[Pope]: "His current humility is only because he doesn't have enough leverage and has no choice but to lower his stance. Once he regains power, he'll still trample your dignity again without the slightest hesitation."
[Pope]: "Forgive him? If you forgive him, you'll be pushing yourself back into an abyss of eternal damnation."
Inside Pope Palace, Bibi Dong's fingers gripped the scepter.
Her breathing was a little hurried, and her chest rose and fell sharply.
In the group chat, Zhu Zhuqing stared at the extremely aggressive reply from "Pope," momentarily stunned.
Though the other woman's words were a little harsh, every single one of them landed like a heavy hammer, jolting the weakness in her heart awake.
However, before Zhu Zhuqing could reply, another powder keg in the group chat was ignited.
In a quiet wooden house at Blue Tyrant Academy, Liu Erlong read Bibi Dong's words and immediately felt her anger flare.
She naturally knew Zhu Zhuqing was talking about Dai Mubai, and she knew exactly what kind of person Dai Mubai was.
But Bibi Dong's remark that "not a single man under heaven is any good" struck her as painfully offensive.
In her heart, that man was still a sacred ground no one could touch.
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "I say, Your Holiness the Pope, up there on your high horse—are you going through menopause, that you can't stand seeing other people happy?"
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "That young girl just came to ask for some relationship advice, and you go and condemn every man with one stroke. What, has every man in the world wronged you?"
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "Your own relationship failed, and you've become a bitter old spinster nobody wants, so now you want to drag every girl under heaven into becoming nuns just like you? Utterly ridiculous!"
Inside Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong slammed her palm against the armrest beside her.
The hard white jade armrest instantly filled with fine cracks.
[Pope]: "How dare you! You uncouth little wildcat, provoking me again and again. Do you really think I can't deal with you?"
[Pope]: "I've merely seen through the true nature of men. Unlike you, who've lived more than half your life and are still being toyed with by a coward, yet keep congratulating yourself here. You're utterly foolish!"
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "That's bullshit! He's not a coward! He had to make that sacrifice for the greater good, for the relationship between our two sects!"
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "Unlike you, the lofty Pope, with nothing in your eyes but power and slaughter. What do you know about true feelings?"
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "You're not even worthy of love!"
The two's argument instantly escalated, and the temperature in the group chat seemed to plunge to freezing in that moment.
Ning Rongrong hunched her shoulders and didn't dare chime in.
Hu Liena wisely kept silent too.
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "I can't be bothered arguing with a lunatic like you. I'm busy as hell right now. I still have to watch those little monsters from Shrek train later."
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "That so-called Grandmaster is taking them to the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena tonight to make a scene. He insists on bringing back a Silver Soul Badge."
[Gentle Fire Dragon]: "I have to keep an eye on them, so they don't make fools of themselves in Heaven Dou City."
Liu Erlong was so furious that she casually sent Shrek's schedule for the evening to the group, trying to show off how full her life was.
Yet her words caused an uproar inside Pope Palace.
Bibi Dong stared at the words "Grandmaster" and "Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena" on the screen. Her pupils abruptly shrank to pinpricks.
Yu Xiaogang!
That fraud and useless man was actually in Heaven Dou City?
And he was even planning to take his disciples to the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, trying to make a name for himself?
All at once, Bibi Dong's mind flashed with the various vile deeds Yu Xiaogang had committed, as recorded in the secret letter.
Not only had that man abandoned her, but now he was comfortably enjoying Liu Erlong's resources, even daring to try to cultivate some kind of genius to prove himself.
"Yu Xiaogang..."
Bibi Dong's voice was low, carrying a bone-chilling coldness.
She would absolutely not allow that man to succeed again.
She would crush Yu Xiaogang's only hope—the so-called Shrek Team—beneath her feet.
She would make that man understand that his so-called Martial Soul Theory was nothing but a piece of worthless paper that would tear at the slightest poke when faced with true strength.
"The Grand Spirit Fighting Arena, is it..."
Bibi Dong gave a cold snort.
She turned to the Red-Robed Cardinal standing at her side.
"Go. Send my secret order and have Salas, who's in Heaven Dou City, cooperate."
"Also, bring Qin Feng to Pope Palace."
"I want to meet him in person."
The Red-Robed Cardinal accepted the order nervously and hurriedly bowed as he withdrew.
Bibi Dong slowly leaned back in her chair.
