Old Ancestor, the previous Martial Soul Pope was a descendant of the Qian Family and was killed by people from the Clear Sky Sect!

Qin Zheng looked at Qian Daoliu, who was bowing in salute. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke.

"Speak."

The single indifferent word carried a trace of coldness.

"I'll give you a chance."

"But only one."

"Make yourself clear."

"If you can't, then shut up."

Boom—!

Those words were like a heavy hammer crashing fiercely into Qian Daoliu's heart!

His body trembled slightly, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

He knew.

This was the ancestor's final chance for him.

If he failed to explain himself well...

Qian Daoliu took a deep breath and slowly straightened.

He raised his head and looked at the black-robed figure in the center of the square, a complicated emotion on his handsome face.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke.

"Ancestor."

"The elders committed wrongs earlier, so they should be punished."

"Your punishment was fair."

"If it had been me, I would have done the same."

He paused, his tone turning slightly grave.

"Snake Spear Douluo defied his superior and attacked the ancestor. He even nearly harmed the young master. His crime warranted death."

"The other six elders aided evil and offended heavenly authority. Crippling their martial souls was also only reasonable."

"This junior... has no objections."

As his words fell.

Everyone in the square was stunned.

The Grand Priest... actually agreed with the ancestor's actions?!

And... he had even said that he would have done the same?!

The six elders whose martial souls had been crippled wore bitter expressions upon hearing this.

If they were given another chance, they definitely would not have fought Qin Zheng!

At the center of the square.

Qin Zheng quietly watched Qian Daoliu, not the slightest ripple in his dark eyes.

He said nothing.

He simply listened in silence.

As though waiting for him to continue.

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu felt slightly relieved.

The ancestor had not interrupted him. That meant... there was still hope.

He steadied himself and continued.

"But... the Pope is different."

"Although the current Pope is not a member of the Qian Family."

"She does share a bond with the Qian Family that cannot easily be severed."

"And it was because of this that she was able to sit in the Pope's position."

As those words fell.

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

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

There was mockery, bitterness, and a trace of... something that moved her, though even she had not noticed it.

Qian Daoliu... would actually say something like that?

A bond that could not be severed?

What kind of bond was that?

Was it the bond forged by personally killing his son?

At the center of the plaza.

Qin Zheng quietly watched Qian Daoliu, not a ripple in his pitch-black eyes.

He was silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Is that so?"

Two mild words, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"A bond that cannot easily be severed."

"Are you sure?"

His tone was calm.

Yet for some reason.

Qian Daoliu heard a faint trace of mockery in that calm tone.

His heart tightened, and he quickly cupped his hands.

"In reply to Ancestor, that is indeed the case."

"This junior... would not dare deceive Ancestor."

His attitude was utterly sincere.

But Qin Zheng merely smiled indifferently.

"Interesting."

"I was unaware that, these days, anyone with ties to the Qian Family could become the Pope of Spirit Hall."

He paused, a faintly amused glint passing through his pitch-black eyes.

"If that is the case."

"Then can the consecrated elders and elders present here also take the seat?"

"Or has the Qian Family been completely wiped out, leaving no choice but to let her take it?"

"Or perhaps..."

His gaze rested on Qian Daoliu, full of meaning.

"This was merely a decision you made on your own?"

Boom—!!!

The instant those final words fell!

Qian Daoliu's entire body stiffened abruptly!

His back was instantly drenched in cold sweat!

His pupils contracted sharply, his face filled with shock and disbelief.

Ancestor... had actually seen through it?!

And... seen through it so thoroughly?!

What he had said just now had indeed been evasive.

He had neither said that Bibi Dong belonged to the Qian Family, nor said that she did not.

He had only used the vague phrase "a bond that cannot easily be severed," hoping to muddle through.

First, it would preserve Bibi Dong's position as Pope.

Second, it would keep the Qian Family's reputation from being damaged.

Third, it would make it difficult for Ancestor to take action against Bibi Dong again.

After all... she had ties to the Qian Family. Surely he could not disregard the Qian Family?

He had thought his words were flawless.

Yet unexpectedly...

Ancestor had seen through his intentions at a glance!

And... exposed them outright!

Indeed, the Qian Family had not been wiped out.

No matter what, it was not an outsider's turn to become Pope.

And what surprised him even more was—

Ancestor had seen through his thoughts at a glance and had even guessed that it was not because Bibi Dong was the only one who could serve as Pope.

Rather, he... had selfish motives!

Qian Daoliu stood where he was, his body trembling slightly as cold sweat streamed down his back.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But when the words reached his lips, he simply could not speak them.

Because... he did not know how to explain.

Any explanation would seem so pale and powerless before Qin Zheng.

On the plaza.

The five worshippers standing beside Qian Daoliu also had slight changes in expression.

They exchanged glances, each seeing deep shock and helplessness in the others' eyes.

They were not fools either.

From the moment Qian Daoliu had overruled all objections and made Bibi Dong the Pope, they had known there had to be some hidden reason behind it.

It was just... they had not expected the old ancestor to see through it so quickly.

And... to force Qian Daoliu into speaking.

Now then...

There was going to be quite a show.

At the center of the plaza.

Qin Zheng quietly watched Qian Daoliu, not a ripple stirring in his pitch-black eyes.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke.

"Junior of the Qian Family."

"I shall give you the chance to speak."

"You had best seize it."

"If I dislike your next words."

"Then you may withdraw."

Qian Daoliu fell silent.

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

Everyone in the plaza held their breath.

The atmosphere had become oppressive to the extreme.

They knew.

What came next might involve Spirit Hall's greatest secret.

At last.

After a long silence.

Qian Daoliu slowly raised his head and looked toward the black-robed figure at the center of the plaza.

He took a deep breath and slowly spoke.

"To be honest with you, Old Ancestor."

"The Qian Family's bloodline has indeed never been cut off."

"This junior... truly had selfish motives."

BOOM—!!!

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

The entire venue fell deathly silent!

A pin drop could be heard!

Everyone froze where they stood.

Their eyes widened, their mouths hung open, and they stared fixedly at the figure before the angel statue. The High Priest... had actually admitted it?!

He... truly had selfish motives?!

My heavens!

What... were those selfish motives?

The five worshippers standing beside Qian Daoliu also had slight changes in expression.

They exchanged glances, each seeing profound meaning in the others' eyes.

As expected.

They had guessed right.

There was indeed more to this.

Now, under the ancestor's overwhelming pressure, was the Grand Worshipper finally going to speak?

At the center of the plaza.

Qin Zheng quietly watched Qian Daoliu, not a ripple stirring in his pitch-black eyes.

He said nothing.

He merely watched in silence.

As though waiting for him to continue.

Seeing this, Qian Daoliu drew a deep breath and slowly spoke.

"This junior is already advanced in years."

"How many years I have left to live, I do not know."

"And this junior's only descendant has already been killed by someone from the Clear Sky Sect!"

He paused, his voice trembling slightly.

"Tell me, after suffering such a blow, do you think I still have the heart and strength to preside over the position of Spirit Hall's Pope?"