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Bibi Dong pressed her forehead helplessly, sighing inwardly: Qian Daoliu and those old fogeys from the Worship Hall have always disliked me. If that effeminate Chrysanthemum Douluo dies, they might use it as an excuse to impeach me and strip me of my position as the Pope.
For the sake of my grand plan, I absolutely cannot lose the papal throne right now!
With that thought in mind, Bibi Dong spoke impatiently to Ghost Douluo:
"Elder Gui, go to the treasury and retrieve 40 million gold soul coins, along with four spirit bones between 10,000 and 30,000 years in age. Hand them over to Bishop Warwick and have him go to the Star Luo Empire to ransom Elder Ju."
"Remember, the spirit bones don't need to be powerful. The lower the age, the better. We're buying Ju Douluo back, not strengthening the Star Luo Empire. Understood?"
"Yes! Understood! Thank you, Your Holiness!" Ghost Douluo let out a sigh of relief. No matter what, his brother's life was saved.
Ghost Douluo then led Bishop Warwick to the treasury and withdrew the required gold and spirit bones. Per Dai Weisi's demands, the four spirit bones included one skull and one torso bone.
Inside the Crown Prince's mansion, Bai Chenxiang had completely refined the Grade-9 Qingling Pill. Her soul power had directly broken through to Rank 20, and her innate talent had also improved.
At this point, her cultivation potential and speed were no less than those of Ma Hongjun or Dai Mubai.
Rather than immediately helping her obtain her first soul ring, Dai Weisi gave her some whale gelatin, instructing her to consume it to further enhance her physique.
Being young and inexperienced, Bai Chenxiang didn't know what whale gelatin was for. But she trusted Dai Weisi and, without hesitation, took it as instructed.
Just like Anna, she was still too young, so she started with ten-year whale gelatin, gradually strengthening her body, blood, and tendons.
From then on, Bai Chenxiang followed Dai Weisi in his training and quickly formed sisterly bonds with Zhu Zhuyun, Zhu Zhuqing, and Anna.
Dai Weisi planned to have her obtain her second soul ring and reach the Soul Grandmaster realm, after which he would enroll her in the Star Luo Royal Academy and include her in the elite Soul Master tournament two and a half years later.
This would complete the Star Luo Royal Team, with the seven members being:
Dai Weisi, Zhu Zhuyun, Zhu Zhuqing, Bai Chenxiang, Dong Hui, Yang Mingxin, and Tang Hongning.
As for Anna, Dai Weisi didn't want her to participate.
Anna's talent was too terrifying. With just her first and second soul skills, her potential rivaled even Tang San's.
Dai Weisi intended to nurture her into a future Sea God. Though she wasn't a sea-type soul master, if Tang San could become Sea God with the Blue Silver Emperor, Dai Weisi believed Anna could do the same with her Obsidian Divine Herb.
Anna already had a thousand-year second soul ring. Her fourth ring would undoubtedly be ten-thousand-year level. Her potential even surpassed Dai Weisi's own.
If she participated in the tournament, she'd definitely attract Bibi Dong's attention. As long as Dai Weisi remained in the spotlight, Anna could remain hidden and safe.
After all, who would suspect a seven-year-old girl to be Dai Weisi's trump card against the Spirit Hall?
A week quickly passed.
During this time, Dai Pojun returned safely, having successfully obtained his ninth soul ring.
His soul power rose to Rank 91, and he acquired a formidable ninth soul skill.
Meanwhile, all members of the Agility Clan had relocated to Star Luo City. In a grand ceremony, Dai Pojun officially appointed Bai He as the Gale General of the Star Luo Empire and formed the Gale Legion.
All soul masters from the Agility Clan with power above Rank 30 were allowed to join the Gale Legion. The Empire would provide them with repeating flintlock rifles and grenades, along with military training—forming Star Luo's first airborne combat force.
Now, just like Spirit Hall's Angel Legion, the Star Luo Empire had its own airborne unit.
