Contest at the Succession Ceremony, Laboratory Completed

Inside a dim hall, figures shifted in the shadows as hushed whispers filled the air.

"Spirit Hall has come with ill intent."

"I say there's nothing to fear. Even their Pope was beaten to death by Tang Hao. Spirit Hall is all bark and no bite—nothing more."

"Hmph, you youngsters have probably never experienced what it feels like to have that terrifying Qian Daoliu pressing down on your heads!"

"Doesn't the Clear Sky Sect have one too?"

Young and old alike debated for a long while without reaching any conclusion. In the end, they all turned their eyes toward the figure above.

He was an exceptionally brawny old man, every muscle packed tight like granite. Even while seated, he stood over two meters tall. His white hair was sharp as needles, his gaze flashed like lightning, and his presence was as deep as an abyss and as vast as the sea. Simply sitting there gave everyone an incomparable sense of security.

As if even if the sky collapsed, he would hold it up.

"No need for so much nonsense. Just go."

A low voice, like muffled thunder, rang out. The people who had been arguing heatedly fell silent at once.

Here, he was the absolute authority!

"Oh, and bring that little bastard Yu Xiaogang back too. I still haven't settled the score with him for separating from Spirit Hall's Saintess without permission. This time, he's going as well!"

The burly old man snorted coldly.

"I want to see exactly what medicine Spirit Hall is selling in that gourd."

A new Pope?

Just an immature little girl trying to establish her authority. If Qian Daoliu showed himself, I might give you some face. Otherwise, don't blame the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon for showing no mercy!

By the time Su Chen pulled himself out of his obsession with experiments and cultivation, a week had already passed.

Chrysanthemum Douluo brought the Pope's decree, along with an unexpected piece of news.

"The Pontiff Succession Ceremony... is going to hold a joint competition?"

The morning breeze was gentle, while the sunlight was slightly dazzling. One tall and one short figure strolled through Spirit City toward the Pontiff Palace.

Along the way, people occasionally greeted Chrysanthemum Douluo with respect, while casting curious glances at Su Chen.

Squinting and easing the soreness caused by prolonged use of the Byakugan, the boy looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo in surprise.

"Whose idea was this?"

The original purpose of the succession ceremony was to intimidate the other two of the Three Upper Sects and prevent them from easily interfering with the policy toward the Clear Sky Sect. Su Chen naturally knew this inside information. Strictly speaking, he was one of the plan's initiators.

He simply had not known how they intended to intimidate them, or what exactly they planned to display.

He had not expected it to be done this way.

But after giving it some thought, Su Chen found that this method seemed rather good. Or rather, it was probably the best solution available at present.

It could display their fangs while also revealing their foundations. If everything went smoothly, the results would speak for themselves.

No one dared provoke a neighbor who was terrifyingly powerful both now and in the future.

"Of course it was His Holiness the Pope."

Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at him, his delicate, charming face full of admiration.

"His Holiness the Pope's wisdom is beyond anyone's reach~"

Su Chen: ...

Forget it. He could not be bothered to argue.

Shaking his head, the boy recalled something. "Then why did she summon me?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo would not have sought him out specifically over something like this. The competition did not have much to do with him, either.

No matter what, they would not put a six-year-old child into such a competition.

"What do you mean, she summoned you? Ah, kid, you don't know how lucky you are! Do you know that His Holiness the Pope has never valued anyone this highly? You, you, you—"

Chrysanthemum Douluo glared at him irritably and muttered resentfully, "Why? Why? Why you, kid..."

This man was truly beyond saving.

Ignoring Chrysanthemum Douluo's incessant prattle along the way, Su Chen arrived at the Pontiff Palace again after several days.

The Pontiff Palace was somewhat empty today. Apart from the stunning woman seated high above, only a few elders below were reporting on various matters.

Bibi Dong still wore that luxurious and elegant papal robe. Her beautiful face held the solemnity of someone listening intently. Only when she saw Su Chen enter did a barely perceptible ripple appear in her wine-red eyes.

