Douluo Dalu: Transforming Soul Rings into Soul Veins

Light gauze fluttered.

In a room suffused with the faint, violet fragrance of violets, Bibi Dong lay sideways, clutching a pillow to her chest.

A soft flush of red graced her face.

Her delicate collarbone and fair skin peeked out from beneath the covers.

A smile played on her lips, her eyes curved like crescents as she murmured softly:

"Xiaofeng… hehe…"

A flower that's been nourished truly blossoms differently.

So tender, so moist with desire.

Her brows carried a seductive charm.

She greedily breathed in the lingering scent of Lin Feng on the pillow.

Utterly enamored.

She wished she could fall asleep again and continue relishing the experience.

Yesterday afternoon, the two of them had indulged in an intense, passionate battle.

It had ultimately ended in Bibi Dong's victory.

Not that Lin Feng could be blamed.

From the moment he ingested Bibi Dong's specially prepared whale glue, he was already at a disadvantage.

No—perhaps it had begun from that very first kiss, when Bibi Dong took the lead.

This was, without a doubt, a time when he had truly been passive.

Even after spending so long with Lingyuan and Qian Renxue, he had never suffered such a complete and glorious defeat.

Bibi Dong seemed to be venting something.

Or perhaps it was an unending thirst, an infinite craving.

Shreds of black silk were scattered all around the bed, and feathers from a torn pillow drifted across the floor.

On the wide bed lay a fresh bedsheet.

Bibi Dong groped for the storage soul tool ring on her left ring finger.

A contented smile appeared on her face.

But just then, an ill-timed voice broke the dreamy silence.

Shattering her beautiful moment.

"Your Holiness the Pope, your subordinate has an urgent report."

Bibi Dong's delicate brows knit tightly.

For a moment, she truly wanted to slap the fool outside to death.

She quickly tidied her slightly disheveled hair.

Then pulled back on her purple-and-gold Pope's robe.

Ignoring the mess in the room, she swept it all into her soul tool with a single motion.

Standing before the mirror, she meticulously inspected herself.

Ensuring there were no visible flaws.

Then she walked straight toward the grand hall of the Pope's Palace.

The secret chamber connected directly to the main hall.

This, in a way, was deliberately arranged by Bibi Dong herself.

Seated once again upon the Pope's throne.

She asked calmly:

"What is it? It better not be trivial matters."

As the Pope of Spirit Hall, she naturally had to handle applications from across the continent and oversee numerous policies.

Sometimes, messages from remote places were merely greetings and praise for Spirit Hall.

Useless, messy things.

Yet they were still submitted one after another, as if fulfilling a duty.

Looking at the two standing before her—her most trusted subordinates—

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.

Bibi Dong's annoyance flared.

Clearly her own people, yet they had been lent to Qian Renxue for over a year.

Now they'd only just resumed their positions…

And today, they had the nerve to disturb her precious morning rest.

These two old fools—do they know what "beautiful emotions" even mean? She could have stayed lost in that feeling much longer, but they had to come and ruin it!

You're both courting death!

Ah, this…

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged glances, both seeing confusion in the other's eyes.

Why did it feel like the Pope's demeanor was totally different today?

There was a newfound softness beneath her dignified and lofty air.

But her gaze toward them right now was cold.

Even… a little resentful?

Yue Guan quickly spoke up.

"Your Holiness, Tang Hao once again attempted to take his own life in the city.

We're unsure how to handle the matter."

Bibi Dong forcibly suppressed her anger.

They dragged her out for this?

What does Tang "Sun-Kisser" Hao's life or death have to do with her?

Let him die if he wants.

What, would his death affect Spirit Hall in any way?

Reduced to a mere Soul Grandmaster, wandering Spirit City like a beggar.

The news that he had been captured by Spirit Hall had been released two years ago.

And the outside world hadn't even stirred.

Even the seclusive Clear Sky Clan hadn't shown the slightest reaction.

What did that mean?

It meant Tang Hao had long been abandoned by his clan.

It was well known that the Clear Sky Clan wasn't unified internally.

Though the current clan leader was Tang Hao's brother—Tang San's uncle—

The elders of the clan loathed Tang Hao deeply, blaming him for his father's death by anger and for forcing the clan to retreat into hiding atop a mountain.

For any news to come in support of Tang Hao would be unthinkable.

Let alone anyone daring to come rescue him from Spirit City.

