Qiangu Yunying refused to accept the Overlord Reboot. She believed that this piece of equipment was fundamental to Yin Zhang's survival. If she took it and he encountered danger in the future, what would he rely on then?
Yin Zhang smiled and said, "Sister Yunying, don't worry. I'm not relying on just this one piece of equipment—I have others as well. If you truly don't want to keep it, then treat it as a loan from me. After you return from Slaughter City, if you still don't want it, you can give it back to me. How about that?"
With him putting it that way, Qiangu Yunying found it hard to refuse.
Her eyes reddened as she stepped forward and hugged Yin Zhang tightly.
Under his surprised gaze, Qiangu Yunying walked to the door and shut it firmly, then went to the window and closed it as well.
Yin Zhang was startled, already guessing her intentions. Alongside a faint sense of anticipation, a deeper reluctance welled up in his heart. They had been together constantly for several years now, and her departure made the parting all the harder to bear.
Qiangu Yunying turned back to him, her expression gentle yet resolute.
"Do you really plan to just sit there?" she said with a soft laugh.
Yin Zhang chuckled lightly, stood up, and moved toward her.
The room soon fell quiet, the rest of the night passing in silence.
---
In the courtyard, Spirit Kite Yuan Qiqi had just arrived when she faintly heard movement from inside the room. Her face flushed, and she paused, turning away.
She had come to speak with Yin Zhang—specifically about Bibi Dong.
Over the past two years, relying on the support of the Hall of Worship, Yin Zhang had begun to take action against members of the Supreme Pontiff Palace faction.
The first targets were those Bibi Dong had recruited from outside Spirit Hall.
For example, sects such as Tuoba Xi's Sacred Dragon Sect and Hu Yan Zhen's Elephant Armored Academy.
These forces had only joined Spirit Hall after being contacted by Bibi Dong, and their loyalty was not particularly firm. After learning about Spirit Hall's internal situation, some had begun to waver.
After all, siding with the Supreme Pontiff Palace was not their only option. The Hall of Worship was also part of Spirit Hall.
Ultimately, there was no difference in name—only in stance.
When Tuoba Xi of the Sacred Dragon Sect met Spirit Kite Douluo Yuan Qiqi, he initially thought Bibi Dong had some new arrangement in mind. To his shock, however, Spirit Kite Douluo had already aligned herself with the Hall of Worship.
Tuoba Xi had wanted to refuse outright, but after hearing about Spirit Hall's internal balance of power, he began to hesitate.
Bibi Dong had promised to use Spirit Hall's resources to help him break through to the level of a Titled Douluo. Yet judging by the current situation, Bibi Dong's position was increasingly unstable. If he continued to follow her, wouldn't that be sealing his own fate?
Still, the temptation of advancing to Titled Douluo made his heart race, and he hesitated repeatedly.
In the end, Tuoba Xi reached an agreement with Yuan Qiqi.
If Bibi Dong were to fall from power, he would immediately defect to the Hall of Worship without resistance.
This was, in effect, taking a stance.
Even if conflict broke out between the Supreme Pontiff Palace and the Hall of Worship, Tuoba Xi was far away and unlikely to arrive in time. And even if he did, a Spirit Douluo who had not yet reached the Titled Douluo level would be unable to influence the situation.
As for Yuan Qiqi's visit to Yin Zhang, aside from personal reasons, it was also about the Elephant Armored Academy.
Hu Yan Zhen appeared firmly aligned with Bibi Dong and had rejected recruitment. However, he also did not report the matter to Bibi Dong, which was itself a form of positioning.
Under the current circumstances, as long as events followed their natural course, Bibi Dong's downfall was all but inevitable.
---
Inside the Hall of Worship, discussions regarding the next Supreme Pontiff were already taking shape.
Golden Crocodile, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo openly expressed their support for Yin Zhang.
At Rank 99 and Rank 97 respectively, their spirit power alone represented half of the Seven Enshrined Priests.
The remaining priests were also highly satisfied with Yin Zhang.
Seeing this, Qian Daoliu likewise voiced his support.
In his view, Qian Renxue was destined to inherit godhood sooner or later and would not remain Supreme Pontiff for long. Letting Yin Zhang take the position was the better choice.
Beyond the Seven Enshrined Priests, Tang Zhen and others also stood firmly behind Yin Zhang.
Even Poison Douluo Dugu Bo, who had joined Spirit Hall only a few years earlier and had barely set foot in Spirit City, was counted among his supporters.
Within the Supreme Pontiff Palace faction, four Titled Douluo remained—but one of them, Spirit Kite Douluo Yuan Qiqi, was secretly supporting Yin Zhang.
Bibi Dong herself knew nothing of this.
At present, the only ones truly standing by Bibi Dong were Ghost Douluo Gui Mei and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.
Even they were not beyond persuasion.
The two were like sworn brothers who had endured countless hardships together.
However, they likely did not know the truth behind Qian Xunji's death.
Both had become Titled Douluo with Qian Xunji's support. Perhaps this could one day be used as leverage.
For now, though, it was not yet the right time.
Everything would have to wait until Yin Zhang became a Titled Douluo—or at least possessed strength on that level.
---
Late into the night, the room finally grew quiet.
This night was destined to remain unforgettable for both of them.
Qiangu Yunying quietly rose from the bed, glanced once at the "deeply sleeping" Yin Zhang, took the Overlord Reboot, and left the room.
After quickly packing her belongings, she departed from Spirit City.
She headed to the Soul Hunting Forest, found Little Dragon, changed her class to Dragon Knight, and set off toward Slaughter City.
Yin Zhang knew exactly when Qiangu Yunying left, but he chose not to open his eyes.
He did not want to face the moment of separation.
The next morning.
Before Yin Zhang had even woken up, Yuan Qiqi silently entered the room.
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