"I'm done talking… Can you really help me find my mother? If you can, thank you so much!"
Shi Hao's eyes sparkled with hope as he looked at Bibi Dong.
A glint of cunning flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes. She smiled softly. "Of course I'll help you find her. But you'll need to come back to Spirit Hall with me for now."
"Finding your mother… that takes time."
Her voice carried a gentle allure, painting a beautiful vision of the future. Her tone brimmed with confidence and authority, as if telling Shi Hao—only she could help him find his mother.
Shi Hao hesitated, but the thought of his mother made him nod slowly. "Okay… I'll go with you."
Though cautious, he was willing to take the risk. His eyes were filled with determination—he wouldn't let go of any chance.
"Then… do we still need to keep fighting?" Bibi Dong asked with a faint smile.
Shi Hao shook his head.
"Of course not."
"But look at you," Bibi Dong teased, "is that really how you want to go looking for your mother with me?"
Shi Hao scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Right… my bad."
He deactivated his soul skills. His colossal form began to shrink, and his overwhelming aura faded. In half a minute, he was back to his original appearance—a six- or seven-year-old child, gourd on his head, leaf skirt around his waist.
"Better?"
"Perfect," Bibi Dong replied sweetly.
But the next instant, she softly chanted an incantation—and a surge of soul power exploded.
Shi Hao's body was suddenly bound by an invisible force. His eyes widened in horror.
"What is this…?! You tricked me!"
Even someone as young and naïve as Shi Hao realized he'd been played. That soul skill—she must've been preparing it all along!
He struggled violently, but the binding was too strong. Invisible threads, like steel chains, coiled around him. No matter how hard he fought, he couldn't break free.
Bibi Dong smiled calmly. "I only needed you to let your guard down—so I could use my Eighth Soul Skill."
Her tone carried pride and amusement, as if this was all a grand game she'd already won.
"You witch! Liar! You tricked me!!"
"Aaaargh!!"
Shi Hao roared furiously, unleashing his soul power. His body began to swell—larger and larger—until once more he towered over the battlefield like a mountain.
But those threads were unnatural. They stretched and shrank with him, unbreakable and relentless. Worse still, they carried a venomous energy that weakened him further.
No matter how hard he punched, kicked, or used soul skills—nothing worked.
He was exhausted, and still bound.
"You cheated!" he yelled, seething with rage. "You lied to me!"
Bibi Dong looked down at him, voice icy calm. "Stop struggling. No one has ever broken my Eighth Soul Skill."
The crowd watching from afar was in an uproar.
They had just witnessed a stunning reversal. Bibi Dong's clever trap had completely flipped the battle.
"Poor kid…"
"Yeah, he really thought she'd help him."
"He's still too young. Doesn't know how cruel people can be."
"Sigh… So this is how it ends?"
In the viewing stands, Yue Guan—Chrysanthemum Douluo—was elated.
Just moments ago, he thought Bibi Dong had surrendered. Who knew she was laying a trap all along?
As expected of the Pope!
"No matter how powerful someone is… it still depends on who wields the power. You're too naïve, child."
Bibi Dong sneered as she stepped forward, gazing down at Shi Hao's restrained body.
"Hmph. I've got nothing to say to liars," Shi Hao growled, turning his head away stubbornly. "If you're going to kill me, do it. I've already lost."
"My brothers and sister will avenge me… They'll crush Spirit Hall to dust!"
"…Brothers and sister?" Bibi Dong's eyes flashed in shock.
"You have siblings? Are they like you?"
Shi Hao's face tensed. He realized he had said too much.
"I'm not telling you anything… There are seven of us. That's all you get!"
"Hmph!"
He fell silent.
Bibi Dong: "???"
What a strange kid…
She slowly raised her hand, intent on finishing this defiant child—but hesitated.
Something inside her stirred uneasily. She didn't know why, but… she couldn't bring herself to kill him.
"Take him away. Lock him in that place—I'll interrogate him personally."
Her tone was heavy and uncertain.
Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo exchanged surprised glances but complied.
And so, Bibi Dong brought Shi Hao back to Spirit Hall and had him imprisoned.
Inside the Worship Hall, a heavy silence hung in the air.
Qian Daoliu, who had been silently watching everything unfold, finally withdrew his spiritual sense. His expression was complex, his heart filled with conflicted thoughts.
"So it's over…?" he muttered. "To think Bibi Dong would stoop to that to win. Underhanded, yes—but arguably the smartest choice."
He had watched the entire battle closely. He knew how terrifying Shi Hao's potential was.
If the fight had continued, even if Bibi Dong had won, it would have come at an immense cost. For Spirit Hall, that was a risk they simply couldn't afford.
At that moment, Qian Daoliu's thoughts drifted to the past—when Spirit Hall stood at the pinnacle of the world, basking in unrivaled glory.
But now… faced with a single child like Shi Hao, they had been forced to use deceit.
And that realization filled his heart with a quiet sorrow.
_
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