Imperial Decree: From This Moment On, Seal Off Everything Three Hundred Li East of Heaven Dou City

Time passed.

Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City.

As the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou City was exceptionally prosperous.

The streets teemed with people and traffic, while cries of vendors rose and fell without end.

At the heart of Heaven Dou City stood a magnificent building.

It was the Spirit Hall branch in Heaven Dou City.

As Spirit Hall's branch within Heaven Dou City, the building was equally grand and imposing.

At this moment.

Two figures silently appeared before the entrance to the Spirit Hall branch.

One man and one woman.

The man wore black robes, standing tall and straight with extraordinary handsome features.

Qin Zheng!

Beside him, he held the hand of a delicate young girl.

Qian Renxue!

The two of them had simply appeared out of thin air at the entrance to the Spirit Hall branch.

None of the surrounding people noticed how they had arrived.

It was as though they had been standing there all along.

Standing before the hall entrance, Qin Zheng raised his head and glanced at the Spirit Hall branch before him, a faint ripple passing through his eyes.

Qian Renxue, meanwhile, curiously surveyed her surroundings, her little face brimming with excitement.

"Wow... so this is Heaven Dou City?"

"It's so lively!"

She murmured in amazement.

This was her first time leaving Spirit Hall and coming to a city outside.

Watching the bustling crowds on the streets, Qian Renxue's heart was filled with curiosity.

Qin Zheng smiled and rubbed her head. "Don't rush. You'll have plenty of time to look around in the future."

Qian Renxue nodded vigorously, her little face full of anticipation.

Just then.

Several soul masters dressed in Spirit Hall uniforms approached.

As they looked at Qin Zheng and Qian Renxue, a trace of confusion appeared in their eyes.

Who... were these two?

Why had they never seen them before?

And... this young man looked completely unfamiliar.

One of the soul masters stepped forward, cupped his hands toward Qin Zheng, and asked, "May I ask who you are, young sir?"

"What business do you have at our Spirit Hall branch?"

His tone was fairly polite.

After all, anyone who could appear at the entrance to the Spirit Hall branch dressed so splendidly was most likely no ordinary person.

Qin Zheng glanced at him but said nothing.

Seeing this, the soul master frowned slightly.

Why... wasn't this young man speaking?

Could he be here to cause trouble?

No...

He didn't look like he was here to cause trouble.

Besides, he even had a little girl with him.

Could it be...

A thought flashed through the soul master's mind.

Could he have brought a child here for a martial soul awakening?

That made sense.

After all, every year, quite a few people brought children to the Spirit Hall branch for martial soul awakenings.

But... didn't this young man look far too young?

Could this be the child's older brother?

The soul master thought for a moment, then asked, "Young master, are you... here to bring the child for martial soul awakening?"

"If so, please come with me to register."

His tone grew even more courteous.

Qin Zheng smiled faintly at that.

Martial soul awakening?

That kid really dared to imagine it.

He shook his head and did not answer.

Instead, he slowly spoke. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly throughout the entire Martial Soul Hall branch.

"Salas."

"Come out and see me."

The moment those words were spoken—

The nearby soul masters were stunned!

Salas?

Wasn't that the Platinum Bishop?

This youth... had actually called Bishop Salas by name?

And... he had even told Bishop Salas to come out and see him?

This... this was far too arrogant!

Bishop Salas was one of the most influential figures in all of Heaven Dou City!

Who was this youth?

How dare he speak to Bishop Salas like that?

The expressions of the soul masters changed instantly.

They looked at Qin Zheng with wariness in their eyes.

This kid... wasn't here to cause trouble, was he?

The soul masters exchanged glances, all preparing themselves for a fight.

They instinctively took a step back as their soul power began to circulate.

One of them even shouted in a deep voice.

"Who are you?!"

"How dare you address Bishop Salas by name?!"

"I think you're here looking for trouble!"

"Leave immediately! Otherwise... don't blame us for being rude!"

His tone was full of threat.

In his eyes, this youth was surely some ignorant fool who had come to cause trouble at the Martial Soul Hall branch.

They had seen plenty of people like that.

A little intimidation was all it took to make them slink away in disgrace.

However.

Qin Zheng did not pay them any attention at all.

He merely stood there quietly, waiting for Salas to come out.

Seeing this, the soul masters grew even angrier.

This kid... was actually ignoring them?

Too arrogant!

Just as the soul masters were about to make their move—

A figure suddenly rushed out from within the Martial Soul Hall branch!

He was incredibly fast!

In just a few breaths, he arrived at the entrance.

It was a white-haired old man dressed in white robes, with a golden insignia embroidered on his chest—the symbol of a Platinum Bishop.

It was none other than Salas!

The moment Salas came out, he saw Qin Zheng standing at the entrance.

When he clearly saw Qin Zheng's face, Salas's pupils suddenly contracted!

"He... he is..."

It was as if a thunderclap exploded in his mind!

Th-This face...

It was him!

That person!

Salas's body suddenly trembled!

Without the slightest hesitation, he dropped to his knees with a thud!

"Salas pays his respects to Your Excellency!"

His respectful voice, tinged with a tremor, rang out at the entrance of the Spirit Hall branch.

What?!

The several soul masters were all stunned.

Y-Your Excellency?

Bishop Salas... had actually knelt before this young man?

And... and called him Your Excellency?

H-How was that possible?!

The soul masters stared blankly at the scene before them, their minds utterly blank.

They even wondered if they had seen it wrong.

Bishop Salas was a Platinum Bishop!

Throughout the entire Heaven Dou Empire, he was a renowned figure. He represented Spirit Hall—let alone a young man, even if a Titled Douluo came in person, they could not make him kneel!

Yet now... why had he knelt before a young man?

The soul masters' hearts were filled with shock and disbelief.

Qin Zheng looked at Salas, who was kneeling on the ground, and nodded faintly.

"Get up."

"No need for such formalities."

Only then did Salas carefully rise to his feet.

He stood where he was, head lowered, respectfully awaiting Qin Zheng's orders.

Although he had not been present at the time and had not personally witnessed Qin Zheng's feats or seen his appearance.

But... he knew the portrait!

After Qin Zheng had spared Bibi Dong and the others, Qian Daoliu had immediately commissioned portraits and sent them to all of Spirit Hall's middle and upper ranks.

It was to prevent anyone from foolishly offending this ancestor and bringing about their own deaths!

As the Platinum Bishop of the Heaven Dou City branch, Salas had naturally received the portrait as well.

Moreover, he had deeply imprinted that portrait in his mind.

After all, this concerned his life!

There absolutely could not be the slightest mistake!

Therefore.

The instant Qin Zheng appeared, Salas recognized him.

This man... was that legendary ancestor!

Spirit Hall's true ruler!

Salas's heart was filled with awe and fear.

He cautiously asked, "Your Excellency, why... why have you come to Heaven Dou City?"

"Why didn't you notify us in advance? I could have arranged for people to welcome you."

Qin Zheng said indifferently, "There's no need for that trouble."

"I came here because I have something for you to do."

Salas hurriedly said respectfully, "Young Master, please give your orders!"

"Salas will certainly carry them out!"

Qin Zheng glanced at him and slowly said, "Take some men and completely seal off the area three hundred li east of Heaven Dou City."

"No one is permitted to enter or leave."

"Do you understand?"