Convening the Seven Great Enshrined Elders to Clarify the Previous Administration's Policies and Establish a New Strategy

"Boom—!"

Qian Daoliu's words were like a chunk of ice thrown into a boiling cauldron of oil, instantly igniting the entire scene.

Restore the Saint Son to his position!

Ascend the throne as the new Pope!

Proposed personally by Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined Elder, and jointly seconded by the Six Great Enshrined Elders.

This represented the collective will of Spirit Hall's highest core of power—the Worship Hall.

This was the most orthodox and indisputable declaration of coronation.

Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and all the former Papal Palace subordinates kneeling on the ground shuddered violently, then lowered their heads even further, nearly pressing them into the frozen earth.

Everyone shouted in unison, their voices more orderly and resounding than before, filled with the relief of surviving a calamity and submission to their new master's absolute strength.

"Welcome the Saint Son's return! We beseech the Saint Son to ascend to the Pope's throne! We swear loyalty unto death!"

The waves of voices swept away the lingering chill and completely declared that Spirit Hall's core of power had changed hands.

Ye Xian stood at the center of those crashing voices, his dark blue cloak fluttering amid the currents of air formed by the Worship Hall's Holy Light and his own icy aura.

The Frost King Sword in his hand still pointed diagonally toward the ground. Dim light flowed along its blade, as though it were silently absorbing this overwhelming power and submission.

He slowly raised his head. His ice-blue eyes pierced through the Worship Hall's golden radiance and collided in midair with Qian Daoliu's gaze, as deep as the sea.

There was no gratitude, no humility—only unfathomable calm, like the surface of a frozen lake reflecting the shadow of power.

He gave a slight nod. The movement was subtle, yet it carried the majesty of one who naturally held all things in his grasp.

His cold voice clearly overpowered all the cheers and vows of loyalty, reaching Qian Daoliu and every Enshrined Elder's ears.

"Three days from now, at the Papal Palace."

"Coronation!"

As his words fell, the Frost King Sword in his hand silently vanished, transforming into specks of icy blue light that melted into the air.

He no longer looked at the kneeling masses, the frozen ruins, or the Enshrined Elders within the Holy Light.

He simply turned and slowly walked deeper into Spirit Hall along the road of ice patterns.

He was headed toward the Saint Son's Palace.

Ye Xian intended to return to the place where he had once lived and take a look.

Twelve years had passed, yet Spirit Hall had not changed much.

He wondered what the Saint Son's Palace, which had once carried his memories, had become.

With every step he took, the path of frozen Ice Crystals beneath his feet silently melted away, revealing the smooth stone slabs below.

It was as though the power capable of freezing all things had been perfectly contained within his body.

Only the chill that permeated the air remained, like the new Pope's invisible crown, silently proclaiming his arrival.

Qian Daoliu watched the departing figure walking deeper into the Papal Palace. The Angel Sword he held aloft slowly lowered, and the pillar of golden light gradually receded with it.

An exceedingly complicated emotion flashed across his impassive face.

In the end, it all became an almost imperceptible sigh, blending into the cold night that had yet to disperse from Spirit City.

A new era had arrived, with frost as its scepter.

Although Spirit Hall's guards had done their utmost to seal off the area,

what had happened that night still leaked out in fragments.

After all, with such a huge disturbance, one could piece together most of it through sight and sound alone.

Rumors began spreading through Spirit City and gradually traveled beyond it.

But Spirit Hall made no official statement, so people could only discuss it in private.

The night quickly passed.

The next day, Spirit Hall, Main Council Hall.

Its former luxury and majesty were covered by an invisible chill.

Fine Ice Crystals had formed along the edges of the heavy purple-gold curtains, while even the angels' wings in the enormous dome mural seemed coated in a layer of cold frost.

The long table had been carved from ten-thousand-year Cold Jade Marrow, and now it appeared even more profoundly cold and secluded.

Ye Xian sat upright in the seat of honor, dressed only in fitted black garments that outlined his tall, straight figure, like an icy peak.

He did not deliberately release any pressure, yet the extreme cold originating from his bloodline and domain had already turned the entire space into a frozen sea.

Seven figures sat solemnly on either side of the long table—the Seven Great Enshrined Elders of Spirit Hall.

Qian Daoliu, the Great Enshrined Elder, sat in the first seat at Ye Xian's right, the Angel Sword laid across his knees.

The gentle Holy Light flowing across the blade seemed somewhat sluggish amid the surrounding cold, like golden flames burning beneath ice.

His expression was calm, his gaze deep and still as an ancient well.

Only when his eyes occasionally passed over Ye Xian did the depths of his gaze ripple with a faint, imperceptible stir.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship, possessed a body as massive as a mountain. As he sat there, he seemed like a small hill cast from gold.

His rugged face still bore traces of shock from yesterday's earth-shattering ice seal.

He was trying hard to maintain a solemn demeanor, but his eyes kept drifting toward the overly young face at the head of the table.

Azure Phoenix Douluo, the Third Enshrined Elder, had an ethereal temperament. His fingertips unconsciously brushed across the icy tabletop.

He seemed to be feeling the edge of the domain that froze Soul Power. His brow was slightly furrowed, deep in thought.

Mighty Lion Douluo, the Fourth Enshrined Elder, had always possessed the most outwardly imposing aura, but he had restrained it considerably now.

His enormous lion eyes occasionally swept over Ye Xian, carrying the wariness of a beast.

Light Feather Douluo, the Fifth Enshrined Elder, appeared to sit casually, but his body was taut as a fully drawn bow. His usual frivolous expression had been replaced by rare solemnity.

Thousand Jun Douluo, the Sixth Enshrined Elder, and Demon Subduer Douluo, the Seventh Enshrined Elder, the pair of brothers, sat with their backs straight as spears.

Although their Coiled Dragon Staffs had not manifested, faint dragon roars still seemed to rumble around them, resisting the omnipresent chill.

Their gazes toward Ye Xian were complex and unreadable, reverence mingled with a trace of vigilance.

A pin could have been heard dropping in the hall. Only the flames in the fireplace gave off faint crackles, trying to dispel some of the cold, yet accomplishing nothing.

"Begin."

Ye Xian's voice broke the silence. Like ice beads falling onto a jade plate, it was clear and cold, without any unnecessary pleasantries.

He had personally convened the Seven Great Enshrined Elders for this meeting.

His slender finger lightly tapped the Cold Jade tabletop. Where his fingertip landed, a thin layer of deep-blue ice patterns instantly spread for several feet before vanishing.

This subtle movement made every Enshrined Elder present tense inwardly.

The Saint Son's control over his power was truly astonishing.

Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod. As the Great Enshrined Elder, he was the first to speak, his voice deep and steady.

"Now that the Saint Son has returned to his position and will soon take control of Spirit Hall's great authority,"

"the most pressing task is to clarify the policies left behind by the previous administration and establish a new strategy."

His gaze swept over everyone before finally settling on Ye Xian.

"Does the Saint Son have any thoughts on the matter?"

Ye Xian nodded.

"What are your views on the two policies Bibi Dong forcefully promoted during her tenure—the 'Soul Hunting Plan' and the 'Heaven Dou Infiltration'?"

As soon as he spoke, everyone's expressions changed slightly.

Most of them had opposed Bibi Dong's two plans.

Especially the Heaven Dou Imperial Family infiltration plan, which could endanger the young mistress, Qian Renxue.

But Bibi Dong's unyielding attitude at the time had left them with no choice but to compromise.