The Benefits of Spirit Hall

Heaven Dou Empire, Eastern Palace.

Xue Qinghe, whom Qian Renxue was impersonating, was troubled by the memorials submitted from the imperial court. Just as she rubbed her temples, a knock sounded at the door. "Young Mistress, an urgent secret letter."

Qian Renxue frowned. Not daring to delay, she set down her pen and hurriedly said, "Come in."

She Long handed Qian Renxue a secret letter.

Qian Renxue took the letter from She Long and opened it. When she saw that Wang Chen, who had not even possessed a soul ring more than half a year ago, had broken through to Rank 40 in just half a year—and that his first ring was a thousand-year soul ring while his second was a ten-thousand-year soul ring—her pupils suddenly contracted.

She herself possessed a fragment of divine armor: the head soul bone of the Angel God Armor.

Her ancestor had been the Angel God, yet even she could not accomplish this. Wang Chen, however, had done it.

What did that mean?

It meant that a god stood behind Wang Chen—and that god trusted him immensely.

Qian Renxue shot to her feet and said in a deep voice, "Have someone replace me immediately. I'm going to see Wang Chen."

Sunset Forest. Wang Chen was still absorbing the Golden Crocodile soul ring.

Qian Renxue had already arrived beside Porcupinefish Douluo. She had changed out of her Xue Qinghe identity and returned to the appearance she had worn when she first met Wang Chen—her true face.

After an unknown amount of time, Wang Chen slowly opened his eyes. Through the soul beasts under his control, he learned that no one had disturbed him.

Wang Chen said to himself, "No one has ever obtained their fourth ring faster than me, right?"

At the same time, Wang Chen sensed that the soul power in both of his dantians had reached Rank 43.

Then, Wang Chen summoned his Alchemy Furnace Martial Soul.

The furnace was now completely different from before.

It had turned a pure golden color, with the bronze entirely replaced.

Moreover, the furnace had become much stronger.

Wang Chen was certain that while his Alchemy Furnace Martial Soul still could not compare to a top-tier martial soul like the Clear Sky Hammer, it could definitely rival martial souls one tier below the very best.

"Little Brother Wang Chen, congratulations on breaking through to Rank 40."

Just as Wang Chen was immersed in his joy, Qian Renxue's voice came from the distance.

She Long and Porcupinefish, the two titled Douluo, stood beside Qian Renxue.

Wang Chen's pupils narrowed slightly. "So it's Sister Qianxue. What a coincidence!"

Qian Renxue gave a playful smile. "Not a coincidence. I came specifically to find you."

Wang Chen asked in confusion, "May I ask what Sister Qianxue wants with me?"

Qian Renxue said, "Little Brother Wang Chen, have you joined any clan, sect, or other faction?"

Wang Chen shook his head. "No."

Qian Renxue's eyes brightened. "Then is there any faction you wish to join?"

Wang Chen pondered for a moment before saying, "If there is a faction I want to join, Spirit Hall counts as half of one."

Hearing that he wanted to join Spirit Hall, Qian Renxue felt a brief surge of delight. But when she heard that it only counted as half, she became confused and asked, "Why only half?"

Wang Chen laid his cards on the table. "I can see the sacred aura carried by your martial soul, and I can also sense the aura belonging only to gods that comes from your head soul bone.

"If I'm not mistaken, your head soul bone is a fragment of divine armor, isn't it?"

Qian Renxue, She Long, and Porcupinefish all stopped breathing for a moment, their hearts churning with shock.

She Long and Porcupinefish exchanged a glance, growing wary of Wang Chen.

However, none of the three attacked, because a god stood behind Wang Chen.

Wang Chen said, "No need to be nervous. As you can see, my soul rings are purple, black, black, and black. My first ring is a thousand-year soul ring, and my second is a ten-thousand-year soul ring.

"On the Douluo Continent, aside from those cultivating a second martial soul, who else could achieve such a thing?"

Qian Renxue, She Long, and Porcupinefish answered in unison, "Gods!"

Wang Chen nodded. "That's right. A god stands behind me."

He continued, "Since you already know that my second soul ring is a ten-thousand-year soul ring, you should be able to guess that I absorbed a head soul bone—and one of considerable age at that.

"Otherwise, I could not have withstood the spiritual shock left behind by a soul beast's death while absorbing a ten-thousand-year soul ring as my second ring."

Wang Chen pointed to his forehead. "That's right. The head soul bone I absorbed is a fragment of divine armor.

"That is also why I can sense the sacred aura and divine armor aura on you."

"As far as I know, the only force on the entire Douluo Continent with a clearly documented sacred aura like yours is Spirit Hall.

"Your martial soul must be Spirit Hall's Angel Martial Soul."

Of course, Wang Chen knew quite a bit about gods. There was the Sea God of Sea God Island, the Shura God and Rakshasa God of Slaughter City, the suspected Ice God in the northern world of ice and snow, and a suspected evil god inheritance within the Star Dou Great Forest.

