17: Chapter 17 is too risky.
That day, a fine golden rain fell over Spirit Hall, lasting for three days.
It seemed like the final lingering warmth of a great person scattered into the mortal world after their passing.
Qian Chongguang, the Angel Old Ancestor with the highest seniority in Spirit Hall and the recognized strongest on the Douluo Continent, had fallen.
The news spread, shaking the entire continent.
Many did not even know that Spirit Hall had such an Elder who was still alive until now.
Spirit Hall held a funeral for this old titled Elder with the highest specifications. The mourning hall was set up in front of the Angel Temple, and white banners stretched for ten miles, covering half the sky of Spirit City.
The royal families of the two great Empires, Heaven Dou and Star Luo, sent princes to lead delegations to pay their respects. From the Upper Three Sects, Ning Fengzhi brought Sword Douluo Chen Xin to attend in person. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan sent a direct-line Elder, and the Clear Sky Sect, the Sect that was the root cause, also quietly came to attend.
No one dared not to give this Face.
Even though various forces were wary and dissatisfied with the growing power of Spirit Hall, no one dared to be negligent in this matter—
The Old Ancestor had fallen while eliminating the Spirit Beasts mixing among humans and the traitor Tang Hao. This point already stood on the moral high ground of humanity.
Both publicly and privately, they had to attend this funeral and perform the rites of mourning.
At the funeral, all parties offered incense and paid respects according to the rules. The eulogies were spoken, and the required respect was shown in full, but no one dared to say a single word of dissent.
The Titled Douluo standing solemnly in the hall, along with the cold-eyed Adjudicator Elder Bibi Dong, who held the power of criminal law, made everyone swallow any extra words back into their stomachs.
As the three-day elaborate funeral concluded, the white banners of Spirit City were slowly taken down, but the discussion within the council of Elders had only just begun.
The core leadership of Spirit Hall gathered together. Their gazes fell uniformly on Bibi Dong in the main seat, but their peripheral vision couldn't help but glance at the cradle beside her—
Inside lay an infant still in swaddling clothes, with exquisite features and steady breathing. It was one of the twins that Tang Hao had personally abandoned not long ago.
"Adjudicator Elder."
Finally, Gold Crocodile Douluo couldn't help but speak, his tone full of confusion: "Tang Hao is Spirit Hall's number one enemy. He colluded with Spirit Beasts and even gave birth to a human-beast hybrid. The unforgivable sin is that he killed the Old Ancestor. This child is his Bloodline. Keeping him is already an act of extreme benevolence, but you are…"
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a wave of Bibi Dong's hand.
She looked down at the infant in the cradle, her eyes calm and waveless, without a hint of hatred, only absolute certainty in the established arrangement.
"According to the instructions left by the Old Ancestor, name him Alternative."
She spoke, her voice cold and clear, yet carrying unquestionable majesty.
At the same time, she was also curious about the name Tang San; why did the Old Ancestor want to give him this name?
Qian Chongguang: Of course, it is to distinguish between Tang San and Tang San.
A single sentence caused a collective gasp in the conference room. The already tense atmosphere instantly boiled over.
"Absolutely not! Elder! This is a human-beast hybrid! It's the child of our enemy!" Demon Subduing Douluo slammed the table, the Coiling Dragon Rod in his hand making the tabletop buzz. His Face was full of disbelief. "It's one thing not to eliminate him, but how can you give him a proper name? If this gets out, what will the whole continent think of our Spirit Hall?!"
Lion Douluo frowned, his bell-like eyes full of concern: "The foundation of our Spirit Hall is helping Spirit Masters hunt Spirit Beasts and obtain spirit rings. He is inherently entangled with Spirit Beasts. Keeping him will sooner or later be a massive hidden danger!"
"The Old Ancestor has fallen, and we have always followed his strategies during his lifetime, but there is no need to take such a huge risk for an enemy's child!" Green Phoenix Douluo nodded seriously, the aura around him surging. "This child is a ticking time bomb. No one knows where he will explode in the future."
