A War of Public Opinion! Make Star Luo Empire Sick!

The grilled fish in Zhu Zhuqing's hand nearly fell to the ground as she stared, pupils trembling, at the elegant yet icy woman beside the fire.

—The Pope of Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong?!

That peerless powerhouse rumored to stand at the pinnacle of the continent was actually sitting right in front of her, grilling fish?!

"What, I don't look like it?" Bibi Dong swept her a casual glance, and the pressure of a Titled Douluo flashed by in an instant.

Cold sweat immediately broke out across Zhu Zhuqing's back, and she instinctively straightened her spine.

She finally understood why Lin Fan had arrogantly claimed that he was "not even afraid of the Pope."

—These two were clearly in cahoots!

"Don't worry," Lin Fan said indistinctly as he gnawed on a fish bone. "As long as you join Spirit Hall, I can guarantee Star Luo Empire won't come after you later." He lifted his chin toward Bibi Dong. "Right, Your Holiness?"

Bibi Dong gave a faint snort, which counted as agreement.

Zhu Zhuqing's heart pounded like a drum. Of course she knew the weight Spirit Hall carried—no matter how powerful Star Luo Empire was, it would never dare confront Spirit Hall head-on! But...

Zhu Zhuqing fell silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. She was no fool; naturally, she knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Joining Spirit Hall meant she would completely break free from the Zhu Family's restraints and gain a certain degree of freedom!

As long as she did not betray Spirit Hall, it would be hard for her to die.

Zhu Zhuqing took a deep breath and looked at the two of them with resolute eyes. "I'm willing."

Lin Fan smiled in satisfaction. "Straightforward!"

"I have another question. Why did you invite me to join Spirit Hall?" She clenched the corner of her clothes, her voice dry.

"Since you want to know, I'll tell you the truth and put your mind at ease." Bibi Dong set down the grilled fish in her hand, her tone calm. "Your Innate Soul Power is only rank 7.5."

The fingers holding Zhu Zhuqing's grilled fish tightened slightly.

"However—" Bibi Dong suddenly curled her lips into a smile that sent a chill down Lin Fan's back. "You are the fiancée of the Third Prince of Star Luo, and the daughter of the Only Duke of Star Luo Empire. Those two identities alone are enough to give the Star Luo Imperial Family a headache."

"Got it, professional disgust!" Lin Fan burst out laughing. "A war of public opinion is still a war. It may not be very useful, but making people sick..."

Bibi Dong continued, "For example, <Shocking! The Star Luo Imperial Family Persecutes a Prince's Fiancée, Young Girl Flees Overnight to Spirit Hall>, or <Why Did the Duke's Daughter Run Away? Exposing the Filthy Secrets of Star Luo Empire>..."

The grilled fish in Zhu Zhuqing's hand nearly fell to the ground.

"The Star Luo Imperial Family would certainly lose face. The daughter of a duke and a prince's fiancée defecting to an enemy nation... It would have little practical effect and would not shake Star Luo Empire's foundations."

Bibi Dong shrugged. "Making them sick may not be particularly worthwhile, but it's not a loss either."

Lin Fan applauded. "Killing people by crushing their hearts, Your Holiness!"

"As expected of the Pope, your schemes are truly dirty... I suppose this was how you disgusted the Worship Hall back then too..."

"No, wait! I'm Qian Xunji's illegitimate son. Don't tell me you were the one who spread that rumor too!"

"Do you have evidence? If you don't, don't make slanderous accusations!" Bibi Dong did not even raise her eyelids. She calmly turned the grilled fish in her hand, her tone as placid as if she were discussing the weather.

Lin Fan choked, his eyes widening. "No, that rumor has been spread with such vivid detail that they even made up who my real father is. Who else could it have been if not you?"

Bibi Dong sneered. "Do you think I have that much free time?"

"Then who else?" Lin Fan counted on his fingers. "Last month, you had people spread the rumor in Heaven Dou Empire that 'the Clear Sky Douluo actually likes men.' Last year, you ordered Spirit Hall stewards to spread word in taverns that 'the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's patriarch is actually bald and wears a wig.' And—"

"Stop." Bibi Dong raised a hand to cut him off, narrowing her eyes dangerously. "Keep talking nonsense, and I'll make sure you regret it."

Lin Fan instantly shut up. He resentfully took a bite of fish and muttered under his breath,

"Guilty conscience..."

Zhu Zhuqing listened from the side in utter disbelief, her worldview suffering an unprecedented shock—was this what the higher-ups of Spirit Hall were like in private?

The legendary Pope was actually a professional rumor-monger behind the scenes?

The legendary aloof Pope was actually so... down-to-earth?

"By the way, what was your purpose in running away this time?" Lin Fan asked, though he already knew the answer.

Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a moment before lowering her voice. "I wanted to come out and look for my fiancé... On the road, I heard there was an academy called Shrek near Suotuo City. Apparently, it only accepts monsters. Since I want to become stronger, I planned to go take a look."

"Isn't that convenient?" Lin Fan grinned and clapped his hands. "I was also planning to visit Shrek Academy. Since we're headed the same way, let's go together."

At that, Bibi Dong's fingers paused slightly. She raised her eyes and glanced at him. "What are you going there for? You insisted that I come out with you."

"Flender of the Golden Iron Triangle is there. Yu Xiaogang's disciple might be going there too. Besides, it's not like we have anything better to do..."

The next day, on the streets of Suotuo City, the three of them looked exactly like aimless street loafers.

Bibi Dong had changed into a plain-colored long dress. The icy Pope instantly became the girl next door, and even Zhu Zhuqing could not help stealing a few extra glances at such a drastic change in style.

"That dress suits you pretty well," Lin Fan remarked with a grass stem hanging from his mouth.

Bibi Dong sneered. "Say one more word, and I'll hang you from the city wall as a banner."

As they passed a shop, all three stopped at once. The storefront was not large, but a Spirit Hall token hung conspicuously from its signboard.

"Tsk, since when did Spirit Hall have this kind of business?" Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes. A shop this shabby was actually part of Spirit Hall?

There was no way Bibi Dong would believe that!

There was definitely something suspicious going on here!

Lin Fan glanced at the signboard, knowing full well what was going on—Flender must have hung it up himself. It had absolutely nothing to do with Spirit Hall.

But he did not expose him. Instead, he said, "We're already here, so why not go in and take a look?"

That crooked merchant was using Spirit Hall's name to swindle people. Today, he had to be taught a lesson!

The moment they pushed open the door, a bell jingled.

A man with a hooked nose, a face somewhat resembling the sole of a shoe, and black-framed crystal glasses lay sprawled in a reclining chair. He did not move when he saw them enter. "Nothing here is discounted. Bargaining is not accepted. Our prices are fair to young and old alike."

Looking at that bastard, Lin Fan could say with absolute certainty that this man was Flender.

Bibi Dong suppressed the urge to hit someone and first looked around the store. It was small, with a sparse assortment of Soul Tools and strange little objects on the shelves. At first glance, it looked like a pile of junk, but on closer inspection, there really were a few good things.

"This dump dares to hang a Spirit Hall sign?" Bibi Dong sneered, lightly tapping the counter with her fingertip. "You've got some nerve."

Flender did not even lift his eyelids. "Buy it or don't. If you're not buying, get lost."

Lin Fan nearly laughed aloud. Good lord, telling someone to get lost right in front of the Pope—this old man truly was not afraid of death.

Zhu Zhuqing silently stepped half a pace back, afraid that if a fight broke out later, blood would splash onto her.