Chrysanthemum Douluo Reports to the Higher-Ups

When Snake Spear Douluo reached Spirit City, the first streak of gray-white had just begun to spread across the sky.

Flying was forbidden over Spirit City. This was an ironclad rule.

Even though he was a Titled Douluo, even though he carried a letter personally written by the young lady to the Grand Offering in his pocket, the rule could not be broken.

He landed outside the city gates without slowing, his entire body turning into a gray shadow.

The Hall of Offerings stood at the highest point of Spirit City.

The enormous statue of the Angel God stood silently in the morning light, six pairs of wings unfurled behind it, every feather illuminated in meticulous detail by the rising sun.

Snake Spear Douluo landed on the stone steps before the Hall of Offerings. Just as he raised a hand to knock, the doors opened from within.

The Seventh Offering stood in the doorway, clad in a dark-gold offering robe. He was broad and powerfully built, the sharp glint in his eyes concealed beneath the surface.

How keen was a Titled Douluo's perception? The moment Snake Spear Douluo stepped into Spirit City's bounds, he had already sensed that familiar aura.

"Seventh Offering."

Snake Spear Douluo cupped his fists in salute, withdrew the letter from his robes, and presented it with both hands.

"A personal letter from the young lady, for the Grand Offering's eyes only."

The Seventh Offering accepted it and nodded.

"I will deliver it at once."

Snake Spear Douluo said no more. He cupped his fists again, then turned and left.

He had an old residence of his own in Spirit City. Though he had not lived there for many years, it had always been maintained.

The young lady's instructions had been carried out. All he needed to do was wait in the city for a reply.

What he did not know was that from the instant he entered Spirit City's gates, he had fallen under someone else's watchful eye.

Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yue Guan, had risen unusually early that day.

Before dawn, he had been in the courtyard tending to several newly cultivated exotic flowers. The instant his fingertips touched a bloom with deep-blue petals, his movement halted.

The aura of a Titled Douluo—and that of an acquaintance, at that—had appeared in Spirit City at such an hour, and was heading straight for the Hall of Offerings.

He straightened, his narrow eyes narrowing slightly.

That old Snake Spear should be in Heaven Dou City guarding the young lady. What is he doing back in Spirit City?

And he even went to the Hall of Offerings. Without the Pope's order, even I, Yue Guan, cannot approach that place whenever I please.

He did not follow.

Shadowing a powerhouse of the same Titled Douluo rank was not a wise move, but neither did he simply let the matter go.

He turned and headed toward the Pope's Palace.

Outside the Pope's bedchamber, the maidservant on guard saw the figure in a robe embroidered with golden chrysanthemum patterns approaching from afar and immediately straightened.

Everyone serving in the Pope's Palace knew that no matter what Chrysanthemum Douluo had come to report in person, it was never a trivial matter.

The maidservant gently pushed open the bedchamber doors and entered with softened footsteps.

Before she could draw near, a cool, calm voice came from behind the curtains deep within the chamber.

"What is it?"

Bibi Dong was already awake.

Or rather, she had never been deeply asleep.

The Pope had always slept lightly—so lightly that even footsteps drawing a little too near were enough to make her open her eyes.

The maidservant bowed, lowering her voice.

"Your Holiness Chrysanthemum Douluo has a matter to report."

A soft rustling came from behind the curtains, the sound of her sitting up and arranging her robes.

A moment later.

"Let him in."

By the time Chrysanthemum Douluo entered the bedchamber, Bibi Dong was already seated in a chair by the window.

Dawn fell across her, throwing her peerlessly cold and beautiful features into sharp yet distant relief.

She was not wearing the Pope's formal regalia, only a plain white gown. Her long hair was unbound, spilling over her shoulders.

Chrysanthemum Douluo dropped to one knee and bowed. Then he recounted everything he had observed exactly as it had happened.

Snake Spear Douluo had entered the city before daybreak, headed straight for the Hall of Offerings, and handed a letter to the Seventh Offering.

