Spirit Hall – White World
"They're here!"
"They're finally here!"
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up as she stared at the figures appearing within the Heavenly Curtain.
A bright smile spread across her face.
"The treasure-bringers are arriving on auspicious clouds!"
Anyone unfamiliar with the situation would have thought she was welcoming honored guests.
In reality, she was looking at a group of assassins.
Yet in Bibi Dong's eyes, their greedy expressions and sinister faces seemed unexpectedly handsome.
After all, these people had unknowingly delivered a massive fortune into her hands.
Beside her, Yu Xiaogang wore a similarly complicated expression.
Normally, people who plotted against him but ultimately failed wouldn't leave much of an impression.
These people were different.
Very different.
Not only had they failed spectacularly, but they had also contributed enormously to his growth.
Even now, seeing their familiar faces stirred a strange feeling within him.
"If every enemy on the continent were this generous," Yu Xiaogang thought with a sigh, "I would welcome everyone harboring ill intentions toward me."
The corners of his mouth twitched upward.
After all, some enemies delivered trouble.
These enemies delivered opportunities.
Standing nearby, Hu Liena blinked in confusion.
She looked at Bibi Dong.
Then at the Heavenly Curtain.
Then back at Bibi Dong.
Her expression became increasingly puzzled.
"Treasure-bringers?"
"What does that mean?"
She couldn't understand why her teacher looked so excited to see a group of assassins.
Bibi Dong merely smiled mysteriously.
"You'll understand soon enough."
That was all she said.
Hu Liena instantly felt frustrated.
She hated this sort of thing.
Nothing was more irritating than someone stopping halfway through an explanation.
Especially when they clearly knew the answer.
"Hmph."
She folded her arms and continued watching.
Sooner or later, she would find out.
---
The image within the Heavenly Curtain continued.
Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong walked side by side through the streets of Spirit City.
As they moved farther away from the crowded areas, the surroundings gradually became quieter.
The two eventually entered a secluded district where few people passed by.
Yu Xiaogang remained calm and composed.
His expression was as steady as ever.
Beside him, however, Bibi Dong looked unusually excited.
As the Pope's direct disciple, she had grown up under strict protection.
This was her first time personally experiencing something like an assassination attempt.
Naturally, she was curious.
Very curious.
Unfortunately for their pursuers, curiosity was not the emotion they expected to see.
Before long, shadows emerged from the darkness.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Several figures leaped from nearby rooftops and alleys.
In the blink of an eye, seven men surrounded Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong from all directions.
Their movements were practiced and coordinated.
Clearly, this wasn't their first job.
The leader stepped forward.
He was a sturdy middle-aged man with black hair and dark eyes.
His face was intimidating enough, but what truly drew attention were the numerous scars that covered his forehead, cheeks, and chin.
Each scar told the story of a life spent fighting and killing.
The others looked no friendlier.
Malice practically radiated from their faces.
Bibi Dong widened her eyes dramatically.
Her expression turned pale.
"W-Who are you people?"
Fear appeared across her face.
Or at least what looked like fear.
Watching her performance, Yu Xiaogang felt slightly speechless.
If he didn't already know the truth, even he might have been fooled.
Unfortunately, the assassins possessed no such insight.
Seeing Bibi Dong's reaction, they immediately became more confident.
The scarred leader laughed.
"Heh."
"It's good that you're afraid."
He crossed his arms proudly.
"We are members of Blood Hand."
"Perhaps you've never heard of us."
"But you only need to know one thing."
"We are assassins."
His voice carried obvious arrogance.
Clearly, he enjoyed seeing his victims panic.
"Blood Hand?"
Yu Xiaogang tilted his head thoughtfully.
Then he suddenly spoke.
"The assassin organization founded by the Spirit Saint known as Blood Hand?"
"The one whose Martial Soul is a pair of blood-red gloves?"
The leader blinked.
Surprise appeared on his face.
"Oh?"
"You've actually heard of me?"
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"That makes things easier."
He pointed directly at Yu Xiaogang.
"Kid."
"Hand over the secret."
"The method that allows someone to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring as their first spirit ring."
"Our employer is very interested in it."
Yu Xiaogang remained expressionless.
Before he could respond, Bibi Dong suddenly stepped forward.
"T-There's someone behind this?"
Her voice trembled.
"I can pay double!"
The Blood Hand Boss immediately sneered.
"You think this is about money?"
His eyes gleamed greedily.
"Do you have any idea what that cultivation method is worth?"
