Time flew by like a galloping horse.
In a flash, two years had passed.
Since Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing returned from the Extreme North, they had been staying in the Star Dou Great Forest to improve their spirit power.
At this time, Jiang Mian's strength had already reached level fifty-two, and he had taken the Emerald Swan Bi Ji under his command.
Zhu Zhuqing had also reached level thirty-nine, and was about to absorb her fourth spirit ring.
It should be known that as the largest Spirit Beast forest in the World, the Star Dou Great Forest also boasts an unparalleled number of rare treasures.
If the Sunset Forest could produce an incredible Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, how could the vast Star Dou Great Forest not have similar existences?
Over these two years, Jiang Mian and Zhu Zhuqing successfully managed to eat herbs like meals, and if there were any side effects, the Emerald Swan Bi Ji could easily resolve them.
“Brother Mian.”
A clear and pleasant voice came from afar, and a young girl with two fluffy yellow ears on her head came bouncing over.
She was wearing a cream-colored long dress, with white fur trim along the collar, looking extremely adorable.
Jiang Mian was meditating with Zhu Zhuqing, and upon seeing the newcomer, he couldn't help but smile knowingly: “Auspicious Beast, you’re here to disturb my cultivation again, aren’t you?”
Pfft…
The Auspicious Beast, who had already taken human form, made a face, her fair skin even reflecting light, which might be what people often call “white to the point of glowing.”
Jiang Mian smiled helplessly, looking at this outwardly lively and adorable, yet actually quite cunning, little Auspicious Beast, his eyes filled with doting affection.
He hadn't expected that the Auspicious Beast’s transformation could perfectly match the image of the white moonlight in his heart!
“Auspicious Beast, you must be close to two hundred thousand years old, right?” Jiang Mian asked, “How many more years?”
“Probably still thirty thousand years,” the Auspicious Beast pouted, unceremoniously lying into Jiang Mian’s embrace.
Jiang Mian gently stroked the Auspicious Beast’s golden hair, already having an idea in his mind.
He was twelve years old, and it was time to go out and see the World.
The Crimson King had just passed his four hundred thousand-year heavenly tribulation; he was an existence that Jiang Mian had put more effort into improving his combat power, after all, at the beginning, the Crimson King was only three hundred and ten thousand years old, and in just a few years, Jiang Mian had helped him reach four hundred thousand years.
The Bear Monarch was five hundred and thirty thousand years old, Bi Ji had also passed her six hundred thousand-year heavenly tribulation, and the Snow Empress had been silent, presumably the troubles in the Extreme North had not yet been resolved.
“Are you leaving?” Di Tian appeared before the three of them and smiled, “Jiang Mian, be careful on your way, remember that the Star Dou Great Forest will always be your home.”
“Don’t worry,” Jiang Mian smiled, “With Di Tian as my backing, I can only be invincible in the World.”
Di Tian raised his hand and flicked Jiang Mian’s forehead, laughing exasperatedly, “You little rascal, cause me less trouble.”
“With the Bear Monarch and the Crimson King following me, few people can harm me,” Jiang Mian said, “What’s more, the Auspicious Beast’s strength is even superior to theirs.”
Di Tian nodded, and in the end, said nothing more.
Zhu Zhuqing slowly opened her eyes; when she saw Di Tian, she unconsciously moved closer to Jiang Mian, and Jiang Mian, being very perceptive, unhesitatingly held Zhu Zhuqing’s hand.
Zhu Zhuqing always felt out of place; although everyone treated her well, Zhu Zhuqing just felt like an outsider.
Jiang Mian’s grip gave her a sense of security, dispelling any thoughts of being an outsider; Zhu Zhuqing, you are Jiang Mian’s person!
“Go quickly, the Bear Monarch and the Crimson King are waiting for you at the outer perimeter of the Star Dou Great Forest,” Di Tian turned his head and said, “I am closely connected to the Auspicious Beast, so if you are in any danger, I will arrive immediately.”
“Okay.” Jiang Mian nodded, stood up, bowed deeply to Di Tian, and departed with Zhu Zhuqing and the Auspicious Beast.
“Bear Monarch, this trip to the human World, you must not act foolishly.”
In the carriage, the red-haired Crimson King, wearing a dark red robe, was earnestly advising the Bear Monarch: “Our priority is the safety of Jiang Mian and the Auspicious Beast; we absolutely must not go on a killing spree.”
“Why are you so nagging?” The Bear Monarch frowned, saying carelessly, “You, Crimson King, weren’t like this before, were you?”
“What do you understand?” The Crimson King said speechlessly, “Jiang Mian is the hope of our Spirit Beast Family; if anything happens to him, Di Tian won’t let us two off the hook.”
“Tsk.” The Bear Monarch pouted, just about to retort a few words, but then he saw Jiang Mian and the others approaching, and immediately changed his expression.
“Oh, Little Mian, you’re finally here.” The Bear Monarch drove the carriage towards the three of them, “If you had delayed any longer, the Crimson King would have nagged me to death.”
The Crimson King gave the Bear Monarch a fierce glare, then looked at Jiang Mian with a smile and said, “It’s truly impossible to reason with a brute like the Bear Monarch.”
