Spirit City

"Spirit City?"

Chu Heng stopped in his tracks.

As the continent's foremost Soul Master organization, Spirit Hall held such power that even the royal families of the Heaven Dou and Star Luo empires had to yield to it time and again.

And Spirit City was the true center of Spirit Hall's power. It stood on the border between the two empires, beyond either empire's jurisdiction. Most of Spirit Hall's strongest members were gathered there.

Chu Heng had already guessed that Su Xianling's teacher held a high position in Spirit Hall. After all, how could anyone capable of teaching someone who was every bit as strong as the Golden Generation—perhaps even a member of it—be an ordinary person?

Even so, he was surprised to learn that her teacher was in Spirit City.

In that case, Sister's teacher must be a Titled Douluo at the very least. I wonder which one.

Even traveling by carriage the whole way, it took them nearly a month to reach Spirit City from Nott City.

Then, one day a month later, as the carriage rolled across the plain, Chu Heng lifted the curtain and looked into the distance.

A vast city finally appeared at the edge of his vision.

"This is... Spirit City?"

Chu Heng sat up straight.

From afar, Spirit City formed a regular hexagon, its thick granite walls stretching across the plain. At its center, the towering Holy Mountain rose from the ground, magnificent buildings set into its slopes. Most striking was a huge palace gleaming gold at the summit. Though it was still far away, he could clearly see sunlight flashing off its golden outer walls.

The Papal Palace.

Chu Heng recognized it at once.

And atop Spirit City's high walls, banners bearing the emblem of the Six-Winged Angel fluttered in the wind.

Chu Heng had thought he knew what to expect, but seeing Spirit City with his own eyes still left him staring.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?"

Su Xianling's voice came from beside him.

Chu Heng came back to himself as Su Xianling lowered the curtain.

"Just stay with me once we're inside. I'll take you to meet my teacher first."

"Okay, Sister."

Chu Heng nodded.

Now that they had reached Spirit City, he was even more curious about her mysterious teacher.

Before long, the carriage stopped outside the city gate. As Spirit Hall's heart, Spirit City strictly controlled entry and exit. Several Soul Masters guarding the gate approached for a routine inquiry. Su Xianling lifted the curtain, took a token from her storage Soul Tool, and handed it over.

Chu Heng watched with interest.

The guard in charge took the token. One glance was enough to change his previously calm expression.

He straightened, his manner instantly turning respectful.

"Let them through!"

There were no more questions, and they did not even inspect the carriage further. The gate opened, and the carriage entered Spirit City without delay.

Chu Heng took it all in and glanced at the token Su Xianling had put away.

Her teacher must have given her that, right? A single token was enough to make Spirit City's guards act like that.

Hah. Having connections really does make life easier.

The carriage made its way deeper into Spirit City. At first, shops and pedestrians still lined the streets. But as they drew closer to the city center, the buildings became more orderly and imposing.

At an intersection, the carriage stopped.

"Come on."

Su Xianling stood.

"Let's get out."

Chu Heng hopped down after her. Once he had his footing, though, he looked around and froze.

This doesn't look like we've arrived.

There were still plenty of shops on both sides of the street and no shortage of pedestrians. There was not even a decent-sized residence in sight.

Chu Heng rubbed his chin.

Could Sister's teacher prefer peace and quiet, and live in seclusion here? Come to think of it, that's not impossible.

Just as Chu Heng was growing more convinced by his own reasoning, Su Xianling looked back.

"Stop guessing."

"Huh?"

"Ordinary carriages aren't allowed in Spirit City's inner district."

Su Xianling reached out and lightly tapped his forehead.

"We have to walk from here."

"..."

Chu Heng fell silent. So much for that theory.

As they walked, he studied their surroundings and noticed that although no wall separated this area from the streets they had passed through, the roads and buildings grew more orderly farther ahead. Soul Masters also made up an increasing share of the people they passed.

So there isn't a physical boundary between the inner and outer districts. They're just managed differently.

"Keep up."

Su Xianling headed forward, and Chu Heng followed.

They walked toward the center of Spirit City. The closer they came, the grander the Holy Mountain loomed before them.

When they reached its foot, Chu Heng looked up and found himself at a loss for words.

"Sister, this..."

Seen from below, it was nothing like the distant view from outside the city. Wide stone steps climbed the mountainside, magnificent halls stood at different heights, and Soul Masters from Spirit Hall guarded them throughout.

The Papal Palace, one of the symbols of Spirit Hall's supreme authority, now stood close before him.

"Let's go."

Su Xianling approached the guards at the foot of the mountain and once again produced the token from earlier. Just as at the city gate, the guards let them through the moment they saw it.

Chu Heng followed, his mind racing with possibilities again.

If Sister can come and go from the Holy Mountain, her teacher can't be anyone ordinary.

"Sister."

"Hmm?"

"Is your teacher in the Elder Hall?"

Su Xianling glanced back at him.

"You know about the Elder Hall?"

"I learned about it before."

Chu Heng answered with a perfectly straight face.

Of course he knew the Holy Mountain's main halls.

The Worship Hall.

The Douluo Hall.

The Papal Palace.

The Elder Hall.

The Douluo Hall honored and memorialized Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo who had passed away over the generations, while the Papal Palace was where the pope handled Spirit Hall's most important affairs.

The more Chu Heng thought about it, the more likely it seemed that Su Xianling's teacher belonged to the Elder Hall.

Spirit Hall had quite a few elders with the strength of a Titled Douluo. Some had barely been mentioned in the original story, so it would make sense if he could not guess who her teacher was.

But just as Chu Heng reached that conclusion, Su Xianling changed direction and headed straight for the Papal Palace.

"..."

Chu Heng's eyelid twitched.

Wait. The Papal Palace?

As far as he knew, aside from Pope Bibi Dong, the most famous Titled Douluo currently active in the Papal Palace were Yue Guan, the Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Gui Mei, the Ghost Douluo.

Have I had it wrong this whole time? Or is Sister's teacher not a Titled Douluo after all?

Full of questions, Chu Heng followed Su Xianling into the Papal Palace. But she did not go any farther inside. She simply found a Spirit Hall staff member and handed over her token.

"Help me exchange this for a pass."

"Yes."

The man accepted the token and grew respectful as soon as he saw it.

Chu Heng sensed his strength.

A Soul King. This man is at least a Soul King, yet he's still so respectful toward Su Xianling.

Before long, the man hurried back and presented another token with both hands.

"Lady Su, it's done."

"Thank you for the trouble."

Su Xianling accepted the token.

Then she turned and left the Papal Palace.

"..."

Wait, that's it? We're leaving?

Su Xianling took his hand as if nothing were amiss.

"Let's go."

But Chu Heng already had a nagging sense that something was off. He finally asked the question on his mind.

"Sister, where are we going?"