Meanwhile, at Worship Hall in Spirit City.
The vast hall was filled with restless tension.
"Fourth Brother, that kid Xiao Yao has been gone for nearly two months, hasn't he? Why hasn't he come back yet?"
Seventh Worship, Falling Devil Douluo, paced back and forth across the hall, squeezing his Coiling Dragon Staff until it creaked in his grip.
Across from him, Fourth Worship, Mighty Lion Douluo Qin Xiong, leisurely savored his strong liquor. At the question, he raised his eyelids, unable to hide his smugness.
"Xiao Yao's only been gone two months. What is it, Lao Qi? Are you already coveting the treasure my grandson brought back?"
"You bet I am!"
Falling Devil Douluo hurried over, eyes shining.
"Fourth Brother, you've already broken through to Level 98. How could I not be tempted? Come on, tell your brother what that Immortal Herb tasted like. How could it have such miraculous effects?"
Beside them, Sixth Worship, Thousand Jun Douluo, chimed in. "Exactly, Fourth Brother. Don't keep it to yourself. Share your experience with us."
Qin Xiong burst into laughter, his booming voice making the entire hall rumble.
"Want to know? Ask my grandson when he gets back! Though if he doesn't like you, you won't get any."
In a corner, Second Worship, Golden Crocodile Douluo, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them and snorted.
"Fourth Brother, don't get too smug. You may have reached Level 98, but I still ground you into the dirt, didn't I?"
Qin Xiong's old face reddened, and he cleared his throat.
"Second Brother, you only won because your Martial Soul countered mine! Besides, can you honestly say you held back?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo was momentarily at a loss for words.
He recalled the sparring match with Qin Xiong a few days earlier. The strength and explosive power of Qin Xiong's Soul Power had both far surpassed what they'd been before.
If he hadn't resorted to two Hundred Thousand Year Soul Skills at the end, he might not have been able to defeat this newly advanced fellow.
The effects of that Immortal Herb truly were terrifying.
At the thought, even his normally placid heart stirred.
Perhaps this Immortal Herb was the key to his breakthrough to Level 99.
"All right, quiet down."
First Worship, Qian Daoliu, spoke from the seat of honor. His voice was calm, yet the hall fell silent at once.
"You're all Titled Douluo who have lived for over a century. Bickering over a single plant—what kind of conduct is that?"
He surveyed the group, then finally looked at Qin Xiong.
"Xiao Yao knows what he's doing. When he returns, he'll surely bring us a surprise. Just wait."
Ten days later, a lavishly decorated carriage raced along a broad official road.
A tall, gaunt green-haired elder sat on the driver's bench. It was Dugu Bo.
He muttered under his breath, "Who would've thought that I, the mighty Poison Douluo, would end up working as a coachman?"
The inside of the carriage was spacious.
Qin Yao sat cross-legged to one side, eyes nearly closed as he meditated.
Dugu Yan sat opposite him, her beautiful eyes sneaking glances at him from time to time.
Their constant companionship over this period had given her a whole new understanding of His Highness the Holy Son.
He spent most of his time cultivating, but would occasionally guide her in using her Soul Skills. Just a few words from him could always make everything click.
Unlike other youths his age, the Holy Son wasn't boastful or flighty. There was a steadiness and authority about him that seemed far beyond his years.
Dugu Yan was gazing at him, lost in thought, when Qin Yao's calm voice suddenly rang out.
"Had your fill?"
Qin Yao didn't open his eyes.
"Ah!" Dugu Yan sprang like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, her pretty face flushing bright red. "I... I wasn't!"
Only then did Qin Yao open his eyes.
"Move a little closer. The carriage is bumpy."
"Oh..." Dugu Yan didn't know what he meant, but instinctively shifted toward him.
Just then, the carriage lurched violently. She lost her balance, cried out, and toppled toward Qin Yao.
But the clumsy fall she expected never came.
Qin Yao reached out and caught her firmly by the shoulder, steadying her.
"Careful."
Qin Yao's voice was right beside her. Dugu Yan could even feel the faint warmth radiating from him.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Your Highness."
She hurriedly sat upright. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, and her cheeks burned.
Just then, Dugu Bo's voice came from outside the carriage.
"Your Highness, Yan Yan, we're here."
Qin Yao withdrew his hand, stood, and pulled aside the carriage curtain.
Dugu Yan took a deep breath to calm herself, then followed him out.
The instant she steadied herself and saw what lay before them, she froze.
An immense city, beyond words, stretched across the horizon.
Its walls stood nearly a hundred meters high, built from massive granite blocks, extending endlessly in both directions to form a perfect hexagon.
At the center of the wall, an enormous Spirit Hall emblem had been carved in relief, gleaming in the sunlight.
"This... is this Spirit City?" Dugu Yan's voice trembled with shock.
Heaven Dou City was already magnificent, but it still fell short of the Spirit City before her.
There wasn't the slightest hint of ordinary life here, only absolute order, majesty, and oppression.
Even Dugu Bo looked grave. He hadn't expected to find himself in Spirit City—and as an elder of Spirit Hall, no less.
"Let's go."
Qin Yao was used to their astonishment.
After presenting the Holy Son token, the three entered the city without trouble.
The outer city's streets were paved with white stone, wide enough for several carriages to travel side by side.
Yellow-robed deacons and patrolling palace guards were everywhere. Every one of them held their heads high, faces solemn.
Beyond the outer city, they entered Central City. The buildings around them rose taller and more ornate, while the strength of the patrolling Soul Masters had increased to the level of Soul Ancestors and even Soul Kings.
Seven distinctive white spires pierced the clouds, radiating powerful Soul Power.
At last, they reached a tall, silvery-white wall.
This was the Inner City, the heart of Spirit Hall's power—a city within a city.
The knights guarding it were all at least Soul Saints.
Qin Yao presented his token once more, and the massive city gate slowly swung open before them.
The moment they stepped into the Inner City, an even purer, more sacred aura washed over them.
In the distance, three grand halls of distinct styles stood in a triangle.
Behind the three main halls, on a taller hill, a palace crowned with a golden statue that seemed to pierce the heavens overlooked all of Spirit City.
That was the Worship Hall.
"Follow me."
Qin Yao didn't linger in the plaza. He headed straight for the white jade steps leading to the central dais.
Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan hurried after him, filled with awe at this forbidden seat of power.
Just as they stepped onto the first stair, a booming voice rang down from the top.
"You little brat, you actually know how to come back!"
They looked up to see a burly man with red hair like a lion's mane standing there. His voice boomed, and his tone held three parts reproach and seven parts delight.
Behind him, one figure after another slowly emerged from the shadows of the Worship Hall.
In the next instant, six distinct Titled Douluo auras surged forth, their vast power enveloping the entire sky.
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