She looked at the secret letter in her hand. It recorded how Qin Feng had displayed his Golden Dragon and Ice Phoenix Twin Martial Souls in Sunset Forest, along with three black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
She could hardly believe that such an extraordinary monster, one who defied all convention, truly existed in this world.
He could even casually send out a fragment of a ten-thousand-year-old Soul Beast core as a red packet.
"Qin Feng... just how many secrets are you hiding?"
Bibi Dong murmured softly.
Half a day later, an understated yet luxurious carriage came to a slow stop at the back gate of Pope Palace in Spirit City.
Escorted by several temple knights, Qin Feng walked step by step down a quiet corridor and into this heavily guarded supreme sanctuary.
He wore a simple white robe, with a smooth jade pendant hanging at his waist, and carried himself with graceful ease.
The moment Qin Feng stepped into the great hall of Pope Palace, the first person he saw was Bibi Dong, seated upon the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Throne.
Noble, elegant, imposing.
Seated there, she seemed like a deity who held the fate of all living beings in her hands, someone no one dared look at directly.
However, as Qin Feng looked at the imposing Pope, a rather strange scene surfaced in his mind: the sight of her and Liu Erlong tearing into each other like shrews in the group chat just moments ago.
Who would've thought that the short-tempered Pope, who'd been shouting in the group about "going through the internet cable to beat someone up," would be so composed and elegant in person?
Qin Feng silently grumbled to himself.
The contrast was just too great.
If the system hadn't confirmed her identity, he might've wondered whether he'd mistaken her for someone else.
"Are you Qin Feng?"
On the throne, Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes.
Her voice was calm, yet carried an invisible pressure that echoed through the spacious hall.
Qin Feng remained composed and bowed slightly.
"Qin Feng, a disciple of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, greets Your Holiness the Pope."
His manner was neither servile nor arrogant, without any of the fear or trembling that ordinary Soul Masters showed when meeting the Pope.
A hint of approval flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes.
In terms of composure alone, this young man far surpassed his peers.
"I've heard your name."
Bibi Dong rose, took up the scepter, and slowly descended the steps.
Her luxurious robe trailed along the floor, making a soft rustling sound.
"Salas mentioned quite a few things about you in the secret letter he sent me."
"In the East Palace, you once released three black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings?"
Bibi Dong stopped ten paces from Qin Feng, her beautiful eyes fixed straight on him.
Qin Feng met her gaze and smiled faintly.
"Your Holiness, seeing is believing, but hearing is not."
"Since you have doubts, allow me to demonstrate."
As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Feng stepped forward.
Boom!
A wild and heavy surge of Soul Power burst from his body in an instant.
A loud dragon's roar and a clear phoenix's cry rang out together in the hall.
Behind Qin Feng, a Golden Dragon, pure gold and radiating boundless majesty, and an Ice Phoenix, shrouded in icy-blue flames, slowly appeared.
Two ultimate Martial Souls appeared at once. The temperature in the hall plummeted, and a thick layer of frost formed across the floor, while the space itself filled with pressure as heavy as a mountain.
Yet that wasn't all.
Before Bibi Dong's constricted pupils, three pitch-black Soul Rings slowly rose from beneath Qin Feng's feet.
Black.
Black.
Black.
The three Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings radiated deep, terrifying light as they slowly revolved around Qin Feng.
The terrifying energy fluctuations were absolutely genuine.
The great hall of Pope Palace fell into deathly silence.
Even Bibi Dong, who was widely traveled and possessed Twin Martial Souls herself, was left rooted to the spot when she saw this with her own eyes.
Her hand clenched the Pope Scepter tightly, her knuckles turning faintly white from the strain.
Without relying on any external aid, all three of his Soul Rings were Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
This had already surpassed the conventions of Martial Souls on the Douluo Continent.
"This... how is this possible..."
Bibi Dong marveled inwardly, her breathing growing a little uneven.
She stared at the three black Soul Rings, her shock surging like storm-tossed waves.
If she'd still harbored doubts when she read the secret letter, now every last one had been shattered without mercy.
The young man before her was a true monster.
A monster who surpassed even the gods' definition of one.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the turmoil within her.
She gazed intently at Qin Feng, all kinds of thoughts racing through her mind.
She absolutely couldn't let that old man from the Worship Hall learn about such a terrifying genius.
