From the rear of the army, a voice suddenly rang out—
"Tang Sect is one of Tian Dou Empire's most valued institutions—what crime have they committed for Spirit Hall to mobilize such a force against them?"
Prince Xue Xing's expression changed!
He immediately called for his guards to protect Xue Beng.
Yue Guan's eyes flashed with cunning!
If eliminating Tang Sect was no longer an option—then why not assist His Highness instead?
At the very least, it would soften the punishment when they returned.
Gui Mei immediately understood and stood back-to-back with Yue Guan.
Soul power surged—their Martial Soul Fusion Technique was about to activate!
"Hahaha—such a lively scene! Just in time for me to join the fun!"
A booming laughter echoed—
A massive Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperorcrashed through the buildings, heading straight for them!
Dugu Bo!
Even from a distance, his 94th-level aura made Yue Guan's face turn pale!
That old venomous snake actually reached Rank 94?!
With Wang Dali, a powerhouse Assault-type Titled Douluo, and the Tian Dou Empire's army—
If they allowed themselves to be encircled, even with their Martial Soul Fusion, they wouldn't escape alive!
Yue Guan didn't hesitate.
"Old Ghost! We're leaving!"
Gui Mei grabbed Yue Guan's shoulder, vanishing into the shadows!
They fled without a second thought—
Leaving Dugu Bo swinging at thin air, canceling his Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor in frustration.
With Prince Xue Xing, Xue Beng, Wang Dali, Zhao Wuji, and the others forming a tight encirclement around Spirit Hall's remaining forces—
The head of Spirit Hall's Tian Dou City branch, Platinum Bishop Salas, was on the verge of mental collapse!
He had originally followed the two Titled Douluo, thinking he could reap some benefits.
But now they ran away so quickly?!
What was he supposed to do now?!
Seeing Dugu Bo and Wang Dali's murderous intent,
Salas' legs nearly gave out.
"Gentlemen," Prince Xue Xing suddenly spoke, "Since Tang Sect suffered no real losses, perhaps we should avoid escalating the conflict further."
"Otherwise, even if we are in the right, we might end up in the wrong."
Despite his strong stance earlier,
This was still Spirit Hall!
If they truly tore apart all pretenses, even Emperor Xue Yemight not be able to withstand the pressure.
Salas was quick to take the hint.
"I was merely following orders!" He blurted out, "Today, I saw nothing! I know nothing!"
"I…"
"I'll be leaving now?"
He carefully lifted his foot, testing if he could slip away—
Only to be kicked back by Wang Dali.
"You think it's that easy?" Wang Dali sneered. "Spirit Hall can come and go as they please? What do you take Tang Sect for?"
Salas trembled violently, not daring to speak.
Just then, Bai He stepped forward, his smile bright and knowing.
"Everyone, I have an idea—one that can turn the tables in our favor."
"We'll do this… then this… and finally, this…"
As Tang Sect's members listened, their eyes gleamed with excitement!
But Salas—
His entire body went cold, his eyes filled with despair!
"Impossible!" Salas shouted in panic. "If you really do this, I'm as good as dead! I refuse to cooperate!"
"Click—"
Bai He set down the Soul Communication Device and shrugged nonchalantly.
"The photos have been taken." He said, smiling. "Whether you cooperate or not—does it even matter?"
Salas, who had been flailing and protesting—
Froze on the spot.
Wait—
It works like that?!
"You want to die?" Dugu Bo sneered. "Then allow me to send you on your way!"
Salas shivered violently!
His mind raced—there was one place he could go to escape Spirit Hall's wrath!
Without hesitation, he shouted—
"I'll do it! I'll cooperate! I'll expose everything!"
Dugu Bo stepped back with satisfaction.
Bai He raised the Soul Communication Device, pressing it against Salas' face.
"Start talking. I'm recording."
Salas looked as if he was attending his own funeral.
His teeth gritted so hard they nearly shattered.
The Next Day
The front page of the 'Tang Li Gazette'—
A massive image of Salas' face was printed across the top.
The headline?
[Shocking! Spirit Hall Caught in a Scandal?!]
What did Spirit Hall do?
The entire continent's gossip-hungry populace eagerly flipped through the paper—
And what they found was a massive revelation!
