Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, Meeting the Pope

"..."

Fanos Province was quite a distance from Spirit Hall. Although Su Yuntao had secured a carriage from the Martial Soul Sub-Hall to speed up their journey, it still took them a considerable amount of time.

A week later, the carriage finally rolled to a stop.

The difference between Spirit City and Nuoding City was immense. After all, the former was the holy land of all Soul Masters on the continent, while the latter, Nuoding City, was merely a small city in Heaven Dou City.

"Wulin, we're here."

"Come on, I'll take you to see the people in charge at Spirit Hall!"

As Su Yuntao spoke, he led him toward the Pope's Palace, the holy land of Spirit Hall, his heart filled with longing.

Whenever a top-notch genius awakened in any region under Spirit Hall, they could be brought before its higher-ups. And this was his first time ever coming to Spirit City since he had joined.

"Speaking of Spirit Hall, I have to mention the Pope's Palace. Every one of our Popes has been a true powerhouse. I hope you can win her approval, Wulin."

"If you do, in six years at most, you'll be able to beat up six pieces of trash like Yu Xiaogang."

As he spoke, a hint of anticipation shone in his eyes. It wasn't just because this would benefit him; he also hoped Wulin would receive His Holiness the Pope's guidance.

"I hope so, Brother Tao."

Tang Wulin answered with a smile, though he couldn't help pondering the matter of taking a master...

Now that he had come to Spirit Hall, he naturally had Pope Bibi Dong in mind. After all, she had Twin Martial Souls and would become the first person to attain godhood in the future. One could say...

Aside from being a hopelessly obsessed lovebrain, she had hardly any major flaws. But she wasn't actually his first choice. That was—

The second elder of the Worship Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo, who ranked first in seniority in all of Spirit Hall and was even older than Qian Daoliu.

His Martial Soul was the Golden Crocodile King, unquestionably the best Beast Martial Soul of this era.

And as the continent's only level 98 Titled Douluo, he could be called invincible when no Peerless Douluo appeared.

Of course, since he had no way of reaching the Worship Hall at present, the only teacher he could pursue was Pope Bibi Dong.

Even if Bibi Dong won't take male disciples because of Qian Xunji, this strongest woman on the continent...

Will surely give me a substantial reward.

That was what Tang Wulin thought.

"What are you doing here?"

Before they could approach the Pope's Palace, however, a Soul Ancestor-level guard stepped forward with his weapon in hand and spoke with an icy gaze.

"I am a deacon of Spirit Hall. Today, I've brought a genius who awakened in the countryside to His Holiness the Pope. Sorry to trouble you, brother guard, but could you announce us? Many thanks!"

Su Yuntao had expected this.

As he produced his deacon's token, he also took out the more than one hundred Gold Soul Coins he had prepared from his Soul Tool and handed them all over.

"Oh? Brother deacon, this one is a genius..."

"This little brother looks to be only seven, yet he's already a Soul Master. All right, I'll go inform the elder at once."

The guard first pocketed the Gold Soul Coins, then glanced at the young boy before him, whose bearing was exceptional despite his age. He agreed at once and headed into the palace.

Spirit Hall had a strict hierarchy, but everyone had the right to recommend geniuses to those above them. He didn't believe Su Yuntao would lie, and besides, even he could tell that this young child had good talent.

"Brother Tao, brilliant."

Tang Wulin glanced at him. Even a Soul Grandmaster received a monthly subsidy of only ten Gold Soul Coins, but what Brother Tao had just taken out was more than a hundred.

"Hehe."

Su Yuntao put on an understated expression, though he couldn't help feeling a little embarrassed. He wasn't about to tell him that the money had been borrowed from Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo, who had saved it over more than half his life.

His own money had all gone toward lavishing attention on Sisi, and in the end, he hadn't gotten much in return.

"Please, come this way. Elder Chrysanthemum Douluo wishes to see you."

The guard had only been inside a short while before he returned the way he had come. His formerly composed face was alight with barely concealed excitement, and his gaze was friendly as he looked at the two of them.

"Chrysanthemum Douluo!"

At that name, Su Yuntao's gaze sharpened. It was actually Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, one of the Pope's top powerhouses!

At that moment, his breathing quickened considerably. After thanking the guard, he hurriedly took hold of Tang Wulin beside him and headed toward the Pope's Palace.

"Wulin, Elder Ju, Chrysanthemum Douluo, is one of His Holiness the Pope's two closest confidants. If you perform well, perhaps..."

