Even if Qian Daoliu was too proud to act personally…
He could have at least sent out the Six Grand Worshippers.
But no—Qian Daoliu didn't make a move, neither did the Six Worshippers, nor did the Elder Hall intervene. All they did was channel their spirit power to aid Bibi Dong from afar.
However—
Lin Fan noticed that Bibi Dong wasn't going all out either—at least half of her spirit power was still being held back.
After all, she hadn't even activated her Martial Soul Avatar yet.
"Looks like Qian Daoliu is holding back in case Bibi Dong turns on him… And Bibi Dong, in turn, sees Qian Daoliu as her true threat. That's why she's not using her full strength—not because of Tang Hao, but because of Qian Daoliu."
"And Qian Daoliu is holding back to see whether Tang Hao can force Bibi Dong's hand."
Understanding both their true power, Lin Fan quickly deduced that this was a power struggle. Neither side wanted to make the first aggressive move.
After all, Lin Fan didn't believe Bibi Dong was truly weaker than Tang Hao.
She had three martial soul domains—the Killing God Domain, Death Domain, and Rakshasa Domain.
Not to mention a complete set of six spirit bones and an external spirit bone—Six-Winged Violet Radiance Wings.
With such a top-tier configuration, even if her spirit power were just level 96 like Tang Hao's, she could still possibly overpower him.
"Seems like after Qian Xunji's downfall, Spirit Hall has split into two factions," Lin Fan realized.
"But Tang Hao isn't having an easy time either. He's already carrying old injuries. Now, to fend off Bibi Dong and her team, rescue Tang San and Xiao Wu, and make sure Spirit Hall won't dare to pursue them, he's resorted to Ring Detonation."
"Fine by me—let the mantis stalk the cicada while the oriole watches from behind. I'll take that spirit ring for myself." Lin Fan chuckled coldly in his mind.
"Tang Hao does wield the Clear Sky Hammer well—such raw power. No wonder he managed to severely injure Qian Xunji right after becoming a Title Douluo."
"But that old man Qian Daoliu still won't make a move. And I'm not about to expose myself either. It's not my son on the line."
Bibi Dong's sharp eyes flickered with calculation.
To outsiders, it seemed like Spirit Hall's Pope was losing to Tang Hao, which made sense—after all, Tang Hao had allegedly killed the previous Pope.
So if Bibi Dong's team couldn't beat him either, it didn't seem unreasonable.
"Tang Hao appeared to save his son and that girl. He won't kill her for her spirit ring just yet. Let them go for now—we'll have other chances."
Having made up her mind, Bibi Dong held back even more, allowing their collision of power to wreak havoc on the Pope's Palace.
To her, Spirit Hall wasn't home. If the Pope's Palace was destroyed, so be it. It could always be rebuilt.
"That woman can't possibly be this weak… What is she thinking?" Xue Qinghe stared at Bibi Dong, confusion and concern flashing across his eyes.
In the highest tower above the battlefield, Demon Subduing Douluo said to Qian Daoliu,
"Great Worship, Tang Hao is acting so arrogantly. Shouldn't we intervene?"
"Yeah! He's floating above the Pope's Palace like he owns it! He's humiliating Spirit Hall!" Thunder Douluo added.
Qian Daoliu sat calmly with his eyes closed, saying nothing.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, by his side, replied coldly:
"Be patient. Tang Hao is nothing the Pope can't handle."
"Yes, Second Worship." The two others said no more, turning their eyes back to the battlefield below.
Seeing Tang Hao appear, Yu Xiaogang and the others were thrilled.
"Haotian Douluo has come—we're saved!" Yu Xiaogang said excitedly.
"Haotian Douluo?" Ma Hongjun looked confused.
"You still don't know, do you? Haotian Douluo… is Tang San's father." Flender no longer kept it a secret.
"Father?!" Tang San was more shocked than anyone.
"What?! Tang San's father is… the Haotian Douluo?" Qin Ming echoed in disbelief.
"He is worthy of his title," Ning Fengzhi said, watching Bibi Dong and her guards visibly shaken.
"His aura… even surpasses mine." Sword Douluo Chen Xin nodded in agreement.
Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo weren't stingy with their praise.
Suddenly, Tang Hao raised his hammer high, veins bulging across his face as he shouted one word at a time:
"Spirit! Hall!"
His hammer's massive shaft was even bending under pressure, showing just how much power he was putting into it.
Crack!
A piece of the Pope's Palace shattered and fell from the top.
Just then, a pentagonal blue grid appeared overhead—the soul tool defense mechanism activated, catching the falling debris.
"Everyone to the walls! Watch out for falling stone!" Liu Erlong called out.
BOOM!
The entire Pope's Palace trembled violently. Chunks of stone collapsed, kicking up clouds of gray-white dust.
The air was filled with dust and thunder. Visibility dropped, and many instinctively closed their eyes.
The roaring boom drowned out all sound.
When the dust settled, Tang San and Xiao Wu were gone.
Then, Tang Hao's voice echoed from all directions:
"Master Yu, Headmaster Flender—thank you for teaching my son all these years. I, Tang Hao, will repay this debt one day!"
But his figure was nowhere to be seen.
"Tang Hao!" Bibi Dong seethed, looking at the ruined palace with clenched fists.
"Your Holiness—what about them?" Chrysanthemum Douluo gestured at Yu Xiaogang and the others.
Bibi Dong's face grew even colder.
"Your Holiness," Ning Fengzhi stepped forward,
"Now that the soul beast has been taken, these people were simply acting to protect a student. They didn't commit any great offense."
Bibi Dong glanced at Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, who were clinging to each other, arms linked. Her expression soured.
She turned away, unwilling to see them.
"Everyone but Lin Xuan—expel them from Spirit City!" she said coldly.
"What the—?!" Lin Fan blinked in surprise.
Zhu Zhuqing and the others gave Lin Fan a few confused glances before they were escorted out of Spirit Hall, led by Xue Qinghe and Ning Fengzhi.
"What is Bibi Dong trying to pull now?" Lin Fan sighed helplessly.
Bibi Dong walked over to Lin Fan and said gently:
"Stay for a bit as a guest. No harm will come to you."
"Of course… no trouble at all." Lin Fan smiled awkwardly. What else could he say?
"Good. Once your uncle arrives, you're free to leave." She nodded, then turned to Chrysanthemum Douluo.
"Yue Guan, arrange a room for him in the rear courtyard."
"Yes, Your Holiness." Yue Guan bowed.
"Little brother, please follow me."
"Thank you, Elder." Lin Fan followed him past the wrecked palace to the undamaged rear courtyard.
Soon, Lin Fan was settled into a quiet little residence, with Chrysanthemum Douluo guarding the entrance.
"Sigh… Why does Bibi Dong insist on meeting me?" Lin Fan couldn't make sense of it.
He waited for a while. Eventually, as the palace matters were settled, Bibi Dong arrived.
Yue Guan, go handle things outside.
Yes.