The Arrow is Nocked, It Must Fly!

Bibi Dong fell silent.

She had to admit that Nan Feng's grasp of human nature was vicious to the extreme.

The Clear Sky Sect had already retreated once; once a bottom line is breached, retreating a second or third time becomes far easier.

"Furthermore..."

Nan Feng continued, "Absorbing the Clear Sky Sect, even if only in name, would bring enormous benefits to Martial Soul Hall."

"First, we gain the sharpest blade. The destructive power of the Clear Sky Hammer is beyond doubt. If it can be used for our purposes, it will be a great asset when dealing with other forces in the future."

"Second, this is the ultimate deterrent to all sects under heaven! If even the number one sect in the world has knelt, who else would dare to challenge Martial Soul Hall?"

"Third, and most importantly."

"This will completely disintegrate the alliance between the Upper Three Sects. Seeing the Clear Sky Sect surrender, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will only feel panic and suspicion. Their alliance will collapse without a fight!"

"This is a hundred times more valuable than killing them all!"

Bibi Dong took a deep breath. The hesitation in her eyes vanished completely, replaced by a domineering aura that suggested she held everything in her control.

"Very well."

"We shall do as you say."

"Nan Feng, I intend to send Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard to intercept, while I go to Clear Sky Peak to hold the line. This way, we can draw their fire while spreading the risk."

"No." Nan Feng rejected the idea outright. "Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, Snake Lance, and Pufferfish—those four are Golden Crocodile's men!"

"Although they are currently intimidated by your strength and dare not act out of turn, that old fossil Golden Crocodile is likely already unable to sit still seeing you shine on the front lines. If he secretly orders Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard to slack off and intentionally let the Clear Sky Sect's evacuation team escape, your entire plan will be ruined!"

"Besides, who knows who the Clear Sky Sect will send to escort those old and weak members? What if that madman Tang Xiao escorts them personally?"

"You expect cowards like Demon Bear and Ghost Leopard to go head-to-head with a desperate Tang Xiao? Keep dreaming!"

"When the time comes, they will definitely just go through the motions, or perhaps even be scared off by a single hammer strike from Tang Xiao."

"Therefore, we must handle this ourselves."

"Let those four Title Douluo go to the gates of the Clear Sky Sect to intimidate them as a smokescreen. We will take Chrysanthemum and Ghost and go to intercept them personally!"

Bibi Dong's brows furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, she had to admit that Nan Feng was right.

At this critical juncture, she could trust no one but herself.

"Fine."

In reality, Bibi Dong's gaze swept over Snake Lance, Pufferfish, and Ghost Leopard, finally resting on Demon Bear Douluo, who had just returned from "atoning for his crimes" and looked visibly anxious.

"Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, Snake Lance, Pufferfish."

"This Seat requires the four of you to muster the army. Aside from the two hundred agility-attack elites I am keeping, everyone else is to mobilize!"

"Target—Clear Sky Peak!"

"Remember, make a grand display! Let the whole world know that this Seat intends to trample the Clear Sky Sect into the ground!"

The four Title Douluo looked at each other, their faces revealing expressions of difficulty.

"Your Excellency..."

Snake Lance Douluo, the most cautious of the group, couldn't help but step forward. "Clear Sky Peak is a natural fortress, easy to defend and hard to attack. Even though the Clear Sky Sect has sealed the mountain, Tang Xiao and several elders are still there. If we are to launch a frontal assault, the losses..."

"Who told you to launch a frontal assault?"

Bibi Dong sneered, cutting him off. "This Seat is telling you to go and intimidate them."

"Set up the army at the foot of the mountain, take turns shouting challenges every day, and make sure the soul masters put enough spirit into it. Occasionally throw a few soul skills at the mountain and set a few fires."

"As long as you make them believe that this Seat is ready to launch an all-out attack at any moment, and keep them from daring to descend the mountain, your mission will be accomplished."

"This..."

The four exchanged glances, each seeing the relief in the other's eyes.

Just intimidation? That was easy!

This job carried no risk to their lives and allowed them to appear as if they were putting in great effort—it was practically tailor-made for their group of "slackers"!

"However, Your Excellency..."

Though Snake Lance Douluo felt relieved, he still had doubts. "If it is only a feint, what about you? Where are you going?"

"Me?" Bibi Dong slowly stood up.

"This Seat has received top-secret intelligence: while the Clear Sky Sect has sealed the mountain on the surface, they are actually secretly transferring their main force toward Heaven Dou City! Even that Tang Hao has mixed in among them!"

"What?! Tang Hao?!"

The four elders were shocked.

"That's right," Bibi Dong said coldly. "That old fox Tang Xiao thinks he can deceive the world by expelling Tang Hao from the sect? He thinks he can escape by hiding people among the old, the weak, the women, and the children?"

