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Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong's heart turned completely cold. It confirmed what Qian Renxue had said—never go to the Pope for help, or it will only lead to deeper despair. Even her desperate ploy had failed!
Next, Bibi Dong tried to plead with Qian Xunji and Qian Daoliu, but neither of them would see her. No matter how loudly she shouted, it was useless.
"Xi'er, Xi'er, you must grow up quickly, grow up quickly. Don't follow the example of your niece and nephew. Once you awaken your spirit, Daddy will take you to see Mommy."
Qian Daoliu smiled warmly as he handed a rattle to the half-year-old Qian Xunxi. As the final descendant of the Qian family's Seraphim Spirit, he couldn't afford to take any chances.
After witnessing Qian Renxue's descent into darkness, Qian Daoliu realized it was due to a deeply corrupted role model secretly pulling the strings. He was determined to properly raise Qian Xunxi, to ensure she wouldn't become another fallen angel—otherwise, there'd be no one left to cry to.
"Father, Bibi Dong has been shouting outside for hours. Her voice is completely hoarse now," Qian Xunji said, glancing at Qian Xunxi, who was playing amidst a sea of toys. He felt a pang of discomfort. His own children were already grown, and now, suddenly, he had a younger brother more than seventy years his junior.
Qian Daoliu looked at him coolly. "So what? Are you thinking of treating Hu Liena like Bibi Dong again and throwing the Spirit Hall into chaos just when things have finally stabilized?"
Qian Xunji quickly shook his head. "No, of course not. I just meant that Bibi Dong shouting like that reflects poorly on Spirit Hall."
Qian Daoliu snapped angrily, "You actually care about the Hall's image? You and Bibi Dong are the ones who destroyed the reputation that took Spirit Hall centuries to build! And now you have the gall to talk about appearances?"
Qian Xunji lowered his head further. Even at his age, being scolded by his father made him feel utterly humiliated. Meeting Bibi Dong had truly been the tragedy of his life.
Three days later, in the morning, sunlight bathed the bustling city of Spirit Hall. From the prison gates to the central square, soul masters and wealthy merchants crowded every inch of the path.
They whispered among themselves. In just three days, news of Hu Liena's betrayal had spread like wildfire. Everyone had come to see the woman once praised as the epitome of filial piety, raised by Spirit Hall, whose teacher had been mutilated by enemies, and who had ultimately betrayed both Spirit Hall and her mentor—an utterly despicable traitor.
Soon, a prison cart appeared. Inside the wooden cage, clad in a filthy prison uniform with disheveled hair, Hu Liena was brought before the crowd. A storm of vulgar insults poured into her ears. Were it not for Spirit City's strict cleanliness laws, she would have been showered in rotten eggs and vegetable scraps.
Hu Liena kept her face hidden behind her messy hair, trying to conceal her hollow expression and dark circles. She couldn't face the soul masters of Spirit Hall. Just three days ago, she had been their goddess—now, she was their most hated traitor.
Down in the dungeons of Spirit Hall, two new prisoners had been added—Xie Yue and Yan. The two had attempted to break Hu Liena out of prison, but were swiftly captured. Their spirit power had been sealed, and they were thrown into jail.
Though aiding a death row inmate wasn't as serious a crime as Hu Liena's, the outcome was still bleak. Both Yan and Xie Yue would be stripped of their cultivation and banished from Spirit Hall, their once-bright futures turned to ash.
Unlike the decapitations carried out in the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, Spirit Hall used a more ceremonial method. In the central square stood a massive crucifix. Death row prisoners were bound to it from dawn until noon, left to bake under the blazing sun. When the sun reached its zenith—only then would the executioner strike.
It was said that this ritual allowed the sunlight to purify the criminal's sins, offering them a chance at rebirth in their next life.
Soon, Hu Liena was brought to the square. Two Temple Knights escorted her onto the crucifix, tying her arms and legs. Her voice had already been sealed.
The square was surrounded by rows of Temple Knights. Among the onlookers stood not only soul masters and merchants, but also Bibi Dong, seated in a wheelchair pushed by two maids. She wanted to cry out, to save Hu Liena, but her voice had also been sealed. After days of begging Qian Daoliu, Qian Xunji, and Qian Renxue, her voice was ruined.
