Sign-in Successful at the Papal Palace, Reward: Rose Martial Soul, Face-to-Face with Your Excellency the Pope Bibi Dong?

A few days later.

Wang Xiao sat inside the massive carriage, feeling rather bored.

The enormous carriage held only him and Gui Mei. The other man had no desire to speak, wore a gloomy face, disliked joking around, and offered few topics of conversation.

They simply could not get a conversation going.

Their interests were different, too.

Speechless!

Wang Xiao finally gave up on mocking Gui Mei. "Hey... Xiao Mei, doesn't your face get tired from being so gloomy all day? Or does someone owe you several million Gold Soul Coins and refuse to pay, which is why you look like you've lost all will to live?"

"If so, tell me. I'll definitely help you collect the debt! But first, we need to settle my commission. I don't provide free services."

Gui Mei immediately glared at him. "You little brat, watch your mouth. Is Xiao Mei something you can call me?"

"Besides! Whether I'm happy or pulling a long face is none of your damn business. Keep yapping, and I'll smash your head open."

Ahem, ahem...

"Easy there, big brother, easy. We're civilized people. Why get so angry and hurt yourself?"

Wang Xiao was displeased as well. "Then what am I supposed to call you if I can't call you Xiao Mei? Big Mei? Mei Mei? Second Mei, Third Mei, or perhaps Seventh Mei, Eighth Mei, or Thirteenth Mei?"

"Get lost," Gui Mei said with a face full of frustration. "Call me whatever you want, just don't use the word 'little sister'!"

"Then should I call you Elder Gui?" Wang Xiao asked.

Gui Mei snapped back even harder. "Elder Gui is not something you can call me either. Do you think you're Little Ju? You dare call me Elder Gui? Are you qualified? If you want to call me that, wait until you've reached Level Ninety-Six or above."

"Mm, that shouldn't be too far away!"

"Keep dreaming," Gui Mei said helplessly.

"Facts speak louder than words. One day, you'll accept reality."

"Heh. Then I'll look forward to it."

"Don't worry. I won't make you wait long."

Wang Xiao spread his hands, looking utterly helpless. "So I can't call you this, and I can't call you that. Then what should I call you? I can't exactly call you Gui Mei, can I?"

Gui Mei thought about it and realized that was true. As a Titled Douluo and a dignified elder of Spirit Hall, why was he making things difficult for a talented young boy?

If this reached Bibi Dong's ears, what would she think? She might assume he had been bullying a talented youth along the way, and he would certainly receive a cold look from her. "You can call me Elder Mei or Your Excellency Mei. Just don't call me Xiao Mei or Mei Mei!"

"I'm a man, damn it! Don't call me Mei Mei either!"

"Fine, then I'll call you Elder Mei or Your Excellency Mei."

Gui Mei tugged at the corner of his mouth and beamed. "That's more like it..."

A few days later.

The carriage entered Spirit City.

This was where Spirit Hall's headquarters was located.

It lay at the border between the Two Great Empires, Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire.

It was entirely under Spirit Hall's jurisdiction, and neither empire held authority over it.

Spirit City was a special place.

It had become the sacred land all soul masters longed for.

In Spirit City, the one thing never in short supply was soul masters.

After all, Spirit Hall organized all soul masters.

At last, they had reached Spirit City. Wang Xiao looked out through the carriage window. The streets were broad and bright, the buildings on both sides were neat and beautiful, and there were even fountains in the distant plaza. The entire city radiated prosperity.

Click.

The carriage stopped before a grand building in Spirit City.

"Brat, we're here!" Gui Mei reminded him before getting out of the carriage.

"So this is the Papal Palace of Spirit Hall in Spirit City?" This was Wang Xiao's first time in Spirit City. He had only read about the Papal Palace in the original Douluo Dalu book and had never experienced it in person, so it felt both familiar and strange.

Now that he had the chance to see it face-to-face, the feeling was naturally different.

Without wasting words, Gui Mei led Wang Xiao into the Papal Palace to meet Bibi Dong.

Beyond the enormous arched gates stood a magnificent golden hall.

It was imposing and beautiful, but the moment Wang Xiao stepped inside, the air became heavy.

The interior and exterior of the palace formed a stark contrast. They were practically two separate worlds.

Calling the inside lifeless and deathly silent would not have been an exaggeration.

The instant Wang Xiao raised his head, he saw a mature woman seated high above on a large chair at the top of the hall's stairs, one leg crossed over the other as she reclined sideways.

She was an elegant woman.

Her features were exquisite, and her double-lidded eyes were beautiful.

Especially those amber-colored eyes of hers—they possessed unparalleled grace and charm.

Yet her face was as cold as frost, utterly devoid of emotion.

Who knew what she had experienced to become so cold?

Even Wang Xiao, a man, could not help feeling pity when he saw her icy little expression.

He immediately began to feel tender sympathy for this pitiful woman.

He secretly vowed to shine the little sun in his heart upon her, bringing her warmth and light, illuminating her little heart.

Wang Xiao smiled. Other than Your Excellency the Pope Bibi Dong, what other woman wearing a crown could receive such treatment?

At that moment, Bibi Dong, seated upon the papal throne, noticed the boy below and swept him with her cold gaze.

Wang Xiao happened to meet Bibi Dong's eyes, and then...

Ahem, ahem...

Seeing Wang Xiao boldly staring directly at Your Excellency the Pope, Gui Mei immediately coughed twice as a warning.

Only then did Wang Xiao withdraw his gaze.

