The door to the secret room slowly closed, silencing all the screams and wails inside.
What happened inside was perhaps only known to those involved, and the other soul masters imprisoned there by Bibi Dong who would never be able to leave.
Fierce Eagle Douluo only knew that when he saw Yu Xiaogang again a few months later, he was no longer as unruly as before.
Seeing the now well-behaved Yu Xiaogang, neatly dressed but crouching like a Chow Chow beside Bibi Dong, Falcon Douluo felt a slight numbness.
What exactly had Her Majesty done to him to make him like this? That toyed-with expression was truly terrifying.
"Fierce Eagle, you've disrupted my mood. If it's not important, you know the consequences."
"I wouldn't dare. The Grand Priest sent a message saying there's a lead on that matter."
"Oh~ I didn't expect it to come so soon. You may leave."
"Yes."
Watching Bibi Dong disappear into the hall while Yu Xiaogang remained crouching obediently, Fierce Eagle Douluo simply stepped back as if he hadn't seen anything and slowly closed the heavy door.
He was just an ordinary soul master. He didn't know what the Grand Priest said, and he didn't care. The less he knew, the better his chances of surviving.
The disappearing Bibi Dong immediately entered the Angel Temple, and the evil aura around her suppressed the holy light emitted by the angel statue in response.
Qian Daoliu looked at the increasingly wicked woman with neither sadness nor joy and forcefully suppressed the urge to draw his sword.
Now surrounded by enemies, the Spirit Empire could not afford internal conflict. This was not the time to turn completely against Bibi Dong.
"Qian Daoliu, I didn't come here to watch you worship the Angel God. If you have something to say, say it."
"There's news from the Xingguan Sect that Bo Saixi personally took Tang San to the sea."
"Really? That's truly good news, but I'll also bring someone with me this time."
"Do as you wish."
Qian Daoliu could already guess who she was going to bring, but it didn't concern him. As long as everything proceeded smoothly.
And if she really brought that person, it would become a burden for herself. If she opposed them, it would only weigh her down more.
The high-ranking officials of the Spirit Empire began to mobilize. After Qian Daoliu arranged the empire's major affairs, he brought Bibi Dong and Golden Crocodile Douluo to the Star Crown Sect.
Before that, he summoned Lion Douluo, gave him a token and several bottles of pills, and assigned him an important mission. After that, Fiery Eagle Douluo keenly noticed that not only the Grand Priest and Her Majesty were gone, but even Qianjun Subduing Demon Douluo, who had guarded the palace for years, had also disappeared.
Sensing that something big was about to happen, he didn't announce anything publicly but quietly packed his belongings and instructed his family to stay home and not go out, preparing to flee Spirit Empire City at any time.
Small figures like him had no place in the plans of powerful people. All they could do was do their best to protect themselves and their families.
The Spirit Empire was mobilizing due to Tang San's expedition, and the Star Crown Sect, as the initiator of the hunting operation, was no exception.
Xu Mingxi had handed over the affairs of the Xingluo Empire—which weren't many—to Xu Mingjie and the White Tiger Duke.
To prevent accidents, he also had two titled individuals, Xu Mingxing and Xu Mingwei, stationed in the palace. If anything happened, they would immediately take Xu Mingjie away.
Then he quietly returned to the Star Crown Sect and summoned all the titled Douluo still in the sect. This would be the sect's largest investment and riskiest operation.
Xu Mingxi looked at several Titled Douluo standing on both sides, and pride welled up in his heart.
Only when the sect is strong can its followers have more and better resources, allowing them to grow and give back to the sect.
The Star Crown Sect had grown from only having two Titled Douluo to its current strength. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well played a crucial role in that growth.
Unfortunately, when Dugu Bo went there again, he found the area around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well surrounded by plant spirit beasts, so he didn't venture deeper just in case.
When he reported this news back to the Star Crown Sect, Xu Mingxi didn't mind. The useful resources there had long been taken by the sect, and the rest weren't needed for now.
"You are all the backbone of our Star Crown Sect. I believe everyone understands the importance of this operation to us.
During the operation, except for the person responsible for the Star God Temple, all other disciples will retreat to Star Luo Mountain to prevent any accidents.
Second Elder, you must pay close attention to the movements of the Zhao and Qian families outside, and activate our sect's backup plan in time if necessary."
"Yes."
The Star Crown Sect had been inherited for thousands of years and naturally had its own sect protection formation, capable of combining the strength of all Xingguan martial soul masters to resist enemy attacks.
Two plant-type soul beasts in the rear mountain, who had cultivated for nearly 200,000 years, had enjoyed offerings from the sect for so long. Now it was time for them to give back.
Then, Xu Mingxi turned his gaze to the three candidates participating in this soul hunting operation. All of them were Super Douluo still worthy of the sect's pride.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yueguan, who broke through to level 97 due to the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum fairy herb, and Ghost Douluo Guimei, who reached level 96 thanks to martial soul fusion technique.
There was also Xu Fangxing, father of Xu Mingguang and the first of the Fang generation in the Xingguan Sect, who finally broke through to the Super Douluo level.
Together with the sect master and Xu Mingguang, who was already at sea, the strength brought by the Star Crown Sect this time was formidable.
There were five people who had reached Super Douluo combat power, and even the weakest among them, Xu Mingguang, possessed extremely special illusion abilities.
"I entrust this soul-hunting operation to you. Senior Yueguan, Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong will also go this time, so remain humble.
You both can rest assured with me present—they won't dare oppose each other."
"Thank you very much, Your Majesty."
Yueguan had been here for a long time and was very satisfied with his current life, especially with the Fourth Elder who managed the medicinal garden. It seemed they had a lot in common.
The medicine-pounding rabbit had become the most treasured little creature among them. It had become so unruly that no one in the sect could control it anymore.
Compared to his previous time in the Spirit Hall, where he was looked down upon by the Elder Hall and served Bibi Dong while trembling, his current life was much better.
If possible, he even wanted to spend the rest of his life here with Old Ghost and be buried on the flower-covered hillside.
Seeing that Ju Gui Douluo agreed to the matter so readily, Xu Mingxi felt relieved.
He had to bring both of them with him, or it would be risky to leave two Super Douluo who had joined the sect alone.