Spirit Hall's Envoy: Chrysanthemum Douluo

Half a month later, Spirit Hall's envoy finally arrived.

That evening, Xia Yang returned from training by the sea, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The moment he stepped through the courtyard gate, he saw his parents standing respectfully before an elder.

The elder wore a crimson long robe embroidered with intricate chrysanthemum patterns in gold thread, which glimmered faintly in the dusk.

Yet what drew the most attention was his face—heavy rouge spread from his cheeks to the corners of his eyes, while pitch-black eyeshadow traced exaggerated curves, making his entire face appear even more bewitching than that of a secluded noblewoman.

Xia Yang froze at the gate, unable for a moment to tell whether this was truly Spirit Hall's envoy or some performer who had stepped down from the stage.

That distinctive appearance made Xia Yang's heart skip a beat, and he immediately thought of a figure from the Original Work.

That was Spirit Hall's Title Elder, Chrysanthemum Douluo—Yue Guan.

At that moment, Chrysanthemum Douluo sat leisurely on a stone bench, his fingertips lightly tapping against the table.

His mother, Huo Yang, carefully poured him tea, while his father, Xia Shi, stood attentively at the side and reported something in a low voice.

"So this is the Xia Yang you mentioned?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo was the first to notice Xia Yang standing at the entrance. His eyes immediately lit up, and his voice carried its distinctive effeminate quality.

Huo Yang turned at the sound and hurriedly waved Xia Yang over. "Yang'er, come quickly and pay your respects to His Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo."

Xia Yang strode forward, respectfully bowed, and said, "This junior is Xia Yang. Greetings, Your Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo."

"Mm..."

Chrysanthemum Douluo studied the young man before him with interest, his gaze swiftly sweeping over Xia Yang from head to toe.

Then Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded in praise. "Strong build, refined features. You don't look nearly as rough as someone who has made a living at sea for years. You're a promising seedling."

"Thank you for your praise, Your Excellency."

Xia Yang responded neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Chrysanthemum Douluo lifted his teacup and took a light sip, his orchid finger slightly raised. "I heard that you were the one who discovered the secret of Whale Rubber?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, that is correct."

Following the explanation he had discussed with his parents beforehand, Xia Yang said, "Since my Martial Soul is bones, I am especially sensitive to changes in the human body."

"After accidentally consuming Whale Rubber once, I keenly noticed its strengthening effect on a Soul Master's Physical Quality."

"Afterward, through long-term consumption and repeated verification, we finally confirmed that Whale Rubber could help Soul Masters surpass their limits and absorb Spirit Rings with higher Year Limits."

Xia Yang and his family had already repeatedly considered this explanation.

They had decided to attribute the discovery of Whale Rubber's effects as much as possible to Xia Yang's special Martial Soul and keen perception.

That made it seem reasonable while protecting Xia Yang to the greatest extent possible.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo gently set down his teacup. A trace of approval flashed through his eyes as he said, "Everything you said was already mentioned in the letter your parents submitted to Spirit Hall."

"But what interests me more is this: did you make the decision yourself to carry out the dangerous test of absorbing a Spirit Ring beyond your level?"

After speaking, Chrysanthemum Douluo stared intently at Xia Yang, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.

Absorbing a Spirit Ring beyond one's level could easily result in one's body exploding to death with the slightest misstep.

Yet this young man had dared to gamble with his life at around the age of ten. More remarkably, he had won that gamble twice in a row.

Xia Yang straightened his back and said firmly, "Your Excellency is perceptive."

"In many people's eyes, my Bone Martial Soul is merely a Wasted Martial Soul, and my Innate Soul Power is only half a level."

"Therefore, if I did not want to drift through life in a muddle, I had no choice but to take a risk."

"Compared to remaining forever at the starting point of the Soul Master path, death was not so frightening."

Xia Yang's words were half true and half false, yet he delivered them with impassioned conviction.

He was deliberately shaping an image before Chrysanthemum Douluo of someone willing to risk his life for a breakthrough.

Such an image often earned the appreciation of Experts.

"Yang'er..."

At the side, his parents appropriately revealed expressions mingling heartache and pride. Their performance was equally flawless.

"Good! You have ambition."

Chrysanthemum Douluo indeed showed approval. "Now, let This Seat see the results with my own eyes."

"Release your Martial Soul and Spirit Rings."

"Yes."

Xia Yang retreated two steps and stood still in the center of the courtyard.

He took a deep breath and secretly circulated his Soul Power.

"Martial Soul: Bones, Body Attachment."

A deep purple radiance emerged from within him, forming faint skeletal patterns across his body like a suit of invisible armor.

More strangely, that radiance seemed to flow slowly, as though it possessed life.

"Oh?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo leaned forward slightly. "This Martial Soul is rather interesting."

"It doesn't seem like a simple manifestation of bones. It looks more like some sort of energy overflow..."

At that moment, two Spirit Rings slowly rose beneath Xia Yang's feet.

The First Soul Ring was a deep yellow, its light solid and heavy.

The Second Soul Ring was a gorgeous pale purple, radiating a heart-palpitating Energy Fluctuation.

"Thousand Year Second Ring."

Chrysanthemum Douluo abruptly rose from the stone bench and instantly appeared before Xia Yang, staring fixedly at the two Spirit Rings.

"Seeing it once truly surpasses hearing of it a hundred times!"

"Although the letter had already mentioned it, seeing it in person was still this shocking!"

"And your First Soul Ring... isn't an ordinary hundred-year Spirit Ring either, is it?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, my First Soul Ring has a Year Limit of seven hundred years."

Xia Yang answered respectfully.

"Seven hundred years! That's even higher than the Year Limit of an ordinary Soul Master's Second Soul Ring."

Chrysanthemum Douluo circled Xia Yang and examined him closely, marveling again and again.

"Good! Good! Good."

He said "good" three times in succession, clearly extremely satisfied with Xia Yang's performance.

Suddenly, Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression turned solemn. He turned to Huo Yang and said, "Bishop of the Xiling Harbor Martial Soul Branch Hall—Huo Yang, receive the order."

"This subordinate is here."

Huo Yang hurried forward and dropped to One Knee.

"Huo Yang, Purple-Clothed Bishop of the Xiling Harbor Martial Soul Branch Hall, has rendered merit in discovering the secret of Whale Rubber. With special approval from Your Majesty the Pope, you are promoted beyond rank to Black-Clothed Bishop."

"Thank you for Your Majesty the Pope's grace!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo."

Huo Yang's voice trembled slightly with excitement.

Chrysanthemum Douluo took out a set of black bishop's robes and a token engraved with angelic patterns from his Storage Soul Tool.

Then, he solemnly handed them to Huo Yang.

Huo Yang accepted the robes, but a trace of hesitation appeared on his face. "Your Excellency, this subordinate has One matter to report."

"Previously, because of the matter of Whale Rubber, we had no choice but to wipe out the entire family of the City Lord here—Zhao Tianba."

"This matter... may provoke dissatisfaction from the Heaven Dou Empire."

"Furthermore, when we searched the City Lord Manor, we discovered that Zhao Tianba had long since pledged allegiance to an influential noble of the Heaven Dou Empire. This subordinate fears that the other party may secretly seek revenge."

Chrysanthemum Douluo waved his hand dismissively. "He was merely the City Lord of a remote border town. Killing him was no great matter."

"This Seat will handle the Heaven Dou Empire."