Bibi Dong's Investigation, Joining the Golden Generation!

Spirit City was home to Spirit Hall's headquarters.

It was the most prosperous city on the entire Douluo Continent.

As a result, its administration was exceptionally strict.

Lin Yichen arrived here a week later.

He rested through most of the day and traveled at night. The power of moonlight provided him with a considerable boost after dark.

The outskirts of Spirit City still retained some everyday bustle.

What surprised Lin Yichen was that there were no wealthy merchants throwing their weight around and bullying the weak here.

Most such people were Soul Masters, and even the few ordinary people were not bullied.

Pope Hall at the city center was the most conspicuous building, its towering spire piercing the clouds.

Beneath the setting sun, the entire hall was shrouded in a faint golden glow.

It suited its sacred and imposing air perfectly.

"Stop! Anyone entering Spirit City must have their soul power and carried belongings inspected!"

Oh? Spirit City seemed quite rigorous.

Since he was on someone else's turf, he should follow their rules.

"However, I should remind you to find a crystal ball with a higher soul power capacity."

After saying that, Lin Yichen took out the Soul Master certificate issued in Nolin City from his storage ring.

"Level sixty-three? Please wait a moment, I'll go call—"

"No need."

A middle-aged man in a purple deacon's robe stepped out from behind a stone pillar nearby.

He wore a smile, as if he had already been certain of something.

"Level sixty-three. Silver hair."

He glanced again at the Soul Master certificate.

"Eighteen years old, registered in Notting City. It appears it's you."

"A letter from the Notting City Spirit Hall branch arrived a few days ago, stating that an eighteen-year-old Soul Emperor wished to join Spirit Hall. It seems that person is you."

"You should feel honored. Her Holiness the Pope has taken a great interest in you and ordered that you meet her as soon as you arrived."

Lin Yichen's heart skipped a beat.

Why was he meeting Bibi Dong so soon?

She wouldn't be able to see through his identity as a soul beast, would she?

It was time to gamble again—gamble on the heavenly treasure abilities of the Moon Palace Branch, and on whether Bibi Dong truly valued his talent.

He nodded and followed the purple-robed deacon toward Pope Hall.

The main hall of Pope Hall was even grander than it appeared from outside. Twelve massive stone pillars stood in rows along both sides, each carved with statues depicting the descent of the Angel God.

Sure enough, angels were Spirit Hall's signature martial soul, and its architecture had been modeled after their image.

A dark red carpet stretched from the entrance all the way to the foot of the raised platform, creating a solemn, chilling atmosphere.

Meanwhile, in the Pope's bedchamber.

Bibi Dong sat on her bed with her eyes closed, resting. Her purple hair draped over her shoulders, and her sleepwear hung loosely from her body. Her beautiful violet locks fell around her, accentuating large swathes of pale skin.

She was no longer young. Troubles over countless trivial matters plagued her every day, and faint lines had already appeared at the corners of her eyes.

Her brow was slightly furrowed as she pondered something.

"Nana has already obtained her fourth soul ring. I can choose an opportunity to nominate her as the Holy Maiden."

"However, that little fellow from Notting City might be more suitable. I wonder when he will arrive."

Bibi Dong combed her hair as she envisioned Spirit Hall's next steps.

Conquer the continent! Unify the continent!

Make everyone who had ever looked down on her submit at her feet.

"Reporting to Your Holiness, Lin Yichen has arrived."

The maid's voice came from outside, causing Bibi Dong to pause in surprise.

He arrived so quickly?

"Have him wait outside Pope Hall. I'll be there shortly."

After issuing the order, Bibi Dong changed back into her noble papal robes.

In an instant, her languid bearing transformed into elegant nobility.

All it took was a change of clothes for her to go from a mature beauty to the powerful Pope.

Lin Yichen stood outside Pope Hall as the sun neared the horizon.

The sky was about to be swallowed by murky gray clouds.

Boom!!!

The sound of a scepter striking the ground rang out.

"You may enter now."

The guard beside Lin Yichen reminded him.

Bibi Dong sat high above him, her eyes carrying an indescribable authority.

But who was Lin Yichen?

At once, he saw the faint exhaustion hidden beneath her majesty.

Bibi Dong had not released any soul power, yet the instant Lin Yichen entered the main hall, he felt a sacred, inviolable pressure.

Lin Yichen stopped before the steps, dropped to one knee, placed his right hand over his left chest, and performed the standard subordinate's salute.

"Lin Yichen pays his respects to Your Holiness the Pope."

Bibi Dong remained silent, but Lin Yichen did not dare raise his head to look at her. Looking at the Pope while kneeling would be a breach of etiquette.

At present, he could not afford such a mistake.

The silence lasted for more than ten seconds.

"Lin Yichen, eighteen years old, level sixty-three. Any two of those three details would be beyond reproach, but all three together are abnormal."

Bibi Dong spoke softly, but she was clearly probing Lin Yichen's attitude.

Given Bibi Dong's high position, ruthless methods, and merciless nature—

Obedient geniuses were cultivated with all her strength; rebellious geniuses were killed without exception.

That was also why the so-called Golden Generation respected her so deeply.

"With talent like this, either it was bestowed by the gods, or it conceals an unspeakable secret."

Bibi Dong rose from her throne and lightly tapped her scepter against the stone steps, producing a dull echo.

"Raise your head and look at me."

Lin Yichen slowly lifted his head. His own aura actually formed a small gravitational field around him.

For a brief moment, it pushed aside Bibi Dong's overwhelming soul power pressure.

That surprised Bibi Dong slightly.

She reached out and grasped Lin Yichen's arm, sending soul power through his pulse to probe deep within him.

Lin Yichen's expression changed drastically.

With Bibi Dong's Title Douluo-level cultivation, even with the Moon Palace Branch protecting him, his Lunar Jade Rabbit origin would be exposed if he offered no resistance.

Lin Yichen's heart pounded wildly, yet he forcibly suppressed the Lunar Jade Rabbit's instinctive reaction.

Don't resist. Don't dodge.

He made the Lunar Jade Rabbit origin curl into the tightest possible ball within the depths of his consciousness, forcefully suppressing the soul beast aura deep within his core.

Fortunately, Bibi Dong withdrew her hand at an appropriate moment.

If that pressure had continued any longer, Lin Yichen could not guarantee that he would remain undiscovered.

However, the probe had revealed another unexpected discovery to Bibi Dong.

There was actually a small vortex in this little fellow's dantian.

It contained an exceptionally abundant amount of soul power.

The center was even faintly solidified, driving the liquid soul power around it in rotation.

This discovery left Bibi Dong dumbfounded.

Because even she did not possess one.

Bibi Dong was certain that because of this small vortex, Lin Yichen's actual soul power might already have surpassed level seventy.

How could Bibi Dong have known that this small vortex was the soul core formed when Lin Yichen devoured Guanghan?

In the original work, the first Douluo story had no soul cores, only simple meridian recovery.

Lin Yichen himself still did not know the extent of his spiritual power.

But by his estimate, it was probably comparable to that of a level-seventy Soul Sage.

Bibi Dong suddenly noticed the ring on Lin Yichen's hand, and an indescribable clicking sound escaped her lips.

"A gift from your girlfriend?"

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

This was the first time Lin Yichen had seen Bibi Dong smile. Though faint, it was better than nothing.

"From now on, you are my disciple."

After saying this, Bibi Dong rose and returned to her throne.

"From now on, Nana is your senior sister. You are also formally inducted into Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. Go."

Lin Yichen lowered his head, the corners of his mouth curving ever so slightly.

He had won the gamble.