Spirit Hall? No, This Is the Land of Light's Office on the Douluo Continent

"Hmph, attacking from both sides. How impressive!" Chrysanthemum Douluo said with a hint of contempt.

Hu Liena advanced from the right, releasing her Martial Soul as pink Soul Power gathered into claws in her palms.

Her fox ears pricked up slightly, keenly tracking Chrysanthemum Douluo's position. Rather than attack directly, she ran in an arc around him, her fox tail trailing an afterimage behind her as she kept throwing off his judgment.

After transforming into Dark Lugiel, Xiao Ran pressed in from the left, charging straight ahead. Gray Soul Power flooded his legs, making him faster than usual, while the dark gray glow surrounding him carried an aura of annihilation.

Chrysanthemum Douluo stood where he was, his hands clasped behind his back and that delicate smile lingering on his lips. Golden petals drifted slowly around him. They seemed scattered at random, but his defenses were already in place.

"Watch out!"

"Fifth Soul Skill, Gathering of Cold Blossoms!"

Countless petals gathered into a giant chrysanthemum blade, which he hurled at Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran immediately unleashed Zetton's skill—Trillion-Degree Fireball!

The chrysanthemum blade collided with the Trillion-Degree Fireball, finally bursting into scattered sparks. Waves of heat surged outward, whipping up dust from the ground.

"You've got a few tricks, kid, but not many!"

"Sixth Soul Skill, Golden Stamens Bathe in Rosy Clouds!"

The flower's stamens erupted with golden light, transforming into a sky full of petal meteors that bombarded a wide area. The razor-sharp petals sliced through the air with piercing shrieks.

"Watch out!" Xiao Ran shouted urgently to Hu Liena.

"Gan-Q!" Xiao Ran teleported in front of Hu Liena, and Gan-Q unleashed a suction vortex, absorbing every petal meteor in the sky. A giant phantom eyeball hovered in midair, countless smaller eyes flickering with eerie light as they devoured every incoming petal.

"Senior Chrysanthemum Douluo, you can have these back!"

Countless petal meteors shot out from inside Gan-Q and hurtled toward Chrysanthemum Douluo.

"What? What kind of bizarre Soul Skill is this? It can even absorb my Sixth Soul Skill!"

"Hah! Seventh Soul Skill, Martial Soul Avatar!"

His Martial Soul Avatar descended, manifesting as a gigantic golden chrysanthemum. Immense Soul Power rippled outward, deflecting every petal meteor.

"Hmph, Xiao Ran. You certainly live up to His Holiness the Pope's expectations."

"Ginga!"

Xiao Ran swiftly switched to Galaxy Form. Silvery-white streams of light enveloped him, and his power surged once more.

"Zeperion Ray!"

"Ah! What move is this now? What on earth is this kid doing?"

Boom!

Chrysanthemum Douluo barely blocked the beam, but Xiao Ran gave him no chance to catch his breath.

"Taro-san, Ultra Explosion!"

Xiao Ran lunged fiercely at Chrysanthemum Douluo. Chrysanthemum Douluo tried to restrain his movements with an aura barrier, but it could not stop that overwhelming momentum!

Boom!

The explosion blasted a huge, burning crater into the ground, scorching air surging in every direction. Chrysanthemum Douluo was sent flying, but he steadied himself without suffering any injury.

Two shallow skid marks stretched across the ground from where he had been standing to where he now stood. Given his standing, being driven back even a single step by two Soul Ancestor juniors already counted as a loss.

Scattered applause sounded from the sidelines. Several watching Soul Masters with golden markings exchanged glances, not daring to speak. They knew Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's temper well. Anyone who laughed now would be in trouble, and they dreaded accidentally angering this Titled Douluo.

Chrysanthemum Douluo raised his head, his delicate features expressionless as he looked at Xiao Ran.

"Where did those Soul Skills of yours come from?"

Xiao Ran dropped out of Galaxy Form. His Soul Power depleted, he braced his hands on his knees and panted heavily, sweat continually seeping from his temples. "They came with my Martial Soul."

"What exactly is your Martial Soul?"

"I don't know." Xiao Ran wiped away his sweat. "I really don't. It's been like this since I was little. All these strange moves keep popping up, and I have no one to ask."

Chrysanthemum Douluo stared at him for several moments, then turned toward Bibi Dong at the sidelines and bowed slightly. "Your Holiness, I have lost."

Bibi Dong set down her teacup and walked over slowly. She looked at Hu Liena first. "Your coordination was good in the first half, but Xiao Ran was essentially fighting alone in the second half. You used too little Soul Power. Do extra training when you get back."

Hu Liena lowered her head. "Yes."

Bibi Dong then looked at Xiao Ran. "You have more secrets than I thought."

Xiao Ran nodded without arguing.

Chrysanthemum Douluo patted Xiao Ran's shoulder and said quietly, "Kid, don't use those bizarre Soul Skills on me next time. Go use them on Yan instead. I want to see the look on his face."

With that, he turned and left, leaving a faint floral fragrance drifting slowly through the training grounds.

Bibi Dong took a few steps, then stopped and looked back at Xiao Ran. "Come with me."

Xiao Ran followed Bibi Dong into a side chamber of the Pope's Palace. The hall was quiet and solemn, candle flames flickering gently. Bibi Dong took a roll of yellowed parchment from beneath her desk and spread it out.

"Have you heard of the Noa Ruins?"

Xiao Ran shook his head.

"There are ancient ruins in Spirit Hall's Northern Frontier. They open once every three years and admit only one person. Only three people in Spirit Hall's history have ever entered. Only one came out alive: Qian Daoliu."

Bibi Dong pointed to the map on the parchment. "After Qian Daoliu came out, he said one thing: 'The one meant to come will come in due time.'"

Xiao Ran's heart began beating faster. "You think that person is me?"

"The divinity within you comes from the same source as the aura in the ruins." Bibi Dong rolled up the parchment, her tone leaving no room for discussion. "When the ruins open, you will go."

Xiao Ran fell silent for a moment. "What's inside?"

"I don't know. Qian Daoliu never said." Bibi Dong glanced at him. "But he had only just reached level ninety-eight before he entered. When he came out, he was at the peak of level ninety-nine. Weigh that for yourself."

Xiao Ran drew a deep breath. "I'll go!"

Bibi Dong took a dark jade slip from her sleeve and tossed it to him. "The map is inside. In three months, Ghost Douluo will take you to the entrance. Come back alive."

Xiao Ran caught the jade slip, its cool touch spreading from his fingertips. He walked to the doorway, then stopped. "Your Holiness, aren't you afraid I'll die in there?"

Bibi Dong did not even look up. "If you die, I'll find someone else."

Xiao Ran smiled, pushed open the door, and left.

Three months later, on the wastelands of Spirit Hall's Northern Frontier, biting winds swept loose stones across the empty plains.

A massive stone gate stood before him, half buried in the earth. Two characters in ancient seal script were carved into its lintel—Noa.

Ghost Douluo stood behind him. "Seven days. Whatever happens, you must come out within seven days. Otherwise, the gate will close, and it won't open again for three years. Danger lurks everywhere inside the ruins. You'll have only yourself to rely on."

Xiao Ran nodded and pressed both hands against the stone gate.

The stone gate slowly opened, revealing a staircase leading downward. A faint gray light shone from its depths. That light resonated with the gray Soul Power inside him, drawing him forward.

Xiao Ran took a deep breath and stepped through the gate.