An Argument

"I still insist on appointing Hu Liena as the Saintess of Spirit Hall."

Inside the Elder Hall of Spirit City, a woman of short stature, dressed in a ceremonial gown of dazzling gold and wearing a nine-curved violet-gold crown, voiced her opinion before Spirit Hall's elders and High Priests.

She was Spirit Hall's current Pope—Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong's flawless face was now covered in frost, utterly devoid of her usual calm composure.

The reason this Pope, who struck fear into every force across the continent, could barely suppress her fury was standing before her: an old man with grizzled hair.

This grizzled old man was Tian'e. Hearing that Bibi Dong still insisted, he said with disdain, "Why should she be the Saintess? Is she worthy?"

"Hu Liena's talent and abilities are among the best in Spirit Hall. Why isn't she worthy?"

"Has Your Holiness the Pope become muddleheaded from being busy all day? Talent? Does Spirit Hall not have anyone better than Hu Liena? As for ability, forgive this old man's poor eyesight, but I haven't seen it."

The elders in the Elder Hall watched helplessly. Here it came again. It had been over three years now; every meeting, the Second Worship and the Pope would always argue over who should become Saintess.

And it was always the same few lines back and forth. The Pope said how outstanding Hu Liena was, while the Second Worship said how unsuitable she was. Their ears had practically grown calluses from hearing it!

"Old Ghost, how long do you think the Second Worship and His Holiness the Pope will argue this time? I bet it'll last the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan was so bored that he had begun quietly betting with Ghost Douluo. At first, he had been somewhat afraid when the two important figures argued. Now, though, he could simply enjoy the show.

"I bet on the time it takes to burn an incense stick."

Ghost Douluo did not answer. Instead, Mo Xiong beside him leaned over and whispered.

"Go away, go away. I'm betting with Old Ghost. Why are you butting in, Mo Xiong?"

"Oh, it's fine. Count me in."

Several High Priests were rather speechless at the sight of Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others gambling, but they did not stop their whispered conversation. They understood perfectly well. They argued every time, yet never came up with anything new. Fourth Worship Qingyu Douluo had already started dozing off.

Perhaps the two arguing parties had realized how bored the elders and High Priests were. Or perhaps they themselves had grown tired of arguing. In any case, the dispute that followed became much more explosive.

"It has already been three years. Every time I wish to appoint a Saintess, the Second Worship jumps out to stop me. Tell me, what exactly does the Second Worship want?"

Bibi Dong had grown sick of this argument. She simply could not understand it. Was appointing a Saintess really such a big deal?

"Heh, I don't want anything. This old man is just bored, is that not allowed?"

Tian'e clasped his hands behind his back and sneered.

"You!"

The aura of Bibi Dong, a rank ninety-eight Super Douluo, burst from her body in an instant, startling awake a group of elders and High Priests who had been slacking off.

"A mere rank ninety-eight dares act wildly before this old man!"

Tian'e did not hold back either. The aura of a rank ninety-nine Limit Douluo instantly filled the entire Elder Hall.

"Calm down, calm down. We're all from Spirit Hall. Don't actually start fighting and make a joke of yourselves for outsiders."

Seeing the tension between them grow increasingly intense, Third Worship Yinlong Douluo immediately stepped forward to stop them. If a Limit Douluo and a Super Douluo fought, never mind how long the Super Douluo could last—Spirit City would be finished.

Bibi Dong stared solemnly at Tian'e. Not long ago, Tian'e had only been rank ninety-eight like her. How had he suddenly reached rank ninety-nine? He was already this old, yet he could still break through?

"I'll give Third Brother this face."

Tian'e withdrew his aura and gave Bibi Dong a cold glance.

"This old man has stopped you from appointing a Saintess only to tell Your Holiness the Pope that Spirit Hall is not your personal domain. Exercise some restraint when you act. Us old fellows are still here!

"This old man isn't blind. Before you, Bibi Dong, ascended to the position of Pope, what reputation did Spirit Hall have among Spirit Masters? And what reputation does it have now?

"Don't take this old man for a blind fool. Elder Brother may have certain concerns and thus ignores the affairs of Pope Hall, but this old man is not Elder Brother. So long as something threatens Spirit Hall's survival and growth, this old man does not mind being the villain!

"That is all I have to say. Your Holiness the Pope, take care of yourself."

After throwing out those words of warning, Tian'e turned and left. When he reached the entrance of the Elder Hall, he seemed to recall something and turned back. "Don't say this old man isn't giving that girl Hu Liena a chance. Have her come to the Martial Practice Arena tomorrow. If she can truly suppress everyone of the younger generation, what is wrong with giving her the position of Saintess?"

After Tian'e truly left the Elder Hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo, the Pope's most loyal supporter, walked behind Bibi Dong. Looking at Bibi Dong, who was nearly crushing her Scepter in her grip, he cautiously asked, "Your Holiness, what should we do now?"

Bibi Dong took a deep breath, suppressing the fury and killing intent in her heart, then ordered, "Bring Nana to Pope Hall."

"Yes, Your Holiness."

Watching Yue Guan disappear through the entrance of the Elder Hall, Bibi Dong took another deep breath and left as well.

"Alas."

Third Worship Yin Long sighed. After arguing for three years, the Saintess position was finally about to have an owner. Yet why could he not feel happy about it?

Ever since Tian'e returned from Star Dou Forest three years ago, Worship Hall had changed its previous attitude of ignoring Spirit Hall's specific affairs and begun heavily involving itself in all kinds of matters.

Previously, Worship Hall and Pope Hall had pretended not to see one another. Now, however, as a result of Worship Hall's series of actions, the conflict between the two sides had begun to intensify. It had not reached the point of openly gathering men to fight each other, but making things difficult for one another had become commonplace.

"Brother San, don't look so worried. Don't be fooled by how lively things are now. Once Xue'er and Shuang'er grow up, what conflicts could possibly remain?"

"Qian Jun, you don't understand."

Seeing Sixth Worship Qianjun Douluo step forward to comfort him, Yin Long gave a bitter smile. Given the Qian Sisters' usual way of doing things, once they truly grew up, their method of resolving conflicts would likely be to physically eliminate them.

Yin Long had grown up in Spirit Hall since childhood. Although his stance was on Worship Hall's side, he truly did not want to see Spirit Hall's own people shed blood.

"Rather than wasting time worrying, why not meditate and improve your strength? After second brother broke through, this old man has been terribly envious."

Fourth Worship Qing Yu stepped forward and patted Yin Long's shoulder. With Qian Ningshuang assisting Worship Hall on one side and Qian Chongling having returned on the other, the several High Priests had all found renewed vigor and hope of making breakthroughs.

"Ah, that's true enough. Let's go. Back to Douluo Hall."

With another sigh, Yin Long could only set aside his worries for the time being and turn his attention back to improving his strength.

As the High Priests departed, the dozen or so elders remaining in the hall stared at one another. The information in the High Priests' words just now was rather significant.

Only several High Priests knew of Qian Ningshuang's Martial Soul ability and Qian Chongling's existence. Among these elders below rank ninety-five, only those from the Worship Hall faction had a little information. The neutral faction and the Pope faction elders were completely in the dark.

Perhaps it would be better to find an opportunity to join the Worship Hall faction. Could any amount of external benefits compare to improving one's own strength? Those High Priests were old men whose talent had already been exhausted, yet they could break through again. So could I.

Several elders from the neutral and Pope factions quietly thought this.