I have added this story to my Patreon. You can support me and read the latest and advanced chapters there. It also fed and motivate me to write more chapters!
Link: Patreon.com/AVRKingsTL
—------------------—
Bibi Dong's gaze was icy, like two sharp swords that pierced through the chaotic and noisy air in the square and landed precisely on Ning Fengzhi, whose face was ashen.
She walked step by step to the edge of the platform, looking down at the two of them from above.
Behind him, the auras of the six Titled Douluo - Yueguan, Guimei, Snake Spear, Thorny Pig, Demon Bear, and Ghost Leopard - were no longer concealed. They rose up like six volcanoes ready to erupt, locking onto Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo Chenxin.
Further away, although the two priests Qianjun and Jiangmo had devoted most of their minds to guarding the golden crocodile ice sculpture, the vague glances that came over still carried a heavy pressure that spread silently.
At this moment, the top combat power of the Spirit Hall showed a high degree of unity and astonishing deterrence!
"Sect Master Ning."
Bibi Dong's voice was no longer as cold and majestic as when she announced the champion. Instead, it was filled with a cold, unquestionable tone, and even carried a hint of cruel interrogation. It was clearly heard throughout the venue, suppressing all whispers.
"I believe you have heard what Yu Xiaogang and Tang Hao said."
She simply didn't bother to argue about the authenticity of "Xue Qinghe's" identity - after Tang Hao's shocking hammer blow, any excuse was pale and powerless.
"I only have one question for you now."
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes slightly, and the murderous intent spread like a substance, and she slammed the Pope's scepter in her hand to the ground.
"You, and the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect behind you, must give this lord a clear statement today!"
"Do you believe the crazy talk of that stray dog and the sect's ruined members, and become an enemy of our Spirit Hall?"
"still..."
She paused for a moment, and the six Titled Douluo behind her took a step forward at the same time, and the terrifying pressure crushed towards Ning Fengzhi and the others like a tsunami!
"...You choose to believe in Spirit Hall and in me?"
This is no longer an inquiry, but an ultimatum!
Ning Fengzhi's face turned pale as paper in an instant, and cold sweat oozed from his forehead.
Beside him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin had an extremely solemn expression on his face, and the Seven Killing Sword was humming slightly, but he could also feel the terrifying aura coming from all directions, which was enough to tear him apart in an instant!
He might be able to protect himself and escape, but there is no way he could protect Ning Fengzhi!
If Bone Douluo were here, there might still be a glimmer of hope...
Ning Fengzhi's heart was beating like a drum, and his mind was rapidly weighing the pros and cons.
Believe it or not?
Although Yu Xiaogang seemed crazy, Tang Hao's appearance and that decisive hammer strike almost confirmed the news!
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe is actually Qian Renxue from the Spirit Hall in disguise? If this is true, it would be a shocking event!
But if you show even the slightest doubt or hostility...
Ning Fengzhi had no doubt that Bibi Dong would immediately order them to stay in front of the Pope's Palace forever!
Even as she hinted, the Spirit Hall's butcher knife would be swung towards the defenseless Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect in the next moment!
Look at the frozen golden crocodile, the six elders who are eyeing them covetously, the unfathomable Xuan Ming and Bibi Dong... The Spirit Hall has the strength and even more the determination!
This is a decision that will determine the survival of the sect!
Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the turbulent emotions. He knew he had no time to hesitate. He raised his head and tried to force a calm smile that was uglier than crying.
"Your Holiness is joking." Ning Fengzhi's voice trembled with an imperceptible dryness, but he forced himself to speak clearly and firmly.
"Yu Xiaogang is a man of low character and absurd theories. He was expelled from the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Clan long ago. He's acting like a madman today, and what he said is nothing more than a death grip. How can you trust him?"
"Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao, who attacked and killed the Pope and has been an enemy of the Spirit Hall for many years, has fallen to this point. His words are even more absurd!"
As he spoke, he bowed slightly to Bibi Dong, his posture extremely humble. "Your Highness the Crown Prince is kind and benevolent, diligent in governing the country, and is the future hope of the Tiandou Empire. How can we allow such scoundrels to slander us?"
