"I have long heard that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan produces talents in abundance. I hope to see your clan's outstanding young members shine on the Soul Fighting Platform today."
"May your words come true, Your Holiness." Though Yu Luomian's thoughts were complicated, he appeared perfectly amiable.
Finally, Qian Juechen's gaze settled on Xue Qinghe, the representative of the Heaven Dou Empire.
The brother and sister met each other's eyes, and the atmosphere seemed to turn subtle in that instant.
This was their first meeting since birth.
Qian Renxue looked at Qian Juechen's face, which bore some resemblance to her father's, and sensed the bond of blood between them. Though her heart trembled slightly, the smile on her face did not change.
She took a proper step forward and bowed slightly.
"On behalf of my father, I, Qinghe, congratulate Your Holiness on your accession."
As Xue Qinghe bowed to Qian Juechen, Qian Juechen returned the gesture slightly. Their standing was roughly equal, since Xue Qinghe represented the Heaven Dou Emperor.
Then, smiling as well, he spoke and extended his hand to Xue Qinghe.
"I have long heard of the Heaven Dou Crown Prince's wisdom. Now that we finally meet, I see your reputation is well deserved."
"You flatter me, Your Holiness."
Qian Renxue extended her hand, and their palms met in midair.
Feeling that unmistakable blood connection, an exceedingly obscure and complicated emotion flickered deep within Qian Renxue's eyes.
Once their brief exchange of courtesies ended, Qian Juechen gave the crown prince a customary pat on the shoulder before continuing farther back.
He had to greet every representative of the major powers admitted to the Papal Palace.
Many of them had secret ties to Spirit Hall to varying degrees. Though they revealed nothing in front of so many people, they all understood it perfectly well.
This seemingly simple meeting drew to a close amid that atmosphere.
Afterward, Ning Fengzhi, Yu Luomian, Xue Qinghe, and the others took their seats, while Qian Juechen returned to the most important seat—the Pope's.
This seat stood atop the Papal Palace and offered the best view of the soul fighting in Spirit Hall.
From there, the entire Soul Fighting Arena lay in plain sight.
With the melodious toll of a bell, the Soul Guidance Lamps surrounding the Soul Fighting Arena lit up at once.
Brilliant beams of light shone down upon the Central Arena.
Then a booming voice rang out across the venue.
Demon Bear Douluo personally served as the host. Hovering in midair, he announced to the crowd, "The Soul Fighting Tournament officially begins!"
As his words fell, deafening cheers erupted throughout the venue.
Young soul masters entered one after another, releasing their martial souls as their Soul Rings rose. Powerful waves of soul power swept through the entire Soul Fighting Arena, and all manner of ingenious soul skills appeared in succession. On this stage, the younger generation displayed the fruits of their many years of effort.
But just after a disciple of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan defeated a disciple of the Fire Leopard Sect through Dragon Transformation, something unexpected happened.
An utterly terrifying surge of soul power raced toward them from the distant horizon.
Before anyone present could react, a figure had already reached the skies above Spirit Hall and appeared before them.
The man wore black and had black hair. He held an enormous Warhammer, and nine Soul Rings appeared around him one after another.
Two yellow, two purple, four black, and finally, a blood-red Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring.
When that configuration appeared, the vast majority of those present recognized the figure's true identity.
"A Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring!"
"The Clear Sky Hammer!"
"He's the Clear Sky Douluo... Tang Hao!"
Below the platform, cries of astonishment rang out one after another.
The representatives of the major powers looked at the figure in midair, a trace of admiration and solemnity in their eyes.
The Clear Sky Douluo.
To the continent's soul masters, that name was all too familiar—and all too legendary.
He was the man who had once single-handedly thrown the continent into turmoil. Not only had he fallen in love with a soul beast, he had also driven Spirit Hall's former Pope, Qian Xunji, to his death, forcing the Clear Sky Sect to retreat into seclusion under Spirit Hall's pressure.
Yet such a man dared to appear here openly on the day Spirit Hall's new Pope took the throne. And judging by his bearing, he clearly had not come in peace.
"Tang Hao is as brazen as ever. He actually dares to cause trouble at the accession of Spirit Hall's new Pope? Doesn't he know how many Titled Douluos are here today?" someone could not help murmuring.
Compared with those who were deeply shocked, however, prominent figures such as Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin reacted far more calmly.
They had already guessed that today's accession ceremony would never be so straightforward.
Spirit Hall's prestige was at its height, and the new Pope's accession was a major event watched by the entire continent.
If Tang Hao truly wanted to cause trouble for Spirit Hall and seek revenge, how could he possibly let such an opportunity slip away?
A smile lingered at the corners of Ning Fengzhi's mouth. He slowly set down his teacup, his gaze passing over the crowd to settle on the young figure seated ahead.
He very much wanted to know how this young new Pope would handle a provocation from someone like Tang Hao.
It was not only Ning Fengzhi. Chen Xin, Yu Luomian, Dai Weisi, Xue Qinghe, and the other prominent figures all turned their eyes toward Qian Juechen.
Everyone awaited the young Pope's reaction.
By now, Tang Hao had reached the skies above the Soul Fighting Arena. He thrust the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand heavily downward, and a terrifying surge of soul power instantly swept through the venue.
Then his voice exploded like thunder throughout the entire Soul Fighting Arena.
"Spirit Hall certainly puts on grand airs these days. Your new Pope takes the throne, yet you don't even invite me, Tang Hao? Have you forgotten this old friend?"
"Then again, the previous Pope should be the one who remembers me best. What a shame he's already gone to hell!"
Tang Hao's gaze fell upon the figure on the high platform. His eyes brimmed with contempt, and every word he spoke challenged and humiliated Spirit Hall.
Especially when he mentioned the former Pope, Qian Xunji, the implications in his words made the veins of Spirit Hall's elders bulge and sent Xue Qinghe's blood pressure soaring.
Qian Juechen watched Tang Hao with an icy gaze. Those reckless words had already earned him a death sentence in Qian Juechen's mind.
Before he could issue an order, several trusted generals beside him eagerly stepped forward, impatient to demonstrate their loyalty.
"Tang Hao, you will not behave so insolently before His Holiness the Pope!"
A shrill voice pierced the skies. Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan had already blocked Tang Hao's path with his martial soul in hand, while Ghost Douluo Gui Mei silently appeared on Tang Hao's other side. The two Douluos surrounded Tang Hao from front and back.
Not only that, but at the very moment they took their positions, two more mighty auras soared into the sky.
Demon Bear Douluo and Ghost Leopard Douluo were equally unwilling to fall behind. Four Titled Douluos appeared in midair at once.
They had all merged with their martial souls, and their fighting spirit blazed fiercely.
At a single command from Qian Juechen, all four would strike Tang Hao together with a lethal blow.
At the sight, many of those present sucked in a sharp breath.
Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, had only a single Titled Douluo.
The Heaven Dou Empire, which controlled half the continent, did not even have a single Titled Douluo of its own.
Yet Spirit Hall had deployed four Titled Douluos in its opening move alone.
Spirit Hall was still Spirit Hall. The depth of its reserves was far beyond anything ordinary powers could imagine.
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