Entering the Papal Palace, Climbing the Steps

"Nie Wuming won this match." With a wave of his right hand, Yue Guan removed the three from the stage and announced the result.

He released a gentle stream of soul power and examined their conditions.

That examination startled Yue Guan. Time power rippled through all three of their bodies, maintaining an eerie balance within them.

If anything went wrong, the time power inside them would erupt in an instant. Hu Liena and the other two would immediately be stripped of time, endangered, and turned into statues.

At that point, even he was not confident he could save all three of them.

Yet in truth, their life forces had not been severed at all. Just how great a command over the power of time would it take to achieve that?

This young man, who seemed to have some connection to the Grand Consecrator, was truly terrifying.

At that thought, the smile on Yue Guan's face grew more pronounced. "Young Master Nie, now that the match is over, please heal them."

Duan Yu nodded. With a light tap of his index finger, he extracted the remaining time power from Hu Liena and the other two.

After this farce ended, Duan Yu took up residence in Spirit Hall as the Young Sect Master of Cloud Dream Marsh. Although his soul power was weak, no one dared look down on him because of his apparent connection with the Grand Consecrator.

As long as the Grand Consecrator did not step forward and make his stance clear, Duan Yu would not have a hard time in Spirit Hall.

However, after staying in Spirit Hall for so many days, Bibi Dong had yet to summon him for a meeting. For a while, Duan Yu could not figure out what she intended.

Logically speaking, in Spirit Hall, so long as he had some connection to Qian Daoliu—whether real or not—Bibi Dong should have come forward to meet him.

Just as Duan Yu was racking his brains over it, Yue Guan appeared outside his door with an order from the Pope summoning him.

"Kid, once you reach the Papal Palace, remember to watch your words and actions. Answer whatever Her Holiness asks, and do not make her unhappy," Yue Guan reminded him.

"Oh?"

Duan Yu looked surprised. "Elder Yue Guan, why do you say that? Is Her Holiness difficult to get along with?"

Yue Guan paused, then shook his head. "Her Holiness cherishes talented individuals, especially a once-in-a-century genius like you, one in ten thousand."

"It's just that... Her Holiness does not like geniuses who think they are clever. So once you enter the Papal Palace, be sure to watch your words and actions."

Duan Yu's mouth twitched. She didn't like geniuses who thought they were clever? So she liked idiots like Yu Xiaogang?

"Don't worry, Elder Yue Guan."

The corners of Duan Yu's lips rose slightly as he said with a smile, "Her Holiness and I are exactly alike in one respect: I rather like geniuses who think they are clever. Our personalities complement each other, so I'm sure we'll get along splendidly."

"?"

Yue Guan froze. What did he mean, he liked geniuses who thought they were clever?

Before he could think any further, Duan Yu had already left the room and headed toward Spirit Hall. He waved a hand and left behind one sentence: "Don't worry, Elder Yue Guan. I'm a smart man, and smart men aren't so easily written off."

"Don't worry about me. If you have the time, go find the little fox and guide her cultivation instead."

Papal Palace.

Looking at the Papal Palace above the stairs, Duan Yu could not help but feel that it was rather extravagant.

Something that could have been accomplished with just a few steps had been turned by generations of Popes into an endlessly rising staircase, all to display their status.

This was not difficult for Bibi Dong. After all, every Pope throughout history could reach the top in a single flash step. As the finest among all Popes, Bibi Dong naturally did not need to worry about getting tired.

But it made things rather difficult for Duan Yu. Standing at the foot of the Papal Palace steps, he was certain that Bibi Dong was observing him right now.

If he revealed anything amiss while climbing these stairs or used any other abilities, Bibi Dong would definitely grow suspicious.

The moment he stepped onto the stairs, Duan Yu's feet paused slightly. He immediately felt an invisible pressure descend upon him.

"Is this... gravity suppression?!"

Seven-Leaf Spatial Orchid, who had been sleeping and idling in the House of Spirit, was also startled by the sight before her and asked in confusion:

"Kid, who did you provoke this time? Why have they even arranged gravity suppression for you now? And judging by this, the higher you climb, the stronger the gravity effect will probably become."

"Little Ye, you're wronging me again."

Duan Yu rolled his eyes at Seven-Leaf Spatial Orchid and said irritably, "I'm just honestly climbing the stairs here. Who knew the person up there would be so underhanded as to create gravity steps just to disgust me?"

"Besides, even if I really did badmouth her behind her back, shouldn't she, as the Pope, be more tolerant? What kind of Pope lacks tolerance?"

"Otherwise, being Pope would be far too easy. I could do it too."

Duan Yu said this with complete confidence, without the slightest embarrassment.

Seven-Leaf Spatial Orchid: "..."

"Kid, do you want me to use spatial power to neutralize the gravity on you? It should be easier with my spatial power."

"No need. Don't make a move."

Duan Yu shook his head. "Bibi Dong, the Pope of the Papal Palace, is no ordinary woman. Better not let her notice anything unusual. As for this gravity suppression, I'll figure something out myself."

"Fine."

Seeing that he already had an idea, Seven-Leaf Spatial Orchid did not continue persuading him. She only reminded him, "Then be careful. Where there is gravity suppression, there will inevitably be gravitational pull as well. Don't stumble into trouble."

The moment Seven-Leaf Spatial Orchid finished her warning, Duan Yu sensed another pressure suddenly appear, utterly different from the previous one.

This pressure was peculiar. It did not come from above but emerged beneath his feet, as though an invisible suction force beneath the stone steps was pulling at his body, unwilling to let him climb upward.

Duan Yu was startled and could not understand it. Since when did the Papal Palace stairs have this gravitational pull effect? Had they always had it, or was it...

Duan Yu looked toward the Papal Palace at the top. Or perhaps Bibi Dong was giving him a show of force.

At that thought, Duan Yu paused only briefly before continuing upward without changing his expression. His steps were steady and unhurried, never faltering. Although the pulling force from every stone step grew stronger, his pace remained unchanged as he climbed bit by bit.

Duan Yu appeared entirely normal. No powerful aura leaked from his body, nor was there anything unusual about him.

Yet he did it. He climbed as though under no pressure at all, completely disregarding the stairs beneath his feet.