Immediately behind Bibi Dong, a gigantic phantom of the Spider Emperor slowly materialized.
The Spider Emperor was not corporeal, yet it radiated a chilling aura like that of the depths of the netherworld.
More terrifying still, wisps of faint, chaotic energy swirled around the phantom of the Spider Emperor—that was the transformation brought about by the Extreme Yin Soul Flower Lin Qiu had given her.
The Bibi Dong of today was no longer the Bibi Dong from the original story.
Her Soul Power had already reached the peak of Level 98. She was just one step away from becoming a Level 99 Peerless Douluo!
"Break."
Bibi Dong raised a hand and pointed.
An invisible net seemed to unfurl through the void.
The countless bolts of lightning were caught in that net, then continuously compressed and devoured.
Crack! Crack!
Faced with this terrifying force, the hundred-meter-long Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Avatar actually began to emit the sound of bones breaking.
"How is this possible?!"
Yu Yuanzhen, inside the avatar, was utterly stunned.
He felt as if he had sunk into a quagmire. His Soul Power was rapidly draining away, and even the lightning he had always been so proud of was being thoroughly suppressed by a higher, more sinister power.
This wasn't even a fight on the same level!
"So this is the Pope's power?"
"Terrifying... Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, hailed as the greatest Beast Martial Soul in the world, can't fight back against her!"
The Soul Masters around them stared, dumbfounded.
They knew the Pope was strong, but they hadn't expected her to be this powerful.
Yu Yuanzhen was Level 95!
And in Bibi Dong's hands, he was being toyed with like a plaything?
Before Yu Yuanzhen could recover from his shock, Bibi Dong had already appeared atop the dragon's head.
Looking down at him, she lightly tapped her scepter against one of its horns.
Boom!!!
An irresistible force slammed into him.
The hundred-meter-long dragon let out a mournful cry, its massive body plunging down like a meteor and crashing heavily into the square.
Dust billowed, and shattered stones flew everywhere.
Forced to dispel his Martial Soul Avatar, Yu Yuanzhen dropped to one knee. A thread of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and his face was as pale as paper.
He had lost.
He had lost completely.
He hadn't even forced his opponent to reveal her true strength.
"So strong..."
Yu Yuanzhen's heart was bitter.
So this was the foundation of Spirit Hall?
Just then, several terrifying auras rose from deep within the Pope Palace.
"Impudent madman! How dare you cause a disturbance in the Pope Palace!"
The Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, appeared out of thin air, followed by four or five elders in golden robes.
Every one of them was a Titled Douluo!
Golden Crocodile Douluo's imposing pressure, the might of a Level 98 Peak Douluo, poured out without restraint, bearing down like a mountain and leaving Yu Yuanzhen barely able to breathe.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and the other elders soon appeared as well, surrounding Yu Yuanzhen on all sides.
In an instant, the auras of Titled Douluos crisscrossed over the square. The terrifying pressure sent the lower-ranked Soul Masters collapsing to the ground.
Yu Yuanzhen looked at the powerful figures eyeing him from every side, and his heart sank to the bottom.
He couldn't even beat Bibi Dong alone.
And now there was Golden Crocodile Douluo, along with all these elders...
If he kept fighting, not only would he be done for, but the entire Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan might be wiped out with him.
But if he slunk away in defeat just like this, what would become of his clan's honor?
Yu Yuanzhen was, after all, a clan leader, and his mind worked quickly.
He took a deep breath, forced down the surging blood in his chest, and squeezed out a smile more painful than a grimace.
"It was a misunderstanding. It was all a misunderstanding."
Yu Yuanzhen slowly rose and brushed the dust off himself, then cupped his hands toward Bibi Dong. "I acted rashly just now. I only wanted to test His Highness the Holy Son's abilities. I meant no harm."
"Test him?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo snorted. "I'd say you were trying to kill him!"
"Second Worship, you're being too harsh."
Yu Yuanzhen replied with a strained smile. "Xiaogang may be useless, but I watched him grow up. Seeing him humiliated, I lost control of my emotions as an elder."
At that, he changed tack, turning his gaze toward Lin Qiu on the high platform.
"Still, since His Holiness the Pope thinks so highly of this Holy Son, he must have some extraordinary qualities."
"This old body of mine has no business bullying a junior."
"How about this?"
A glint flashed through Yu Yuanzhen's eyes. "As it happens, my good-for-nothing grandson, Yu Tianheng, is training at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. He's been hailed as the hope of the clan's current generation."
"They're both young. Why not have them spar?"
"If His Highness the Holy Son can defeat my grandson, then my Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will have no objections to what happened today, and the matter with Xiaogang will be laid to rest!"
The entire square fell silent for a moment.
What a clever way to retreat while still pressing his advantage!
Anyone with eyes could see that Yu Yuanzhen was looking for a way to save face and regain some ground at the same time.
Who was Yu Tianheng?
He was the strongest of the younger generation in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, possessed a top-tier Beast Martial Soul, had long since broken through Level 30 in Soul Power, and had abundant combat experience.
And Lin Qiu?
He might have been named the Holy Son, but he looked no older than twelve. No matter how talented he was, he could only have trained for so long.
Having a twelve-year-old child fight Yu Tianheng?
Wasn't that just bullying the kid?
"Heh, that old geezer sure knows how to play his hand."
Golden Crocodile Douluo curled his lip in disdain and was about to mock him.
"Fine."
A cool voice rang out.
Bibi Dong stood on the high platform, her expression calm. She agreed without the slightest hesitation.
"Your Holiness?"
Yu Yuanzhen froze, apparently not expecting Bibi Dong to accept so readily.
He couldn't believe she hadn't seen through his intentions.
Could Lin Qiu really have some trump card?
Or was Bibi Dong merely bluffing?
"What is it? Has Clan Leader Yu lost his nerve?"
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "If you're afraid you can't afford to lose, then take your people and get out."
"Ridiculous!"
Provoked by her words, Yu Yuanzhen burst out laughing. "Since Your Holiness is so confident, then I'll wait and see!"
He was elated.
Yu Tianheng was a genius the clan had poured all its resources into cultivating. How could he possibly lose to a twelve-year-old brat?
Even if Lin Qiu had started cultivating in the womb, he still couldn't be a match for Tianheng!
If Tianheng won, he wouldn't just deal Spirit Hall a humiliating blow—he'd prove the strength of the Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan as well!
This was a sure win!
Yu Yuanzhen turned to look at Yu Xiaogang, who was lying in a corner, and sent him a message with his eyes:
Don't worry. Father will avenge you.
Up on the high platform,
Lin Qiu watched the scene and shook his head helplessly.
He lowered his head and looked at Bibi Dong beside him, his voice tinged with laziness:
"Mom, this kind of childish sparring is really boring."
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