Douluo Dalu: From Shinobi to Spirit Master

"Your Majesty, the whereabouts of the Haotian Sect remain unknown, and Tang Hao has also vanished. The enforcement team is stepping up the search, but..."

"Your Majesty, I suggest we strike at the Haotian Sect directly. Tang Hao is bold, and it's clear he's been instructed by the Haotian Sect!"

"Did you even use your brain?" One elder snapped back sharply. "The stance of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan is ambiguous, and Tiandou and Xingluo are both watching us closely. If we attack the Haotian Sect now, do you think they'll just sit back and watch? They'll be all too eager to take advantage of our distraction."

"Hmph! So, according to you, the Pope of the Spirit Hall has been beaten senseless by others, and we're supposed to just sit here and take it?" Another elder shot back, anger rising. "How will the world see us if we let this go unpunished?"

"You old fool, when did I say we should swallow our anger?" Ju Douluo growled, but his tone softened as he calmed himself. "What I'm saying is that this requires careful thought. We cannot act recklessly."

"Bah!" The heated argument continued, echoing through the Pope's Palace.

But above them, a cold, dignified voice cut through the noise, laced with an edge of fury.

"Enough!"

The voice, clear and commanding, silenced the room instantly. The great, peerless beauty sitting upon the Pope's throne narrowed her eyes, her lips tight, suppressing her pain and fury. Her gaze swept across the room, her eyes like daggers that froze everyone in their tracks. One by one, the arguing elders fell silent, their faces paling as they dared not meet her piercing gaze.

With a deep, steadying breath, she issued her commands.

"Sixth Priest, Seventh Priest, you will go to the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and personally invite Sect Master Ning to attend the Pope's succession ceremony."

The two middle-aged men, brimming with power and authority, immediately rose to their feet, saluting her with respect.

"Your Majesty's order."

The Pope's eyes then turned toward two others in the room.

"Elder Porcupine, Ghost Leopard, you will head to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Invite their clan leader to attend my Spirit Hall's ceremony."

"Understood, Your Majesty." Both elders stood, bowing deeply.

Her gaze darkened, a flicker of menace creeping into her voice.

"And as for the Haotian Sect..."

Bibi Dong's lips curved into a cold smile, her voice turning frosty and calculated.

"Deliver Tang Hao to me within seven days. Otherwise, the Haotian Sect will cease to exist."

A stunned silence fell over the hall.

Everyone took an audible breath, the air thick with tension.

This was a declaration of war—forcefully aligning the two sects against the third.

"Pope, don't do this! It's too rash, too hasty. Now is not the time for open conflict…" An elder hurriedly rose, his voice trembling with urgency.

But before he could finish his words, Bibi Dong's piercing gaze swept over him. The elder immediately fell silent, retreating to the back of the room, his face ashen.

No one dared challenge her again.

After all, the previous Pope had been Bibi Dong's mentor. Her grief over his death was well known, and who could fathom the depths of her anger at such a time?

But even amidst this tension, no one noticed the faintest hint of a smile playing at the corner of Bibi Dong's lips.

It was a smile that betrayed a deeper cunning.

After all, the beast may be dead, but its remains could still provide warmth.

"Your Holiness," a voice suddenly interrupted the silence.

Everyone turned in surprise, the quiet defiance filling the room.

Who dared speak against the Pope? And when they saw the figure clearly, the air in the room became even colder.

Bibi Dong's expression froze, her fist clenched tightly within her long sleeves, her eyes narrowing as she looked down at the young man daring to oppose her. A surge of disgust bubbled up in her heart.

"Do you have any better ideas?" she asked, forcing a smile.

"Ah, Elder Guangling?" Her voice was sweet, but there was an edge of menace hiding beneath it.

The young man sighed, disappointment flickering in his eyes as he spoke.

"Your Majesty, please don't be too impulsive. What if the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan refuse to cooperate? Should we really risk a war with all three sects?"

The elders couldn't help but frown, sensing the weight of his words.

"The old Pope supported your ascension, but it doesn't mean you can act recklessly," Guang Ling continued, his voice calm but stern. "If you pursue this path, Spirit Hall will suffer heavy losses."

Bibi Dong clenched her teeth, the bitterness in her heart growing. But she knew she couldn't afford to act against Guang Ling at this moment. After all, his influence stemmed from the six-winged angel lineage, a faction fiercely loyal to him.

The Fourth Priest, Lion Douluo, and the Second Priest, Golden Crocodile Douluo—second only to the Grand Priest Qian Daoliu.

They were forces that Bibi Dong could not confront at this stage.

As the thought crossed her mind, a surge of anger flared up, but Bibi Dong quickly suppressed it. With a steady voice, she asked, "Can we wage war on the Haotian Sect alone, while the other two sects remain passive? The ambitions of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan are plain for all to see. If we don't take this opportunity to force them to declare their stance, will they not stab us in the back once the war begins?"

"Of course not."

Guangling Douluo's face lit up with a confident smile, his words filled with conviction.

"In a situation like this, we don't need to be reckless. We can act against the Haotian Sect, but we don't have to turn the other two sects into enemies right away. We can use both benevolence and strength under the banner of our Spirit Hall. The Seven Treasure Glazed Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will surely appreciate our approach and stay out of the conflict. By doing so, we'll minimize casualties and the loss of soldiers."

Guangling Douluo seemed pleased with his reasoning. He glanced around, awaiting acknowledgment from the others. It didn't take long before his proposal was met with eager approval.

"What a brilliant plan, Elder Guangling!"

"Exactly! With this approach, we might avoid the loss of any soul masters. This issue can be resolved perfectly."

"Your Highness the Pope's initial plan seems a bit rash," one of them added, as though to drive the point home.

The continuous flattery stung Bibi Dong. Her expression darkened as a flash of anger crossed her mind.

Damn old man!

Not only had he completely dismissed her plan, but he had also insinuated that, now that she was Pope, she had lost touch with the lives of lower-ranked soul masters. Such words, if allowed to spread, would undoubtedly damage her reputation.

"Oh, there's no need to say that," Guangling Douluo continued, his voice dripping with false kindness. "Your Highness the Pope is simply young and inexperienced. Otherwise, you wouldn't have listened to the nonsense from Gui Mei and the others, would you?"

Having secured the approval of those around him, Guangling Douluo turned toward Bibi Dong with a smug grin. His one visible eye gleamed with pride.

"As long as Your Holiness listens to our advice more often, you'll grow wiser in no time, don't you think so, Your Holiness?"

Bibi Dong's fist clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her lips pressed together, almost as if she were going to bite them. The weight of his words pressed upon her like a heavy stone.

She knew what Guangling Douluo was truly demanding. He wanted to claim a share of the decision-making power, sacrificing her autonomy in exchange for his support. To grant him that would mean the loss of Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo's allegiance.

Damn bastard!

A wave of murderous intent surged in her heart, but Bibi Dong quickly suppressed it. She realized that, despite her future potential surpassing these old men, she couldn't defeat Guangling Douluo—not yet. For now, she was too weak to take him on directly.

The choice was clear: sacrifice her dignity and the loyalty of Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo, or risk losing her carefully built reputation. It was a dangerous gamble—one that threatened to either destroy her standing or cripple her for good.

It felt like a slow death either way.

Is it truly necessary to part ways with Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo?

And that Su Chen?

Her thoughts were interrupted as a pair of bright, black eyes flashed in her mind. Bibi Dong sighed inwardly. I'll try again. If that doesn't work, then…

"Your Holiness, we're back!!"

Just as she teetered on the edge of making a decision, Chrysanthemum Douluo's energetic voice echoed through the hall, startling everyone back into reality.