The Papal Hall. Bibi Dong sat on the papal golden throne, with the Chrysanthemum Douluo standing guard at her side.
A streak of golden light cut across the sky and arrived in the Papal Hall. Seeing who it was, Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Grand Sacrificer."
Bibi Dong held a brilliant golden scepter, rose slowly, and looked at Qian Daoliu. That old man had not come out to the Sacrificer Hall for decades. Even when his son died back then, he only reclaimed the two pieces of angelic divine armor.
Her eyes sharpened. "The Grand Sacrificer has arrived. What orders do you have?"
Qian Daoliu glanced at Bibi Dong and sighed. "Dong, I have watched what you have done these years. Do you think what you did was right?"
Bibi Dong laughed coldly. "Right or wrong will be judged by others. Is that why the Grand Sacrificer came?"
Qian Daoliu shook his head. "I have decided to leave the mountain and take back control of the Hall of Spirits, to make up for the mistakes you have made these years. You should go to the Sacrificer Hall and reflect in seclusion."
When Qian Daoliu finished speaking, Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his head in surprise.
Bibi Dong's eyes instantly turned ice-cold. She had expected Qian Daoliu to act since he came in person, but she did not expect him to be so direct.
She snorted. "Is the Grand Sacrificer intending to make me step down?"
Qian Daoliu did not waste words. "What happened back then was indeed my fault for seeking illness, so I felt indebted to you and handed the Hall over to you as amends. But what you have done these years has gone too far. The reputation of the Hall of Spirits has plummeted in just over a decade. If this continues, the divine might of the angels will be exhausted by you."
"Let the past be the past. Now I have decided to leave the mountain and take charge. Going to the Sacrificer Hall is your best option. As for what you have done, I will not intervene lightly, but if it harms the Hall of Spirits, do not blame this old man for not showing mercy."
Qian Daoliu spoke calmly, but golden light rippled around his body like a radiant sun, making Bibi Dong uneasy to look directly at him.
The pressure of a level ninety-nine peerless Douluo descended, and Chrysanthemum Douluo felt an urge to prostrate.
Bibi Dong, who possessed the dark spirit beasts Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor and Death Spider Emperor, bore the brunt. The six-winged angelic suppression made her almost unable to resist.
Even though Bibi Dong had now reached the super cultivation of level ninety-seven, she still could not face Qian Daoliu's angelic divine might head-on.
After a long silence, Bibi Dong slowly stood. Her face showed no clear emotion. "I accept the decree of the Grand Sacrificer. But spare me the Sacrificer Hall. I have grown tired these years and want to go out for a while."
Qian Daoliu considered for a moment. "Once you leave the Hall of Spirits, your actions will be your own responsibility and have nothing to do with the Hall."
Bibi Dong removed the golden crown from her head. "I will keep that in mind."
She glanced at Chrysanthemum Douluo and was about to say more, but Qian Daoliu cut in. "Go out, and in the meantime capture the renegade Ghost Douluo. Elder Ju will accompany you."
Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes moved. "Thank you, Grand Sacrificer."
The two high-ranking figures finished their conversation and Chrysanthemum Douluo dared not utter a word. After receiving the Grand Sacrificer's permission, he followed Bibi Dong out of the Papal Hall.
Watching them leave, Qian Daoliu could not help but sigh. "It was meant to be a double divine lineage by fate. What a pity, what a pity."
As the inheritor of the angelic deity, how could Qian Daoliu not notice Bibi Dong's abnormalities? He had known his own fate back then and, feeling indebted to Bibi Dong over past matters, had turned a blind eye.
Now things were different. He was free, and his previously dormant heart had again ignited.
Not only for himself, but for Xue'er as well.
In the struggle of the great age, he would do everything to secure even a sliver of life for Xue'er.
As long as Bibi Dong did not do anything foolish in the future, Qian Daoliu would be as lenient as possible. After all, she was Xue'er's mother.
Qian Daoliu slowly walked up to the golden throne, ran his hands over the long-separated papal seat, and snapped his fingers, producing a beam of golden light.
In the next moment, six rays of light fell into the Papal Hall.
Six weathered old men appeared, though because of their profound cultivation they still looked no older than their thirties or forties.
The hardships in their eyes revealed their experiences.