“What, not convinced?” The Bear Monarch angrily said, “If you have the guts, let’s go fight!”
“I’m not afraid of you!” The Crimson King also got fired up upon hearing that, rolled up his sleeves, and was ready for a big fight with the Bear Monarch.
“Enough.” Jiang Mian quickly jumped between the two, saying helplessly, “I brought you two to protect me, so don’t fight among yourselves.”
“Since Little Mian has spoken, I won’t bother with this fellow.” The Crimson King snorted, walked into the carriage on his own, and no longer paid attention to the Bear Monarch.
Jiang Mian first helped the Auspicious Beast and Zhu Zhuqing into the carriage, then sat between the two girls, ostensibly to prevent any discord between them.
But in reality, this Jiang Mian was very cunning, because this way he could “spread his favors evenly”…
“Jiang Mian, where should we go first?” The Bear Monarch looked at the map and asked.
“First, to Spirit Hall!”
Jiang Mian had been staying in the Star Dou Great Forest for the past two years and didn’t know that Spirit Hall was currently hunting him throughout the continent due to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School’s scheme of diverting disaster.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School’s scheme was indeed vicious; they even had someone impersonate Jiang Mian to cause trouble for Spirit Hall, and no one suspected it was a fake.
Because the Spirit Master who impersonated Jiang Mian, after finishing his business, publicly and severely humiliated the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, his words were so sharp they were unbearable to hear.
Coupled with the scandal that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had spread years ago about Jiang Mian being arrogant and disrespectful to his seniors, it made the World believe it even more deeply.
The most crucial point was that they couldn’t imagine why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, with its deep foundation, would slander a child.
Jiang Mian was completely unaware of this, galloping all the way to Spirit Hall; they didn’t linger much on the way, so it only took them four days to travel from the Star Dou Great Forest to Spirit Hall.
“Who goes there!”
The guards in front of Spirit Hall held long halberds, blocking the carriage’s path, not allowing it to proceed.
“If we don’t show some strength, they won’t let us in easily,” Jiang Mian patted the Bear Monarch’s shoulder and said, “Go easy on them.”
“No problem.” The Bear Monarch gave a wicked smile; he didn’t even release his spirit power, casually grabbing two guards and tossing them aside like chickens.
Jiang Mian stepped out of the carriage and declared loudly, “I am Jiang Mian, and I wish to see Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong!”
“Jiang Mian, is he Jiang Mian?” The guards looked at each other; this was the infamous Jiang Mian, indeed, one couldn’t judge a book by its cover, he looked like a handsome young man, but the things he did were so incomprehensible.
Jiang Mian noticed the guards’ strange looks, he paused, and said in surprise, “Do I have to fight my way in?”
Well, that one sentence deepened the misunderstanding.
“Seize him!”
The guard captain gave an order, first releasing his Spirit: two yellow, two purple, two black, he was actually a Spirit Emperor.
Spirit Hall’s foundation was indeed profound; even the security captain was a dignified Spirit Emperor.
“Get lost!”
The Bear Monarch roared in anger, mercilessly unleashing his spirit power; in an instant, all the guards were knocked to the ground by the Bear Monarch.
Their spirit power compared to the Bear Monarch’s was truly like the light of a firefly vying with the bright moon.
“Quickly report to Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency, the criminal Jiang Mian has brought accomplices to provoke us,” the guard captain scrambled to his feet, saying in horror, “And the accomplice’s strength is at least that of a Titled Douluo.”
“What the heck?” Jiang Mian’s eyes widened, a bit bewildered; “I’ve been a wild man in the Star Dou Great Forest for six years, and when I come out, I’m a criminal?”
What kind of logic is this!
“What?” Inside the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei stood up almost simultaneously upon hearing the guard’s report: “This Jiang Mian is too presumptuous! Causing trouble in local Spirit Halls is one thing, but now he dares to come here and provoke us!”
Bibi Dong, seated on the Supreme Pontiff’s throne, slowly opened her eyes; her expression was calm, and she said lightly, “Bring Jiang Mian and his party to the Supreme Pontiff Palace.”
Though the guard was puzzled, he still took the order and left.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan looked at Bibi Dong, surprised, “Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency, what is the meaning of this?”
“Don’t you think something is a bit strange?” Bibi Dong leaned on her Supreme Pontiff’s scepter and walked to their side, her exquisite and aloof appearance making people unable to help but let their imaginations run wild.
“Please enlighten us, Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency,” Gui Mei said, puzzled.
“The truth will soon be revealed,” Bibi Dong did not answer Gui Mei’s question; she was now deeply interested in Jiang Mian.
How could a natural full spirit power genius possibly be at odds with Spirit Hall?
“Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency has invited you.”
With the guard’s shout, the Bear Monarch stopped, looking at the wailing guards all over the ground; Jiang Mian contentedly drove the carriage to the entrance of the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
“Brothers,” Jiang Mian instructed, “Remember to be tough when we go in.”
“Don’t worry, we’re not softies,” the Bear Monarch patted his chest and strode into the Supreme Pontiff Palace.
