Arrival at Spirit City! Bishop Salas!

Tang Hao's hand tightened around the Wine Gourd, the veins bulging on the back of it.

He wished he could charge down there right now and take Xiao San far away.

But he couldn't.

His injuries had not yet healed, and his strength had been greatly reduced.

Moreover, Spirit Hall had already set its sights on Xiao San. If he appeared, he would only put Xiao San in greater danger.

All he could do was wait.

Wait until the Finals ended, wait until Xiao San returned to a safe place, and then think of a way.

As for that Blue Silver Emperor...

Tang Hao stared at the figure that was about to disappear, a complicated gleam flashing through his eyes.

He knew Ah Yin's whereabouts.

He knew what had happened to Ah Yin.

No matter what, Tang Hao had to find him and demand an explanation.

But not now.

Now was not the time.

He needed to observe, to wait, and to find a suitable opportunity.

Tang Hao tilted his head back and took a large gulp of wine.

The fiery liquor burned down his throat, yet it could not extinguish the flames in his heart.

He stared at that figure until it completely vanished at the end of the Canyon before slowly withdrawing his gaze.

"New Emperor..."

He muttered under his breath, his voice hoarse as a broken gong.

"No matter where you came from, I must get to the bottom of what happened to Ah Yin."

He rose to his feet, his tattered cloak snapping in the Canyon wind.

After taking one last look at Tang San among the procession below, Tang Hao flashed away and disappeared atop the cliff.

All that remained was an empty Wine Gourd, rolling gently in the wind.

In the Canyon.

The Heaven Dou Empire's procession continued onward.

Tang San walked among the ranks, his brows still tightly furrowed.

That battle had shaken him too deeply.

Nine Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Rings.

Nine of them.

He had never imagined that anyone could possess such a terrifying Soul Ring configuration.

What confused him even more was that faint, indistinct bloodline connection.

Who was That person?

Why did his bloodline resonate with mine?

Why did I feel such a... complicated emotion toward him?

It was neither hostility nor familiarity, but rather an indescribable... Sense of Destiny.

It was as though some unbreakable connection existed between the two of them.

Tang San shook his head and temporarily suppressed these thoughts.

Now was not the time to think about them.

The most urgent matter was to participate in the Finals and improve his strength.

Only by becoming stronger could he protect himself and the people around him, and... uncover those mysteries.

He raised his head and looked toward the Canyon's exit.

Sunlight shone brightly there.

Spirit City lay just ahead.

Meanwhile, in the Spirit Hall carriage procession.

Lan Aotian sat on the Carriage Shaft, resting with his eyes closed.

In that battle, he had revealed nine Three Hundred Thousand Year Soul Rings, shocking everyone.

But he knew that this was only the beginning.

Bibi Dong's final words—"I await you at the Finals"—were definitely not spoken casually.

That woman was certainly plotting something.

However...

The corners of Lan Aotian's mouth lifted slightly.

He wanted to see what tricks His Holiness the Pope could play.

He opened his eyes and glanced back toward the Canyon.

That gaze had been there ever since the battle began.

Although it had been concealed extremely well, it could not escape his perception.

Tang Hao.

He really had come.

Lan Aotian withdrew his gaze, his expression calm.

Tang Hao was watching him, but then again, hadn't he also been waiting for Tang Hao?

The husband of the Old Emperor, the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang San's father.

He would have to face this man sooner or later.

But now was not the time.

After the Finals, after he finished what needed to be done, he would deal with it slowly.

He looked ahead. That majestic white city was drawing closer and closer.

Spirit City.

They had finally arrived.

Spirit City.

When this majestic white city truly came into view, everyone seeing it for the first time would involuntarily hold their breath.

The city walls stood a hundred meters tall, built entirely from enormous White Marble stones produced in the Northern Border of the Heaven Dou Empire. Under the sunlight, they shimmered with a sacred radiance.

An Arrow Tower stood on the city wall every hundred paces, the flags of Spirit Hall fluttering from their tops.

The pattern of Angel Wings crossed with a long sword represented the most powerful force on this continent.

The city gate was thirty zhang wide, wide enough for ten carriages to pass side by side.

It was afternoon, and Merchant Caravans, Soul Masters, and pedestrians streamed constantly in and out, yet everything remained orderly.

The Spirit Hall knights guarding the city wore gleaming silver full-body armor and held long spears, their sharp gazes sweeping over everyone entering and leaving.

Claude rode up beside Lan Aotian's carriage, barely able to contain his excitement. "Your Majesty, Spirit City is just ahead. We've finally arrived!"

Lan Aotian nodded, his gaze sweeping across the enormous city.

The patterns of a Soul Guiding Formation could faintly be seen on the city walls, radiating subtle energy fluctuations.

That was the Defensive Array. Once activated, it was enough to withstand the full-force attack of a Title Douluo.

The foundation of Spirit Hall was plain to see.

The procession stopped outside the city gate for a routine inspection.

When the city guards saw the Spirit Hall insignia on the procession, their attitude immediately became more respectful. After briefly checking their identity documents, they allowed them to enter.

The moment they stepped into Spirit City, a deafening Sound Wave crashed over them.

The broad main road was wide enough for twenty carriages to travel side by side. Shops lined both sides, and there were restaurants, inns, Spirit Hall's exclusive supply offices, Soul Tool stores, medicinal herb shops... everything one could need.

Pedestrians crowded the streets, including many young Soul Masters dressed in the uniforms of various academies.

These were the academy teams that had come to participate in the Finals.

"Your Majesty, let's go to the Branch Hall first to hand over the supplies," Claude said respectfully. "Bishop Salas should already be waiting."

Lan Aotian nodded.

The procession traveled along the main road, crossed more than half the city, and finally stopped before a magnificent building.

The Spirit Hall Spirit City Branch Hall.

Though it was called a Branch Hall, its scale rivaled the palace of Heaven Dou City.

The main building stood five stories tall and was built entirely from Lapis Lazuli. A massive Horizontal tablet hung above the main entrance, bearing the three gilded characters "Spirit Hall." The brushstrokes were powerful and seemed to faintly contain Soul Power fluctuations.

Claude led the guards in unloading the goods, while Jason hurried into the Branch Hall to report their arrival.

A moment later, a group of people came out to welcome them.

The leader wore a Platinum Bishop's robe. His face was imposing, and his gaze was sharp.

He was none other than Salas, the person in charge of the Spirit Hall Branch Hall in Sylvester City.

Several Red Robe Cardinals and a squad of elite guards followed behind him.

Salas's gaze passed over Claude and landed directly on Lan Aotian.

Claude hurried forward and said in a low voice, "Bishop, this is Your Majesty Lin Yue. We owe it to Your Majesty's intervention that we made it here. Otherwise, this shipment would have long since..."

Salas raised a hand to interrupt him. A smile appeared on his face as he quickly walked up to Lan Aotian and cupped his hands. "I have already heard Claude mention Your Majesty Lin Yue's great name in his messages. It has been a hard journey. On behalf of Spirit Hall, I thank Your Majesty for your righteous assistance!"

Lan Aotian inclined his head slightly. "Bishop Salas, you're too polite."

Salas smiled. "Your Majesty, please enter the hall and rest. The people below can handle the handover of the supplies."

Lan Aotian did not refuse.