"As for whether those elders will cooperate..." Nan Feng paused.
"Do you think loyalty is held together by affection? By righteousness? By the former Pope's reputation?"
"It's held together by profit!"
"Whether they're Platinum Cardinals or Titled Douluo elders, they're people too. They need to cultivate, they want to grow stronger, and they want to secure benefits for their families and descendants!"
"Spirit Hall attracts so many Soul Masters because they can gain greater rewards and more benefits here. And why can Spirit Hall offer so many benefits?"
"Because Spirit Hall is powerful. Because Spirit Hall possesses a glory that stands above all others! That glory keeps the Seven Great Sects and the two empires from daring to offend us lightly!"
"But now Qian Xunji has thrown that glory away. He's become a liability!"
"And you!"
"If you can lead them in reclaiming that glory, if you can lead them to seize even more resources and trample the Clear Sky Sect underfoot—"
"Then even if you pointed at Qian Xunji's ashes and called him a pig, that old fossil Golden Crocodile could be as displeased as he liked, but he'd still have to hold his nose and applaud you!"
"Because you represent Spirit Hall's victory! You represent their interests!"
"As for obedience?"
Nan Feng gave a disdainful snort. "Who needs their obedience? I want their fear! I want their submission!"
"As long as you're strong enough, as long as you can win—"
"Even if they hate you in their hearts, they'll still kneel and shout, 'Long live the Pope!'"
"That is dominance!"
"That is what makes a ruler!"
Bibi Dong was shaken into a daze by his words.
Dominance... A ruler...
It completely overturned the cautious, precarious way she had survived over the past ten years.
But looking at the frenzied crowd outside and hearing their thunderous cheers, she had to admit that Nan Feng was right.
In this world, even those lofty Titled Douluo were rotten to the core.
The harder you were, the more they feared you.
The more domineering you were, the more they obeyed.
"But..."
In the Sea of Consciousness, Nan Feng changed tack, his tone turning playful. "There's one fatal flaw with this whole domineering-ruler approach."
"What?" Bibi Dong asked.
"You can only win. You can't lose."
Nan Feng spread his hands. "Once you take this path, you've put yourself on a divine altar. Gods can't make mistakes. Rulers can't fail."
"The moment you lose, even if it's only a minor setback, the very people who just lifted you to the heavens will trample you into the mud. You'll become the very incompetent waste you called Qian Xunji."
"I've given them a banner of invincibility to believe in, and that's made them excited and fanatical. But if that banner wavers—even a little—they'll panic and lose their heads. They might even scatter like birds and beasts, just as you said."
"After all, if you want to wear the crown, you have to bear its weight."
Listening to him, the vein at Bibi Dong's temple twitched.
She took a deep breath, fighting the urge to drag the man out of her Sea of Consciousness and beat him senseless. Through clenched teeth, she asked:
"Nan Feng, are you two-faced? Or do you think I'm easy to fool?"
"When I wanted to kill Qian Xunji, who was the one dragging his feet and doing everything he could to stop me? Who insisted I drag Qian Renxue into it as a shield? Who told me never to act without absolute certainty, and only let me move once we had room for error?"
"Back then, you were as cautious as a turtle hiding in its shell. Now you're egging me on to try something where I can only win and never lose?"
"Isn't that a little too big a change?"
Faced with Bibi Dong's accusations, Nan Feng showed not a trace of guilt. Instead, he rolled his eyes as if his stance were perfectly reasonable.
"Come on, times have changed."
"What was the situation back then? We were plotting regicide! A rebellion! If we failed or got exposed, we'd both be dead without a place to bury us! When your head's on the line, of course you have to be careful!"
"But what about now?"
"You're already the Pope! You're sitting in the seat of power! And we've just put on a whole act about your split personality, with Qian Renxue as your golden ticket out of death."
"What could really happen if things go sideways now?"
"Would Qian Daoliu kill you? No. Would Golden Crocodile kill you? He wouldn't dare."
"At worst, you'd lose a little face. You could always dust yourself off and walk away."
"If your life isn't in danger, why not let loose?"
"In life, you have to lie low when it's time to lie low, and go wild when it's time to go wild!"
"If you don't let loose when you're winning, then what was the point of all that cautious growing in the first place? Are you really going to choke it back for the rest of your life?"
"Besides..."
Through Bibi Dong's eyes, Nan Feng watched the Soul Masters outside, still caught up in their frenzy. His voice turned somber.
