Douluo : Capture the goddess starting from peerless tang sect

"Why not have the two teams fight right now and decide the champion?"

"Your Holiness, what do you think?"

Bibi Dong gazed at Tang Lan calmly, without the slightest reaction.

A final match right now?

If it meant keeping Tang Lan, the ultimate cheat code, out of the battle, she was confident that Hu Liena and the others could put up a fight.

She was just about to nod in agreement—

When Tang Lan's next words completely shattered her composure.

"Oh, by the way—"

"The ones facing Spirit Hall Academy won't be Tang Sect Academy's first team… but the second team members."

Bibi Dong slowly blinked and stared at Tang Lan.

A single question mark seemed to materialize above her head.

What the hell are you talking about?

The Tang Sect Academy second team was strong, sure—but apart from Shui Bing'er, who was a five-ring Soul King, they weren't particularly overwhelming.

Even with her twin 100,000-year soul rings, the Spirit Hall Academy team still had Demonic Enchantment.

And besides—

They had Yan, another five-ring Soul King, plus four four-ring Soul Ancestors.

Against six mere four-ring Soul Ancestors, wasn't that an easy win?

"Tang Lan, are you insulting Spirit Hall?" Bibi Dong demanded.

Though her voice remained steady, there was a simmering fury beneath it.

If Tang Lan dared to confirm it, her anger would erupt instantly!

But instead—

"If Spirit Hall Academy wins, Tang Sect Academy will surrender the match," Tang Lan smiled. "On the other hand, if Spirit Hall Academy loses, I just need Your Holiness to answer one question."

Oh?

Now this didn't sound like an insult—it sounded like a trap.

Bibi Dong stared at Tang Lan, completely unmoved.

If she accepted, then even if Spirit Hall Academy won, people would still believe the championship was undeserved.

Tang Sect Academy's first team was undeniably powerful—everyone had witnessed it firsthand.

There would always be those who thought—

"If not for the bet, maybe Tang Sect Academy would have won the championship."

Bibi Dong was about to shake her head and refuse—

When Tang Lan casually dropped another bomb.

"Oh, by the way—my Xiao Wu is Level 71. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider?"

Bibi Dong froze mid-motion.

If Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai were the strongest fighters on Tang Sect Academy's first team,

Then Hu Liena and Xie Yue could at least put up a fight.

But a seven-ring Soul Sage?

How the hell were they supposed to win now?!

"Oh, and Xiao Wu's fifth, sixth, and seventh soul rings… are all 100,000-year rings." Tang Lan casually added.

Even with Bibi Dong's ironclad composure, she couldn't stop her eyebrows from twitching violently.

—Three 100,000-year soul rings?!

What kind of monster is this Xiao Wu?!

No.

The real monster is the man standing in front of her.

Because how the hell was Tang Lan stockpiling 100,000-year soul rings like a wholesaler?

Not only did he have them himself, he even had spares to hand out.

Completely ridiculous!

Bibi Dong glared at Tang Lan with pure, unfiltered killing intent.

'If only this man could serve Spirit Hall…!'

'That idiot Qian Renxue! I never should've listened to her! We should've forced Tang Sect to take a side back then—before he grew into this monster!'

'The Golden Generation is supposed to be the future pillars of Spirit Hall. If they lose too badly, it might fracture their confidence…'

'And the three soul bones prepared as tournament prizes… they were meant for Nana and the others. Letting outsiders take them would be such a waste.'

'But I can't let Spirit Hall's reputation take a hit either. I need a compromise.'

Bibi Dong's mind was racing.

Then—she made her decision.

"A final match right now is not a problem."

"But—your first team must participate, minus you, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing."

"Any missing members can be replaced from the second team."

"The match will be tomorrow."

"Make sure to come up with a decent excuse, or the bet is void."

And with that—

Without giving Tang Lan a chance to speak, Bibi Dong turned and left swiftly, her long legs carrying her away in a hurry.

