Turmoil Rises Across the Continent

Spirit City, Papal Hall.

Bibi Dong sat upon the towering papal throne, one hand supporting her forehead as she reviewed the reports submitted from various regions.

The papal robes outlined her slender figure. Beneath the purple-gold crown, her features were exquisite yet dignified. Time had left no trace upon her face, but it had settled into her eyes as a sharpness unfathomably deep.

Since signing the contract with Tang Ling that day, she had remained outwardly the lofty Pope of Spirit Hall, commanding the most powerful force on Douluo Continent. Yet she knew that her life, her death, everything she possessed, was now tied to that man.

Since she could not resist, she would turn this power to her own use. She believed that as long as she followed in that man's footsteps, she could lead Spirit Hall to heights it had never before reached.

"Your Holiness." A deep voice sounded from outside the hall.

"Enter."

The doors opened, and Yue Guan, an elder of Spirit Hall known as Chrysanthemum Douluo, entered. A level ninety-five assault-type Titled Douluo, he was one of the Elder Hall's foremost combatants.

Three others followed behind him: Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, Snake Lance Douluo She Long, and Pufferfish Douluo Ci Xue.

The simultaneous appearance of four Titled Douluo meant there was something of utmost importance to report.

Yue Guan dropped to one knee, unable to conceal the excitement in his voice.

"Your Holiness, we have made preliminary attempts at cultivating the techniques you bestowed upon us. Though we have trained for only a short time, the potential of this system... far exceeds our imagination."

Bibi Dong set down the report in her hand, her gaze falling upon the four Titled Douluo.

She could sense subtle changes in their auras. It was a power apart from soul power. Though still faint, its purity of essence was beyond even that of a Titled Douluo's soul power.

"Tell me how it feels." Bibi Dong's voice remained cool.

Yue Guan raised his head, his eyes shining with irrepressible light. "This subordinate cultivates an immortal path technique. My spiritual root tested as high-grade. In just a few days, I have felt the mystery of heaven and earth spiritual energy entering my body. Soul Masters must rely on killing soul beasts to obtain soul rings, but the immortal cultivation system has no such need. As long as one has spiritual energy and a cultivation technique, one can continue breaking through."

He paused, his tone becoming more solemn. "More importantly, I can feel that this immortal path technique nourishes my martial soul as well. Given time, my strength will surely... touch the threshold of a Super Douluo."

Bibi Dong nodded faintly. Yue Guan was an old hand of Spirit Hall, beyond reproach in both loyalty and strength. His assessment represented the attitude of Spirit Hall's upper ranks toward this new system.

"Gui Mei, what about you?" Bibi Dong looked toward the other elder.

Ghost Douluo Gui Mei raised his head. His face was perpetually veiled in a faint black mist, revealing only a pair of eyes as deep and ghostly as will-o'-the-wisps.

"Reporting to Your Holiness, this subordinate cultivates a martial path technique. I do not possess the spiritual roots required by the immortal path..." His voice was hoarse and low. "But martial cultivation trains the self. It relies not on heaven and earth spiritual energy, but solely on one's own vitality and blood. After only a few days, I can already feel my physical strength growing. If I persevere, I will surely surpass my current limits in the future."

After the four Titled Douluo had each finished their reports, their eyes held varying degrees of excitement and anticipation.

Bibi Dong fell silent.

She knew full well that their excitement was not merely due to the increase in power brought by the new system. More importantly, it was because this new system had shown them an entirely new possibility.

A possibility no longer dependent on martial soul talent, no longer constrained by the age limit of soul rings.

"You did not all come here merely to tell me this, did you?" Bibi Dong's voice remained chilly as her gaze swept across their faces.

She Long's expression stiffened. He exchanged a glance with Ci Xue beside him before finally stepping forward and dropping to one knee. "Your Holiness is wise. This subordinate has recently heard that people within the Heaven Dou Empire have been privately discussing how Spirit Hall's promotion of these immortal cultivation techniques is intended to shake the foundations of the state. There are also many voices of opposition among the seven great sects. This subordinate fears that if we act too hastily..."

"Opposition?" Bibi Dong sneered, cutting him off.

She slowly rose from the papal throne, her purple-gold crown reflecting a cold gleam beneath the candlelight.

"What they oppose is the fact that commoners without talent have finally gained a path forward. What they oppose is the fact that those nobles perched high above will no longer be able to monopolize everything through martial soul bloodlines."

She slowly descended the steps beneath the papal throne. Her purple-gold papal robes trailed behind her with a faint rustling sound.

"What is the purpose of Spirit Hall's existence? Is it not to give the commoners trampled beneath the feet of nobles a chance to rise? Now that the opportunity has come, they oppose it? Let them oppose it. Once they realize that their citizens, their tenant farmers, even those collateral descendants within their own clans without inheritance rights are all beginning to turn to Spirit Hall, they will understand exactly what they are opposing."

Bibi Dong's voice was not loud, but every word seemed to carry tremendous weight, crashing into the hearts of the four Titled Douluo.

