Ye Han and Demon Subduing Douluo returned to the Worship Hall without a sound.
Aside from the few worshippers, they alerted no one.
At that moment, inside the Worship Hall.
Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile Douluo, and the other worshippers all stared at the Sky-Piercing Spear in Ye Han's hand, their eyes filled with shock.
The silver spear was slender, its texture like jade, with faint streams of light flowing within.
The spearhead took up nearly a third of the entire weapon. Its edges were as thin as cicada wings, its sharpness concealed.
Near the middle of the shaft, the two ancient seal-script characters for "Sky-Piercing" seemed to meld perfectly with the spear itself, as though they had been inscribed upon it from the moment of its birth.
"What an extraordinary Sky-Piercing Spear! I have lived for over a hundred years, yet I have never seen such a Martial Soul. I have not even heard of one."
Golden Crocodile Douluo could not help sighing in admiration.
Qianjun Douluo added,
"The quality of this Sky-Piercing Spear is no worse than Demon Subduing's and my Coiling Dragon Staff."
The worshippers had all heard of Ye Han's remarkable performance at the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena.
Ye Han had fought one against two and, without releasing any Spirit Rings, defeated both the world's foremost beast Martial Soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, and the world's foremost weapon Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer.
He had even drawn Tang Hao into personally seeking revenge afterward.
Light Feather Douluo looked at Qian Daoliu and asked,
"Big Brother, the Clear Sky Sect broke its promise. They declared they would seal their sect, yet one of their disciples has appeared, and he even possesses Twin Martial Souls. This will surely cause a major stir in the Soul Master world. Are we really just going to stand by and do nothing?"
Qian Daoliu fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Tang Hao was expelled from the Clear Sky Sect long ago. That child possesses both Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer as Twin Martial Souls. He clearly inherited Tang Hao's Martial Soul and that Blue Silver Emperor's Martial Soul, so he can hardly be considered a member of the Clear Sky Sect. Since they have already fled in defeat, they will likely hide themselves away. There is no need to waste time searching for them."
The group exchanged looks and said nothing more.
Qian Daoliu turned to Ye Han with a smile.
"Xiao Han, you and Demon Subduing joined forces to eliminate the Wolf Bandits, allowing the people living along the border between the two great empires to stop living in fear. The common people are also deeply grateful that Spirit Hall did this. You have only been in Spirit Hall for a few months, yet you have already rendered considerable merit. Your grandfathers and I are all very pleased."
"Grandpa Qian, you flatter me. Since I am a member of Spirit Hall, I should defend Spirit Hall's honor and do everything within my ability to protect the common people."
"Very well said. The greater one's ability, the greater one's responsibility. I hope that as you grow stronger, you will still remain true to your original intentions."
"I will."
The worshippers looked at Ye Han, their eyes full of anticipation.
This extraordinary youth might one day stand alongside Qian Renxue and uphold Spirit Hall's future.
Ye Han and Demon Subduing Douluo arrived at Qianjun Douluo's room.
The two told Qianjun Douluo about killing the Blue Silver King in the Blue Silver Forest and obtaining the Spirit Bone and Life Pill Pearl.
Ye Han took out the Life Pill Pearl from the Seven-Star Dragon-Pattern Belt at his waist and held it before Qianjun Douluo.
"Grandpa Qianjun, this is the Life Essence condensed from that old monster's cultivation before its death. If you refine and absorb it directly, the vast life energy contained within may help you break through your bottleneck."
Qianjun Douluo looked at the blue pearl, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes.
He knew that after Demon Subduing Douluo absorbed the Bloodthirsty Berserk Spirit Bone obtained from the Wolf Bandit leader, his vitality had grown stronger. Later, he had broken through both his Soul Power bottleneck and the first move of the Unyielding Staff Technique.
This Life Pill Pearl might truly become his opportunity to break through his bottleneck.
"Xiao Han, thank you."
"Do you still need to be so polite with me? Refine and absorb it now."
Qianjun Douluo nodded and said no more.
He accepted the blue pearl, then sat cross-legged and placed it between his palms, entering a meditative state...
The night grew deeper.
Two hours later.
Qianjun Douluo awoke.