"The Old Ancestor has fallen, we don't need to take such a huge risk for an enemy's child!"
A group of senior leaders spoke up to dissuade her, their Faces full of incomprehension.
Bibi Dong, however, remained completely unmoved. She swept her eyes over everyone, her tone deepening: "This is not my decision; it is a plan set by the Old Ancestor before his death."
A short sentence made all the noisy voices stop instantly.
In everyone's heart, Qian Chongguang was synonymous with being infallible. The glorious Spirit Hall that was currently in its prime was a continuation of the strategies he had laid out back then.
Every move he made during his lifetime was proven to have far-reaching intentions. No one dared to question it further.
The phrase the Old Ancestor used most often was: "This is all part of the plan."
"The Old Ancestor's will is clear. Once the child is conscious, he must enroll in the Spirit Hall Spirit Master Academy, accept the same quality education as all ordinary students, learn to read and write, practice spirit and body, and learn moral character."
Bibi Dong's voice continued, with a hint of undetectable softness in her tone: "Besides this, he must be given some different education."
"Different education?" Qian Xunji couldn't help but ask.
Bibi Dong lowered her eyes, looking at the defenseless infant in the swaddling clothes, and said softly: "When he learns enough in the future and reaches the standard we require, we can tell him the truth."
The secret room fell into silence again.
The senior leaders looked at each other, still unable to grasp the Old Ancestor's deep meaning.
Even the playful Light Feather Douluo couldn't help but gasp.
"This is too risky."
Lion Douluo nodded: "Indeed. If we tell him this kind of thing in the future, what will happen? What if this child grows up to be just like his father? Aren't we raising a white-eyed wolf in the heart of Spirit Hall?"
On the Douluo Continent, the word 'Bloodline' is as heavy as Mount Tai.
Even if one's own Family is unbearable or sinful, even if one says they don't recognize their ancestors on their lips, the bond in the Bloodline cannot be severed. Not to mention that Tang Hao is his biological father and the Blue Silver Emperor is his biological mother. Once he knows the truth, knows that Spirit Hall "forced" his parents to their deaths and destroyed his home, who can guarantee he won't turn against us and become a second Tang Hao?
"Light Feather is right."
Lion Douluo nodded heavily, echoing in a muffled voice, "How can we gamble on this kind of thing? If he finds out the truth, what will happen? If he causes trouble, are we old bones supposed to fight a second Tang Hao?"
"In my opinion, to be safe, we should just throw him into a manure pit and drown him. That would be the end of it!" Thousand Jun Douluo slammed his Coiling Dragon Rod on the ground, making the floor tremble slightly, and spoke in a rough voice.
Demon Subduing Douluo followed up: "I'm afraid that when he finds out, he might ask, 'Why can't humans be slaughtered for meat?'"
Once these words were spoken, it caused another collective gasp.
What kind of Heaven-Defying, anti-human statement is this?
Fortunately, it was their own kind using a metaphor. If it were truly said by Alternative in the future, wouldn't that be a disaster?
They really didn't dare to gamble on this uncertain factor.
At that time, to kill or not to kill?
Bibi Dong just smiled: "Everyone, rest assured. The Old Ancestor said that this child is absolutely different. I believe in the Old Ancestor. Don't you believe him?"
Did they dare not to believe?
In any case, they dared not be disrespectful to the Old Ancestor.
Even if they were drumming in their hearts and felt it was risky, they absolutely dared not have any disrespect for the Old Ancestor's decision.
Gold Crocodile Douluo sighed deeply and bowed to Bibi Dong. His aged voice was full of helplessness: "Since it is the Old Ancestor's will, we will naturally comply with all our might. However, Adjudicator Elder, the upbringing of this child must be foolproof; there cannot be the slightest mistake. If there is any sign of him going astray, we must be prepared in advance."
Bibi Dong nodded faintly: "I will."
Finally, Qian Daoliu confirmed it solemnly.