A glint of madness flickered in Bibi Dong's eyes. It was a gleam that could not be contained.
She would give the Clear Sky Clan a "surprise."
But not just them.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and every force standing against Spirit Hall, all of them were on her list.
To outsiders, to Ju Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Hu Liena, Yan, and Xie Yue, this battle was simply Bibi Dong's way of asserting her dominance.
Yet in truth, her ambitions ran far deeper.
She calmed her excitement.
The battle with Tang Hao had not only strengthened her confidence but it had confirmed her belief: she was no longer beneath anyone.
Her second spirit had already begun absorbing its first soul ring, and she was also undergoing her God's Trial.
Her power was growing at a terrifying pace.
The day she would move against the world was drawing near.
Her time was almost here.
Descending to the ground, she strode straight toward Ning Fengzhi, her expression calm, though a trace of fury simmered beneath.
Her voice carried before she even arrived, "Sect Master Ning, how is it that the Clear Sky Clan's spirit masters are absorbing their rings so quickly? Where do they get their cultivation resources?"
Her tone was sharp, accusing.
At her words, Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo tensed instantly.
With Sword Douluo's perception, he could sense the countless powerful auras surrounding them.
One wrong word, and this would turn into a battlefield.
Ning Fengzhi's face remained composed, though his heart was heavy.
In truth, he was dissatisfied.
In his mind, the best outcome would have been for both sides, Spirit Hall and Clear Sky Clan to fight each other and bleed.
If the Clear Sky Clanlost two or three Titled Douluo, it would perfectly balance the situation...
He could accept them having three… even four Titled Douluo.
But seven?
That was already beyond what he could stomach.
Too strong.
And yet, Tang Xiao had been too cautious, too patient.
No large-scale battle had erupted, and no blood had been shed.
Moments ago, he had been awed by Bibi Dong's power, but now that she hadn't managed to kill Tang Hao or storm the Clear Sky Sect's gates, Ning Fengzhi's fear had faded.
Spirit Hall's bark may be worse than its bite, he thought.
They couldn't even handle the Clear Sky Clan.
Why would they dare touch the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?
With that thought, his tone stayed smooth, his words courteous:
"The Clear Sky Sect's strength all comes from rumor, Your Holiness. No proof has ever been presented that they truly possess seven Titled Douluo.
As for their cultivation resources...Your Holiness has already slain many of the guards and officials overseeing the Hunting Forest. I believe you already know the answer, the fault lies only in the empires' negligence in enforcing control."
Bibi Dong's golden eyes narrowed slightly.
"They sealed their Clan to atone for Tang Hao's crimes more than ten years ago.
Since they can't fulfill that penance themselves I'll help them do it.
And if any other force dares to aid them, then they will be enemies of Spirit Hall."
Her tone dripped with venomous resolve.
It sounded like anger, as though she was venting her frustration over Tang Hao's escape.
Ning Fengzhi only smiled faintly.
"Rest assured, Your Holiness. After this lesson, the officials guarding the Hunting Forest will certainly be more… diligent."
His words were steady, unhurried, very much like an old fox who'd seen through the storm.
Bibi Dong gave a faint nod. Her eyes shifted across the crowd and then, suddenly, stopped.
On Dugu Feng.
"This must be the young genius of the Dugu family who defeated Yan," she said lightly.
Her voice was calm, but Dugu Feng's heart sank.
What does she want?
He stepped forward respectfully.
"Greetings, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong smiled, a graceful curve of her lips.
"No wonder you could defeat Yan. You've been to the Slaughter City, haven't you? And more importantly... you walked out alive. Do you know how rare that is? There have only been two others before you. You are the third."
Dugu Feng froze on the spot.
Is this woman a hound? How could she sense that?
Her perception was terrifying.
Bibi Dong's gaze softened slightly, though her words were sharp as ever.
"I had thought all of the most promising young talents were within Spirit Hall… but it seems I was mistaken.
To think, the Heaven Dou Empire hides one such as you. It seems the Dugu family will have another Titled Douluo in a few decades."
She smiled as she spoke, but every word landed like a blade.
In an instant, all eyes turned toward Dugu Feng.
The Slaughter City! Everyone present knew what that meant.
A place of death. A graveyard for countless geniuses.
For a youth to not only enter but emerge alive? It was unimaginable.
Whispers spread through the ranks like wildfire.
What did he gain there?
What kind of opportunity could he have found?
Even Dugu Shuo's expression darkened slightly. He regretted bringing his grandson here now.
He had only wanted Dugu Feng to witness a battle between Titled Douluo… not to draw the attention of the Pope herself.
And now, with a single glance, Bibi Dong had seen through his grandson's secret and the hidden Killing God Domain.
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flickered with curiosity.
"Your Holiness," he said suddenly, "may I ask who the other two that left the Slaughter City are?"
Bibi Dong smiled faintly.
"One of them is Tang Hao."
That answer wasn't surprising. After all, Tang Hao was already known as one of the strongest men in the world.
The once twin stars of the Clear Sky Clan.
The man who, upon becoming a Titled Douluo, killed the former Pope with a single strike.
"And the other…", She paused, her smile deepening mysteriously. "The other will remain unnamed."
Dugu Feng's mind turned sharply. He took a step forward, voice steady:
"Could it be… Your Holiness yourself?"
Bibi Dong didn't answer directly. Instead, she said lightly,
"The Slaughter City offers great fortune, but it is only the beginning. If you wish to continue developing that power... come to Spirit Hall. Seek me."
And with that, she turned.
Her words and her silence said everything.
The second survivor of the Slaughter City… was Bibi Dong herself.
With a faint nod to the other sect leaders, she led Ju Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and her entourage away.
Dugu Feng's expression hardened the moment she left.
This woman… she exposed me on purpose.
Vile!
At only the Soul Elder realm, he had already drawn the attention and targeting of the Pope herself.
When the tree is too tall, the winds will crush it!
She hadn't just praised him but also she'd elevated him to stand beside Tang Hao and herself.
That wasn't flattery.
That was a death sentence in disguise.
After her departure, every gaze still lingered on Dugu Feng.
If there was ever a definition for "awe," this was it.
Even Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, Dugu Bo, Ge Long, Ye Qingxin, and Feng Bailong looked at him differently now.
They had all watched him grow but only now they realized that they had underestimated him.
Especially Dugu Bo! His face was grim, his thoughts unreadable.
Seeing the stares, Dugu Feng sighed inwardly.
Since it's exposed anyway… then let's expose it properly.
He cupped his fists and said calmly,
"The Slaughter City is a legacy left by an ancient powerhouse. To gain its inheritance, one must kill endlessly. Only through slaughter can one survive.
Even a Titled Douluo loses their abilities there. No spirit skills can be used. One must rely solely on physical strength and spirit power.
Imagine, elders, how brutal that is. Those who survive gain a domain — the Killing God Domain.
I was able to pass only because of my family's poison. In a place where no spirit skills can be used, poison kills fastest."
He spoke frankly.
Bibi Dong's goal had been to draw all attention to him, to make him a target.
But this secret would come out sooner or later.
He had already used his killing intent in the fight with Yan and anyone observant enough would notice.
Better to reveal it now than let it be used against him later.
The crowd murmured in shock.
The veil over the mysterious Slaughter City had been lifted — and the truth left them speechless.
A place where no spirit skills could be used…
No wonder so many geniuses went in and never came out.
A soul master without soul skills — wasn't that just a tiger without its fangs?
Now they understood.