The Highest-Level Meeting and Douluo Hall!

Spirit City, Pope's Palace!

Bibi Dong, clad in luxurious gold-and-silver robes and wearing a purple-gold papal crown, sat above the Pope's Palace Main Hall, reviewing various documents sent from the Martial Soul Main Hall and Sacred Hall.

Bibi Dong, who had been focused on the documents, suddenly sensed something. She stopped what she was doing and looked toward the hall entrance, delight appearing on her face. However, she soon frowned slightly, confusion surfacing in her expression.

"Tap, tap." Footsteps slowly sounded outside the hall. As they drew closer, Yue Guan gradually appeared within the grand hall and soon arrived below the steps where Bibi Dong sat.

Yue Guan bowed. "Yue Guan greets Your Holiness the Pope."

"Mhm." Bibi Dong nodded slightly and looked at Yue Guan in confusion. "Why are you the only one here? Where is Long Yun?" There was a trace of urgency in her voice. Why had he returned alone? Could something have happened to Long Yun?

"Your Holiness the Pope, Long Yun is fine. It's just..." Yue Guan said hesitantly.

"Just what?" Bibi Dong's tone carried a hint of reprimand. Why was Yue Guan being so hesitant? Was there something he could not say?

Rebuked by Bibi Dong, Yue Guan hurriedly recounted everything that had happened in the Soul Hunting Forest, including how they had slain the Soul Devouring Magic Wolf King, how Long Yun had successfully absorbed its soul ring, and the soul skill he had gained. As Bibi Dong listened to the first part, a smile involuntarily appeared on her face. Her disciple truly had not disappointed her!

Seeing the smile on Bibi Dong's face, Yue Guan was somewhat dazed. It was not because he was captivated by her stunningly beautiful smile—he did not have the nerve to harbor improper thoughts about Your Holiness the Pope. It was simply because he had not seen a smile on Bibi Dong's face in a long time. Over the years he had spent at her side, he had rarely seen her smile. She had always maintained the image of a cold and aloof Pope. He had never expected her to smile now. It truly was rare.

"And then?" Just as Yue Guan was lost in thought, Bibi Dong's voice rang in his ears. Yue Guan quickly continued.

He told Bibi Dong about Du Busi's arrival, Long Yun's identity as the young master of the Divine Palace, and Long Yun's training in the Soul Hunting Forest. He did not mention being sent flying by a single slap from Du Busi; that was too humiliating. Everything else, however, he described to Bibi Dong in great detail.

When Bibi Dong heard that Du Busi was a Level 98 Super Douluo, her expression changed slightly. She had not expected there to be a Level 98 Super Douluo on the continent. Then, upon hearing of the Divine Palace and how they had recognized Long Yun as their young master, Bibi Dong's brow furrowed deeply.

With a Level 98 Super Douluo among them, the Divine Palace was likely far stronger than she had imagined. A Level 98 Super Douluo was merely an elder, sent to seek out someone possessing Darius's martial soul. Clearly, Du Busi could not be the strongest person in the Divine Palace; otherwise, he would never have been sent out to handle such a task. He should be one of the Divine Palace's elders, but judging from his Level 98 Soul Power, he was likely an exceptionally powerful existence even among the elders.

If even an elder is a Level 98 Super Douluo, then the Divine Palace Master has likely reached the level of a Limit Douluo! Even if he has not, he should be close. The Divine Palace's foundation may not be any weaker than Spirit Hall's! At that moment, Bibi Dong considered many things. The more she thought about it, the more curious she became about the Divine Palace. She had never imagined that such a hidden faction existed on the continent, with strength that was perhaps not much weaker than Spirit Hall's.

Most importantly, she had never even heard of this faction before. It was truly strange—and frightening.

There were indeed some sects and clans on the continent that lived in seclusion, such as the Star Crown Sect of the Star Luo Empire and the Sword Sect of the Heaven Dou Empire. These sects possessed considerable strength, some even comparable to the Seven Great Sects. They simply had not chosen to make a high-profile appearance on the continent, instead concealing themselves. Otherwise, the Seven Great Sects would likely have been reshuffled long ago.

She even knew of several special forces. Strictly speaking, those were not factions at all, but extremely unique existences, because they were places that worshipped deities. For example, Sea God Island out on the ocean—she had visited that place before, but the experience had not been pleasant. Even now, the terror of Sea God Island remained vivid in her mind. There were other lands of deities similar to Sea God Island on the continent, and they were exceedingly powerful. Although such places of worship possessed top-tier strength that might not lose to Spirit Hall's, they generally did not involve themselves in the continent's conflicts. As long as no one deliberately provoked them, they could essentially be treated as nonexistent. Thus, Bibi Dong had never been overly wary of those forces.

But this Divine Palace was something Bibi Dong had never heard of before. The first time she heard its name, it had already shocked her. Such strength was enough to make Spirit Hall wary. If they became enemies of Spirit Hall, they might even hinder its future plan to unify the continent. Of course, that was before Long Yun's appearance. Now, however...

"Perhaps this Divine Palace will become a great aid to Spirit Hall in unifying the continent!" Bibi Dong murmured. She was becoming increasingly satisfied with Long Yun. Taking him as her disciple now seemed like she had gained an enormous advantage! He had presented her with such a great gift right after becoming her disciple!