"I don't think we'll lose."
"..."
In the real world.
Bibi Dong slowly withdrew the killing intent and pressure that had filled the sky.
She looked down at the Soul Masters still roaring, "Long live the Pope!" A flicker of complexity crossed her eyes, but it was soon replaced by resolve.
Now that she was aboard this pirate ship, she could only sail it all the way to the end.
As Nan Feng had said, when the wind was at your back, not riding it was against the laws of heaven.
Besides, she didn't think she would lose!
Elder Hall, conference room.
The atmosphere was heavy.
The enormous oval table was packed with Spirit Hall's most influential figures. Along with Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo, seated at the head of the left side, and several other worshippers, the Elder Hall's powerful elders were also present, including Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the figure who had just taken the seat of honor.
Bibi Dong.
Even facing a group of veteran Titled Douluo whose experience far surpassed hers, she showed no hint of timidity. Instead, she carried a piercing authority, tempered by the adulation of tens of thousands in the plaza.
"Your Holiness the Pope."
Golden Crocodile Douluo was the first to speak, breaking the silence. He folded his hands on the table and raised his cloudy old eyes. His tone was mild, but sharpness lurked beneath it.
"Your Holiness was certainly impressive at today's ceremony. That declaration was stirring as well."
"However..."
Golden Crocodile Douluo changed tack. "War is no child's play, and it can't be won with a few rousing slogans. Now that the words have been spoken, the whole world is watching Spirit Hall."
"Since Your Holiness intends to gather an army and attack the Clear Sky Sect within three days, I assume you already have a complete plan in mind?"
"How do you intend to attack? How will you fight? If the Upper Three Sects stand together and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan intervene, how will you respond?"
The string of questions was both a challenge and a test.
If Bibi Dong couldn't produce a workable battle plan, everything she had done in the plaza would become a farce, and her standing among these leaders would plummet in an instant.
In the seat of honor, Bibi Dong's expression didn't change. Her fingers tapped lightly on the table.
Originally, the plan she had prepared was a classic case of slowly boiling a frog.
Using Spirit Hall's superior resources, they would cut off the Clear Sky Sect's sources of income, isolate it from outside forces, and deal with it gradually, taking three to five years to wear it down.
It was the safest plan, the one that would hit the Clear Sky Sect hardest while costing Spirit Hall the least. It also fit the political logic she had followed until now.
But now...
No.
It was too slow, too soft.
In the past, this plan might have been seen as the considered counsel of a seasoned statesman. But after her bold declaration about repaying blood debts, if she brought out this soft and limp strategy, these old foxes would only laugh her out of the room.
"Nan Feng," Bibi Dong said coldly in her heart. "You made this mess. You clean it up. Change the plan."
"Sure. Give me control of your body, and I'll take over."
"No," Bibi Dong refused instinctively. "This is the Elder Hall. I'm the Pope now. I have to be careful with every step. I can't let you come out and throw a tantrum."
"Do I really look like some shameless thug who only knows how to throw a fit?"
In the Sea of Consciousness, Nan Feng's voice held a touch of exasperation. "Come on, use your head. With an old fossil like Qian Daoliu, acting out makes you seem unpredictable. With those fanatical followers below, stirring them up makes them feel understood."
"Throwing a fit is just a disguise. Shamelessness is just a tactic."
"But now, facing a roomful of old foxes who'd eat you alive and spit out the bones, what do you think they believe in?"
"They believe in ruthlessness, decisiveness, and methods that bring them real, tangible benefits!"
"Give me control of your body."
"Your plan to slowly boil a frog might be the counsel of a seasoned statesman in peacetime, but right now it's a long, stinking strip of foot-binding cloth. What this situation calls for is a sharp blade, plunged straight into the Clear Sky Sect's main artery!"
"Are you sure?" Bibi Dong still hesitated.
"Absolutely, positively, definitely!" Nan Feng said impatiently. "Hurry up. If we keep old Golden Crocodile waiting, we'll lose momentum."
Bibi Dong took a deep breath.
She had reservations about that old spider's character, but as for his methods... she had to admit, so far they hadn't let her down.
"Fine."
Bibi Dong took a deep breath and willingly gave up control of her body. "It's up to you. If you screw this up..."
"You'll take me to the Rakshasa Secret Realm for a honeymoon, right?"
"Good. You know the deal!"