If the Master Himself Were Here, Then Fine. A junior from the Qian Family, you are not qualified enough to make this seat release them.

Qin Zheng slowly turned his gaze toward the dark green energy figure within the Formless Wall.

His pitch-black eyes showed not the slightest ripple.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke.

"She bore descendants for the Qian Family."

"She has indeed rendered merit."

His calm voice, carrying a trace of indifference, slowly rang out.

Boom—!

Those words exploded beside everyone's ears like a thunderclap!

Rendered merit?!

The ancestor said... Her Holiness the Pope had rendered merit?!

Did that mean... the ancestor was going to spare Her Holiness the Pope?!

For a moment, that thought arose in everyone's mind.

In the plaza.

The Spirit Hall disciples, deacons, and guards exchanged glances, each seeing relief in the others' eyes.

Thank goodness.

Thank goodness the ancestor was willing to show mercy.

After all, no matter what, she was still the Pope of Spirit Hall.

And... she was also the young mistress's birth mother.

If she were truly dealt with just like that, it would be a devastating blow to Spirit Hall!

Besides, the young mistress was still so young...

If she lost her mother, it would be too pitiful.

Before the angel statue.

Qian Daoliu also let out a long breath of relief.

Thank goodness.

Thank goodness the ancestor was willing to grant this favor.

At least he would not kill Xue'er's birth mother before her very eyes.

The weight hanging over Qian Daoliu's heart finally lifted.

He bowed deeply toward Qin Zheng.

"Ancestor, you are wise."

His voice carried a trace of immense relief.

Within the Formless Wall.

Bibi Dong was also slightly stunned.

She stopped struggling and stared blankly at the black-robed figure outside the white wall.

Merit...?

He said... she had rendered merit?

An exceedingly complicated emotion arose in Bibi Dong's heart.

There was mockery, and there was bitterness...

She had borne Qian Renxue for the Qian Family...

In Qian Daoliu's eyes, that was guilt, that was compensation.

In the eyes of Spirit Hall's people, that was inheritance, that was hope.

But in her own eyes...

It was humiliation, hatred, a nightmare she could never escape for the rest of her life.

And now...

This so-called "ancestor" who had appeared out of nowhere actually said... she had rendered merit?

And on that basis, pardoned her so-called "crime"?

How... ridiculous and absurd.

Bibi Dong laughed at herself, and her energy body rippled faintly.

However.

Just when everyone thought Qin Zheng was going to spare Bibi Dong.

Qin Zheng suddenly changed the subject.

"Unfortunately."

The two quiet words rang out slowly, carrying a trace of cold indifference.

Boom—!

Those two words struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer!

Unfortunately?!

Unfortunately what?!

Everyone froze.

They abruptly raised their heads, staring fixedly at the black-robed figure in the center of the plaza.

Their eyes were filled with confusion and incomprehension.

Hadn't he said she had merits?

Then what did "unfortunately" mean...?

Before the Angel statue.

Qian Daoliu was also slightly stunned.

He raised his head and looked at Qin Zheng, his eyes full of confusion.

Unfortunately?

What did the ancestor... mean?

At the center of the plaza.

Qin Zheng stood quietly, his dark black dragon robe billowing in the wind.

"If Teacher were here."

"I would naturally spare her for the Qian Family's sake."

"After all, she bore descendants for the Qian Family. That is a fact."

He paused, and a trace of icy indifference flashed through his pitch-black eyes.

"As for you..."

His gaze fell upon Qian Daoliu before the Angel statue.

"You are not enough to make me show mercy."

"Nor are you qualified to make me acknowledge her as the Pope of Spirit Hall, commanding Spirit Hall."

Boom—!!!

The instant those final words fell!

The entire plaza fell deathly silent!

A needle could have been heard dropping!

Everyone stood frozen where they were.

Their eyes widened, mouths agape, as they stared fixedly at the black-robed figure in the center of the plaza.

The expressions on their faces shifted from relief, to astonishment, and then... utter shock.

