Spirit City.
At night, Spirit Hall's Sacred Mountain loomed majestically in the darkness. Countless tiny lights dotted its slopes like fireflies. Though the night was deep, security here was even tighter than during the day.
In the darkness, ranks of visible sentries and hidden guards watched every movement on the mountain.
At the foot of Spirit Hall's Sacred Mountain stood an immense hall. Beneath the hazy veil of night, the Six-Winged Angel statue before the Pope's Hall faintly radiated an uncanny pressure that made one's hair stand on end.
In a secluded chamber within the Pope's Hall, gentle lamplight swayed in the breeze. Its faint glow enveloped the hall, driving away the lingering chill.
A woman sat at the head of the room. She wore a luxurious black robe embroidered with gold and the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown, holding a Golden Scepter nearly two meters long and inlaid with countless gems. Her skin was fair, her features almost flawless. Unlike before, however, Bibi Dong now bore a black flame brand on her forehead, from which a devouring force faintly emanated.
Bibi Dong sat alone at the head, with Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo standing quietly behind her. Their auras had also changed. Their faces had turned pale and their pupils black, but their strength had improved considerably.
Nearly ten people sat upright around the enormous oval conference table below Pope Bibi Dong. Each wore splendid clothes and carried themselves with imposing dignity. Their attire alone revealed that they were influential figures on the continent.
From left to right sat Huyan Li, sect master of the Elephant Armor Sect; Hu Qianxing, sect master of the Black Tiger Sect; Mi Feng, sect master of the Sparrow Bee Sect; Tuoba Xi, sect master of the Holy Dragon Sect; Yan Bao, sect master of