Bibi Dong's words instantly stirred up a huge wave of controversy. Just because of a piece of news, she was going to cripple a Soul Saint from the Spirit Hall!
"What?!" Qian Renxue's exquisite face instantly contorted with rage. " Your His Holiness the Pope, Li Shi has been a member of the Spirit Hall for decades, and in terms of seniority, he surpasses you. To strip him of his cultivation and expel him from the Spirit Hall over such a trivial matter is surely going too far!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo chimed in, " Your Highness Xue is absolutely right. Li Shi has worked diligently for the Spirit Hall; even if he hasn't achieved great merit, he has certainly put in a lot of hard work. I hope Your His Holiness the Pope reconsider."
Qian Daoliu remained silent.
If Golden Crocodile Douluo was protecting the people of the Offering Lineage, then Qian Renxue was purely speaking out for Li Shi, and coupled with the complex emotions in her heart, her words were exceptionally fierce.
Upon hearing their words, Bibi Dong's pretty face instantly turned cold. "Is seniority an excuse for him to break the rules?"
"Bring him up here!"
A moment later, a burly, blond man arrived, carrying an elderly man with half-white hair in his hand. It was none other than Li Shi, the outer sect elder.
" Your His Holiness the Pope, have mercy! Have mercy!"
Li Shi was excitedly heading to the Merit Hall to receive his award when the Mad Lion Douluo from the Elders' Seats appeared Merit Hall and arrested him without a word.
As a seasoned veteran Li Shi was well aware of what had happened. He kept begging for forgiveness along the way, only saying that he had made a mistake and had not revealed the Great Enshrined.
He knew very well that if he didn't reveal the identity of the Great Enshrined, Qian Daoliu might save him for the sake of the Worship Hall ' reputation; but if he did, both sides might end up killing him...
" Great Enshrined, I am utterly loyal to the Spirit Hall and have never violated the law. This was an oversight on my part. I beg the Great Enshrined and His Holiness the Pope to forgive me this time!"
Upon hearing his plea for mercy, Chrysanthemum Guan, Gui Mei, Ling Yuan, and Gui Mei, all members of the Elders' Council, revealed a hint of sarcasm. "You're a perfectly good outer sect elder, why do you have to court death?"
Bibi Dong didn't even glance at him, and simply waved her hand. "Make your move!"
"Wait!"
At that moment, Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined, finally spoke, " Your His Holiness the Pope, Li Shi did make a mistake. However, as the Supreme Elder of the Spirit Hall, if you lack even this much magnanimity, it will be difficult to win the respect of the other elders of the Spirit Hall!"
"How about we remove him from his position as an outer sect elder and let him remain in the Spirit Hall, giving him a chance to redeem himself? What does Your His Holiness the Pope think?"
Qian Daoliu spoke with magnanimity. If Bibi Dong persisted in taking action, it would be difficult to convince the other mid-to-high-level members of the Spirit Hall. This matter was not insignificant, but it was not trivial either.
He knew that Bibi Dong cared deeply about the power of the Spirit Hall, so he wanted to use this to force Bibi Dong to back down and achieve his own goal.
Bibi Dong glanced at him and said calmly, " Great Enshrined, you are mistaken. Li Shi, as an outer sect elder, put the Emperor in danger, a crime that cannot be forgiven. Deposing him... was truly a last resort."
" Ling Yuan, make your move!"
The aloof and beautiful woman, having received her order, swiftly approached Li Shi, her mature and pretty face filled with coldness. "No one can compare to the Emperor, and nothing can compare to him. If you dare to plot against him again, you will die!"
Bang!
"Ahhh... Pfft..." Li Shi spat out a mouthful of blood, and his half-white, half-black hair instantly turned completely white.
Thump...
Then, Mad Lion Douluo threw him to the ground as if he were a dead dog.
In mid-air, Qian Renxue clenched her jade hands tightly. She saw her own reflection in Li Shi's fate. To achieve his goal, he would stop at nothing, cold-blooded and ruthless, just like Li Shi had abandoned her back then.
Qian Daoliu to the side, narrowed his eyes slightly, a surge of anger rising from the bottom of his heart, but he forcibly suppressed it.
Bibi Dong snorted coldly, "When I conduct my business, no unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach. All of you, step back!"
"You!" Qian Renxue gritted her teeth, not wanting to obey her orders at all, but Qian Daoliu, who was standing to the side, took the initiative to persuade her.
" Xue'er, let's go."
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
Before long, the Soul Master from the Worship Hall left the place, and they didn't even glance at Li Shi, who was lying unconscious on the ground.
The big shots fight for face, the higher-ups fight for power and profit, but the price is their own lives...
"Teacher!"
After they left, Hu Liena quickly stepped forward and explained Lin Chen's situation in detail, "Teacher, the barrier is very strong; even the Great Enshrined couldn't open it."
Bibi Dong suddenly looked at Xiao Wu, her exquisite face serious as she asked, "You said you could sense Chen'er's current situation?"
Xiao Wu's heart tightened, and she quickly explained, "Sister Pope, Master left a soul imprint deep within my soul. If Brother Chen is in trouble, I will die too! But right now, Master's soul imprint hasn't shown any signs of activity..."
Bibi Dong relaxed slightly and murmured, "That's good then~"
" Chrysanthemum Guan, Gui Mei, push open the lake water."
"Yes!"
On the other side, the entourage of the Worship Hall
The Enshrined Golden Crocodile angrily retorted, "Brother, she's going too far! She doesn't respect you at all!"
"Shut up!" Qian Daoliu said coldly, "What do you know? Didn't you hear what that Ling Yuan (fire-attribute bird) said? The Pope was warning us!"
"What warning are you giving us?" Golden Crocodile Douluo looked completely bewildered.
" Lin Chen!" Qian Renxue suddenly whispered, "She's doing this for Lin Chen's sake, warning us that we can't mess with him anymore!"
"But I'm determined... The more she cares about something, the more I want to take it away from her!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's body trembled. " Xue'er, don't worry, we grandfathers will absolutely support you unconditionally!"
"Yes, thank you, Grandpa Golden Crocodile."
At that moment, the Holy Dragon Douluo, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up, " Great Enshrined, our information has not been leaked. Why did you, Pope, arrive so quickly?"
Qian Daoliu said expressionlessly, "They have spies in the Worship Hall!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo instantly flew into a rage. "Damn it, don't let me find out who it is, or I'll tear him to pieces!"
"Shut up!" Qian Daoliu scolded, then ordered, " Holy Dragon, go and investigate this matter. If you find anything, don't make a fuss. Keep him alive for now."
"Understood~"
Within the barrier, Guangyue Hall
At this moment, Lin Chen, who had just obtained his Seventh Soul Ring, was chatting with Gu Yuena in the Guangyue Inner Hall and was completely unaware of what was happening outside.
"Um?"
Just as Qian Daoliu attacked the barrier, Gu Yuena suddenly frowned slightly, a hint of coldness appearing on her cool and beautiful face.
Lin Chen asked in confusion, " Yue'er, what's wrong?"
"Someone is attacking the barrier again!"
"Attack the barrier?" Lin Chen was slightly taken aback, then quickly said, "It might be a friend I know. Could you show me the scene outside the barrier?"
"Okay~" Gu Yuena waved her hand, and the scene outside the barrier instantly appeared in the inner hall, just like watching a movie.
"Hey, my first wife is here!" Lin Chen's eyes lit up, his expression extremely joyful.
"What does 'wife' mean?" Gu Yuena's cool and pure face showed a hint of doubt. "These women outside don't have any old wives either?"
"Oh, this..."