A Titled Douluo, and You Want Me to Enter the Soul Master Tournament?

"Set your work at the Soul Tool Department aside for the next few days."

After Bibi Dong had Huo Yuhao sit down, her expression grew serious. A flicker crossed her eyes as she continued, "The finals of the Continental Elite Soul Master Tournament are ten days away. This tournament means a great deal to Spirit Hall. We cannot lose the Champion, no matter what."

"But a dark horse has emerged this year, led by the person I'm most wary of. I'm concerned the Spirit Hall Academy Team may lose in the finals..."

A dark horse?

The Shrek Academy Team?

Huo Yuhao's heart stirred. According to the established timeline, the Shrek Seven Devils would indeed win this year's tournament. And the person Bibi Dong feared most was probably Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.

But what does any of that have to do with me?

While Huo Yuhao was still baffled, Bibi Dong spoke again. "The Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament has an age limit of twenty-five, and you qualify. I was wondering if you could represent the Spirit Hall Academy Team in this year's tournament."

What?!

Represent the Spirit Hall Academy Team?

Compete?

Huo Yuhao's eyes widened. I'm already a Titled Douluo. Why would I enter a Soul Master Tournament?

It wasn't that he didn't want to. It just seemed a little too much like bullying.

Then again, these were the First-Generation Shrek Seven Devils. Whether or not he took the chance to thrash Tang San, the thought of Tang Hao showing up at Spirit Hall to save the day after the tournament was tempting enough.

After absorbing fragments of the two God Kings' memories—Life and Destruction—Huo Yuhao wanted to test himself against that era's greatest genius, Tang Hao, the man who would become master of the Douluo Plane.

Wasn't this perfect?

Thrash Tang San first, then fight Tang Hao!

"I have no problem with it."

Huo Yuhao gave an awkward smile. "Wouldn't it draw a little too much attention, though...?"

"Not at all."

Bibi Dong smiled, excitement flashing in her eyes. "We can use this opportunity to raise the Spirit Transferring Hall's profile. And when you win the Champion for Spirit Hall, I can announce that I'm betrothing Spirit Hall's Saintess to you, giving you another boost. What do you think of a plan that kills three birds with one stone?"

Uh...

Huo Yuhao's mouth twitched. Three birds for you and Spirit Hall, you mean?

And betroth the Saintess to me for publicity?

Hu Liena?

Is Bibi Dong trying to tie me to her for good? For a moment, Huo Yuhao had no idea what to say.

Fortunately, Bibi Dong was perceptive enough to notice his discomfort. She continued, "It's because of Wang Qiu'er, isn't it? I sensed the same aura on her as yours the moment she entered Spirit City. And she isn't human, is she...?"

Hiss—

Even Huo Yuhao drew a sharp breath at her words.

She can sense the Soul Beast aura on Qiu'er? As expected of the Rakshasa God's successor.

When Wang Qiu'er had taken human form, even Xuan Zi and Mu En had failed to notice. She had used the Power of Fate to conceal her true nature, rather than transforming and cultivating anew like an ordinary Soul Beast.

Wang Qiu'er's Origin of Fate provided its own disguise. The Power of Fate would twist the perceptions of any Titled Douluo or Limit Douluo below godhood who probed her with spiritual power. Huo Yuhao hadn't expected Bibi Dong to be so formidable already.

"Don't worry. With your God-Making Plan, I can accept the existence of Soul Beasts in human form. And for your sake, I can give them the respect they deserve."

The corners of Bibi Dong's mouth lifted as she smiled away his concern. Then she added, "If possible, Qiu'er can represent the Spirit Hall Academy Team in this tournament too. I want the whole continent to see just how outstanding Spirit Hall's younger generation is—and how hard they are to stand against."

"Yuhao."

Bibi Dong paused and took a deep breath. "I heard about the clash between Qiu'er and Nana the other day. I can also tell you have no feelings for Nana. When I said I would betroth the Saintess to you, I didn't mean Nana. You may not know this, but Spirit Hall has another Saintess."

Huh?

Holy shit!

Don't tell me you want to betroth Qian Renxue to me? Others might not know Qian Renxue existed, but Huo Yuhao did.

What are you doing?!

I offered you a God-Making Plan in good faith, and now you're using some ridiculous excuse to drag your daughter into it too?

Didn't the history books say Bibi Dong and Qian Renxue were like fire and water?

Who the hell started that rumor?

Now that I think about it...

Bibi Dong's feelings toward Qian Renxue weren't just revulsion born of deep trauma and political calculation. There was an instinctive bond of blood mixed in as well. Why else would she bring Qian Renxue into the God-Making Plan?

Of course...

Huo Yuhao thought he understood her conflict now. It wasn't that Bibi Dong was deliberately protecting Qian Renxue; her own trauma kept her from accepting her daughter. Yet deep down, she still hoped Qian Renxue could become a god and live forever.

Human emotions really are complicated.

With that thought...

Huo Yuhao gave an awkward grin. "Your Holiness, I understand what you mean. If the Saintess has the potential to become a god, I'll do everything I can to help her. But the God-Making Plan shouldn't be tied to anyone's interests, including a marriage arranged as part of the deal."

"I'll persuade Qiu'er to enter the Soul Master Tournament with me. As for announcing my betrothal to the Saintess to promote me and the Spirit Transferring Hall..."

"Let's leave that for another time."

"Very well. We'll discuss it later."

Bibi Dong nodded. She found herself admiring Huo Yuhao's character more and more. "For now, focus on preparing for the Soul Master Tournament."

"All right."

Huo Yuhao acknowledged her words, then asked on his way out, "Is there anything I should watch out for during the tournament?"

Bibi Dong considered it for a moment. "Remember one thing: hold back as much as you can, and don't kill anyone. Though when Soul Masters clash, Soul Skills can sometimes miss their mark..."

"Mm..."

Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded. "I'll remember that."

Time flew. A dozen or so days passed in the blink of an eye.

After a month on the road, academy teams from Heaven Dou, the Star Luo Empire, and elsewhere began arriving for the finals of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Elite Tournament.

Spirit City was bustling.

As the academy teams gathered, the elimination rounds got underway.

Spirit City had set aside a dedicated venue for the finals of the tournament. It stood in the center of the city, with an enormous arena a full hundred meters across, built entirely from Granite.

A vast number of Soul Tools reinforced the platform to prevent damage. According to Spirit Hall, it could withstand any attack from a Soul Master below the Titled Douluo level. The Pope's Hall stood directly ahead, less than a thousand meters away on its hill.

Spirit Hall had announced on its posted notices that the final three teams would compete before the Pope's Hall.

When the time came, Pope Bibi Dong would crown the Champion herself. For any Soul Master, it was an honor beyond compare.