A Familiar Yet Strange Person

For this Soul Master Exchange Meet, Spirit Hall had invested a tremendous amount of manpower and resources. They had specially opened up a venue in Spirit City for the participating Soul Masters to engage in soul battles.

On the day of the soul battles, nearly everyone in Spirit City came to watch. Spirit Hall had not restricted commoners from entering for this exchange meet. Spirit City was, after all, a city. Though it was a holy land for Soul Masters, it still had ordinary citizens.

To prevent any accidents, Spirit Hall had specially mobilized two thousand Soul Masters to maintain order and prevent anyone from causing trouble. They had also arranged for a Titled Douluo to preside over the event, displaying Spirit Hall's authority.

This exchange meet did not only draw people from Spirit City. Many people from the Two Great Empires had also come to witness this grand occasion. However, most of them had arrived too late—Spirit City had already been closed off, and those outside could no longer enter.

On the day of the exchange meet.

The Heaven Dou Empire delegation arrived at the venue. By then, the audience stands were packed with people, with hardly an empty seat in sight. The entire arena was made from special materials, enough to withstand the attacks of Soul Masters below the Soul Saint rank.

"Spirit Hall really is loaded."

Di Hong looked over the entire venue and could not help feeling astonished. Leaving aside everything else, this Soul Arena alone must have consumed enormous resources, let alone the entire venue. Spirit Hall had also placed many Soul Tools around the grounds.

The rest areas were located on both sides of the venue. Since this was merely an exchange meet rather than a Soul Master competition, Spirit Hall had divided the rest areas into camps for the Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires, along with some registered independent Soul Masters.

Since the Soul Power Levels of the participating Soul Masters varied greatly, Spirit Hall had, after discussing it with the Two Great Empires, divided them into several groups.

Soul Masters above Level 60 and up to Level 70 were placed in one group.

Soul Masters from Level 50 to Level 60 were placed in another group, and so on.

This prevented Soul Emperor-level Soul Masters from bullying Soul Elder-level Soul Masters. If such a thing really happened, Spirit Hall would only be making a fool of itself and becoming a laughingstock.

"After all, it's Spirit Hall," Ning Fengzhi said mildly. Spirit Hall was doing this for no reason other than to display its status, and he did not care much about it.

"Brother Ning, are you participating in the exchange meet too?" Di Hong suddenly teased.

This was the rest area, and normally, only Soul Masters participating in the exchange meet would be here. Ning Fengzhi was the Sect Master of one of the Upper Three Sects and a support-system Soul Master, so he would not be taking part.

Ning Fengzhi smiled.

"I only came to take a look. Honestly, it is quite a pity. If I weren't a Support System Soul Master, I would definitely have signed up."

"You must be joking. You're from one of the Upper Three Sects, the number one support-system sect in the World. If you were the one providing support, could the other side even compete?"

"Hahaha." Ning Fengzhi shook his head.

"You really are something."

"Though this is an exchange meet, you should still be careful. His Highness the Crown Prince and I do not want to see you get hurt."

After giving his reminder, he left.

Neither he nor Xue Ye was seated here. They had dedicated VIP seats beside the Pope's seat.

The exchange meet had yet to begin, but the Soul Masters in the rest area were already eager to get started. There were many participating Soul Masters, and because the matches were divided by level, there were naturally several soul battle arenas. Each was separated by a hundred meters, and Soul Tools had been set around every Soul Arena. Once the battles began, they would activate a shield to envelop the arena, preventing Soul Power from spilling into other areas.

As Soul Emperor-level Soul Masters, their Soul Arena was located in the very center of the venue.

Tang Hao and Tang Xiao walked over.

"Nervous?" Tang Xiao asked.

Di Hong shook his head.

"What is there to be nervous about? I just hope we don't get matched against each other. If we do, I won't hold back."

"Please don't," Tang Hao said.

"I hope you don't hold back. If we really meet, I'll give it everything I have too. Then we'll see who's stronger. It'll be a good chance for me to vent some frustration."

"Fine." Di Hong smiled helplessly. The chances of him facing Tang Hao were not high. After all, this was an exchange meet between the Two Great Empires organized by Spirit Hall, and the main exchanges were between Heaven Dou and Star Luo.

Spirit Hall also had Soul Masters participating, but not many—only a few.

"The Pope has arrived."

Someone said it, and everyone's gaze turned toward the elevated platform in the distance.

Qian Xunji appeared there alongside Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, and the Star Luo Empire's Imperial Crown Prince, Dai Yutian. Looking at Qian Xunji, Di Hong had to admit that the Qian Family had excellent genes. As Qian Daoliu's son, Qian Xunji was exceedingly handsome, one of those rare handsome men.

He was only slightly inferior to Di Hong himself, though Di Hong's bearing was far inferior to Qian Xunji's.

As a man in power, Qian Xunji exuded the bearing and majesty of one. At the same time, he gave off a noble, holy aura that came from his Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul.

Of course, Di Hong possessed that aura as well. The holiness of his Vermilion Bird Martial Soul far surpassed that of an angel Martial Soul.

After Qian Xunji appeared, nearly everyone present rose to bow respectfully. Naturally, many only gave a simple salute, Di Hong among them.

He was not particularly devout toward Spirit Hall. After all, he was a man destined to become the king of rebels, which meant Spirit Hall would become his enemy.

Qian Xunji did not give a lengthy opening speech. He was not someone who liked to ramble. After saying only a few brief words and announcing the rewards for the exchange meet, he declared it officially underway.

Di Hong really liked people who did not talk too much.

The exchange meet's procedures were not overly complicated. Matches were decided by drawing lots, though challengers could also designate opponents. Soul Masters representing empires or sects could not choose Soul Masters from their own nation as opponents, with independent Soul Masters being the exception.

Independent Soul Masters could freely choose opponents of the same level to compete against, and Spirit Hall's Soul Masters could do the same. Likewise, Soul Masters representing the Two Great Empires and sects could challenge independent Soul Masters or Spirit Hall Soul Masters.

Academies could engage in team soul battles against one another, but only academies were permitted to do so.

The lot drawing was handled by Spirit Hall personnel.

There were many Soul Masters, yet Di Hong still spotted many familiar faces. Among Spirit Hall's team, he saw several people who were familiar, yet unfamiliar.

Bibi Dong, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei—these three were among the Soul Masters representing Spirit Hall in the exchange meet.

Especially Bibi Dong—simply standing there, she drew nearly everyone's attention. At this time, she was still an innocent, beautiful, pure-hearted young girl, Qian Xunji's prized student, not yet ruined. But her gaze was fixed in a certain direction.

Following her line of sight, Di Hong saw a black-clad young man in the stands. He looked somewhat dull, yet his features were handsome. His eyes were full of envy as he watched those around him, but unfortunately, he could only stand here as a spectator.

"That should be Xiaogang."

"Xiaogang?" Tang Hao asked beside him, puzzled.

"What Xiaogang?"

"Nothing." Di Hong shook his head and stopped looking that way. Were Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong already together at this point?

It didn't quite seem that way. If they were together, Yu Xiaogang shouldn't have been standing there.

Could it be because he was afraid Qian Xunji would find out?