Pope

The young man with the crew cut was covered in dust and grime, as though he had just rolled around on the ground.

Qian Daoliu probed him briefly, only to discover that he was merely a level 29 Soul Grandmaster?!

How had this thing gotten in? He could tolerate all these Soul Douluo and even Soul Saints, but now any level 29 nobody could wander in too?

He forced down his anger. After all, they stood before the statue of the great Angel God.

But Yu Xiaogang's panting sounded painfully out of place in the solemn Douluo Palace.

The others, who had been immersed in the sacred atmosphere, felt awkward too. They kept glancing back at Yu Xiaogang as he gasped for breath.

Yu Yuanzhen clenched his fists, veins bulging.

What an embarrassment!

Yu Xiaogang, meanwhile, was so busy catching his breath that he had yet to realize he had entered the legendary Douluo Palace, much less grasped the solemnity of the occasion.

Had Yu Xiaogang known what they were thinking, he would probably have scoffed.

Who told them to walk so fast? Besides, I got beaten up before coming up here, spent ages on my knees barking like a dog, and then got knocked flying by that blind Soul Douluo.

Of course I'm tired!

Qian Daoliu finally reached his limit. He closed his eyes, and a dense surge of Soul Power poured forth. The phantom of a Six-Winged Angel appeared behind him.

The sacred aura that already filled Douluo Palace grew heavier.

Pressure bore down on everyone. They could barely breathe and felt an urge to kneel in submission.

It was not just the pressure of his Soul Power. The holiness that reached into their hearts was overwhelming, deepening their reverence for the Angel God and leaving them tense.

Yu Xiaogang's experience was rather different. The immense Soul Power forced him to his knees and flattened him against the floor, his entire cheek pressed to the stone. He could not breathe at all.

He tried to cry out but could make no sound. He tried to struggle and lift his head, but neither his limbs nor his head would move. He could not even open his eyes. He could only remain pinned there.

Qian Daoliu let out a long breath.

Much quieter.

With that irritating noise gone, everyone focused on Qian Daoliu once more.

So this was Qian Daoliu, the legendary Ultimate Douluo known as invincible in the skies and one of the continent's "Two Peaks"? His reputation was well deserved!

Qian Daoliu stood beneath the statue of the Angel God, white hair falling over his shoulders. His commanding gaze swept across the representatives of the continent's factions gathered in the hall. Not a sound was heard. Everyone knew the ceremony's central rite was about to begin.

"Today, with the Angel God as our witness, Spirit Hall holds its title-conferral ceremony."

Qian Daoliu's aged, resonant voice carried through all of Douluo Palace on a wave of Soul Power. Every word reached every ear.

"Gui Mei," Qian Daoliu called softly.

Gui Mei stepped out from beside Bibi Dong, his black robe swaying. He bowed his head before Qian Daoliu and the statue of the Angel God.

"Gui Mei, you have devoted half your life to Spirit Hall. Thank you for your efforts. I congratulate you on becoming a Titled Douluo and a new elder of Spirit Hall. In accordance with your Martial Soul, I confer upon you the title—Ghost!"

"Thank you, Grand Priest." Gui Mei bowed.

Qian Daoliu nodded.

"I entrust you with this golden Soul Master Identity Credential, the mark of a Titled Douluo. I hope you will continue striving, reach level 96 soon, and become one of Spirit Hall's priests."

"Thank you, Grand Priest!" Gui Mei bowed deeply and accepted the golden Soul Master Identity Credential. Nine Spirit Rings glowed faintly around him, and the Soul Power of a level 92 Titled Douluo spread through the hall. Many Soul Masters felt a chill.

Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod and continued, "Yue Guan, step forward."

Yue Guan approached with graceful strides. His strength had stabilized since the Hundred-Thousand-Year Purple-Gold Yaoguang Chrysanthemum sacrificed itself to him. His Soul Power felt gentle, yet concealed a sharp edge.

"Yue Guan, like Gui Mei, you are a pillar of Spirit Hall. You share a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with him, and the two of you are the hope of Spirit Hall's future. You have also had the good fortune to obtain a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring as your ninth ring. Your prospects are boundless. I now confer upon you the title—Chrysanthemum!"

"Yue Guan thanks the Grand Priest for the title." Yue Guan bowed. His red Spirit Ring shimmered, and the Soul Power of a level 94 Titled Douluo surged forth. From this day on, the name Chrysanthemum Douluo would be known throughout the continent's upper ranks.

