Heaven is number one, I'm number two

Ning Fengzhi is not yet fifty this year, in the prime of his life within the soul master world.

But in the half-month since Bone Douluo passed away, it is as if a bone has been pulled from his own body; his spine is no longer as straight as it once was.

Chen Xin sits across from him, the empty sleeve of his right arm hanging at his side. His white robes remain spotless, and his white hair and beard are still groomed with meticulous care.

"Uncle Bone is gone... the strength of my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has been greatly diminished."

"What is Martial Soul Hall trying to achieve by proposing a re-selection of the Seven Great Sects at a time like this?"

Chen Xin shifts his gaze, looking at Ning Fengzhi's haggard face.

In just half a month, Ning Fengzhi has lost a significant amount of weight, and even strands of white hair have begun to appear.

Many years ago, Chen Xin had met Bibi Dong; back then, she was merely a teenage girl.

He never expected that this woman could reach the heights she has today.

Even her disciple has...

A re-selection of the Seven Great Sects is no simple matter; it involves the entire soul master world.

Does Bibi Dong truly possess such audacity?

Pulling back his thoughts, Chen Xin asks, "Fengzhi, what do you intend to do?"

Ning Fengzhi replies softly, "Let us just play along for now. My sect's strength is severely compromised; even if we participate, we will gain nothing."

"Besides, based on my understanding of the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family, they will not participate. Those two sects are far too arrogant."

"Martial Soul Hall has announced the date as six months from now. There is no rush."

No rush.

Ning Fengzhi repeats these three words in his heart, as if trying to convince himself.

In reality, he is "quite anxious"!

The positions of the Upper Three Sects have remained unchanged for hundreds of years: the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family.

But this time, Martial Soul Hall's plan to re-select the Seven Great Sects will inevitably shatter the balance and reshuffle the deck.

Rules that have stood for centuries, broken at a whim.

Those sects ranked behind the Upper Three—the Elephant Armored Sect, the Wind Sword Sect, the Fire Leopard Sect, the White Tiger Sect.

Which of them is not eyeing the positions ahead with covetous eyes?

They have been suppressed by the Upper Three Sects for centuries, and now, Martial Soul Hall has handed them an opportunity.

A legitimate, open, and above-board opportunity to challenge the Upper Three Sects.

The re-selection of the Seven Great Sects claims no internal appointments, no guaranteed spots; everything is decided by strength.

That is what Martial Soul Hall says, and that is what the soul masters of the continent believe.

But Ning Fengzhi does not believe it.

He knows that behind the re-selection of the Seven Great Sects, Martial Soul Hall must be manipulating everything.

They intend to elevate the obedient sects and pull down those who refuse to submit.

The positions of the Upper Three Sects have not changed for centuries, but this time, he fears they will.

Ning Fengzhi's gaze falls upon Chen Xin's empty sleeve. In the past, with Sword Uncle and Bone Uncle by his side, he had plenty of confidence.

Although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is an auxiliary-type sect, with two Title Douluo guarding it, any force wishing to move against them would have to think twice.

Now that Uncle Bone is gone and Sword Uncle has lost an arm, their strength has been dealt a heavy blow.

His Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is left with only one crippled Title Douluo.

Moreover, they have offended the Martial Soul Hall Holy Son and the Pope, Bibi Dong.

"Alas, the continent is about to fall into chaos."

Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family.

The atmosphere within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family is unusually relaxed.

The council hall is filled with people. Seven or eight elders sit on each side of a long table, which is laden with fruits and refreshments.

Yu Yuanzhen sits at the head of the table, his silver-white hair draped over his shoulders, his expression majestic, his gaze like lightning.

When the news of Martial Soul Hall's plan to re-select the Seven Great Sects reached them, they did not even twitch an eyebrow; they did not take the matter to heart at all.

Re-select the Seven Great Sects?

What a joke.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family is one of the Upper Three Sects, possessing the world's number one beast martial soul. They are dragons!

For hundreds of years, the position of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family has never been shaken; no one has dared to contend with them.

Now that Martial Soul Hall says they want a re-selection, then let them re-select. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family does not need the approval of Martial Soul Hall, nor does it need the approval of anyone else.

The Great Elder, sitting to the right of Yu Yuanzhen, ponders for a long time before finally asking, "Sect Master, how shall we respond?"

Yu Yuanzhen set down his teacup and said indifferently, "Respond to what?"

The Great Elder froze for a moment, then laughed, a flash of smugness and contempt in his eyes.

They were dragons, after all; heaven was number one, and they were number two!

Bibi Dong was not wearing her Pope robe today.

When Gu Qingshan walked into the Pope Palace, he almost didn't recognize her.

Bibi Dong in her Pope robe was majestic, cold, and unreachable.

But today, Bibi Dong's style was a stark contrast.

A pink-green tight-fitting dress, tailored to cling perfectly to her body; from her shoulders to her waist, down to her hips and the hem of the skirt, every curve was outlined to perfection.

Her waist was slender enough to be encircled by a pair of hands, leading down to rounded, peach-like hips. The hem of the skirt sat just three inches above her knees, revealing a length of thigh encased in pink silk stockings.

Her legs were crossed, toes pointed slightly downward, revealing a pair of light pink high heels.

The heels were thin and high, arching her instep into a graceful curve, with the muscle definition of her calves faintly visible beneath the silk.

A youthful face, charming and languid eyes, paired with a perfect, fiery figure.

He stood at the doorway, looking at this woman, the Blue Silver Leaf in his hand forgotten before he could put it in his mouth.

He had seen Bibi Dong in her Pope robe, in combat gear, and in casual attire.

Every look was beautiful, but none were as shocking as the one today.

In his past life, he had seen all kinds of young ladies on the internet, every type and every style imaginable.

He had thought he was immune to beautiful women, but looking at Bibi Dong's crossed, pink-stockinged legs, he admitted he was wrong—wrong to an outrageous degree.

He couldn't be immune; it was simply impossible.

He took a deep breath and shifted his gaze from Bibi Dong's legs to the document in her hand, pretending he was more interested in the file than her legs.

But Bibi Dong's legs were simply too long, so long that his peripheral vision still caught them.

He moved the Blue Silver Leaf from the left corner of his mouth to the right, chewing it with more force.

Yue Guan stood by Bibi Dong's side, taking in the reaction of the Holy Son.

He was sensible enough to say nothing, even sensible enough to shift his gaze elsewhere.

But the slight upward curve of his lips betrayed his true thoughts.

Bibi Dong did not seem to notice Gu Qingshan's odd behavior and spoke casually.

"What is the situation now?"

Yue Guan stepped forward, hands tucked into his sleeves, and bowed slightly.

"Reporting to the Pope, it is exactly as the Holy Son predicted."

Bibi Dong shifted her gaze from the document to Gu Qingshan.

Seeing him still staring fixedly at her legs, the corners of Bibi Dong's mouth curled slightly, signaling for Yue Guan to continue.

"Seven days have passed since the information was released."

"The Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family have completely disregarded the orders of the Martial Soul Hall."

"As for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, they have merely offered a perfunctory response."