N-Not enough?!

The Grand Priest... wasn't qualified?!

My god!

Wasn't this far too overbearing?!

That was the Grand Priest!

A level ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo, inheritor of the Angel God's divine trial, the pillar holding up Spirit Hall!

Yet in the ancestor's eyes... he actually wasn't qualified?!

And...

He refused to acknowledge Bibi Dong as the Pope of Spirit Hall?!

Did that mean... the ancestor intended to strip Bibi Dong of her position as Pope?!

For a moment, everyone sucked in a sharp breath.

"Gulp..."

Someone swallowed audibly.

The sound rang out with exceptional clarity across the deathly silent plaza.

Before the angel statue.

Qian Daoliu was completely stunned as well.

He stood rooted to the spot, his body trembling slightly, his face filled with disbelief.

Not... qualified?!

He... wasn't qualified?!

Qian Daoliu opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

But when the words reached his lips, he could not force them out.

Because... he knew Qin Zheng was speaking the truth.

Given the ancestor's strength, given the ancestor's status.

He, Qian Daoliu, truly... was not qualified.

Qian Daoliu fell silent.

He stood there with a complicated expression, saying nothing.

Within the Formless Wall.

Bibi Dong had frozen in place as well.

Her energy form fluctuated violently.

Not qualified...

Qian Daoliu... wasn't qualified?!

Then what about her?

What did she, Bibi Dong, amount to?

A deep sense of humiliation and unwillingness rose within Bibi Dong.

But even more than that... was helplessness.

That was right.

Before this ancestor, what was she?

Her position as Pope, her strength as a Limit Douluo, her Rakshasa God Trial...

In this ancestor's eyes, they were probably all like ants, not worth mentioning.

Bibi Dong gave a self-mocking laugh, her energy form rippling faintly.

She closed her eyes and stopped struggling.

So be it.

Things had come to this.

Kill or torture her as he pleased.

She, Bibi Dong, could afford to lose.

At the center of the plaza.

Qin Zheng looked at Qian Daoliu in that state, and not a ripple stirred in his pitch-black eyes.

He slowly spoke, his voice calm.

"If you have nothing else to say."

"Then you may withdraw."

Boom—!

Those words struck Qian Daoliu's heart like an order to leave!

Withdraw?!

Qian Daoliu raised his head and looked at Qin Zheng, his eyes full of complicated emotions.

He knew this was the ancestor's final chance for him.

If he withdrew now, then Bibi Dong... would truly be finished.

But if he did not withdraw...

What could he do?

Fight?

Not only would Spirit Hall be disgraced from this day forward, but in terms of combat strength alone, he was no match for the ancestor at all.

He did not even have the qualifications to make the other party take him seriously. How was he supposed to fight?

Qian Daoliu fell silent.

He stood where he was, his body trembling slightly, his expression complicated.

On the plaza, everyone held their breath.

The atmosphere had grown tense to the extreme.

They watched the figure before the angel statue, all silently wondering.

What would the Grand Worshipper... do?

Would he retreat now, or...

At last.

After a long silence.

Qian Daoliu took a deep breath and slowly raised his head.

He looked at the black-robed figure in the center of the plaza, a trace of resolve appearing on his handsome face.

"Ancestor!"

He suddenly spoke, his voice ringing loud and clear.

"This junior... still has something to say!"

Qin Zheng's brows furrowed slightly at those words.

A faint trace of impatience flickered through his pitch-black eyes.

This junior of the Qian Family...

He really was long-winded.

He fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"Speak."

That single indifferent word carried a hint of coldness.

"This is your last sentence."

"You'd best think carefully about what you should say."

Boom—!

The instant those final words fell!

A faint pressure quietly spread through the air.

Though it was nowhere near as terrifying as before, it still made everyone's hearts tighten.

They knew that the ancestor was... truly becoming impatient.

If Qian Daoliu still could not say anything worthwhile...

The consequences would likely be unimaginable.