In the council hall, the enshrined faction led by Qian Daoliu and the papal faction led by Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stood as clearly divided as two rivers. They looked puzzled when Bibi Dong entered holding the hand of an extraordinarily handsome man.
Over the past few days, they had indeed heard Chrysanthemum Douluo mention the Pope's new disciple, but this... They glanced again at the pair's interlaced fingers. You call this a master and disciple?
The seven enshrined felt the same way. Aren't you Xue'er's little man? How did you get together with Bibi Dong after just over two months away? Don't you know what Bibi Dong's relationship with Xue'er is?!
Bibi Dong noticed their looks but paid them no mind. They had no right to point fingers at whom she chose to be with. She had only kept up the master-disciple relationship to indulge her own mischievous tastes.
She brought Ye Yan up to the raised platform and sat on the Throne, looking down at them indifferently. Her lofty attitude enraged the enshrined, and Golden Crocodile stepped forward to loudly condemn her insolence.
"Heh."
Bibi Dong regarded him with disdain. With a sweep of her right hand, she sent an arc of light slashing out, tearing through the void.
"Third Soul Skill: Crocodile King's Defensive Armor!"
Golden Crocodile had not expected her to attack outright. In his haste, he summoned his Golden Crocodile King, forming thick scales over his shoulders to block Bibi Dong's attack.
Screech!
An ear-grating slicing sound rang out, and the violent impact of Soul Power sent Golden Crocodile flying. Qian Jun and Jiang Mo had to step in to catch him.
Everyone present stared at Bibi Dong in disbelief. Golden Crocodile was a Level 98 Peak Douluo, with defensive prowess unrivaled under heaven, yet she had knocked him back with a casual strike.
Just how powerful was His Holiness the Pope now?
Qian Daoliu's expression grew grave. Bibi Dong was nothing like someone who had only just become a Limit Douluo. Could it be?!
"Bibi Dong, have you taken that step?"
Bibi Dong pinched Ye Yan's silky-smooth cheek. Qian Daoliu, oh, Qian Daoliu. Once, as a god's Great Enshrined, you wielded boundless authority, and the entire Worship Hall followed your lead in refusing my orders.
What's wrong? Have you only now realized that the hired hand you intended to keep Spirit Hall running until your granddaughter took over has slipped beyond your control?
The Rakshasa Demon Scythe appeared in her hand. Dark purple mist enveloped the entire hall, and the profoundly sinister power within it made everyone instinctively release their Soul Power to protect themselves.
"Yes, Qian Daoliu. It's exactly what you think. Now I'm giving you one last chance. Make every enshrined obey my commands."
Bibi Dong's words carried a bone-piercing chill. Qian Daoliu had no doubt that if his old brothers continued refusing to cooperate, they would surely die when the reckoning came!
He took a long look at the scythe in Bibi Dong's hand. This had to be a divine artifact of legend. To think that a deity, unseen on the continent for ten thousand years, would soon appear in the world again.
He turned toward the six enshrined and signaled that they were to follow His Holiness the Pope's orders from now on.
"Elder brother..."
Golden Crocodile still wanted to demand an explanation, but Qian Daoliu raised a hand to stop him. He patted Golden Crocodile's shoulder, his voice tinged with desolation.
"Times have changed. Obey her orders. Following the Pope won't be a bad thing for you. If an opportunity comes your way someday, you may yet advance another step."
Then he left, walking away alone beneath everyone's gaze. No one stopped him, and no one followed.
The wind swept the yellow leaves away; the empty mountains lay hushed in late autumn.
The man known as Invincible in the Sky formally retired, no longer involving himself in any affairs of the Papal Hall.
"Enough. The Great Enshrined has left. I have no desire to revisit the past, but from this day onward, anyone who dares obey in public and defy me in private will be killed without mercy!"
A ring of pale purple light suddenly erupted around Bibi Dong. Its terrifying, suffocating pressure forced everyone to bend beneath it.
Chrysanthemum Douluo was the first to drop to one knee, his hands clasped in salute.
"I swear to serve His Holiness the Pope unto death!"
Sycophant!
Everyone except Ghost Douluo cursed inwardly, but all they could do now was follow his example and respectfully pledge their loyalty to Bibi Dong.
Even those with the most unyielding attitudes had no choice but to bow to reality beneath the edge of the Rakshasa Demon Scythe and submit to her rule.
Seated on the Throne, Bibi Dong received their reverence and allegiance as an unprecedented ambition grew wildly within her heart, spreading ever farther.
She rose and gazed into the distance, raising her purple scythe high with an air of disdain for all living beings.
"Above the heavens and beneath the earth, I alone reign supreme.
Through a thousand autumns and ten thousand years, I shall unite all under heaven!"
The elders shuddered. They had never expected Bibi Dong's ambitions to reach so far: she intended to accomplish what Spirit Hall had failed to achieve in ten thousand years.
Dong'er is so cool~
Standing behind her, Ye Yan already had stars in his eyes. Such matchless, commanding majesty was utterly captivating.
Bibi Dong sensed the burning gaze behind her, and her red lips curved into an alluring smile. I want the world, and I want my beauty too!
She waved the elders away. As the doors closed, the hall fell silent. Ye Yan knelt on one knee before the Throne, pressing close to her long, shapely legs.
"Teacher~ have you got time to take me to the Far North soon? There's a Soul Ring I need there."
Ye Yan gazed at her pleadingly. He did not want to finish his training on Sea God Island before heading to the Far North. By then, the daylilies would have gone cold.
He would use Bibi Dong's Rakshasa God Trial and his Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud to bluff the Ice and Snow Empresses into joining him first.
"The Far North? That place is nothing but ice and snow. Why would you suddenly want to go so far away? Besides, you haven't reached rank forty yet, have you?"
Bibi Dong eyed him suspiciously. What naughty scheme is the little rascal cooking up now?
Ye Yan hugged her, trying to wheedle his way through with a cute act. Who would have thought she would be so adamant this time? Her expression made it clear that she would never agree unless he explained himself.
Left with no choice, Ye Yan could only force himself to concoct a story riddled with holes. X﹏X
"Ahem, Dong'er~ actually, the Sea God also told me that the rulers of the Far North, the Ice and Snow Empresses, are about to face their heavenly tribulations. I want to use my identity as an heir to a Godhood Inheritance to trick them-or their underlings-into offering themselves as sacrifices."
Bibi Dong caught his chin. Whenever something comes up, you pin it on the Sea God. You've worked out that I can't ask him to verify it. What a scheming little rascal.
"Well, the god whose inheritance you're receiving is certainly responsible, telling you everything. Unlike the Rakshasa God, whose inheritance I'm receiving. So far, I've gotten nothing but a Rakshasa Demon Scythe.
"But since you're asking, I'll agree. Give me a couple of days to arrange things, and I'll take you there. Do we need to bring Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo?"
The Heng Ha Generals? Bring them along. Better prepared than sorry.
Ye Yan nodded for her to bring them. Bibi Dong agreed, but she did not release her grip. Instead, she stroked his peach-blossom lips, even slipping the tip of her thumb straight into his mouth.
"Xu Xiaoyan, your teacher has done so much for you. Shouldn't you show your appreciation?"
I know~
Naughty teacher. All you think about all day is fooling around. You never spare a thought for how hard your student works. At least get me a cushion, won't you?
This floor is freezing. Will you take responsibility if I get frozen stiff?
Rawr~
I'll bite you to death! (;｀O´)o
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