Qian Daoliu: We respectfully invite His Highness the Saint Son to heed the will of Heaven and the people's hearts, and inherit the great legacy!

"Please show mercy, Saint Son! This subordinate is willing to serve you like a dog or horse, and would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths!"

Almost at the same moment he knelt, the illusory figure beside him fully solidified.

Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei—the Titled Douluo renowned for concealment and mystery—no longer had even a trace of his usual gloom or scheming on his face. All that remained was terror and submission carved deep into his bones.

He knelt even faster and lower than Yue Guan, his entire body nearly pressed flat against the ground. His voice carried the numbness of someone completely subdued.

"Gui Mei is an elder of Spirit Hall and had no choice but to obey the Pope's orders."

"Now that I have witnessed the Saint Son's Divine Might, it is as though I have seen a true god. Gui Mei is willing to acknowledge the Saint Son as my master and follow you for all eternity. Through mountains of blades and seas of fire, I will never harbor a second thought!"

"Please spare the two of us, Saint Son!"

His words came urgently and chaotically. Clearly, Ye Xian's unmatched power had utterly shattered his resolve.

As the two Titled Douluo elders were the first to submit, it was as though the first domino had fallen.

Thud! Thud! Thud—!

Across the square, all the remaining elders, bishops, City Guard commanders, and even elite guards at the Soul King and Soul Emperor level who belonged to the Papal Palace faction—

Whether they still felt unwilling or doubtful, under the crushing pressure of absolute strength and the example set by the two elders, they instantly understood.

Like waves of wheat bending in the wind, the dense black crowd uniformly dropped to their knees before the deep-blue figure standing at the center of Angel Avenue.

Countless heads bowed deeply, foreheads pressed against the cold ground.

Fear spread like a plague, ultimately turning into a stifled, unified cry.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Saint Son!"

"We are willing to serve Your Highness as our master and swear loyalty unto death!"

The waves of voices were not loud, and were even somewhat disorderly.

Yet they carried the tameness of those who had been completely conquered, echoing above the frozen ruins of the Papal Palace.

Ye Xian's gaze calmly swept across this sea of submission prostrated before him, like a king inspecting his territory.

The Frost King Sword in his hand gave off a faint chill, reflecting the kneeling figures at his feet.

He did not speak directly, yet the invisible pressure made every kneeling person lower their heads further, their bodies trembling even more violently.

Then, Ye Xian turned his gaze toward Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

With a slight movement of his thoughts, he instantly withdrew the frost energy that had been continuously eroding Yue Guan's flesh and life force from deep within his wounds.

Then he flicked his hand, and two Ice Pills containing his boundless Soul Power floated before Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

"Eat them. Let me see how loyal you are to me."

"Each Ice Pill contains my Level 98 Soul Power. Your lives and deaths will remain in my grasp at all times."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei froze for a moment before swallowing the Ice Pills without the slightest hesitation.

The icy sensation slid down their throats, making them shudder involuntarily.

The Pope had already been thrown into the dungeon.

In their eyes, the Saint Son's terms were already quite generous.

Naturally, they hurried to swallow the Ice Pills, afraid that the Saint Son might change his mind.

At that moment, a majestic and solemn voice rang out from the direction of Elder Hall, like Holy Light piercing through dark clouds.

"Welcome back to Spirit Hall, Your Highness the Saint Son!"

The vast, sacred Soul Power contained within that voice instantly soothed the unrest on the square caused by fear.

Above Elder Hall, Qian Daoliu, who had been bathed in sacred golden light all along, slowly descended and landed in the center of the vast square before the hall.

Behind him, six figures radiating powerful auras followed close behind and landed steadily. They were the other Six Great Enshrined Elders of Spirit Hall, aside from the Great Enshrined Elder himself!

The Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, stood as mighty as a mountain, the phantom of the Golden Crocodile King flickering behind him.

At that moment, his expression was solemn as he looked at Ye Xian with complicated eyes.

The Third Enshrined Elder, Azure Phoenix Douluo, possessed an ethereal bearing.