All six wore broad, imposing red robes embroidered with gold patterns of terrifying beasts that arrested the gaze.
Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan Divine Bird, Flaming Lion, Light-Plumed Divine Bow, Coiling Dragon Great Staff...
These six were the six major Sacrificers of the Sacrificer Hall. Each was at least in their nineties and had soul power levels of at least ninety-six, making them the top existences on the continent.
"Big brother."
They bowed and looked at Qian Daoliu with burning eyes.
Most of them had secluded themselves for at least thirty years. Now that Qian Daoliu reclaimed leadership of the Hall of Spirits, these old brothers would naturally support him.
They had no ambitions, but the contest of the great age and the continent's turbulence might give them a share.
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly and looked to the left, at the middle-aged Sacrificer whose robe bore the golden crocodile pattern. "Second brother, give the orders. Pope Bibi Dong has abdicated, and I will take charge of the Papal Hall. One month from now hold a grand ceremony. All branch halls at or above the city level must return to Spirit City."
"During this period, you personally lead the detachment to investigate. Those who break the law and reform may be forgiven, those who do not shall be punished severely. Repeat offenders must be punished without mercy."
The Golden Crocodile Douluo bowed. "Golden Crocodile accepts the order."
Qian Daoliu then turned to the third and fourth Sacrificers. "Third and fourth, take over the city defenses of Spirit City and cleanse the rebels."
The Azure Luan Douluo and the Lion Douluo bowed. "We obey the papal order."
He then looked to the fifth Sacrificer. "Light-Plume, aside from Elder Ju, who left with Bibi Dong, and the escaped Ghost Douluo, place the rest of the Hall elders under your command. I do not want any mistakes."
Light-Plume Douluo received the command gravely and bowed. "Light-Plume understands."
Qian Daoliu then addressed the sixth and seventh Sacrificers. "Sixth and seventh, spend time learning the continent's situation. Go with Xue'er when the time comes. With you there I will feel reassured."
"Qianjun obeys, demon-subduing order received."
Qian Daoliu waved his hand. "Prepare yourselves. It is time for the Hall of Spirits to show the brilliance of the angels."
One day later, Bibi Dong left the Hall of Spirits with Chrysanthemum Douluo and the Dragon-Wrangling Master, as if yesterday's glory were already gone. Looking at the bustle inside Spirit City, Bibi Dong showed no attachment.
The Dragon-Wrangling Master stayed by Bibi Dong's side and could not help but feel pity. "Are we really leaving just like this?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo also wanted to say something, but his reason told him to keep silent.
Bibi Dong sighed. "He came out of seclusion, so I must abdicate. It is fortunate that he did not make an issue of these years. Staying would be meaningless."
"What good is resentment? In the face of absolute power, everything is trivial. It's a pity. We were so close. Now it seems we only made a wedding garment for him."
The Dragon-Wrangling Master snorted. "Why appear now and not earlier? I never thought an angel Douluo would be such a scheming person."
Hearing him, Chrysanthemum Douluo hurriedly warned, "Dragon-Wrangling, be careful! The authority of the Pope cannot be violated, and the Sacrificer Hall has those old men."
Dragon-Wrangling fell silent. Bibi Dong looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo. "Elder Ju, I am sorry for the trouble."
Chrysanthemum Douluo quickly replied, "You flatter me, Your Majesty. Without you I would not be who I am today. Since the Grand Sacrificer, the Pope, has ambitions, he will need us in the future. We only need to wait for the right time."
Bibi Dong smiled faintly; everything remained unspoken.
She was indeed obsessed with power, but she did not take the papacy for power alone. Otherwise she would have acted far more ruthlessly than Qian Xunji had back then.
She intended to destroy the Hall of Spirits, to annihilate everyone who had harmed her and Dragon-Wrangling.
But now success was within reach, and Qian Daoliu had jumped out.
She was unwilling but had nowhere to vent. Facing a level ninety-nine Qian Daoliu and the old Sacrificers, her resistance would only bring cold suppression.
Then it was better to leave for now.
She was not wrong about one thing: power was everything. Once she had absolute power, she would reclaim what she lost and more.
Bibi Dong turned and looked at the grand angel statue. "Angel, one day the Rakshasa will arrive."