"As long as I obtain it, countless people will come begging for our services."
"We'll possess a mountain of gold."
His smile widened.
"And you think I'd abandon all that for a few extra coins?"
Bibi Dong's expression became even more frightened.
At least on the surface.
The Blood Hand Boss secretly looked down on her.
This was the Pope's disciple?
Pathetic.
He had expected someone much more impressive.
Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang finally spoke.
"You seem very confident."
The Blood Hand Boss laughed.
"Of course."
Yu Xiaogang shrugged.
"Then surely you understand that a secret of this importance isn't something a child like me could decide."
The assassin leader's expression darkened.
"Whether you know it or not doesn't matter."
"If you don't have the answer..."
"We'll use your life to force one."
His eyes narrowed.
"Your father is a Titled Douluo."
"Surely he has some influence within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
He paused.
Then gestured toward one of his subordinates.
"But before that..."
The subordinate stepped forward.
A powerful aura erupted from his body.
Spirit power surged outward.
A moment later, six spirit rings rose beneath his feet.
Yu Xiaogang's eyes narrowed.
"A Spirit Emperor?"
"And a spiritual-type Martial Soul?"
This genuinely surprised him.
The group had clearly done their homework.
They intended to use spiritual abilities to control him and extract information directly from his mind.
The Blood Hand Boss grinned.
"Did you think we'd come unprepared?"
Before Yu Xiaogang could answer, another voice suddenly echoed through the street.
"Prepared?"
The voice carried obvious mockery.
"I'm curious."
"Did you prepare for me?"
Boom!
Lightning crashed from above.
A dazzling bolt descended from the sky and slammed into the ground beside Yu Xiaogang.
Dust exploded outward.
The assassins instinctively retreated.
When the dust settled, a new figure stood there.
Lin Lang.
Crackling arcs of lightning danced around his body.
More importantly—
Eight spirit rings rotated beneath his feet.
Two yellow.
Two purple.
Four black.
The overwhelming pressure of a Spirit Douluo instantly filled the area.
The Blood Hand Boss's expression changed.
A protector.
And not just any protector.
A Spirit Douluo.
However, after his initial shock, confidence quickly returned.
"As expected."
"There really is a protector."
"But unfortunately..."
"We expected that as well."
He waved his hand.
The remaining assassins immediately activated their Martial Souls.
Powerful auras erupted one after another.
Spirit rings illuminated the street.
When the display finished, even Bibi Dong appeared slightly surprised.
Among the seven attackers:
Five were Spirit Emperors.
The Blood Hand Boss was a Spirit Saint.
And another hidden Spirit Saint stood among them.
Two Spirit Saints.
Five Spirit Emperors.
An extremely powerful lineup.
Lin Lang frowned slightly.
Even he hadn't expected such preparation.
The Blood Hand Boss smirked proudly.
"How about it?"
"Our lineup isn't bad, right?"
He pointed toward Lin Lang.
"You may be a Spirit Douluo."
"But even you can't protect him."
His confidence wasn't unfounded.
Two Spirit Saints were more than enough to stall a Spirit Douluo.
Meanwhile, five Spirit Emperors would capture Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong.
From his perspective, victory was guaranteed.
No matter how talented Yu Xiaogang might be, he was still just a child.
How could he escape five Spirit Emperors?
Unfortunately for him, reality rarely followed plans.
Lin Lang suddenly laughed.
The sound immediately made the Blood Hand Boss uneasy.
"Who told you..."
Lin Lang's smile widened.
"...that I'm the only Spirit Douluo here?"
The Blood Hand Boss froze.
"What?"
For the first time, uncertainty appeared on his face.
A Spirit Douluo escort was already beyond what he considered reasonable.
Surely the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wouldn't send multiple Spirit Douluos to protect a single child?
Lin Lang shook his head.
The mockery in his eyes became even more obvious.
"Who said the additional Spirit Douluo has to be from our clan?"
The Blood Hand Boss's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Then Lin Lang spread his arms and looked around.
"Perhaps you've forgotten something important."
He smiled.
"Take a good look at where you're standing."
The assassin leader's expression changed instantly.
Spirit City.
The headquarters of Spirit Hall.
The center of power for one of the strongest organizations on the continent.
And then—
A familiar female voice echoed from behind Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong.
"That's right."
"This is Spirit City."
"The heart of Spirit Hall."
The smile on Bibi Dong's face gradually disappeared.
In its place appeared a cold and noble expression.
"Did you really think Spirit Hall doesn't have Spirit Douluos?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)