Elsewhere, Yang Wudi, under the protection of the Star Luo army, personally traveled to Longxing City to persuade Niu Gao and the Defense Clan to join the Empire.
As it happened, Huyan Zhen, patriarch of the Elephant Armored Sect—one of the Lower Four Sects—had recently been harassing Niu Gao, attempting to annex the Defense Clan. Fed up with Huyan Zhen, Niu Gao was very receptive to Yang Wudi's proposal.
Upon learning that the Star Luo Empire now had three Titled Douluo and that Yang Wudi and Bai He had both joined, Niu Gao didn't hesitate to pledge allegiance.
Dai Pojun appointed him as Minister of Works, giving him authority over the Empire's agriculture, irrigation, construction, and city fortifications—roles Niu Gao was naturally gifted for.
Wasting no time, Niu Gao led his clan to begin renovating the walls of Star Luo City, aiming to transform it into a fortress of war.
He also studied hydraulic engineering with other engineers in the Ministry of Works. Though the Defense Clan had always specialized in fortress building, mastering irrigation would ensure their place in the capital for generations to come.
At the same time, for the Star Luo Empire, investing in hydraulic engineering meant improved grain yields and a significant boost to agricultural development.
As for the Strength Clan, both Yang Wudi and Lou Gao sent envoys to persuade them to join Star Luo.
The Strength Clan specialized in blacksmithing, and their clan leader Tai Tan was one of the three greatest forging masters alive. If the Strength Clan were to join the Empire, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset.
Unfortunately, Tai Tan declined.
A loyal servant does not serve two masters. To him, Tang Hao was his rightful master, and thus he had no intention of pledging allegiance to anyone else.
Still, he made his stance clear—if the Star Luo Empire ever required assistance, the Strength Clan would not sit idly by.
In just one week, the Star Luo Empire had received a flurry of good news, one after another. But the best news of all arrived when Bishop Warwick returned—with four spirit bones in tow.
"Your Majesty, here are four ten-thousand-year spirit bones and forty million gold soul coins. Please verify them," said Warwick respectfully.
He presented two soul tools, which contained thirty-six million gold coins and four spirit bones. Including the soul tools themselves, the total value was precisely forty million.
Dai Pojun opened the soul tools, took out the four spirit bones, and roughly scanned through the pile of coins before nodding in satisfaction.
"Not bad. They're indeed ten-thousand-year spirit bones. Bishop Warwick is a man of his word. Someone, unbind Elder Ju."
Two guards quickly released the soul power restraints binding Yue Guan. Bishop Warwick supported the weakened Chrysanthemum Douluo and left the palace without saying another word.
Dai Pojun smiled as he looked at the four spirit bones in his hands. With one glance, he could tell none of them exceeded 30,000 years in age, so he casually tossed them to Dai Weisi and said with a hearty laugh,
"Here, Dai Weisi! These are yours!"
"Thank you, Father Emperor," Dai Weisi replied with a respectful nod.
As he examined the bones, he couldn't help feeling a slight tinge of disappointment upon realizing there wasn't a Wisdom Skull with Spirit Condensation, the kind most coveted by soul masters. But he hadn't expected Bibi Dong to offer up a skull bone over 50,000 years old anyway.
The four spirit bones were:
A 20,000-year Nether Wisdom Skull
A 20,000-year Scaled Defense Right Arm Bone
A 20,000-year Trunk Bone of the Giant Spirit Treant
And a 30,000-year Swift Gale Left Leg Bone of Rapid Pursuit
Three of them were at the 20,000-year level, and one had reached 30,000 years.
Dai Weisi picked up the last one—the Swift Gale Left Leg Bone—and muttered,
"Who would've thought Bibi Dong would hand this one over… Say what you will, but this spirit bone really was destined for Zhuqing."
In the original story, this very bone had belonged to Zhu Zhuqing. Dai Weisi decided to give it to her nonetheless. After all, she was his fiancée.
(End of Chapter)