socalfunplaces Chapter 23 Bibi Dong: Feigning Weakness to Kill the Enemy with a Single Strike
Chapter 23 Bibi Dong: Feigning Weakness to Kill the Enemy with a Single Strike
Chapter 23 Bibi Dong: Feigning Weakness to Deliver a Deadly Strike
Three days later.
Wuhun City, Papal Palace Square.
Unlike the grand and magnificent occasions of previous papal coronations, this ceremony appeared particularly somber and rushed.
There were no congratulatory messages from the seven major sects, no envoys from the two great empires, and even flowers and cannon salutes were scarce.
On the high platform, a solitary papal throne stood out conspicuously.
The square was filled with Soul Masters from the Spirit Hall, from Platinum Bishops to ordinary Guardian Knights, a dense, silent mass.
Because Qian Xunji died suddenly, and Qian Daoliu and Jin E did not want to make too much of a fuss about it, and because there were only three days between the announcement and the ceremony, even many of the branch hall masters of the Spirit Hall did not make it, let alone other spirit master forces.
The papacy's coronation ceremony has historically been of the same scale as the coronation ceremonies of the emperors of the two great empires, so Bibi Dong's ceremony was somewhat meager.
"Tsk tsk tsk, this old man is really stingy."
In the Sea of Spirit, Nan Feng, who had already rested, looked at the shabby scene outside through Bibi Dong's perspective and couldn't help but complain, "The coronation of the dignified Pope of the Spirit Hall is like a village chief's meeting. Are they afraid that your prestige will be too high and you will be difficult to control in the future?"
"As expected."
Bibi Dong stood behind the gate of the Papal Palace, wearing a long, gleaming gold robe that symbolized supreme power and a nine-curved purple-gold crown, her expression calm.
"Although Qian Daoliu has compromised, he will never truly let me control the Spirit Hall."
"He wanted me to be a transitional puppet, to be bogged down in trivial matters, and even to use the people below him to control me."
"Unfortunately—he underestimated me."
"Thump thump—thump—"
Although the 99-gun salute was modest, it still resounded through the sky.
As the final cannon salute fell, the heavy doors of the Papal Palace slowly opened.
Sunlight streamed down, illuminating the figure that emerged from the shadows.
Bibi Dong held the papal scepter, her every step steady. Her self-aura swept across the nearly ten thousand soul masters in the square. Although there were many people, she could clearly sense that most of them did not have much awe in their eyes, but rather scrutiny, suspicion, and even disdain.
What makes a woman under thirty a suitable candidate to be pope?
By what right do they have the authority to command these established and powerful figures?
Qian Daoliu did not appear on either side of the platform; only Golden Crocodile Douluo stood there with several retainers and elders.
As Golden Crocodile Douluo looked at Bibi Dong approaching, a complex emotion flashed in his cloudy old eyes.
He knew Qian Daoliu's scheme, and he also knew what this shabby coronation ceremony meant.
If the ceremony were held according to normal protocol, the people below would genuinely believe that Bibi Dong was the popular choice, making it easier for her to seize power in the Spirit Hall.
But the coronation ceremony was so rushed, even somewhat shabby, that not only did the higher-ups know something was wrong, but those below also had their own ulterior motives.
This undoubtedly greatly increased the difficulty of Bibi Dong's work. Just in winning people's hearts and gaining control of the papacy, she had to spend a lot of time and effort.
To put it bluntly, although Qian Daoliu put Bibi Dong in this position, he didn't want her to do too well.
The main purpose of appointing Bibi Dong as Pope was to keep her within a safe range and prevent her from losing control. It was also to keep her occupied with papal affairs and slow down her access to the evil god's legacy.
Even if the Spirit Hall wants to develop and grow stronger, that will be in the future, after Qian Renxue has grown up.
Bibi Dong was only temporarily in charge.
If she does too well and actually seizes power from the Spirit Hall, it will be much more difficult for Qian Renxue to take power in the future.
"Is that the new pope?"
"Why is it a little girl? She's so young!"
"I heard she used to be a saintess; she's certainly talented, but this is far too frivolous. Lord Qian Xunji just left, and now a woman not even thirty has taken her place. The Spirit Hall is probably doomed from now on—"
Whispers rose and fell among the crowd.
Soul Masters from within Wuhun City, as well as many Soul Masters from the surrounding areas, and bishops whose cultivation was above the Soul Saint level, all arrived.
So much has happened in just a few days. First, Qian Xunji was attacked by Tang Hao of the Haotian Sect and died from his injuries. Then, the Holy Maiden Bibi Dong ascended to the throne as Pope.
The former was already surprising enough; Tang Hao was only in his early forties when he reached the Title Douluo realm and single-handedly crushed the Pope of the Spirit Hall.
