Preparing to Set Out

"Ah, with that, the trouble was solved. Leave the cleanup to the Nuoding City Enforcement Team!"

Just then, a black ghostly shadow swiftly moved to Rota's side. It was Ghost.

"It looked like you went through quite a battle just now, Elder Kizaru!"

Ghost said this because the surrounding area was a complete mess. The destruction caused by Rota's single kick alone stretched across five city blocks.

"Well, that guy's martial soul was rather special. It could absorb impacts and strengthen his own power."

Hearing Rota's explanation, Ghost immediately understood. If the opponent's martial soul and soul skills had such properties, he truly would have been difficult to deal with.

"That's right. It was especially unfriendly toward close-combat soul masters. Assault-type soul masters who relied mainly on impact-based attacks would be thoroughly countered by him~"

Ghost was glad that he was an agility-type battle soul master. If he had been the one to encounter that fellow today, even if he could not win, escaping should not have been a problem.

"Elder Kizaru, leave this person to me. His Holiness the Pope will surely give you a fine reward later."

It was a good thing that Kizaru had captured those who had taken the initiative to provoke Spirit Hall. At the very least, Spirit Hall's rewards could go to their own people rather than outsiders.

"Mm, then I'll leave the rest to you, Ghost. How was that child taken care of?"

"Don't worry. He has been properly buried!" Ghost was now even more serious about carrying out Rota's instructions than he was about Qian Xunjie's.

After saying that, Rota left. Now that the mission was complete, he naturally intended to return to the Spirit Hall branch and rest.

"Oh my, this incident really was a tiny bit troublesome. Fortunately, you encountered this old man and the others. Otherwise, that fellow might have wreaked havoc in Nuoding City for quite some time~"

Sitting on the sofa, Rota briefly explained the course of events to the Steward, who had been asking about what happened.

"I see. To think there was such a dangerous martial soul... What a pity for that Elder..." The Nuoding City Steward sighed regretfully.

"It doesn't matter. Since this old man is here, I definitely won't let that position be disgraced."

"Of course. There is certainly no question about Elder Kizaru's strength."

Rota spoke with righteous conviction, but all he wanted was to clock in to work, casually collect a paycheck, and enjoy a leisurely life. Wasn't that kind of life wonderful?

The post-incident cleanup was handled by the Nuoding City Enforcement Team. Spirit Hall's Execution Hall Members were not responsible for rebuilding the city afterward.

Over the following days, the reconstruction proceeded in an orderly fashion and at considerable speed. The area that had been a wreck just days ago had now been repaired until it looked brand-new.

After several days of recuperation, Yue Guan's injuries had healed as well. If the Radiant Sword Fang Tiger's strike had not truly been delivered at full force, Yue Guan would not have needed so long to recover.

"Old Chrysanthemum, how's your recovery?" Ghost was the one most concerned about Yue Guan, so he naturally asked about his condition first.

"I'm fine. I've fully recovered. A mere ninety-thousand-year soul beast isn't enough to take my life."

Clearly, Yue Guan's vigor had recovered as well. Since he could already joke around, there was obviously no real problem.

"I really have to thank you this time, Elder Kizaru. If you hadn't brought me for treatment in time, I might have..."

Rota waved his hand and said indifferently, "Don't say that. We're colleagues; there's no need to feel indebted. That would be far too formal~"

"Exactly. That's far too formal!"

"This misfortune turned into a blessing. My Soul Power Level rose by one. Old Ghost, you'd better hurry up and catch up!"

In Yue Guan's memory, Old Ghost had still been stuck at level eighty-five. He said this to encourage Old Ghost to catch up to him.

"What? Old Chrysanthemum, aren't you getting a little carried away? I reached level eighty-six ages ago!"

"Ah, how could that be?!"

Yue Guan's shocked expression secretly delighted Ghost, who could not help teasing him. "Did you think you were the only one who got an opportunity to break through? I got one too!"

Hearing that, Yue Guan felt a little miserable. He had finally gained his opportunity only after nearly losing his life, yet Old Ghost had broken through without anything happening to him at all.

"Old Ghost, I think that was too hurtful. Hurry up and tell me how you found your opportunity!" Yue Guan wanted to know exactly how Ghost had obtained his opportunity.

"Go spar with Elder Kizaru and you'll find out. I was nearly beaten half to death!" Ghost hurriedly dragged Rota into it.

Yue Guan seemed to understand what Ghost meant. Sparring with Elder Kizaru actually had the effect of raising one's Soul Power Level. With that thought, Yue Guan's gaze suddenly changed, and he gave several sly chuckles toward Kizaru, who was quietly reading the newspaper beside them.

"This old man will kindly remind you that Ghost broke through entirely because he had been stuck for too long. It isn't as though you can break through just by casually sparring with me~"

That was simply how it worked. When one encountered a bottleneck, one needed external help, but ordinary cultivation still could not be neglected.

If Yue Guan and Ghost kept seeking out Rota to spar without cultivating, then even if Rota beat them to death, they would not break through.

Having cultivated to the level of Soul Douluo, they all knew how difficult cultivation was. How could one possibly break through simply by sparring?

Yue Guan had merely been joking. As the people directly involved, they understood the situation best.

"When are we going back to Spirit City? I've mostly recovered too," Yue Guan asked.

Ghost spread his hands and shook his head. "His Holiness the Pope still has to decide that. But His Holiness the Pope still hasn't returned!"

"My lords, there is a letter for you."

While Rota, Ghost, and Yue Guan were talking, the Nuoding City Steward ran in and handed Rota a letter.

After opening the letter, the signature he saw at first glance immediately filled Rota with exasperation.

"This old man was wondering why I hadn't seen you, Qian Xunjie, these past few days. So you had already returned to Spirit City long ago~"

Ghost and Yue Guan were no longer surprised to hear how Rota addressed Qian Xunjie. In Spirit Hall, aside from Qian Daoliu, Rota was probably the only one who dared call him that.

"His Holiness the Pope has already gone back? Was he in that much of a hurry?" Ghost could not understand why His Holiness the Pope had returned alone without waiting for them.

"The answer is simple. Qian Xunjie wanted to obtain his title as quickly as possible, so he hurried back. He has probably obtained it by now."

Rota said this with a completely indifferent expression. A title was useless to him anyway.

"Did His Holiness the Pope give us any instructions?" Yue Guan asked.

"He only told this old man to return as soon as possible for the Elder inauguration ceremony. There's nothing else."

"If there's nothing else, then let's set out as soon as possible!" Rota suggested.

Naturally, Ghost and Yue Guan had no objections. There was nothing for them to do in Nuoding City now, so they might as well return to Spirit City quickly.

"Then we'll do it the same way as last time. This old man will take you there. You only need to point out the direction."

Yue Guan and Ghost naturally had no objections. Yue Guan truly admired Rota's speed and had experienced it firsthand. Ghost had likewise learned about his speed during their sparring sessions.

This was undoubtedly the fastest and most efficient method. All three of them could reach Spirit City at the same time.

Of course, Rota could have chosen to depart alone, but wouldn't that make him the same as that scumbag Qian Xunjie? So he immediately dismissed that idea.

"Then let's not delay. We're leaving!" Rota stood and walked toward the door.

Thank you all for your support~