Douluo Continent: Reversing Yin and Yang, the Haotian Palace and the Angel Sect

"Referee! Where's the referee? I want to file a complaint!"

At the edge of the ring, Yu Xiaogang's dry, cracking voice suddenly rang out, sounding particularly jarring.

He hadn't seen where the lightsaber landed from the audience; he only saw Qian San still unleash that devastating sword strike after Tang San conceded defeat. In Yu Xiaogang's eyes, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to exploit the situation.

Yu Xiaogang rushed to the bottom of the arena, pointed at Qian San on the stage, and shouted into the air: "This is murder! This is a blatant provocation against the rules of the competition! We have already admitted defeat, but he still wants to kill us?"

If the Heavenly Dou Team 2 isn't severely punished and disqualified, what kind of rules are these for this competition?!

He shouted until his face turned red, trying to use the high ground of the rules to salvage Shrek Academy's reputation after their losing streak, and incidentally kick the Heaven Dou Second Team out of the competition completely.

However, no one around him agreed with him. The teachers who were usually on good terms with him were now looking at him as if he were already dead.

Unaware of the awkward atmosphere, Yu Xiaogang turned around, strode towards the steps, and tried to grab the referee's wrist: "Referee, say something! You have to give Shrek an explanation..."

His voice caught in his throat, and his outstretched hand froze in mid-air.

The once imposing referee was now kneeling beside the charred crack. His right side was stained crimson with blood; where his right arm should have been, only a charred, severed wound remained. He was in excruciating pain and unable to utter a complete sentence.

Yu Xiaogang's pupils contracted. He then realized the price this Soul Saint-level referee had paid to protect Tang San.

"Make way! Healing-type Soul Masters, get out of the way!"

The tournament organizing committee's medical team finally snapped out of their shock. Several high-level healing-type Soul Masters rushed over with medicine kits, shoving aside the stunned Yu Xiaogang who was blocking their path. They frantically rushed onto the arena, desperately showering the referee with healing auras, trying to at least save his life.

Qian San stood at the other end of the ring, which was split in two, and stepped forward, saying, "I will cover the referee's medical expenses."

He then brushed the stone chips off his sleeves and turned to walk off the stage.

.........

Martial Soul City, Moon Pass Courtyard.

Yue Guan was carefully trimming the withered leaves of a precious Cymbidium orchid with a pair of delicate gold scissors. He had been raising this plant for three years and treasured it dearly.

Suddenly, his hand holding the scissors froze.

There was no wind or soul power fluctuations behind him, but the Title Douluo's intuition told him that there was someone behind him.

Within this Spirit City, anyone capable of silently infiltrating the back of a level 95 Title Douluo is no ordinary person.

"who!"

Yue Guan shouted, and the golden scissors in his hand transformed into a golden ray that shot backward. At the same time, nine spirit rings exploded beneath his feet. The Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum spirit instantly possessed him, and golden petals spun rapidly around him like blades, forming an impenetrable barrier.

He turned around abruptly.

The scissors stopped in mid-air, as if they were being held tightly by an invisible hand.

Yue Guan's pupils contracted sharply, and his gaze followed the hovering golden scissors to the face of the newcomer.

That was a face he would never forget, even in death.

"Qian...Qian..." Yue Guan's teeth began to chatter, and her tongue seemed to be tied in knots, unable to utter the complete name.

Qian Xunji simply looked at him calmly.

The image of the boy who looked exactly like the person in front of him flashed through Yue Guan's mind a few days ago at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

The horror of that night and the fear of this moment are intertwined.

It’s over.

They came knocking on our door.

The golden petals that had been dancing around him instantly dissipated, and the light of his nine spirit rings dimmed completely. Yue Guan's knees buckled, and he knelt stiffly on the ground.

"Your Holiness the Pope..." Yue Guan's forehead was pressed tightly against the ground, cold sweat dripping from his nose onto the floor.

"You...you're still alive?"

Qian Xun laughed and said, "What? Are you disappointed that I'm alive?"

"I wouldn't dare! I would never dare!" Yue Guan kowtowed repeatedly in fear.

"Your Holiness the Pope is blessed with boundless fortune; your return to this world is a great fortune for the Spirit Hall! A great fortune for the entire world!"

Qian Xunji ignored the pointless flattery and slowly walked up to Yue Guan, looking at the trembling elder.

"Since you don't dare, then guess why I came to see you today?"

Yue Guan swallowed hard, his mind racing, and answered without hesitation, "Your subordinate understands! A few days ago, I failed to recognize your greatness in Tiandou City and disturbed you, young master. This is entirely my fault for being blind; it is a capital offense! Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

He was a smart man. In front of a powerhouse like Qian Xunji, making excuses and sophistry would only lead to a worse death; it was better to admit his mistake directly.

"Since you've admitted your mistake, let me ask you something." Qian Xunji bowed slightly, her voice low.

"You, Yue Guan, do you acknowledge me as the Pope, or the woman sitting in the Papal Palace?"

Yue Guan's heart skipped a beat, and cold sweat instantly soaked through her clothes on her back.

This is a death sentence, but also a question of which side to choose.

Without the slightest hesitation, he raised his head and said, "Your Majesty! I only recognize the Pope of the Spirit Hall. And you are the true heir of the Qian family, the only rightful master of the Spirit Hall!"

As for that woman, she's merely usurping a high position. If Your Majesty gives the order, I would gladly die for her!

Qian Xunji stared at him quietly for a moment.

Yue Guan felt a chill run down his spine under that gaze. Just as he was wondering if he hadn't shown enough loyalty and was about to say something more, Qian Xunji suddenly chuckled.

"That's true, but I value more than just loyalty."

With a flick of her wrist, Qian Xunji conjured a white jade box in her palm. The lid popped open, and a unique fragrance instantly filled the entire courtyard.

Yue Guan suddenly raised his head and stared intently at the jade box.

Inside the jade box lay a strange chrysanthemum, its entire body gleaming with golden light.

Qirong Tongtianju!

A true delicacy!

Yue Guan's eyes instantly reddened. He knew all too well what this immortal herb meant. His martial soul was the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum; if he could consume it, not only would the level 95 bottleneck that had plagued him for years be instantly broken through, but he might even have the potential to reach level 98 in the future!

"If you want it, we'll see how you perform from now on."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qian Xunji casually put the jade box away.

The space in front of him distorted, and Qian Xunji's figure disappeared into the void.

The courtyard returned to deathly silence.

Yue Guan knelt on the ground, panting heavily. He stared at the spot where Qian Xunji had disappeared, his longing for the immortal herb completely overwhelming any remaining reverence he felt for Bibi Dong.

He laughed maniacally.

Choosing sides?

Do we even need to choose?

Compared to the allure of the Qirong Tongtian Chrysanthemum, what is Bibi Dong?

……

The Papal Palace, the council chamber.

Bibidon leaned against the papal throne, her brow furrowed, toying with a token in her hand.

On the table lay the secret report Yue Guan had brought back from Tian Dou City. The report stated that the Tian Dou Royal Second Team was formidable, but the details about the boy named "Qian San" were rather perfunctory.

Bibi Dong snorted coldly. She always felt that the old fox Yue Guan was hiding something important, and this feeling of being out of control made her very irritable.

"It seems Yue Guan has been somewhat negligent lately..."

Bibi Dong was plotting how to give her elders a warning.

Suddenly, without warning, a ripple spread through the air in the center of the hall.

A figure stepped out with his back to the entrance of the Papal Palace.