Eight Years Too Late

"[Spirit Hall], Zhang Ji, Temple Guardian Knight Corps, Martial Soul" Wuji Staff," Level 88 Battle Soul Douluo of the Power Attack System, welcome His Majesty Chen Jianjun and His Chen Xin—!"

As Zhang Ji, the vice-commander of the Temple Guardian Knight Corps, finished speaking, the welcoming party behind him immediately erupted into a tidal wave of cheers.

"Welcome, Your Chen Jianjun -jun!!!" *N

"Welcome, Your Chen Xin —!!!" *N

Faced with such a scene, Ling Yi remained calm, only smiling as he watched everything unfold before him.

Chen Jianjun and his son Chen Xin exchanged a glance, then stood still without making a sound, while subtly glancing at Ling Yi beside them to observe his expression.

However, Yang Shelly, Ah Yin, and the other three women standing behind Ling Yi and his companions all had their eyebrows raised and their beautiful eyes filled with obvious anger as they glared at the Spirit Hall members who had just stopped shouting.

Clearly, the Spirit Hall's welcoming ceremony was somewhat targeted at Ling Yi, the city lord of Lingyun City, completely ignoring him.

The four women, including Yang Shelly, glared at them angrily, but the knights of the Temple Guardian Knight Corps " simply ignored them. However, Zhang Ji, as the vice-commander, could not ignore them either.

Putting everything else aside, just considering his trip to the "Star Dou Great Forest" eight years ago, he had a pretty good relationship with the young couple Ling Yi and Yang Shelly.

His actions today were truly unethical.

Thinking of this, Zhang Ji looked at Ling Yi's calm and handsome face, a hint of apology flashing in his eyes, while his gaze also became somewhat evasive.

There was no way around it; a higher rank could crush a lower one, especially since this test was personally instructed by His Holiness the Pope. Zhang Ji had no choice but to comply, given his power and status.

Noticing Zhang Ji's emotional fluctuations, Ling Yi, contrary to his usual understanding nature, made no move to greet Zhang Ji or initiate a conversation.

Ling Yi remained motionless, as did the two Titled Douluo, Chen Jianjun and Chen Xin, and naturally, the people from Lingyun City behind them were even less likely to move.

For a moment, the vast "Spirit City" fell into an eerie silence.

An awkward atmosphere filled the air, making even Zhang Ji, whose strength had reached level 88, feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. He wanted to do something, but didn't know how to break the deadlock.

Just then, several more figures ran out from behind Zhang Ji and his welcoming party, right under the city gate of "Spirit City".

"Ah Yi!"

Before the person even arrived, their voice carried from afar. "Long time no see—!"

Upon seeing the newcomer, Ling Yi's faint smile deepened slightly as he stepped forward, "Bishop Yao Qi, it's been a long time indeed. How have you been?"

Yao Qi bypassed Zhang Ji and the others, casting a helpless glance at Zhang Ji before quickly approaching Ling Yi and laughing loudly, "I'm fine, I'm fine! It's just been a while since I've gotten together with you, Ah Yi. I've been hearing so much about you lately!"

"Hey!" Ling Yi chuckled and shook his head, saying modestly, "It's all just empty fame. I'm just a lowly Healing System Soul Master. To be honest, I'm quite ashamed of myself—"

As he spoke, Ling Yi turned his gaze to Zhang Ji beside him. "Speaking of which, Commander Zhang, it's been eight years since we last met. I suppose you've forgotten about Ling Yi, this little Healing System Soul Master— "

"Ah Yi, I..." Zhang Ji opened his mouth, but was speechless for a moment, not knowing how to respond. He could only turn his face away in shame.

Although Ling Yi still had a smile on his face and there was no resentment in his tone, he still found it difficult to face Ling Yi.

Shaking his head, Ling Yi didn't say anything more, but turned to Yao Qi and said, "Bishop Yao Qi, we've been traveling for quite a while... do you think we should wait until we enter the city and find a place to stay before we talk?"

"Oh, right! Yes, yes, yes—!" Upon hearing this, Yao Qi nodded repeatedly, turned to the side, and gestured to Ling Yi, as well as Chen Jianjun and his son Chen Xin behind Ling Yi, and Yang Shelly, Ah Yin, and others, inviting them, "Please, Your Excellencies, and everyone else, please follow us..."

Not long after, in a spacious villa somewhere in the city.

As Ling Yi saw Yao Qi out and returned to the main hall, he heard Yang Shelly say angrily, "I never expected that Zhang would be so ungrateful, actually embarrassing Brother Yi outside the city!"