"Let him die. Xue'er has likely already vented her resentment.

There's no reason to stop it.

This so-called youngest-ever Titled Douluo… his heart isn't as fragile as people think.

You'll see, he won't actually die."

Yue Guan muttered internally.

Well sure, you don't care, but what about us?

With Tang Hao's identity on full display, how could they not report it up the chain as his subordinates?

But what was going on with the Pope today?

Usually, even when she acted swiftly and decisively, she didn't show such irritation.

Did something go wrong?

And that look—they hadn't done anything wrong, right?

Surely… surely they weren't punished for interrupting her rest?

Yue Guan firmly rejected the thought.

Ridiculous. A 98th-level Super Douluo needs rest?

Sleep is practically optional for Titled Douluo!

"No other matters? Then leave quickly."

Bibi Dong waved her hand with clear impatience.

"Er… actually, there's one more thing."

Bibi Dong opened her eyes again.

Her gaze was unmistakable: You better have a real reason, or you're about to have a real problem.

She still wanted to get back to the secret chamber… to savor that lingering scent.

What could be more important than her little Feng?

Yue Guan wiped imaginary sweat from his brow.

Oh no—the Pope's condition had clearly worsened.

"It's about a request from the matriarch of the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan, Lady Ye."

"Oh?"

Only then did Bibi Dong show some interest. Due to Lin Feng having resolved Ye Lingling's Martial Soul inheritance issue, and the outside world being unaware of this development,

Lady Ye had kept a low profile ever since Ye Lingling's Martial Soul had awakened.

She hadn't publicly declared her death, but most assumed she had long since passed away.

That had made it extremely easy to summon her to Spirit City to replace Tang Hao's soul bones.

Afterward, though she briefly returned to the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan, she quickly came back to Spirit City.

It seemed she had heard of Lin Feng's plan to promote soul vein cultivation,

And wanted to prepare the way early for Ye Lingling.

And that other healer, Ye Zixin, also seemed to have a close relationship with Lady Ye.

"What does she want to request?"

"She wants to relocate the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan from the Heaven Dou Empire to Spirit City.

She said that since Holy Son Lin Feng intends to make Ye Lingling the pioneer of soul veins, it's best to begin now."

In truth, Lady Ye was more concerned about something else:

Ye Lingling had already undergone soul vein sculpting and couldn't travel freely.

Because using her soul skills would reveal that she was missing a soul ring.

Which could expose her unique condition. If another faction discovered it, that would be dangerous.

"Strictly speaking, her relationship with the Holy Son isn't ordinary. Why not ask him directly?

Why come to me instead?

And in the end, this should be Holy Son Lin Feng's decision. There's no need for it to go through me."

A flash of surprise passed through Yue Guan's eyes.

"Your Holiness,

This request was actually entrusted to me by Holy Son Lin Feng.

He said matters like this are best handled by you.

He trusts your judgment."

Bibi Dong's eyes flickered.

"He really said that?"

"Yes."

"Not a word was missed?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised an eyebrow.

"Not a word."

"Heh…"

Bibi Dong curled her lips into a captivating smile. See? Just as she had expected.

He was already starting to care about her.

Could his descent and surrender to her truly be far off?

"Approve it. Permit the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan to begin moving to Spirit City.

There's no need to hide it deliberately. Just do it openly. With the prestige Spirit City has accumulated, it's no longer something the two empires can easily shake.

There's no need to keep being restrained by both sides.

The situation has shifted—if they can invade, so can we. Even if the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan arrives at our doorstep today, there's nothing they can say about it."

"Is there anything else? Did the Holy Son say anything more?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo froze. Didn't she just say not to bother her with trivial matters again? Didn't she say she didn't want to hear his reports anymore?

She even looked like she was about to walk away.

Now she was asking questions again—what's going on?

"Reporting to the Pope—nothing else."

A trace of disappointment flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes.

She shot the two before her an irritated look.

What use are you two? You can't even extract a few more words from the Holy Son?

Starting to spread the news of Soul Veins?

That might… slow Lin Feng and his group down a little.

If she were to bring Ye Lingling back right now…

There's no way he wouldn't care, right?

Or perhaps, she could start publicly revealing the effects of the whale glue.

If she did that at the same time as the public Soul Vein talent recruitment, then Lin Feng would surely come back to her once more.

What a delightful thought!

