Qian Xunji wore an imposing expression as he surveyed Chrysanthemum Douluo below him, a trace of doubt in the depths of his eyes. Chrysanthemum Douluo was usually steady and reliable in his work, so why had he come to bother him today over a mere stinkbug?
Chrysanthemum Douluo had handled this matter rather sloppily.
If every little matter required him, the Pope, to handle it personally, that would be far too beneath his status.
Just as he was growing a little displeased, Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke. "Your Holiness, the offender outside has a remarkable background. He is suspected to hail from Sea God Island, a power with an exceptionally deep foundation. He looks to be only in his twenties, yet he is already a level 99 Limit Douluo. He even declared that he wanted a marriage alliance with Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden."
Qian Xunji froze for a moment. "A Limit Douluo in his twenties?" His heart jolted, and he could no longer keep his composure, shock and alarm showing on his face.
As the Pope of Spirit Hall, he commanded a vast wealth of resources, yet he had still not become a Limit Douluo. Was a man from an unknown power even more formidable than he was?
Then he smiled, the shock fading from his face. "This man is either a Limit Douluo old monster who made his name long ago, or a swaggering fraud who doesn't know what death is." He felt relieved.
Limit Douluo were exceedingly rare in the world today. Aside from his father and the one from the Clear Sky Sect, he had never heard of anyone reaching the Limit Douluo level. Clearly, the offender was a fraud.
Ha, he had scared himself for nothing.
The other party was nothing more than a fraud.
Things are getting interesting, he murmured inwardly. He wanted to see just where this man came from, to have fooled Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes. At the same time, he grew even more dissatisfied with Chrysanthemum Douluo. He had failed to see through the man's disguise; his handling of the matter had fallen rather short.
Looks like I'll have to let Chrysanthemum Douluo lie low and reflect for a while, Qian Xunji decided inwardly.
"Come on, follow me outside and have a look," he instructed Chrysanthemum Douluo.
If the man really was an old monster Douluo, he would do his best to recruit him and strengthen Spirit Hall. But if he was a swaggering fraud who had offended Spirit Hall's dignity, he could simply crush him on the spot.
Soon, they turned into streaks of light, swept out of the Pope's Hall, and arrived in the sky.
Looking over, they saw a tall, upright man standing proudly on a sword, his hands clasped behind his back and confidence between his brows.
"Are you the one who wants a marriage alliance with my Spirit Hall?" Qian Xunji asked, probing him. Even though he had already prepared himself, he still could not suppress his alarm when he saw the nine Soul Rings beneath Xu Feng's feet. Strange. Why can't I see through his disguise either? The Soul Power he gives off is exceptionally solid, without the slightest hint of instability. It even gives me an extremely heavy sense of pressure.
I've only ever felt this... from Father.
Could he really be a Limit Douluo? A Limit Douluo in his twenties?
He could sense the vigorous vitality and youthful vigor in the man. There was not the slightest trace of age or world-weariness in his features, and stormy waves and fierce winds rose in Qian Xunji's heart.
Chrysanthemum Douluo apparently wasn't lying. This man really is a young Limit Douluo! he cried inwardly. As the Pope of Spirit Hall, what great winds and waves had he not seen? Yet the sight before him still robbed him of his usual calm and self-possession, leaving him with nothing but shock. His understanding had been overturned anew.
Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at His Holiness the Pope from the side. Seeing that His Holiness was just as shaken, he felt as though a false accusation against him had been cleared. Your Holiness, I didn't lie to you, did I? There's nothing wrong with my judgment either, is there? he said inwardly.
"Who are you?" Xu Feng asked deliberately after seeing Chrysanthemum Douluo appear with the Pope of Spirit Hall.
"This is the Pope of our Spirit Hall. Whatever business you have, you can say it now," Chrysanthemum Douluo said, tactfully making the introduction. To become one of Spirit Hall's elders, Chrysanthemum Douluo naturally possessed high emotional intelligence as well as tremendous strength. It would diminish His Holiness's status to introduce himself, so of course a subordinate like him had to do it, prompting the other party to exclaim in surprise and take him seriously. Only then could His Holiness's dignity be displayed.
"The Pope? You're still not qualified!"
"Bring Qian Daoliu here!"
Xu Feng shouted.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were stunned by his words. Their mouths fell wide open, their breathing stopped for a moment, and their heads buzzed. They looked at Xu Feng as though he were a madman.
Huh?
What's going on?
You're saying the Pope of our Spirit Hall isn't qualified?
And you called the Great Enshrined by name and demanded that he come?!
I admit you're a young level 99 Douluo, but isn't this attitude of yours a little too arrogant?
They were frightened by Xu Feng's arrogant manner. Chrysanthemum Douluo was so shocked that he nearly fell from the sky, while Ghost Douluo was so shocked that the black mist around him nearly dispersed, exposing his true appearance.
Qian Xunji narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists slightly. The pressure he exuded grew even stronger, and a flash of icy light appeared in the depths of his eyes. The temperature around him seemed to drop to freezing. He was the Pope of Spirit Hall, which had already begun to emerge as the continent's foremost superpower, an unshakable colossus. Yet the man before him had simply disregarded him and even said he was not qualified?
This was rubbing his face in the dirt.
When had he ever suffered such humiliation since becoming Pope?
Sensing the change in Qian Xunji's mood, Xu Feng remained utterly unruffled, his expression perfectly calm.
What a joke. He was a Limit Douluo!
Before becoming a Limit Douluo, I could have treated you with every courtesy.
But now that I'm a Limit Douluo, why should I swallow my anger?
With his current strength, he could strut across the continent, so he was naturally qualified to enter "I don't eat beef" mode.
Of course, Xu Feng had not started acting mindlessly just because he had gained power. He put on this arrogant manner to break the Spirit Hall Pope's lofty bearing and home-ground advantage, drag him down from his papal throne to speak with him as an equal, seize the initiative, and lead him by the nose.
Otherwise, the Pope would surely put on an overbearing air and look down on him from on high.
Xu Feng would not indulge anyone, not even the Pope.
Seeing how calm Xu Feng looked, Qian Xunji was about to explode with anger, but he still had to maintain the Pope's noble image on the surface. If looks could kill, Xu Feng would probably have died hundreds of times already. He even somewhat regretted coming out with Chrysanthemum Douluo.
The original timeline.
When the various powers saw the Pope of Spirit Hall being put in his place yet forced to hold it in, they all began flooding the sky screen with comments.
"I'm laughing my head off. This is the first time I've seen the Pope put in his place."
"The Pope flew into a rage, and then flew into another rage."