Qian Daoliu:
Indeed.
Back then, Qian Daoliu truly had no idea about Su Linfeng's existence, and Qian Renxue hadn't mentioned it either.
This could only be considered an accident.
In fact, he owed this child quite a lot.
Taking a deep breath, Qian Daoliu decided not to make a fool of himself any further. Su Linfeng's sudden appearance had completely calmed him down.
Though he harbored killing intent toward Bibi Dong, he could not make a move in front of Su Linfeng. Besides, there was a ninety percent chance this six-year-old brat was the child of Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong.
The Angel lineage might just have gained another heir.
Qian Daoliu cast a cold glance at Bibi Dong, then shifted his gaze toward Su Linfeng. Since the boy refused to follow him back to the Worship Hall, then fine—let him stay by this woman's side. At least with him here, Qian Daoliu would be less inclined to act rashly.
"Great Worship!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice jolted Qian Daoliu out of his thoughts. "Then we—"
"Seal all information about Su Linfeng!"
Qian Daoliu flicked his sleeve and said coldly, "Notify the Pope's Hall to announce to the outside world that the Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji, was grievously wounded by Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect and has since fallen! I will personally hunt Tang Hao down and demand justice from the Clear Sky Sect on behalf of Spirit Hall!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo and the other worship elders turned pale. "Great Worship!"
"Silence."
Qian Daoliu's tone left no room for argument. "The matter has been settled. All worships will return with me to the Pope's Hall to discuss the follow-up plans!"
"Yes!"
The six great worship elders dared not resist and vanished into the sky one after another.
The Spirit Hall Worship Hall!
Their loyalty to the Angel Clan was absolute, without the slightest wavering.
Thus, none opposed Qian Daoliu's decision.
And so the truth of Qian Xunji's fall rotted here. Qian Daoliu knew well how to divert conflicts—able to restrain his grief and make such a decision under the agony of losing his son showed he was far from the useless figure the rumors painted him to be.
Finally.
Before leaving, Qian Daoliu laid a barrier over the forbidden ground once more.
His gaze turned sharp as he looked at Bibi Dong. "Until the Worship Hall has reached a decision, you are not allowed to go anywhere!"
Then his eyes softened as he looked at Su Linfeng. "Since you refuse to come with me, stay here. I will find a way to make up for the years I have failed you."
With that said—
Qian Daoliu's figure disappeared into the sky.
And with his departure—
The morning sun blazed, scattering the darkness. The Spirit Hall's forbidden land fell silent once again.
Watching Qian Daoliu leave, Su Linfeng finally let out a long sigh of relief and turned to glance at the dazed Bibi Dong.
Was it really over?
Even Bibi Dong was stunned. At the very least, she thought she would be temporarily confined by the Worship Hall—if not killed outright, then at least tortured.
It turned out that children truly were the ultimate trump card.
In truth, Bibi Dong had been more than half certain Qian Daoliu wouldn't kill her. After all, the four great branch halls of Spirit Hall and the four Platinum Archbishops were all under her command. Unless Qian Daoliu wanted Spirit Hall thrown into chaos, he wouldn't dare take her life lightly.
But she had never expected things to end like this.
Never underestimate the feelings of a father for his son—nor the affection of a grandfather for his grandson.
"You little brat, you really know how to put on a show!"
Bibi Dong glared coldly at Su Linfeng. "Just now, even I almost believed you were truly my child."
"Hehe, I had no choice!"
Su Linfeng spread his hands innocently, though his voice carried a faint trace of grievance. "Sure, I'm young, but I still need to learn how to protect myself, don't I?"
"These six years in Spirit Hall, when have I ever lived without treading on thin ice?"
"Always worried you might eat me, or that Qian Xunji might kill me for my bones. And on top of that, I constantly had to guard against being discovered by that group just now. Do you think my life has been easy?"
Huh?
This little bastard was actually talking back now.
Qian Daoliu might have fallen for it, but she certainly wouldn't.
Bibi Dong arched an eyebrow, intending to scold him. But when her gaze met Su Linfeng's pair of clear, earnest eyes, she changed her mind.
In the end, sincerity was the true trump card.
Although she was confident Qian Daoliu wouldn't kill her, when Su Linfeng had rushed forward just now without hesitation, she had been moved.
A mere soul beast child of only twenty ranks—what gave him the courage to face the seven-peak Douluo?
Forget it.
This time, she would let him off.
Bibi Dong sighed inwardly. Then she asked aloud, "Hungry?"
"Nope."
Su Linfeng stretched and yawned, still drowsy. "I'm just tired, still half-asleep. Hey, sister, why don't you come with me back to my room and let me nap again, just for a bit?"
Bibi Dong: "…"
What kind of outrageous words were these!
Nap again?
Her pretty face flushed instantly. This little brat was getting more and more abnormal.
Clearly, she couldn't indulge him even once—if she thought "never mind" now, he would only push further next time.
He was so full of little schemes even at this age. What about when he grew older?
What about when puberty came?
She had never raised a boy before—surely she wouldn't have to be the one to handle his "enlightenment," would she?
Best not to think that far ahead.
For now, better to discipline him early, or it will only be harder later.
With that thought—
A faint smile tugged at Bibi Dong's lips.
Her eyes gleamed as she looked at Su Linfeng. "I forgot to tell you. My spirit power has already reached about rank ninety-one, but I'm stuck at ninety because I'm missing a spirit ring."
She leaned closer, her voice dripping with mock hunger. "Tell me, if I eat you, could I directly advance to Title Douluo?"
As she spoke—
Bibi Dong deliberately swept her eyes up and down over Su Linfeng's body, nodding as if confirming. "Mm~ maybe I could even push my spirit power up to ninety-three!"
"Uh…"
A shiver ran down Su Linfeng's spine. A cold draft crawled from his tailbone all the way up his neck. "W-well… actually, I'm not tired anymore. Now that you mention it, I do feel a bit hungry…"
…
Several days later—
The news that Spirit Hall's Pope Qian Xunji had been fatally injured by Tang Hao spread across the entire Douluo Continent like wildfire.
Qian Daoliu personally pursued Tang Hao, demanding that the Clear Sky Sect hand him over. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan chose silence, seeking self-preservation and refusing to intervene.
In the end—
Unable to withstand the pressure, the Clear Sky Sect publicly declared that Tang Hao had been expelled from their sect. They mobilized the entire clan to withdraw from the Star Luo Empire, closing their gates indefinitely.
As for Tang Hao—
He seemed to vanish into thin air, hiding away with his son.
But Spirit Hall couldn't just let the matter rest with the death of their Pope.
Seizing the opportunity, they launched a purge. All the factions that had long resisted Spirit Hall, along with the stubborn forces under the Clear Sky Sect's banner—most notably the clans of Strength, Breaking, Control, and Speed—were targeted in a sweeping "cleansing" campaign.
Even so—
To avoid cornering their enemies too harshly, Spirit Hall eventually halted their purge.
Qian Daoliu still had his scruples. Without Tang Chen's appearance, he dared not recklessly destroy the Clear Sky Sect.
This purge was never meant to annihilate them anyway. Its purpose was simply to provide a reasonable explanation for Pope Qian Xunji's death and bring the matter to a close.
One month after Qian Xunji's fall—
Spirit Hall declared publicly that the Saintess Bibi Dong would succeed as the new Pope.
The entire Douluo Continent was shaken to its core once again.