Jiang Mian, Zhu Zhuqing, and the Auspicious Beast followed closely, with the Crimson King bringing up the rear; the group of five met Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong sat high on the Supreme Pontiff’s throne, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo standing on either side, but the oppressive feeling they exuded was still somewhat lacking compared to Jiang Mian’s group.
“Upon seeing the Supreme Pontiff, why do you not bow!”
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan sternly reprimanded them, releasing his spirit power to try and force Jiang Mian and the others to bow.
The Bear Monarch scoffed, also releasing his spirit power to resist Yue Guan’s pressure, but with Yue Guan’s ninety-fourth-level spirit power, he was no match for the Bear Monarch.
Boom!
As soon as the Bear Monarch’s spirit power touched Yue Guan’s, it instantly overwhelmed it with crushing force.
Gui Mei was greatly startled and immediately released his spirit power to resist the Bear Monarch.
However, even their combined efforts were a drop in the bucket; Bibi Dong frowned slightly, stood up, and motioned for the two to retreat.
“Are you Jiang Mian?” Bibi Dong’s gaze was incredibly sharp; she could tell at a glance that Jiang Mian was far from as incompetent as the rumors suggested.
“Supreme Pontiff.” Jiang Mian clasped his hands and asked, “The guard just said I was a criminal, how do you explain that?”
“You yourself have committed many evil deeds, and you still ask us how to explain?” Yue Guan reprimanded, “Jiang Mian, you don’t need to come here and play dumb with us.”
“Shut up!”
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow and angrily said, “Retreat!”
“Yes.”
Seeing Bibi Dong’s anger, Yue Guan and Gui Mei could only retreat sullenly.
“I think you must have been wronged,” Bibi Dong’s mood changed faster than flipping a book; she suddenly smiled and said, “How could a genius with natural full spirit power be as unbearable as the rumors describe?”
“With the Supreme Pontiff saying so, I think I know what’s going on,” Jiang Mian smiled coldly and said, “It must be the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School slandering me.”
“I am not interested in your past with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School,” Bibi Dong smiled, “What I am interested in is, why have you come to see me this time?”
“Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency, I am just curious.” Jiang Mian clapped his hands, and the Bear Monarch and the Crimson King simultaneously released their spirit power: “With my current strength, can I destroy Spirit Hall?”
In an instant, the entire Supreme Pontiff Palace was filled with boundless ultimate attribute spirit power; Bibi Dong unconsciously took two steps back, a flash of shock in her eyes.
“These two, can their strength really reach that level?” Bibi Dong suppressed the shock in her heart; her expression was cold as she said, “The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Instead of both of us suffering, why don’t we cooperate for mutual benefit?”
“As expected of a genius that Spirit Hall hasn’t seen in a thousand years, you truly see things clearly,” Jiang Mian nodded slightly and smiled, “Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency’s plan, I presume I can be of assistance.”
“You know?” Bibi Dong and Jiang Mian met each other’s gaze, both revealing a meaningful expression.
“I can stay in Spirit Hall, but what about the compensation?” Jiang Mian skillfully changed the subject, smiling, “I believe Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency shouldn’t be too stingy.”
“Our Spirit Hall’s Golden Generation truly pales in comparison to you,” Bibi Dong made no attempt to hide her admiring expression: “I will help you suppress the negative news, but you must have these two seniors help train my Spirit Hall disciples.”
“Furthermore, all the resources of my Spirit Hall are at your disposal.”
“No problem.” Jiang Mian nodded: “As repayment, this person and I will participate in the Soul Master Competition.”
Jiang Mian pointed at Zhu Zhuqing and said, “Her strength is also very powerful; she definitely won’t hold back Spirit Hall’s Golden Generation.”
“Mm.” Bibi Dong said, “This Little girl, at such a young age, has also reached nearly level forty?”
“Just a little short,” Zhu Zhuqing’s expression was calm, and she did not appear humble just because the person before her was the Supreme Pontiff; she was her usual self.
“Interesting, and this girl?” Bibi Dong looked at the Auspicious Beast, her smile somewhat meaningful: “This young lady seems even more extraordinary, doesn’t she?”
“This is my Spirit Beast,” Jiang Mian explained without concealment, “My Spirit can capture Spirit Beasts; not only this young lady, but these two as well, also obey my command.”
The Bear Monarch and the Crimson King exchanged smiles, then consciously retreated behind Jiang Mian.
Bibi Dong was momentarily stunned by what she heard; it took her a while to react, and the smile on her face grew even gentler: “With you here, my great cause can be achieved.”
After the Crimson King reached the four hundred thousand-year level, his strength could already rival a level 98 Titled Douluo, and he could even stand undefeated against a level 99 for a short period.
The Bear Monarch, needless to say, possessed the strength of a true level 99 Ultimate Douluo. As for the Auspicious Beast, due to heaven’s favor, although she was only 170,000 years old, her strength could contend with a level 98 Titled Douluo.
After all, her strength at ten thousand years of cultivation could already rival a hundred thousand-year Spirit Beast, let alone now that she was one hundred and seventy thousand years old.
“Report, Supreme Pontiff Your Excellency, the Elder Palace requests your presence.”