A hush fell over the Pope's Palace. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
After Qian Renyu spoke, Yue Guan, Gui Mei, and the many other elders gathered there fell silent.
Their gazes shifted again and again as they looked at Qian Renyu.
Deep down, they couldn't help comparing the new Pope, Qian Renyu, with Bibi Dong, the former Pope who had been forced to step down.
Qian Renyu, once their young master and now the new Pope, was far more heavy-handed than Bibi Dong.
When Bibi Dong had been Pope, she preferred to plan carefully before acting.
The mission Yue Guan and Gui Mei were supposed to carry out was very much in keeping with Bibi Dong's usual approach.
But when it came to Qian Renyu, he had a completely different response.
"Lao Gui, His Holiness seems to be really heavy-handed. What do you think the Spirit Hall will become if things go on like this?"
Yue Guan was so nervous his scalp prickled. He cautiously used Sound Transmission to ask Gui Mei.
Gui Mei shuddered and glanced at Yue Guan as if he were looking at a monster. "You old chrysanthemum, you dare use Sound Transmission at a time like this? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
"Never mind what things will become in the future. For now, just stay here and listen to His Holiness's orders!"
Yue Guan jolted, finally realizing just how serious a mistake he had made. He looked fearfully toward Qian Renyu.
From his elevated position, Qian Renyu watched everyone. He had seen Yue Guan's little attempt to use Sound Transmission to speak with Gui Mei.
He couldn't be bothered to make an issue of Yue Guan's antics. After surveying the elders, Qian Renyu continued, "I've made all the necessary arrangements. Remember my orders, then go about your duties!"
"We obey!"
The elders didn't dare make trouble.
They all acknowledged Qian Renyu's words, then fled the Pope's Palace as if escaping for their lives.
Even when facing Bibi Dong in the past, they had never felt such oppressive pressure.
Bibi Dong was ruthless, but even after showing her ruthlessness, she wouldn't act so readily.
Qian Renyu didn't seem ruthless, but the pressure his forceful manner exerted was unparalleled.
No one dared linger in the Pope's Palace. They hurried out, each one faster than the last.
Qian Renyu watched all the elders leave the Pope's Palace. His indifferent gaze lingered for a moment on Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who were last in line, and he gave a cold laugh in his heart.
"Ambushing Tang San and his group was doomed to fail!"
"Unless they go all out and wipe out a sect to carry out this ambush, there's no chance of success. There's little need to do it at all!"
"Only Bibi Dong would care about the so-called Spirit Master Tournament championship. This mere tournament title isn't worth my concern!"
Qian Renyu weighed the pros and cons of the ambush.
In the original timeline, Bibi Dong had given Tang San far too much time to grow.
She had repeatedly had chances to kill him, yet never managed to seize them.
Now that he had taken the position of Pope, he wouldn't make the same foolish mistakes as Bibi Dong.
Either he wouldn't go after Tang San, or he would strike decisively and send him to his doom.
Otherwise, once Tang San grew powerful, he would only bring more trouble.
Tang San was currently the most outstanding participant in the Spirit Master Tournament preliminaries. If they acted rashly, the other major powers would get involved, and Tang San could find a way to turn the situation to his advantage.
But the events of the tournament finals would provide more than enough justification.
Qian Renyu was certain that when the opportunity came, the other sects wouldn't dare protect Tang San.
Whatever advantage Tang San might have would disappear, too!
The sacrifice of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the fortuitous encounter in Slaughter City, the full support of the four single-attribute clans, and the solid backing of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect...
He would block every path Tang San could take, right at the source.
Without those protagonist-like advantages, Tang San would be nothing but a sewer rat, not worth mentioning!
"Hm?"
Qian Renyu was weighing what to do during the Spirit Master Tournament finals.
Suddenly, an unusual trace of Soul Power lingered outside the Pope's Palace.
A cold glint flashed through Qian Renyu's eyes. He immediately recognized who the Soul Power belonged to.
"She really can't bear to give up this position. She still wants to take it back and build a kingdom for that good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang."
"If she's so unwilling to let go, then while the Spirit Master Tournament finals haven't fully begun, I'll deal with that good-for-nothing Yu Xiaogang first."
"The Spirit Hall has no need for a useless elder like him!"
"Not even an honorary one!!"
Qian Renyu gave a cold snort.
Bibi Dong had no regard for their mother-son bond.
He, in turn, would show Bibi Dong no indulgence.
Having already forced her from power, Qian Renyu didn't mind taking things even further.
And according to his memories, Yu Xiaogang would soon come to Spirit City to seek an audience with Bibi Dong.
Using Yu Xiaogang to sound a warning to Bibi Dong would be perfect.
Several days later.
At the gates of Spirit City.
Yu Xiaogang arrived after a long and tiring journey, dressed in a blue-green robe.
Gazing at the towering city gates before him, Yu Xiaogang let out a long breath. A look of relief crossed his face.
"I've finally arrived. I hope everything goes smoothly from here on."
"As long as Bibi Dong still remembers what we shared back then, it shouldn't be too difficult to get the secret of Twin Martial Souls from her."
"Once I have the secret of Twin Martial Souls, I can tell Xiao San about it when he and the others come to Spirit City for the finals."
"Once Xiao San truly understands the secret of Twin Martial Souls, his path ahead will be smooth, and he'll surely become one of the most powerful people on the continent!"
"When that happens, my name, Yu Xiaogang's, will resound across the Douluo Continent!"
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fist tightly.
His mind involuntarily wandered back over the various things he had endured during the decades he'd spent wandering the Douluo Continent.
The rejection he'd faced within his clan, the discrimination and doubts he'd encountered on his travels.
It all lingered in his mind like a nightmare.
Now, standing before Spirit City and imagining the bright future ahead, his spirits lifted at once.
Suppressing his restless thoughts, Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath and headed toward the registration point at the city gates.
When the person ahead of him finished registering and entered Spirit City, Yu Xiaogang didn't even bother to register. He walked straight up to the guards before the city wall.
With a wave of his hand, a token appeared in his palm.
"I am Yu Xiaogang. Bearing the Elder Token, I seek an audience with the Pope as an honorary elder!"
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