(Just to explain, I had some things to take care of at home today. Since I finished writing other books but not this one, I'm posting this first. I'll replace it with the original one when I'm done.)
Not long after, Yue Guan bowed and entered the Pope Palace, whispering to Bibi Dong what he had seen and heard at the arena.
He recounted the details of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy's participation in the competition, emphasizing Qian Renxue, who had infiltrated the team. His tone was somewhat cautious, as he knew the relationship between the two high-ranking officials was delicate and this matter was by no means trivial.
After listening to the whole story, Bibi Dong's originally gloomy expression suddenly softened, and a playful smile appeared on her lips.
"How interesting." She murmured softly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, which then turned into understanding. "I didn't expect that Qian Renxue would dare to personally infiltrate a participating team and participate in this Continental Soul Master Tournament."
She knew exactly what Qian Renxue was thinking: she wanted to gain personal experience, observe the various forces, and secretly keep her in check.
However, she felt that this action was somewhat unnecessary.
Bibi Dong slowly raised her hand, her fingertips gently tracing the patterns on the throne, her mind already made up for the outcome of the competition.
Even if Qian Renxue hadn't joined the Heaven Dou Academy, Shen Yifeng's terrifying strength alone would have been enough to crush the Golden Generation carefully cultivated by the Spirit Hall.
The Golden Generation possessed exceptional talent and were the top combat force among the younger generation of the Spirit Hall, yet they were still worlds apart from Shen Yifeng.
In the battle at Soulfall Valley, even Titled Douluo perished at its hands. This kind of foundation is something that a few young Soul Master simply cannot contend with.
From that moment on, the champion of this tournament was destined to no longer belong to the Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong felt little regret at having to relinquish the championship title she had held so firmly for so many years; instead, she felt a touch of mockery.
A moment later.
Bibi Dong said coldly, "Pass down the order: the matter of Ghost Leopard Douluo was due to his greed for credit and his unauthorized actions. It has nothing to do with the Pope Palace. Go to the storeroom and retrieve two Thousand-Year Soul Bone and one ten- Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, and deliver them to the residence of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy as compensation."
"Yes, Your His Holiness the Pope." Yue Guan bowed and accepted the order, then turned and quickly left.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief; finally, a conclusion had been reached.
If the Color Dragon Sect and the Heaven Dou Empire were to join forces, the Spirit Hall would inevitably suffer heavy losses. Using three Soul Bone to quell the storm would be the most cost-effective outcome.
The news spread extremely quickly; within half a day, the Spirit Hall's decision had reached the entire city.
The matter was being discussed everywhere—in the square, in the taverns, and in other places.
Many Soul Master shook their heads after hearing this, feeling that the Spirit Hall lacked sincerity.
The three Soul Bone may seem valuable, but they were obtained by Titled Douluo who intercepted the participating students halfway through the competition. This matter concerns the reputation and bottom line of the Spirit Hall. To simply hand them over to a dead man and give him a few Soul Bone to settle the matter is far too perfunctory.
"They're supposed to be the number one power on the continent, yet they act so unethically." Someone whispered among themselves. "If I were from the Heaven Dou Academy, I definitely wouldn't let this go."
Some people were secretly amazed, thinking that three Soul Bone were already an astronomical compensation; an ordinary sect would have been grateful long ago.
But when he thought about how the other party was Shen Yifeng, and how he had the Color Dragon Sect backing him up, he felt that this amount of leverage was indeed not enough.
In the residence of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Lan Xuanyu rolled her eyes upon hearing the report, "Only three Soul Bone? Bibi Dong is too stingy! A Titled Douluo's life, plus the crime of ambush, is that all she gets?"
Shen Yifeng leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table, a faint smile playing on his lips.
He had anticipated that Bibi Dong would be reluctant to bleed heavily.
Shifting blame to the dead and then taking some paltry compensation is her usual tactic.
"No rush," he said calmly. "She thinks she can just let it go like that? It won't be that easy."
On the other side, Golden Crocodile Douluo stormed into the Pope Palace in a rage, and immediately questioned in a deep voice, " Bibi Dong, are you planning to settle this with just three Soul Bone? Which of the Heaven Dou Empire, the Color Dragon Sect, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will let this go? This little bit of compensation won't shut them up at all!"
