Bibi Dong fell silent.
She had to admit that Nan Feng had an almost venomous grasp of human nature.
The Clear Sky Sect had already backed down once. Once their bottom line was breached, backing down a second time—and then a third—would become much easier.
"And besides..."
Nan Feng continued, "Taking the Clear Sky Sect under our control, even if only in name, would bring enormous benefits to Spirit Hall."
"First, we'd get our hands on the sharpest blade there is. The Clear Sky Hammer's offensive power is beyond question. If we can put it to use, it'll be a tremendous asset when we deal with other factions in the future."
"Second, it'll be the strongest warning to every sect under heaven! If even the number one sect has knelt, who would dare challenge Spirit Hall?"
"Third, and most importantly—"
"This will completely shatter the Upper Three Sects' alliance. When the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan see the Clear Sky Sect surrender, they'll feel nothing but panic and suspicion. Their alliance will fall apart without us lifting a finger!"
"That's worth a hundred times more than slaughtering them all!"
Bibi Dong drew a deep breath. The hesitation in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by an imposing air of absolute control.
"Good."
"Then we'll do as you say."
"Nan Feng, I plan to send Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard to intercept them, while I go to Clear Sky Peak to hold the line. That way, we can draw their fire and spread the risk."
"No." Nan Feng rejected the idea outright. "Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, Snake Lance, and Pufferfish—all four of them are Golden Crocodile's people!"
"Your strength has scared them into keeping their heads down for now, but that old fossil Golden Crocodile must already be chafing at the bit, watching you steal the limelight on the front line. If he secretly orders Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard to hold back and deliberately let the Clear Sky Sect's retreating force escape, then this whole plan of yours will be ruined!"
"And who knows whom the Clear Sky Sect will send to escort that group of old and weak? What if that madman Tang Xiao escorts them himself?"
"You expect those two cowards, Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard, to go toe-to-toe with a desperate Tang Xiao? Dream on!"
"When the time comes, they'll do the bare minimum—or worse, Tang Xiao will scare them off with one swing of his hammer."
"So we'll have to do this ourselves."
"Send those four Titled Douluo to the Clear Sky Sect's gates to intimidate them and serve as a decoy. We'll take Chrysanthemum and Ghost and intercept the group ourselves!"
Bibi Dong furrowed her brows. After a moment's thought, she had to admit Nan Feng was right.
At this crucial moment, she couldn't trust anyone. She could only trust herself.
"Good."
In reality, Bibi Dong's gaze swept across Snake Lance, Pufferfish, and Ghost Leopard before settling on Demon Bear Douluo, who had just returned from outside after "atoning through meritorious service" and was wearing a deeply anxious expression.
"Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, Snake Lance, Pufferfish."
"I want the four of you to muster the army. Apart from the two hundred elite agility-type Soul Masters I'm keeping here, move out with everyone else!"
"Destination—Clear Sky Peak!"
"Remember, make a great show of it! Let the whole world know that I intend to flatten the Clear Sky Sect!"
The four Titled Douluo looked at one another, all wearing troubled expressions.
"Your Holiness..."
Snake Lance Douluo, the most cautious of them, couldn't help stepping forward. "Clear Sky Peak is a natural stronghold, easy to defend and difficult to attack. And though the Clear Sky Sect has sealed off the mountain, Tang Xiao and several elders are still there. If we launch a full assault, the casualties..."
"Who told you to launch a full assault?"
Bibi Dong sneered, cutting him off. "I told you to scare them."
"Position the army at the foot of the mountain and take turns challenging them every day. Have the Soul Masters make plenty of noise and keep their spirits high. Occasionally throw a few Soul Skills up the mountain and set a few fires."
"As long as they believe I could launch an all-out attack at any moment, and they don't dare come down the mountain, your mission will be complete."
"This..."
The four exchanged glances, each seeing the same relief in the others' eyes.
Just scare them? That was easy!
There was no risk to their lives, and they could still look as if they were putting in a great effort. It was practically tailor-made for a bunch of "slackers" like them!
"But, Your Holiness..."
Snake Lance Douluo was relieved, but still puzzled. "If this is only a feint, then what about you? Where are you going?"
"Me?" Bibi Dong slowly rose to her feet.
"I've received top-secret intelligence. Though the Clear Sky Sect has ostensibly sealed off the mountain, they're secretly moving the bulk of their forces toward Heaven Dou City! Even Tang Hao has joined them!"
"What?! Tang Hao?!"
The four elders were stunned.
"That's right."
Bibi Dong said coldly, "That old fox Tang Xiao thinks he can fool the world by expelling Tang Hao from the sect? He thinks he can hide him among the old, weak, women, and children and help him escape?"