There were also gods in the Divine Realm, such as the Goddess of Life, the Goddess of Kindness, and the God King of Evil.

But none of those gods possessed the sacred, radiant, and majestic aura Wang Chen sensed.

It took a long while for Qian Renxue's heart to calm down.

Since Wang Chen had already made things clear and pointed out her identity, there was no point in continuing to hide it.

"Buzz~"

A phantom of a Six-Winged Angel appeared behind Qian Renxue. This was her martial soul.

Qian Renxue said, "That's right, my martial soul is the Angel Martial Soul. I did indeed absorb a fragment of the Angel God Armor—the Angel God Armor's head soul bone.

"Let me formally introduce myself. My name is Qian Renxue."

After saying that, Qian Renxue withdrew her Angel Martial Soul.

Wang Chen also withdrew his Alchemy Furnace Martial Soul. "Wang Chen, inheritor of the Dream God!"

In any case, the Dream God was already dead, and the Dream God's divine core was in his hands. There was nothing wrong with calling himself the Dream God's inheritor.

Qian Renxue asked, "Just now, you said that among the forces you favored and wished to join, Spirit Hall counted as half. Why only half?"

Wang Chen explained, "First, let me explain why I favor Spirit Hall.

"On Douluo Continent, whether one is royalty or nobility, or an ordinary commoner, whether their family has soul masters or not, Spirit Hall treats everyone equally and fairly, giving everyone the opportunity to awaken a martial soul. Only Spirit Hall has achieved this.

"And I was born into an ordinary farming family. Neither of my parents possessed soul power or were soul masters. It was also thanks to Spirit Hall's soul masters providing free martial soul awakenings that I was able to awaken my martial soul.

"This is a kindness Spirit Hall showed me. Of course I have a favorable impression of Spirit Hall."

Wang Chen truly could not do what Tang San did—awakening his martial soul with Spirit Hall's help, then turning around and calling Spirit Hall an evil force.

That twisted worldview, as if the entire world owed him something, really annoyed Wang Chen.

"Second, after breaking through Rank Ten and becoming a soul master, one can receive the Golden Soul Coin allowance distributed by Spirit Hall, which can be used to support one's family and improve their living conditions.

"Although I never received it myself, the fact that Spirit Hall can do this much for ordinary soul masters is already quite commendable.

"That is another reason I favor them."

Tang San had accepted that benefit too. He took Spirit Hall's allowance, then turned around and spoke ill of Spirit Hall.

Did he not stop to think that if Spirit Hall was truly so terrible, then wasn't he, someone who profited from it, one of the culprits as well?

Wouldn't that mean he was condemning himself too?

As for claiming that Spirit Hall's allowance came from the two great empires, so Spirit Hall deserved no credit—

Wasn't that utter nonsense?

Without Spirit Hall putting in the effort, would the two great empires pay up?

If the two great empires were truly so kindhearted, why did they not open their own channels and distribute money to every soul master themselves?

What, was it impossible for them to copy Spirit Hall's approach and give money to soul masters?

Or did they simply not want to?

"Third, Spirit Hall established soul master academies, allowing ordinary people without a soul master inheritance to receive professional soul master education. That is an immense kindness to ordinary people.

"I too received an education at a soul master academy, and I also benefited from the work-study student welfare policy introduced by Spirit Hall.

"Naturally, I am grateful. Naturally, I favor Spirit Hall."

This was much like the compulsory education he had received in his previous life. Running it required an enormous amount of money.

And he himself was a beneficiary. He would not be as shameless as some hypocritical dog who profited from something, only to immediately turn around and call it evil and deserving of destruction.

"Fourth, Spirit Hall takes in weak and ordinary soul masters, providing them with paths for advancement and channels through which weaker soul masters can improve.

"That is also one reason I favor Spirit Hall."

This concerned the fairness of upward mobility, and its importance was evident throughout the history of his previous life.

Before the imperial examination system, powerful clans monopolized the paths of advancement. The high ranks had no commoners, and the low ranks had no noble clans; social classes were rigidly fixed.

The whole society was a powder keg, ready to explode at the slightest spark.

Forces like Spirit Hall, which recruited commoner soul masters and gave them channels for advancement, served much the same purpose as the imperial examination system.

"Fifth, Spirit Hall campaigns everywhere against fallen soul masters, removing harm from society and maintaining social stability. This is another point I greatly admire."

At this point, Wang Chen felt that Tang San was truly shameless. It was one thing for him to defeat Spirit Hall and replace it.

But he did not preserve any of those policies that benefited ordinary people. He cut them all away, and as a result, ten thousand years later, evil soul masters were everywhere, committing evil across the land—burning, killing, and plundering.

Was that something a normal person could do?

"Sixth, Spirit Hall is tolerant of all kinds of martial soul possessors. It judges good and evil solely by one's actions."