After the three figures disappeared outside Spirit City, Qian Renxue stepped out from the shadows and watched them leave with indifference.
Qian Daoliu appeared beside her. "Although deities are beyond good and evil, Bibi Dong has fallen into madness. She may become your greatest inner demon, so I let her go."
Qian Renxue clenched her small fists. "If she truly loses herself, I will personally defeat her and use the angelic light to redeem her."
Seeing Qian Renxue's confidence, Qian Daoliu's mouth raised. "Xue'er, sorry for making you suffer."
Qian Renxue hugged her grandfather's arm. "I'm not suffering. Grandfather has done so much. Xue'er will not disappoint you."
Qian Daoliu stroked his granddaughter's hair. "Good, good."
Qian Daoliu truly was one of the continent's three wonders. Once he decided to leave seclusion, he used thunderous measures to end Bibi Dong's years of negligence.
In barely a month, countless branch halls in main cities across Douluo Continent had people thrown into prison, and many reformed through service. The Hall of Spirits instantly shed its corruption and decay and sprang back to life.
News of Qian Daoliu's return shook the continent. This peerless Douluo, who had been in seclusion for decades and forgotten by many, had reclaimed leadership of the Hall of Spirits and brought immense pressure to many.
It also signaled that the Hall of Spirits would take big action. Why else would a long-hidden Qian Daoliu return?
Coupled with so many hermit sects appearing and the discovery of ancient ruins, turbulent times were upon Douluo Continent.
With Qian Daoliu at the helm, countless soul masters rallied to the angel Douluo. Though he had not shown himself for decades, he still commanded instant obedience.
Many formerly ambivalent but upright soul masters now responded with enthusiasm.
Under Qian Daoliu's leadership, the Hall of Spirits seemed poised to regain vitality.
However, Bibi Dong had done much damage while in power, and rebuilding would take time.
Oscar learned of this and instantly grew vigilant.
With Oscar's current power, few on the continent could threaten him, but one of the three wonders, the angel Douluo, was certainly one.
Qian Daoliu's return forced Oscar to adjust his plans.
Although it was unclear why Qian Daoliu had come out now, his reforms made it clear that he was not merely protecting the Hall's legacy.
Facing such a peerless opponent, Oscar could not feel secure.
Whether Qian Daoliu would, as in the original tale, sacrifice himself to open the final angel trial for Qian Renxue was unknown.
But based on current developments, whatever Qian Daoliu's final path, he stood as the greatest obstacle Oscar had to face.
Fortunately, Oscar did not intend to show himself yet. After consolidating his strength and filling his three spirit skills with soul rings, he might challenge a peerless Douluo directly.
That process would not take too long, perhaps two or three years at most.
Even if Qian Daoliu led the Hall of Spirits and developed for two or three years, as long as Oscar could reach strength rivaling a level ninety-nine peerless Douluo, nothing would be lost.
Besides, Oscar had Di Tian as his trump card. As the three leaders of the Star Dou Alliance, and with Gu Yue now transformed, Di Tian would not allow his investor to be harmed.
Otherwise everything would be ruined.
Qian Daoliu sat in the Papal Hall and meticulously reviewed the reports and memorials presented to him.
Though he had avoided politics for years, these tasks were easy for him.
Seeing the engagement between the Hall of Spirits' saintess Huliena and Sword Sect's Ao Yue, Qian Daoliu raised his brow.
Compared with the hermit sects that had recently emerged, the Sword Sect was undoubtedly the most troublesome.
From known information, the Sword Sect had at least five titled Douluos, and its sect leader might already have reached level ninety-eight.
In Qian Daoliu's view, the difference between ninety-eight and ninety-one was minor, merely a larger ant. But the Sword Sect's overall strength was so great that even the combined original seven great sects might at best match it.
If Qian Renxue wanted to build a Spirit Empire, the Sword Sect would be a major hurdle.
The engagement between saintess Huliena and Ao Yue was merely Bibi Dong's verbal promise. The Sword Sect had just emerged and was ready to expand.
At this stage, fully subduing them would be difficult.
But taking them was not impossible either.
After deep thought, Qian Daoliu decided to personally probe the Sword Sect's stance.
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