Qian Daoliu was guarding that Qian Renxue. If they managed to win Qin Feng over too, the future of Spirit Hall would be controlled by the Qian Family for generations to come.
She, Bibi Dong, would never tolerate that.
This young man had to belong to her faction.
With that thought, Bibi Dong's gaze softened considerably as she looked at Qin Feng, and a deep appreciation she could hardly conceal shone in her eyes.
Bibi Dong slowly spoke, much of the coldness gone from her voice.
"The strength you've shown is worthy of the regard I have for you."
Qin Feng withdrew his Martial Souls and Soul Rings, and the terrifying pressure in the hall instantly vanished.
He brushed his sleeves and remained as composed as ever.
"Thank you for your praise, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong walked back to the throne and sat down again.
She looked at Qin Feng, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.
"There's a task I need you to carry out."
"Tonight, a team called Shrek will be at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena."
"Their leader is a fraud who calls himself a Grandmaster of theory."
At the words "Grandmaster of theory," Bibi Dong's teeth clenched slightly, and a chill flashed through her eyes.
"I want you to take Spirit Hall's Golden Generation and give them a lesson they'll never forget."
"Shatter their arrogance and show them what true strength is."
Qin Feng's heart stirred at her words.
He was supposed to lead a team and make trouble for Shrek?
That did sound like an interesting assignment.
Besides, he'd long been fed up with Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and the others.
"I'll obey your command, Your Holiness."
Qin Feng bowed and accepted.
Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction.
"Nana and the others are already waiting outside."
"You'll lead this operation. Xie Yue, Yan, and Dugu Bo's granddaughter, Dugu Yan, will all follow your orders."
"I'll await news of your triumphant return here in Spirit City."
Qin Feng smiled faintly and turned to walk out of the hall.
The doors slowly opened, sunlight spilling over him and drawing a long shadow behind him.
Watching Qin Feng's departing figure, Bibi Dong leaned back against the throne and slowly closed her eyes.
"Yu Xiaogang..."
"Let's see how many rounds your so-called theory can last against absolute strength."
Outside Pope Palace, the sun shone brightly.
Four young figures stood quietly on the broad white jade plaza.
They were none other than the Spirit Hall Golden Generation's Xie Yue, Yan, and Hu Liena, along with Dugu Yan, who had arrived in Spirit City not long ago.
The doors slowly opened.
Qin Feng stepped out.
Dressed in white, he carried himself with ease.
Hu Liena's eyes lit up, and she quickly hurried forward, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
"Qin Feng."
"What did Teacher Pope want with you?"
Hu Liena's voice held a hint of tenderness as she moved close to Qin Feng, leaving barely any space between them.
Dugu Yan obediently followed as well, standing behind Qin Feng like a maid and handing him a clean silk handkerchief.
At the sight, Xie Yue and Yan, not far away, instantly darkened their expressions.
Yan's eyes were practically spitting fire.
Who in all of Spirit Hall didn't know he'd been secretly in love with Hu Liena?
Usually, Hu Liena barely gave him the time of day, sometimes hardly speaking to him at all.
But now, in front of this brat called Qin Feng, Hu Liena was practically a different person—so gentle it drove him mad.
Xie Yue looked no happier.
As Hu Liena's older brother, he'd protected his little sister in the palm of his hand since they were children.
That white-clad brat who'd suddenly appeared before him was the spitting image of some slick-haired punk who'd stolen his sister's heart.
Xie Yue let out a heavy snort and strode forward.
"You're Qin Feng?"
"From what His Holiness the Pope said, we're supposed to take orders from you during this operation at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena?"
Xie Yue gave Qin Feng a scrutinizing look from head to toe.
Qin Feng took the handkerchief Dugu Yan had offered and wiped his hands, then nodded casually.
"That's right."
Yan could no longer hold back his anger. He strode forward, and the floor gave a dull thud beneath his foot.
"What makes you think you can?"
"What are you, to think you're fit to command the Golden Generation?"
"Nana's still naive. You fooled her with that pretty face of yours, but I'm not falling for it!"
Yan glared at Qin Feng, his fists clenching with a crackle.
Seeing this, Hu Liena immediately turned and stepped in front of Qin Feng, her brows knitting.
"Yan, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"This is Teacher Pope's order. Are you saying you dare disobey?"
Hu Liena's defense of Qin Feng only added fuel to the fire.