Qian Xunji, "Sect Master Chen, I've come uninvited, I hope you'll forgive me!"

"First Elder..."

At this moment, First Elder Tang Wei of the Clear Sky Sect was hiding within the crowd, his expression exceptionally grim.

Beside him, the Sixteenth Elder's face was as dark as water, his lips pressed into a thin line. His gaze was locked onto the line of women on the high platform who were taking turns displaying their martial souls, his brows furrowed into a deep, jagged crease.

"What are we supposed to do now?"

The Sixteenth Elder lowered his voice, speaking almost directly into Tang Wei's ear. "This isn't what we anticipated."

Tang Wei had certainly noticed.

According to the original plan, he and the Sixteenth Elder had brought Tang Yuehua along under the guise of "attending a banquet" to infiltrate the Seven Kill Sect, intending to find the right moment to send her directly into Chen Fan's courtyard.

It was meant to be a fait accompli; once the deed was done, even if Tang Yuehua were unwilling, she would have no choice but to accept the marriage.

But the problem was...

This Matchmaking Assembly was actually forcing the candidates to display their martial souls and Soul Power in public, one by one!

This was completely different from what he had imagined!

He had assumed that this so-called "public matchmaking" was merely a formality, and that influential factions would naturally have their candidates introduced privately.

But the scene before him was clearly one of fair, voluntary competition in front of the entire crowd.

Tang Yuehua was standing not far behind him and the Sixteenth Elder, wearing a moon-white dress, her arms crossed, her face etched with impatience.

She only wanted to go down the mountain to play in the city, not to watch these boring proceedings at the Seven Kill Sect's headquarters.

...This was a miscalculation!

Tang Wei glanced back at her.

He saw that Tang Yuehua had tilted her head, her gaze fixed on the distant mountains, not even bothering to look toward the high platform.

"First Elder, this..."

The Sixteenth Elder followed his gaze to Tang Yuehua, looking equally helpless. "What do we do?"

He was certain that if they forced Tang Yuehua to go up there, she would likely cause a scene, and the Clear Sky Sect would be the one to lose face.

Tang Wei remained silent for a moment, just about to speak, when his gaze suddenly faltered. "Hm?"

It wasn't just Tang Wei.

At this moment, Chen Xin also seemed to sense something, his gaze shifting away.

Three figures were seen flickering rapidly toward the mountain gate, landing shortly after to reveal their forms.

"That is—"

Someone in the crowd recognized the arrivals first, their voice rising sharply with irrepressible shock. "The Pope of Martial Soul Hall?!"

"Qian Xunji! It's the Pope of Martial Soul Hall, Qian Xunji!"

"What is happening today?! First Qian Daoliu, and now Qian Xunji—is this going to lead to war?"

Exclamations rippled outward like stones cast into a calm pond. Everyone instinctively looked up, watching as those figures landed steadily on the open ground outside the gate.

The man in the lead wore a bright yellow robe, his face dignified, a faint smile playing on his lips as if he were in a good mood. It was indeed the current Pope of Martial Soul Hall, Qian Xunji.

Behind him, the two men following were none other than Demon Bear Douluo and Ghost Leopard Douluo!

Three Title Douluos in total!

This sight immediately left everyone stunned, their eyes filled with horror.

Ignoring the suspicious and uncertain gazes of the many soul masters, Qian Xunji smoothed his cuffs, looked at Chen Fan on the high platform with a smile, and said in a clear voice, "Sect Master Chen, this Seat has come uninvited; I hope you will forgive me!"

"Your Holiness the Pope has graced us with your presence; I apologize for not welcoming you sooner."

Chen Fan stood up, cupping his hands slightly, his tone neither servile nor overbearing. "I only wonder, for what purpose has Your Holiness come?"

His question was polite, but the atmosphere beneath the stage grew even tighter than before.

The soul masters present held their breath, their eyes darting between Chen Fan and Qian Xunji, terrified of missing a single moment of the drama.

After all!

First, Qian Daoliu, the former Adjudicator Elder of Martial Soul Hall, had appeared, and now the current Pope had arrived in person.

Furthermore!

This Pope had brought two Title Douluos with him!

No matter how one looked at it, this did not bode well.

Chen Xin stepped forward without a word, his Soul Power surging within him, while the other eighteen elders of the Seven Kill Sect stood equally vigilant.

They were prepared to react at any moment!

"Sect Master Chen, there is no need for tension!"

Seeing this, Qian Xunji waved his hand, his smile undiminished. "This Seat has not come to cause trouble today."

"Since the Seven Kill Sect and Martial Soul Hall are connected by marriage, and today is a joyous occasion for your sect, as the former superior of Bishop Ling Yuan, it is only natural that I come to present a congratulatory gift."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the Demon Bear Douluo behind him stepped forward. Reaching into his storage Soul Tool, he produced a box of immense value. "This Seat observes that Sect Master Chen is already a level 49 Soul Ancestor, and will soon break through to become a Soul King."

"Inside this box is a left-arm soul bone from a 50,000-year-old Saber-Toothed Tiger, presented as a generous gift!"

As these words fell, a low commotion rippled through the crowd below.

The Pope of Martial Soul Hall was personally presenting a gift, and it was a 50,000-year soul bone at that!

Such face was not something just anyone could command!

The dignitaries who had been watching from the sidelines now wore expressions of disbelief, their eyes wide with shock.

"Your Holiness the Pope is too kind!"

Chen Fan was not quite sure what Qian Xunji's intentions were.

After all, the dignified Pope of Martial Soul Hall had traveled all the way from Martial Soul City to the Seven Kill Sect with two Title Douluo-level attendants just to attend a banquet?

That sounded rather strange, didn't it?

Yet, for the moment, Qian Xunji had truly made no overstepping moves.

I'll accept it for now and see what happens!

With this thought flashing through his mind, Chen Fan did not refuse. "Someone, provide a seat for His Holiness the Pope!"

"Yes!"

Qian Xunji smiled and took his seat with the two Title Douluo, his gaze sweeping over the decorations as if he were admiring the layout.

Chen Xin, meanwhile, stared at Qian Xunji as if facing a formidable enemy.

Clearly, Chen Xin did not believe that Qian Xunji had traveled such a great distance just to attend a banquet.

It seems I must accelerate the development of our core strength...

Chen Fan also watched Qian Xunji, thinking silently to himself, With only Uncle as a Peerless Douluo, we are still lacking in successors.

My cousin is currently level 92, and the First Elder is only level 88... It is quite difficult to produce another Title Douluo!

Perhaps after this matter is settled, I can go to the Sunset Forest to search for the location of the herb garden?

As these thoughts crossed Chen Fan's mind, he regained his focus and looked toward the First Elder of the Seven Kill Sect, just about to speak, when—

BOOM!

Suddenly, a muffled explosion erupted from a distant mountain peak, as if something had slammed heavily into the cliff face.

Immediately following, a golden light and a silver-white light flashed and intertwined, only to be extinguished simultaneously.

The attention of everyone present was drawn to the sound!

Chen Fan's gaze also sharpened. "This is..."

"Has the outcome been decided?"