"They're just bullying Old Kong because he's a cultured man." Seeking recommendations, seeking collections

Though the voice was soft and feminine, it rang clearly beside everyone's ears.

For a moment, everyone in the hall turned toward the source of the voice.

They saw an enchanting man slowly descending the stairs. His skin was smooth and delicate, and he wore a luxurious formal outfit adorned with gold and silver patterns. His features were somewhat androgynous, and he appeared to be only a little over thirty.

"Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan?"

Chen Xin's expression darkened slightly as he looked at the man descending from the second floor.

Ye Ling and Du Busi, on the other hand, showed no particular reaction.

Ever since Ye Ling learned that Kong Deming had removed one of Salas's arms, the Platinum Archpriest of Spirit Hall in Heaven Dou City, he had known Spirit Hall would not let the matter rest.

He had even guessed the identity of the visitor with near certainty.

Besides Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, Ghost Douluo Gui Mei was likely lurking nearby as well.

After all, in the Original Work, Ju and Gui Douluo had always acted together.

Moreover, to intimidate a Titled Douluo like Kong Deming, who possessed a 100,000-Year Ninth Ring, Chrysanthemum Douluo alone was nowhere near enough.

"Your Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo, this is the Grand Auction House of Heaven Dou City, not Spirit Hall in Spirit City. Is it not somewhat inappropriate for you to greet our auction house's guests in such a manner?"

Xu Yunchang stepped out from the crowd. Only after bowing to Yue Guan did he speak neither humbly nor arrogantly.

He was an in-law of the Heaven Dou Empire's Royal Family, so he naturally stood in opposition to Spirit Hall.

With Ye Ling and Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect backing him now, he was not particularly afraid of Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"So what if this is Heaven Dou City? So what if this is the Grand Auction House?"

Yue Guan sneered disdainfully.

"I am here on behalf of His Holiness the Pope of Spirit Hall to question Mending Heaven Pavilion. Why did you injure Spirit Hall's Platinum Archpriest?"

The moment those words fell, even an old fox like Xu Yunchang changed expression slightly.

This meant that Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan was not making trouble in his capacity as a Titled Douluo.

He was representing Spirit Hall—representing the Pope—to question a certain faction.

In the Soul Master World, this was already considered an extremely severe measure.

After all, regardless of the underhanded conflicts behind the scenes, Spirit Hall remained the leader of the continent's soul masters in public.

Even the Upper Three Sects, which were at odds with Spirit Hall, had no choice but to acknowledge that status through gritted teeth.

"Your Excellency Chrysanthemum Douluo, we saw what happened that day clearly. Salas was the one who acted rudely first."

Seeing that no one in the hall spoke, Ning Fengzhi could only step forward and offer a few words in defense of the absent Kong Deming.

"A Titled Douluo cannot be lightly insulted. Salas falsely accused Your Excellency Silver Moon's residence of harboring an Evil Soul Master, which was why Your Excellency Silver Moon took action to punish him."

"Hmph!"

Yue Guan snorted coldly. Before he could speak, Salas, who had been hiding off to the side, jumped out.

"Spirit Hall is charged with purging Evil Soul Masters from the world. Someone in Heaven Dou City has been draining the life force of plants—this is clearly an Evil Soul Master's ability."

"As Spirit Hall's Platinum Archpriest, it is also one of my duties to investigate and eliminate all Evil Soul Masters!"

Ning Fengzhi was left speechless by those words.

As far as he was concerned, Kong Deming had indeed acted somewhat impulsively when he severed Salas's arm that day.

"Sect Master Ning, do you understand now?"

Yue Guan glanced at Ning Fengzhi.

"This matter had nothing to do with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in the first place. I ask that Sect Master Ning refrain from meddling any further."

Ning Fengzhi choked slightly, but he had no choice but to retreat to Sword Douluo's side.

He had spoken up for Mending Heaven Pavilion merely to earn its goodwill, making it easier to pursue cooperation involving Soul Tools in the future.

That did not mean he would forcibly stand up for Mending Heaven Pavilion and draw Spirit Hall's enmity onto himself.

"Mending Heaven Pavilion, what do you have to say?"

Once the hall had quieted down, Yue Guan's gaze finally fell upon Ye Ling and Du Busi.

First Xu Yunchang, then Ning Fengzhi had stepped forward on Mending Heaven Pavilion's behalf, respectively representing the Royal Family and the Upper Three Sects.

Yet these two people from Mending Heaven Pavilion had remained silent throughout, watching everything unfold before them with evident interest.

"Old Poison, he's asking what we at Mending Heaven Pavilion have to say."

Ye Ling nudged Du Busi with his elbow.

"Although Elder Kong was the one who did it, he didn't come today. How about you trouble yourself and answer them on Elder Kong's behalf?"

Yue Guan's expression darkened somewhat. Questioning someone on behalf of the Pope was supposed to be an exceedingly serious matter, yet these two were treating it so frivolously.

"I'm not doing the job of cleaning up Old Kong's mess."

Du Busi folded his arms across his chest, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

"I'd say they're just bullying Old Kong because he's an educated man. Wouldn't there have been far less trouble if he'd simply killed them all back then?"

At this point, he even glanced at Salas, who had just jumped out.

"Wouldn't it have been enough to just kill some Platinum Bishop at the Soul Douluo level? Why give him the chance to stir up trouble here?"

This time, aside from Yue Guan, even Ning Fengzhi and the others frowned.

Because Du Busi's words were simply too arrogant.

Across the entire continent, there were only a little over twenty Titled Douluo in total. Among the Lower Four Sects, only the Holy Dragon Sect possessed a Titled Douluo.

A Soul Douluo's strength and status ranked only below those twenty-odd Titled Douluo. They could be considered among the continent's foremost figures.

Yet from the mouth of this man, whose origins, identity, and even strength were all unknown, Soul Douluo sounded like nothing more than soft persimmons for him to squeeze as he pleased.

"What Spirit Hall this, Spirit Hall that—does a Level 94 Titled Douluo really think he's such a big deal?"

Du Busi sneered.

Ye Ling rubbed his brow. That fellow Du Busi was truly too good at making enemies.

Although the Mending Heaven Pavilion and Spirit Hall were destined to be on opposing paths, he had not intended to target Spirit Hall so directly from the start.

"Outrageous! How dare you show such contempt for Spirit Hall in public!"

Yue Guan roared. Nine spirit rings—yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—appeared beneath his feet.

The pressure of a Titled Douluo instantly made everyone in the hall feel as though they could barely breathe.

"Old Poison, watch your restraint. He is a Titled Douluo, after all. If you really beat him to death, it won't look good for anyone."

Watching Yue Guan reveal his nine spirit rings, Ye Ling raised a brow and turned to remind Du Busi.

"I'll have to be careful, then. But if I really beat him to death by accident, you can't blame me."

Du Busi shrugged, then stepped forward.

Nine spirit rings appeared around Du Busi in sequence: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, red, red, red.

Three 100,000-Year Spirit Rings. Level 98 peak Soul Power erupted from Du Busi in an instant, making even the auction hall tremble violently.

"Th-three... three 100,000-Year... Spirit Rings?"

Yue Guan's body trembled slightly, his teeth chattering. Suppressed by the pressure emanating from Du Busi, he could not move at all.

He was even somewhat dazed, feeling as if he were dreaming.

Such an absurd spirit ring configuration as three 100,000-Year Spirit Rings—aside from His Holiness the Pope with Twin Martial Souls, not even Spirit Hall's Grand Enshrined could match it.