Martial Soul Hall Reform (Part 2): Demon Bear Douluo is Inherently Gifted

"His Majesty the Pope has arrived."

The final word was drawn out long, intended to give everyone enough time to react.

Immediately following, three people walked in. Leading them was a stunning woman dressed in a pale purple ceremonial gown embroidered with golden silk patterns. She wore a crown inlaid with one hundred and eight various diamonds and held a scepter topped with a massive, shimmering gemstone that caught every eye, surrounded by eighteen smaller gems like stars circling the moon, symbolizing the holder's status. This person was none other than the Pope of Martial Soul Hall, Bibi Dong.

Behind Bibi Dong were two others: the "Hum and Ha" generals, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.

The elders who had just sat down stood up yet again, bowing deeply toward Pope Bibi Dong: "Greetings, Your Majesty the Pope."

The five Worships who had already arrived at the conference room—Third Worship Qing Luan Douluo, Fourth Worship Mighty Lion Douluo, Fifth Worship Guangling Douluo, Sixth Worship Qianjun Douluo, and Seventh Worship Falling Devil—also stood up, but they did not bow to Bibi Dong, merely nodding slightly in acknowledgment.

Bibi Dong nodded back to the Worships in response.

"Everyone, there is no need for such formalities." With that, Bibi Dong walked straight to the head seat and sat down.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei sat down immediately after.

Once Bibi Dong was seated, she noticed that the first and second seats to her left were still empty, and her brows could not help but furrow.

It seemed that the First Worship and Second Worship were once again showing no respect to her as Pope.

"Third Worship, why have the First Worship and Second Worship not arrived yet?" Bibi Dong asked Third Worship Qing Luan Douluo, looking at the empty seats before her.

"The First Worship and Second Worship had some matters to attend to, which delayed them. I hope Your Majesty the Pope will not take offense," Third Worship Qing Luan Douluo replied.

"How could I? I was simply worried that the First Worship and Second Worship might not come, leaving all of us here waiting."

"Your Majesty the Pope is joking."

Before long, the door to the conference room was pushed open, and an old man walked in.

This old man stood over eight feet tall, his eyes like lamps, his complexion ruddy. Though his hair and beard were white with age, he was full of vigor. His tall frame radiated an imposing aura as if he could hold up the sky and tread upon the earth. Beneath his golden armor, one could faintly sense his powerful muscles, like a smoke-cured Vajra or a fire-tempered deity.

His eyes and brows carried layers of killing intent, and his presence commanded awe from a hundred paces away.

The person who arrived was none other than Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo, Jin Xingchuan.

The elders stood up yet again to bow: "Greetings, Second Worship."

The five Worships who had already arrived also stood up to bow: "Greetings, Second Worship."

Golden Crocodile Douluo gave a slight nod as well, then walked to his seat and sat down. He said to Pope Bibi Dong at the head of the table: "This old man was delayed by some matters and arrived late. I hope Your Majesty the Pope will forgive me."

Although Bibi Dong had mentally cursed Golden Crocodile Douluo's family countless times, she could not say such things aloud.

"It is no matter, Second Worship. I wonder why the First Worship has not yet arrived?"

"Big Brother? He is about to..."

"I have already arrived."

The door to the conference room was pushed open once more, and an old man and a young boy walked in.

Calling him an old man referred to his age, but his appearance was that of a man in his thirties or forties; he was none other than First Worship Qian Daoliu.

As for the young one, it was Qian Renyu.

Upon seeing the arrival of First Worship Qian Daoliu, everyone—elders and Worships alike—stood up, retreated behind their chairs, and bowed solemnly: "Greetings, First Worship."

"No need for formalities," Qian Daoliu said, then looked at Qian Renyu beside him, "This is my grandson."

Hearing this from Qian Daoliu, the Worships had little reaction, but the elders (with the exception of Demon Bear Douluo, Ghost Leopard Douluo, and Flame Hawk Douluo) were in an internal uproar.

They had long heard that a child had arrived at the Worship Hall, rumored to be the illegitimate son of the former Pope Qian Xunji. They had not expected it to be true.

Thus, as if by telepathy, everyone bowed in unison toward Qian Renyu: "Greetings, Young Master."

"Elders, there is no need for such formalities."

"There is no master-servant relationship between us. You are all my elders; from now on, do not call me Young Master. Just call me by my name," Qian Renyu said.

Although Qian Renyu said this, the elders dared not do so.

If they called him Young Master, he had just told them not to.

What if they called him "Yuyu"?

The Worships calling him "Yuyu" was perfectly fine.

But if they were to call him "Yuyu," the First Worship was standing right there—a level 99 Limit Douluo.

Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo was also watching. Although the Second Worship's strength was slightly inferior to the First Worship's, that was only in comparison; he was a level 98 powerhouse himself. If that crocodile tail swept out, who among them could withstand it?

Even if they took a step back and assumed the First and Second Worships didn't strike, those two Coiling Dragon Staffs hitting them would be more than they could handle.

Just as the elders were pondering what to call Qian Renyu, Demon Bear Douluo took a step out, bowed to Qian Renyu, and said: "Greetings, Young Noble."

The other elders, as if awakened from a dream, also bowed to Qian Renyu: "Greetings, Young Noble."

The elders thought to themselves that Demon Bear, who usually looked thick-headed and dull, and who could barely squeeze out a word on a normal day, was actually quite clever.

Qian Daoliu looked at Demon Bear Douluo with newfound respect.

What the elders could think of, Qian Daoliu could naturally think of as well.

He just hadn't expected the seemingly foolish Demon Bear Douluo to be so quick-witted today. One truly cannot judge a book by its cover.

As for Qian Renyu, he hadn't thought about any of this at all. Having originally lived in a democratic society, he had never been fond of master-servant relationships. Furthermore, he felt that all the elders were of the same generation as his cheap father, Qian Xunji, and were his elders, so there was no issue with them calling him by his name.

He had absolutely no idea that these elders had such rich inner monologues.

When Qian Daoliu pulled Qian Renyu over to take his seat, an awkward situation arose.

As it turned out, the number of people who could attend the Elder Council was limited; only those who had reached the Title Douluo realm were qualified to serve as elders and participate in the Elder Council.

Recently, only Spirit Kite Douluo had broken through to level ninety and become a Title Douluo, which was why one chair had been added to the Elder Council chamber.

At this very moment, Qian Renyu was also attending the Elder Council, and as a result, there was one chair short.

But, no sooner said than done.

A chair suddenly arrived at Qian Renyu's side at the speed of light.

The person who arrived was none other than, Demon Bear Douluo Mo Dengxian.