Douluo Dalu: Lucky Star

In a quiet courtyard in Heaven Dou City, three individuals watched the shimmering contents of the light screen in silence.

In Wuhun City, matters had been arranged by Han Li and Qian Daoliu.

Yu Xiaogang had received firsthand news of Bibi Dong emerging from seclusion. Since early morning, he had been waiting at the base of Pope Hall, having already submitted his visiting card. Of course, even without this formal request, Yu Xiaogang's message would have reached Bibi Dong.

For her, this had become a long-standing ritual—wasting the intelligence resources of Spirit Hall on someone she deemed useless. Even Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had grown accustomed to it.

Bibi Dong was in a good mood, but the aura emanating from her made it difficult for anyone to share in her joy. Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances before lowering their heads, remaining silent.

The opulent Pope's Palace, with its sacred angelic murals in the background, exuded righteousness. However, the Pope seated before them radiated an entirely different impression. Her ominous, malevolent aura made them both uneasy.

Could this still be considered the Spirit Hall that worshipped the Angel God?

For a brief moment, they felt disoriented.

Bibi Dong idly flipped through recent dossiers.

She had already completed the eighth trial of the God of Rakshasa, obtaining the Rakshasa Heart, though it had come at a significant cost. The aura she couldn't fully suppress was one such manifestation.

She had given herself six months to recover before undertaking the ninth trial.

According to the Rakshasa God's guidance, the ninth trial wouldn't pose much difficulty for someone who had already acquired the Rakshasa Heart. Once she returned to peak condition, all that remained was to draw the divine weapon and complete the inheritance.

At that point, she would truly become the Rakshasa God.

To ensure absolute success, she planned to launch a continent-wide unification war during the ninth trial. The chaos and malice generated by the war would serve as the perfect fuel to aid her ascension.

"Any news from the Worship Hall?"

Bibi Dong asked casually.

While Spirit Hall's strength was sufficient to initiate the war without the Worship Hall's involvement, their absence would simplify matters, allowing her to act without reservation.

Her ultimate goal was to retaliate against them, burying them alongside the Qian family.

Despite her confidence, she couldn't shake a vague sense of unease.

Qian Renxue's god trials had only just begun and posed no real threat. No matter her exceptional talent, it couldn't change the fact that Bibi Dong had spent over a decade reaching this final stage. Even the simplicity of the Angel God trials wouldn't allow her "daughter" to catch up.

What concerned her most was Han Li.

To both her and the Rakshasa God, he was an anomaly. His growth rate was absurdly fast—almost impossibly so.

During the Soul Master Tournament, he had publicly defeated the Clear Sky Twin Stars. From the Rakshasa God, Bibi Dong had learned of the extraordinary quality of his soul rings. According to the Rakshasa God, a deity had heavily invested in Han Li—but which one?

When Bibi Dong asked for specifics, the Rakshasa God fell silent for a long time, offering no concrete information. She merely advised Bibi Dong to keep an eye on him.

What Bibi Dong didn't know was that even the Rakshasa God was in the dark. The Divine Realm Committee had sealed all related information.

She suspected Asura was involved but couldn't confirm it. After previously sabotaging an Asura God inheritance trial, she understood the consequences of provoking him again. Now that the Asura God had chosen an heir, any interference on her part could lead to her demise under his authority as the God of Judgement.

Moreover, she had found no clear evidence of an Asura inheritance on Han Li, leaving her no grounds for intervention.

"Your Holiness, the Holy Son was last seen at the Martial Soul Research Institute after your previous seclusion, but he soon disappeared again," Yue Guan (Chrysanthemum Douluo) reported honestly.

"What was he doing at the Martial Soul Research Institute?"

Bibi Dong frowned. She couldn't think of any reason Han Li would need to visit the institute.

"Apparently, he overheard something that only researchers there would know and specifically appeared to warn them," Yue Guan replied, recalling the details he'd received.

If it had been left to him, those researchers would have paid a much heavier price for their transgressions. Han Li's approach, in his eyes, had been far too lenient.

Bibi Dong didn't pursue the matter further. Any information about Han Li was better than nothing.

As she continued flipping through the dossier, she paused slightly upon seeing a familiar name.

At that moment, a guard arrived outside the Pope's Palace, delivering Yu Xiaogang's visiting card.

This time, Yu Xiaogang had submitted the card in the name of Yu Yuanzhen's son. Though the guards despised his actions, protocol required them to pass it along. After all, while he didn't officially represent the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, he did have a Titled Douluo for a father.