"Dream on!"
"I'll personally take the two elders, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, along with two hundred elite agility-type Soul Masters, and take a shortcut to intercept them!"
"I'll make Tang Xiao understand that in the face of Spirit Hall, every clever little scheme is nothing but a death wish!"
"This..."
The four elders were shaken, both by the Pope's intelligence network and by the surprise of seeing her take the field in person again.
"What? Is there a problem?" Bibi Dong's gaze turned cold.
"We obey the Pope's command!"
The four answered in unison.
"Go."
Bibi Dong waved a hand. "Remember, put on a convincing show! If the people on Clear Sky Peak notice anything amiss and ruin my plans..."
Violet light flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes, and the four felt a chill run down their spines.
"Your subordinates understand! We won't fail you!"
The atmosphere in the command tent had been ablaze with activity, and everyone was about to split up and carry out their orders.
Suddenly, a rush of hurried footsteps shattered the tense silence.
"Report—!!!"
A cardinal in the standard red robes of Spirit Hall rushed into the tent, dusty from the road, a golden token held high in his hand.
"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope! Greetings, Elders!"
The Red Cardinal dropped to one knee and panted, "I've come under orders from the Second Worship to deliver the Elder Hall's latest decree!"
"Read it." Bibi Dong furrowed her brows, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
"Yes!"
The Red Cardinal unfurled the scroll in his hands and read aloud:
"In this battle, Spirit Hall has dealt a heavy blow to the Clear Sky Sect, forcing it to seal off the mountain and withdraw from the world, and has driven Tang Hao out. Our strategic objectives have all been achieved. In consideration of Heaven's compassion for all living things, and the fact that we no longer have the moral high ground, we should not continue hostilities."
"By special order: Pope Bibi Dong and all accompanying elders are to immediately organize the troops and return to Spirit Hall! No delays!"
"Those who disobey...will be severely punished without exception!"
When the final word fell, the command tent went dead silent.
The four elders—Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, Snake Lance, and Pufferfish—looked at one another.
"Your Holiness..."
Demon Bear Douluo was the first to step forward. His tone remained respectful, but his expression had relaxed considerably. "Since the Second Worship has given the order, shouldn't we..."
"Shouldn't we tuck our tails between our legs and run back?"
Bibi Dong sat at the head of the tent, her expression cold.
"Your Holiness, that's not a fair way to put it."
Snake Lance Douluo also stepped forward to offer advice. "The Second Worship is considering the greater good. The Clear Sky Sect is already like a startled bird. If we push them too hard, we may provoke the wrath of the whole world."
"Exactly. Knowing when to stop is the best course of action," Pufferfish Douluo chimed in.
Looking at the elders who had instantly switched sides and now followed Golden Crocodile's lead, Bibi Dong sighed in the Sea of Consciousness.
Nan Feng, do you see?
This is reality. In Spirit Hall, Golden Crocodile's word carries more weight than my imperial decree. Now that he's given the order, these people won't listen to me.
If I don't return, I'll be disobeying orders and tearing things completely apart with the Worship Hall. Even if we win the battle, the Elder Hall...
"You're worrying about every little thing!" Nan Feng cut Bibi Dong off coldly.
"We've already come this far, and now you're telling me to give up?!"
"The arrow is already nocked; we have no choice but to loose it! If we turn back now, all our efforts will have been for nothing!"
"But I don't have the strength to stand against the Worship Hall right now!" Bibi Dong sighed.
"Even if our Samsara Death Realm can intimidate Snake Lance and the others, we're still far outmatched by the Worship Hall."
"Stop thinking about standing against them," Nan Feng said helplessly.
"Stop waiting until you're certain nothing can go wrong before you make a move. You can't always insist on absolute safety."
"Forget it. It looks like you still can't pull off this act of bluff and bravado."
"Give me control of your body! I'll handle it!"
"You..."
Before Bibi Dong could refuse, a familiar, domineering consciousness seized control of her body in an instant.
In reality.
Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) slowly rose to her feet and walked step by step toward the Red Cardinal.
"The Second Worship's decree?"
She reached out with her slender fingers and gently pinched the golden scroll.
"Y-yes, Your Holiness," the Red Cardinal stammered.
"Heh."
Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) let out a quiet laugh.
The next second—
BZZZT!!
Under the horrified gaze of everyone present, the golden scroll representing the highest authority of the Worship Hall was instantly shattered by the domineering Soul Power of Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor.
The air fell still.
Demon Bear Douluo and the others stared, their eyes nearly popping out of their heads. They couldn't believe what they were seeing.
That was the Second Worship's personal decree! It represented the Grand Pontiff's will! She...she had actually torn it up?!