Spirit City

Feimu City was built along a river valley and against the mountains. Since it lay on the southern frontier of the Balak Kingdom, it was the kingdom's most economically backward city. Prosperity was rare on its streets; most people were commoners carrying farm tools or Soul Hunters covered in dust.

Even so, a Spirit Hall still stood in Feimu City.

The three-story red-brick tower in the city center was Spirit Hall's branch hall in Feimu City.

The gilded emblem hanging from the rooftop gleamed in the sunlight. Yet compared with the Spirit Hall in neighboring Suotuo City, it was less than a third of the size, as crude as a temporary outpost.

Even so, this branch hall still had a Soul King–level Purple-robed Bishop, a Yellow-robed Deacon, and three White-robed Inspectors.

In this remote frontier city, where the strongest people were no more than Soul Elders, Spirit Hall's power remained an unshakable authority.

Just as a Twin Martial Souls genius with Innate Full Soul Power appearing in Guyan Village could make a name for himself in the future,

a brilliant young man like Huo Yuhao would be an achievement for everyone at the Feimu City branch hall, so long as he successfully joined Spirit Hall.

Especially for Zhao Chuan, the Yellow-robed Deacon responsible for awakening Huo Yuhao's Martial Soul and successfully recruiting him into Spirit Hall.

Though his cultivation limited his chances of an immediate promotion, it would still be easy for him to leave this impoverished city and take up a post in Suotuo City or an even more prosperous one.

Purple-robed Bishop Palmer would likewise have a bright future ahead of him.

Besides, he could see clearly that with talent like Huo Yuhao's, the boy was guaranteed to become a Spirit Hall elder someday.

It was a sure bet to curry favor with him now and build a relationship early.

That was why Palmer had gone to such lengths for Huo Yuhao and his mother.

He arranged for Huo Yuhao and Huo Yun'er to stay at Feilin Hotel, not far from Spirit Hall, and even booked the most luxurious suite on the top floor.

Before leaving, he also handed them a gold soul card loaded with more than enough money, telling them to spend freely and not worry about the cost until the people from Spirit City arrived.

Palmer had put everything he had into becoming an angel investor.

Unfortunately, just as his investment got underway, it was forced to come to an end.

A financial tycoon had stepped in personally and snatched up this blue-chip stock: Huo Yuhao.

On the top floor of Feilin Hotel, a waiter had just delivered breakfast and left. Before long, someone gently knocked on the door.

Huo Yuhao got up to answer it. Two people standing outside immediately came into view.

One was the familiar Purple-robed Bishop, Palmer. But now, the composure he usually wore was nowhere to be seen. He leaned forward slightly, his manner deferential.

The other was half a head shorter than Palmer and looked no more than fifteen or sixteen. His features were so delicate he resembled a porcelain doll, though he still had a touch of childishness about him.

When the youth saw Huo Yuhao, he gave a slight bow, his eyes filled with amusement.

He looked Huo Yuhao up and down, pausing on his still-unformed figure as if quite pleased with what he saw.

"So you're Huo Yuhao~" the youth said brightly, his tone as if he were teasing a child. He naturally raised a hand and cheerfully ruffled Huo Yuhao's hair, the gesture easy and familiar.

"I was sent by His Holiness the Pope to take you to Spirit City. Just call me Uncle."

Looking at the youth's left eye, sealed in ice, Huo Yuhao already knew who he was.

This was Guangling Douluo, one of the Seven Great Elders of Spirit Hall in the future.

Huo Yuhao quietly did the math. According to the timeline, this "youth" was actually forty-five or forty-six years old. Though he had yet to reach the level of a Titled Douluo, it probably wouldn't take him more than a few years.

He wasn't the only one who could call him Uncle. Even his mother, Huo Yun'er, was old enough to address him that way.

Having made up his mind, Huo Yuhao obediently called out, "Uncle."

He'd better settle on the right form of address first, before a few more words somehow knocked him down another generation.

Palmer quietly let out a breath of relief, but didn't dare say anything.

He had heard of this youth. Supposedly, he was a powerful Soul Douluo.

The fact that His Holiness the Pope had sent a Soul Douluo to fetch Huo Yuhao showed just how much he valued the boy.

What a shame. His investment had only just begun...

Guangling Douluo seemed to sense what Palmer was thinking. He turned his head halfway and gave him a look that was neither quite a smile nor quite a smirk.

"Don't worry. His Holiness the Pope will remember your contributions to Spirit Hall."

"I wouldn't dare claim any credit. I was only doing my duty," Palmer hurriedly replied with a bow, feeling even more at ease.

Palmer didn't stay long. He soon took his leave to prepare a carriage for Huo Yun'er and Huo Yuhao.

If Huo Yuhao had been traveling alone, Palmer could have taken him on the road himself.

But Huo Yun'er was there too: an ordinary woman. A carriage would be the safer choice.

Spirit City lay at the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire. It was one of the oldest and most prosperous megacities on the Douluo Continent.

Built by Spirit Hall, it belonged entirely to the organization and was not governed by either of the Two Great Empires.

"So this is... Spirit City?"

Huo Yun'er looked out of the carriage and immediately saw the magnificent yet ancient city, steeped in history.

"That's right. This is Spirit City."

Guangling Douluo sat outside, bored out of his mind.

Little Yuhao wasn't fun at all. He looked young, but acted like a little old man.

Kids were supposed to be cheerful and lively!

"Once we enter the city, I'll take Yuhao to meet His Holiness the Pope. Someone will take Madam to her lodgings."

There were some vacant houses in Spirit City. Arranging a place for Huo Yuhao and his mother would take no effort at all.

Spirit Hall had never been stingy with the Spirit Masters in its service.

They were the real angel fund, in every sense of the word.

Unfortunately, after so many generations, the father and son of the Qian Family had invested in the wrong person and accidentally lost their entire fortune.

Come to think of it, he wondered whether Bibi Dong had joined Spirit Hall by this point.

Just then, the carriage entered Spirit City and slowly made its way toward a hill behind the city.

The hill soared into the clouds and had no name of its own. But since the Pope's Palace stood there, Spirit Masters called it Pope Mountain.

Halfway up Pope Mountain stood a huge, magnificent, and luxurious palace: the Pope's Palace, the seat of Spirit Hall's power.

Guangling Douluo left Huo Yun'er with a Soul Emperor on guard, then took Huo Yuhao straight to the Pope's Palace.

Inside the Pope's Palace, a man as gentle as jade and as holy as a celestial being was handling official business.

"Your Holiness, the Twin Martial Souls genius is waiting outside to see you."

"Let him in." The man's voice was gentle, yet carried an indescribable authority.

Only when Huo Yuhao walked in did the man raise his head.

"Your Holiness the Pope!"

Huo Yuhao's manners were impeccable.

The man studied him for a while, then gave him a smile that felt like a spring breeze.