Spirit Hall's Elder Meeting

Blue Silver looked around, then asked in surprise, "You mean... you're talking about me when you say 'master's wife'?"

"Of course," Bibi Dong said with absolute certainty. "There's no one else here, only you and me. Naturally, I mean you."

"Don't worry. My teacher is a little older, but he's devoted. He's never even had a sweetheart... You look younger than him now, though you're actually who knows how many years older..."

Blue Silver finally caught on. She rose, a little angry, and cut her off. "Hmph. I may not be strong, but I'm not a woman who'll let people slander me and ruin my reputation."

"I don't want to hear that again."

Now it was Bibi Dong's turn to be surprised. "Wasn't it because you accepted my teacher's pursuit that you came to Spirit Hall?"

"Of course not," Blue Silver explained.

"No?" Bibi Dong stared at her. "You're brave, then. Spirit Hall has plenty of Titled Douluo, yet you dared to come. So why did you?"

"For Lin Fan. For my own fate."

"Besides, your teacher brought four Titled Douluo with him. How was a Soul King like me supposed to escape?"

"All right." Bibi Dong looked embarrassed. "I thought my teacher had spoken to you about that. I misunderstood."

"I'm sorry, Ah Yin," Bibi Dong said sincerely.

"It's fine, now that we've cleared it up." Hearing the apology, kindhearted Blue Silver softened her tone.

Bibi Dong smiled. "That won't do. Once the meeting's over, I'll show you around Spirit Hall. We can visit the city too. I'll treat you to a meal and buy you some clothes."

"I'd like to get to know Spirit Hall, but there's no need to eat out or buy clothes." Ah Yin shook her head. "I've lived simply since taking human form. I prefer somewhere quiet."

Then Blue Silver changed the subject. "Besides, I won't have much to do here. Lin Fan can't see, and it must be hard for him alone in his room. I could look after him and massage his head. It might even help him regain his sight."

"No need," Bibi Dong said at once. "I'll take care of Lin Fan. You're a guest. How could I ask you to do that?"

If Lin Fan could have heard her, he probably would have thought: How can you be so selfish?

"No," Blue Silver insisted. "Even setting everything else aside, what he told me—especially about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—is incredibly useful to me. I have to repay him somehow."

Once Blue Silver dug in her heels, Bibi Dong found she couldn't persuade her. "Then we'll take care of him together."

"He's injured, after all, and he's helped both of us. I suspect he still has plenty of secrets we don't know about."

Blue Silver nodded. "We can take turns."

"Enough talk. Finish your porridge. The meeting's about to start," Bibi Dong said.

The Elder Hall, on the third floor of the Pope's Palace.

Of Spirit Hall's current Titled Douluo, everyone who could attend had come, apart from Qian Daoliu.

"Your Holiness, is there something important you've gathered us for?" Ghost Leopard was the first to speak.

Demon Bear followed close behind. "Your Holiness, have the Upper Three Sects made a new move?"

Except for Yue Guan and the others who knew the reason, everyone looked grave. A meeting that called in every elder was almost always about a matter of great importance to Spirit Hall.

Qian Xunji raised a hand. "Don't be so tense. I called you here today to explain a few upcoming changes in Spirit Hall and to introduce you to a new friend."

He continued, "Everyone here forms the backbone of Spirit Hall. You are its pillars. There's something I must impress upon you."

"Spirit Hall has a new goal. All of you need to show more restraint, especially those with families and descendants. Teach your descendants well. They must never use Spirit Hall's name to throw their weight around, prey on others, or bully the weak."

"And if young people of the next generation quarrel, stay out of it as far as possible unless it's a fight to the death."

Demon Bear was blunt by nature. "Your Holiness, I don't understand. What do you mean by 'using Spirit Hall's name to throw their weight around'? What standing does Spirit Hall have in the Soul Master world? The disciples of any sect or empire have to treat our people politely. If there's the occasional clash, they're the ones who started it."

Qian Xunji did not grow angry. He merely looked at Demon Bear calmly. "Let me ask you something."

"Go ahead, Your Holiness."

"Suppose one day Spirit Hall was gone. How do you think those people who used to treat its members so politely would treat you then?"

Demon Bear opened his mouth but had no answer.

Standing a little ahead of Qian Xunji, Yue Guan gave a soft cough and spoke up at just the right moment. "Everyone, His Holiness's meaning is simple."

"Spirit Hall has expanded quickly over the years, and the people below us have been getting more and more out of line. The Intelligence Hall has recently received quite a few reports. People from some Sub-Halls have been doing shady things outside under Spirit Hall's banner."

He paused, his tone more serious than usual. "In the past, such things might have cost a few people their reputations at most. From now on, we can't allow them."

Ghost Leopard Douluo asked, "Elder Chrysanthemum, what do you mean by 'from now on'?"

Yue Guan did not answer directly. He only glanced at Qian Xunji.

"Everyone," Qian Xunji said, "I won't hide this from you. The Grand Worshipper has foreseen a great calamity in Spirit Hall's future."

"To keep the people below us steady, I can't say what it is just yet. But I can tell you this: if Spirit Hall keeps acting as it has, we won't escape it."

Every face grew solemn. Qian Xunji had invoked Qian Daoliu rather than Lin Fan, and these people held genuine respect and reverence for Qian Daoliu.

"So," Qian Xunji continued, "the first reason I summoned you today is this: from now on, Spirit Hall must change the way it operates."

"How?" Ghost Leopard asked.

"Restraint," Qian Xunji said. "Outside our walls and within them. Take the resources we're entitled to, but keep your hands off what isn't ours. Do not stir up trouble with the Upper Three Sects unless they provoke us first. Maintain the status quo with the Two Great Empires, and do not cross any lines for the time being."

"When the time is right, I'll inform you."

"We will obey Your Holiness's orders!" everyone said, clasping their fists toward Qian Xunji.

Qian Xunji nodded and went on. "The other matter is Spirit Hall's new friend. Her identity is unusual. If you don't meet her, misunderstandings may arise."

They looked at one another. Pufferfish stepped forward. "Your Holiness, has a new Titled Douluo elder joined Spirit Hall?"

"You'll understand when you see her." Qian Xunji smiled mysteriously. "Dong'er, bring Miss Blue Silver in."

Everyone looked toward the door. Soon, Bibi Dong led the Blue Silver Emperor into the meeting room.

Their eyes went wide.

"Am I seeing things? A Soul Beast in human form?"

"You're not. I see her too."

Several members of the Worship Hall were Super Douluo, with spiritual power far beyond that of an ordinary Titled Douluo. They declared with certainty, "That young woman is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who took human form to cultivate anew."

"What? She really is a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast?"

"I thought I was dreaming. How dare she come straight to us?"

Bibi Dong approached Qian Xunji. "Teacher, I've brought Miss Blue Silver."