Spirit Hall's Gaze! Bibi Dong's Wariness!

Spirit City.

Pope Palace.

This magnificent structure stood at the very center of Spirit City, built entirely from massive white stone and radiating a holy glow beneath the sunlight.

Yet in the deepest reaches of this sacred hall, an oppressive aura hung in the air.

It was the majesty of the Pope.

Above the grand hall, an enormous golden throne sat atop a raised platform, and a woman was seated upon it.

She wore magnificent papal robes, a Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown, and held a scepter, radiating a powerful, icy presence.

Her beauty was unparalleled, yet her violet eyes carried a bottomless chill, as though they could devour all light.

She was Bibi Dong, the Pope of Spirit Hall.

At this time, she was merely a Super Douluo!

At that moment, Bibi Dong was looking down at a secret report in her hand. Her violet eyes narrowed slightly, and a complicated glint flashed within them.

"Radiant Phoenix..."

She softly murmured those four words, her tone carrying a hint of disgust.

Light.

It was the attribute she loathed most.

Without exception.

Because everything she once had had been buried in darkness.

Those unbearable memories, those unforgettable pains, had nothing to do with the word "light."

All she had experienced was darkness, deception, and betrayal.

Now, a child with the Radiant Phoenix Spirit had appeared, joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, become Ning Fengzhi's disciple, and entered into a marriage alliance with Ning Rongrong.

An indescribable discomfort rose within her.

"Your Holiness."

Below the hall, a man in black robes knelt on one knee, his head respectfully lowered.

He was the head of Spirit Hall's intelligence network, Shadow Thirteen.

"Has this report been confirmed?"

Bibi Dong set down the secret report in her hand and turned her gaze toward Shadow Thirteen.

"Reporting to Your Holiness, I have verified it repeatedly. The information is largely true."

Shadow Thirteen's voice was low and respectful.

"Largely true?"

Bibi Dong's tone rose slightly, carrying a trace of displeasure.

"So there are still uncertain details?"

Cold sweat beaded on Shadow Thirteen's forehead as he hastily explained, "Please calm your anger, Your Holiness. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has kept this matter extremely confidential. Even our informants planted within the sect have been unable to approach its core areas."

"We only know that the child is named Zhao Tian. He is six years old and grew up at Seven Treasures Orphanage. On the day his spirit awakened, the light of the Radiant Phoenix shot into the sky, and a steward of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect took him away on the spot."

"After that, he took Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong as his masters. He was named the young sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and entered into a marriage alliance with Ning Rongrong, Ning Fengzhi's daughter."

"As for his Innate Full Soul Power and his true Soul Power Level, we have yet to confirm them."

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment after hearing this.

"Radiant Phoenix... young sect master... marriage alliance..."

She repeated those key words one by one, a thoughtful glimmer flickering in her violet eyes.

"Ning Fengzhi, you truly played your hand well."

Bibi Dong sneered.

"You took in a child with the Radiant Phoenix Spirit and had him enter a marriage alliance with your own daughter. This way, the child will be completely bound to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"Together with your daughter, who awakened the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda, one can attack while the other supports. If they mature in the future, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength will become unprecedented."

As Bibi Dong spoke, her tone grew colder.

"It seems Ning Fengzhi has been planning for the future."

Shadow Thirteen kept his head lowered and did not dare respond.

This was the Pope's own musing, not something he could interrupt.

"Will the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect send this child to participate in the Preliminary Selection Tournament?"

Bibi Dong asked.

"Reporting to Your Holiness, according to our intelligence, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is indeed preparing for this competition. Zhao Tian should represent the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in battle."

Shadow Thirteen answered truthfully.

"What about Ning Fengzhi's daughter? Will that child named Ning Rongrong participate?"

Bibi Dong pressed on.

"This... is currently unclear."

Shadow Thirteen shook his head.

"Although Ning Rongrong is the eldest young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, she is only six years old and awakened her spirit not long ago. She may not participate."

"May not?"

Bibi Dong snorted coldly.

"Shadow Thirteen, your intelligence work is disappointing me more and more."

"Please forgive me, Your Holiness!"

Shadow Thirteen hurriedly kowtowed, pressing his forehead to the floor and not daring to raise his head.

Bibi Dong did not pursue the matter further. Instead, she waved her hand.

"Leave. Continue gathering information. Before the competition begins, I want a definite answer."

"Yes! I take my leave!"

As though granted amnesty, Shadow Thirteen rose, backed away a few steps, then turned and quickly left Pope Palace.

Only Bibi Dong remained in the hall.

She leaned back against the golden throne, her violet eyes fixed on the murals overhead as she sank into thought.

Radiant Phoenix.

That spirit brought back many memories she did not wish to revisit.

"Light..."

Bibi Dong repeated the word softly, disgust flashing through her eyes.

"Does light truly exist in this world?"

She gave a self-mocking smile, one tinged with bitterness and irony.

She had once believed in light, in love, and in the future.

But reality had told her that all of it was false.

All of it was a lie.

The true world held only the law of the strong devouring the weak, only darkness and cruelty.

So-called "light" was merely a tool used by the strong to embellish themselves.

"This competition..."

Bibi Dong drew back her thoughts, her gaze sharpening.

"I want to see just how capable this genius you have hidden for so long truly is, Ning Fengzhi."

"Radiant Phoenix... Innate Full Soul Power..."

"If the information is true, then this child must be taken seriously."

Bibi Dong was not someone who underestimated her opponents.

Quite the opposite, she was an extremely cautious person.

Any factor that might threaten Spirit Hall's future plans would be considered and prepared for in advance.

If a soul master with the Radiant Phoenix Spirit truly grew up, he would undoubtedly become an enormous threat.

What was more, this child had joined the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and entered into a marriage alliance with Ning Fengzhi's daughter. It was almost impossible for Spirit Hall to recruit him.

A person like this could either be allowed to grow, only to become an obstacle in Spirit Hall's path.

Or... before he had fully grown, be strangled in the cradle.

A flash of killing intent passed through Bibi Dong's eyes.

But she quickly suppressed it.

Now was not the time to act.

With two Title Douluo, Chen Xin and Gu Rong, guarding the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, its defenses were airtight. Assassinating a heavily protected genius was nearly impossible.

Moreover, once they acted, it would mean completely tearing apart relations with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Though Spirit Hall was powerful, it was not yet at the point where it could make enemies of the Upper Three Sects at once.

At least, not yet.

"Then we shall wait until after the competition before making a decision."

Bibi Dong made her choice.

If the child called Zhao Tian was merely famous without substance, then there would be nothing to fear.

But if he truly was as exceptional as the intelligence claimed...

Then preparations had to be made in advance.