With such talent and strength, Tang Hao's name as Haotian Douluo has now spread throughout the continent.
Of course, no one dared to talk about it casually, after all, Tang Hao had reached the title realm by stepping on the Pope of the Spirit Hall.
What has drawn even more attention is the new pope.
Tang Hao is indeed powerful, but he killed the Pope of the Spirit Hall, so this matter is destined to be difficult to resolve peacefully.
As the largest soul master force in the world and the rule-maker of the soul master world, the Spirit Hall is a place of shame. Everyone has a premonition that a war between the Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect is about to begin.
Saintess Bibi Dong was already famous many years ago. After all, she was a generation younger than Tang Hao and was now less than thirty years old. She was another prominent figure in the Soul Master world after the "Haotian Twin Stars".
However, since the Spirit Hall's expedition overseas ten years ago ended in a crushing defeat, Bibi Dong has been largely absent from the spirit master world for many years, as if she has vanished.
His sudden appearance and subsequent claim to the position of Pope have drawn criticism not only from within the Spirit Hall but also from many outside the hall.
After all, the Pope is the absolute authority in the world of Soul Masters. Qian Xunji, who was the number one genius of the Spirit Hall, only became a Title Douluo and sat on the throne of Pope when he was over fifty years old.
How can a woman under thirty years old become the Pope and receive the worship of the entire Soul Master world?
On the high platform in front of the Papal Palace.
Bibi Dong walked step by step to the throne that symbolized supreme power. She did not sit down immediately, but turned around and looked down at the dark mass of people in the square.
The whispers around her buzzed like flies, and the questioning, disdainful, and scrutinizing gazes felt like needles pricking her skin.
But Bibi Dong's expression remained calm and composed.
"Very good, that's it."
Bibi Dong thought coldly to herself.
Question me, belittle me. The more you think I'm unqualified, the more you think I'm just a pretty face who rose to power thanks to the legacy of the previous pope, the lower your guard will be.
Qian Daoliu wants me to be a puppet figurehead, so I'll go along with it and play the role of a seemingly weak and incompetent pope.
"When you all lower your guard, when I have complete control of the papacy—then I will make you all tremble at my feet!"
Show the enemy weakness, then secretly advance.
This was the most important survival rule she learned during her long period of house arrest.
A hunter can only kill his prey when the prey is most relaxed.
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, preparing to suppress her aura and deliver a conventional, even somewhat mediocre, inaugural speech, continuing her act as the "mediocre pope."
however.
Just as she was about to speak.
"Endure? Endure your ass!"
In the sea of spirit, Nan Feng's roar, full of irritability and impatience, suddenly exploded!
"Playing dumb to fool others? Are you addicted to playing the fool?!"
"Where is this? This is the Spirit Hall! The place on the entire continent that worships strength the most! What are you doing playing the game of hiding your strength and feigning weakness with these Spirit Masters who worship the strong?!"
Bibi Dong frowned, inwardly shouting, "Shut up! This is strategy! If we reveal our full strength now, it will inevitably arouse the vigilance of the major powers! A cautious approach is the best policy!"
"Safe my ass!"
Nan Feng scoffed, "That's cowardice! That's petty!"
"I've been tormented by Rakshasa's evil thoughts and humiliated by that old pervert Qian Daoliu's soul all this time, and now I have to stand here with you and suffer the humiliation of these ants?"
"I've had enough!!"
Nan Feng's voice was filled with hysterical madness and domineering arrogance: "What is the Pope? The Pope is God! He is the only truth!"
"A true ruler should openly and honestly trample on everyone else's heads, leaving them no courage to even raise their heads!"
"You want to play dumb to fool me? Sorry, I have no interest in that!"
"Today, I'm going to show these blind fools what absolute domination really means!!"
"Nan Feng! How dare you—!!"
Before Bibi Dong could react, a terrifying power originating from the depths of her soul erupted instantly!
That was Nan Feng's soul essence, that was the berserk will of the Death Spider King who had lived for 100,000 years!
Although Bibi Dong is the true owner of the body, their souls are now deeply intertwined. If Nan Feng is determined to cause trouble, Bibi Dong will have to put in a lot of effort to stop him.
But how could she possibly fight herself in her mental world under such intense public scrutiny? Wouldn't she just go crazy on the spot?
In the instant Bibi Dong hesitated, Nan Feng had already seized partial control of her body—limited to control over the burst of soul power!
boom-!!!
in reality.
Bibi Dong, who was about to speak to "show weakness," suddenly froze.
next second.
A chilling, domineering, and terrifying pressure, seemingly emanating from the deepest hell, instantly swept across the entire Papal Palace Square like a tsunami, centered on her!