A shrewd gleam flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes as she looked at Su Chen with admiration. Though he was only twelve, his grasp of politics already surpassed that of many adults. It was hard to imagine that such a mature mind lay beneath that youthful, handsome face.
The Upper Three Sects? A pack of petty scoundrels?
Moreover, the sharp edge of Su Chen's words was clearly aimed at the Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao. Tang Hao had gravely wounded Qian Xunji, Spirit Hall's previous pope, and the Clear Sky Sect had since sealed its gates. Tang Hao was now among those Spirit Hall was hunting down. Such people and factions were indeed unworthy of continuing to hold Pope Tokens.
One of Su Chen's remarks struck a chord in Bibi Dong's heart. The sect masters and Titled Douluos of the Upper Three Sects were, after all, individuals in their own right. Many of their actions and beliefs certainly could not represent her will.
"Since you say that, you should know Spirit Hall's history. Spirit Hall is an organization formed by Soul Masters, and the disciples of the Upper Three Sects are Soul Masters too. They are also part of Spirit Hall. Only honorary elders may be granted Pope Tokens!" Bibi Dong said helplessly. At the same time, she knew this was a longstanding flaw left over from Spirit Hall's history.
Spirit Hall's history was a compulsory course at Spirit City's four great Soul Master academies. Su Chen had no reason not to know these facts!
"If they are already part of Spirit Hall, why take the unnecessary step of granting them Pope Tokens? Honorary elders could easily receive certificates, badges, or insignias of their rank. There is no need to grant them Pope Tokens that represent you! What is your position? You are the pope of Spirit Hall. Unless an order truly comes from you, no one deserves to act under a Pope Token!" Su Chen laid out his reasoning in a firm, ringing voice.
Bibi Dong gazed at Su Chen, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips. She suddenly realized that the more she looked at this little boy, the more she liked him. With Su Chen, she also felt the same thing she did with Qian Renxue and Hu Liena: her martial soul could combine with his to form what was known as a Martial Soul Fusion Skill!
"Very well. I agree to your first condition." Bibi Dong nodded with a smile.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo called softly in unison, reminding Bibi Dong that such a reform would inevitably draw opposition from some of the elders with rigid, antiquated views.
"He makes a very good point. There are many ways to show recognition and esteem. They need not possess my Pope Tokens. I am the pope. For Spirit Hall's sake, let me have my way just this once! Child, tomorrow I will announce a meeting of the elders. Tell me your second condition!" Bibi Dong looked at Su Chen curiously. His first condition was entirely for Spirit Hall's benefit, bringing nothing but advantages, and was not excessive in the least. What, then, would his second condition be?
"Personally, I believe everything should keep pace with the times. In its earliest days, Spirit Hall was indeed formed by a number of Soul Masters. Back then, we were only called the Soul Master Association. Now, we have established not only Spirit Hall but also the sacred land of Soul Masters-Spirit City. My second condition is that we embrace and value the members of the Blacksmith Association in Spirit City, as well as those of certain other associations. They, too, are part of Spirit City!" Su Chen said solemnly.
He knew fifty thousand years into the past and fifty thousand years into the future. Su Chen knew that the Tang Sect, which Tang San would establish in a few years, would rely on the Blacksmith Association to forge numerous hidden weapons, especially those ranked among the Tang Sect's deadliest.
Spirit Hall's power blazed like the sun at its zenith, and this had led its members to look down on other associations. This was no different from driving fish into deep waters and sparrows into the thickets, pushing forces they could have united with into the enemy's camp. If Bibi Dong agreed to Su Chen's second condition and began valuing the Blacksmith Association, perhaps they could avoid pushing it straight into Tang San's hands! Then Su Chen would like to see how Tang San could forge so many Tang Sect Hidden Weapons, along with the Storm Pear Blossom Needle! Without enough hidden weapons, what would the Tang Sect use to fight Spirit Hall? What could the Tang Sect, the Upper Three Sects, and the two great empires use to stop Spirit Hall from unifying the world and ending the wars that had dragged on for thousands of years?
"Many blacksmiths are Soul Masters themselves. Those with a specialized skill certainly deserve proper treatment. Tomorrow, I will grant them some special rewards. Now, tell me your third condition!" Bibi Dong agreed to Su Chen's second condition without the slightest misgiving.
Others might not know it, but Bibi Dong harbored a grand ambition. She hoped that under her leadership, Spirit Hall could advance another step and bring greater blessings to the people of the world. If she wanted to establish the Spirit Hall Empire and fulfill that dream, relying on Soul Masters alone would not suffice. For a nation, Soul Masters were merely one part of the whole. The workings of the great machinery of a state depended on people from every walk of life.
Unfortunately, despite how simple and understandable this truth was, Spirit Hall's elders and bishops held their noses higher than their eyes. In other words, how could sparrows understand the ambitions of a mighty swan? Bibi Dong smiled as she looked at Su Chen, her smile utterly radiant. Suddenly, she felt that he was so pleasing to the eye. His words had spoken straight to her heart.
Originally, Bibi Dong had planned to begin valuing other trades only after establishing the Spirit Hall Empire. Now, she would merely be putting that policy into effect ahead of schedule. Doing so would bring Spirit Hall nothing but benefits, so she had agreed without hesitation. At the same time, her curiosity grew. Su Chen's second condition had also been for Spirit Hall's sake, so what would his third condition be?
"People are living beings with minds of their own. Everyone has different thoughts and different views on things. My third condition is that after I become your disciple, I will remain in control of my own actions, and I can only treat your words as advice. Of course, this will not diminish my respect for you. On the contrary, if you agree even to this final condition, then even if I do not become your disciple, someone so considerate and broad-minded will still deserve my respect." Su Chen smiled and spoke with earnest seriousness.
Su Chen was also worried that Bibi Dong might refuse, so he had already put her in check with his words. Taken in a rigid sense, his implication was that if Bibi Dong refused his third condition, she would be far too inconsiderate and narrow-minded! Before such a large audience, if Bibi Dong was an enlightened ruler worth supporting, she certainly would not reject his third condition. If she was a foolish ruler who acted only on impulse, she would certainly sweep her sleeves and leave.
At the same time, since this concerned the Dragon God's second trial, Su Chen was also reminding Bibi Dong that this was his final condition. Agree. Agree! Agree to this last condition, and you can take a prodigy like me as your disciple!
Before you continue