"First Elder..."
At this moment.
Tang Wei, First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect, was also hidden among the crowd, but his expression was extremely grim.
The Sixteenth Elder beside him wore an even more stony expression. His lips were pressed into a tight line as he stared fixedly at the group of women on the high platform, each taking her turn to display her Martial Soul. His brows were knitted into a deep frown.
"What do we do now?"
The Sixteenth Elder lowered his voice, speaking almost against Tang Wei's ear. "This isn't what we expected."
Tang Wei had seen it, of course.
According to their original plan, he and the Sixteenth Elder had brought Tang Yuehua along under the pretense of "attending the banquet." They would slip into the Seven Kill Sect, wait for the right moment, then send Tang Yuehua straight to Chen Fan's courtyard.
They would present Chen Fan with a fait accompli. Once the deed was done, even if Tang Yuehua was unwilling, she would have no choice but to accept the marriage.
But the problem was...
At this matchmaking assembly, every woman who wanted to participate had to publicly display her Martial Soul and Soul Power in turn!
This was completely different from what he'd imagined!
He'd thought the so-called "public matchmaking" would be nothing but a formality. The truly influential forces would naturally arrange introductions in private.
But what was happening now was clearly a fair competition before the public, with participation entirely voluntary.
Tang Yuehua stood not far behind him and the Sixteenth Elder, dressed in a moon-white gown, her arms folded across her chest and impatience written all over her face.
She'd only wanted to go down the mountain and have fun in the city, not stand around at the Seven Kill Sect's mountain compound watching this boring spectacle.
...We miscalculated a little.
Tang Wei glanced back at her.
Tang Yuehua had her head turned to the side, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains. She wasn't even looking toward the high platform.
"First Elder, this..."
The Sixteenth Elder followed his gaze and glanced at Tang Yuehua too, looking just as helpless. "What do we do?"
He was certain that if Tang Yuehua went up there, she would make a scene. In the end, it would be the Clear Sky Sect that lost face.
Tang Wei fell silent for a moment and was just about to say something when his gaze suddenly paused. "Hm?"
Tang Wei wasn't the only one.
Chen Xin also seemed to sense something, and turned his gaze in that direction.
Three figures flashed rapidly toward the mountain gate. They soon landed, revealing themselves.
"That's—"
Someone in the crowd recognized them first. His voice suddenly rose, brimming with disbelief. "The Pope of Spirit Hall?!"
"Qian Xunji! It's Qian Xunji, the Pope of Spirit Hall!"
"What's going on today?! First Qian Daoliu, then Qian Xunji. Are they about to start a war?"
The cries spread outward like stones dropped into a still lake. Everyone instinctively lifted their heads to watch the figures land steadily in the clearing outside the mountain gate.
The man at the front wore a bright yellow robe. His face was imposing, and a faint smile played at the corner of his mouth. He seemed to be in a rather good mood. He was none other than Qian Xunji, the current Pope of Spirit Hall.
The two men behind him were Demon Bear Douluo and Ghost Leopard Douluo!
Three Titled Douluos in all!
The sight left everyone stunned, their gazes full of alarm.
Ignoring the suspicious, uncertain looks from the many Soul Masters, Qian Xunji straightened his sleeves and smiled at Chen Fan on the high platform. "Sect Master Chen, I came uninvited. I hope you'll forgive me!"
"Your Holiness, we should have welcomed you properly."
Chen Fan rose and cupped his hands slightly, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. "May I ask what brings you here?"
His question was courteous, but the tension below the platform had tightened even further.
The Soul Masters present held their breath, their gazes darting between Chen Fan and Qian Xunji, afraid of missing a single moment.
After all!
First, Qian Daoliu, the former Adjudicator Elder of Spirit Hall, had appeared. And now the current Pope of Spirit Hall had arrived in person.
What's more!
The Pope had brought two Titled Douluos with him!
However you looked at it, this visitor seemed to have come with ill intent.
Chen Xin silently stepped forward, Soul Power surging within him. The eighteen elders of the Seven Kill Sect likewise remained on high alert.
They were ready to respond at any moment!
"Sect Master Chen, there's no need to be nervous!"
Seeing this, Qian Xunji waved a hand, his smile unchanged. "I haven't come here today to cause a scene."
"The Seven Kill Sect and Spirit Hall are connected by marriage, and today is your sect's joyous occasion. As the former superior of Bishop Ling Yuan, I naturally ought to come and offer my congratulations."
As he spoke, he gestured. Demon Bear Douluo stepped forward and reached into a Storage Soul Tool. He drew out a fine box, clearly worth a great deal. "I see that Sect Master Chen is already a forty-ninth-rank Soul Ancestor and will soon break through to become a Soul King."
"Inside this box is a Left Arm Soul Bone from a fifty-thousand-year-old Saber-Toothed Tiger. I offer it as a generous gift!"
His words stirred a low commotion below the platform.
The Pope of Spirit Hall had come in person to offer a gift—and it was a fifty-thousand-year-old Soul Bone!
Not everyone could command such respect!
The powerful figures who had been waiting and watching now wore a range of expressions, their eyes filled with disbelief.
"Your Holiness is most thoughtful!"
Chen Fan couldn't quite figure out what Qian Xunji was after.
After all.
The Pope of Spirit Hall had brought two Titled Douluo attendants all the way from Spirit City to the Seven Kill Sect, just to attend a banquet?
Somehow, that sounded strange.
But Qian Xunji had indeed made no overstep so far.
He'd accept the gift for now!
With that thought, Chen Fan didn't refuse. "Someone, prepare a seat for His Holiness!"
"Yes!"
Smiling, Qian Xunji took his seat with the two Titled Douluos. He looked around at the decorations, as if admiring the arrangement.
Chen Xin watched Qian Xunji as if facing a formidable enemy.
Clearly, Chen Xin didn't believe that Qian Xunji had traveled all this way just to attend a banquet.
Looks like we need to develop our mid-level forces quickly...
Chen Fan looked at Qian Xunji too, thinking to himself. With only my uncle, a Peerless Douluo, we're still short on people to bridge the gap.
My cousin is already at rank ninety-two, while the First Elder is only at rank eighty-eight... It'll be difficult to produce another Titled Douluo!
Perhaps after this is over, I can go to Sunset Forest and look for the medicinal garden?
Chen Fan's thoughts flickered past. Then he came back to himself and looked toward the Seven Kill Sect's First Elder, about to say something.
Rumble!
Suddenly!
A dull boom erupted from the distant mountain peak, as if something had slammed heavily into the cliff face.
Then a golden light and a silvery-white light flashed across each other before both went out at once.
Everyone's gaze was drawn toward the sound!
Chen Fan's eyes narrowed. "This is..."
"Has the winner been decided?"