"We, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, firmly believe in the leadership of His Holiness the Pope and the justice and fairness of the Spirit Hall. We wish to establish eternal peace with the Spirit Hall and jointly maintain peace on the continent!"
These high-sounding words trampled Yu Xiaogang and Tang Hao into the mud, and also expressed absolute support for "Xue Qinghe" and the Spirit Hall.
However, everyone present could hear the insincerity and suppressed fear beneath his words.
But that's enough.
As for Bibi Dong, she didn't need Ning Fengzhi's true belief. She just needed an open and clear attitude, an excuse that could prevent the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect from launching an attack temporarily and allow her to stabilize the situation!
Bibi Dong looked at Ning Fengzhi who bowed, and a cold and smileless arc appeared at the corner of her lips.
"very good."
The six Titled Douluo behind her slowly withdrew their intimidating aura, but their eyes were still fixed on the two of them, full of warning.
"Master Ning is a wise man. I hope you will always remember what I said today."
"In that case, please ask Sect Master Ning and Sword Douluo to stay in Wuhun City for a few days. With all the rumors spreading outside, staying in Wuhun City is the safest."
Ning Fengzhi's body stiffened slightly, and he finally lowered his head with difficulty: "...I will follow the arrangements of His Holiness the Pope."
He knew that this was the best outcome at the moment.
…
The farce seemed to be over, but the entire Wuhun City was filled with a strange and solemn atmosphere.
All soul masters who were in the city at the time of the incident, regardless of their affiliation, were placed under house arrest.
The city gates are tightly closed and the city is under guard - until the Spirit Hall agrees on a final solution, no one is allowed to enter or leave the city.
The Pope's Palace, the meeting hall.
The atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed as if water was dripping out.
In front of the huge round table, all the Titled Douluo from the Elder Hall gathered.
"Speak." Bibi Dong's voice was cold and without any nonsense. Her eyes swept over everyone and finally landed on Snake Spear and Thorny Porpoise Douluo.
These two are Golden Crocodile's confidants and must know the inside story.
Snake Spear and Thorny Porpoise felt the cold murderous intent, their bodies trembled, they looked at each other, and finally gritted their teeth and dared not hide it.
Snake Spear Douluo spoke with difficulty, "Reporting to His Holiness the Pope... Elder Golden Crocodile's original plan was to use the tournament as an opportunity to overthrow you. Then, with lightning speed, he would unite with the Angel Legion and part of the Elder Hall's forces to simultaneously raid the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Sect. Executing the Soul Hunt Plan, they would eliminate these two major threats from the Three Great Sects in one fell swoop, clearing the way for the Spirit Hall's future unification of the continent."
Although they had expected it and heard it with their own ears, Yue Guan, Gui Mei and others still gasped.
When the intelligence is still incomplete, it is too risky to attack the two major sects at the same time. The slightest carelessness will put the Spirit Hall in a passive position. How could the Golden Crocodile be so reckless?
Demon Bear Douluo couldn't help but said in a deep voice: "Your Holiness, now that the Second Priest has been frozen, the plan has been leaked. Should we postpone it..."
"Postpone?" Bibi Dong interrupted him, suddenly stood up and scanned the entire audience.
"The core members of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect are currently under house arrest within the city, leaving them leaderless! With the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Sect Master, Yu Yuanzhen, having been slain, the sect is in turmoil! This is a godsend opportunity!"
"The Soul Hunting Plan should not be postponed, but should be implemented immediately!"
Everyone was shocked!
The turmoil in Wuhun City is still ongoing, and the Golden Crocodile is frozen in ice. How could they launch such a large-scale operation right away?
Bibi Dong didn't give them time to question her. She turned to the Snake Spear Thornfish and asked, "Where is the Angel Legion now? Who is in command?"
Snake Spear Douluo hesitated for a moment before answering, "The Angel Legion has been moved out of Spirit City by Golden Crocodile ahead of time and is secretly stationed at a border outpost. It is planned that... Young Master Qian Renxue will be directly in charge."
When mentioning Qian Renxue, his tone was complicated, after all, the identity of "Xue Qinghe" had just been revealed.