"Exactly!" Liu Erlong's pretty face turned fierce as she coldly said, "They only welcome the two seniors, leaving Brother Yi out of the picture. What are they thinking?!"

"Alright~" Ling Yi walked into the main room and reassured them, "This is just a small test from the Spirit Hall. Keep a calm mind and don't let these trivial matters affect your state of mind and judgment."

"Testing you?" Upon hearing this, Yang Shelly looked at Ling Yi, who was approaching, with her beautiful eyes. "Brother Yi, are you saying that the guy surnamed Zhang is testing you?"

"It's less that Zhang Ji was testing me and more that Qian Xunji was testing the two seniors."

Ling Yi answered Yang Shelly, but his gaze fell on Chen Jianjun and his son, who were sitting upright to the side.

Chen Jianjun: "..."

Chen Xin: "???"

"Dad, what does Ah Yi mean by that?" Chen Xin asked his father with his eyes.

Chen Jianjun glanced sideways at his foolish son, offering no response but a knowing look that spoke volumes.

Around the same time, Pope's Palace.

"... Your Majesty, that's how it was." Zhang Ji bowed and lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the gleaming floor beneath his feet, and calmly described the situation at the city gate where he had greeted Ling Yi and his entourage.

After listening, Qian Xunji pondered for a moment, tapping his hand absently on the armrest of the throne, before calmly saying, "It seems that Ling Yi holds a high position in the hearts of the Chen Family father and son, and they care about him quite a bit."

Zhang Ji remained noncommittal to Qian Xunji's words, maintaining his respectful demeanor and listening silently.

Musos, standing nearby, spoke up at the opportune moment, bowing to Qian Xunji above and saying, "Your Majesty, since His Excellencies Chen Jianjun and Chen Xin are so supportive of Master Ling Master Ling, shouldn't we adjust the protocol for our hospitality towards him?"

"Hmm—" Qian Xunji lowered his eyes and glanced at Musos and Zhang Ji, but both of them had their heads down, so his eyes and expressions could not be seen. He said casually, "Then let's follow the standards of the Upper Three Sects. Two Titled Douluo are qualified—"

"Yes—!" Musos bowed in response.

Just as Musos and Zhang Ji were about to bow and take their leave, they heard a voice from above, devoid of any emotion:

"Also, make arrangements for me to meet this Master Ling."

Musos: "???"

Zhang Ji: "???"

Even after walking quite a distance from the Pope's Palace, Zhang Ji still felt dizzy. The first thing he did upon regaining his senses was turn to Musos beside him and ask, "Old Mu, what does His Majesty mean by this? Why the sudden summons of Ah Yi?"

"I don't know." Musos shook his head, his brows furrowed, clearly at a loss and without any clue.

Looking at Zhang Ji, whose face was filled with worry, Musos thought for a moment and comforted him, "Don't worry, given His Majesty's arrogance, as long as Ah Yi doesn't verbally insult him or show any disrespect, His Majesty won't personally take action against Ah Yi."

"You know Ah Yi's personality. Although he has a strong sense of pride, he is always polite in his interactions with others. Even if he has a different opinion, he communicates with others in a reasonable and evidence-based manner. Unlike you, a roughneck, you can easily blurt out 'damn it' or 'fuck it' without warning..."

"Alright, alright!" Zhang Ji's face flushed red, and he quickly waved his hand to interrupt Musos, saying irritably, "Why bring this up?! I, Old Zhang, already have enough on my mind today, and you're stabbing me in the back..."

Immediately, Zhang Ji Ji's expression turned serious. He took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, and said to Musos, "I'm going back to seclusion. I won't get involved in this matter. Please tell Ah Yi I'm sorry for me. I'll apologize to him personally after I emerge from seclusion!"

As he spoke, Zhang Ji turned and glanced at the Pope's Palace behind him, which had shrunk considerably. Disappointed, he shook his head and, without waiting for Musos's reply, turned and walked in another direction.

At this moment, in Musos's eyes, Zhang Ji's originally tall and robust figure appeared somewhat hunched.

It should be noted that even when Qian Jun and Jiang Mo broke through to the Titled Douluo realm a few years ago, Zhang Ji, who had always regarded those two brothers as his rivals, had never felt this disappointed.

Shaking his head, Musos also looked wistful as he turned and walked towards the villa where Ling Yi and the others were staying.

On the way, they happened to run into Yao Qi, who was walking in this direction. After a brief exchange, the two of them went together to find Ling Yi and convey His Holiness the Pope's intention to receive them.

A quarter of an hour later, at the Pope's Palace.