He had already refined the Life Pill Pearl, absorbing all of its vast life energy into his body.
"Big Brother, you're awake... Huh?"
Demon Subduing Douluo examined Qianjun Douluo closely, finding it hard to believe.
"You've gotten much younger all at once! Even your skin has become smoother. You look younger than me, your little brother! Hahaha~~~"
Ye Han also studied Qianjun Douluo.
Qianjun Douluo truly looked considerably younger, and his complexion had improved as well.
"Grandpa Qianjun, how do you feel?"
"Just as you said, the vast energy contained within this pearl has indeed helped with my Soul Power breakthrough. I have remained at Level Ninety-Six for many years, yet I can now faintly sense signs of a breakthrough."
"That is wonderful! Perhaps it will not be long before you break through."
Qianjun Douluo looked at his hands, equally unable to believe it.
As that vast life energy merged into him, the vitality within his body became more active, making him seem much younger all at once.
"Big Brother, tomorrow we'll go hunt Spirit Beasts with Xiao Han. Maybe if you fight that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, you'll break through. Hahaha~~"
"Alright. Xiao Han will rest here tonight. We will set out early tomorrow morning."
Early the next morning, the three left the Worship Hall and headed for the Star Dou Great Forest.
Ye Han had returned this time for only one night.
Aside from the worshippers, no one knew.
Yu Xiaogang came to Spirit City alone.
Holding the Elder Token, he made his way unimpeded to the Papal Hall.
Within the empty grand hall, only Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang were present.
Bibi Dong sat upright upon the lofty Papal Chair, her expression blank.
Yu Xiaogang stood in the hall, a lonely figure.
After so many years, seeing her former lover again stirred some excitement in Bibi Dong's heart.
But she was now the exalted Pope, so she could only pretend to be calm and indifferent.
"Yu Xiaogang, what brings you here?"
Yu Xiaogang raised his head to look at Bibi Dong, his gaze complicated.
After all these years, Bibi Dong was still as youthful as ever, her bearing exceptional.
Having ascended to the position of Pope, she appeared even more imposing and noble.
Though she no longer possessed the innocence of her younger days, her entire being radiated a different kind of charm.
Facing his former lover, Yu Xiaogang had countless things he wanted to say, yet for a moment, he did not know where to begin.
"Speak. What exactly is it?"
Bibi Dong's cold voice jolted Yu Xiaogang out of his daze.
He hurriedly said,
"Bibi Dong, we have not seen each other in many years, yet you are still as young as you were back then."
"Is that so? But you are no longer as distinguished as you were back then. You have aged quite a bit."
"I have indeed grown old. Bibi Dong, are you... well?"
Yu Xiaogang was extremely cautious, his tone full of flattery.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang so humble, Bibi Dong's lips curved into a smug smile.
Yu Xiaogang, weren't you simply humiliating yourself?
"Thanks to you, Yu Xiaogang, I, Bibi Dong, am now the Pope of Spirit Hall, revered by countless people. What could possibly be bad about that? You, on the other hand, have become so timid and submissive. Where has your former backbone gone?"
Listening to Bibi Dong's mocking words, Yu Xiaogang felt as though his heart were being cut by knives.
Back then, they had loved each other deeply, only to part on bad terms in the end.
Yu Xiaogang had always believed that Bibi Dong despised his incompetence and had therefore abandoned him.
Later, while traveling abroad, he met Liu Erlong and gradually came to terms with that relationship.
After so many years, seeing Bibi Dong again, he could sense the hatred in her eyes.
He did not know what, exactly, he had done wrong.
Clearly, he, Yu Xiaogang, was the one who had been hurt!
But he had come to ask Bibi Dong for help this time, so he still needed to be more humble.
"Bibi Dong, I came this time to ask for something. Can we talk properly?"
"Talk properly? Yu Xiaogang, please know your place. I am no longer that foolish girl from back then. You should now address me as 'Your Holiness the Pope.'"
"Yes... Your Holiness the Pope."
Yu Xiaogang lowered his head and bowed, as humble as a dog.
For Tang San to participate smoothly in the Soul Master Tournament, to display his own talent, and to prove that he was not worthless, he was willing to lower himself, even if it meant kneeling to beg Bibi Dong.
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