White mourning banners hung high inside the Pope Palace, and the oppressive atmosphere was suffocating.
A huge coffin rested in the very center of the main hall. It was made of ten-thousand-year-old agarwood and was opulent to the extreme.
The one laid inside was none other than Qian Xunji.
Dressed in black mourning clothes, Bibi Dong entered the hall with a solemn expression.
The atmosphere inside was heavy. No one spoke, but Golden Crocodile Douluo's gaze locked onto Bibi Dong at once.
Bibi Dong had killed Qian Xunji and completely devoured him!
Qian Daoliu had told him about it last night.
At first, Qian Daoliu hadn't wanted to tell anyone, but he couldn't bear the pain of losing his son in his old age alone.
Moreover, Bibi Dong was tainted by a strange Evil God aura, which made Qian Daoliu deeply wary.
And now that Qian Xunji was dead, Qian Daoliu didn't want Qian Renxue to become an orphan, much less make her suffer the pain of losing both parents overnight, so he had left at the time.
He had returned to the Angel God Temple.
It wasn't until this morning that Qian Daoliu brought him along to help cover everything up.
This matter couldn't be exposed. It was not only for Qian Renxue's sake but also for the stability of Spirit Hall. If they managed to deal with Bibi Dong, that would be fine. But if they failed, things would spiral completely out of control.
So Qian Daoliu intended to bury the truth once and for all, laying all the blame on Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Sect.
He even planned to let Bibi Dong inherit the position of Pope.
Everyone had already witnessed this woman's talent and abilities back when she had served as Holy Maiden.
Combined with her strength now, her succession to the position of Pope was only natural.
It could stabilize the situation while keeping the dangerous Bibi Dong under their watch.
Even though Bibi Dong had come into contact with the Evil God's legacy, keeping her occupied with the duties of the Pope would at least slow her progress in inheriting that power.
Qian Daoliu believed Bibi Dong was ambitious.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have killed Qian Xunji using such a secretive method, nor would she have stayed in Spirit City after killing him.
She wanted the position of Pope too!
On the high platform,
Qian Daoliu stood with his hands behind his back. He didn't turn around, nor did he want to.
Even as a Peerless Douluo, facing his son's murderer behind him and having to personally help her ascend to the position of Pope still filled him with an indescribable weariness and revulsion.
But he had no choice.
For Xue'er, for Spirit Hall's legacy, he had to swallow this bitter pill.
Golden Crocodile Douluo glanced at that silent figure, sighed inwardly, then turned around. His cloudy old eyes, still bright with piercing light, swept across the hall. The pressure of a Level 98 Peak Douluo descended like a mountain, and the hall, which had still been in an uproar, fell silent at once.
"Now that everyone is here, I shall announce the Grand Pontiff's decree."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice rumbled through the hall like thunder.
"Pope Qian Xunji, while defending the honor of Spirit Hall, was ambushed by the Clear Sky Sect traitor Tang Hao. Though every effort was made to treat him, the attack wounded his source. Last night... he regrettably passed away!"
Though they had been prepared, hearing the confirmed news of his death still weighed heavily on the elders, sorrow showing on their faces.
"However, a nation cannot go a day without a ruler, and Spirit Hall cannot go a day without a leader. These are troubled times. The Clear Sky Sect watches us like a tiger from outside, while we must rally our people within."
Golden Crocodile Douluo changed tack, his gaze landing squarely on Bibi Dong, who stood with her head bowed in mourning.
"After discussing the matter, the Grand Pontiff and I have decided that Holy Maiden Bibi Dong will assume the position of Pope of Spirit Hall, effective today!"
"What?!"
The moment he said this, the already oppressive hall erupted in an uproar.
A senior Platinum Cardinal couldn't help stepping forward. Though he feared the authority of the Worshippers, he still gritted his teeth and said, "Second Worship, this... isn't this rather hasty?"
"Her Highness the Holy Maiden may be gifted, but she is still young. She isn't even thirty yet. In Spirit Hall's thousand-year history, there has never been a Pope this young."
"Exactly. The position of Pope affects the rise and fall of Spirit Hall. If we let a woman under thirty take charge, I'm afraid she won't command the people's respect, much less awe the heroes of the world!"
Doubts rang out one after another.
