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"Thunder Punishment Elder... Thunder Punishment Douluo?"
"Good. From now on, your title shall be 'Thunder Punishment'," Qian Xunji declared as he stood up, officially recognizing this title.
"Thank you for your recognition, Your Excellency," Lin Yongming nodded in acknowledgment.
"Haha... Thunder Punishment Elder might be the youngest elder in the history of our Spirit Hall. Perhaps in another two years, we'll be addressing you as Thunder Punishment High Elder," Chrysanthemum Douluo chuckled lightly.
"Indeed, Thunder Punishment Elder hasn't even reached twenty years of age yet. So young - he might truly be the youngest elder since the founding of the Spirit Hall," Viper Douluo agreed with a nod.
"Esteemed elders, please spare me your teasing. Regardless, my current spirit power rank is still only Spirit Sage level," Lin Yongming replied humbly with a smile.
"Xiao Ming is amazing! Becoming a Spirit Hall elder at such a young age - who else could compare?" Bibi Dong gazed at Lin Yongming's profile with infatuated eyes, her heart overflowing with excitement.
"So this was Xiao Ming's agreement with teacher. Since Xiao Ming has become an elder, teacher definitely won't oppose us anymore," Bibi Dong thought to herself, feeling a great weight lift from her shoulders.
"Very well, Lin Yongming. As per our agreement, I've granted you the position of elder. However, since your current spirit power is at Spirit Sage level, your primary focus should still be cultivation. Unless absolutely necessary, I won't assign you any tasks," Qian Xunji said as he sat back down.
"As you command, Your Excellency," Lin Yongming replied with relaxed demeanor.
"Now, according to our agreement, there's one final matter to address," Qian Xunji's expression turned serious as he announced loudly: "Bibi Dong, step forward."
"Teacher," Bibi Dong was momentarily startled but obediently walked to the center of the hall.
"Some time ago, I made an agreement with Lin Yongming - if he could withstand ten moves from Elder Ju, I would officially betroth you to him and personally preside over your wedding ceremony. Of course, if you're unwilling, I won't force you. I'm sure Lin Yongming wouldn't mind either," Qian Xunji explained the terms of the wager to Bibi Dong.
"Ah!" Bibi Dong froze momentarily before her cheeks flushed crimson with embarrassment.
"You're unwilling? Then I'll simply cancel it," Qian Xunji said when he saw Bibi Dong standing there dumbfounded without responding.
"No no... Teacher! I'm willing, your disciple is willing!" Bibi Dong quickly came to her senses and nodded repeatedly in response.
"And you, Lin Yongming?" Qian Xunji turned to ask Lin Yongming as well.
"Your Excellency, I am absolutely willing to marry the Holy Maiden," Lin Yongming stepped forward to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Bibi Dong, answering firmly.
"Excellent. One month from today, we will hold a grand wedding ceremony in Spirit City. I will invite all the major sects and powers to witness your union," Qian Xunji nodded in satisfaction.
"One month?" Lin Yongming frowned. "That won't work. A Yin is currently pregnant. I want to wait until after she gives birth and has a hundred days to recover. Then we can hold the wedding together."
Lin Yongming would have loved to marry them now, but with Blue Silver's current pregnancy, she couldn't possibly appear in public. Therefore, they had no choice but to postpone.
"Absolutely not! Bibi Dong is the Holy Maiden of our Spirit Hall, a position of utmost prestige. How could she share a wedding ceremony with some common girl? I understand you're reluctant, but if you want to marry the Holy Maiden, that girl can only be your concubine - the principal wife position belongs solely to Bibi Dong," Qian Xunji's expression turned cold.
"This is my final condition."
"Impossible! A Yin has been with me since childhood. I could never betray her like that," Lin Yongming immediately rejected Qian Xunji's demand without hesitation.
"Lin Yongming!" Qian Xunji stood up again, his voice full of authority. "Don't keep testing the limits of my patience! Either marry Bibi Dong next month with that girl as a concubine, or you can forget about ever being with Bibi Dong again," he declared in a tone that brooked no argument.
"Having the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall share a wedding with some ordinary girl - if word got out, people would think our Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden is just for show! It would damage the dignity of Spirit Hall," Qian Xunji continued.
Lin Yongming's expression darkened as he thought to himself: "So this was his game all along. I thought Qian Xunji had changed, but he was just waiting to spring this trap. He knows full well about my relationship with A Yin, yet he's making things difficult like this."
There was no way Lin Yongming would abandon either of them.
"In that case, let me be perfectly clear - making A Yin a concubine is absolutely out of the question. So either we hold the wedding together, or I'll leave right now and renounce this Spirit Hall elder position," Lin Yongming declared without backing down.
"What did you just say?" Qian Xunji spoke each word deliberately, his gaze piercing as he stared straight at Lin Yongming.
Lin Yongming straightened his posture, meeting Qian Xunji's stare without flinching or responding further.