Yue Guan raised his head and looked at the lofty woman before him. Suddenly, he felt that the Pope was somehow different today. It was difficult to describe, but the resolve and sharpness radiating from her were fiercer than ever before.

Bibi Dong returned to the papal throne, her tone resuming its usual coolness. "Pass down the order. Every branch hall must compile and submit the spiritual root test results within one month. At the same time, preparations for the martial arts academies must be completed within three months. Within half a year, I want to see the first batch of students enrolled in immortal cultivation academies."

"Yes!" the four Titled Douluo answered in unison.

"There is one more matter." Bibi Dong's gaze settled on Yue Guan. "Send people to investigate the recent movements of the upper three sects, especially the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Those old foxes will not sit by and watch Spirit Hall grow stronger."

Yue Guan acknowledged the order, and the four of them withdrew in a line.

Silence returned to the grand hall.

Bibi Dong leaned back against the throne and closed her eyes. The figure of that man in azure robes surfaced uncontrollably in her mind. Tang Ling. That man of unknown origins and unfathomable strength. The man who had made her, the Pope of Spirit Hall, bow her head in submission.

"Who exactly are you?" Bibi Dong murmured softly, as though asking the air—or herself.

Heaven Dou Empire, imperial palace.

Xue Ye sat upon the dragon throne in the imperial study, a secret report spread before him. His brows were deeply furrowed, while his fingers tapped unconsciously against the tabletop, producing dull thuds.

The report's contents were simple: Spirit Hall was promoting "spiritual root testing" across the entire continent, claiming that anyone, regardless of martial soul talent, could cultivate an entirely new power system after passing the test. This system did not rely on soul rings or require the killing of soul beasts. As long as one possessed "spiritual roots," one could cultivate all the way to a realm comparable to that of a Titled Douluo.

"Absurd!" Xue Ye slammed his palm onto the table. A teacup jumped into the air, fell to the floor, and shattered into several pieces. "How can one cultivate without martial souls or soul rings? What spiritual roots could possibly exist in this world? Spirit Hall is clearly bewitching the people and using this chance to expand its influence!"

Several ministers standing in the imperial study lowered their heads, not daring to respond.

At the front stood Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He was the Heaven Dou Empire's Imperial Preceptor and its most trusted strategist. His expression was far calmer than Xue Ye's at the moment, yet his eyes held the same profound worry.

"Please calm your anger, Your Majesty." Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, his voice gentle yet weighty. "Since Spirit Hall dares to promote this system across the continent, it must have something to rely on. This old minister sent people to investigate. This system was not created by Spirit Hall, but bestowed by a mysterious expert."

"A mysterious expert?" Xue Ye sneered. "What sort of mysterious expert could make that woman Bibi Dong obey him? Since when did Spirit Hall become so obedient?"

Ning Fengzhi fell silent. This was also the part he could not understand. What kind of person was Bibi Dong? She was an ambitious tyrant who had single-handedly brought Spirit Hall to its present peak.

Would she willingly become another's pawn over some vague "immortal cultivation system"?

"There is one more matter, Your Majesty." Ning Fengzhi took a parchment scroll from his robes and presented it with both hands. "This is an introductory martial path technique from Spirit Hall that this old minister had secretly copied. I had several elders of my sect study it, and their conclusion was..."

He paused, lowering his voice.

"This technique is real."

Xue Ye's pupils abruptly contracted.

"Real? You mean... one can reach the realm of a Titled Douluo without soul rings?"

"Not merely a Titled Douluo." Ning Fengzhi's voice grew even lower. "According to rumors from within Spirit Hall, if this technique is cultivated to its deepest levels, one can surpass Titled Douluo and reach the legendary... god-level."

God-level. Those two words exploded through the imperial study like thunder.

Xue Ye's expression changed again and again.

Though his talent was not exceptional, he understood better than anyone what "god-level" represented.

It was a complete upheaval of the entire existing power system of Douluo Continent.

"Is this information... reliable?" Xue Ye's voice trembled faintly.

Ning Fengzhi nodded. "Several consecrated elders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect verified it personally. The core of this technique lies in absorbing heaven and earth spiritual energy into the body and tempering oneself, rather than relying on martial souls and soul rings. This old minister has personally tried it as well. Although it has only been a short time, the soul power within my body has indeed undergone a change unlike anything before. It feels as if my soul power itself has improved considerably."

The imperial study fell into dead silence.

Xue Ye remained silent for a long while before slowly speaking. "If this technique is real, what does Spirit Hall intend to do next? They are opening martial arts academies everywhere for free and recruiting commoner children. On the surface, they are doing good deeds, but in truth, they are digging at the empire's foundation! Before long, those commoners' children will know only Spirit Hall and not the empire!"

Ning Fengzhi did not refute him. This was precisely what worried him most. Spirit Hall's true purpose in promoting this system was far more than simply spreading cultivation. Through free martial arts academies, Spirit Hall was infiltrating the empire's grassroots in an unprecedented manner, turning commoners who had once felt only awe toward Spirit Hall into grateful and devoted followers.

