Golden Soul Power gathered behind him, forming the phantom of an angel. Then Qian Daoliu beckoned with one hand, and a long sword wreathed in golden Soul Power appeared in his grasp.
Because the Angel God was worshipped in the Palace of the Pope, the sword's sharp aura did not spread through the hall.
Not a single brick or tile inside suffered any damage.
But Bibi Dong, standing directly in the path of Qian Daoliu's attack, was clearly in a bad way.
"As expected of the Angel God's High Priest. Though you have no chance of becoming a god and will spend your entire life stuck at the Limit Douluo level, your strength is not to be underestimated.
"But... that's all there is to it!"
Because of the Rakshasa God Trial, Bibi Dong's Soul Power had long since reached level 99, but the strength she could bring to bear at this moment was, at best, equivalent to level 98.
With cultivation like that, trying to withstand Qian Daoliu at full strength was nothing short of a fool's dream.
Besides, Bibi Dong had no intention of abandoning the Rakshasa God Trial.
Fortunately, Qian Daoliu had spoken too soon, and she still had a way to turn the tables.
The golden greatsword, reaching from heaven to earth, descended. To Ghost Leopard and the others' astonishment, Bibi Dong did not summon her Soul Power to defend herself. Instead, she faced it head-on.
"Rrrip—!"
The scorching golden light tore downward. In an instant, Bibi Dong's flesh and blood were vaporized on the spot.
"Your Holiness!" Ghost Leopard cried out in shock.
As for Bear Demon Douluo, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile at the sight.
His earlier guess had been right: Bibi Dong really was no match for the Great Enshrined.
He had already decided to switch sides, so this made things easier.
"Thanks to the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking, my Soul Power has now reached level 96, the minimum requirement for entering the Worship Hall. At most, I'm just short on seniority.
"While Bibi Dong was alive, joining the Great Enshrined's faction would inevitably make me look like a traitor.
"But now..."
Bear Demon Douluo's thoughts were obvious enough.
She was already dead. How could she possibly hold him to his loyalty?
Yue Guan and Gui Mei, meanwhile, had originally decided to leave Spirit Hall and join the rising Qingyun Sect.
They had already made up their minds, but after seeing Qian Daoliu's strength with their own eyes, the two of them began to have second thoughts.
"With strength like that, if Qian Daoliu doesn't hold it against us, fine.
"But if he does, can the Qingyun Sect—and that Blue Robe Your Excellency—really stand against him?"
"Alas, things have come to this. Better to think it over carefully. Worst comes to worst, we can keep serving Spirit Hall like dogs!"
However, just as everyone stood there with their own thoughts after witnessing Bibi Dong's death, a surge of dark green Soul Power suddenly gathered, first forming a giant cocoon of energy in midair.
With a sharp crack, the energy cocoon shattered. To everyone's disbelief, Bibi Dong stepped out of it.
Not only was her body whole, but even her papal robes were completely unwrinkled.
It was as though Qian Daoliu's attack had never touched her at all.
How was that possible?
As everyone stared in shock, Bibi Dong gave a scornful smile.
As a Titled Douluo who had cultivated both her Twin Martial Souls to perfection, she had more than a few tricks up her sleeve.
The ninth Spirit Skill of her Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul was enough to bring her back from the dead.
Though its activation conditions were rather strict, using it to withstand a single strike from Qian Daoliu was no trouble at all!
After all, in the original Douluo story, this very Spirit Skill had blocked a thrust from the Sea God Phantom!
"Elder, you were holding back!"
"Just as you said, everything that happened before is settled. We're even!"
Qian Daoliu: "..."
Damn it!
He'd spoken too soon and had backed himself into a corner.
But then again, she had been carefully chosen to become Spirit Hall's Saintess. If she couldn't even withstand one of his moves, Spirit Hall's judgment would have been truly poor.
And besides...
No matter what, Bibi Dong was Qian Renxue's mother.
He could disregard what happened to her, but he still had to consider Xue'er's feelings.
"This... is for the best."
Gathering his thoughts, Qian Daoliu casually dispelled the golden sword in his hand and waved her off.
"A gentleman's word is his bond!
"You killed Ji'er once, and I killed you once. That seems fair enough.
"From now on, you and the Qian Family owe each other nothing!"
Qian Xunji's meaning was clear: he was ready to let Bibi Dong leave.
Unfortunately, it was easier to invite a god in than to send one out. Bibi Dong was hardly the type to accept a loss.
"Heh. Elder, you're quite amusing. You've settled your score, but I still have mine to settle!"
"Bibi Dong, what are you planning?"
"Simple. As things stand, I'm not only Spirit Hall's Pope in name, but also Qian Xunji's wife. Surely you can't deny that?
"If so, then when I leave, I'm entitled to a share of Qian Xunji's possessions.
"Elder, do you accept or not?"
Until she got her hands on what she wanted, Bibi Dong was willing enough to call Qian Daoliu "Elder."
It wasn't because she respected her elders or because she truly considered Qian Daoliu family for Qian Xunji's sake.
It was simply that the old man was far too powerful.
Since Qian Daoliu was an honest man, all she had to do was put him on the spot, and he would agree of his own accord.
But if she pushed an honest man too far...
If Qian Daoliu really decided to fight, Bibi Dong would never make it out of Spirit City alive in her current state.
"You never said any of this while Ji'er was alive. Now that he's dead, you suddenly remember you're the Qian Family's daughter-in-law.
"Very well. If you want it, take it!
"Anyone in Spirit Hall who wants to leave with you may go. I won't stop them.
"I, Qian Daoliu, give you my word. I won't come after you later!"
Spirit Hall was a force united by its faith in the Angel God.
Qian Daoliu was confident that even though Bibi Dong had been Pope for over ten years and had promoted many of her own people to secure her rule—
though her power was at its zenith—
not everyone would be willing to follow her.
Just look at the situation now.
At Qian Daoliu's words, Bibi Dong signaled with her eyes, intending to take all her loyal followers with her and seek a new path elsewhere.
Her most devoted supporters, Hu Liena and Ghost Leopard Douluo, proved steadfast. They stepped forward at once and took their places behind Bibi Dong.
But what made her frown was that people like Bear Demon Douluo, along with Gui Mei and Yue Guan, wavered.
"Hmph!" Bibi Dong snorted.
"What a pack of ungrateful ingrates!"
But in a way, that was a good thing.
Adversity revealed true loyalty. Anyone willing to follow her now was truly devoted, and she could trust them completely from then on.
After a round of wrangling, both of them looking somewhat displeased, the people willing to follow Bibi Dong packed their belongings and gathered outside the gates of Spirit City.
One of them had not expected so many people to be willing to leave.
The other had not expected that, after all those years as Pope, she would have so few trusted followers.
A few Titled Douluos, some Soul Masters with considerable Soul Power, and the Spirit Hall Golden Generation.
Admittedly, these forces meant little to Spirit Hall.
As long as Qian Daoliu remained in charge, Spirit Hall would always be Spirit Hall!
But no matter how much anyone tried to deceive themselves, nothing could change the truth: Spirit Hall had been split apart!
Before you continue