Public Trial (Seeking Follow-ups, Recommendation Tickets, Monthly Tickets~)

"Your Holiness, it's not that it's inappropriate, it's just..." An elder carefully chose his words. "Those children are indeed young and inexperienced. I'm afraid they won't be able to handle the task."

"It doesn't matter if they can't handle it well." Ye Xunfeng lifted his teacup and took a sip. "They can figure it out slowly."

He set down the cup and continued, "The Inspection Hall will have one hall master, with Yue Guan serving in the role. Yue Guan came from a poor background and understands the concerns of ordinary people. I trust him."

Yue Guan stood to one side. Hearing this, he gave a slight bow, though Raging Waves churned within his heart.

Hall master.

That was real, tangible authority.

And it answered directly to the Pope Palace, meaning he would answer to Ye Xunfeng alone.

"As for supervision." Ye Xunfeng paused, his voice growing several degrees colder. "The Angel Legion will assign people to keep watch."

The Angel Legion.

The moment those four words were spoken, the hall fell completely silent.

The Angel Legion was Spirit Hall's most elite force. They obeyed only the Pope and the Grand Pontiff, subject to no elder's control.

Having them oversee the Inspection Hall was equivalent to adding a safeguard to this blade.

Golden Crocodile Douluo remained silent for a long time before finally nodding slowly. "I agree."

Light Feather Douluo immediately followed. "I agree as well."

Green Phoenix Douluo and Mighty Lion Douluo exchanged a glance before voicing their agreement in turn.

Once the pontiffs had spoken, even if the elders below had their reservations, they no longer dared say anything.

Some elders, however, had evasive looks in their eyes, as though they wished to pass some message along.

"Since no one objects, then it's settled." Ye Xunfeng rose to his feet. "Submit the roster within one month. I don't want useless rich brats filling the numbers. I want people who can get things done."

"Meeting adjourned."

The crowd gradually departed, while Yue Guan remained behind.

"Your Holiness." Yue Guan cupped his hands, gratitude lingering in his voice. "How could this subordinate possibly deserve..."

"Cut it out." Ye Xunfeng waved a hand, his tone casual. "I made you hall master not because you're especially virtuous, but because you're suitable. The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum has a pure Yang attribute. I believe Soul Masters with such an attribute generally don't have bad character."

Though, under Bibi Dong, he had accomplished exactly nothing.

If Ye Xunfeng truly suspected anything, it would be that Yue Guan had deliberately slacked off back then. After all, Spirit Hall had indeed been stingy at the time.

A Titled Douluo had fought for Spirit Hall for so many years, yet in the end, he did not even receive a single Soul Bone.

Truly pathetic.

Yue Guan opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing. He merely bowed deeply.

"Enough. Go make preparations." Ye Xunfeng sat down again and opened the documents on the desk. "The Inspection Hall will officially open in one month. Don't embarrass me."

"Yes." Yue Guan answered, then turned and left.

Ye Xunfeng leaned back in his chair and rubbed his temples.

The Inspection Hall was only the first step.

Spirit Hall, this great ship, had been stranded in Qian Xunji's hands for far too many years. To get it moving again, it had to be repaired bit by bit.

All he could say was that it was fortunate this was not Bibi Dong's era yet. There was still time, and Spirit Hall's reputation had not yet become as terrible as it would be under Bibi Dong.

Ye Xunfeng lightly tapped the desk. Bibi Dong absolutely could not be allowed to touch Spirit Hall's core authority.

And there was also Spirit Hall's Martial Soul awakening system.

Ye Xunfeng gently rubbed his brow, recalling one unreasonable rule: once one's cultivation reached Soul Elder, Gold Soul Coin distributions ceased.

That itself was not wrong, but the problem was that if someone got stuck at level thirty-nine, wouldn't they be able to collect one hundred Gold Soul Coins every month?

Clearly, that was unfair to geniuses, while giving those deadbeats an advantage.

Ye Xunfeng slowly wrote down this point.

It would be better to change it so that payments continued until the age of twenty. As long as one awakened a Martial Soul and possessed Soul Power, one could receive one Gold Soul Coin. At level ten, they could receive ten; at level twenty, fifty; at level thirty, one hundred. Every level after that would grant one hundred, until distributions ceased at age twenty.

After slowly recording the proposal, Ye Xunfeng set down his pen and rubbed his chin. It was fairly reasonable and feasible, but there was no need to rush.

There were too many reforms at once. If he took steps that were too large, he might tear his balls.

As for faith in the Angel God, heh...

What did that have to do with him?

He was not the Angel God's heir...

Ye Xunfeng silently tapped the tabletop.

Spirit Hall's problems had accumulated for far too long. If all these festering sores were not cut out, they would very likely grow worse and worse...

Tch. Troublesome.

Ye Xunfeng rose and walked outside. Looking at the sun, he slowly raised an arm to block the dazzling light.

Half a month later, Spirit City Square.

Before dawn had even broken, the square was already packed with people.

It was not only the citizens of Spirit City. There were also stewards and Soul Masters who had rushed over from branch halls across the land, and even people from the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire who had traveled through the night.

Some said they had come to watch the excitement, while others said they had come to broaden their horizons. But more people had come to wait for an answer.

A high platform had been erected on the steps before the Pope Palace. A chair stood in the center, and Ye Xunfeng sat upon it.

He was not wearing his usual golden papal robes today, only a dark everyday outfit. His golden hair was loosely tied behind his head with a black ribbon, making him appear several degrees colder and more severe than usual.

Yue Guan stood at one side of the platform, holding a thick stack of documents. His expression was as dark as an approaching storm.

"Bring him up." Ye Xunfeng spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly across the entire square.

Two guards escorted Qian Xunji over from the direction of the dungeon.

Qian Xunji was no longer wearing the luxurious papal robes from before. He had changed into a drab gray prisoner's uniform, stained with grime. His golden hair hung in a disheveled mess.

His face was ashen, his gaze unfocused. Both legs trembled as he walked, whether from fear or from his time in the dungeon, no one knew.

He was shoved onto the platform. The shackles around his feet scraped over the ground with a clattering rattle.

The crowd beneath the platform immediately erupted.

"That's the former Pope?"

"He looks like a beggar..."

"He deserves it! I heard that while he was in office, the people below him harmed who knew how many ordinary citizens!"

"My second uncle was driven to death by some branch hall master! We reported it to Spirit Hall, but never got so much as a reply!"

The discussion grew louder and louder, gradually turning into curses.

Qian Xunji was forced to kneel in the center of the platform. His knees struck the stone slabs with a dull thud.

He raised his head and glanced at Ye Xunfeng, who sat above him. His lips trembled twice, but in the end, he said nothing and lowered his head again.

He was afraid!

Ye Xunfeng did not look at him. He merely nodded at Yue Guan.

Yue Guan drew a deep breath and unfolded the first document. His voice rang loudly enough for the entire square to hear. "First case: Zhao Ping, branch hall master of the Spirit Hall branch in Nuojia City of the Heaven Dou Empire, used the Pope's name to seize seventeen private residences, forcibly abducted nine women, and caused the deaths of three people. Former Pope Qian Xunji knew of these crimes but failed to report them, instead tolerating and covering them up!"