You Have to Pick the Soft Persimmons

"You--!!"

Demon Bear Douluo's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. He clenched his fists tightly, yet could not utter a single word.

Even if he had been too arrogant at the time, thinking that Tang Hao was merely a rank 84 soul master while he was a dignified rank 93 Title Douluo, and that handling Tang Hao would be as easy as flipping his palm!

The result was that the brat had immediately unleashed his Clear Sky Avatar and Ring Detonation, severely wounding him with just a single strike!

Afterward, he had fled into the distance, disappearing without a trace!

But regardless, for a dignified Title Douluo to have his leg broken by a mere Soul Douluo was the greatest humiliation of his life, and the scar he least wanted anyone to mention.

Now, being exposed in public by the new Pope was like having his face thrown onto the ground and trampled.

"Let us talk about the unity of the Clear Sky Sect."

Bibi Dong did not give them a chance to catch their breath, continuing her onslaught:

"Afterward, the former Pope, Qian Xunji, issued a decree to denounce the Clear Sky Sect, demanding they hand over Tang Hao and that soul beast."

"What happened then?"

"Tang Hao's old, dying father was already critically ill. Upon hearing this news and unable to find his filial son, he simply breathed his last in a fit of rage."

"If Tang Xiao hadn't just broken through to rank 90 and become a Title Douluo, barely stabilizing the situation, guess what those elders of the Clear Sky Sect would have done?"

"Would they have fought to the death with Martial Soul Hall for the sake of that rebellious son, Tang Hao? Or would they have sold Tang Hao out immediately to preserve the sect?"

Bibi Dong scanned the room, her eyes filled with mockery:

"Everyone here is an old fox who has lived for decades; can you not see through this?"

"You are truly living in the past, living under the shadow of that old monster, Tang Chen!"

"The Clear Sky Sect of that era, with Tang Chen holding the fort, was indeed the number one in the world; even the Grand Pontiff had to avoid his edge. The disciples of the Clear Sky Sect back then were indeed fearless and united."

"But what about now?"

Bibi Dong slammed her hand on the table, her voice rising sharply:

"Tang Chen is no longer here!"

"He has been missing for so many years—neither seen alive nor found dead! The current Clear Sky Sect is nothing but a toothless tiger!"

"Although Tang Xiao is a Title Douluo, his character is indecisive; he is capable of maintaining the status quo but lacks the drive to forge ahead. As for those elders..."

Bibi Dong curled her lip in disdain:

"They are just a group of selfish, greedy old things who only know how to bully their own."

"This Seat will state this clearly!"

"As soon as the armies of Martial Soul Hall press upon their borders, as soon as our blades are at their throats."

"It will not take long before those so-called 'hard bones' immediately announce to the world—that Tang Hao has been expelled from the sect!"

"They will say: killing Qian Xunji was Tang Hao's personal act and has nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect! They will claim they are innocent, that they are the victims!"

"To save themselves, they will abandon Tang Hao, abandon their affiliated clans, and even abandon their dignity without a moment's hesitation!"

"That is the Clear Sky Sect of today!"

"A group of cowards who are strong on the outside but weak on the inside, knowing only how to live in ignominy!"

The crowd looked at one another, the fear in their eyes gradually replaced by doubt and contemplation.

That was true.

They feared the Clear Sky Sect because they feared the once-invincible Tang Chen. After all, that man had left too deep a shadow upon them. Who among those present dared to say they were confident in surviving a single strike from Tang Chen?

No one! Not a single person dared to say such a thing!

The only person in Martial Soul Hall who could block Tang Chen was Qian Daoliu!

But if one set aside Tang Chen and stripped away the halo of being the "Number One Sect in the World," was the current Clear Sky Sect... truly that terrifying?

A sect that could abandon its own son and its own brother—did such a sect really still possess the bloodthirst to "fight to the bitter end"?

"Your Holiness..."

The silent Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei, suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse, "Your words have merit, but what if we bet wrong? What if the Clear Sky Sect is truly pushed to the edge and acts like a cornered dog..."

"A bet?"

Bibi Dong glanced at him: "Elder Ghost, This Seat never gambles."

"Because This Seat has already prepared a grand gift for them that will force them to submit."

"What grand gift?" Gui Mei was stunned.

"This Seat will personally write a letter to Tang Xiao," Bibi Dong said indifferently.

"Tell him: as long as the Clear Sky Sect announces they are sealing their mountains and retiring, hands over the Four Great Clans, and publicly strikes Tang Hao's name from their records."

"This Seat... can consider leaving the Clear Sky Sect a path to survival."

"If you were Tang Xiao, facing the encroaching armies of Martial Soul Hall, facing the pressure from the elders within, and facing the choice between life and death..."

Bibi Dong looked down at the elders, her eyes flashing with a cold light that pierced through human nature:

"Would you choose to die for a brother who has already brought about a catastrophe? Or would you choose to cut off your tail to survive and preserve the sect?"

