Dark Blue Silver Emperor

Bibi Dong noticed Meng Xuanji's gaze and immediately swept her queenly, aloof eyes over him. The pressure of a superior nearly made Meng Xuanji kneel on the spot.

"So strong... Is this the oppressive force of a Titled Douluo?"

Meng Xuanji felt the blood in his body boil and his heart burn. It was as if he were carrying a small mountain on his back, crushing him until he could barely breathe.

"His martial soul isn't Blue Silver Grass."

Buzz!

The next moment, a blood-red ferocious radiance from another world tore through the mist left behind by the Nine-Tailed Fox! A phantom from hell transformed into a long river of blood that clung to the end of the Blue Silver Grass, radiating overwhelming Sha Qi.

"This is...!"

Deer Man instinctively took two steps back as he watched the continuously mutating Blue Silver Grass. A powerful sense of danger surged into the Great Soul Master's heart, filling him with dread.

"This is the Dark Blue Silver Emperor," Bibi Dong said.

Rumble!

A bewitching red light clung to the stalks of the Blue Silver Grass. The originally dark-blue little grass had been dyed blood-red, endlessly releasing chilling bloodlust into the surroundings.

"My martial soul mutated."

Meng Xuanji stared blankly at the sight before him, unable to understand the principle behind it. First Hu Liena's Nine-Tailed Fox, then his own Dark Blue Silver Emperor—two martial soul mutations had occurred in such a short span of time. His instincts told him that this was no coincidence.

Bibi Dong smoothly put away the crystal ball, and that demonic killing intent vanished abruptly.

"Whew, it's finally gone. That scared me to death just now. What kind of martial soul was that? It was terrifying."

"Yeah, yeah! I felt like someone behind me was strangling my throat. I couldn't even breathe."

"Cough, well... I got so scared that I got nervous and accidentally grabbed your neck. Sorry."

The children in the Awakening Hall spoke over one another, all still unable to shake off the shock Meng Xuanji had brought them. A martial soul capable of affecting the real world was simply too terrifying.

Even Hu Liena had opened her little mouth in surprise, staring at Meng Xuanji with an incredulous expression.

"His martial soul is even stronger than mine. Who exactly is he? Could such an evil martial soul have been inherited from his parents?"

A question mark arose in Hu Liena's heart regarding Meng Xuanji's origins.

If this martial soul had truly been passed down by Meng Xuanji's parents, then he was likely descended from an evil soul master. Would it not be too dangerous to allow someone like that into the Spirit Hall?

At this moment, everyone's gaze focused on Bibi Dong. Of everyone present, perhaps only this lofty Pope could decide Meng Xuanji's fate.

Whether he lived or died rested on a single thought from Bibi Dong.

"Meng Xuanji, your martial soul will be of great help to the Spirit Hall. So, are you willing to serve me?"

The one Bibi Dong had said he would serve was not the Spirit Hall, but herself. To Meng Xuanji, it sounded like a choice that would determine life and death.

Refusing the Spirit Hall meant death. Refusing to obey Bibi Dong meant death. Only by willingly becoming her claw within the Spirit Hall would he have any chance of survival.

"Meng Xuanji swears to serve Your Holiness the Pope unto death."

Meng Xuanji dropped to one knee and gave Bibi Dong a standard knight's salute.

Seeing Meng Xuanji's respectful expression, Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction.

"Very well. Then, on behalf of the Spirit Hall, I welcome you to join us."

"What? He actually joined the Spirit Hall?! Can someone with such an evil martial soul join the Spirit Hall too? That's absurd!"

Whispers arose from some of the people in the Awakening Hall. They simply could not imagine that the Spirit Temple, represented by angel martial souls, would accept a soul master with such an evil martial soul.

"Everyone, silence."

The crystal scepter in Bibi Dong's hand struck the ground heavily, and everyone present instantly fell silent.

"The good and evil of a martial soul are not the standard by which a person should be judged. What is truly evil in this world is not the martial soul, but the humans who wield it. I believe that as long as Meng Xuanji is willing to accept the Spirit Hall's guidance and devote himself to goodness, he will surely be able to use his strength to benefit the people of the Douluo Continent and bring peace to the Spirit Hall. The Spirit Hall is willing to accept every soul master capable of bringing peace to the continent. Therefore, I believe Meng Xuanji's joining is an occasion of immense pride and honor for the Spirit Hall, because today, another gifted youth has joined us. The Spirit Hall of the future will undoubtedly become even more glorious."

Bibi Dong was indeed worthy of being Pope. Her words were impeccable, and no one present could find fault with them. Meng Xuanji's joining thus became entirely natural.

"Her Holiness the Pope makes so much sense. Indeed, we can't judge whether someone is good or evil by their martial soul. Meng Xuanji was clearly comforting me just now. He must be a good person." Hu Liena quickly accepted Bibi Dong's reasoning, and Meng Xuanji's image in her heart became even more towering.

A powerful soul master capable of bringing peace to the continent... How admirable.

Hu Liena thought to herself.

Without realizing it, the fox-demon girl had already begun to brainwash herself. Bibi Dong probably did not even believe the words she had just spoken.

"Long live Her Holiness the Pope!"

The Spirit Hall guards stood in a neat row and let out a thunderous roar.

Deer Man, who was kneeling nearby, was already drenched in sweat. He did not know whether he should stand up now. He had just made those provocative remarks, and he had no idea whether Meng Xuanji would spare him.

"Deer Man." Bibi Dong's clear voice rang out.

"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope." Fine beads of sweat formed on Deer Man's forehead. At that moment, he felt as though a blade were pressed against his neck. His neck felt itchy and cold, which was not a good sign.

"Today, you helped two children with innate full soul power awaken their martial souls. According to Spirit Hall rules, you may enter the treasury and select a soul bone with an age of twenty thousand years. However, your cultivation is currently weak, and I fear you cannot withstand the pressure of a soul bone. Therefore, I wish to purchase this soul bone for five hundred thousand gold soul coins. Are you willing?"

"Willing, willing! This subordinate is willing! Deer Man thanks Your Holiness the Pope!" Deer Man repeatedly kowtowed, banging his head against the floor with loud thuds!

Wonderful! Five hundred thousand gold soul coins! That's enough for me to live without worrying about food or clothes for the rest of my life!

Deer Man naturally knew that a ten-thousand-year soul bone was worth far more than this, but Bibi Dong was the Pope. He truly did not dare say anything more.

"And you? Meng Xuanji, what reward would you like?" Bibi Dong turned to look at Meng Xuanji, who was half a head shorter than her, a trace of indulgence appearing in her eyes.

Meng Xuanji could not help but smirk inwardly.

The opportunity has come.

"Sister Pope, he called me a toad with no parents. Everyone heard it. Can you help me teach him a lesson?"

Meng Xuanji's sweet, childish voice rang out, but to Deer Man's ears, it was unbearably piercing. This was practically a death sentence!

"You brat, you—"

"Of course I can."

Bibi Dong chuckled softly and gently stroked Meng Xuanji's head. She leaned close to his ear and said softly, "As long as you are willing to serve me for the rest of your life, I guarantee that you will receive everything you desire in the Spirit Hall from now on."