A New Pope Was About to Be Crowned, Shocking the Clear Sky Sect!

Rumble!

The earth trembled violently.

Where Qian Renxue had stood moments ago, along with dozens of yards of surrounding ground, suddenly collapsed, forming an enormous crater.

Within the crater lay several fragments of Xue Qinghe's Crown Prince attire, corroded beyond recognition.

Along with scattered royal ornaments.

The trees around the crater had been scorched black and snapped apart, leaving devastation everywhere, as though they had been ravaged by some terrifying beast.

Having created this utterly convincing scene of an "attack."

She Long and Ci Xue exchanged a glance, and their figures blurred at the same time.

Like two wisps of green smoke blending into the night, they silently pursued Qian Renxue in the direction she had left.

The Yin Thunder Stealth Domain slowly dissipated, while the warped Illusionary Poison Miasma was gradually thinned by the forest wind.

When the Royal Guard's soul master commander arrived with a large force, relying on Soul Power detection to painstakingly break through the lingering paralysis and illusion zones around the perimeter, they finally found the center of the devastation.

All they saw was that horrifying giant crater, along with the shattered remnants belonging to His Highness the Crown Prince at its bottom...

"Y-Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

The soul master commander's eyes nearly split open as he let out a heart-wrenching roar that instantly echoed throughout Sunset Forest.

Half a day later, a thousand miles away.

Qian Renxue streaked through the night sky like lightning.

She had shed every disguise, her golden hair whipping behind her like blazing flames.

The pleasant breeze brushed against her face, yet it gave her an unprecedented sense of freedom and exhilaration.

The suffocating schemes and constant danger she had endured for years within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace were completely cast behind her at this moment.

Her heart seemed to have grown wings, already soaring across countless mountains and rivers toward that majestic city standing at the pinnacle of power on the Douluo Continent.

Spirit City.

When the outline of that towering city finally appeared upon the horizon, Qian Renxue unconsciously slowed down.

Her gaze was immediately drawn to a peculiar road stretching out from the city gates toward the Papal Palace.

It was not paved with stone slabs, but formed from countless intricate Ice Crystal patterns that glimmered with a dim blue chill.

Clusters of crystal-clear Ice Lotus flowers silently bloomed and spread across those patterns.

The entire road resembled an enormous Frost Dragon lying upon the ground, radiating the breath of new life.

Qian Renxue's heart began pounding uncontrollably.

She recognized the creator of this road.

Only Ye Xian could leave behind such a domineering, cold, and utterly distinctive path.

When Qian Renxue arrived before the city gates, the City Guards saw her unmistakable golden hair and appearance, and fervent reverence erupted in their eyes.

They dropped to one knee in perfect unison, their movements as orderly as if they had practiced them countless times.

"Welcome home, Young Mistress!"

Their voices were not loud, yet they carried heartfelt submission and excitement.

Qian Renxue nodded slightly without slowing her pace.

As she entered the city, the faint chill in the air dispelled the heat of midsummer, giving her a strange sense of peace.

Traces of frost that had not yet completely melted remained on the buildings lining the streets.

They silently spoke of that earthshaking shift in power.

At last, her gaze settled upon the golden roof of the Elder Hall.

Her steps unconsciously quickened, until she was almost running.

The grievances she had suppressed for years, the wild joy of regaining her freedom, her confusion and expectations for the future...

All those emotions tangled together, throwing her footsteps into disarray.

The grand doors of the Elder Hall opened soundlessly.

Two figures had long been waiting quietly at the entrance.

The man on the left had golden hair combed impeccably neat, a stern yet tranquil face, and an Angel Sword flowing with Holy Light in his hand.

He was the Great Enshrined Elder, Qian Daoliu.

The man on the right had icy blue hair and a smile on his face as he quietly watched ahead.

It was Ye Xian.

At the sight of the figure rushing toward them, a genuinely gentle smile finally appeared on Qian Daoliu's normally unreadable face, like melting ice and snow.

He stepped forward and extended his hand, his steady voice carrying the slightest imperceptible tremor.

"Xue'er, it's good that you're back."

Qian Renxue abruptly stopped before the two of them. Seeing the undisguised affection and relief in her grandfather's eyes, along with the tenderness in Ye Xian's gaze.

The exhaustion of her journey and the bitterness of years of endurance surged into her heart like a flood.

She opened her mouth, only to find her throat choked up.

In the end, she merely nodded forcefully. A glimmer of tears flashed through her golden eyes before vanishing.

She had finally returned, returned home.

After exchanging a few simple pleasantries, Qian Renxue followed Qian Daoliu back into the Elder Hall.

Knowing the time had come, Ye Xian immediately dispatched two Red-Robed Bishops to formally announce in Spirit City that he would be crowned Pope in three days.

Such explosive news was like a boulder thrown into a tranquil lake.

Centered on Spirit City, it stirred up monstrous waves and rapidly swept across the entire Douluo Continent.

The Edict was jointly signed by the Worship Hall, the highest symbol of authority within Spirit Hall. Its wording was unusually concise and forceful:

By Angel's Divine Decree, inheriting Spirit Hall's ten-thousand-year legacy. The former Pope, Bibi Dong, acted against all reason; her crimes were undeniable, and she has been deposed and brought to justice.

Saint Son Ye Xian is hereby appointed the new Pope of Spirit Hall. His Divine Might is vast, and he has cleansed heaven and earth.

In three days, a coronation ceremony shall be held at the Papal Palace, to proclaim this to the world!

Wherever the news reached, it caused upheaval like mountains collapsing and seas surging!

Clear Sky Sect.

When the news entered the Clear Sky Sect through secret channels, Sect Master Tang Xiao was in seclusion cultivating.

The moment the intelligence elder tremblingly reported that Spirit Hall's new Pope would be crowned in three days, the violent hammer intent around Tang Xiao abruptly spun out of control.

His steadfast, composed face was now filled with unbelievable shock, his pupils shrinking violently to pinpoints.

"Ye Xian? Qian Xunji's disciple?"

"Hadn't he disappeared long ago?"

The Clear Sky Sect gathered basic intelligence on Spirit Hall.

As Ye Xian had once been the Saint Son, Tang Xiao naturally knew of him.

Tang Xiao's voice was like the low growl of a wounded lion, every word carrying a rusty scent of blood.

"He's actually still alive, and he became Pope?"

"A Saint Son deposed Bibi Dong? How is that possible?!"

"Sect Master, it is absolutely true!"

The elder's voice was dry, carrying a trace of fear.

"The source is top secret and reliable. That Saint Son, Ye Xian, possesses terrifying strength."

"It is said... it is said that with one man and one sword, he froze the entire main Papal Palace."

"Bibi Dong was... severely wounded and captured by him, without any ability to fight back. The entire Worship Hall has already changed sides."

"The Ice-Sealed Papal Palace?"

Seventh Elder Tang Lie cried out in shock.

"Bibi Dong is a Peak Douluo! How old is Ye Xian? How could he possibly..."

Second Elder Tang Ming spoke hoarsely, a frightened gleam flickering in his eyes.

"If it had not been so earthshaking, why would those arrogant old fools of the Worship Hall willingly serve a mere brat as their master?"

Tang Xiao clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles cracking under the strain.

If the news was accurate, then the Clear Sky Sect's situation would become even worse.