
“Bibi Dong, hear me clearly. If anything happens to Tang San, then I will spare no cost to destroy Spirit hall. In my life I have had no children, but he is like my son.”
Part 2 (TL by Bagelson)
Feeling Grandmaster’s breath, the Supreme Pontiff’s face flushed a bit, her breath somewhat urgent saying:
“Yu Xiao Gang, do you still have the time to worry? Back then, do you remember how you left me? For your own little sister, ridiculous, truly too ridiculous. You actually refused me for your own little sister. That I became Supreme Pontiff is admittedly thanks to you, but, I hate you. In all my life, you are the person I hate the most. I want you to suffer, I will not only kill your apprentice, I’ll still kill Liu Erlong. No, I won’t kill her, I’ll torture her to make you suffer.”
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 215