Once Hu Liena was tied to the cross, she could no longer use her hair to cover her face. Despite spending three sleepless, filthy days in a rat-infested cell, her beauty had barely faded. Her proud figure, now fully restrained, was plainly visible to the entire crowd.
The wealthy merchants whispered in regret: What a waste of a perfect face and figure. Why behead such a beauty? A good beating would've sufficed—less wasteful too!
Suddenly, a ghostly figure emerged from the ground and floated into the air—it was Ghost Douluo, Spirit Hall's chief enforcer.
"Greetings, Elder Gui (Your Grace, Ghost Douluo)!" XN
Ghost Douluo raised his hand, and his spirit power amplified his voice across the entire square.
"Hu Liena colluded with Tang San of the Clear Sky Sect and betrayed Spirit Hall. I believe most of you already know this."
"Some of you may be wondering—Hu Liena possesses innate level nine spirit power. With proper training, she could have become a Titled Douluo and a powerful asset for Spirit Hall. Her betrayal caused little actual harm. Why not rehabilitate her, let her redeem herself, and spare her life?"
"But hear me now: No matter who you are, no matter your talent—if you dare to betray Spirit Hall, there is only one end. Death!"
At these words, many of the outsiders and non-core families silently cursed Spirit Hall as foolish. Killing someone with innate level nine spirit power? Such a rare talent could've been used to strengthen the bloodline or as a marriage pawn. Killing her was an utter waste!
Ghost Douluo continued, "Hu Liena's family was destroyed. She was raised in Spirit Hall's orphanage, fed with its grain, trained with its resources. She should've repaid that kindness. Instead, she sided with Spirit Hall's greatest enemy. For the sake of so-called 'love,' she plotted vengeance against the Hall. This kind of person is heartless, ungrateful—worse than a beast! She forgot every bit of the nurturing and cultivation she received. If it weren't for the laws of Spirit Hall, I'd personally cut her into a thousand pieces. A single blade is too merciful!"
The soul masters of Spirit City all nodded in deep agreement. Beast. A total beast. Death is too easy—she should be subjected to endless torture, dismembered limb by limb.
Members of the outer clans and non-core families were even more ruthless in their thinking. If someone like that emerged from our clan—so gifted yet so disloyal—we wouldn't feel an ounce of guilt. We'd simply turn her into a reproductive tool.
Why is a white-eyed wolf (traitor) called that? Because it's not human. And when dealing with something that isn't human, what is there to feel guilty about?
"Let Hu Liena be a warning to all of you. Traitorous beasts with hearts like wolves and dogs must be utterly exterminated!"
"Hu Liena's disgrace will be engraved upon the Pillar of Shame in the Douluo Hall, passed down for generations, serving as a lesson for every soul master of Spirit Hall!"
Hearing these words, everyone present was momentarily stunned. Douluo Hall—the sacred place admired by soul masters across the entire continent. And the Pillar of Shame? That was the accursed place marked for universal disgrace, feared and reviled by all. Such a punishment was excessively harsh. Though she wouldn't suffer physical torture like dismemberment, the eternal infamy seemed an acceptable substitute.
After saying more in an hour than he usually did in a day, Ghost Douluo fell silent, patiently awaiting the execution hour.
During that time, Hu Liena felt the countless stares around her—gazes filled with disgust, as if she were trash. Her once-proud heart was now riddled with cracks. If she could move, she might have dashed her head against a wall right then and there.
She deeply regretted dragging Xie Yue and Yan into her downfall, costing them everything. She regretted aging her teacher another ten years with sorrow. At the same time, a sliver of relief flickered within her—if her death could reach Tang San, maybe he could escape the catastrophe that loomed ahead.
At noon, the scorching sun hung high in the sky, its rays beating directly down on Hu Liena. Many in the crowd were already parched and dizzy from the heat.
Ghost Douluo, seeing the time had come, waved his hand and gave the order: "Execute."
The sweaty executioner atop the platform had been ready for hours, eager to finish and collect his pay. At Ghost Douluo's command, he raised his blade without hesitation. The blade flashed, aimed precisely at Hu Liena's neck—and with a single stroke, her head flew through the air. Blood spurted violently from the severed neck.
Hu Liena—dead.
"No—!"
Bibi Dong screamed in her heart, her silent voice tearing at her soul. Her eyes filled with bloodshot veins, and with one final breath that couldn't quite escape her lips, she lost consciousness and collapsed on the spot.
(End of Chapter)