Factional Strife, Choosing a Second Martial Soul

The next morning, Ye Xunhuan was still sound asleep when a soft, lilting hum interrupted him.

Opening his eyes, he was greeted by Ling Yuan's graceful figure.

She had just awakened and was stretching lazily, her fiery figure displayed in full before him.

"Awake? Let's go. We've arrived at Martial Soul City! We'll have to walk the rest of the way to the Pope's Palace." As she spoke, Ling Yuan naturally took Ye Xunhuan's hand.

Climbing down from the carriage, Ye Xunhuan saw the incomparably grand gates of Martial Soul City.

He could not help nodding to himself. As expected of the holy land in the hearts of all soul masters, neither its crowds nor its grandeur could compare to Sky Star City. Perhaps only the capitals of the two great empires could rival it.

Ling Yuan led him to the Spirit Hall guards at the gate and presented her Elder token. Under their respectful gazes, she leisurely led him inside.

They walked along Martial Soul City's main street.

Ye Xunhuan's mood lightened considerably. He liked this lively atmosphere.

Martial Soul City's main street was broad enough for eight carriages to travel abreast. Shops and taverns stood in neat rows on either side, their banners snapping loudly in the morning wind.

The streets teemed with people, bustling with life.

There were soul masters dressed in Spirit Hall uniforms of every color, as well as merchants and travelers from across the continent. Hawking, bargaining, and laughter blended into a vibrant air of everyday life.

It was different from Golden Bear Village's tranquil isolation, and different from Sky Star City's simple orderliness.

Martial Soul City possessed a unique air of flourishing prosperity.

Ling Yuan led him unhurriedly through the crowd. Occasionally, patrolmen who recognized her would step aside to make way, and Ling Yuan would nod to them in acknowledgment.

Halfway there, Ling Yuan suddenly slapped her forehead.

"Ah!"

Her abrupt movement startled Ye Xunhuan, and he thought something had happened.

"What is it, Sister?"

"These past few days, I've been so busy traveling and relaxing that I nearly forgot something important." Ling Yuan looked annoyed. She paused, pulled Ye Xunhuan toward a relatively secluded shop by the roadside, and lowered her voice.

"I haven't told you about Spirit Hall's internal relationships yet."

Ye Xunhuan's thoughts stirred.

As a transmigrator, he naturally knew about Spirit Hall's internal power structure.

The Pope's Palace, Elder Hall, and Hall of Enshrined Elders kept one another in balance and restrained one another.

But that was the extent of his knowledge.

Ling Yuan's perspective, however, was different. She had lived in Spirit Hall for more than sixty years and was an honorary elder.

The internal details, personal relationships, and factional grudges she knew were far more extensive and meticulous than anything described in the books.

"On the surface, Spirit Hall's factional conflicts have three levels." Ling Yuan raised three fingers, laying things out clearly.

"At the highest level is the Pope's Palace. Her Holiness the Pope is Spirit Hall's supreme leader, possessing absolute decision-making power and nominally the highest authority."

"The level below that is the Hall of Enshrined Elders."

A subtle change came over Ling Yuan's tone.

"The Hall of Enshrined Elders is led by Elder Qian Daoliu, the Grand Enshrined Elder. Nominally, they honor the Pope, but in reality, they possess an extremely high degree of independence. The Hall of Enshrined Elders is filled with Super Douluo above rank ninety-five. They normally keep a low profile, but once they emerge, they are pillars capable of steadying the seas."

"Elder Qian Daoliu is a rank ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo, one of the world's three peerless Douluo, and the oldest, strongest, and most senior figure in Spirit Hall. Even Her Holiness the Pope must address him as Grand Enshrined Elder."

Ye Xunhuan nodded slightly.

A rank ninety-nine Ultimate Douluo, the Angel God's most loyal supporter, and Angel God Qian Renxue's grandfather.