Yet his brows were tightly furrowed, and his gaze toward Ye Xian was filled with unprecedented scrutiny and shock.

The Fourth Enshrined Elder, Mighty Lion Douluo, exuded a wild aura. Lingering fear remained in his enormous lion eyes as his huge hands unconsciously clenched.

The Fifth Enshrined Elder, Light Feather Douluo, had lost his carefree expression entirely. Rare solemnity covered his face as his fingers unconsciously drew at an invisible bowstring.

The Sixth Enshrined Elder, Thousand Jun Douluo, and the Seventh Enshrined Elder, Demon Subduer Douluo, stood back-to-back, gripping the Coiled Dragon Staff and the Demon Subduing Pestle tightly in their hands.

Their gazes toward Ye Xian held undisguised reverence.

Qian Daoliu held the Angel Sword, its blade gleaming with flowing light.

Though it appeared somewhat dim at the edge of Ye Xian's domain that froze all things, it still radiated an inviolable majesty.

His eyes shone like torches as he first swept his gaze over the frozen ruins of the Papal Palace, a trace of barely perceptible complexity flashing through them.

Then, his deep gaze fell upon the deep-blue figure standing sword in hand at the center of Angel Avenue.

"Your Highness the Saint Son!"

Qian Daoliu's voice was grave and powerful, clearly reaching every direction.

"Having returned from the Far North, you used supreme power to purge the traitors of Spirit Hall and set things right. This is the fortune of Spirit Hall, blessed by the radiance of the Angel God!"

He paused slightly before his voice abruptly rose, carrying an unmistakable note of proclamation.

"The former Pope, Bibi Dong, acted in defiance of all principles and harmed her fellow disciples, tarnishing Spirit Hall's name. She even sought to harm the Saint Son, and her crimes are beyond dispute!"

"She has now been stripped of her position as Pope and cast into the dungeon. She brought this upon herself!"

His words were like placing the final lid upon Bibi Dong's era, while also establishing the most orthodox foundation for Ye Xian's return.

This was not a rebellion. This was setting things right!

Then Qian Daoliu's gaze became incomparably solemn.

He looked around the entire square before finally fixing his eyes on Ye Xian again. His voice rang out like a great bell, resounding through the heavens.

"Saint Son Ye Xian is the personal disciple of His Excellency Qian Xunji, the former Pope, and the rightful Saint Son of Spirit Hall!"

"His talent is unparalleled, his will unyielding, and he has received divine favor. He commands Ultimate Ice, and his Divine Might covers the world!"

"Today, he has turned the tide and cleansed heaven and earth. His achievements will endure for a thousand generations!"

"I, Qian Daoliu, in the name of the Great Enshrined Elder of Spirit Hall!"

"Together with the Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo; the Third Enshrined Elder, Azure Phoenix Douluo; the Fourth Enshrined Elder, Mighty Lion Douluo; the Fifth Enshrined Elder, Light Feather Douluo; the Sixth Enshrined Elder, Thousand Jun Douluo; and the Seventh Enshrined Elder, Demon Subduer Douluo!"

As he spoke, the Six Great Enshrined Elders behind him stepped forward at the same time, regardless of their private thoughts.

Their Soul Power surged faintly around them, releasing the mighty auras belonging to Peak Douluos.

Though restrained under the suppression of Ye Xian's domain, the united will of the seven men remained as heavy as mountains.

That silent action was the strongest expression of agreement and support.

"By unanimous resolution!"

Qian Daoliu's voice was firm and decisive, carrying the determination to forge history.

"Ye Xian shall immediately be restored to his position as the Saint Son of Spirit Hall!"

"And we respectfully invite His Highness the Saint Son to heed the will of Heaven and the people's hearts, and inherit the great legacy!"

The Angel Sword in his hand suddenly rose, its tip pointing straight at the sky.

A column of golden light, purer and more vast than before, shot into the heavens from the sword's tip, as though it sought to draw down the light of the Divine Realm.

"On an auspicious day, ascend the throne and succeed as Spirit Hall's new Pope!"