"Dream on!"

"This Seat shall personally take Elders Chrysanthemum and Ghost, along with two hundred elite agility-type soul masters, to take a shortcut and intercept them!"

"This Seat will let Tang Xiao know that before Martial Soul Hall, any cleverness is merely a path to self-destruction!"

"This..."

The four elders were shaken to their cores, both shocked by the Pope's intelligence-gathering capabilities and surprised that she intended to take the field herself.

"What? Is there a problem?" Bibi Dong's gaze turned icy.

"We obey the Pope's decree!!"

The four replied in unison.

"Go."

Bibi Dong waved her hand. "Remember, you must play your parts well! If those on Clear Sky Peak sense anything amiss and ruin the grand plan of This Seat..."

A flash of purple light flickered in Bibi Dong's eyes, and the four felt a chill run down their spines.

"Your subordinates understand! We shall not fail our mission!"

Inside the grand tent, the atmosphere had been intense, with everyone preparing to split up and act.

Suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps shattered the grim silence.

"Report--!!!"

A bishop clad in the standard red robes of Martial Soul Hall rushed into the tent, travel-worn and dusty, holding a golden token high in his hand.

"Greetings, Your Excellency the Pope! Greetings, Elders!"

The Red Cardinal knelt on one knee, panting as he spoke, "By the order of the Second Worship, this subordinate has come to deliver the latest resolution from the Elder Hall!"

"Read it." Bibi Dong frowned, an ominous premonition rising in her heart.

"Yes!"

The Red Cardinal unfurled the scroll in his hand and read aloud:

"Martial Soul Hall has dealt a heavy blow to the Clear Sky Sect in this battle, forcing them to seal their mountain and seclude themselves, and expelling Tang Hao; all strategic objectives have been achieved. Considering the virtue of cherishing life, and given that the moral high ground has been lost, it is not advisable to continue hostilities."

"Special Order: Pope Bibi Dong and the accompanying elders are to reorganize their troops and return to the capital immediately! There must be no delay!"

"Those who defy this order... shall be severely punished without exception!"

As the final word fell, the grand tent fell into a deathly silence.

Demon Bear, Ghost Leopard, Snake Lance, and Pufferfish exchanged glances.

"Your Excellency the Pope..."

Demon Bear Douluo was the first to step forward. Although his tone was respectful, his demeanor had relaxed significantly. "Since the Second Worship has issued an order, should we not..."

"Should we just tuck our tails and crawl back?"

Bibi Dong sat on the main seat, her expression cold and indifferent.

"Your Excellency, that is not the way to put it."

Snake Lance Douluo also stepped forward, advising, "The Second Worship is considering the bigger picture. The Clear Sky Sect is now like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bow; if we push them too hard, we risk inciting public outrage across the world."

"Indeed, knowing when to stop is the best policy," Pufferfish Douluo chimed in.

Watching these elders who had instantly switched sides to follow the lead of Golden Crocodile, Bibi Dong sighed within her Sea of Consciousness.

"Nan Feng, do you see?"

"This is reality. In Martial Soul Hall, Golden Crocodile's words carry more weight than my imperial edicts. Now that he has issued an order, these people will never listen to me again."

"If I don't return, it is insubordination—a total falling out with the Worship Hall. Even if I win, the Elder Hall..."

"You are too hesitant!" Nan Feng interrupted Bibi Dong coldly.

"We have come this far, and you tell me to just let it go?!"

"The arrow is on the string; it must be fired! To retreat now is to abandon all previous efforts!"

"But I simply do not have the strength to oppose the Worship Hall right now!" Bibi Dong sighed.

"Even if our Samsara Death Realm can intimidate Snake Lance and the others, it is still far too weak against the Worship Hall."

"Stop thinking only about confrontation," Nan Feng said helplessly.

"Do not always wait for absolute certainty before acting; not every situation requires such absolute security."

"Forget it, it seems you are unable to pull off this act of posturing."

"Give your body to me! I will handle it!"

"You..."

Before Bibi Dong could refuse, a familiar, overbearing consciousness instantly took control of her body.

In reality.

Bibi Dong (Nan Feng) slowly stood up and walked step by step toward the Red Cardinal.

"An edict from the Second Worship?"

She extended her slender fingers and gently pinched the golden scroll.

"Y-yes, Your Eminence." The Red Cardinal's voice trembled.

"Heh."

Bibi Dong let out a soft chuckle.

The next second.

HUM!!

Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, the golden scroll, which represented the highest authority of the Worship Hall, was instantly shattered by the overbearing soul power of Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor!

The air fell deathly silent.

Demon Bear Douluo and the others nearly had their eyeballs pop out of their sockets, unable to believe what they were seeing.

That was the personal decree of the Second Worship! It represented the will of the Grand Pontiff! She... she actually tore it to pieces?!