Gui Mei respectfully addressed Bibi Dong on the elevated seat. "Your Excellency the Pope, this is Wang Xiao, the talented youth I brought from the Spirit Hall branch in Nuoding City. He possesses Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls."

"Although Wang Xiao looks like a teenager, he is actually only a little over six years old. He said that he recently went to Soul Hunting Forest and absorbed a Thirty-Thousand-Year Soul Ring from a soul beast, causing his body to mutate."

"I have already verified this with the soul masters on duty at Spirit Hall in Nuoding City. It is indeed true. Please rest assured, Your Excellency the Pope."

Wang Xiao glanced around the hall but did not see Ju Hua Guan. Bibi Dong probably had not summoned him.

It was better that Little Ju was not here!

It would save him some trouble.

"Mm." Bibi Dong responded. Only then did she straighten from her half-reclining posture and properly begin examining the boy standing beneath the stairs.

He wore a red robe, had well-defined features, a perfect figure, and was so handsome from head to toe that it was absurd.

He truly was a talented and exceptionally handsome youth!

For a top-tier Titled Douluo like her, a Thirty-Thousand-Year Soul Ring was no longer enough to stir her interest.

Thus, her heart remained completely unmoved. What intrigued her was how a six-year-old boy, who had only recently awakened his martial soul, could absorb a Thirty-Thousand-Year Soul Ring at once even with Innate Full Soul Power—and survive intact instead of exploding into pieces.

He was even Level Forty-Two, a Soul Ancestor.

It truly was a miracle!

Gui Mei said no more and tactfully stepped aside. Where has that Little Ju run off to fool around this time?

He was supposed to be the one sent to bring this brat back. If he hadn't played tricks and pretended to be sick, Your Excellency the Pope wouldn't have sent me.

When all is said and done, I'm just too straightforward. I don't have as many schemes as Little Ju.

I can only blame myself!

Wang Xiao was also studying Bibi Dong on the elevated seat. Clearly, the current Bibi Dong was no longer the innocent, adorable, and pure young girl she had once been.

She was now a bitter woman.

Her icy face and cold eyes made it clear that she had lost even the most basic trust in the world.

Wang Xiao could see at a glance what this woman was thinking.

Though she was powerful, her heart was incomparably fragile and lonely. That was the most tragic thing about her.

The man she had once hated most and the man she had loved most had both left her far behind.

So other than forcing herself to be strong, she could only force herself to be strong.

"You are the talented youth Wang Xiao?" Your Excellency the Pope Bibi Dong finally spoke and asked Wang Xiao.

Her icy voice sent a shiver through Wang Xiao.

One word: cold!

Two words: very cold!

Three words: unbelievably cold!

This was the first time Wang Xiao, who had lived two lives, had ever encountered such a cold woman. How could he not be surprised, delighted, and thrilled?

Ahem, ahem...

Imitating Gui Mei from earlier, Wang Xiao coughed twice as well, wanting to steady himself before speaking.

This earned him a series of eye rolls from Gui Mei standing nearby. Does this brat not know that this "ahem, ahem" is exclusive to me, this Douluo? He dares imitate me?

Damn it, has my era already passed?

Or have I really gotten old?

Or has the era truly changed?

Even a snot-nosed brat dares shit on my head now?

Gui Mei shook his head, looking confused and utterly bereft of the will to live.

"Your Excellency the Pope, I'm not really some talented youth!" Wang Xiao denied the label of genius that others had placed upon him.

He smiled bitterly. Tang San was the true genius. He had merely caught a ride and happened to be the one struck by pie from the sky.

He had obtained a Sign-in System and become a man with cheats. "So, Your Excellency the Pope, could you please stop calling me a talented youth in the future?"

"Then what should I call you?" Your Excellency the Pope frowned, feeling that this boy had no respect for her at all. He actually dared question her words to her face.

Wang Xiao smiled. "Your Excellency the Pope, just call me Xiao Xiao, or Xiao Xiao."

"That sounds more intimate and heartfelt."

"This..." Gui Mei, standing at the side, could no longer bear to watch.

This kid was far too lawless. He actually dared tease Your Excellency the Pope to her face. With that reckless mouth of his, this Douluo estimated that he would not survive more than twenty-four hours in Spirit City before being "logged out."

Bibi Dong was furious as well. Even Elder Gui and Elder Ju did not dare behave so rudely toward her in the entire Papal Palace!

Yet this little brat, whose hair had barely grown in, dared act so arrogantly before her. If this continued, then even if he was a talented youth, he would likely be difficult to control and use in the future.

No, she had to suppress him a little. If she allowed his arrogance to grow, he might not only become useless to Spirit Hall, but could also become a tiger raised into a future threat, planting a hidden danger at her side.

She should first see what he was capable of.

If the facts proved that he was a talented youth, accepting him would do no harm. She could slowly train him afterward. She refused to believe she could not handle him.

If he was not, then she would simply "cut" him down!

"Xiao Xiao, release your martial souls and soul rings first. Let me see whether you are qualified to join Spirit Hall and be cultivated as a seed student."

To Gui Mei's surprise, Bibi Dong did not immediately lose her temper. Only a faint cold smile flickered across her lips.

"Ding! Congratulations to Xiao Xiao on successfully signing in at the Papal Palace. Reward: Rose Martial Soul! Note: It will be credited shortly. Please check and receive it."

The Sign-in System's loli voice suddenly spoke.

"Good stuff!"

Wang Xiao smiled faintly. The sign-in was complete!

Without saying more, he retreated ten steps, preparing to display his strength to Bibi Dong.

Tap, tap, tap...

Just then, a series of footsteps echoed over, interrupting the silence in the hall.