"Overestimating yourselves!"
Bibi Dong gave a cold snort, unleashing both her Twin Martial Souls.
A vast pressure erupted as she charged head-on toward the six High Priests.
"Boom—!!!"
Two immense waves of Soul Power collided, their aftershock sweeping in all directions!
The entire Pope Palace... no! The entire Spirit City, even everything within a hundred miles outside the city, violently trembled in that instant!
Countless Soul Masters within the city were left shaken to their cores by the terrifying energy shockwave, plunging into chaos!
Bibi Dong, strengthened by the rewards, could still wield the power of a Quasi-Demigod even with her strength suppressed by the God Trial!
Without that suppression, she might have already reached the Demigod realm. The combined attack of the six High Priests simply could not contend against her!
"Aaah!!"
After a brief standoff, the six High Priests were sent reeling back without suspense.
"How is this possible?!"
The six High Priests retreated to the entrance of the hall, staggering as they steadied themselves, their faces filled with shock.
"Bibi Dong's strength has actually become this terrifying! Has she been hiding it all along, or is this the work of a Heaven-Sent Reward?!"
Bibi Dong slowly descended the steps of the throne platform and sneered coldly.
"Since this Pope took office, the six of you have repeatedly opposed this Pope in public, treating Spirit Hall's laws as nothing and this Pope's authority as mere grass beneath your feet!"
"If I do not teach you a lesson now, where will this Pope's prestige remain?!"
The instant her words fell, Bibi Dong charged at the six High Priests with the might of a Quasi-Demigod.
"You think we fear you?!"
Led by Golden Crocodile, the six High Priests shouted in unison and activated their Martial Soul Avatars as they met her charge.
Together, they could even fight the chief High Priest. Why would they fear Bibi Dong?
"Enough!!!"
At the critical moment, a sacred Holy Sword shot into the hall and embedded itself upright at the point where the two sides were about to clash.
"Hummm—"
A piercing sword cry echoed out, and the terrifying forces colliding from both sides were forcibly driven apart by that single sword.
"Whoosh—"
The next second, Qian Daoliu flashed into the hall, lightly stepping on the hilt of the Holy Sword with his hands clasped behind his back.
That sword alone stunned everyone present!!
"Big Brother can now neutralize the full-force strike of all six of us with a single sword!"
The six High Priests led by Golden Crocodile cried out in shock.
Bibi Dong's pupils suddenly contracted as astonishment surged in her eyes.
Could this old bastard already be infinitely close to the Quasi-God realm?!
Qian Daoliu looked at Bibi Dong and asked sternly.
"Bibi Dong, I have never involved myself in worldly affairs, but now that the Sky Screen has descended and Spirit Hall's foundations have been exposed to the world, the situation has fallen into turmoil. Do you believe you still possess the strength and ability to preside over the coming changes?"
Bibi Dong frowned. Was he trying to seize power? She immediately refused to yield.
"This Pope's current state is clear for the chief High Priest to see. There is no need for the chief High Priest to concern himself over it!"
Qian Daoliu nodded, finally revealing his purpose.
"You, I naturally trust. But it is different for Xiao Xue. Hand the Quasi-Divine Artifact over to me so I can deliver it to her and give her another layer of protection!"
"In exchange, if you recover the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, it shall be entirely under your control. Our Worship Hall will not interfere!"
Bibi Dong's frown deepened. So he had still come for the Quasi-Divine Artifact.
She was not yet strong enough to contend with this old bastard. Trading it for complete control over the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well was not unacceptable!
"Chief High Priest!"
Golden Crocodile and the other High Priests were dissatisfied. They did not want to relinquish the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well.
"Report—!"
Just then, Snake Lance and Pufferfish burst in with the grievously wounded Yue Guan and Gui Mei.
The tense standoff was instantly broken, and everyone present stared at the four intruders in surprise.
"Elder Snake Lance, Elder Pufferfish? And Ju and Gui? What are these injuries?!"
"What exactly happened? Speak at once!!"
At those words, Yue Guan and Gui Mei dropped to their knees and recounted everything they had experienced.
After hearing them out, everyone present was shocked!
A Douluo wielding Thunder had ignored their Martial Soul Fusion Skill and killed over a hundred Soul Emperors in a single strike!