Just thinking about being alone with him again sent an indescribable thrill through Bibi Dong's heart.

"If there's nothing else, then you are dismissed."

"Yes."

Watching the two leave the Pope's Hall, Bibi Dong, in the very next instant, returned to her boudoir.

The air was filled with a mesmerizing fragrance, carrying the faintest hint of something bizarre and indecent.

Though subtle, there was indeed a faintly lustful, chaotic undertone to it.

Casually tossing aside her Pope's robe, she changed into the outfit she had worn that night.

It was a specially made purple-gold Pope robe.

It was supremely noble and pure—once, it had been her favorite outfit.

Not just for its ornate and luxurious embellishments, but also because of the identity it symbolized.

But now, Bibi Dong couldn't care less about that.

While Lin Feng was not by her side…

She only wanted to wear this, and recall the warmth that belonged solely to the two of them.

After that entire afternoon of intense lovemaking, Lin Feng had held her soft, boneless waist.

The way they treated each other so gently back then…

She pressed her cheek back into the large bed, hugging a pillow beside her chest.

She kept stroking it—

As if it were Lin Feng himself.

"Xiaofeng… hehe…"

.........

On the bustling streets of Spirit City—

Vendors cried out, and soul master tasks were shouted across the roads.

This city, built entirely of soul masters, radiated its unique charm at all times.

You could hardly see anyone destitute here.

Though there was one exception.

In a remote spot near the city walls, there was a small shack made of wood.

Inside, not even a mattress had been laid.

Just a layer of plain straw, forming a makeshift bed.

And atop that straw—

An oily-looking elderly man lay sprawled.

Tang Hao, once rumored to be the youngest Titled Douluo ever, now looked like he'd lost all hope.

Curled up, snoring on his crude little bed. His brows tightly furrowed, forehead covered in cold sweat, as if trapped in a terrifying nightmare.

"Hah—!"

Tang Hao suddenly sat up.

Panting heavily, his eyes bloodshot and red.

As expected—another nightmare.

"That woman's no angel—she's a devil!"

Even now, so much time later, the mere memory of her filled Tang Hao with dread.

The wielder of the Seraphim Martial Soul—

Had actually summoned the matriarch of the Nine-Heart Begonia Clan…

And forcibly replaced every soul bone in his body.

Except for the one in his brain that couldn't be removed, all were swapped out with ordinary human bones.

This had reduced his strength to that of a mere Soul Grandmaster.

His Killing God Domain had shattered long ago.

He couldn't even summon his Clear Sky Hammer anymore.

Though Qian Daoliu had spared his life, he had utterly destroyed his cultivation.

How many people could bear such a crushing blow?

They didn't execute him—

Instead, they tossed him here. Into this ignored, abandoned street.

Letting him rot, mocked and scorned by all.

For someone with pride like his, this was worse than death.

Who was he?

He was the Clear Sky Douluo. A Super Douluo of level 95. The kind who, once becoming a Titled Douluo, could crush three with a single hammer.

He had even served as the former Pope's executioner.

They didn't even give him a clean death, choosing instead to humiliate him like this. There was no such thing as justice!

"Spirit Hall—you will die miserably!"

Tang Hao's messy hair flew wildly.

His dark skin and yellowed teeth, along with his wild spittle-flinging curses, made him a revolting sight.

Tang Hao glanced around.

Then, like he used to when cooking, he walked straight toward a tall building.

And leapt from it without hesitation.

But as time passed, a sudden realization struck him.

What's going on? Normally, by now, someone from Spirit Hall would show up and save him, right?

Why hadn't anyone come this time?

Surely… they weren't on holiday?

Panicking, Tang Hao could only muster the last dregs of soul power left in his body—

Barely managing to protect a vital area as he fell.

Even so, he hit the ground in a dizzy mess, bruised and bloodied.

A passing Spirit Hall member sneered coldly:

"You really think we're still going to stop you from offing yourself like before?

You clearly want to live—so why torture yourself like this?"

The passerby walked off casually.

Leaving behind Tang Hao, whose eyes now shimmered with icy light.

He hadn't expected even a mere grunt from Spirit Hall would dare mock him.

What hope was there left for the future?

Was he really supposed to rely on that boy Tang San, who he barely knew? He hadn't even seen his Martial Soul awaken yet.

Was it really the Clear Sky Hammer?

If it wasn't… he truly regretted not eliminating him back then…