Re-selecting the Seven Great Sects

Gu Qingshan returned to Martial Soul City ten days later.

"Elder Chrysanthemum, go back and tend to your wounds well. In the coming days, I may need to trouble you and Elder Gui Mei further."

Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes brightened slightly. Was something big about to happen?

During this time, he had become completely convinced by his Holy Son.

Genius, intelligent, mysterious, powerful—these words were not enough to describe His Highness the Holy Son.

In the future, he would surely lead Martial Soul Hall to unify the spirit master world, and perhaps the entire continent.

As the Holy Son's trusted subordinates, his and Gui Mei's status in Martial Soul Hall would inevitably rise with the tide.

"This subordinate obeys. Your Highness the Holy Son should also rest early."

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

Gu Qingshan returned to the Holy Son Mansion, his first order of business being a bath.

The poisonous water had already been prepared; the emerald-green liquid lay quietly in the tub, emitting a pungent, fishy-sweet scent.

Gu Qingshan stripped off his clothes and climbed in.

He took out the spirit bone dropped by Xiao Wu and pressed it into his right arm, beginning the fusion.

In just one hour, the Soft Bone Charm Rabbit spirit bone had completely merged with his right arm.

His health bar reached seventy thousand.

The spirit bone skills he gained were the same as those in the original work.

One was Teleportation, which allowed for instantaneous movement within a certain range. It consumed very little spirit power and could be used consecutively, making it extremely flexible.

The other was Invincible Golden Body, which could immunize the user against all physical attacks below god-level. It was a top-tier defensive divine skill that could only be maintained for three seconds, usable three times a day.

These were incredibly formidable spirit bone skills; it was hard to imagine they originated from the very common bloodline of a Soft Bone Charm Rabbit.

Shaking his head, Gu Qingshan stopped dwelling on it.

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

Bibi Dong was dressed in a long pope gown, sitting upright on her throne.

Seeing that it was Gu Qingshan, the corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily.

"You're back?"

"I'm back."

Gu Qingshan walked up to her, sat down in a chair, and pulled a Blue Silver Leaf from his pocket to stuff into his mouth.

Then, he recounted his trip to Shrek from beginning to end.

Upon hearing that Gu Rong was dead and Chen Xin was crippled, Bibi Dong was shocked. He was only twelve years old!

He could already kill a Title Douluo?

"And then?"

"Then Tang Chen arrived. A Limit Douluo, rank ninety-nine, the King of Slaughter."

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

"He is. He took away the corpses of Tang Hao and Tang San; he likely went to the City of Slaughter."

Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time.

She had never thought much of Ning Fengzhi.

He was slick and worldly, playing both sides, offending no one while trying to please everyone.

Having wavered between the Heaven Dou Empire and Martial Soul Hall for so many years, he had never truly taken a stand.

She used to think such a person couldn't stir up any major trouble, so she couldn't be bothered to pay him any mind.

But now, this fence-sitter actually dared to set his sights on her disciple.

"Qingshan, whatever way you want to take revenge, I will support you."

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

"Teacher, there is no rush for that."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is left with only a crippled Chen Xin; they won't be 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 did not speak.

Gu Qingshan continued.

"The Upper Three Sects, the Lower Four Sects, and all those large and small affiliated sects attached to various powers. They each have their own spheres of influence and their own direct troops. Martial Soul Hall is nominally the strongest power on the continent, but in reality, once our orders leave Martial Soul City, their execution is discounted."

Gu Qingshan stared into Bibi Dong's eyes: "If we want to unify the continent, these are all obstacles."

"Why not start by subduing these sects, and then wipe out the so-called Upper Three Sects one by one?"

Bibi Dong watched her disciple speaking with such eloquence, her violet eyes filled with complex emotions.

Shock, admiration, gratification.

Gu Qingshan possessed great wisdom! He was far superior to Nana!

She indeed harbored the ambition to unify the continent.

"Tell me then, how exactly should we go about subjugating these sects?"

Bibi Dong lifted her hand from the armrest, her fingertips resting against her chin as her violet eyes narrowed slightly.

"It is very simple: hold a re-election for the Seven Great Sects."

This was a plot point that existed in the original story, and it was one that Bibi Dong herself had proposed.

Bibi Dong's fingers paused; this idea coincided perfectly with her own.

"Continue!"

"First, re-electing the Seven Great Sects is essentially a reshuffling of the power dynamics in the spirit master world. With Martial Soul Hall as the organizer, we control the entire process from start to finish—from the selection criteria and the choice of judges to the final results. Whoever we want to ascend will ascend."

"Second, we cultivate our own forces. The status of the new Seven Great Sects will be bestowed by Martial Soul Hall, and their wealth and glory will be granted by Martial Soul Hall. If they do not pledge loyalty to Martial Soul Hall, who else could they possibly serve?"

"Third, unifying the continent will require bloodshed, and these sects will serve as the perfect cannon fodder."

Having said his piece, Gu Qingshan leaned back into his chair.

Bibi Dong stared at Gu Qingshan in a daze, her heart churning uncontrollably.

To think that at such a young age, Gu Qingshan possessed such political acumen; this plan to re-elect the Seven Great Sects aligned perfectly with her own thoughts.

The essence of the re-election was to trade prestige for loyalty.

These sects would gain fame and status.

In exchange, they would have to offer up their entire combat strength, becoming mere cogs in the war machine of Martial Soul Hall.

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

Once this plan was implemented, Martial Soul Hall would be able to consolidate the vast majority of the continent's spirit master power in the shortest time possible and at the lowest cost.

The obedient sects would become the cannon fodder troops for Martial Soul Hall.

The disobedient ones would be eradicated in one fell swoop.

"You will draft the specific regulations. Tell me directly if you need any resources."

She paused, a flicker of killing intent flashing through her eyes.

"As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, once the re-election is over, that will be the moment of their destruction."

"Teacher is wise."

The news that Martial Soul Hall intended to re-elect the Seven Great Sects was like a stone cast into a lake, stirring up a thousand waves.

The entire continent was in an uproar.

Clear Sky Sect.

In the assembly hall, a group of elders sat in a circle.

They were the elders of the Clear Sky Sect, the very foundation of the sect.

"Bang!"

The Seventh Elder, known for his fiery temper, slammed his fist onto the table beside him.

"Re-elect the Seven Great Sects? It's absolutely preposterous!"

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

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

The other elders chimed in one after another.

"Indeed, what is Martial Soul Hall trying to do?"

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

"Re-elect the Seven Great Sects? Who gave them that authority?"

Just then, the current Sect Master, Tang Xiao, walked in with a powerful, dragon-like stride and took his seat at the head of the table.

"Quiet!"

He raised a hand to signal, and only then did the others calm their inner rage.

"This matter requires careful deliberation. First, have Yue Hua investigate why Martial Soul Hall wants to re-elect the Seven Great Sects at this particular time."

"Until we have clarified the situation, our Clear Sky Sect will not provide any response."