"The third level is Elder Hall, Spirit Hall's center for executing authority and deliberation. It consists of Titled Douluo elders below rank ninety-five and honorary elders like me. Elder Hall is also the faction with the most severe polarization. Some elders belong to the Pope's faction, such as me. Others belong to the Enshrined Elders' faction, such as Porcupinefish Douluo."

"But that isn't important. Because the true undercurrents within Spirit Hall lie solely in the power struggle between the Pope's Palace and the Hall of Enshrined Elders."

Her voice dropped even lower.

"However, in recent years, Her Holiness the Pope's influence and authority within Spirit Hall have skyrocketed. She has drawn in Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, the right-hand men of the former Pope, Qian Xunji. Not only are they two powerful rank ninety-five elders with a martial soul fusion skill, but her direct disciple, Hu Liena, has also been named Saintess and is being trained according to the standards of a Pope."

"I just don't know why the Grand Enshrined Elder hasn't stepped in to stop her."

Ling Yuan did not know, but Ye Xunhuan understood perfectly.

That incident involving the secret chamber concerned the Angel Clan's reputation, so that old man Qian Daoliu had naturally suppressed it completely.

Other than Bibi Dong and him, who had experienced it firsthand, no third person knew about it.

Even the other six Enshrined Elders knew nothing of the matter. Only Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, who had followed the former Pope Qian Xunji, had some fragmented suspicions.

That was also why Qian Daoliu had allowed Bibi Dong's power to grow unchecked. Deep down, he felt guilty toward Bibi Dong.

Besides, his precious granddaughter had already begun her divine trials. As long as she cultivated normally, becoming the Angel God was a certainty.

By then, no matter how enormous Bibi Dong's forces became, they would not be able to stir up the slightest wave. The gap between gods and humans was even greater than the gap between humans and dogs.

"Alright, that's enough. Just keep it in mind. When we meet Her Holiness the Pope later, behave yourself." Ling Yuan clapped her hands, then pulled Ye Xunhuan away at a brisk pace.

A quarter of an hour later.

As the enormous, sacred angel statue came into view, the siblings finally arrived at the Pope's Palace.

Ye Xunhuan was still a little excited about meeting Bibi Dong.

Among Spirit Hall's three beauties, she was the representative of mature, intellectual beauty. To a virgin like Ye Xunhuan, who had never dated in either his past or present life, her allure was simply too great.

Of course, that excluded her when she possessed the Spider Empress Martial Soul.

The steps before the hall were not long, and the siblings quickly ascended them.

"Ding!" The system's mechanical female voice rang out once more.

[Detected: Host has approached the soul masters' holy land—Spirit Hall.]

[Mission: Successfully check in within Spirit Hall.]

[Reward: Choose one of three options for a second martial soul.]

[Option One: Battle of Jialing Pass—Any Titled Douluo Martial Soul ×1]

[Description: The host may choose any Titled Douluo-level combatant who participated in the Battle of Jialing Pass and obtain that person's martial soul as a second martial soul. Available choices include, but are not limited to: Seven Kill Sword, Bone Dragon, Golden Crocodile King, Coiling Dragon Staff, Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, and more.]

[Note: Adding a second martial soul will not alter the host's soul power or affect the Spirit Ring configuration already possessed by the first martial soul.]

[Option Two: Any god-level martial soul ×1]

[Description: The host may designate any martial soul from the original Douluo Continent novel that has reached godhood or possesses god-level potential as a second martial soul. Available choices include, but are not limited to: Sea God's Trident, Angel Sacred Sword, Rakshasa Demon Scythe, Asura Demon Sword, Nine-Treasure Glazed Pagoda, and more.]

[Option Three: One-quarter fragment of a mysterious martial soul]

[Description: Unknown. After choosing this option, the host will obtain a mysterious martial soul fragment. All four fragments must be collected to awaken the complete martial soul. The fragment itself possesses no combat power.]

[Note: Adding a second martial soul will not increase the host's soul power or affect the Spirit Ring configuration already possessed by the first martial soul.]