Su Chen did not interrupt. He simply stood quietly in a corner, his mind still replaying the earlier experimental results.

Now that the improved Dual Cultivation Method had been further perfected, its cultivation speed could truly be called advancing by leaps and bounds. Su Chen was considering whether to present it to Bibi Dong as an initial research result.

Although it could not achieve the effect of doubling cultivation without Chakra, the improved spiritual energy absorption pathways could still raise efficiency by twenty to thirty percent. Combined with the Mimic Cultivation Environment, the overall increase could reach around fifty percent, which counted as a fairly good result.

Of course, that was by Su Chen's standards.

What he probably did not know was that a method capable of increasing cultivation speed by half could be regarded as a core secret passed down for millennia in any faction.

Thus, when Su Chen later presented it, Bibi Dong's reaction completely exceeded his expectations.

After an unknown amount of time, the hall finally fell quiet. When Su Chen sensed something and raised his head, he saw those wine-red eyes watching him with great interest.

"What are you thinking about?"

she asked.

"Nothing. Just some research topics."

Su Chen shook his head, only then realizing that they were the only two left in the hall.

"You... when will you ever act like a real six-year-old?"

From the papal throne, the stunning woman stretched lazily. The graceful curves wrapped beneath her papal robe were fully displayed before Su Chen, every perfect line visible at a glance.

This woman.

Did she really not see him as a man? Could she not show a little restraint?

Besides, if he really acted like a six-year-old, he would probably be sitting at the same table as Xie Yue and the others, playing with mud. How would he ever get to see her?

Su Chen rolled his eyes inwardly.

Seeing the boy's body instinctively stiffen, Bibi Dong's lips curled in amusement. It felt as though the exhaustion of the entire day had eased considerably.

Sure enough, only in front of this little fellow could she relax a little.

"Alright, let's go. Let's take a look at your... mm."

His Holiness the Pope blinked, intending to naturally take the boy's hand, but he warily avoided her.

"The laboratory."

Hm?

Su Chen's eyes lit up, and he asked in surprise, "It's already finished?"

As expected of Spirit Hall, perhaps?

The continent's largest Soul Master organization truly lived up to its reputation!

If this had been Shrek or somewhere else, unless he paid for everything himself, it would have taken at least one or two years to build.

Yet only a few days had passed on Spirit Hall's side?

Seven days, or six?

This efficiency was simply wonderful!

A trace of satisfaction at her scheme succeeding flashed through Bibi Dong's wine-red eyes. Taking advantage of the moment, she held the boy's hand. This time, Su Chen did not avoid her—or perhaps he simply did not notice.

His mind was entirely occupied by his laboratory. If he were not afraid of seeming too abrupt, Su Chen would have wanted Bibi Dong to carry him there.

That would definitely be much faster!

Thus, full of anticipation, the two arrived at Bibi Dong's garden.

Staring at the familiar building before him, Su Chen fell silent.

He said nothing, merely looking at Bibi Dong.

The meaning was obvious.

"What? Do you think I lied to you?"

She chuckled and led Su Chen inside.

When they reached the center of the garden, Bibi Dong suddenly extended a hand. Powerful Soul Power surged forth, tracing a strange symbol upon the ground. Then, the unremarkable patch of grass split cleanly down the middle and moved apart to either side. Moments later, a broad passage leading underground appeared.

"Come on, go down and take a look. Don't worry, you won't be disappointed."

His Holiness the Pope gave him a gentle push, her beautiful face filled with a captivating smile.

She was right. She had no reason to harm me.

Su Chen took a deep breath, nodded, and began walking downward.

Luminous pearls were embedded along both sides of the passage, so it was not dark. After descending the stairs for roughly five minutes, a large door appeared before the boy.

He gently pushed open the door. When the scene inside entered his eyes, even though Su Chen had been mentally prepared, he could not help but suck in a sharp breath.