"Very good." Bibi Dong's eyes were slightly cold.
"Order! Immediately, the Soul Hunting Plan will be activated!"
"Target: Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Sect!"
"Wait!" Ghost Leopard Douluo said anxiously.
"Your Holiness, over at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, although Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo are here, Bone Douluo Gu Rong is still with the sect, and they have a large number of disciples and fortifications. Although the Angel Legion is strong, it may be difficult to break through in a short period of time..."
"Who said we want to storm the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect?" Bibi Dong sneered, turned around, and looked at the place where Ning Fengzhi was imprisoned as if through the wall.
"Give the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect a chance to survive."
"Send a message to Ning Fengzhi. If you want to preserve the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's inheritance and if you want him and Sword Douluo to leave Spirit City alive, then you must contact Gu Rong and force the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to give up resistance and cooperate with the Angel Legion to attack the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Sect!"
"What?!" Everyone in the room was shocked!
Let the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect attack the Blue Lightning Tyrannosaurus Rex Sect? !
This is simply driving a tiger to devour a wolf, and it will also make the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect cut off from the mainland soul master world and be tied to the Spirit Hall chariot forever!
This is not only to destroy the sect, but also to completely destroy the reputation and retreat of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, forcing them to work wholeheartedly for the Spirit Hall!
Bibi Dong continued in a cold voice, "Tell them this is their only choice. Either the sect is destroyed and its legacy cut short, or they can redeem themselves for their crimes and make meritorious contributions. In the future, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect will still have a place under the Spirit Hall."
"If you dare to pretend to obey but secretly disobey..." Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with murderous intent, "I don't mind expelling the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect from this world!"
…
At the same time, the somewhat overdrawn Xuan Ming was lying deep in the Pope's Palace.
There were no guards. Apart from Gu Yuena who was accompanying him here, and Bibi Dong who brought him here, no one even knew that Xuan Ming was here, because he was surrounded by the vast sea of heaven and earth, and even Qian Daoliu could not find him.
"The development of things has ultimately taken a path that I completely cannot understand." Xuan Ming said helplessly.
Originally, he was fighting with the Golden Crocodile, pretending to be defeated, and then waiting for an opportunity to expose Xue Qinghe's identity, tie the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect to the warship, and then Qian Daoliu took action, the two sides confronted each other, and he left Wuhun City again.
As a result, although everything that should have happened happened, many things that he should have done were done by others first.
"Isn't this good?" Gu Yuena said softly.
"The current situation is the best possible development."
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect has no other choice, and Xuan Ming's friends are also under the strong pressure of the Spirit Hall and have no other way out, which can save a lot of trouble in the future.
As for Qian Renxue, she could see that the girl did not have much hatred towards Xuan Ming.
When Yu Yuan shook his hand, she wanted to stop it, but was stopped by Jin Crocodile.
Afterwards, the Golden Crocodile took action and she was suppressed by Qianjun Jiangmo.
Throughout the entire incident, Xuan Ming was acting in self-defense, and was even forced to fight back.
The Golden Crocodile is only disabled now, not dead, and that is all because of Qian Renxue.
Otherwise, Qian Renxue could see how Yu Yuanzhen died.
However, the old crocodile is old and now disabled. Even if the Spirit Hall throws more rare treasures at it, it will not survive for long.
"But the war is obviously going to break out early." Xuan Ming whispered.
War means burning, killing and looting. No matter whether Xingluo destroys Tiandou, Tiandou destroys Xingluo, or Wuhun Palace wipes out the two empires, this process is inevitable.
A group of people traveled across mountains and rivers, crossed continents, slept in the open air, and risked their lives, not to fall in love with the enemy.
The purpose of war has always been plunder, not charity.
"War is not a torrent that you and I can stop." Gu Yuena said softly.
"The survival and destruction of soul beasts, the rule and conflict of mankind, are all essentially the law of the jungle. There's no way around it. We can only take it one step at a time."
"I'm not sentimental, nor do I really care about the life and death of irrelevant people, it's just..." Xuan Ming paused.
"I don't want to lose the peace and tranquility I have now."