Salas the Cunning and Scheming?

[Ye Qianxue: Father, are you a little sad about parting with Mother Huowu?]

[Ye Xiao: I'm all right. Huo Wu was my first friend after I came out into the outside world, so I'm just a little sentimental. But we're so close; we'll have plenty of chances to meet again in the future.]

[Ye Qianxue: Father is still so sentimental.]

[Ye Kaiyang: I don't get it. What's so good about dating? Fighting is the best thing.]

[Ye Kaining: You big brute. You're nothing like Grandma Huowu's descendant.]

[Ye Chengyue: That's right. All you know is fighting every day. Who knows who you take after.]

[Ye Wanqing: Great Grandfather, you collected so much Spirit Medicine in the Star Dou Great Forest. You can sell whatever you don't need, then buy some Whale Rubber to use. Once Whale Rubber is specially processed, consuming it can strengthen your body and help you better withstand the increased age limit after Tuantuan enhances it.]

[Ye Qianxue: Whale Rubber, hehe... Father, Whale Rubber is good stuff. Eat more of it, and Mother will love you even more in the future.]

[Ye Yuanling: Aunt, can you be a little more serious?]

[Ye Qianxue: Shut up. I'm your aunt, so don't be disrespectful. Everything your aunt says is correct.]

[Ye Kaining: Why argue with Aunt? Don't you know what kind of person she is?]

Ye Xiao did not know whether to laugh or cry. His daughter really was interesting.

He wondered whether they would have a chance to meet in the future.

Though the streets of Heaven Dou City were bustling, they were also intricately winding.

Ye Xiao spent some time asking several passersby before finally finding Spirit Hall.

This was one of Heaven Dou City's more iconic buildings.

This main hall was far grander and more magnificent than the branch hall in Nuoding City.

Ye Xiao straightened his clothes and walked toward the entrance.

Two guards clad in full silver armor stood on either side of the door.

They saw Ye Xiao approaching slowly.

One of the guards' brows twitched slightly. He stepped forward and blocked Ye Xiao's path.

His attitude was not hostile, but neither was it welcoming. In a businesslike tone, he asked, "Little Fellow, this isn't a place for playing around. Why have you come to Spirit Hall?

Are you here to register as a Soul Master, or to apply to join Spirit Hall for training?"

Ye Xiao stopped and looked up at the guard. "My name is Ye Xiao. I..."

He had barely begun before the other man interrupted him.

"Your name is Ye Xiao?!" A flash of surprise instantly crossed the guard's previously impassive face, and his voice rose sharply.

Ye Xiao frowned slightly, a trace of confusion rising within him.

Was there something special about his name...?

Or had Spirit Hall already received some information about him?

"That's right. Ye Xiao."

Rather than answering immediately, the guard pressed on. "Your Martial Soul... is the Five Elements Jade Seal?"

At those words, Ye Xiao immediately understood.

It seemed the matter between Tang Hao and Spirit Hall had already happened.

He wondered whether Tang Hao was dead by now. It would be best if he was.

"Yes." Ye Xiao nodded and summoned his Five Elements Jade Seal.

Upon seeing the Five Elements Jade Seal, the guard did not recognize the Martial Soul, but it was indeed a jade seal.

His attitude became several degrees more respectful. "All right, I understand."

The guard stepped aside and made an inviting gesture. "Young Brother Ye Xiao, please come with me. Your circumstances are rather special, so you need to meet Lord Bishop Salas directly.

The Bishop has already received instructions regarding all matters concerning you and will personally handle them."

Just as expected.

Ye Xiao thought to himself.

It seemed his contribution had truly been noted by Spirit Hall's upper ranks.

For the Bishop of Heaven Dou City's main hall to handle it personally, this treatment was no small matter.

He just wondered what reward he would receive.

Following the guard into the hall, he quickly recalled the information he knew about Salas.

Salas was one of Spirit Hall's four Platinum Bishops. Stationed in the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, he held great authority and was an Expert at the Soul Douluo level.

Rumor had it that he was treacherous and cunning, deeply calculating, greedy for wealth and lustful by nature. His reputation was far from good.

However... Salas's character had nothing to do with him for now.

His reward had most likely been issued by Bibi Dong or the Worship Hall.

No matter how greedy or sly Salas was, as long as he wanted to keep his position as a Platinum Bishop, he was unlikely to openly embezzle a reward that had clearly been ordered from above. Much less would he dare harm a contributor like Ye Xiao.

Otherwise, he would be slapping the Pope's or the Venerables' faces.

Unless he could do it flawlessly, making Ye Xiao disappear completely without leaving any trace.

But for the sake of a reward, Salas likely would not consider the risk worthwhile. After all, someone at his level could not possibly be that stupid.

Led by the guard, Ye Xiao arrived before a gilded door.

The guard stepped forward and knocked on the door three times, neither too heavily nor too lightly. "Lord Bishop, Ye Xiao has arrived."

After a brief silence, a somewhat hoarse voice came from within. "Come in."

"Go in," the guard said quietly to Ye Xiao. He pushed the door open a crack for him, then respectfully stepped aside.

Ye Xiao slowly walked inside.

The room was exceedingly spacious and luxurious. It was the first time Ye Xiao had ever seen a room like this.

There was a desk ahead.

Behind it sat an elderly man dressed in a luxurious white Soul Master robe trimmed in gold.

He was none other than Platinum Bishop Salas.

He appeared to be around sixty or seventy years old. His hair was meticulously combed, his face was thin, his cheekbones high, and his eye sockets slightly sunken. His eyes were small.

His lips were thin, and although he wore a smile, it felt entirely insincere.

Judging by his features alone, he truly did not look like a kind man. Instead, he carried a faintly sinister air.

Salas's gaze swept over Ye Xiao.

A cordial smile spread across his face. "Young Brother Ye Xiao, I have long heard of your name. Today, I finally get to meet you."

"This junior, Ye Xiao, greets Lord Bishop Salas." Ye Xiao stepped forward several paces and respectfully bowed in accordance with Soul Master etiquette.

Regardless of the other party's character, he was on the man's territory and facing a powerful figure at the Soul Douluo level. Maintaining the necessary respect was never wrong.

Safety came first.

Seeing how tactful Ye Xiao was, and how he showed this Bishop sufficient respect, Salas found him far smarter than those other little brats.

Interesting.

The smile on his face deepened, and he was greatly pleased.

He waved his hand. "Hahaha, good, good child. No need for such formalities. Come, sit. Sit beside me."

Ye Xiao walked over and sat beside Salas.

"Child, the clue you provided this time is of immense significance to Spirit Hall." Salas leaned forward slightly, putting on an earnest and candid expression.

"The Previous Pope His Majesty fell at Tang Hao's hands! This is an irreconcilable hatred for Spirit Hall!

For many years, we have never stopped tracking his whereabouts. Your intelligence finally allowed us to pinpoint Tang Hao. This is an enormous contribution."