Five days later, at the Papal Hall.
Morning light poured down from the dome, gilding Bibi Dong's silhouette with a cold golden edge. She sat upright on the papal throne, her purple-and-gold scepter resting against the armrest, her fingertips unconsciously stroking its pigeon-blood ruby.
Outside the hall doors, Yu Xiaogang had been speaking for two full hours.
"Bibi Dong, you must not hesitate any longer!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice was hoarse but stubborn. He stood below the steps outside the hall, his clothes wrinkled from the morning dew, yet his back remained straight as he argued what he believed was a righteous case:
"Su Chen has enormous ambitions! He possesses extraordinary treasures! His strength is unfathomable, but however strong he is, he is still only one man! Spirit Hall has dozens of Titled Douluos and over a hundred Soul Douluos. If we set an ambush and bring the entire hall's strength to bear, we may well capture and subdue him! You must not hand over the papacy!"
His voice echoed through the empty halls, carrying a frantic urgency.
Inside, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan leaned against a pillar, his slender fingers toying with a golden-hearted frost chrysanthemum, a faint sneer playing on his lips.
Ghost Douluo Gui Mei hid in the shadows, only his eerie green eyes visible, but both men scoffed at Grandmaster's scheme:
Damn, this Grandmaster really didn't know when to quit.
We already threw him out back in Suotuo City.
And he actually chased us all the way to Spirit City.
Who knew what His Holiness the Pope was thinking? She had actually allowed him to keep tagging along, though she treated him far less warmly than before.
"You useless thing, stop blathering. Say another word and I'll kick you out myself. You're driving me mad." Yue Guan rolled