Bibi Dong leaned back on her throne, not even lifting her eyelids, and said casually, "Three Soul Bone are already the limit that the Pope Palace can provide. Second Worship is wrong. The Spirit Hall doesn't belong to me alone. The Worship Hall has a lot of resources. Shouldn't they also contribute some? We can't let the Pope Palace bear the burden of everything."
"You!" Golden Crocodile Douluo's fingers trembled with rage as he pointed at her, speechless for a long time. "You are utterly shameless! You sent those people out, you caused this mess, and now you actually expect the Worship Hall up your mess?"
" Second Worship, be careful what you say."
Bibi Dong raised her eyes, her tone turning colder.
"You can't just say things like that. Ghost Leopard acted on his own initiative. I was just cleaning up the mess for the Spirit Hall. If we really gave up too many rare resources, it would damage the foundation of the Spirit Hall. The Worship Hall has so many treasures. What's wrong with giving up a little? We can't just watch the Spirit Hall's reputation be ruined."
Golden Crocodile Douluo was so angry at her twisted logic that his chest heaved, knowing that further argument was pointless.
The other party was clearly trying to renege on their promise and shift half the burden onto the Worship Hall.
He roared, flicked his sleeves, turned and walked away, his footsteps slamming heavily on the ground, filled with barely suppressed rage.
Watching his angry departure, Bibi Dong's lips curled into a cold smile.
She had already planned ahead; everyone would have to share the mess.
The Worship Hall cannot so easily remain uninvolved.
The Spirit Hall was never her destiny; the century-old foundation that Qian Daoliu cherished was never worth mentioning in her eyes.
If it's really destroyed, then all is well and nothing will happen.
Golden Crocodile Douluo strode back to the Worship Hall, his face ashen, his anger still not completely subsided.
He stood in front of Qian Daoliu and said in a low voice, "Brother, it's exactly as you predicted. Bibi Dong is only willing to offer three Soul Bone to settle the matter. It's clear that our Worship Hall will have to cover the rest of the mess."
Qian Daoliu sat upright in his chair, his expression calm, as if he had expected this all along.
He raised his eyes slightly, his tone flat. "As expected, that's always been her nature; when she gets into trouble, she tries to shift the blame onto others."
"Go to the storeroom and retrieve two Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. Send them, along with the compensation from the Pope Palace, to the Heaven Dou Royal Academy," Qian Daoliu slowly instructed. "Say it's an apology from the Worship Hall. Make sure to appease them and prevent the situation from escalating further."
"Yes." Although Golden Crocodile Douluo was unwilling and felt it was too unfair for the Worship Hall to take the blame for someone else, he still responded and turned to prepare.
He knew in his heart that compared to a full-scale war with the Color Dragon Sect, the loss of a few Soul Bone was nothing.
If things really escalate to the point of armed conflict, the Spirit Hall will be the one to suffer.
When only Qian Daoliu remained in the hall, he slowly sighed, his hand clenching quietly until his knuckles turned slightly white, and a hint of undisguised coldness flashed in his eyes.
Bibi Dong, you may be arrogant for a while longer.
He thought to himself.
Once Xue'er has complete control of the Heaven Dou Empire and has the empire's power as her backing, it will be the right time to remove you from the position of Pope.
When the time comes, you'll have to pay back everything you owe the Spirit Hall.
He lowered his eyes and pondered, silently weighing his options in his heart.
Although a few Soul Bone are rare, they are far less secure than the foundation of the Spirit Hall.
If the Color Dragon Sect is truly forced to fight, the resulting war will cause countless deaths and injuries, with losses far exceeding this.
Using a few Soul Bone to temporarily quell the storm in exchange for time to plan and thoroughly investigate is a worthwhile trade-off.
The mere thought of Bibi Dong disregarding the rules of the Spirit Hall and trampling on centuries of honor for her former lover, Yu Xiaogang, filled him with uncontrollable rage.
How could she be allowed to squander the legacy passed down through generations?