"Last night, the head of Spirit Hall's Tian Dou City branch, Platinum Bishop Salas, driven by jealousy over Tang Sect's Soul Spirit Equality Contract, attempted to extort Tang Sect's secrets while Sect Master Tang Lan and core disciples were away!"
"Leading Spirit Hall soul masters, he tried to use the 'Lower Four Sects' as leverage to force Tang Sect into submission!"
"Fortunately, Spirit Hall's own esteemed elders, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, stood against this corruption and personally subdued the rogue bishop—resolving the crisis for Tang Sect!"
"As an apology, Spirit Hall has offered to grant Tang Sect a place among the Lower Four Sects, replacing the White Tiger Clan!"
Below, the article delved into intricate details—
So vivid, so sensational—
That readers felt as if they were right there in the moment!
The public's reaction?
"They tried to seize Tang Sect while Master Tang was away?!"
"And this guy is supposed to be a Platinum Bishop?!"
"Will Tian Dou Empire and Spirit Hall go to war?!"
"What are you thinking? Isn't it all Salas' fault?"
"Didn't you read the follow-up? They raided his house and found the largest collection of female servants in Tian Dou City!"
"This old man is nearly a hundred years old and still such a pervert?!"
"Well, he is a Contra… and one of the Four Great Platinum Bishops!"
"What a brilliant open scheme!"
Qian Renxue put down the newspaper, her eyes gleaming with admiration.
"They didn't tear things apart but instead handed Spirit Hall a scapegoat, securing Tang Sect's place as one of the Lower Four Sects while simultaneously warning Bibi Dong."
"Now, Tang Sect holds the leverage—if Bibi Dong doesn't want to lose face, the 'truth' will be publicly exposed through the Tang Li Gazette!"
"This is truly… terrifying!"
She stared at the thin sheet of newspaper on the table.
Something so light and fragile, yet it had placed Spirit Hall in an impossible situation.
She could almost see Bibi Dong's enraged expression, her fury boiling over yet utterly helpless to act.
Qian Renxue's lips curled into a smirk.
Even the fact that those two useless fools, Gui Mei and Yue Guan, failed to eliminate Xue Beng no longer bothered her.
—Since he has returned to Tian Dou City, then he should never think of leaving again!
Spirit City – The Pope's Palace
Bibi Dong sat in a dark storm of rage, her aura trembling with suppressed fury.
With a sharp pulse of soul power, she ripped the newspaper to shreds!
If not for the long distance and the fact that Gui Mei and Yue Guan had yet to return—
She would have torn those two apart with her own hands!
A mission this simple—
And they still failed?!
Useless! Absolutely useless!
But now, it was too late.
Spirit Hall could afford to disregard Tian Dou Empire and risk breaking all ties.
After all, with Star Luo Empire still a threat, Tian Dou wouldn't dare start a war.
In fact—
Spirit Hall could even endure the public backlash from exterminating Tang Sect.
After all, time erases all things.
No one would continue to fight Spirit Hall to the death over a long-gone Tang Sect.
But—
Tang Sect wasn't gone.
Not only had they survived, but they also now held incriminating evidence against Spirit Hall!
If she forced a conflict now, it would only bring harm with no benefits.
It might even push Tian Dou Empire to completely sever ties with Spirit Hall.
And that—
That was something Bibi Dong could not allow.
Her goal was for Tian Dou and Star Luo to remain in balance, preventing either side from gaining total dominance.
Otherwise, in the future, establishing the Spirit Empire would become exponentially more difficult.
For the sake of her imperial ambitions—she had no choice.
Bibi Dong reached into her storage ring, retrieving a carefully preserved letter.
Her fingers gently traced the surface—
The envelope bore the words: "For Dong'er's Eyes Only."
Bibi Dong took out a Soul Communication Device, scrolling to a particular name.
Her fingers hovered over the button, hesitating several times.
But in the end—
She didn't make the call.
—Because he had warned her before.
"This device can be tapped."
Letting out a long breath—
Bibi Dong murmured an apology in her heart.
Then, she issued three Pope's Decrees—each carrying profound implications.
And they were—
(End of Chapter)