At these words, the entire hall erupted.
Although rumors had been circulating for some time, hearing Bibi Dong announce it herself was an entirely different matter.
The Holy Son!
It meant this person would become the future Pope of Spirit Hall, one of the most powerful people on the entire continent!
"Who could it be?"
"Could it be someone chosen by Grand Pontiff Qian Daoliu?"
Even Dai Weisi, crown prince of the Star Luo Empire, and Zhu Zhuyun of the Zhu Family had craned their necks, their eyes filled with curiosity and scrutiny.
As outstanding members of the younger generation, they naturally wanted to see what manner of person this "Holy Son" was—the one who had managed to outshine them.
A faint smile played at the corner of Bibi Dong's lips as she spoke clearly:
"From this day forward, Lin Qiu is the Holy Son of Spirit Hall. Seeing the Holy Son is the same as seeing me!"
As soon as her voice fell—
"Dong—"
A melodious bell rang out, seeming to come from beyond the nine heavens. In an instant, its sound washed over everyone's hearts.
Right afterward, crystalline petals suddenly began drifting down from the sky above Pope Palace.
They were no ordinary petals, but had condensed from pure Soul Power. Each one gave off a refreshing fragrance.
Amid the rain of blossoms, a figure slowly emerged.
The first thing to catch everyone's eye was a gigantic golden lotus.
The lotus's phantom was a full ten zhang across. It slowly bloomed beneath his feet, radiating countless golden rays and auspicious colors.
The young man wore white robes as pristine as snow, their sleeves fluttering. His black hair fell like a waterfall.
His face was so breathtakingly handsome he seemed almost bewitching, with swordlike brows, bright eyes, a high nose, and sharply defined, striking features.
He walked forward with easy composure. With every step he took, a golden lotus appeared beneath his foot, rising out of thin air to bear his weight.
Lotuses blossomed with every step!
What a grand entrance! What a magnificent spectacle!
Bathed in golden light, he seemed like a Banished Immortal descending from the nine heavens—noble and holy, too radiant to look upon directly.
"So this is...the Holy Son?"
As Zhu Zhuqing watched that figure, even her usually cool gaze lost focus despite herself.
She wasn't the only one. The noble young ladies present—even the empress of the Star Luo Empire—were all left staring in a daze.
Could a man truly be so otherworldly and dazzling?
As Lin Qiu walked along the golden avenue, feeling the countless stunned gazes around him, he silently gave Golden Crocodile Douluo and Qian Daoliu a thumbs-up.
Those old men really knew how to get things done.
The "wondrous spectacle" from the Covering Sky Method could only be simulated in this world with Soul Power effects, but the visuals were absolutely maxed out.
This was exactly the kind of style he wanted!
He walked up beside Bibi Dong. He did not kneel, merely giving her a slight nod, his expression calm.
That unflappable composure made everyone present feel another jolt of awe.
"What a graceful young man!"
Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire couldn't help praising him. "With a Holy Son like this, Spirit Hall truly has Heaven's blessing."
"Congratulations, Your Holiness the Pope, on gaining such an excellent disciple!"
"Our Star Luo Empire offers one hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins in celebration of the Holy Son's investiture!"
"The Elephant Armored Sect, one of the Lower Four Sects, is willing to serve His Highness the Holy Son!"
For a time, congratulations and flattery rose one after another.
In a world that judged by looks, strength, and—most of all—background, everything Lin Qiu had just displayed was more than enough to make these snobs flock to him.
Even the people from the Upper Three Sects had to admit that, in terms of presence and appearance alone, their own juniors had indeed been outshone.
However—
Amid all the joyous celebration, a figure huddled in the corner began trembling violently, as if he had seen a ghost.
Yu Xiaogang stared fixedly at Lin Qiu on the dais, his eyes nearly bulging from their sockets, his fingernails digging deep into his palms.
That face...
He would recognize it even if it had been reduced to ashes!
"It's him... It really is him..."
Yu Xiaogang's lips quivered. His face went from pale to livid, then dark purple.
That vicious young man who had humiliated him in the marketplace and left him utterly disgraced was actually the Holy Son of Spirit Hall?
Why?
What gave him the right?!
What qualified a man of such despicable character, who only knew how to bully others with his backing, to stand beside Bibi Dong? What qualified him to receive the worship of thousands?
Watching the way Bibi Dong looked at Lin Qiu from the dais—with a tenderness so intense it seemed ready to drip from her eyes—Yu Xiaogang felt as if someone had plunged a knife straight into his heart.
That was a gaze that had once belonged to him alone!
An unprecedented jealousy and venomous resentment gnawed at his insides like a poisonous snake.
"No... I won't accept this!"
"Bibi Dong, he's deceived you! That little bastard has tricked you!"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the golden avenue, on the young man in snow-white robes who strode forward as lotuses blossomed beneath his feet.
Praise rang out without end.
"This young man belongs in the heavens!"
"To possess such bearing at so young an age—it's no wonder Her Holiness the Pope named him the Holy Son."
"For the next hundred years, Spirit Hall will probably overpower the Two Great Empires."
Yet amid this sea of praise, every word scraped at Yu Xiaogang's ears.
He looked at the dais: at the place that should have been his, at the woman who should have stood beside him. But now they were all gathered around the young man who had humiliated him in the marketplace.
Jealousy coiled around his heart like a poisonous snake, tightening and tightening.
"No... None of this is right!"
Yu Xiaogang drew a deep breath, his gaunt face twitching slightly.
He looked at Bibi Dong.
The lofty female Pope might now be untouchable in her majesty, but in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, she was still the girl who once obeyed his every word and loved him to the point of madness.
Though he had kept his distance and avoided seeing her all these years, a strange confidence had always remained in his heart.
Yu Xiaogang believed that Bibi Dong had become so ruthless and domineering, and had even gone so far as to start a war, all to get his attention.
It was all because her love had gone unreturned!
"She cares about me. I've always been in her heart."
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists.
Since Bibi Dong still loved him, then all he had to do was step forward and publicly expose that young man's evil deeds. Bibi Dong would surely take his side!
That young man was nothing but a brute with brute strength and nothing else. How could he compare with Yu Xiaogang and his title of Grandmaster?
How could he compare with Yu Xiaogang's place in Bibi Dong's heart?
At that thought, the gloom in Yu Xiaogang's heart lifted, replaced by a twisted thrill.
This was his chance!
A chance for Yu Xiaogang to rise to the top again and prove himself before the Soul Masters of the entire 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 Spirit Hall!
Then everyone would know just how much weight Yu Xiaogang's words carried in Spirit Hall!
Even the people from the Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan who looked down on him would have to see him in a new light!
Before you continue