After listening, Bibi Dong merely gave an "Mm."

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his head.

The Pope's expression was calm. She neither questioned him nor frowned; she did not even lift her eyelids by so much as a fraction.

He waited for a while. Once he was certain the Pope had nothing further to say, he prepared to rise and take his leave.

Just as his knee was about to leave the floor, Bibi Dong's voice rang out, still in that tone that revealed not a trace of emotion.

"That Li Hanche—how has he been with her lately...?"

Chrysanthemum Douluo naturally knew who this "her" referred to.

He carefully chose his words.

He knew that what Her Majesty the Pope was asking about was not merely the child's recent circumstances. She was asking how that "His Highness the Crown Prince," so far away in Heaven Dou City, was doing through that child.

"Salas reported that it's still the same as before. Whenever he has nothing to do, he goes to sit around at the Crown Prince's residence or trains at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

He paused, recalling another interesting piece of intelligence, and added, "But what's interesting is that the child reached Level 20 half a year ago. Yet he hasn't rushed to acquire a spirit ring—he's been suppressing his breakthrough all this time."

Bibi Dong withdrew her gaze from the window and let it settle on Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"What is his character like?"

At that question, Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression became exceedingly colorful.

The corner of his mouth twitched beneath that somewhat effeminate, smiling face.

"Uh, Your Holiness, how should I put this..."

For quite a while, he wrestled between his wording and his conscience.

To be honest, he had handled no small amount of intelligence regarding Li Hanche.

A person who could name himself "Little Brother Needs More Practice" in the Soul Arena; a person who, after being expelled, had stood at the academy gates thanking heaven and earth; a person who, at six years old, had dared to invoke his Titled Douluo master to threaten the entire school's teachers and students.

At the very moment Chrysanthemum Douluo was racking his brains for the right words.

Over at the Hall of Offerings—

Qian Daoliu stood beneath the feet of the Angel God statue, a letter pinched between his fingers.

He had carefully read every character in the elegant yet forceful handwriting.

Li Hanche, eight years old. Martial soul: Dark Nether Ice Soul Spear. A top-tier mutated weapon martial soul, ice attribute, carrying dragon's might.

Innately full spirit power. First spirit ring: 2,100 years, obtained from an Ice-Armored Dire Bear of the Far North.

Disciple of Chen Xin in the sword path. Reached Level 20 half a year ago, and had suppressed his level ever since in order to challenge for a ten-thousand-year second spirit ring.

At the end of the letter was a personal request from his granddaughter, Qian Renxue: a head spirit bone over ten thousand years old.

Qian Daoliu folded the letter and tucked it into his robes.

A head spirit bone, over ten thousand years old.

Across the entire continent, fewer than three factions could produce such a thing.

Little Xue had personally asked him for it. As her grandfather, there was no reason for him to refuse.

He stood beneath the Angel God statue for a long while before turning and walking into the secret vault deep within the temple.

Meanwhile, in a villa in Heaven Dou City, Li Hanche had just washed his face and was preparing to head downstairs from the second floor for breakfast.

He sneezed.

Strange. Who was talking about him?

On the other side, Chrysanthemum Douluo finally spoke.

"Your Holiness, that Li Hanche... how should I put this?"

He raised his head to glance at Bibi Dong's expression. Only after confirming that she showed no impatience did he continue.

"These past two years, he's specifically picked Spirit Elders at Levels 38 and 39 in the Heaven Dou Grand Soul Arena. He hasn't lost a single match."

"He doesn't challenge anyone above Level 40 either. He just stays right at that threshold, beating those Level 38 and 39 Spirit Elders until they cry bitterly for mercy."

"Later on, whenever those Spirit Elders saw that 'Little Brother Needs More Practice' was on the other side, they would rather pay the breach-of-contract fee than take the field."

"The person in charge of the Heaven Dou City Grand Soul Arena even had someone lodge a complaint, saying that if this kept up, no one would sign up for one-on-one Spirit Elder battles or death matches anymore."

"They'd go bankrupt..."