Gu Yuan had already returned to Eastern Abyss Pavilion first, while Bibi Dong and the others remained in the Pope's Palace.
On the throne, Bibi Dong's exquisite face betrayed no emotion.
At this moment, she was the lofty Pope.
She was the most powerful Empress on the entire Douluo Continent.
"Elder Qian Xunji, keep a close watch on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."
"Compile a report on Yu Xiaogang's case and make it public when the time is right."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Qian Xunji stepped forward and bowed respectfully as he accepted the order.
After abdicating, he had joined the Elder Hall rather than the Worship Hall.
"The rest of you, prepare yourselves. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan may step out of line."
"If they do, break their backbone once and for all."
Qian Daoliu and the others accepted their orders.
Naturally, they thought nothing of a mere Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
All that talk of the Upper Three Sects and the strongest Beast Martial Soul was a joke.
A member of the Upper Three Sects with only one Titled Douluo holding the fort dared bare its teeth at Spirit Hall?
If they really came, they would shatter their teeth and sever their claws.
Bibi Dong rose and returned to Eastern Abyss Pavilion.
Gu Yuan was already in the pavilion, feeding the fish.
"Brother Gu Yuan."
Bibi Dong's bearing changed. She ran over cheerfully and hugged him from behind.
"Mm, have you taken care of everything?"
Gu Yuan knew that, before him, Bibi Dong was a sweet, delicate little sister.
But before outsiders, she was unquestionably a commanding Pope.
Because deep in her character lay the essence of a strong woman.
"Mm, I've had people keep watch on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. If they dare come looking for trouble, we'll deal with them."
Bibi Dong closed her eyes, savoring this peace.
After waiting twenty years, she had finally seen the person who haunted her dreams again.
She only wanted to cling to him every moment, unwilling to waste any time.
Yet someone always liked to disturb such wonderful moments.
Yu Xiaogang deserved to die, and so did the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
"Brother Gu Yuan, Spirit Hall is already very powerful. I want to find an opportunity to expand outward and establish the Spirit Hall Empire."
Gu Yuan chuckled and drew her down to sit.
"Of course. If you need any help, just say the word."
Naturally, Gu Yuan would support her with all his might.
She had held fast to a joke from twenty years ago until now.
He certainly could not shatter her hopes.
"Spirit Hall's top fighters aren't strong enough yet. Aside from you and Qian Daoliu at level ninety-nine, the others are somewhat lacking."
"Dong'er, do you want to improve their strength?"
To conquer the entire Douluo Continent, the more high-level fighters they had, the better.
That would reduce casualties further.
Spirit Hall currently had the ability to attack the entire Douluo Continent, but the casualties would be considerable.
With enough powerful fighters, they could drive their enemies into utter despair.
They might not even entertain the thought of resistance.
Subduing the enemy without fighting was the best strategy.
The campaign Bibi Dong intended to launch used the most primitive, most direct method.
Storm cities and seize territory.
Mobilize Spirit Hall's elite troops and spread out toward the surrounding cities.
Defeat each city's defenders and occupy the cities.
A very traditional method.
But this was a world of Soul Masters, and there was another way.
Bibi Dong tilted her head, seemingly already understanding what he meant.
"Brother Gu Yuan, do you not want to cause too much bloodshed?"
Gu Yuan did not deny it. "That's right. There are many ways to conquer the world. Of course, it mainly depends on what you choose. I'll support you regardless."
Bibi Dong looked thoughtful, now understanding completely.
They still had to start with their high-level fighters.
Take the Worship Hall, for instance: only Qian Daoliu was at level ninety-nine.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, second in strength, had level 98 Soul Power.
Across the entire Soul Master World, he was a powerhouse in a class of his own.
But he was not impossible to counter.
Those fellows from the Clear Sky Sect who had no martial honor could suppress him through their Martial Souls.
Only reaching level ninety-nine would truly ensure things.
But a Titled Douluo's cultivation was not accomplished overnight.
Going from level ninety-eight to ninety-nine could take decades.
Not everyone was as monstrously gifted as Qian Daoliu.
"Brother Gu Yuan, do you have a way?"
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up.
Brother Gu Yuan, invincible in her heart, surely had a way to improve their strength.
The so-called level ninety-nine amounted to nothing in his eyes.
"Naturally, I have a way, but I won't grant them power for nothing."
"Have them make sufficient contributions."
"Those who perform well can receive my rewards."
Gu Yuan chuckled.
An Immortal Emperor could naturally improve those people's strength at will.
Never mind level ninety-nine; even raising them to God King would take no more than a thought.
But that would defeat the purpose.
Power gained without effort could easily cause problems with a person's mentality.
Bibi Dong only half understood.
Since they needed to perform, she would have them carry out their duties properly.
Within the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, news arrived through their spies not long after Yu Xiaogang's death.
Upon receiving the news, Yu Yuanzhen sprang to his feet and shattered his desk with a palm strike.
"Spirit Hall has gone too far!!!"
Yu Xiaogang was his son, as well as the young master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!
Now that he had been killed in the Pope's Palace in Spirit City, the clan had lost all face.
Having defended the clan's honor his entire life, he absolutely would not allow it to be tarnished.
"Elder brother, could there be some misunderstanding here?"
Yu Luomian was deeply worried.
His elder brother had a fiery temper, and he truly feared he might do something out of line.
Spirit Hall was not easy to provoke.
The Elder Hall alone would give them more than enough trouble.
Yu Yuanzhen's gaze turned cold. "A misunderstanding? There's no misunderstanding. Xiaogang died inside the Pope's Palace. That's a provocation against the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
"Then what do you intend to do, elder brother?"
Yu Luomian grew even more worried, feeling that things did not bode well.
"What do I intend to do? Go to Spirit City and demand an explanation, of course!"
"Xiaogang cannot die for nothing, and the clan cannot suffer humiliation!"
"Pass on my order. Everyone in the clan at Soul Emperor or above is to assemble and head to Spirit City!"
"Second brother, you'll stay behind to guard the clan!"
Yu Yuanzhen quickly made his decision.
With the clan's young master killed, they certainly could not pretend nothing had happened.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to retain their title as one of the Upper Three Sects.
Even if Spirit City was a dragon's pool and a tiger's den, they had to brave it.
Besides, the Upper Three Sects were branches of the same tree. If anything happened to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect would not stand idly by.
The Clear Sky Sect's standing in the Soul Master World was beyond question.
Throughout the entire Douluo Continent, there were very, very many Clear Sky Sect disciples.
There were also the Four Single-Attribute Sects, subordinate forces of the Clear Sky Sect with formidable fighting strength.
With a single order, they could swiftly reinforce the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
This was what gave Yu Yuanzhen the confidence to demand answers.
"Elder brother, th-this isn't a good idea, is it?"
Yu Luomian was getting a little flustered.
He really intended to go stir up trouble in Spirit City.
And mobilize everyone at Soul Emperor or above?
If a conflict broke out in Spirit City, there would be no time to send reinforcements.
"What's wrong with it?"
"Elder brother, if all the Soul Emperors leave, the clan might not be able to hold out."
Yu Luomian could only sigh.
Spirit Hall was not the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's only enemy.
The Upper Three Sects were indeed branches of the same tree, but they were also rivals.
Not to mention the other four sects.
Beyond those four sects, other Soul Master forces were also watching like tigers eyeing their prey.
Who knew how many people had their eyes on the thrones of the Upper Three Sects?
His elder brother was still a little too rash.