Storm Clouds Gather over Spirit Hall

Qian Daoliu had once been pope, and he ought to have had a steady hand. But as he dragged Huang Tieyi back to Spirit Hall at breakneck speed, Huang Tieyi landed face-first, smashing a great crater into the ground.

Qian Daoliu did not so much as glance at Huang Tieyi kicking his legs in the crater. He strode to the Angel Summoning Drum, picked up the mallet with a grave expression, and struck the drumhead without hesitation. Boom, boom, boom! The muffled beats rolled through the air, spreading ever farther until they rang across all of Spirit City.

The city's residents and ordinary Soul Masters looked toward Spirit Hall in confusion. What on earth was Spirit Hall doing?

The Soul Masters of Spirit Hall within the city reacted at once. Those who could fly took to the air; those who could not sprinted toward Spirit Hall. Though none had ever heard the Angel Summoning Drum for real after joining Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu had planted its sound in their minds.

Since Qian Daoliu had become pope of Spirit Hall, the Angel Summoning Drum, sounded only in the gravest emergencies, had never been struck. It had been silent for a full two hundred years.

In the Papal Palace study, Qian Xunji was handling Spirit Hall affairs when the first beat sounded. He froze, set down his pen, rushed out of the study, and flew to the front of the Papal Palace.

"Dad, what could have happened for you to sound the Angel Summoning Drum?" Qian Xunji asked, his voice grave.

Qian Daoliu did not answer. He handed Qian Xunji the mallet and said gravely, "I'll explain the details to everyone shortly. Keep beating the drum in rhythm!"

Qian Xunji had no idea what had happened, but he did not hesitate. He took up the mallet and continued beating the Angel Summoning Drum.

The first to answer its call were the Titled Douluo of the Offering Hall, who had the most leisurely lives in Spirit Hall. They shot into the sky and swiftly landed in the square before the Papal Palace.

Golden Crocodile Douluo, at their head, stepped forward as soon as he landed. "Big brother," he said gravely, "the Angel Summoning Drum has sounded. That never happened even when you were pope of Spirit Hall. What earth-shaking calamity has occurred?"

"No questions. Everyone, enter the Papal Palace, form ranks, and await orders." Qian Daoliu's expression did not change, and his commanding tone brooked no argument.

Golden Crocodile Douluo did not dare press him. He nodded and led the Titled Douluo of the Offering Hall into the main hall, where they stood waiting.

The elders of Spirit Hall's Elder Council arrived close behind. Their usual composure was gone. Every face was solemn, every gaze wary and grave; not one of them dared let down their guard.

"Everyone inside! Form ranks and await orders!" Qian Daoliu commanded again, his voice carrying across the square.

The elders wasted no time. They straightened their robes, hurried into the Papal Palace, and took their places in order.

For a full hour, no one made a sound or relaxed their guard.

Only when the last Soul Master in Spirit City arrived did Qian Daoliu signal Qian Xunji to stop beating the drum. He walked into the Papal Palace with heavy steps and, heedless of Qian Xunji's dignity, sat straight down in the pope's chair. His expression grave, he said, "The Holy Spirit Sect, formed by Evil Soul Masters, has a new Leader—Hades. He is likely a level ninety-nine Peak Douluo. Today, he appeared outside Spirit City and challenged us.

"Hades is not only powerful but domineering. Under his leadership, the Evil Soul Masters will become organized. To keep them from bringing disciplined, coordinated harm to Douluo Continent, I order a purge of Evil Soul Masters in every territory under our control.

"If you encounter a Soul Master with an evil Martial Soul who has committed no evil deeds, bring them back. Spirit Hall will train them according to their needs. We must never let them stray onto the wrong path."

"Yes!" More than ten thousand Soul Masters admitted to the Papal Palace answered as one, their voices making the entire palace tremble.

"Good. Go and divide into groups," Qian Daoliu said with a wave of his hand.

The Soul Masters of the Offering Hall and Elder Council stayed where they were. Those below Soul Saint left the Papal Palace.

Qian Daoliu rose from the pope's chair and said to Qian Xunji, "The Offering Hall will not deploy. The Body Academy needs people for its construction, and teaching at Spirit Hall Academy cannot stop. Send out everyone else."

"Dad, Hades is a level ninety-nine Peak Douluo. Did you sense the aura of a God on him?" Qian Xunji asked gravely.

"I sensed no aura of a God on him. But on Douluo Continent, only Bo Saixi, the high priestess of Sea God Island, and I can hold him back. Anyone else would have to fight for their life." Qian Daoliu's face was stern. "After this purge of Evil Soul Masters, Spirit Hall's hold over the two empires will likely weaken considerably. Make certain they have no chance to bare their teeth—especially no chance to start a war."

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll see to it. I won't give the two empires or the three great sects an opening!" Qian Xunji said, his gaze resolute.

"A Yi, what happened to your face? It's all swollen. Did a woman catch you doing something you shouldn't?" Golden Crocodile Douluo teased, eyeing Huang Tieyi's left cheek, swollen from his face-first landing.

"Consecrated Golden Crocodile, a woman didn't hit me. The Great Enshrined was in such a hurry that when he brought me back, he stopped short and forgot about me. I hit the ground face-first," Huang Tieyi said pitifully.

"You were there when Hades, the Leader of the Holy Spirit Cult, appeared?" Golden Crocodile Douluo stopped teasing him and asked with a grave expression.

"Yes. Extinction Douluo fought me for a long time first. In the end, the Great Enshrined saved me..." Huang Tieyi explained.

"Brat, tell us exactly what happened. Don't give us bits and pieces." Mighty Lion Douluo slapped Huang Tieyi on the shoulder, making him buckle and fall onto his backside.

"Young people are so lazy. You even have to sit down to tell a story..." Seeing Huang Tieyi on the ground, Mighty Lion Douluo sat down too.

"Here's what happened. I bought a few plots in the North District to build a big villa. Big Sisters Jin Xiaoyu and Xiong An'an saw me and teased me until I was burning with desire. I ran off so I wouldn't act like a beast, and went to that pool outside Spirit City to cool down. That was where I ran into Extinction Douluo..." Huang Tieyi told them everything from beginning to end.

In truth, Mighty Lion Douluo and Golden Crocodile Douluo were not concerned about Extinction Douluo Chen Jue. They mainly wanted to hear what Huang Tieyi would say about Jin Xiaoyu and Xiong An'an.

"Brat, what exactly do you think of my great-granddaughter?"