In their eyes, Bibi Dong might be a genius, but she was still just a junior.
Let her become Pope? Where would that leave the dignity of old men like them?
Facing the crowd's doubts, Golden Crocodile Douluo neither explained nor grew angry. He merely turned his head to look at Bibi Dong, who had remained silent all along, and said calmly:
"Bibi Dong, it seems everyone still doesn't understand your strength."
"In that case, let them see for themselves whether you're qualified."
Bibi Dong gave a slight nod. Her peerlessly beautiful face showed no expression, but deep in her eyes flickered contempt for these mediocre fools.
Just as she was about to reveal her aura, Nan Feng, watching the scene unfold in her Sea of Consciousness, suddenly spoke:
"Dong'er, can I let big brother take the spotlight this time?"
"Get lost."
"Sure."
Bibi Dong took a step forward.
BOOM—!!!
A cold, overbearing, terrifying aura, as if it came from the depths of the netherworld, erupted from her in an instant!
Then, under everyone's horrified gaze, one Soul Ring after another slowly rose from beneath her feet.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black...
Eight Soul Rings pulsed around her—the most standard and flawless Soul Ring Configuration!
"An Eight-Ring Soul Douluo?! She's actually..."
The elder who had questioned her moments ago hadn't finished speaking when his voice abruptly cut off.
Because a ninth Soul Ring was rising!
It was a vivid, dripping red—as if it had been soaked in blood!
Red light filled the sky!
Terrifying crimson radiance instantly illuminated the entire dim hall. The imperial might of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast ravaged the hearts of every elder without restraint!
"A... a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring?!"
"A Titled Douluo?! How is that possible?!"
The entire hall fell dead silent!
Everyone stared wide-eyed at that strange red Soul Ring, their breathing nearly stopping.
A Titled Douluo not yet thirty!
And her ninth Soul Ring was the legendary Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!
With talent and strength like that, she was more than qualified to inherit the position of Pope. She could even pin every old fogey in the hall to the ground and rub their faces in it!
"Does anyone still think the Holy Maiden is unqualified?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's icy voice broke the deathly silence at just the right moment.
No one spoke.
In the face of absolute strength, all their seniority and age became a joke.
In the Soul Master World, the strong were revered. That was an unchanging truth since time immemorial.
That bright red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring was enough to silence every objection in the Soul Master World!
Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at the glaring Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, a complicated glint flashing in his eyes. Then he snorted, breaking the silence:
"The Holy Maiden is exceptionally gifted and remarkably capable. She is also the youngest Titled Douluo in history. It is only right that she inherit the position of Pope!"
"We... pay our respects to Your Holiness the Pope!"
This time, no one dared hesitate.
Led by several Red Cardinals, everyone knelt in unison and bowed in the highest form of reverence to the peerless woman standing in the center of the hall, surrounded by nine Soul Rings.
Bibi Dong withdrew her Soul Rings, and the suffocating pressure vanished at once.
"Good."
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded, then said in a solemn voice, "The Pope has just passed away, and the situation is turbulent. We'll keep the new Pope's enthronement ceremony simple. After today, we'll proclaim across the entire continent that Spirit Hall has a new leader!"
As he spoke, two beams of cold light suddenly flashed from Golden Crocodile Douluo's cloudy old eyes. He stared fixedly at Bibi Dong.
"Your Holiness the Pope."
"The Clear Sky Sect is arrogant and lawless. Its disciple Tang Hao was bold enough to assassinate our former Pope! This is a great humiliation to Spirit Hall!"
"Now that you have taken the throne, this matter must not be allowed to rest!"
This was Qian Daoliu's intention, and it was also the stance Spirit Hall had to take.
Even if it was only to cover up the truth, Tang Hao had to bear the blame—and bear it to the grave!
At his words, the red light in Bibi Dong's eyes gradually faded.
"Rest assured, Second Worship."
"The vengeance for my master's murder is irreconcilable."
"I will issue the order at once: Tang Hao is wanted across the entire continent! Anyone who shelters him will be guilty of the same crime as the Clear Sky Sect!"
"As for the Clear Sky Sect..."
"Since they raised such an exemplary disciple, they should be ready to bear Spirit Hall's wrath."
"This blood debt—I'll make them repay it... a hundred, a thousand times over!"