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Every elder silently asked themselves this question in their hearts.

The answer... went without saying.

If it were them, they would also choose the latter.

Because everyone present was a smart person, and everyone was a beneficiary of the status quo.

And smart people know best how to seek advantages and avoid harm.

"Furthermore..."

Bibi Dong's voice rose again, "In this war, none of you present need to take any risks at all."

"Among the four single-attribute clans, we can pick the softest persimmons to squeeze."

"And among these four clans, who is the softest persimmon?"

Bibi Dong extended her index finger, drew a circle in the void, and finally pointed to the territory of the Speed Clan on the map.

"The Speed Clan!"

"Aside from running fast, these fellows have no other skills. Any few power-attack type Soul Douluo bishops could pin them to the ground and grind them into the dirt."

"What's even better is that the Speed Clan's patriarch, Bai He, is the maternal uncle of Tang Hao and Tang Xiao. The mother of those two brothers came from the Speed Clan."

"This blood relationship is one where the bones may be broken, but the tendons remain connected."

"If the Clear Sky Sect truly has even a shred of spirit left and intends to rescue any of the clans, their primary target will undoubtedly be the Speed Clan!"

"Because they are their kin, their elders!"

"Therefore..."

Bibi Dong slammed her hand onto the table, a brilliant light flashing in her eyes:

"We don't need to split our forces to play hide-and-seek with the Clear Sky Sect; we only need to concentrate our most elite strength entirely on the line of the Speed Clan!"

"As for the other three clans? Just send a few people to harass them and put on a show."

"As long as we drag them out and create the illusion that they are being crushed by Martial Soul Hall and are in imminent danger, that is enough; there is no need for a life-or-death struggle."

Having said this, Bibi Dong scanned the room, looking at the elders who still hesitated, a look of undisguised mockery appearing on her face:

"What? You were worried about being picked off one by one, and now that This Seat has concentrated the main force, you still don't dare?"

"If everyone is truly so afraid of facing the reinforcements of the Clear Sky Sect..."

Bibi Dong sneered and slowly stood up, her golden Pope's robe shimmering under the lamplight:

"Then This Seat will personally oversee the front!"

"This Seat will personally lead the elders Chrysanthemum and Ghost to the Speed Clan's territory!"

"If Tang Xiao dares to come, This Seat will deal with him personally!"

"If those elders dare to come, This Seat will personally send them on their way!"

"As for you all..."

Bibi Dong's gaze swept over Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, and the others, her tone filled with contempt:

"You only need to stroll by the gates of the other three clans and release a few soul skills to scare them. If those old things dare to come out, you run; if they don't dare to come out, you take the opportunity to gain some advantage."

"Surely you can't claim there is danger in such a one-sided battle, picking up scraps?"

"If you are afraid even of this..."

Bibi Dong shook her head and let out a long sigh.

"Then don't fight this war, and don't bother avenging Qian Xunji."

"A bunch of cowards who only know how to bully their own kind—what kind of revenge is that?"

"We might as well pack up right now, prepare a generous gift, and go together to the gates of the Clear Sky Sect to kneel and beg for mercy!"

"Beg Sect Master Tang Xiao to show mercy and spare our dog lives!"

"As for this Pope..."

Bibi Dong threw the scepter in her hand onto the table with a loud "clang," causing several elders to shudder.

"This Seat won't be it anymore!"

"Leading a bunch of cowards to fight a war is worse than going home to sleep!"

"Disgraceful!!"

These last two words were like a resounding slap, striking the faces of every Title Douluo present.

Even a clay figurine has a temper, let alone these Title Douluo who were accustomed to being high and mighty.

To be pointed at and called a coward and a loser by a junior under thirty, and told to go kneel and beg for mercy?

Who could endure this?!

"Your Excellency the Pope, you speak too harshly!"

Demon Bear Douluo finally couldn't hold it back any longer; he stood up, his face flushed red. "Although this subordinate's strength is lacking, I am still an elder of Martial Soul Hall! How could I be a coward who fears death?!"

"Since Your Excellency dares to personally oversee the most dangerous Speed Clan, what is there for us to fear in dealing with the other three families?!"

"That's right!"

Ghost Leopard Douluo followed suit immediately. "That Old Ape from the Strength Clan—I have long wanted to cross paths with him! This time, I will surely strip the bones from his body!"

"This subordinate is willing to go!"

"This subordinate is also willing to go!"

In an instant, the crowd was filled with righteous indignation.

Whether they were truly stirred by a surge of bloodlust, unable to save face after being scolded, or simply trying to regain some dignity before that "arrogant" Pope.

Even Golden Crocodile Douluo could no longer say anything in this atmosphere, or he would truly become the coward Bibi Dong had described!

To be pointed at and called a coward by a woman not yet thirty years old—this was something no one present could accept!