Yu Xiaogang's Delusional Obsession! Lin Qiu's Lotus Steps!

As these words fell, the entire venue erupted in an uproar.

Although rumors had been circulating for some time, hearing Bibi Dong announce it personally carried an entirely different weight.

Holy Son!

This meant that this person would be the future Pope of Martial Soul Hall, one of the most powerful individuals on the entire continent!

"Who on earth is it?"

"Could it be someone chosen by the Great Elder, Qian Daoliu?"

Even Crown Prince Dai Weisi of the Star Luo Empire and Zhu Zhuyun of the Zhu family stretched their necks, their eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.

As leaders of the younger generation themselves, they naturally wanted to see what kind of sacred figure this "Holy Son" who could overshadow them truly was.

A faint smile played on the corners of Bibi Dong's lips as she proclaimed in a clear voice:

"From this day forth, Lin Qiu shall be the Holy Son of my Martial Soul Hall. To see the Holy Son is to see This Seat!"

The moment her voice faded.

"Dong—"

A melodious bell toll, seemingly echoing from beyond the nine heavens, instantly cleansed the hearts of everyone present.

Immediately following, crystalline petals began to drift down from the sky above the Pope Palace.

These were no ordinary petals, but manifestations of pure soul power, each one emitting a refreshing and intoxicating fragrance.

Amidst that rain of flowers, a figure slowly emerged.

The first thing to catch the eye was a massive golden lotus.

The phantom of the lotus, fully ten zhang in size, bloomed slowly beneath his feet, radiating ten thousand rays of golden light and a thousand strands of auspicious color.

The youth was dressed in snow-white robes that fluttered in the wind, his black hair cascading like a waterfall.

His face was handsome to the point of being demonic; his brows were like swords, his eyes like stars, his nose bridge high, and his features sharply defined and profound.

He walked forward with casual ease, and with every step he took, a golden lotus bloomed out of thin air to support his feet.

Lotus flowers blooming with every step!

What a display of grandeur! What an extraordinary spectacle!

Set against the backdrop of that golden radiance, he appeared like an immortal descended from the nine heavens—noble, holy, and so magnificent that one dared not look directly at him.

"Is this... the Holy Son?"

Zhu Zhuqing watched that figure, her usually cold eyes losing their focus in spite of herself.

It was not just her; the noble ladies present, and even the Empress of the Star Luo Empire, were left stunned.

Could such an ethereal and stunning man truly exist in this world?

Walking along the golden path, Lin Qiu felt the countless shocked gazes around him and silently gave a thumbs-up to Golden Crocodile Douluo and Qian Daoliu.

These old men were truly reliable when it came to getting things done.

While the "phenomenon" from the Covering Sky Method could only be simulated with soul power special effects in this world, the visual impact was absolutely maxed out.

This was exactly the level of prestige he wanted!

He walked to Bibi Dong's side, not kneeling, but merely bowing his head slightly with a calm expression.

This composed and unhurried demeanor caused the hearts of everyone present to tighten once more.

"What a magnificent young man!"

Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire could not help but exclaim, "With such a Holy Son, Martial Soul Hall is truly blessed by the heavens."

"Congratulations to Your Holiness the Pope for gaining such an excellent disciple!"

"The Star Luo Empire offers one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins to celebrate the investiture of the Holy Son!"

"The Elephant Armored Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects, is willing to serve His Highness the Holy Son!"

For a time, compliments and congratulations rose and fell in succession.

In a world that valued appearance, strength, and, even more so, background, everything Lin Qiu displayed was enough to make these snobs flock to him.

Even the members of the Upper Three Sects had to admit that, in terms of the aura and presentation of his entrance, their own juniors were indeed outclassed.

However.

Amidst this joyous and harmonious atmosphere, a figure huddled in the corner began to tremble violently, as if he had seen a ghost.

Yu Xiaogang stared fixedly at Lin Qiu on the high platform, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets as his fingernails dug deep into his palms.

That face...

He would recognize it even if it were reduced to ashes!

"It's him... it really is him..."

Yu Xiaogang's lips quivered, his complexion shifting from pale to ash-gray, and then to a bruised purple.

The vicious youth who had humiliated him at the market and dragged his reputation through the mud was actually the Holy Son of Martial Soul Hall?

Why?

How could this be?!

What right does a person of such poor character, who only knows how to bully others by relying on his status, have to stand beside Bibi Dong? What right does he have to receive the worship of thousands?

Watching from the high platform as Bibi Dong looked at Lin Qiu with eyes so tender they seemed ready to melt, Yu Xiaogang felt as if his heart had been viciously stabbed.

That was a gaze that once belonged only to him!

An unprecedented wave of jealousy and resentment gnawed at his heart like a venomous snake.

"No... I refuse to accept this!"

"Bibi Dong, you've been deceived by him! You've been deceived by this little beast!"

Everyone's gaze was focused on the golden-paved path, focused on the youth dressed in white as snow, whose every step seemed to bloom with lotus flowers.

Words of praise were endless.

"Such a youth belongs only in the heavens!"

"To possess such bearing at his age, it is no wonder the Pope has appointed him as the Holy Son."

"The Martial Soul Hall will likely dominate the two great empires for the next hundred years."

Yet, in this ocean of praise and adulation, it all sounded incredibly grating to Yu Xiaogang in his corner.

He looked up at the high platform, at the position that should have been his, at the woman who should have been standing by his side, all now revolving around the youth who had humiliated him in the marketplace.

Jealousy, like a venomous snake, coiled tightly around his heart, constricting with every passing moment.

"This is wrong... everything about this is wrong!"

Yu Xiaogang took a deep breath, his withered skin twitching slightly.

He looked at Bibi Dong.

That high and mighty Pope, though currently radiating an inviolable majesty, remained in Yu Xiaogang's eyes the same young girl who once hung on his every word and loved him with all her heart.

Although he had avoided her all these years, he had always harbored an inexplicable confidence deep down.

Yu Xiaogang believed that the reason Bibi Dong had become so insane, so aggressive, and even willing to wage war, was all to get his attention.

It was all because of love denied!

"She cares about me; she has always had me in her heart."

Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists.

Since Bibi Dong still loved him, as long as he stepped forward and exposed the youth's evil deeds in public, Bibi Dong would surely stand on his side!

That youth was nothing more than a brute with nothing but raw strength; how could he compare to him, the renowned Master?

How could he compare to the status he held in Bibi Dong's heart?

Thinking of this, the gloom in Yu Xiaogang's heart was swept away, replaced by a twisted sense of exhilaration.

This was an opportunity!

An opportunity for him, Yu Xiaogang, to return to his peak and prove himself before all the spirit masters on the continent!

He would expose the true face of this "Holy Son" in front of everyone, make Bibi Dong strip him of his title with her own hands, and drive him out of the Martial Soul Hall!

When that time came, everyone would know just how much weight a single word from him, Yu Xiaogang, carried within the Martial Soul Hall!

Even those in the Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan who looked down on him would have to see him in a new light!