Standing below the platform, Yue Guan watched the changes in Bibi Dong's expression with some uncertainty. He could not fathom her thoughts. After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously asked, "Your Holiness the Pope, what do you think of this matter?"

Hearing Yue Guan's words, Bibi Dong pondered for a moment before saying, "Let nature take its course. You need not concern yourselves with Long Yun's affairs. I have my own plans."

"Also, relay my order. Tomorrow, have every elder, including all the enshrined ones from the Elder Hall, gather here for a meeting. I am convening Spirit Hall's highest-level meeting!" Bibi Dong's authoritative voice rang in Yue Guan's ears.

Yue Guan's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, clearly shocked by Bibi Dong's final words. He understood very well what Spirit Hall's highest-level meeting represented. Only the Pope and the Great Enshrinement were qualified to convene such a meeting. Once it was called, it meant that something major had happened—something that would generally have an enormous impact on Spirit Hall.

Moreover, every elder of Spirit Hall was required to attend this meeting unconditionally. Even the enshrined ones in the Worship Hall had to be present. Under normal circumstances, those enshrined ones would not leave the Worship Hall, so they did not participate in many meetings. Yet for this highest-level meeting, even the Great Enshrinement had to attend. One could imagine just how important it was.

The last time this meeting had been convened was more than a decade ago. That time, it had been called by the Great Enshrinement, and its subject had been the selection of the next Pope. What, then, would this meeting be about?

Could it be about Long Yun? Yue Guan could not help but speculate. He had just reported Long Yun's situation to Your Holiness the Pope, and now she was convening this meeting. It was difficult not to connect it to Long Yun!

"Yes!" After thinking for a moment, Yue Guan came back to his senses and nodded in acknowledgment. Then he withdrew from the hall. He needed to spread the news. This was the highest-ranking meeting within Spirit Hall; there could not be the slightest mistake.

After Yue Guan left, Bibi Dong quietly gazed beyond the hall. Her eyes seemed to cross space itself, seeing Long Yun in the Soul Hunting Forest. She murmured, "Xiao Yun, your teacher has placed great hopes upon you. I hope you will not disappoint me."

The Pope's Palace was located halfway up a tall mountain at the center of Spirit City. At the summit of this mountain stood another grand hall, one even more imposing than the Pope's Palace. This hall exuded a vast, ancient, sacred aura. It had endured ten thousand years of time, yet remained as magnificent as new—exceptionally luxurious and solemn. The sacred aura it emitted made people unable to resist the urge to worship. The moment one entered, one's heart would feel incomparably peaceful, while the evil thoughts and troubles within would fade considerably. This was Spirit Hall's highest sanctuary—the Douluo Hall!

It was also the sacred land yearned for by all soul masters on Douluo Continent. Every soul master took pride in leaving their name here, and in being laid to rest here. That was because one needed the strength of a Titled Douluo to leave one's name here, much less rest here forever. Without the strength of a Titled Douluo, no amount of status or nobility mattered. Even the emperors of the two great empires were not qualified to enter the hall if they were not Titled Douluo, because only Titled Douluo could set foot here.

Douluo Hall was not as vast as the Pope's Palace, but its area was still considerable. It was divided into an inner hall and an outer hall. The inner hall was where Spirit Hall's enshrined ones lived and cultivated; only those who became enshrined ones were qualified to reside there. Even elders were not qualified. The outer hall, meanwhile, was Spirit Hall's most sacred place. It was where Titled Douluo slept, and also where Spirit Hall's Angel Clan was worshipped!

Within the outer hall of Douluo Hall, numerous crystal coffins were arranged throughout the enormous palace. Many exquisite patterns were carved upon the coffins, but no two were the same. Some depicted fierce beasts such as tigers, wolves, leopards, and dragons; others depicted weapons such as hammers, swords, spears, and staffs. These were clearly martial souls—martial souls of every kind—and they belonged to the owners of the crystal coffins. Engraving their martial souls on the coffins represented the highest respect for them.

These crystal coffins were arranged neatly around the hall. Many cabinet-like recesses capable of holding coffins had been specially built into the walls. Crystal coffins rested in many of them, though some remained empty.

At the innermost part of the hall stood a massive angel statue. The angel was depicted as a woman of unparalleled beauty, like a celestial maiden from the heavens, making it impossible to look away. Yet it inspired not the slightest improper thought. Six enormous feathered wings extended from behind the statue, accentuating the female angel's incomparably noble bearing. She held a sacred greatsword in her hand, and a faint fiery red glow emanated from it, as though flames were burning upon its blade. With the greatsword in hand, the angel resembled a female war goddess, majestic and awe-inspiring.

Today's first update. Please vote with recommendation tickets and add the book to your collection! This is very important to the author, and I hope everyone will support me! Your support is the author's greatest motivation. I ask all readers to give the author more motivation! Let us work hard together!

Every chapter is now around 2,800 words, with some reaching 3,000 words—half again as long as the chapters in my previous book. To give all readers a better reading experience, the author is constantly working hard and doing my best to write more. I also hope all readers will give their recommendation tickets to the author! The author would be deeply grateful! Let's get those recommendation tickets going! Charge! Charge! Charge!