Bibi Dong, with No Way Out

"Your Holiness, the Clear Sky Sect's movements are unclear, and Tang Hao has also disappeared. The Enforcement Team is intensifying its search, but—"

"Your Holiness, I believe we should attack the Clear Sky Sect directly. Tang Hao was outrageously bold; he must have been acting under the Clear Sky Sect's orders!"

"Do you even have a brain? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon have ambiguous attitudes, while Heaven Dou and Star Luo are watching us like tigers. If we go to war with the Clear Sky Sect, do you think they'll let such a good opportunity slip by?"

"Hmph! By your reasoning, the Pope of Spirit Hall was beaten to death, yet we still have to swallow our anger? What will the world think of Spirit Hall then?"

"You old fool are impossible to reason with. When did I ever say we should swallow our anger? This matter simply requires careful consideration—"

"Pah."

Inside Pontiff Palace.

The fierce debate continued, though it had moved on to another topic.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo had merely caused a minor disturbance. The greatest soul master organization on the continent would not waste too much time on a genius who had yet to mature.

"Enough!"

A peerlessly cold voice, tinged with fury, silenced every argument.

The stunning beauty seated upon the Pontiff's Throne had her brows tightly furrowed and her lips slightly pursed, as though she were doing her utmost to suppress her anger and grief. Her beautiful eyes swept over everyone present, and those caught in her gaze could not help but feel a chill rise up their backs.

The people who had just been arguing until their faces were red and their necks thick instantly fell silent, none daring to meet her eyes.

The beautiful woman took a deep breath and issued her orders in an orderly manner.

"Sixth Worship, Seventh Worship, go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and invite Sect Master Ning to attend the Pope's succession ceremony."

Two imposing middle-aged men stepped forward and cupped their hands in salute.

"As Your Holiness commands."

Then she turned her gaze toward two others.

"Pufferfish, Ghost Leopard Elder, the two of you will go to Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and invite Clan Head Yu to Spirit Hall to attend the ceremony."

"Yes, as Your Holiness commands."

Another two men stepped forward and accepted the order with cupped hands.

"As for the Clear Sky Sect..."

Bibi Dong narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly. Her red lips parted as she said coldly,

"Hand over Tang Hao within seven days. Otherwise, they can disappear on their own!"

The entire hall was shocked by those words!

Everyone drew in a sharp breath.

She intended to directly force the other two of the Three Upper Sects to choose a side!

"Pope, you must not! This is not the time to rashly begin a war. Right now—"

An elder hurriedly stepped forward, but before he could finish, a glance from those beautiful eyes on the high seat rendered him speechless. His expression darkened as he stepped back.

Those who had intended to say something could only quietly withdraw the feet they had already stepped forward with.

Everyone knew that the previous Pope had been the new Pope's mentor. She must be deeply grieved by his death.

Who would dare provoke her at a time like this?

No one noticed the faint, nearly imperceptible smile that crossed the beautiful woman's lips on the high seat.

Normally, getting this group to obey her was impossible.

That beast might be dead, but he was not entirely without use.

She would consider it a little residual value from that beast.

"Your Holiness, I believe this is unwise."

Yet within the silent pontiff hall, an abrupt voice of opposition suddenly rang out.

The others looked over in surprise, wanting to see who dared oppose His Holiness the Pope at such a moment. Once they saw the figure, however, they immediately understood.

The trace of a smile on the beautiful woman's face instantly stiffened. Her delicate fist clenched tightly within her long sleeve as her beautiful eyes stared deeply at that young face, her heart filled with indescribable disgust.

"Do you have some brilliant insight?"

She forced out a smile and asked softly.

"Guang Ling Elder?"

The latter seemed to sigh helplessly, his eyes carrying a hint of disappointment.

"Your Holiness, you are still too young. What if the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon refuse to come? Are we supposed to wage war against all three sects at once?"

"The old Pope supported your ascension to the position not so you could act recklessly. If we followed your plan, wouldn't Spirit Hall's soul masters suffer devastating losses?"

Bibi Dong felt sickened by his hypocritical act, but she knew this was not yet the time to turn against him.

Guang Ling alone was nothing, but behind him stood the most loyal supporters of the Six-Winged Angel line.

Fourth Worship Mighty Lion Douluo, as well as Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship who ranked only below Great Enshrined Elder Qian Daoliu!

At this stage, they were colossal forces she simply could not shake.

Thinking of this, Bibi Dong could only forcibly suppress her rage and retort, "If we go to war with the Clear Sky Sect alone, do you think the other two sects will simply stand by and watch?

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon have ambitions as plain as day. If we do not take this chance to force them to state their positions, should we wait until war begins and let them stab us in the back?"

"Of course not."

Guang Ling Douluo revealed a confident smile.

"During extraordinary times, there is no harm in being conciliatory. We must avenge ourselves on the Clear Sky Sect, but there is no need to swiftly become enemies with the other two, is there?"

"Under Spirit Hall's name, we can combine grace and authority. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon will surely be overwhelmed with gratitude and cease interfering in this matter. That way, how many fewer battles will be fought, and how many fewer people will die?"

Apparently quite satisfied with his own argument, he swept his gaze around, and the people nearby immediately took the hint and began praising him.

"Guang Ling Elder, what a brilliant plan!"

"Exactly, exactly. This way, we may not need to lose a single soul master to resolve these problems perfectly."

"His Holiness the Pope's actions truly were somewhat insufficiently considered."

Listening to the unending chorus of agreement around her, Bibi Dong finally could not bear it any longer. Her expression turned ugly.

Damn old bastard!

Not only had he completely rejected her plan, he had also taken the opportunity to insinuate that she had begun to disregard the lives of ordinary soul masters the moment she became Pope.

Without question, if such words spread, they would deal a severe blow to her prestige.

"Oh, everyone need not put it that way. His Holiness the Pope is merely young and inexperienced. Otherwise, she would not have believed the nonsense of those two boys, Ghost and Chrysanthemum, would she?"

Once the people around him had said enough, Guang Ling finally smiled at the silent beautiful woman. A trace of smugness flashed through his single eye as he said, "As long as His Holiness the Pope listens to our opinions more in the future, she will certainly mature quickly. Isn't that right, Your Holiness?"

Bibi Dong clenched her delicate fists tightly, her pearly teeth nearly biting her red lips until they bled.

She knew this was Guang Ling's condition.

The condition for sparing her reputation from being damaged.

The price was surrendering part of her current authority and abandoning that genius along with Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Damn it, bastard!!

Killing intent surged within Bibi Dong, but she soon realized with sorrow that although her future accomplishments would surely surpass those old bastards, at present, she was no match for Guang Ling Douluo.

Authority did not matter much; after all, she was constrained at every turn already. But Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo had been utterly loyal to her. If she abandoned them, she would surely break their hearts.

But if she did not abandon them, would the prestige and reputation she had painstakingly cultivated for so long not all go to waste?

This was a naked open scheme.

Have her wings clipped and be gradually sidelined, or completely lose the support of the ordinary soul masters?

Sudden death, or a slow death.

It seemed she had only one choice before her.

Did she truly have to abandon Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo?

And Su Chen?

A pair of bright black eyes flashed through Bibi Dong's mind, and she sighed inwardly.

I'll try to fight for it one more time. If it truly doesn't work, then—

"Your Holiness the Pope, we're back!!"

Just as she hesitated and struggled, Chrysanthemum Douluo's charming yet resounding voice suddenly echoed through the great hall.