Ghost Douluo immediately declared his position as well. "I disagree!"
"Xun'an, don't you think you're being a little inconsiderate? This will only create turmoil within Spirit Hall!" Golden Crocodile Douluo chimed in.
Seeing everyone's opposition, Qian Xun'an let out a cold laugh.
He had expected this all along.
Qian Xun'an looked at them and continued, "I knew you wouldn't agree if I tried to take the position of Pope. But I don't care about anything else—the Pope of Spirit Hall must bear the surname Qian!"
"Since you say I don't understand Spirit Hall, and that my inheriting the position of Pope would divide it, fine. I'll give you time to prepare. For now, I won't contend with you for the position!
"But I have one condition!"
Qian Xun'an looked at Bibi Dong and spoke with resolve.
"What condition?" Bibi Dong asked, looking at Qian Xun'an.
Standing before them all, Qian Xun'an said, "Everyone, I want to establish a new department within Spirit Hall. It will be called the Judgment Hall!"
"The Judgment Hall?"
At his words, everyone looked astonished and turned to Qian Xun'an.
Qian Xun'an continued, "That's right. The Judgment Hall will be independent of the Enshrined Hall and Pope Hall, with its own authority to enforce the law.
"It will have the right to examine all Spirit Hall documents and records, question anyone in Spirit Hall, and judge anyone who violates Spirit Hall's rules.
"In the Judgment Hall, everyone will be equal. There will be no distinction between the Pope, the Saintess, and the enshrined.
"As long as anyone breaks Spirit Hall's rules, the Judgment Hall will have the authority to pass judgment!"
Qian Xun'an spoke with unwavering conviction.
Everyone was astonished by his proposal.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, in particular, stepped forward as soon as he heard what Qian Xun'an wanted and challenged him. "Everyone equal? Standing on the same level as the Pope and the enshrined? Are you saying you don't respect the Pope or the enshrined?"
The instant Chrysanthemum Douluo finished speaking, a terrifying force surged toward him.
In the next moment, Qian Xun'an left a streak of afterimages and appeared in front of Chrysanthemum Douluo at a speed no one could follow.
His powerful aura erupted. Chrysanthemum Douluo's gaze sharpened; he could hardly believe his eyes.
When had Qian Xun'an gotten there?
Qian Xun'an clamped a hand around Chrysanthemum Douluo's throat and lifted him into the air.
Everyone stared at Qian Xun'an in shock. He looked at Chrysanthemum Douluo and said, "I'm speaking to your master. Who gave you permission to yap like a dog?"
With a wave of his hand, Qian Xun'an flung Chrysanthemum Douluo away. He slammed into the wall with a crash, shaking the entire building.
Then he hit the floor hard.
Chrysanthemum Douluo spat out blood and struggled back to his feet.
Qian Xun'an was simply too strong. Even that casual blow was more than Chrysanthemum Douluo could withstand.
"You..."
Qian Xun'an turned to Bibi Dong and said indifferently, "Pope, please keep your dog under control!"
Bibi Dong's face darkened as she looked at Qian Xun'an.
Qian Xun'an turned to Bibi Dong and the seven enshrined. "Everyone, what do you think of my proposal?"
They all looked at Qian Xun'an, but no one answered.
Qian Xun'an looked around the hall and continued, "Let me make myself clear: I'm not asking for your opinions. Whether you agree or not, I'll do as I see fit.
"If any of you think you can stop me, come and try!"
Just then, Guangling Douluo smiled and said, "I think Little Xun'an's proposal is a good one. Whatever else you say, he's thinking of what's best for Spirit Hall. There's nothing wrong with adding a Judgment Hall.
"With a Judgment Hall, we can pass judgment on the guilty and disloyal members of Spirit Hall. That will do a lot to strengthen our unity."
Azure Luan Douluo nodded. "I once read a line in a book: 'The emperor is subject to the same laws as the common people.'
"Our rules must not be broken. I think establishing the Judgment Hall to rein in those in Spirit Hall who break the law is a good idea!"
