Reelecting the Seven Great Sects

Gu Qingshan returned to Spirit City ten days later.

"Elder Chrysanthemum, go back and rest up. For the next while, I may have to trouble you and Elder Ghost again."

Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes lit up. Was something big about to happen?

During this time, he had been thoroughly impressed by his Holy Son.

Words like genius, brilliant, mysterious, and powerful still weren't enough to describe His Highness the Holy Son.

He was certain that, in the future, the Holy Son would lead Spirit Hall to unite the Soul Master World—and perhaps even the entire continent.

And as the Holy Son's trusted subordinates, he and Gui Mei would surely rise in standing within Spirit Hall.

"This subordinate obeys. Your Highness the Holy Son, please get some rest as well."

Chrysanthemum Douluo turned and left, his steps lighter than usual.

When Gu Qingshan returned to Holy Son Mansion, the first thing he did was take a bath.

The poisonous water had already been prepared. The turquoise liquid lay still in the tub, giving off a pungent, sickly-sweet smell.

Gu Qingshan took off his clothes and sank into it.

He took out the Soul Bone Xiao Wu had dropped, pressed it into his right arm, and began the fusion.

In just an hour, the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit Soul Bone had completely fused with his right arm.

His health bar had risen to seventy thousand.

The Soul Bone Skills he gained were the same as in the original story.

One was Teleportation, which allowed him to instantly move within a certain range. It consumed very little Soul Power, could be used repeatedly, and was extremely flexible.

The other was Invincible Golden Body, which could make him immune to all physical attacks below the god level. It was a top-tier defensive divine skill, but could only last three seconds and be used three times a day.

It was an incredibly powerful Soul Bone Skill. It was hard to imagine it came from the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit, whose bloodline was so ordinary.

Gu Qingshan shook his head and put the thought aside.

Early the next morning, Gu Qingshan went to the Pope Palace.

Bibi Dong sat on her throne, dressed in a long papal gown.

When she saw Gu Qingshan, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly before she could stop them.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

Gu Qingshan walked over and sat in a chair. He pulled a Blue Silver Leaf from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.

Then he recounted the entire trip to Shrek, from beginning to end.

When she heard that Gu Rong had died and Chen Xin had been crippled, Bibi Dong was shocked. He was only twelve!

He could already kill a Titled Douluo?

"And then?"

"Then Tang Chen arrived. He's a Limit Douluo, level ninety-nine—the King of Slaughter."

"Tang Chen? He's still alive?" Bibi Dong's pupils contracted slightly.

"He's alive. He took Tang Hao and Tang San's bodies. He's probably gone to the City of Slaughter."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a long time.

She had never thought much of Ning Fengzhi.

He was smooth and accommodating, currying favor with everyone and offending no one.

For years, he had wavered between the Heaven Dou Empire and Spirit Hall without ever truly taking a side.

She used to think a fence-sitter like him could never amount to much, so she had never bothered with him.

But now, that very fence-sitter had dared to set his sights on her disciple.

"Qingshan, however you want to take revenge, I'll support you."

Gu Qingshan smiled, took the Blue Silver Leaf from his lips, and twirled it in his fingers.

"Teacher, there's no rush."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has only a crippled Chen Xin left. They won't be able to keep jumping around for much longer."

Bibi Dong looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"Teacher, don't you think there are too many sects nowadays?"

Bibi Dong's pupils contracted slightly, but she said nothing.

Gu Qingshan continued.

"There are the Upper Three Sects, the Lower Four Sects, and countless other large and small sects dependent on various powers. Each has its own territory and its own direct forces. Spirit Hall may be the most powerful force on the continent in name, but in practice, once its orders leave Spirit City, their effectiveness is cut in half."

Gu Qingshan met Bibi Dong's gaze. "If we want to unite the continent, these are all obstacles."

"Why not subdue those sects first, then wipe out the so-called Upper Three Sects one by one?"

Bibi Dong watched her disciple speak with such confidence, her violet eyes filled with mixed emotions.

Shock, admiration, and relief.

Qingshan had great wisdom! He was far more capable than Nana!

She truly did have the ambition to unite the continent.

"Then tell me, how would you bring these sects under our control?"

Bibi Dong lifted her hand from the armrest and rested a fingertip against her chin, her violet eyes narrowing slightly.

"Simple. Reelect the Seven Great Sects."

This was already part of the original story, and Bibi Dong herself had been the one to propose it.

Bibi Dong's fingers paused. His idea coincided perfectly with hers.

"Go on!"

"First, reelecting the Seven Great Sects is essentially a reshuffling of the Soul Master World's powers. As the organizers, we'll control the entire process from start to finish—from the selection criteria and judges to the final results. Whoever we want to rise will rise."

"Second, we'll cultivate our own forces. The status of the new Seven Great Sects will be granted by Spirit Hall, and their wealth and glory will be bestowed by Spirit Hall. If they don't pledge loyalty to Spirit Hall, then who else could they serve?"

"Third, uniting the continent will require bloodshed, and these sects will make the perfect cannon fodder."

With that, Gu Qingshan leaned back in his chair again.

Bibi Dong stared at Gu Qingshan, her thoughts churning.

At his age, Qingshan already had such political acumen. His plan to reelect the Seven Great Sects coincided perfectly with her own.

At its heart, the reelection was a matter of trading prestige for loyalty.

These sects would gain prestige and status.

In exchange, they would have to offer up all their forces and become cogs in Spirit Hall's war machine.

Could it be that the person who understood her best in the world was this disciple of hers?

Once this plan was implemented, Spirit Hall could consolidate the strength of most Soul Masters on the continent in the shortest time and at the lowest cost.

The obedient sects would become Spirit Hall's cannon fodder.

The disobedient ones would be wiped out in one fell swoop.

"You'll draft the detailed plan. If you need any resources, just tell me."

She paused, a trace of murderous intent flashing in her eyes.

"As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, once the reelection is over, it will be time for them to perish."

"Teacher, your wisdom is unparalleled."

The news that Spirit Hall would reelect the Seven Great Sects spread like a stone dropped into a lake, stirring up a thousand-foot wave.

The entire continent was in an uproar.

Clear Sky Sect.

A group of elders were gathered in the council hall.

They were all elders of the Clear Sky Sect, the pillars of the sect.

"Bang!"

Seventh Elder, the most hot-tempered of them all, slammed his fist onto the table beside him.

"Reelect the Seven Great Sects? Utter nonsense!"

He sprang up from his chair, hands on his hips, his chest heaving.

"Who does Bibi Dong think she is? What right does she have?"

The other elders chimed in.

"That's right! What is Spirit Hall trying to do?"

"Could this be aimed at our Clear Sky Sect?"

"Who gave them the authority to reelect the Seven Great Sects?"

Just then, the current sect master, Tang Xiao, strode in and took the seat at the head of the table.

"Quiet!"

He raised a hand, and only then did the others calm their anger.

"We need to consider this carefully. Have Yue Hua look into why Spirit Hall has decided to reelect the Seven Great Sects at this time."

"Until we know the facts, the Clear Sky Sect will make no response."