Meeting Bibidong

Within Spirit Hall, Bibidong had grown somewhat anxious over the past few days.

If not for her special status, she would have long been unable to restrain herself from personally heading to that small town.

Just then, Ghost Douluo suddenly entered the Pope's Hall. Bibidong immediately asked, "Has Elder Chrysanthemum returned? Did he bring a youth with him?"

Ghost Douluo nodded. "Yes, Your Holiness. They've just entered Spirit City. Besides Na'er and Xie Yue, Yue Guan did indeed bring a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old boy."

"Excellent. Have Elder Chrysanthemum bring him to the main hall of the Pope's Hall at once!" Bibidong commanded.

"As you command!" Ghost Douluo nodded, his form dissolving into a wisp of black smoke and vanishing.

Xiao Chen arrived in Spirit City for the first time. Gazing at the majestic, towering city before him, his heart swelled with countless emotions.

As the supreme sacred ground for Soul Masters across the continent, Spirit City's grandeur and solemnity were far more awe-inspiring than any rumor had suggested.

Just as Xiao Chen paused to take in the sights within Spirit City, a ghostly figure materialized silently beside Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"Old Ghost, why do you have to pop up like a specter? Can't you see there's a young friend here!" Chrysanthemum Douluo shot Ghost Douluo a glare, then turned with a smile to introduce him to Xiao Chen:

"This old ghost is also a Titled Douluo, title Ghostly Phantom. He might look a bit intimidating, but he's a decent fellow!"

Ghost Douluo stared in astonishment. He could clearly sense that Chrysanthemum Douluo's attitude toward Xiao Chen was far too warm.

Xiao Chen immediately bowed in salute. "Greetings, Your Excellency Ghostly Phantom!"

Ghost Douluo waved a hand to indicate Xiao Chen need not stand on ceremony, then turned to Chrysanthemum Douluo. "Old Chrysanthemum, has His Holiness the Pope been unable to eat or sleep these past few days because of this little guy? I don't see anything special about him!"

He only knew that Chrysanthemum Douluo had discovered a genius, but he had no idea about Xiao Chen's specific circumstances.

"Old Ghost, your eyes are failing you—you certainly can't see it!" Chrysanthemum Douluo teased with a laugh.

"Old Chrysanthemum, if His Holiness the Pope hadn't ordered you to bring him over quickly, I'd give you a proper lesson right now!" Ghost Douluo shot Chrysanthemum Douluo a glare. The two of them loved to rib each other whenever they had nothing else to do.

Seeing this, Hu Liena quickly interjected, "Grandpa Chrysanthemum, Grandpa Ghost, please stop arguing. Take Xiao Chen to see Teacher first!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo snorted at each other, then led Xiao Chen, Hu Liena, and Xie Yue as they flew directly toward the Pope's Hall.

On the verge of meeting Bibidong, Xiao Chen felt quite excited inside.

As one of the pinnacles of beauty in the Douluo world, Xiao Chen was also curious about what she actually looked like.

Xiao Chen followed the two Titled Douluo, Chrysanthemum and Ghost, as they slowly stepped into the Pope's Hall. His gaze instinctively lifted and immediately locked onto the stunning, aloof figure standing before the Pope's throne.

She wore a luxurious black robe embroidered with gold patterns, a nine-curved purple-gold crown atop her head.

An oppressive aura of dominion over all beings surrounded her, carrying the icy presence of Spirit Hall's supreme ruler, yet it could not conceal her nearly flawless, peerless beauty.

"Damn that Qian Xunji, he deserves to die!" Xiao Chen cursed inwardly, then bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope!"

Bibidong flashed in front of Xiao Chen in an instant. After helping him rise, she began to scrutinize him carefully.

After a moment of examination, she turned to Hu Liena and Xie Yue. "You two may leave first. Remember, do not mention Xiao Chen's secret to anyone."

"Yes!" Hu Liena and Xie Yue replied respectfully, then left the Pope's Hall together.

After they departed, Bibidong continued, "Guard the Pope's Hall. Do not let anyone approach!"

"Yes!" Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo answered in unison. With a flicker of movement, they withdrew from the hall and took up positions on either side of the doors, standing watch in silence.

Hu Liena and Xie Yue did not go far either. Both waited not far outside the Pope's Hall for Xiao Chen.

"Brother, do you think Xiao Chen can pass Teacher's test?" Hu Liena asked in a low voice.

She knew full well that although her teacher had agreed to take Xiao Chen as a disciple, given her nature, she would inevitably set up a trial and would not accept him easily.

"It should be fine. With Xiao Chen's unparalleled talent, not to mention Teacher, even if the elders of the Hall of Elders found out, they would likely compete to recruit and nurture him with all their might," Xie Yue said.

Hu Liena nodded at this and murmured softly, "That's true. Xiao Chen's talent surpasses ours. Passing Teacher's test is definitely..."

Before she could finish, a voice from behind interrupted her.

"Na'er, you're finally back!" The newcomer was another genius of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation—Yan.

"How many times have I told you, don't call me Na'er!" Hu Liena's expression turned cold, her tone carrying a warning.

Yan was long accustomed to Hu Liena's reaction. He stepped forward quickly, nodded to Xie Yue first, then turned to Hu Liena and asked, "Did you encounter any danger during this spirit ring hunt?"

"With Elder Chrysanthemum accompanying us, what danger could there be?" Hu Liena replied indifferently.

"That's true. So, what age was your fourth spirit ring, and what spirit ability did you gain?" Yan pressed on.

They were teammates after all, and they usually informed each other about their cultivation progress and spirit ring additions.

"Over four thousand five hundred years. Group Charm!" Hu Liena said flatly.

Seeing Hu Liena's reaction, Xie Yue simply shook his head lightly.

Xie Yue was all too aware of Yan's feelings for Hu Liena. He neither supported nor opposed them. In the past, he had thought Yan might still have a chance, but now, Xie Yue felt Yan's prospects were slim.

Yan noticed Xie Yue shaking his head and was puzzled, so he stepped forward and asked, "Brother Xie Yue, what does that mean?"

"Nothing. I'm just pitying you," Xie Yue said.

Yan's heart leaped with joy. In the past, when he pursued Hu Liena, Xie Yue had always looked on coldly. Even when Yan tried to curry favor with him, Xie Yue never helped.

But now, Xie Yue was actually expressing pity for him. This made Yan mistakenly believe that Xie Yue had finally started to support him.

"Brother Xie Yue, you finally understand me!" Yan said, giving Xie Yue a big hug.

Xie Yue quickly pulled away and warned Yan, "Watch your manners at the entrance of Pope's Hall!"

Yan scratched his head with a grin, then caught sight of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo standing at the doors of Pope's Hall. Curious, he asked, "What's this?"

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't!" Hu Liena immediately warned from the side.

Though curious, Yan knew that having Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo standing guard outside meant something very important was happening inside. He suppressed his doubts and curiosity, asked no more, and quietly stood there, waiting alongside the others.

Inside Pope's Hall at that moment, Xiao Chen had already demonstrated the techniques of 'Spirit Fusion Skill' and 'Spirit Skill Fusion' one by one at Bibidong's request. Watching him, Bibidong's heart trembled repeatedly, filled with amazement.

As a Twin Spirit wielder herself, she understood all too well just how incredible, how heaven-defying it was for Xiao Chen to have reached such a level.

"Xiao Chen, would you be willing to take me as your master?" Bibidong asked with great seriousness.