This was far better than those idiots during the second Douluo era, who simply judged whether someone was good or bad based on whether their martial soul's power was good or evil.

If people were truly judged by the good or evil nature of their martial soul power, then Tang San would absolutely be the greatest evil soul master.

Moreover, the abundance of evil soul masters in the second Douluo era was also related to him destroying Slaughter City.

The terrible state of Douluo Continent during the second Douluo era was entirely Tang San's handiwork.

"Seventh, Spirit Hall maintains soul beast forests for soul masters to hunt in and obtain soul rings.

"They also help suppress soul beast attacks. These are all points I approve of."

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up. She had not expected Wang Chen to hold Spirit Hall in such high regard.

In the past, neither she nor anyone else had noticed these things. They had always assumed that this was simply what Spirit Hall ought to do.

They had never considered how great an impact these actions had on ordinary people and ordinary soul masters.

Qian Renxue could not help but smile.

Then Qian Renxue asked, "Then what do you think Spirit Hall does poorly?"

Wang Chen thought for a moment before speaking. "First, some people within Spirit Hall line their own pockets. Under Spirit Hall's banner, they enrich themselves, pursue personal gain, oppress the common people, and prey upon the local populace.

Yet Spirit Hall has no permanent institution to supervise such people, nor does it have a corresponding permanent institution to purge them.

This will severely damage Spirit Hall's reputation, chill the hearts of the people, destabilize public sentiment, and make ordinary citizens believe that Spirit Hall is evil."

While agreeing with Wang Chen's words, Qian Renxue was also filled with anger. "Do you know who has been lining their pockets and preying on the people?

I will bring them to justice!"

Wang Chen thought for a moment. He did not know many, but one person came to mind: Miles, the bishop of Gengxin City.

This man withheld and intercepted cultivation allowances, herbs, and mineral procurement funds that Spirit Hall had distributed to low-ranking soul masters, swallowing it all for himself.

He also used the branch hall's public authority to suppress the Blacksmith Association, forcing local blacksmiths to hand over exorbitant tribute payments.

None of that money entered Spirit Hall's public accounts. He kept it all for himself.

Spirit Hall bore the infamy, while he took the benefits.

He had also embezzled Spirit Hall's special procurement funds, wildly bidding on treasures at the city auction house before later reimbursing himself under the name of branch hall business expenses, siphoning off public funds.

He even privately appropriated the rare metals and forging materials stored by Spirit Hall, reselling them for gold soul coins and lining his own pockets.

What angered Wang Chen most was that the man used his status as a bishop to seize civilian women by force and oppress commoners, treating Spirit Hall's branch hall as his own private residence for amassing wealth and indulging himself.

Recalling the evil deeds of Miles, the bishop of Gengxin City, Wang Chen said, "Of those I know of, the one I can confirm is Miles, bishop of Gengxin City. It could be said that there is no evil he has not committed.

He has withheld aid meant for low-ranking soul masters, robbed people in Gengxin City's blacksmithing industry in Spirit Hall's name, forcibly taken civilian women, and more."

Hearing Wang Chen's words, Qian Renxue was furious as well. She had not expected a city bishop to actually do things that undermined Spirit Hall's very foundation.

Qian Renxue looked at She Long and said, "Uncle She, send word to Grandfather. Deal with these parasites."

Wang Chen shook his head. "Simply dealing with Miles, the bishop of Gengxin City, will be useless. Spirit Hall needs to establish a system that regularly assesses whether bishops in each region are corrupt, break the law, and line their own pockets. Only then can the root of the problem be addressed."

Qian Renxue's eyes lit up at this. "Uncle She, write it down. Make sure Spirit Hall establishes such a system."

She Long bowed. "As you command."

Qian Renxue looked at Wang Chen. "Is there anything else about Spirit Hall that dissatisfies you? Say it."

Qian Renxue now felt that the things Wang Chen disliked about Spirit Hall were all problems that currently existed within it, flaws that needed changing. He was doing it for Spirit Hall's good, not hating it without reason.

Wang Chen continued, "Spirit Hall is deeply divided internally. This severe internal strife and standoff could lead Spirit Hall to destruction."

Wang Chen was not exaggerating on this point. Bibi Dong truly wanted to destroy Spirit Hall.

To resolve this problem, they either had to kill Bibi Dong or untie the knot in her heart.

Bibi Dong's strength was already among the greatest on Douluo Continent. Even Golden Crocodile Douluo might not be her match.

As for Qian Daoliu, he might be able to kill Bibi Dong.

However, that was only if the Rakshasa God did not intervene.

If the Rakshasa God hated Spirit Hall and interfered with it, then even if Qian Daoliu could wield the Angel God's power, he still would not be able to kill Bibi Dong.

Instead, he might even be killed by Bibi Dong.

As for untangling the knot in Bibi Dong's heart, that would be exceptionally difficult as well.