Mighty Lion Douluo nodded too. "I'm a blunt man, but I've never liked seeing useless people throw their weight around. So I think this idea of equality is a good one. I support Xun'an!"
"My brother and I support him too!" Qianjun Douluo and Xiangmo Douluo spoke up.
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded. "All right, I support it too!"
Great Enshrined Qian Daoliu looked at Qian Xun'an. He knew that if he tried to stop him, Qian Xun'an would probably go after the position of Pope again.
So he nodded in agreement. "In that case, fine. We'll establish the Judgment Hall, with Xun'an as its Hall Master. You can choose whoever you want from Spirit Hall to serve in it!"
Qian Xun'an turned to Pope Bibi Dong and asked, "What do you think, Pope?"
Bibi Dong looked at Qian Xun'an, then slowly replied, "Since the enshrined have all agreed, my opinion doesn't matter anymore. Do whatever you want."
After speaking, Bibi Dong stood up.
"Everyone, Spirit Hall is busy with affairs. If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."
"Let's go!"
Bibi Dong left, taking Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo with her.
A few days later.
Qian Xun'an officially established the Judgment Hall.
He had Guangling Douluo select its members from among Spirit Hall's Soul Douluos.
They weren't especially powerful, but nearly all of them were Guangling Douluo's trusted followers, while the rest were devoted to Spirit Hall.
That made them well suited to serve as the Judgment Hall's enforcers.
Meanwhile, Spirit Hall was about to hold a grand event.
It was called the Soul Master Tournament. The tournament was a team competition for young people from different regions, and it was divided into three divisions.
The first division consisted of teams selected from the Heaven Dou Empire and the academies of its various principalities.
The second consisted of teams selected from the Star Luo Empire and its principalities.
The third division was Spirit Hall Academy.
The Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire each held their own competitions and selected several teams. Those teams would eventually gather at Spirit Hall to determine the Soul Master Tournament's champion.
By then, both empires had selected their teams, and those teams were on their way to Spirit Hall.
Qian Xun'an went to see Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu looked at him. "Xun'an, you're here?"
Qian Xun'an nodded slightly.
Qian Daoliu said, "Xun'an, the Soul Master Tournament is about to begin. I heard your niece will be coming to Spirit Hall too. Perhaps you'll get to meet her."
"My niece?" Qian Xun'an asked in surprise. "Father, do you mean my elder brother's daughter?"
Qian Daoliu nodded. "I never told you before, but your elder brother left behind a daughter. Her name is Qian Renxue, and she's now in her twenties."
Surprise appeared in Qian Xun'an's eyes. He hadn't expected his elder brother to have a child.
"Why haven't I seen her in Spirit Hall, then? Where is she?"
Qian Daoliu sighed and looked at Qian Xun'an. "Very few people in Spirit Hall know about this.
"Xiao Xue is undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire!"
"Undercover?"
Qian Xun'an stared at Qian Daoliu in shock, then asked, "Is Xiao Xue's talent poor?"
Qian Daoliu shook his head. "No. Xiao Xue's talent is second only to yours—she may even surpass your elder brother."
Qian Xun'an could no longer keep his composure. What he had just learned had completely upended his understanding of the world.
"If Xiao Xue is so talented, why isn't she our Saintess? Why did we choose an outsider with such terrible talent instead?"
He remembered the Saintess he'd met just after returning. Her talent was truly awful. Choosing someone so weak as their Saintess was an embarrassment to Spirit Hall!
Seeing Qian Xun'an's confusion, Qian Daoliu began to explain. "It was Xiao Xue's own decision. She knew her mother, Bibi Dong, wanted to unify the continent.
"She wanted to take Spirit Hall without bloodshed, so she gave up her comfortable life here and went alone to the Heaven Dou Empire.
"She killed the Heaven Dou Empire's prince, Xue Qinghe, then changed her name and lived in the imperial palace under his identity."
By then, anger had appeared on Qian Xun'an's face.
"Why didn't you stop her?" Qian Xun'an asked Qian Daoliu.
Qian Daoliu replied calmly, "Xiao Xue has her own path to follow. And although she went undercover, she did it for the sake of humanity and the common people.
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