"This..." Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo and the other elders exchanged glances, none daring to speak up in this tense moment.
An oppressive atmosphere immediately filled the grand hall.
Bibi Dong looked back and forth between Lin Yongming and Qian Xunji several times.
"Teacher, I don't mind! I'm willing - willing to wait until Sister A Yin gives birth and marry Xiao Ming together with her," Bibi Dong suddenly found her courage and spoke up, breaking the suffocating tension.
"What did you say?" Qian Xunji asked sternly.
"Teacher, actually... during our three years of training together, Xiao Ming and I already pledged ourselves to each other. I've vowed to marry no one but him. If being Holy Maiden means I can't be with Xiao Ming, then I'd rather give up the Holy Maiden title and remain an ordinary Spirit Hall member," Bibi Dong declared, showing she was perfectly willing to wait for Blue Silver.
"Good, very good. So you've already pledged yourselves to each other, have you?"
"Lin Yongming, for Dong'er's sake, I'll give you ten more days to reconsider. Either make that Blue Silver your concubine, or I'll have her arrested to force your hand. Since you've already pledged yourself, you'll marry Dong'er whether you want to or not. Hmph!"
"Yueguan, Gui Mei, escort them to the Holy Maiden's courtyard. The rest of you will assist Yueguan and Gui Mei in keeping strict watch over Lin Yongming and Bibi Dong," Qian Xunji issued his final ultimatum.
"As you command, Your Excellency."
Along with Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos, six elders immediately surrounded Lin Yongming and Bibi Dong.
"Lin Yongming, Holy Maiden, this way please," Chrysanthemum Douluo said helplessly.
Lin Yongming remained perfectly calm as he took Bibi Dong's hand and walked out of the grand hall, heading straight for Bibi Dong's courtyard.
The others took up positions outside the courtyard, one elder guarding each cardinal direction.
"Xiao Ming, what should we do? Teacher absolutely means what he says," Bibi Dong paced anxiously around the room.
Lin Yongming sat calmly on the sofa. "Dong'er, don't panic. We can't act impulsively right now. My spirit power hasn't fully recovered from the battle with Chrysanthemum Douluo. Moreover, even if we were to escape Spirit City within these ten days, I'd first need to inform A Yin about today's events so she can prepare, while also figuring out where we should go after escaping."
"How can we notify her?" Bibi Dong immediately sat down beside Lin Yongming.
Lin Yongming took out the Thunder God's Heart, and Bibi Dong immediately understood his plan.
"What is it this time?" The remnant will of the Thunder God asked with a yawn.
Lin Yongming promptly recounted everything that had just transpired in the grand hall.
"Hmph! The leader of such a major organization, yet so petty-minded. Don't worry, I'll deliver the message," the Thunder God's remnant will assured him.
The remnant will had already earmarked the child in Blue Silver's womb as the second candidate for the Thunder God's divine position (with Lin Yongming naturally being the first). Therefore, at this critical juncture, the Thunder God had no intention of letting anything happen to Blue Silver.
"Wait, I haven't decided yet where we should go. Let me think about it first," Lin Yongming stopped the Thunder God's remnant will as it was about to leave.
"Then think carefully. Call me again when you've decided," the remnant will said before disappearing from the room.
After the Thunder God's remnant will vanished, Lin Yongming fell deep into thought about where they could possibly hide.
"Dong'er, do you have any suggestions?" Lin Yongming asked Bibi Dong.
"Spirit Hall's influence extends throughout the entire continent. I can't think of any truly safe place. If we're talking about overseas, there's only Sea God Island," Bibi Dong replied helplessly.
"Sea God Island!" Lin Yongming immediately thought of Bo Saixi.
"But would Qian Xunji anticipate us going to Sea God Island? If Qian Xunchi leads Spirit Hall forces there, would they be willing to stand against Spirit Hall again for our sake?" Lin Yongming couldn't be certain.
Although Bo Saixi might have some slight affection for him, she loved Sea God Island and all its inhabitants dearly. She might not be willing to sacrifice them for the sake of the three of them.
"If you had inherited the Sea God's divine position, they would naturally be willing. But you rejected Sea God Island's offer," Bibi Dong shook her head.
"True," Lin Yongming nodded.
"Xiao Ming, it's getting late. I'll go to the dining hall to get some food. You should meditate to recover your strength. We have ten days - we can think this through carefully. No matter where we go, I'm willing to fight our way out of Spirit City with you," Bibi Dong patted Lin Yongming's shoulder encouragingly, her voice filled with determination.
"Alright," Lin Yongming assumed a meditative posture.
Bibi Dong left the room to get dinner from the dining hall.
"Damn it! Damn it all! How dare Bibi Dong defy me for him!" Back in his quarters, Qian Xunchi was absolutely livid.
But suddenly, amidst his rage, a dark purple glint flashed through Qian Xunji's eyes, and he immediately calmed down. With an eerily composed expression, he left his room.
