Invitation from Spirit Hall

Days later.

Dugu Manor, living room.

Dugu Bo sat in the main seat, his expression far from pleasant.

Ye Han sat in the seat to his lower right, his demeanor calm, showing not the slightest ripple of emotion.

"Old Poison, stop wearing such a stinking face," Yue Guan's voice drifted in from the doorway. "I've come on orders from Spirit Hall after all. Is this really how you treat a guest?"

As his voice trailed off, Yue Guan and Salas walked into the hall one after the other.

Dugu Bo raised his eyes to sweep over him, letting out a cold snort. "You old chrysanthemum, instead of staying put in Spirit City, what are you running over to my Dugu Manor for?"

"Naturally, I am here on a special visit by the decree of His Holiness the Pope." Yue Guan stood on no ceremony, pulling out the empty chair beside him of his own accord and sitting down.

Salas stood behind Yue Guan, his expression slightly constrained.

As the prelate of the Heaven Dou Spirit Temple, he lacked even the qualification to take a seat at this moment.

Dugu Bo glanced at Salas, his tone flat. "Bishop Salas, Yue Guan and I have some private matters to discuss. You should head back first."

Salas's face stiffened, and he subconsciously turned his gaze toward Yue Guan.

Yet Yue Guan acted as if he hadn't heard the exchange, reaching out to pick up another cup of untouched tea on the table and gently blowing away the foam floating on the surface.

Salas cursed inwardly, yet he knew full well this was not a place for him to chime in.

He forced out a trace of a smile and bowed. "This subordinate will take his leave first."

With that, he turned and stepped out of the living room, pulling the door shut behind him as he left.

Only three people remained in the hall.

Only then did Dugu Bo look at Yue Guan, his tone carrying a trace of impatience. "Speak your mind directly and stop beating around the bush with me. This old man doesn't have time to waste with you."

Yue Guan put down his teacup and stopped mincing words. "My coming here this time represents Spirit Hall, and represents His Holiness the Pope."

He turned his gaze toward Ye Guan, his expression turning serious. "According to Spirit Hall's consistent rules, whenever a top-tier genius Soul Master emerges on the continent, we extend an invitation. Ye Guan, would you be willing to join Spirit Hall?"

Ye Guan did not answer immediately.

As if he had long anticipated that Ye Guan would hesitate, Yue Guan raised a hand to signal that he need not rush to speak. "Don't be in a hurry to refuse. It won't be too late for you to make your plans after hearing the terms I'm offering."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "However, before we discuss terms, I have an unchivalrous request. Can you let me witness with my own eyes the External Beast Martial Soul that has been rumored so wondrously in the outside world?"

Ye Guan turned to look at Dugu Bo, who gave a slight nod in signal.

Ye Guan no longer hesitated. With a thought, a flash of red light suddenly blazed as the Fire Qilin directly manifested inside the living room.

Yue Guan's pupils slightly constricted.

Not only could he sense the pure and dense fire-attribute soul power radiating from the Fire Qilin, but he also caught the fleeting breath of soul power that flashed the instant Ye Guan released his Martial Soul.

That aura was one he was far too familiar with!

Yue Guan's expression changed drastically. He abruptly rose from his chair, his figure shifting as he swept right in front of Ye Guan.

Dugu Bo seemed to have anticipated this scene, sitting securely in his original seat without moving an inch.

Ye Guan did not dodge either, letting Yue Guan make his move.

Yue Guan raised his hand, landing seven consecutive palm strikes on Ye Guan's body.

The palm force was not fierce, yet every strike landed with pinpoint accuracy on specific locations: the neck, legs, arms, chest, and back.

Seven streams of soul power poured into Ye Guan's body following the force of the palms.

The next instant, a faint layer of golden light emerged across the surface of Ye Guan's body.

Upon seeing this layer of golden light, Yue Guan's palm suspended in mid-air suddenly halted, his entire person freezing in place.

His breathing grew hurried, his eyes filled with disbelief.

With a gentle flick of his wrist, a magnificent purple chrysanthemum appeared in his palm. Its petals were soft and velvety, and the entire flower looked entirely natural, yet not a shred of fragrance drifted outward.

It was none other than Yue Guan's Martial Soul, the immortal-grade Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum!

Yue Guan stared fixedly at Ye Guan, his voice trembling slightly from excitement. "You... you have consumed this immortal herb, haven't you?"

"That's right," Ye Guan gently nodded. "I have indeed eaten a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum."

Yue Guan stared at Ye Guan, his breathing growing ever more urgent.

He took a deep breath, struggling to steady his tone, though he still failed to conceal the eagerness in his words. "Ye Guan, since you have consumed the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, it means you have an affinity with me. I ask you, would you be willing to take me as your master?"

At this, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan stepped forward, looking at Ye Guan with burning eyes.

"With your talent, coupled with the foundation tempered by the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, your future achievements will absolute not be weaker than mine. You might even... have a chance to catch up to those big figures in the Worship Hall!"

"Spare me, Chrysanthemum Guan!"

Before Yue Guan's voice had even faded, Dugu Bo off to the side let out a sneering laugh.

He leaned back against the back of his chair, crossing his legs with the air of someone watching a good show.

"With Ye Guan's natural endowment, surpassing you is merely a matter of time. Where would he ever need to take you as his master?"

Dugu Bo's emerald-green eyes slanted sideways at Yue Guan, his words full of banter. "You old chrysanthemum, stop trying to gild your own lily."

The corners of Yue Guan's mouth twitched fiercely.

He had gotten carried away by his emotions just now and completely forgotten about this factor.

The talent Ye Guan displayed was astonishing to begin with: a Soul King at twelve years old, complete with a ten-thousand-year fourth soul ring.