"Bring him to the side hall," Bibi Dong ordered.

Her face revealed a faint, almost imperceptible trace of joy as she gave the instructions to the guards.

Then, turning to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, she said, "You two may leave now. I won't be going into seclusion for the time being. Tomorrow, gather everyone here for a discussion."

The two elders exchanged a glance, bowed respectfully, and exited the hall.

Inside the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong's expression shifted between emotions—joyful one moment, angry the next—as if she were lost in thought. Even the oppressive aura around her seemed to momentarily recede.

...

In Heaven Dou City, within Han Li's residence, Qian Renxue, sitting beside Han Li, had already crushed the armrest of her stone chair in anger.

Qian Daoliu, her grandfather, didn't look much better, though he managed to maintain a calmer demeanor compared to his granddaughter.

"Focus on the actions, not the intentions. Don't take it too seriously. Keep watching—this doesn't mean much," Han Li said, offering Qian Renxue some consolation.

He didn't have the heart to finish his thought: "The worst is yet to come."

Han Li understood all too well—when it came to disappointment, Bibi Dong never failed to deliver.

He spoke mainly to prevent Qian Renxue from losing control. Her soul power fluctuations were already strong enough to nearly demolish the courtyard. This courtyard had cost him money; while technically everything on Douluo Star belonged to him in name, it didn't mean he should waste resources unnecessarily. Destroying a property over Bibi Dong simply wasn't worth it.

After a long while, Qian Renxue finally calmed down.

...

Meanwhile, in WuhunCity, Yu Xiaogang was brought to a side hall by the guards.

As for Bibi Dong, Han Li dismissed her image from the monitoring screen—she had gone to change her clothes, likely in preparation for the upcoming meeting.

Even Qian Daoliu's expression turned completely dark at this point.

Yu Xiaogang sat in the same spot as last time, sipping the same tea, prepared for a long wait. Yet, unexpectedly, Bibi Dong arrived quickly this time, wearing a white dress.

The color of her dress was the same as the one she had worn the first time they met, though the style was different. Over twenty years had passed, yet it still evoked a nostalgic, dream-like feeling in him, as if time had rewound to that initial encounter.

Noticing the trace of reminiscence in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, Bibi Dong smiled faintly and took her seat at the head of the hall.

This time, she did not remain silent but spoke first.

"Why are you here to see me? The Clear Sky Clan is already destroyed, and your disciple—like your own son—is dead."

Her words served as a subtle probe, testing Tang San's importance in Yu Xiaogang's heart. After all, last time he had risked his life pleading for her mercy.

Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened, but he quickly regained his composure.

"I know. That's not why I'm here."

"Xiao San's death has nothing to do with you. I know it was the Holy Son who did it. I have no intention of seeking revenge—how could I, when I lack the power to do so?"

His words were self-deprecating, deftly absolving Bibi Dong of responsibility.

Seeing his forlorn expression, coupled with his insistence that he didn't blame her, Bibi Dong felt a fleeting urge to offer to avenge him. However, she suppressed the thought. Better to wait until she could fulfill such a promise.

Han Li and his master Guang Ling were targets she intended to eliminate. But before that, she couldn't afford to expose her intentions prematurely—not even when no one else was present.

"So, why have you come to see me?"

Bibi Dong asked, feigning calmness.

She didn't know that her every action was being observed from an omniscient perspective.

"I've found a flaw in the Mysterious Heaven Method that the Holy Son published—or rather, something he deliberately concealed. I'm hoping you'll help me, for the sake of our past relationship."

Yu Xiaogang's eyes lit up as he looked at Bibi Dong, the same way he had in the library over twenty years ago.

Bibi Dong felt a wave of heat under his fervent gaze, her mind momentarily drifting.

Had everything returned to how it once was?

She was powerful now, and soon, no one would be able to stand above her. Everything she desired would be within her grasp.

But she was no longer the innocent Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall from back then.

Yu Xiaogang, too, was drenched in a cold sweat as he looked at Bibi Dong.

"Alright," she suddenly said.

Yu Xiaogang smiled. From the moment he saw her attire, he had sensed a shift. Still, he had been nervous. His proposal had been a gamble, but it seemed he had won.

Back in Heaven Dou City, as Han Li listened to their conversation, he smiled as well.

"As expected of you, Bibi Dong. Now I won't even need to find an excuse to kill you."