"Are you telling the truth?!" Everyone present found it hard to believe.
Snake Lance and Pufferfish immediately stepped forward to testify for them. A massive residual aura of Thunder Soul Power had indeed remained at the scene.
"Hiss, this person's strength must have reached level ninety-nine!!"
"But why have we never heard of such a peerless powerhouse?!"
"Based on what is currently known from the Power Ranking, could it be that mysterious Sun Moon Empire?!"
The High Priests discussed it among themselves, all looking toward Qian Daoliu in astonishment.
Even Qian Daoliu could not be certain. His brow furrowed tightly.
"It seems the Sky Screen and the exposure of these treasures have made those hidden factions unable to remain still as well! The changes to the continent's situation will be far greater than we imagined!"
Bibi Dong was furious over the loss of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, but she seemed to see an opportunity as well. She snorted coldly.
"Chief High Priest, since you possess such awareness, then you should understand whose hands it is safest for this Quasi-Divine Artifact to remain in, shouldn't you?"
"If you send it to your precious granddaughter and she fails to protect herself with the treasure, only for it to be taken from her instead, who will bear the responsibility?!"
Qian Daoliu had no rebuttal. He waved his hand.
"High Priests, we are leaving. Elders Snake Lance and Pufferfish, follow me. This High Priest has questions for you."
The High Priests led by Golden Crocodile were unwilling to accept this.
"Chief High Priest, are we just letting this go? At the very least, take a Soul Bone back for Xiao Xue!"
Qian Daoliu paused and said sternly.
"The High Priests are right. Our Worship Hall cannot return empty-handed. Bibi Dong, hand over the reward Soul Bone."
The killing intent in Bibi Dong's eyes nearly shattered the shackles of her reason.
A Perfect Seventy-Thousand-Year Soul Bone was worth far more than an ordinary Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone!
She had intended to save it for Nana, whom she regarded as a daughter, but now she had to give it to that little brat Qian Renxue!
But...
Thinking of how Qian Renxue was, after all, her own flesh and blood...
Bibi Dong still suppressed her unwillingness and fury, reluctantly handing over the Perfect Seventy-Thousand-Year Soul Bone.
"We are leaving!"
Qian Daoliu took the Soul Bone and waved his hand.
Only then did the High Priests say nothing more and follow him out.
Snake Lance and Elder Pufferfish also left with them.
Only Bibi Dong and the grievously wounded Yue Guan and Gui Mei remained.
"Your Holiness the Pope, we..."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei knelt on the ground, their bodies trembling.
"Hmph!"
Thinking of the value of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill, Bibi Dong could only let it go.
"There will not be a next time! Your injuries are not serious. Clearly, your opponent held back, and you will recover after some treatment. This Pope will not investigate the reason further. Dismissed!"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei both withdrew, only then realizing that the Thunder powerhouse had deliberately shown them mercy.
"Two useless fools who ruin more than they accomplish!"
"You lost to Tang Hao back then, and now you have lost again to... Hmph, you cannot produce a single respectable victory in a direct confrontation!"
Bibi Dong cursed inwardly, then raised her head toward the Sky Screen.
She wanted to see exactly what faction dared stand above Spirit Hall!
She also wondered whether she could find traces of that Thunder powerhouse and recruit him for her own use!
If he dared refuse...
"Anyone who refuses to submit to me must die!!!"
Chang'an City.
Shangguan Wan'er looked at the Sky Screen, growing somewhat excited and nervous.
"City Lord, only the final two places remain on the Power Ranking. Can we contend with the Star Dou Forest, which possesses God King-level foundations, for first place?!"
Ye Han's deep eyes darkened slightly at her words before he smiled faintly.
"The Silver Dragon King is indeed at the God King level, but she is currently suffering grievous wounds. Who comes out on top is hard to say! Just as you said in the beginning, our chances of taking first place are... seventy to eighty percent!"
The moment his words fell, a hum exploded from the Sky Screen above.
"Boom—!"
The entire Douluo Plane trembled at that moment, and then the Sky Screen updated!
Lines of dazzling golden text emerged. Every character that appeared made the hearts of all living beings tremble.
[Power Ranking, Second Place: Star Dou Forest...]
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