The crowd was stunned. Chrysanthemum Douluo had a Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring! What extraordinary luck! Who knew how powerful he might become?

As with Gui Mei, Qian Daoliu presented Chrysanthemum Douluo with a golden Soul Master Identity Credential.

With two Titled Douluo invested in succession, the factions below made their own calculations. They had known before arriving that the two had advanced to Titled Douluo, but seeing their ninth Spirit Rings left them shaken and powerless all the same.

No one could miss what this meant: Spirit Hall had gained two more Titled Douluo, adding to its already formidable strength. Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan looked grim. Ning Fengzhi remained composed, though his eyes betrayed his constant weighing of advantages and risks. Tang Xiao stood among the crowd, cold-faced and silent.

Qian Daoliu's gaze shifted to Bibi Dong at the front.

Bibi Dong stood straight, her papal robes lending her an icy majesty. To look at her, one might think her presence surpassed even Qian Daoliu's and that of his predecessor, Qian Xunji. How had she cultivated such an air?

Every gaze in the hall followed Qian Daoliu's to her.

Qian Daoliu drew a deep breath and raised his voice again. His words echoed through Douluo Palace.

"Bibi Dong."

Bibi Dong walked forward and stopped directly before the statue of the Angel God, facing Qian Daoliu.

"You possess Twin Martial Souls and a talent unmatched in this age. You have endured hardship, shown unyielding resolve, and overcome the challenges of Twin Martial Souls. Now, at just thirty years old, you have become a Titled Douluo—an achievement without precedent."

His words sent another wave of shock through the crowd. A thirty-year-old Titled Douluo?! Was he joking?!

Qian Daoliu raised a hand. A faint thread of golden Angel Divine Power settled gently on Bibi Dong's shoulder.

"Here, with the Angel God as our witness, I, the Grand Priest of Spirit Hall, confer upon you the title—Spider Empress!"

"Thank you, Grand Priest," Bibi Dong replied evenly, without the slightest tremor in her voice.

Then Bibi Dong turned to face the crowd.

Yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black, red.

All nine Spirit Rings lit up at once. Though she and Yue Guan were both level 94, her presence far surpassed his.

Her extraordinary Spirit Ring configuration stunned the crowd anew.

Another Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Ring?!

And her second ring was already a Thousand-Year Spirit Ring? Her fourth, a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring? How was that possible?!

The ceremony was not over.

Qian Daoliu turned to face every guest from the Two Great Empires, the great sects, and the noble families. His voice rang with solemn weight:

"From this day forward, I, Qian Daoliu, Grand Priest of Spirit Hall, formally declare that Spider Empress Douluo Bibi Dong shall succeed as the new Pope of Spirit Hall! All of Spirit Hall shall honor Bibi Dong as its Pope!"

When he finished, Qian Daoliu gave a slight nod and stepped back.

Among the assembled priests, Qian Xunji was the first to bow. "Greetings, Your Holiness."

Jiang Mo, Qian Jun, and the other priests bowed together. "Greetings, Your Holiness."

Every Soul Master of Spirit Hall in the hall dropped to one knee and shouted. Their voices rolled through Douluo Palace in waves.

"GREETINGS, YOUR HOLINESS!"

The force of it swept over the guests from the Heaven Dou Empire and Star Luo Empire, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Clear Sky Sect, and the other visiting factions. They were caught between two choices.

Strictly speaking, they did not answer to Spirit Hall and had no need to kneel before its Pope. But here in Douluo Palace, facing seven Super Douluo and countless other Spirit Hall experts, it would be unwise to offer no acknowledgment at all.

Yu Yuanzhen's expression shifted several times before he and Yu Luomian finally bowed. Ning Fengzhi bowed calmly. Tang Xiao could only lower his head in salute. Dai Tianfeng and Prince Xue Xing of the Two Great Empires exchanged a glance, then bowed as well.

Representatives of the other factions hurried to bow. Some even knelt.

Only Yu Xiaogang remained sprawled on the floor. He had long since passed out from lack of air, missing the historic moment entirely.

Bibi Dong looked over the bowed and kneeling crowd. Her eyes were cool, without a trace of smugness. She raised a hand and spoke quietly.

"Everyone, please rise."

One by one, they straightened.

Qian Daoliu moved aside and returned to the ranks of the priests, leaving the very center of the hall entirely to the newly invested Pope. The age of Bibi Dong had officially begun.