Qian Xunji sat high on the Pope throne, looking down at the figures below. His gaze first fell on Ling Yi's handsome face, which could be described as the pinnacle of human beauty, and then turned to Chen Jianjun, who stood behind Ling Yi with his hands behind his back, and "Erlang" who was wearing bright silver armor and had his face covered by a silver mask.

Not far from Ling Yi and the other two, Yao Qi and Musos both wore helpless expressions.

They both said that His Holiness the Pope wanted to see Ling Yi, but did not mention seeing Chen Jianjun, or "Erlang" together. However, Ling Yi still brought the two of them with him.

Fortunately, to the relief of Musos and his companion, His Holiness the Pope did not seem to show any dissatisfaction.

Qian Xunji didn't look at Musos and Yao Qi, but instead glanced meaningfully at Chen Jianjun and "Erlang" before turning his gaze back to Ling Yi, who looked calm and collected.

A barely perceptible hint of appreciation flashed in Qian Xunji's eyes.

Even though Chen Jianjun is a Titled Douluo, judging from the aura he senses, he seems to be no less than Level 95. Even though the silver-armored and silver-masked "Erlang" is suspected to be the successor of a certain god and has the combat power of Titled Douluo, where is this place?

This is the Pope's Palace, the Pope's Palace of ' Spirit City '!

The Elder Hall and the Worship Hall are very close to each other, and more than a dozen Titled Douluo can arrive here in an instant!

This also includes the Level 99 "Wudi in the Sky" Qian Daoliu!

Let alone Chen Jianjun and "Erlang," these two Titled Douluo, even if Tang Zhen and Yu Yuanzhen each brought their family's Titled Douluo elders here, they would inevitably feel a bit apprehensive.

However, under the Qian Xunji, a Titled Douluo- level Pope, Ling Yi remained calm throughout, showing no sign of tension whatsoever.

Either Ling Yi is an arrogant and reckless young man who thinks he can act recklessly just because he has two Titled Douluo standing behind him; or Ling Yi himself has extraordinary temperament and can remain calm and composed even when a mountain collapses in front of him.

Thinking of the information and data about Ling Yi that he had collected in the past, Qian Xunji believed it should be the second one.

"Ling Yi?"

Looking down from their vantage point, Qian Xunji leaned down while Ling Yi raised his head, their eyes gleaming with completely different lights.

"My name is Ling Yi, and I greet His Holiness the Pope."

The gentle voice echoed in the empty Pope's Palace. Ling Yi looked up, but at that moment, Qian Xunji suddenly had a strange feeling, as if he was the one standing below, while Ling Yi was looking down at him from above?!

With his eyes slightly narrowed, Qian Xunji dismissed the absurd thought that had just surfaced in his mind, looked at Ling Yi below, and continued, "If I had known you would achieve what you have today, I should have met you eight years ago."

Ling Yi smiled slightly and said loudly, "Yesterday's events are like yesterday's death; today's events are like today's birth."

"Your Majesty, eight years ago, Ling Yi never imagined he would have the opportunity to stand in this Pope's Palace today."

"Oh?" Qian Xunji selectively ignored Ling Yi's previous flowery remark and asked meaningfully, "You really don't know?"

"As far as I know, Master Ling is renowned for his ' Seven Apertures Exquisite Heart,' and his discerning eyes can see through the rise and fall of the Douluo Continent over the past fifty years..."

At this point, Qian Xunji deliberately paused, waiting for Ling Yi's response.

In response, Ling Yi smiled and said casually, "Your Majesty, with the capabilities of the Spirit Hall, you should be aware of the situation between Ling Yi and the Heaven Dou Empire."

"That was just a drunken remark at the banquet, it shouldn't be taken seriously..."

"Not to be taken seriously?" A cold smile suddenly appeared on Qian Xunji's lips. "If it can't be taken seriously, then, Master Ling, could you tell me your real plan regarding ' Blue Silver Rice '?"

"Oh?" Ling Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at Qian Xunji, whose Qian Xunji had suddenly changed, with surprise. "What makes Your Majesty say this?"

"What?" Qian Xunji's sneer vanished, replaced by his usual indifference and arrogance. "Does Master Ling think I'm a fool?"

"Eight years have passed. Even if I didn't see through your true intentions back then, do you think I still can't see through them now?"

Watching Ling Yi and Qian Xunji exchange words, Musos and Yao Qi were dumbfounded.

Heavens have mercy, in all these years at the Spirit Hall, when have they ever seen His Holiness the Pope look like this?

In addition, what are Ah Yi's plans regarding "Blue Silver Rice"?

What plan?

At that moment, the two of them felt like fools, unable to understand or comprehend anything.

"If I had known, I would have gone into seclusion with Zhang Ji ~" *2