A hoarse voice seemed to drift down from the heavens. Before Duan Fan could react, a towering figure had appeared beside him.
The man wore a golden robe embroidered with silver. His beard and hair were as white as snow, and he stood over two meters tall. He loomed there like an old wall, casting Duan Fan entirely in his shadow.
At the sight of him, Bibi Dong's gaze sharpened.
Ghost Leopard Douluo recognized the newcomer and became extremely deferential—more so than he had been toward Bibi Dong. He bowed and clasped his fists. "Greetings, Second Worship!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded slightly and said in a calm voice, "You may withdraw."
"Yes!"
Ghost Leopard Douluo replied without even looking at Bibi Dong again. His figure vanished on the spot.
Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with anger, but she quickly regained her composure and asked, "What brings Second Worship here?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo rested a hand on Duan Fan's shoulder, his palm heavy as iron. "I'm taking him with me."
"No. I have important matters to discuss with him."
Bibi Dong's voice rang with authority, edged with anger. She looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo with an impassive expression.
"I've already heard what you have to say."
Golden Crocodile Douluo let out a hoarse laugh. "You want to take him as your disciple, but he's unwilling."
With that, Golden Crocodile Douluo stepped backward with Duan Fan. Their figures seemed to be swallowed by golden light, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared.
"Second Worship, don't you go too far!"
Bibi Dong's words seemed to catch in her throat. Her fingers clenched around her scepter, nails digging into the gaps between the gemstones.
The hall entrance stood empty. She was the only one left sitting there, her brows knitted and her face full of anger. Only after a long while did she slowly relax.
The Worship Hall.
Golden light flickered as Duan Fan and Golden Crocodile Douluo slowly appeared.
After being whisked around by Titled Douluo powerhouses over and over, Duan Fan was almost getting used to it.
The moment his feet touched the ground, he began surveying his surroundings.
This was another great hall, but compared to the resplendent Pope Palace, it was much plainer, giving off an ancient and solemn air.
Dusty gray stone pillars supported the domed ceiling, and even the furnishings seemed steeped in age.
Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the moment Duan Fan arrived, he felt an inexplicable heaviness pressing down on him. It left him oppressed and a little short of breath.
After surveying his surroundings, Duan Fan's gaze gradually settled on the tall, golden-robed elder beside him.
Naturally, this was the first time Duan Fan had seen the old man.
But back in the Pope Palace, he had heard both Ghost Leopard Douluo and Bibi Dong address him as Second Worship, so he already knew who the elder was.
The Second Worship, one of the seven worshippers of Spirit Hall: Golden Crocodile Douluo.
His martial soul was the Golden Crocodile King, and he was a Level 98 Peak Douluo.
His status was supremely exalted, and among the seven worshippers, his strength was second only to Grand Elder Qian Daoliu.
So he's Golden Crocodile Douluo. No wonder he speaks with such arrogance and certainty, not even giving Pope Bibi Dong any face. He really does have the strength and standing to back it up.
Since he's Golden Crocodile Douluo, then this place I'm in now is...
The Worship Hall?
As if he had noticed Duan Fan's gaze, Golden Crocodile Douluo glanced at him. "Little fellow, don't move around. Stand properly."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's words seemed to possess some mysterious power. After hearing them, Duan Fan instinctively straightened up and looked ahead.
Just then, Duan Fan saw a figure step out of thin air.
He was a handsome man who looked to be in his thirties, tall and lean, dressed in a plain gray robe. His long hair fell neatly over his shoulders, and a tranquil, unassuming air surrounded him.
His eyes seemed able to see through everything, yet held an immeasurable weariness of the world.
"Greetings, Grand Elder!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo turned to the side and clasped his hands in a casual salute.
But Duan Fan noticed how deeply he bowed and the respect in his manner. Even the slightest trace of nonchalance vanished from his expression.
Hearing Golden Crocodile Douluo address the man, Duan Fan immediately realized who he was.
Even before Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke, Duan Fan had already guessed.
The man before him was none other than Spirit Hall's Grand Elder, a Level 99 Peerless Douluo, and one of the people standing at the pinnacle of the entire continent: Qian Daoliu.
"Thank you for your efforts."
Qian Daoliu nodded to Golden Crocodile Douluo, then turned his gaze to Duan Fan and smiled faintly.
"At such a young age, you're already a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster with a Soul Power Level of twenty-four. Your Second Soul Ring is a thousand-year one, and you possess Twin Martial Souls."
"Little fellow, you're impressive."
At Qian Daoliu's words, Duan Fan's heart gave a sudden thump.
That tone, that opening... why does it sound so familiar?
He isn't going to take me as his disciple too, is he?
Having Qian Daoliu as my master wouldn't be bad at all.
Qian Daoliu continued, just as Duan Fan had expected. He really was arranging for Duan Fan to become someone's disciple, but not his own.
"In that case, let Second Worship take you as his disciple."
Duan Fan froze.
Golden Crocodile Douluo was also taken aback. He frowned. "I have no plans to take a disciple."
Qian Daoliu said, "This child is exceptional."
Golden Crocodile Douluo still shook his head. "I know, but I don't have time to teach him, and I wouldn't know how."
Qian Daoliu smiled at Golden Crocodile Douluo and continued, "His future is boundless."
Golden Crocodile Douluo paused, then immediately understood what Qian Daoliu meant. His brows lifted slightly as he beckoned Duan Fan. "Why aren't you calling me Master?"
Duan Fan hadn't managed to get a word in from the beginning, and now there was even less room to refuse.
Golden Crocodile Douluo had dragged him bodily out of the Pope Palace. If he refused to become his disciple, he might not have a place to stand in Spirit Hall in the future.
Besides, Golden Crocodile Douluo was a Level 98 Peak Douluo. Even setting aside what he could teach, his strength and status alone were more than enough.
Duan Fan clasped his hands and bowed respectfully. "This disciple, Duan Fan, pays his respects to Master!"
In this world, becoming someone's disciple required no kneeling; a bow was enough.
"Mm."
Golden Crocodile Douluo replied, and a rare smile appeared on his stern face.
He opened his palm. A golden token and a ring lay quietly in it.
"I don't have much in the way of worldly possessions. These two things should be of some use to you, so take them as a gift."
Duan Fan looked at the token, then at the ring, utterly bewildered.
Qian Daoliu said gently from the side, "Take them. The ring is a Space Soul Tool; inject Soul Power to use it. The token is your master's Worship Token. With it, even the Pope wouldn't dare lay a hand on you."
Duan Fan's eyes lit up. He quickly accepted the gifts, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Master!"
"Mm."
After giving him the gifts, Golden Crocodile Douluo's smile faded, and his usual stern expression returned. "Your strength still isn't enough. Your daily task is to cultivate diligently. Once you reach the Soul King realm, I'll give you some guidance."
"I'm going into seclusion. Unless it's important, don't disturb me."
Before his words had even faded, Golden Crocodile Douluo had already disappeared.
Duan Fan was a little dumbfounded.
I'd only just become his disciple, and he's already taken off?
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