Report Tang San Directly to Spirit Hall!

He had already begun plotting all sorts of revenge—ambushing Xiao Lin with Tang Sect hidden weapons, poisoning him, or waiting until he broke through to Soul King and defeating Xiao Lin head-on, then grinding him beneath his feet in front of Xiao Wu... Every scenario filled him with a twisted sense of pleasure.

But what he did not know was that while he plotted how to retaliate against Xiao Lin, a storm targeting him was already quietly brewing at the very heart of Spirit Hall's power.

Spirit City, Pope Palace.

The towering palace stood at the city's highest point, built entirely from massive white stones that glimmered with holy radiance beneath the sun.

The palace interior was even more resplendent. A mural of Angel Descent covered the enormous dome, its six pairs of white wings seeming ready to spread and take flight beneath the candlelight.

Deep within the Pope Palace, a dignified and luxurious figure sat upon a throne carved from a single block of jade.

She looked barely over twenty, with skin as white as snow and exquisitely beautiful features. Her golden papal robes made her appear like a goddess descended into the world.

Time seemed especially kind to this woman. Though she was actually over forty years old, her beauty remained like a blooming peony—still graceful, still captivating.

She was Spirit Hall's current pope—Bibi Dong.

A level ninety-eight Super Douluo, one of the continent's most formidable experts.

At that moment, Bibi Dong sat on her throne with a secret report that had just arrived from the Heaven Dou City Branch Hall in her hand. Her originally languid expression turned solemn and excited after she finished reading it.

"Tang Hao... has a son?" Her voice was low and magnetic, carrying a trace of barely suppressed delight. "He publicly revealed the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul outside Heaven Dou Royal Academy?"

"Yes, Your Holiness." A red-robed bishop kneeling on one knee below the throne answered respectfully.

"According to the information sent by the Heaven Dou City Branch Hall, several hundred people were present at the time and personally witnessed that youth using the Clear Sky Hammer. Furthermore, his surname is Tang, he is around fourteen years old, and he completely matches the characteristics of Tang Hao's son."

Bibi Dong slowly rose and walked toward the window. Gazing out over the vast panorama of Spirit City, a meaningful smile curved across her lips.

Tang Hao.

His name had been on Spirit Hall's wanted list for more than a decade. He was Spirit Hall's most wanted criminal, as well as its greatest disgrace.

Back then, it had been during the pursuit of Tang Hao and his wife that the previous pope, Qian Xunji, had suffered grave injuries and ultimately died—though the world did not know that Qian Xunji had actually been killed by her own hand, Spirit Hall had always blamed Tang Hao for this debt.

What concerned Bibi Dong even more was that Tang Hao should still possess a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone.

It was a supreme treasure she had dreamed of obtaining. A hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone would be enough to elevate her strength to another level!

Over the past year, Tang Hao had run around the continent like a madman, seemingly searching for something. Spirit Hall had sent people to encircle and eliminate him many times, but Titled Douluo-level experts were simply too difficult to kill. Especially someone of Tang Hao's caliber—if he could not win, he fled. They could not catch him at all.

But things were different now.

He had a son.

And with a son came a weakness.

As long as they captured that boy called Tang San, was there any fear that Tang Hao would not obediently come to them?

"Hehehe..." Bibi Dong let out a pleased chuckle. "What a case of searching everywhere only to find it without effort. Tang Hao, Tang Hao, you hid for so many years, yet in the end, your own son sold you out."

She turned and looked at the red-robed bishop. "Who reported this information?"

"Your Holiness, it was a youth named Xiao Lin," the red-robed bishop answered.

"According to the Heaven Dou City Branch Hall's report, Xiao Lin is a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy. He is not yet fourteen this year, but his Soul Power has already reached level forty-nine, making him a Soul Ancestor. His fourth Soul Ring is a twenty-three-thousand-year Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. He publicly defeated Tang San, then immediately went to the Spirit Hall branch to report him."

Bibi Dong's brows rose slightly.

Not yet fourteen, a level forty-nine Soul Ancestor, and his fourth Soul Ring was ten thousand years old?

Even Bibi Dong, who had seen countless geniuses, could not help feeling a trace of surprise. Such talent was no inferior even to Qian Renxue's in her youth.

"Interesting." Bibi Dong returned to her throne, lightly tapping the armrest with her fingers as she fell into thought.

This Xiao Lin was not only extraordinarily talented, but his initiative in reporting Tang San showed that he held no favorable feelings toward Shrek Academy's faction. He might even bear a grudge against them.

If such a person could be recruited into Spirit Hall, he would undoubtedly be a great asset.

Moreover, at Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Spirit Hall's influence had always been deliberately suppressed by the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

Her dear daughter, Qian Renxue, had assumed the identity of Xue Qinghe and infiltrated the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. Ambitious and constantly cultivating her own forces in secret, she outwardly obeyed her mother while defying her behind the scenes.

If she could recruit a talent like Xiao Lin into Spirit Hall—and into her own ranks at that—it would undoubtedly strike Qian Renxue a powerful blow.

"Yue Guan," Bibi Dong suddenly called.

A figure silently emerged from the shadows.

He was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his fifties, dressed in splendid golden robes. He had handsome features and an effeminate bearing, with an ambiguous half-smile on his lips. His fingers were long and pale, his nails painted a vivid red, and his entire body exuded an unearthly beauty.

Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan. An elder of Spirit Hall and a level ninety-five Titled Douluo.

"Your Holiness." Yue Guan bowed slightly, his voice carrying a distinctively effeminate quality.

"Make a trip to Heaven Dou City." Bibi Dong ordered, "Find the youth named Xiao Lin and invite him to join Spirit Hall on my behalf. Let him name his terms. As long as they are not excessive, agree to them."

Yue Guan raised a brow. "Your Holiness, is a child not yet fourteen truly worth such importance?"

"He is." Bibi Dong's tone was resolute. "A level forty-nine Soul Ancestor before fourteen, with a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring as his fourth ring—there is not another talent like that on the entire continent. And he voluntarily reported Tang San, which means he harbors at least no hostility toward Spirit Hall. Such a talent must never fall into the hands of the Heaven Dou Empire or Qian Renxue."

She paused, then added, "Also, investigate Tang San's whereabouts while you are there. Since he has exposed himself, do not let him escape. Capturing him is equivalent to seizing Tang Hao's lifeline."

A strange smile curved Yue Guan's lips. "This subordinate understands."

He bowed once more, then his figure blended into the shadows like a ghost and vanished.

Bibi Dong returned to her throne, picked up the secret report, and read its contents once more. The smile on her lips deepened and deepened.

"Xiao Lin... Tang San... Tang Hao..." she murmured. "This game is becoming more and more interesting."