The Prize of a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, Enduring an Incense Stick Under a Soul Ancestor's Attack

Spirit Hall, the square before Pontiff Palace.

The moon shone brightly amid a sky full of stars. Not a single cloud marred the clear night sky, and much of the mist surrounding Spirit Hall had dispersed. From here, they could even see the scattered lights of countless homes throughout Spirit City.

"Show us here."

A faint smile rested on Bibi Dong's exquisite face as she pointed with her jade-like hand. "I'm looking forward to your performance."

Spirit Hall's higher-ups stood around in twos and threes, their gazes shifting between the noble, beautiful figure and the white-haired youth, their eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

Normally, such a trivial matter would only require two people to oversee and verify it. But with the Pope herself being the first to come out, how could they possibly stay behind?

This was the first time they had seen the new Pope attach such importance to someone.

Thinking of the youth's outstanding performance in the hall earlier, those who had initially scoffed at Chrysanthemum Douluo's claims now found themselves half-convinced.

The more quick-witted among them had flickering eyes, clearly already making other plans.

"Wait, Your Holiness the Pope."

Guang Ling Douluo stepped forward again, having regained his extraordinary bearing. A smile sat on his handsome face, making him seem like an entirely different person from the furious, twisted man he had been moments ago.

"If it's merely a demonstration, it'll be difficult to convince anyone. How about I add a little stake to it?"

Here it came!

Everyone perked up. They knew this worshipper would not let the matter rest so easily.

"Oh?"

His Holiness the Pope's elegant brows furrowed slightly. "What stake does Worshipper Guang Ling wish to add?"

Buzz—

A subtle fluctuation of Soul Power flashed past. With a gentle wave of Guang Ling Douluo's hand, a dark crimson crystal appeared in his palm.

"That is..."

Chrysanthemum Douluo narrowed his eyes, then his expression abruptly changed. He cried out, "A soul bone?"

A soul bone?

Hearing that name, Su Chen's spirits rose, and he could not help looking over as well.

It was dark crimson throughout, crystalline and translucent, with a scorching, powerful aura flowing within it like a beautiful work of art.

As expected of a soul master's greatest treasure. Even though Su Chen's Soul Power was currently too weak for him to discern much, he could still sense that if he absorbed this soul bone, both his physique and Soul Power would improve tremendously.

Furthermore, he seemed to sense a familiar yet unfamiliar aura within it, though he could not be certain.

If it really was that thing, then he absolutely had to obtain this soul bone.

"Gasp, judging by its quality and Soul Power fluctuations, it's likely a soul bone of at least nine thousand years, perhaps even ten thousand years!"

"Looking at its shape, could it be a right leg bone?"

"As expected of Worshipper Guang Ling. He actually brought out a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone just like that!"

The crowd was shocked, breaking into heated discussion.

Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones were exceedingly rare. Even for a Titled Douluo, they were treasures capable of providing immense improvements. If placed outside, they would be enough to make people fight until their heads bled, stirring up a bloody storm.

Yet Guang Ling Douluo had simply taken one out as the stake for a demonstration?

This...

Everyone could sense that there was something far from ordinary about this.

"What do you think of this stake, Your Holiness the Pope?"

A smile remained on Guang Ling Douluo's handsome youthful face as he gently placed the soul bone on the stone platform before him.

"Guang Ling Elder is certainly generous. But for children's play like this, isn't taking out a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone rather too valuable?"

His Holiness the Pope's red lips moved slightly as her beautiful eyes gave Guang Ling Douluo a deep look.

"Why don't you first tell us how you intend to have this child demonstrate?"

She had not agreed—or rather, she had already begun looking for a way to refuse.

Since Guang Ling Douluo was willing to bring out something like this, he had likely made preparations to ensure Su Chen could never obtain it.

"It's very simple."

The handsome youth in a light gray robe blinked. Ice crystals scattered down from the flower over his single eye, causing the temperature around them to plummet several degrees.

With a smiling expression, he raised one finger, revealing his stark white teeth.

