The finals were just around the corner. They were all only one step away from the championship.
Bright sunlight spilled across the land. Bathed in its rays, Pope Hall looked even more magnificent, like the abode of immortals.
In front of Pope Hall, two rows of guards stretched from its entrance all the way down the mountain. Their bright silver armor and heavy knightly swords made Pope Mountain seem even more imposing.
The eliminated teams had all left. They had not even been allowed to watch the final day's matches. Only the true young powerhouses had the right to set foot on the plaza in front of Pope Hall.
Early that morning, the three teams competing in the final round had already arrived in front of Pope Hall and were waiting quietly. The teachers from the three academies had not been allowed onto the plaza and could only wait at the perimeter.
The twenty-one competitors stood silently in the plaza, all waiting for the final moment to arrive.
A group emerged through a side entrance of Pope Hall. Twelve Cardinals, second only in rank to the Platinum Bishops, approached slowly.
They walked up to the entrance of Pope Hall, then split into two lines, six on each side.
"Lord Adjudicator has arrived!"
At that moment, a voice rang out.
The enormous doors slowly swung open, and the six emblems on their panels gradually shifted out of alignment.
Everyone's gaze instinctively turned toward the opening doors.
Before Qian Xun'an had appeared, the Soul Masters below began whispering among themselves.
"Who is this Lord Adjudicator?"
"I don't know. Weren't we supposed to meet His Holiness the Pope? Why is Lord Adjudicator coming instead?"
"Just who is this guy?"
The next moment, a young man stepped out of the Spirit Hall's gates, one step at a time.
It was Qian Xun'an.
Qian Xun'an wore a splendid white-and-gold robe. Its fine fabric stirred softly around his tall, straight figure. The robe's design was simple yet exquisite, fitted to his frame and accentuating his perfect proportions.
His tall frame stood ramrod straight, like a sturdy pillar, giving him an air of composure and authority. His long legs were straight and strong, and his steps carried an unhurried confidence.
Qian Xun'an's face was handsome and severe, and a hint of sharpness showed between his brows.
His black eyes were deep and piercing, as if they could see through anything. His high nose bridge and firm chin formed a perfect profile, lending him an air of nobility.
His long hair was smooth and glossy, falling over his shoulders in gentle waves and adding to his elegance.
Every movement Qian Xun'an made exuded calm composure. His eyes were like a boundless river of stars, and the confidence and pride in his gaze inspired admiration.
His graceful bearing, both in appearance and in temperament, left everyone below in awe.
Meanwhile, inside Spirit Hall,
Bibi Dong stood atop the tall building, dressed from head to toe in a brilliant golden gown. A purple-gold crown rested on her head, and she held a scepter in her hand.
The golden gown fit her perfectly, its dazzling fabric glittering with over a hundred red, blue, and gold gemstones.
Her fair skin perfectly complemented her beauty. Standing atop the building, she gazed down at Qian Xun'an on the platform below, her expression inscrutable.
Chrysanthemum Douluo came to Bibi Dong's side and asked, "Your Holiness the Pope, why aren't you appearing this time? Why have you given all the attention to Qian Xun'an?"
Bibi Dong looked straight ahead and replied, "Watch, and you'll understand."
Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. He and Ghost Douluo remained at Bibi Dong's side, watching Qian Xun'an from atop the building.
Qian Xun'an walked out, and everyone's gaze fell on him. Yet not one person in front of Spirit Hall knelt.
An emcee stepped up to Qian Xun'an and addressed the students from the various academies below:
"Everyone, this is the Hall Master of our Judgment Hall. Lord Adjudicator has full authority over this Soul Master Tournament. To see Lord Adjudicator is to see the Pope!
Bow!"
The emcee shouted the command.
But below, neither the Soul Masters from the other kingdoms nor those from Spirit Hall knelt.
Qian Xun'an stood before them all. The entire venue was silent, and the atmosphere was unbearably awkward.
Bibi Dong saw what was happening from the building above, and a smile appeared on her face.
At that moment, Chrysanthemum Douluo suddenly understood. Looking at Bibi Dong, he said, "Your Holiness the Pope, I understand now. You want to use these Soul Masters to knock Qian Xun'an down a peg and teach him that what matters most in the position of Pope is popular support—not just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can fill it."
Bibi Dong kept her eyes on the scene ahead and did not respond to Chrysanthemum Douluo.
A faint smile touched her lips as she sneered inwardly. Qian Xun'an, you humiliated me before. This time, I'll make you lose face in front of the whole world!
Qian Xun'an stood atop the platform, gazing ahead.
"Who is this Lord Adjudicator? I've never heard of him. Since when does Spirit Hall have a Judgment Hall?"
"I don't know. He looks so young. He probably isn't all that strong!"
"Bow? He's not the Pope. Why should we bow to him?"
"Exactly! Has Spirit Hall become this overbearing? Now we have to bow to one of its elders?"
The Soul Masters below were abuzz, all of them looking toward Qian Xun'an.
As for the Soul Masters from Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong had planned this long ago. Naturally, they wouldn't bow to Qian Xun'an.
The emcee shouted again, "Everyone, to see Lord Adjudicator is to see the Pope. Are you still refusing to bow?"
But no one listened to the emcee. They all stood rigidly, ready to watch Qian Xun'an make a fool of himself.
Faced with all this, Qian Xun'an's expression did not change. He looked down at the Soul Masters and said coolly, "By refusing to bow, are you showing disrespect to me, Qian Xun'an, or to Spirit Hall?"
Everyone below looked toward Qian Xun'an.
The next moment, an utterly terrifying pressure swept across the entire arena. It pressed down on everyone like a colossal boulder.
It was a power so dreadful that it made them feel smaller than a speck of dust.
"Boom—"
In an instant, the entire arena shook violently, as if the earth itself were about to split apart.
"Pfft..."
Many people were struck by the sudden pressure and spat blood, terror filling their eyes.
The ordinary people were forced to their knees by the horrifying aura.
The whole ground seemed to tremble.
And this was only a sliver of his aura!
The lower-level Soul Masters began spitting blood and fell to their knees. Even the high-level Soul Masters dropped to the ground one after another.
They suddenly realized that kneeling made the pressure feel much lighter.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
A series of loud impacts rang out across the plaza. The next moment, countless people dropped to their knees before Qian Xun'an.
Those who had been so arrogant and overbearing moments earlier now lay on the ground like dogs.
Even the stronger Soul Masters turned pale. Utterly unable to resist, they too knelt before Qian Xun'an.
Deep in their souls, they felt a surge of fear.
"How powerful!"
Only then did they truly feel Qian Xun'an's strength.
It was simply beyond imagination.
His power was so inconceivable that they could not even bring themselves to resist.
They even suspected that they wouldn't stand a chance against Qian Xun'an, even if they were ten or a hundred times stronger.
Terrifying!
Thud—
One heavy impact after another.
The entire Heaven Dou Royal Soul Master Academy team dropped to their knees. Even their team leader, a teacher, could not withstand the pressure and was forced down.
Next, the entire Godwind Academy team knelt!
The entire Blazing Academy team knelt!
The Star Luo Royal Academy team knelt!
In the end, only the Shrek Academy team remained. Shrek's Soul Masters and teachers were still struggling to hold on.
"Xiao San, can you keep going?" Dai Mubai asked Tang San beside him.
Tang San nodded at once. "I will never yield!"
"Neither will we!"
The Shrek Seven Devils exchanged glances. They wanted to face this terrifying pressure just as they had last time at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Before you continue