"The Grand Enshrinement has spoken," Golden Crocodile Douluo stared at Bibidong, enunciating each word with the weight of a hammer blow. "This Pan-continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is a grand event for the entire Soul Master Realm. As the host, the Spirit Hall must uphold fairness and maintain the tournament's order. Regarding the participating young talents, especially those with exceptional gifts like Marco from the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy, the focus should be on recruitment and cultivation. We must not engage in those underhanded, disgraceful tricks that would only invite ridicule and, more importantly, damage the reputation and dignity of our Spirit Hall!"
His words were an extremely blunt warning! Clearly, the Elder Hall, or rather Grand Enshrinement Qian Daoliu, had already noticed some possible arrangements Bibidong might have made targeting Marco and had expressed clear disapproval, even dissatisfaction!
Bibidong listened quietly, her face showing neither joy nor anger. Only after Golden Crocodile finished speaking did she slowly open her mouth, her voice betraying no emotion. "Oh? The Grand Enshrinement is also interested in that Marco? Indeed, he did 'cultivate' within the Elder Hall for a period of time. His strength and potential... I presume Elder Golden Crocodile and the Grand Enshrinement understand them even better than I do."
She deliberately emphasized the word "cultivate," her gaze profound as she looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's expression darkened slightly. Marco's past experience in the Elder Hall and Qian Daoliu's special attention towards him were not secrets among the Elder Hall's upper echelons. Bibidong bringing this up now was clearly suggestive.
"This youth's talent is indeed rare in the world," Golden Crocodile Douluo did not deny it, stating solemnly. "Precisely because of this, we should treat him with upright and honorable methods! If our Spirit Hall wishes to unify the Soul Master Realm of the continent, we must possess a magnanimity that embraces all rivers. How can we, for personal motives, engage in such petty, contemptible actions that would chill the hearts of the world's talented individuals?"
"Elder Golden Crocodile's admonition is correct," Bibidong nodded slightly, her tone still calm, but the Edge of her words suddenly shifted. "However, as the Pope presiding over the tournament, I have my own considerations. For this Grand Finals, the Spirit Hall has offered three Soul Bones as the championship reward. Their significance, Elder Golden Crocodile surely understands as well. If those three Soul Bones ultimately end up being taken by that Marco from the Heavenly Dou Empire... where would the face of our Spirit Hall's younger generation be?"
She slowly stood up. Her magnificent papal robes stirred without any wind, as an indescribable Soul Power fluctuation—profound as an abyss yet carrying an extreme coldness and aura of destruction—began to slowly spread out from her like a tide! This Soul Power was not ostentatiously overbearing, yet it seemed to solidify and freeze the very air of the entire hall! Even the surrounding light appeared to dim slightly!
Golden Crocodile Douluo's pupils contracted sharply! He stared fixedly at Bibidong, his face revealing unconcealable shock for the first time! With his cultivation and insight as a peak-level 98th rank Douluo, he actually could not see through the depth of Bibidong's strength at this moment! He could only sense that Soul Power fluctuation was as vast as the sea, unfathomably deep, and a certain quality contained within it even made him feel a faint sense of palpitation! This was definitely not something an ordinary Peerless Douluo could possess! She... just what terrifying level had she cultivated to in these years?!
Bibidong took in Golden Crocodile Douluo's shock with a glance, a trace of icy mockery flashing in her violet eyes before quickly vanishing. She settled back onto her throne, the terrifying fluctuations of Soul Power receding like a tide, as if they had never appeared.
"As for the petty schemes Elder Golden Crocodile is concerned about..." Bibidong's voice regained its cool composure, as if stating a fact, "This seat has dispatched Yue Guan and Gui Mei to 'welcome' the Heaven Dou Empire's delegation, to demonstrate our Spirit Hall's regard and courtesy toward the participating academies. Presumably, they should be... arriving soon."
"What?! You sent Yue Guan and Gui Mei?!" Golden Crocodile Douluo's expression changed drastically upon hearing this! Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei were the two most capable Titled Douluo under Bibidong's command—formidable in strength, perfectly coordinated, and notorious for their bizarre methods and ruthless actions! Sending those two to "welcome" the delegation made her intentions glaringly obvious! This was clearly meant to intercept and kill, or at least intimidate, Marco—or rather, the Heaven Dou Empire's team! This went completely against his own wishes, and those of the Grand Enshrinement!
"Bibidong! You..." Golden Crocodile Douluo was furious, pointing a finger at her as golden Soul Power surged faintly around him. A terrifying Imposing Aura spread once more, making the entire hall seem to tremble.
Facing Golden Crocodile Douluo's rage and Imposing Aura, Bibidong merely raised her eyes slightly. Those violet pupils gazed coldly at him, her voice calm and utterly unruffled: "Elder Golden Crocodile, this seat is the Pope of Spirit Hall, presiding over all its affairs. How to act is this seat's own consideration. As for the Elder Hall... this seat naturally respects it. However, I must also remind Elder Golden Crocodile not to forget his place."
She spoke the last sentence very slowly, each word falling like an ice bead, carrying undeniable authority and... a hint of icy warning.
"You—!" Golden Crocodile Douluo was so enraged his beard and hair seemed to bristle, his chest heaving violently. He never imagined Bibidong had grown so domineering and forceful to this extent! She dared to openly defy even him, the Second Enshrinement, and even imply threats! He stared fixedly at Bibidong, murderous intent flickering in his eyes. But in the end, considering her unfathomable strength, certain reservations of the Grand Enshrinement, and the consequences of an open confrontation now, he forcibly suppressed the towering fury in his heart.
"Fine! Fine! Very fine indeed!" Golden Crocodile Douluo spat out three "fines," his voice squeezed through gritted teeth, filled with anger and chill.
With that, he said no more. With a fierce sweep of his sleeve, he turned, transformed into a streak of golden light, and instantly shot out of the Papal Hall, vanishing into the sky. His furious rage, as if materializing into a storm, swept through the air.
The spacious hall returned to dead silence. Only the light from the high windows shifted quietly.
Upon the throne, Bibidong sat motionless. After a long while, she suddenly let out a low, almost inaudible cold laugh. The laughter was faint at first, carrying boundless mockery and chill—as if mocking Golden Crocodile Douluo's anger, mocking the Elder Hall's "stubbornness," and perhaps mocking everything in this world.
The laughter grew louder, sharper, brimming with an indescribable madness, obsession, and a near-pathological delight in absolute control! She laughed unrestrainedly, the sound echoing through the vast hall, crashing against the cold walls, sounding particularly jarring and... lonely.
"Position? Heh... hahaha..." She laughed, yet her purple eyes held not a trace of mirth—only a cold, dark abyss that seemed capable of devouring all light.
"My position is right here. No one... can stop me!"
The mad laughter gradually subsided, eventually dissolving into a long, icy sigh that faded into the endless silence. She leaned back into the throne once more, closing her eyes. Her exquisitely beautiful face was half-lit, half-shadowed in the light, as if wearing a perfect mask—no one could glimpse the storm and secrets hidden beneath.
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