Today, I reclaim the power of punishment and judge Bibi Dong! (Seeking follow-up reads)

Qin Zheng slowly withdrew his gaze and turned to the crowd kneeling across the plaza.

His calm voice rang out once more.

"Those I judged earlier were all outsiders."

"Though guilty, they had acted under orders."

"While I dealt with them, I was not angered."

He paused, and his tone suddenly turned cold.

"But now, as for the one capable of commanding several Titled Douluo—"

"That is who truly angers me!"

Boom—!!

Those words were like thunder from the nine heavens, crashing down upon everyone's heads!

The entire venue fell deathly silent!

A pin could have been heard dropping!

Everyone froze in place, eyes wide and mouths agape.

Someone capable of commanding several Titled Douluo...

Wasn't that... Her Holiness the Pope?!

The ancestor was... angry at Her Holiness the Pope?!

For a moment, intense shock and fear rose in everyone's hearts.

They exchanged glances, each seeing the deep fear in the others' eyes.

Could it be...

The ancestor intended to execute Her Holiness the Pope just as he had executed Snake Spear Douluo?!

At the thought of that possibility, everyone swallowed hard.

"Gulp..."

Someone's swallow echoed with exceptional clarity across the deathly silent plaza.

Yet no one dared laugh.

Because they were afraid.

Truly afraid.

Qin Zheng's authority had already been carved into their very bones by the outcome of the seven Titled Douluo elders—one dead and seven crippled.

He could kill Titled Douluo at will.

So what were ordinary soul masters, stewards, and guards like them... before the ancestor?

They were likely worth less than ants.

For a time, everyone lowered their heads, staring fixedly at the ground.

None of them even dared breathe too loudly.

They feared that one careless move might provoke this temperamental ancestor.

As Qin Zheng looked at the utterly silent crowd below, a faint trace of satisfaction flashed through his dark eyes.

Good.

This was exactly the effect he wanted.

He had established his authority well enough.

Next, it was time to handle the real matter.

He slowly opened his mouth. His voice was calm, yet it spread clearly throughout all of Spirit City.

"The root of what angers me—"

"Is precisely this so-called Pope of today!"

"This matter has greatly disappointed me."

He paused, and his tone abruptly sank.

"What angers me even more!"

"Is that this person is not a member of the Qian Family."

"Since when has the one in charge of Spirit Hall not been a member of the Qian Family?"

"Can anyone present answer me?"

Boom—!!!

The instant those final words fell!

The entire venue once again sank into dead silence!

Everyone froze where they stood.

Yet no one dared to speak.

What could they, as disciples of Spirit Hall, possibly say?

They simply did not dare!

As for the deacons and worshippers... there was even less to say.

Who the Pope of Spirit Hall was—was that something they had the right to decide?

Perhaps... only the Grand Worshipper, Qian Daoliu, could explain it.

Having thought of this, the five worshippers discreetly glanced at Qian Daoliu beside them, their eyes carrying a trace of inquiry.

But Qian Daoliu remained silent, without uttering a single word.

It seemed as though he simply chose not to speak.

But in truth... even Qian Daoliu did not know how to explain it.

Because if he were to reveal the crucial reason he had allowed Bibi Dong to become Pope...

Then from this day onward, the Qian Family's reputation would be utterly ruined.

And Spirit Hall would become the laughingstock of the entire continent.

Qian Xunji...

That unfilial bastard!

How could he possibly bring himself to speak of those filthy things he had done?!

Qian Daoliu clenched his teeth. His handsome face was filled with bitterness and helplessness.

What could he say?

That his son had defiled Bibi Dong?

That Bibi Dong had remained in Spirit Hall only to take revenge?

That he had tacitly permitted Bibi Dong to succeed as Pope because he felt guilty?

How could he possibly say such things?!

Did the Qian Family's dignity and Spirit Hall's dignity... no longer matter?!

Qian Daoliu fell silent.

Standing before the angel statue, his body trembled slightly as he said nothing.

For a time, the entire venue was frighteningly quiet.

Only the wind howled past their ears.

And... the heavy breathing of the crowd.

Everyone lowered their heads, staring fixedly at the ground.

They did not even dare to breathe too loudly.

The atmosphere was oppressive to the extreme.

At the center of the square.

Qin Zheng looked at the utterly silent crowd below, then at the wordless Qian Daoliu. A faint trace of mockery flickered through his pitch-black eyes.

"It seems none of you can give me an explanation."

His calm voice slowly rang out.

It carried a hint of indifference, and a hint of coldness.

"Since that is the case."

"I shall cleanse Spirit Hall on your behalf."

"From this day forth, I shall once again hold authority over Spirit Hall and preside over its punishments."

"I hereby announce..."

He paused, about to continue.

But at that very moment!

"Ancestor!"

An urgent cry suddenly rang out!

It was Qian Daoliu!

He suddenly raised his head and looked toward the black-robed youth in the center of the square, his handsome face filled with urgency and gravity.

Boom—!

Those words plunged the entire venue into silence!

Everyone abruptly raised their heads and looked toward the angel statue!

The High Priest... he... he actually dared to interrupt the ancestor?!

Did he... did he have a death wish?!

For a moment, everyone's hearts were filled with intense shock and worry.

The way they looked at Qian Daoliu was full of sympathy.

The High Priest... was done for!

Even Bibi Dong, sealed within the Formless Wall, stopped struggling.

She tilted her head slightly and looked at Qian Daoliu before the angel statue, a complicated emotion flashing through her eyes.

At the center of the square.

Qin Zheng slowly turned his head and looked at Qian Daoliu before the angel statue.

There was not the slightest ripple in his pitch-black eyes.

Yet the invisible pressure around him quietly became even more terrifying.

"Youngster of the Qian Family."

His calm voice slowly rang out.

It carried a trace of coldness, a trace of indifference.

"Earlier, because you are my teacher's direct descendant, I did not force you to kneel."

"And now, you interrupted me while I was speaking."

"Do you know that I hate being interrupted when I speak?"

He paused, and his tone suddenly turned cold.

"If you were not my teacher's direct junior."

"You would not escape my punishment today!"

Boom—!!

The instant those final words fell!

Buzz—!

An incomparably terrifying pressure suddenly erupted from Qin Zheng's body!

Like an ancient divine mountain crashing down!

Qian Daoliu bore the brunt of it!

"Pfft—!"

He violently spat out a mouthful of blood, staggering back several steps!

His face instantly turned pale as paper!

The soul power of a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo was actually as fragile as an ant beneath that terrifying pressure!

"Cough, cough..."

Qian Daoliu coughed violently, blood continuously spilling from the corner of his mouth.

He raised his head and looked at the black-robed figure in the center of the square, his eyes filled with utmost awe and horror.

Too strong.

Far too strong.

So strong that... he could not muster even the slightest thought of resistance.

"Ancestor, please calm your anger."

Qian Daoliu gave a bitter smile and slowly bowed in salute.

"This junior was wrong."

"I beg Ancestor's forgiveness."

"This junior only has a few words to say. After I am finished, if Ancestor feels that everything I said is without reason, then from then on, all affairs of Spirit Hall shall be handled by Ancestor!"

His posture was humble, his attitude respectful.

There was no trace left of the High Priest's usual bearing!