"One incense stick's time. As long as this child can endure that long under his attacks, no matter how he does it, this Ten Thousand Year Spirit Fire Fox soul bone will be his."

After saying that, Guang Ling Douluo clapped his hands. A tall middle-aged man emerged from behind him with his head lowered.

"Well?"

Guang Ling Douluo looked toward Bibi Dong, before finally resting his gaze on Su Chen.

Chrysanthemum Douluo frowned and sensed the man's aura. His expression immediately changed. Pulling Su Chen behind him, he could not help roaring, "You're using a Soul Ancestor to test a Soul Elder? Have you no shame?!"

The crowd erupted in an uproar, their probing gazes turning toward him. A moment later, the expressions on their faces as they looked at Guang Ling Douluo became somewhat strange.

He really was a Soul Ancestor!

No wonder he dared to offer a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone. Wasn't that far too shameless?

This was no longer a question of whether he could obtain it—it was an attempt to get the child killed!

"Didn't you say this child had a Thousand-Year Soul Ring? It just so happens that this subordinate of mine is rather mediocre in talent; only his fourth ring is a thousand-year one. Besides, he only needs to hold out for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, not defeat him. For a genius whose first ring is already a thousand-year ring, that shouldn't be a problem, right? Also—"

Guang Ling Douluo's smile abruptly turned icy as an immense, surging aura crashed toward Chrysanthemum Douluo!

"Who the hell do you think you are, speaking to me like that?!"

A high-ranking Titled Douluo, Spirit Hall's Fifth Enshrined Elder, suddenly revealed his terrifying might!

"Puh—!!"

Caught off guard, Chrysanthemum Douluo's face turned pale as he spat out a mouthful of blood. His aura instantly weakened, and he staggered. If Ghost Douluo had not reacted quickly and stepped forward to release his own aura to block the attack for a moment, Yue Guan might have collapsed directly onto the ground.

"Insolence!"

An even more immense wave of Soul Power surged forth, blocking Guang Ling Douluo's aura from the outside. Ghost Douluo, who had been struggling to hold on, immediately relaxed and nearly fell as well.

On the other hand, under the deliberate protection of the others, Su Chen had not been affected much at all.

So this was the strength of a high-ranking Titled Douluo? Truly not to be underestimated.

The boy's expression turned solemn.

It seemed he would need to be especially wary of this person.

His Holiness the Pope's beautiful eyes brimmed with icy killing intent. Her pink-gradient hair floated without wind, while an enormous spider phantom flickered in and out of sight behind her, radiating an incomparably terrifying aura.

"Guang Ling Elder, what do you mean by this?"

Crack!

The hard stone bricks groaned under the sheer collision of their auras, dense cracks gradually spreading across them. Yet when that terrifying pressure reached its critical point, it stopped as though by mutual agreement.

The opposing auras slowly dissipated. The onlookers wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and let out sighs of relief.

One was the newly appointed Pope, while the other was an old supporter of the Angel Lineage.

If those two truly began fighting, they really would not know what to do.

"My apologies, His Holiness the Pope. I was merely teaching a disrespectful junior a lesson."

This woman had actually grown so much stronger?

Damn it, she was still so young.

Guang Ling clasped his hands, a trace of wariness flashing through his single eye.

"I hope there will not be a next time."

Bibi Dong said coldly.

"Furthermore, this child will not be competing against your Soul Ancestor."

I knew that old bastard was up to no good!

And he still had the nerve to say something so shameless. His fourth ring was the only thousand-year ring—were the first three just for decoration?

"Wait, His Holiness the Pope. Shouldn't we ask the person involved for his opinion on such a matter?"

Guang Ling Douluo concealed his gloomy expression and looked at Su Chen with a smile.

"Well? Are you willing?"

Ever since earlier, he had noticed that the boy had been staring intently at the soul bone in his hand.

That made sense. Even a Titled Douluo could not remain unmoved before a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, much less a child.

Just as expected, he heard Su Chen's answer.

"Of course I am."