The Contest

Ghost Leopard Douluo pointed ahead. In an instant, a terrifying surge of Soul Power wrapped around the Nine-Tailed Black Flame Demon Fox.

Under Duan Fan's gaze, the Nine-Tailed Black Flame Demon Fox was torn apart in a flash.

The moment the Nine-Tailed Black Flame Demon Fox died, it dissolved into a cloud of black smoke and scattered.

"Very good."

Ghost Leopard Douluo had lost count of how many times he had praised Duan Fan like this, and every word came from the heart.

"The combat strength of your Black Flame Demon Fox is already far beyond that of an ordinary two-thousand-year-old Black Flame Demon Fox. It's probably equivalent to one that's lived for around two thousand five hundred years."

"The same goes for its physical strength."

"With combat strength like that, ordinary Soul Elders are no match for you."

"If you summon all four Black Flame Demon Foxes, an ordinary Soul Elder would surely die under their combined assault. Even an ordinary Soul Ancestor would struggle to withstand them."

"You're only at level twenty-four, with two Soul Rings, and you already possess such strength. I'm looking forward more and more to seeing how you'll turn out once you've grown."

Ghost Leopard Douou's face was alight with an appreciative smile. He flashed over and appeared in front of Duan Fan.

"All right. Now that you've obtained your Second Soul Ring, it's time to head back."

As he spoke, Ghost Leopard Douluo placed a large hand on Duan Fan's shoulder.

Before Duan Fan could react, his vision blurred.

He had no idea how much time had passed. When his vision cleared, they were near a small town by Star Dou Forest.

He steadied himself and looked ahead. The inn where he was staying stood not far away.

By the light at the inn's entrance, he could just make out Li Yi and Li Ruolan.

"Go tell them we're heading back to Spirit City. If they weren't on the way, I wouldn't bother looking after those two."

Ghost Leopard Douluo's voice came from beside him.

Duan Fan nodded at once. "All right."

On the way back, Ghost Leopard Douluo had used his Soul Power to shield Duan Fan's body, sparing him the agony of traveling at such speed.

Now that they had landed, Duan Fan didn't need to wait for his body to adjust. He immediately ran over to Li Yi and Li Ruolan.

After Duan Fan exchanged a few brief words with them, Ghost Leopard Douluo appeared beside him like a ghost. His thin, bony hand settled on Duan Fan's shoulder, and he whisked him away.

Li Yi and Li Ruolan were left standing in the breeze, staring after them in a daze.

It took the siblings quite a while to recover.

"Elder Ghost Leopard is so fast!" Li Ruolan exclaimed.

Li Yi, however, was focused entirely on what Duan Fan had just told them. His face was lit with excitement.

"Ruolan, did you hear that? Duan Fan successfully obtained his Second Soul Ring. It's a thousand-five-hundred-year-old Black Flame Demon Fox!"

"His Second Soul Ring is already a thousand years old! That's incredible!"

"I didn't even get to ask him what his Second Soul Skill is!"

Li Yi urged her on. "Come on, Ruolan. Let's head back to Spirit City right now!"

Seeing how excited Li Yi was, Li Ruolan could only nod helplessly.

They had waited from dusk until now, and at last Duan Fan had returned.

Before they'd even had time to say more than a few words, Elder Ghost Leopard had taken him away again.

If Li Yi had to stay the night and return to Spirit City tomorrow, he'd probably suffer more than if he were killed.

Li Ruolan was excited, too, that Duan Fan had successfully absorbed a thousand-year Soul Ring as his Second Soul Ring. She just wasn't as worked up as Li Yi.

On top of that, she felt a little melancholy for no clear reason.

"After Duan Fan gets back, he probably won't stay in Junior Class Ten, will he?"

"It's so rare for Junior Class Ten to get a student this talented. And now, before long, he's leaving because he's too talented."

Spirit City.

Pope Palace.

Duan Fan stood in the main hall, with Ghost Leopard Douluo beside him.

As soon as they returned to Spirit City, they had come straight here.

Duan Fan stared at the magnificent, gold-bright hall before him, still a little dazed.

"During the last break, I wanted to visit the Pope Palace, but the Spirit Hall guards stopped me halfway up the mountain."

"I never thought I'd be standing inside the Pope Palace today."

"Looks like having Twin Martial Souls really does make a huge difference."

"I'm about to meet Pope Bibi Dong. I'm a little excited."

Before coming to the Douluo World, Duan Fan hadn't thought much of Bibi Dong.

But after arriving in the Douluo World, he'd realized that Bibi Dong was one of the handful of people standing at the very top of the world.

Her status and position meant that only a select few had the right to meet her.

Most people didn't even qualify to set foot in the Pope Palace.

As Duan Fan imagined what Bibi Dong might look like, a flash of golden light caught his eye from the arched doorway on the left side of the hall.

He glanced up instinctively and saw Bibi Dong stepping out.

Her golden gown swept across the floor, and the glittering jewels on her body dimmed the very ceiling above.

Her face was blurred beneath all that radiance, but the oppressive force of her presence surged toward him like a tide.

Duan Fan's throat tightened. The pressure of her authority was so intense that he couldn't help holding his breath.

Suddenly, a large hand pressed against his back, making him bow.

"Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope!"

Ghost Leopard Douluo bowed slightly.

Duan Fan hurriedly followed suit. "Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope!"

Bibi Dong walked to the seat of honor and sat down, giving her staff a light tap as she looked calmly at Duan Fan.

"You're Duan Fan?"

Bibi Dong's voice was soft, yet filled with boundless authority.

Duan Fan nodded at once. "Yes, I'm Duan Fan."

Bibi Dong's tone suddenly softened. "Show me your Twin Martial Souls."

"All right."

As he answered, Duan Fan released his Martial Souls.

The first one he summoned was his Fantasy Pen.

After absorbing the thousand-year-old Black Flame Demon Fox Soul Ring, the Fantasy Pen had undergone a few subtle changes.

A few red lines had appeared on its shaft. They were hard to notice unless you looked closely.

It had also grown a little longer, by about two centimeters.

Other people wouldn't notice these details, but as the Fantasy Pen's owner, Duan Fan was well aware of them.

Of course, none of this mattered to Bibi Dong, who was seeing his Martial Soul for the first time.

As the Fantasy Pen appeared in Duan Fan's hand, two Soul Rings, one yellow and one purple, slowly rose from beneath his feet.

When Bibi Dong saw the purple Soul Ring around Duan Fan, her gaze tightened ever so slightly, but soon returned to normal.

After showing her the Fantasy Pen, Duan Fan summoned the Soul-Sucking Battle Axe.

Bibi Dong gave the Soul-Sucking Battle Axe a brief glance, then nodded slightly. "Put your Martial Souls away."

Duan Fan recalled the Soul-Sucking Battle Axe and stood quietly.

By then, his heart had settled. He was no longer as nervous and excited as he'd been at first.

The reason was that when he'd summoned the Soul-Sucking Battle Axe, it had filled him with confidence.

That confidence had instantly driven away all the negative feelings in his heart.

It felt as though, as long as the Soul-Sucking Battle Axe was in his hand, there was nothing in the world he couldn't slay.

Even if his opponent was Bibi Dong, a high-ranking and powerful Titled Douluo, it would be the same.

"You're exceptional, and your future is boundless. Once you've grown, you'll surely carry on the glory of Spirit Hall."

Bibi Dong spoke slowly, her tone once again full of authority. "I'm willing to take you as my disciple. Are you willing to become my student?"

Duan Fan froze slightly, not yet having a chance to answer.

A hoarse voice suddenly rang out through the hall.

"He isn't willing."