Once that infiltration was complete, the empire's standing in the hearts of the common people would vanish entirely.

"What do you suggest?" Xue Ye looked at Ning Fengzhi with expectation in his eyes.

Ning Fengzhi pondered for a long time before finally speaking eight words slowly.

"Learn, divide, cooperate, restrain."

"Learn means the empire must acquire the complete techniques as well and select a group of Soul Masters loyal to the empire to cultivate them first. Spirit Hall cannot be the only one to master this system."

"Divide means winning over the forces dissatisfied with Spirit Hall's reforms. Among the seven great sects, some are wary of Spirit Hall's expansion, while others doubt the immortal cultivation system itself. These people can all become allies of the empire."

"Cooperate means that where we cannot stop them, we cooperate with Spirit Hall in certain areas. For instance, with spiritual root testing, the empire can send officials to supervise and ensure fairness and impartiality. At the very least, that will preserve the empire's influence in the eyes of the people."

"Restrain means using political, economic, diplomatic, and other means to limit Spirit Hall's excessive expansion through the immortal cultivation system. For example, laws can stipulate that graduates of martial arts academies may not directly join Spirit Hall's army, and must first serve the empire for a certain number of years."

As Xue Ye listened, his furrowed brow gradually eased. Ning Fengzhi's eight-word strategy had indeed struck at the heart of the matter.

"We shall proceed as you say." Xue Ye rose to his feet, his usual majesty returning to his expression. "Pass down the order. Starting today, all major academies throughout the empire are to establish preparatory immortal cultivation classes as well. At the same time, send people to Spirit City under the pretext of 'academic exchange' and obtain as much information about the immortal cultivation techniques as possible. I want to see exactly what Bibi Dong is planning."

Southeastern Douluo Continent, at the border of the Star Luo Empire, in a remote small town.

A boy of around eleven or twelve carried a bamboo basket on his back as he struggled up a mountain path. His name was A Niu, the son of the town blacksmith. Three years earlier, he had attended the martial soul awakening ceremony full of hope, only to awaken a universally acknowledged useless martial soul—a rusty hoe. His Innate Soul Power had been a pitiful half rank.

The Spirit Hall deacon had pronounced his fate on the spot. "At most, you'll be a Soul Scholar for the rest of your life. Forget about becoming a true Soul Master."

A Niu still remembered how the light in his father's eyes had gone out upon hearing those words. From then on, he never mentioned cultivation again. Every day, he rose before dawn and worked until night, helping his father pump the bellows and forge iron. His life was more exhausting than an ox's.

But the fire within his heart had never truly gone out.

That day, A Niu had gone into the mountains as usual to gather iron ore. When he reached the mountainside, he found a large crowd gathered beneath a great locust tree beside the path. Men and women, old and young, all craned their heads to listen to a Spirit Hall deacon in white robes.

A Niu had intended to go around them, but the crowd was too dense, so he had no choice but to stop and wait. As he waited, he heard the news that would change his life.

"This martial path technique does not depend on martial souls or talent. It does not matter whether you possess soul power. Anyone can cultivate it. As long as you are willing to endure hardship, you can develop real skill. If you cultivate it to profound heights, you can likewise become a respected expert."

A Niu froze in place. The bamboo basket slipped from his hand, and ore rolled across the ground.

"No martial soul needed... no soul power needed..." His lips trembled, as though he had heard the most unbelievable myth in the world. "Then I... I can cultivate too?"

The white-robed deacon smiled and nodded at him. "Of course you can, child. Place your hand on this crystal ball and let us test your spiritual root aptitude."

A Niu practically charged through the crowd, pressing his callused hand against the crystal ball. Pale golden mist slowly swirled within it. A moment later, a faint but steady glow lit up.

"No spiritual roots, but capable of cultivating the martial path." The white-robed deacon looked at him with a smile. "Child, you are quite fortunate. This jade slip contains the introductory martial path technique. Go back and cultivate diligently. If there is anything you do not understand, come to the Spirit Hall in town and ask anytime."

A Niu held the warm jade slip in both hands, his entire body trembling.

He remembered his father's silent, disappointed face when he had led him away from Spirit Hall three years ago. He remembered the children in town who had awakened beast martial souls riding on him and calling him a "useless blacksmith." He remembered the dreams he had imagined over and over beneath his blankets on countless nights, dreaming that he could become a Soul Master.

And now, someone from Spirit Hall was telling him that he could cultivate.

There was no need to look at his martial soul. No need to look at his Innate Soul Power. He only needed to be willing to work hard.

A Niu clenched the jade slip tightly, as though clutching a lifeline. He turned and sprinted down the mountain, shouting without pause.

"Dad! Dad! I can cultivate! I can cultivate!!!"

He ran so fast, so desperately, as if he wanted to cast behind him all the grievance, unwillingness, and despair of the past three years. Wind howled past his ears, and tears blurred his vision, but his steps grew faster and steadier.

Because he knew that from this day onward, his fate would no longer be determined by that awakening ceremony. For the first time in his life, another path lay before him.