Then he departed from Spirit Hall entirely.
After about two hours of meditation, night had fallen outside. When Lin Yongming expanded his Mind's Eye, he couldn't detect Qian Xunji's presence anywhere.
"He's gone? Where would Qian Xunji go at this hour?" Lin Yongming was puzzled. At this time, Qian Xunji should either be dining or in his quarters, yet he wasn't in the Pope's Hall either.
A terrible premonition began forming in Lin Yongming's mind.
"Xiao Ming, are you awake? The food's still warm - come eat," Bibi Dong called from the table when she noticed Lin Yongming had finished meditating.
"Dong'er, Qian Xunji isn't in Spirit Hall. When I awoke and expanded my Mind's Eye, I couldn't find him anywhere. I have a very bad feeling about this. Before I began meditating, Qian Xunji had returned to his quarters," Lin Yongming said with a grave expression.
"Really? Maybe he had business in the city? But it's strange - teacher rarely goes out at night. Even if something came up, he would usually inform Elder Ju or the others," Bibi Dong shared her understanding of Qian Xunji's habits.
"This won't do. In the grand hall, Qian Xunji threatened to capture A Yin to force our compliance. Now that he's confined us here, he might have gone to apprehend A Yin himself," Lin Yongming's expression changed dramatically.
"That can't be," Bibi Dong was stunned. "Didn't he give us ten days?"
"Dong'er, we need to leave. Now," Lin Yongming said urgently.
"Wait - maybe we're overreacting. Even if Qian Xunji is going after Sister A Yin, he wouldn't harm her. He'd just use her as leverage against you," Bibi Dong grabbed Lin Yongming's arm, urging him not to act rashly.
"Dong'er, I need to tell you the truth - A Yin's true identity is that of a hundred thousand year spirit beast," Lin Yongming said solemnly.
"What?! A hun-" Bibi Dong's shocked exclamation was cut off as Lin Yongming quickly covered her mouth.
"Shh! Keep your voice down."
"I meant to tell you after we returned from Sea God Island, but then you were immediately expelled, and I never got the chance. A Yin is actually a hundred thousand year spirit beast who took human form to cultivate anew."
"Normally this wouldn't be an issue, but now that she's pregnant, her spirit beast aura is gradually becoming detectable. So if Qian Xunji really is going after A Yin, he'll definitely sense her spirit beast energy," Lin Yongming explained gravely.
"So that's why you're so anxious, why you panicked when you realized Qian Xunji was missing."
"Sigh... In that case, let's break out now. I've been preparing ever since we left the grand hall for the courtyard," Bibi Dong nodded resolutely.
With that, Bibi Dong summoned her external spirit bone - the Six-Winged Purple Light Wings.
"Right," Lin Yongming nodded and summoned his own Purple Lightning Thunder Wings.
Hand in hand, they left the room and the courtyard.
Immediately, they took to the skies, flying straight for Thunderstorm Village.
"Damn it! Lin Yongming and Bibi Dong have escaped! After them!" Ghost Douluo sensed the spirit energy fluctuations and looked up to see the fleeing figures.
The other elders saw it too.
"Spirit Avatar Release!" Spirit Hawk Douluo was the first to act, summoning her spirit as fiery red wings materialized on her back, giving chase through the air.
The other five elders pursued on foot, but as Titled Douluos, their speed was nothing to scoff at.
"Dong'er, you're a bit too slow. Let me carry you," Lin Yongming noticed movement behind them and saw Spirit Hawk Douluo streaking through the night sky like a flaming comet.
He could also make out the figures of Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others racing across the ground below.
"Okay," Bibi Dong agreed. While her speed wasn't slow by normal standards, it couldn't compare to a Titled Douluo's.
Lin Yongming pulled Bibi Dong close and scooped her up in a princess carry, instantly increasing their speed.
"Damn! They're too fast! We can't lose them, or we'll never hear the end of it from His Excellency!" Chrysanthemum Douluo exclaimed as the distance between them grew.
"Obviously," Ghost Douluo and the others also kicked their speed up a notch.
"Wait - isn't His Excellency pursuing them?" Viper Douluo looked around but saw no sign of Qian Xunji.
"Only Spirit Hawk is in the air. Doesn't look like he's following," Ghost Douluo observed the night sky.
"Never mind that. Focus on catching Lin Yongming first."
Meanwhile, Qian Xunji had indeed arrived alone at Thunderstorm Village. After scanning the area with his spiritual sense, he detected no trace of spirit beast energy.
"No spirit beast aura. Was I deceived?" Qian Xunji landed beside the Lightning-Struck Tree, finding no sign of Blue Silver's presence.
Just then, several villagers passed by the tree. Qian Xunji immediately appeared before them.
"Take me to Lin Yongming's home."
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 290 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 105 power stones I will publish the next chapter.