Tang Lan watched her elegant yet irritated departure and simply shook his head with amusement.

Such a great woman.

Why did she have to fall for Yu Xiaogang of all people?

A flash of golden hair flickered in Tang Lan's mind.

Hmm…

Maybe Bibi Dong wasn't entirely hopeless after all.

With that thought, he turned and returned to the spectator stands.

Ning Fengzhi and the others were already waiting for him, eager to hear the outcome of his discussion with Bibi Dong.

Tang Lan wasted no time and directly announced—

"Bing'er, Yue'er, Xiao San, Mubai, Xiao Ao, Rongrong, Jingling."

"You seven will be the team competing against Spirit Hall Academy for the championship tomorrow."

"As for everyone else—just sit back and enjoy the show."

"Tomorrow is going to be… spectacular."

The sheer shock value of this news left everyone momentarily speechless.

Especially Ning Fengzhi.

The Elite Tournament had already run for four editions, yet never before had there been such a dramatic development.

The first day of the tournament, and the championship match was already scheduled for the second?

And the other teams?

They were left scrambling for third place?!

Wait—

With Tang Sect Academy's second team being so strong, there was a real chance they could actually win against Spirit Hall Academy!

Which meant…

Every other team was already competing for fourth place?!

Absolutely absurd!

"Brother Lan," Ning Fengzhi finally spoke with a strange expression. "What exactly did you and the Supreme Pontiff discuss for it to come to this?"

"Yeah, Big Brother!" Xiao Wu pouted. "And why aren't Zhuqing and I in the fight? I was planning to beat the hell out of Spirit Hall!"

Zhu Zhuqing didn't say anything.

But for someone who had always followed Tang Lan's lead, the fact that she hadn't immediately agreed meant that she had her own thoughts.

Outside of Tang Sect,

Spirit Hall Academy was one of the few teams in their generation that could actually give them a real challenge.

"It couldn't be helped. Bibi Dong specifically requested it," Tang Lan shrugged. "Fighting across power levels is more interesting anyway. Don't worry—you'll have plenty to do tomorrow."

Since Tang Lan had spoken, Xiao Wu could only pout and accept it.

Zhu Zhuqing, on the other hand, seemed genuinely looking forward to it.

But only Ning Fengzhi sensed that something was off!

Tang Lan seemed to be…

Preparing for something big.

"Alright!" Tang Lan clapped his hands. "For now, go eat, drink, and relax. Who knows when we'll get another chance to visit Spirit City?"

"Dismissed."

And with that—

Tang Lan activated Blood Escape, shot into the sky, and disappeared.

Leaving Ning Fengzhi, who had a thousand questions, with no choice but to swallow them.

Xiao Wu and the others casually dispersed, some forming small groups, but none of them seemed remotely worried.

—With Tang Lan around, why did they ever need to stress about anything?

Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin walked out together, both frowning deeply.

"Fengzhi, should we have Bone Douluo come over?" Chen Xin suggested. "He and I might actually be able to help this time."

Ning Fengzhi's eyes lit up!

"Uncle Jian, you and Uncle Bone… you actually succeeded?!"

"We never expected it either," Chen Xin sighed in amazement. "If not for Xiao Lan's guidance, we probably never would've discovered it in this lifetime."

"How strong is it?" Ning Fengzhi asked eagerly.

Chen Xin smiled confidently.

"Against anyone below Level 98, it's unblockable."

"Excellent!" Ning Fengzhi grinned. "With this as our trump card, maybe… my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can afford to make a bet tomorrow!"

Even if things didn't go as planned—

At least they wouldn't be eliminated as a threat.

The Next Day

The front page of Tang Li Newspaper sent shockwaves throughout the continent—

[SHOCKING! The Elite Tournament's Championship Match Has Been Moved Up!]

And in just a few hundred words, the article had already placed Spirit Hall in an incredibly difficult position.

The headlines read—

(To be continued...)