Continental Conference of High-Ranking Soul Masters

Spirit Hall

Council chamber

Today marked the official opening of the Continental Conference of High-Ranking Soul Masters.

As the organizer, Spirit Hall had invited the Two Great Empires, the seven major sects, and countless families and sects that either had Soul Douluo among their ranks or held significant standing in other fields.

"I declare the first Continental Conference of High-Ranking Soul Masters officially open!"

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

Even Dai Tianfeng and Xue Ye joined the applause.

"I'm sure everyone knows what happened with Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Sect. On this matter, Spirit Hall would like to clarify the full sequence of events once more..."

"Next, I invite Mr. Tang Xiao to speak on the matter..."

"Ahem! First of all, the wanted criminal Tang Hao's romance with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast in human form was an affront to heaven itself. Then he wounded a Spirit Hall elder for that soul beast, and finally, he even killed Spirit Hall's former pope, the great Qian Xunji! His crimes were unforgivable, and he deserved death! The Clear Sky Sect swears to stand against Tang Hao forever! He will never bear the title of Clear Sky Douluo!

"At first, the Clear Sky Sect was deceived by Tang Hao and tried to shield him without knowing the truth. Fortunately, under the guidance of the great Pope Bibi Dong, we saw the error of our ways in time and avoided a catastrophe. Even so, Tang Hao was once a member of the Clear Sky Sect, and we did let him deceive us into protecting him.

"Therefore, the Clear Sky Sect is willing to meet Spirit Hall's reasonable demands for compensation. From now on, we will defer to Spirit Hall and cooperate with it to better maintain order among the continent's soul masters..."

Clap, clap, clap, clap!

"Well said, and thank you, Mr. Tang Xiao! I trust everyone now understands how this matter unfolded.

"Spirit Hall is deeply pained by what happened. Sadly, it cannot be undone. We therefore intend to strengthen oversight of soul masters across the continent. The measures include..."

Spirit Hall announced a series of policies governing soul masters. As the sects and families listened, their expressions grew darker.

Spirit Hall was demanding that they lay every secret bare! Worse, it would cut off many of the under-the-table ways they had made money and expanded their influence. If these policies went into effect, they would be beholden to Spirit Hall in nearly everything. How were they supposed to rule their own territories like petty kings? How could they exploit and oppress those peasants?

Spirit Hall might as well be killing them!

Take the soul master credential policy. Yesterday, they had wondered what the gold cards given to Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were for. Now they understood: the cards were Spirit Hall's way of exposing their secrets and curbing their illegal dealings!

They would never agree to it!

But most of them belonged to smaller sects and families. After seeing Spirit Hall's true strength yesterday, none dared lead the opposition. One sneeze from Spirit Hall, and their family or sect would be gone.

So they all looked hopefully toward the Two Great Empires and the Upper Three Sects...

Or rather, the upper two sects. Everyone knew what state the Clear Sky Sect was in now. Some of the lower four sects were even thinking of taking its place.

To their shock, Ning Fengzhi was the first to voice his support! He even spoke at length on behalf of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, explaining the policy's benefits and pledging the sect's full cooperation!

Dai Tianfeng and Xue Ye then expressed their support in turn.

Yu Yuanzhen glared at Ning Fengzhi, his face dark.

What happened to the Upper Three Sects standing together?!

When did you throw in your lot with Spirit Hall? When did you become its lapdog?

But once the Two Great Empires had spoken, Yu Yuanzhen, who had intended to lead the opposition, could only sit quietly. He neither supported nor opposed the policy.

Seeing that, none of the other sects or families dared object.

When it finally came time for a show of hands, people raised theirs only here and there, watching to see who else would vote and how many hands went up. It took a full five minutes.

At last!

The motion passed unanimously!

Near the door, Yu Xiaogang felt a little frustrated. When would it be his turn to shine?

The policy made no difference to him. He was only a Soul Grandmaster, and he had nothing to hide. He did not care if Spirit Hall learned his details.

Besides, Dong'er had issued the policy. He had no reason to oppose it. As for whether it hurt the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or his father...

It did not matter. Sooner or later, both the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall would be under his control!

Once he controlled them both, the two powers would be as close as family. Why would he care about information being disclosed?

As for his old man? He would just have to put up with it for a while!

More proposals and policies passed one after another. Yu Xiaogang was nearly asleep.

Finally.

Qian Xunji stood up.

"Today's meeting has gone very well so far. There is, however, one final matter of great importance."

Yu Xiaogang, who had been nodding off, snapped upright, suddenly alert.

Is it finally my turn?! Dong'er is giving me a chance to make my name! A chance to show off before every major power on the continent! This is the start of a new life for me, Yu Xiaogang!

Yu Yuanzhen, who had already been seething, felt his heart jolt. He hoped this was not what he thought it was.

But even if it was, he had prepared a fallback. Last night, he had sent Yu Luomian to remove Yu Xiaogang from the family register and expel him from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

They simply had not announced it publicly yet. If his fears proved right, they would immediately declare that Yu Xiaogang had been expelled.

If nothing happened, so much the better. They could simply add Xiao Gang back.

"Next, please welcome the Grandmaster, Yu Xiaogang!"

At last!

Yu Xiaogang was beside himself with joy, but he quickly brought his expression under control and assumed the bearing of a grandmaster.

With his swollen, piglike face, he rose smiling, then bowed to the crowd.

If not for his battered face and short, flat haircut, people might actually have taken him for a grandmaster.

The representatives of the other powers, however, were baffled.

What was this?! Wasn't he that fool from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan yesterday? Why were they letting him speak?

After yesterday's enthronement ceremony, the various powers had looked into Yu Xiaogang's background. They found that he was indeed known as the "Grandmaster."

But then they had read the theories this so-called Grandmaster had published.

Ten Core Competencies of Martial Soul

Wasn't most of this common knowledge? He had published it—and even claimed it as his own theoretical work?

Was this a joke?! Ask any teacher, or even any student, at a junior Soul Master Academy, and they would know nearly all of it!

By that standard, couldn't I publish a theory too?

People needed to eat, drink, use the toilet, and sleep.

For a little more detail: eat too much and you could make yourself sick; eat too little and you could starve...

What on earth was Spirit Hall doing? Were they using this fool to humiliate us? Were they saying we were worth even less than him?!