"He might take you as his disciple."

Su Yuntao took a deep breath and hurriedly spoke.

"Mm..."

Tang Wulin answered with a smile, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. This Chrysanthemum Yue Guan was the one he had considered least of all.

"You two are the ones who wish to see the Pope?"

Not long after the two of them arrived at the outer hall of the Pope's Palace, a golden figure appeared before them, an almost bewitching smile on his face.

He was none other than Spirit Hall's elder, the powerhouse Bibi Dong trusted most, and one of the previous Pope Qian Xunji's two enforcers, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, a level 95 Titled Douluo.

He had come personally both to take a look on His Holiness the Pope's behalf and because, if she declined, he... might be able to take on a promising disciple himself.

After all, his own abilities weren't particularly outstanding, and it was difficult for his cultivation to advance much further. It was important to have a disciple to carry on his legacy. He wasn't greedy; level eight would do.

"Your subordinate Su Yuntao, a deacon of the Martial Soul Sub-Hall in the Heaven Dou Empire, greets Lord Chrysanthemum Douluo!"

Seeing him before him, Su Yuntao took a deep breath and immediately performed the proper salute for an elder, speaking respectfully.

He might have been able to pretend to be calm in front of a child like Wulin, but this was his first time meeting such a big shot. At this moment, he couldn't help trembling, and his heart was filled with shock.

Getting to see Lord Chrysanthemum Douluo once made this life worthwhile!

"Rise. You and the little fellow beside you..."

"Come with me to see His Holiness the Pope."

Yue Guan hadn't looked at Su Yuntao once. His gaze turned toward Tang Wulin and lingered for a moment before he spoke.

With a single glance, he could see clearly that the boy was extraordinary. It seemed that he, Yue Guan, might not be qualified to take him as a disciple.

"Yes, Elder Chrysanthemum Douluo!"

Su Yuntao and Tang Wulin hurriedly replied.

Before long, Chrysanthemum Douluo led them into a magnificent, lavish inner hall. On the throne at its highest point sat a woman of extraordinary appearance.

She was exceptionally beautiful, dressed in a black robe embroidered with gold, a purple-gold crown on her head and a scepter inlaid with countless gems in her hand. Her bearing was graceful in every way.

The nobility she exuded without even trying stirred a feeling of reverence, making people want to kneel beneath her long skirt.

The Pope of Spirit Hall...

Bibi Dong!

Though Tang Wulin only gave the figure a cursory glance, he couldn't help marveling. She truly was Bibi Dong.

"Today, Su Yuntao, a deacon of the Martial Soul Sub-Hall, has brought Tang Wulin, a top genius who awakened in Nuoding City, to seek an audience with His Holiness the Pope."

Su Yuntao knelt on one knee as he spoke, without looking at her once. It wasn't that he didn't want to, but that he didn't dare...

A mere Soul Grandmaster like him could probably be blasted to death by a single fart from His Holiness the Pope. No, that wasn't right. His Holiness the Pope didn't fart.

"A top genius from Nuoding City..."

"Hm?"

Bibi Dong looked straight past Su Yuntao and turned her gaze to Tang Wulin. Nuoding City... it seemed that person was in Nuoding City too...

But soon, her expression froze. Looking at Tang Wulin, her previously calm face registered surprise as she realized this was no simple matter.

She had seen countless geniuses and more kinds of Martial Souls than she could count, but this boy was undoubtedly the most exceptional of them all.

He was clearly just a pathetically weak Soul Master, yet he made him feel a trace of suppression. That meant his Martial Soul might surpass both of hers!

Her Death Spider Emperor was a Martial Soul who knew how many levels above the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Just how powerful a Martial Soul did the person before her possess?

"Su Yuntao, why aren't you informing His Holiness the Pope of Tang Wulin's details at once?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo, standing to the side, noticed Bibi Dong's expression and hurriedly spoke.

"Your Holiness, Tang Wulin possesses Innate Full Soul Power, a talent seen only once in a century, and his Martial Soul is..."

"Believed to be the legendary Golden Sacred Dragon!"

"Your Holiness, please look over the details yourself."

Su Yuntao spoke respectfully as he handed the information sheet to Chrysanthemum Douluo beside him, with the utmost deference.

"..."

Hearing those words, Bibi Dong couldn't help being taken aback. At the mention of the Golden Sacred Dragon in particular, her gaze sharpened.

You said...

What is his Martial Soul?!