Thinking back on it now, his own words from just moments ago truly did sound a bit self-aggrandizing.

Yue Guan gave a light cough to mask his awkwardness, raising the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in his hand to look at Ye Guan. "Since you've eaten this item, do you recognize it?"

Ye Guan nodded with a calm expression. "I recognize it. This immortal herb is called the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and it was Poison Douluo senior who originally gave it to me to consume. The relevant medicinal properties were also explained to me by senior."

Hearing these words from Ye Guan, a trace of complacency immediately floated onto Dugu Bo's face.

Of course he recognized this immortal herb.

Back when he found that herb garden, he couldn't name the vast majority of exotic plants within it, but he had an exceptionally deep impression of this Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum precisely because of Yue Guan.

Yue Guan cast a slightly surprised look toward Dugu Bo.

"Old Poison, you certainly act generously when handing things out." His tone was complex, mixed with astonishment and a trace of hard-to-conceal envy.

"Such a precious immortal herb, and you just give it away like that?"

If this immortal herb had remained in his own hands, it would have been enough to help him break through the cultivation bottleneck that had stagnated for years.

Pity that the immortal herb had already been consumed by Ye Guan; now he could only indulge in futile daydreams.

Dugu Bo let out a hum, replying without a second thought, "Ye Guan is this old man's brother. Mere trifle of a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, what's so hard to let go of about giving it away?"

He said it as casually as if this peerless immortal herb were merely some ordinary grass that could be handed out at whim.

Yue Guan fell silent for a moment, dropping the topic.

If he kept chatting about it, he feared he would be stimulated by these words until he could no longer remain calm.

He turned around, his gaze falling back onto the Fire Qilin.

This time he looked far more carefully than before, his line of sight slowly moving downward to rest upon the five soul rings at the Fire Qilin's feet.

Yellow, yellow, purple, black, black.

Five soul rings: two hundred years, one thousand years, twenty thousand years.

Seeing it with one's own eyes and hearing it recounted by others were completely different matters.

A trace of surprise flashed through the depths of Yue Guan's eyes, quickly returning to comprehension.

After a brief moment of thought, he settled on the reason for Ye Guan's skyrocketing soul power.

The medicinal potency of immortal herbs like the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum was formidable.

If Ye Guan had consumed it in his early years and paired it with various resource enhancements, reaching his current realm of cultivation made sense.

Otherwise, relying solely on dogged cultivation, even if he had started cultivating the moment he was born, it would have been impossible to reach the Soul King realm at age twelve.

Yue Guan withdrew his gaze and looked at Ye Guan once more, his expression turning solemn.

"Ye Guan, my coming here today is to officially extend an invitation to you on behalf of Spirit Hall. Are you willing to join Spirit Hall?"

"With your talent, the moment you enter the hall, you can immediately become the personal disciple of His Holiness the Pope, and your status will even surpass that of the Golden Generation."

Yue Guan gazed at Ye Guan, speaking slowly, word by word:

"With the aptitude you've demonstrated, given time, you might very well have the opportunity to sit in the position of Spirit Hall's Holy Son!"

This sentence carried immense weight.

The Holy Son of Spirit Hall was the successor to the future pope; his status would be noble, holding monstrous authority.

The living room instantly grew quiet.

Dugu Bo furrowed his brow slightly, yet he did not speak up.

From here on, Ye Guan had to make his own choice, and he would not interfere.

Ye Guan was silent for a moment before shaking his head slowly. "Many thanks to Chrysanthemum Douluo senior for the high regard."

"It's just that I am still a student of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy at present, and I have also just received the title of earl from the Heaven Dou Empire. Before graduating from the academy, I have no plans to throw in my lot with other factions for the time being."

Ye Guan refused with crisp decisiveness.

Yet there was not much surprise on Yue Guan's face, as though he had long anticipated this outcome.

He let out a light sigh, his tone softening a fraction. "No matter, this matter is of great consequence; it is only right that you deliberate on it for a while."

Yue Guan changed the subject. "However, His Holiness the Pope gave me a strict order: no matter what, I must invite you to make a trip to Spirit City."

He looked at Ye Guan and added, "It is merely to go and meet, and you will not be forced to make a choice right on the spot!"

Ye Guan raised his eyes, locking gazes with Yue Guan.

After a brief silence, he suddenly reached out and pointed toward the Fire Qilin beside him.

"Is it because of my Martial Soul?"

Yue Guan was slightly startled, then nodded. "That's right. His Holiness the Pope is... extremely interested in your Martial Soul."

"Ye Guan, there's no need to listen to those groundless rumors from the outside world and harbor guard against Spirit Hall. Those are all deliberate smears against Spirit Hall by people with ulterior motives. For all Soul Masters on the continent striving toward higher realms, Spirit Hall is the best destination, with no second choice."

At this, his tone brimmed with confidence.

"His Holiness the Pope summoning you this time holds only benefits for you, and not the slightest harm. I can vouch for that with the identity of a Spirit Hall elder."

The living room once again lapsed into silence.

Dugu Bo looked toward Ye Guan, his gaze carrying inquiry.

Ye Guan exchanged a look with him and gently nodded.

After a long while, Ye Guan slowly exhaled a breath.

He looked at Yue Guan, his voice steady:

"Since that's the case, I shall accompany senior for a trip to Spirit City."

A flash of joy crossed Yue Guan's eyes, though he quickly suppressed it, nodding as he spoke. "There's no time to lose, we shall set off tomorrow."

At this moment, Dugu Bo suddenly spoke up. "This old man will go along."

Yue Guan frowned as he looked at him. "Old Poison, His Holiness the Pope only summoned Ye Guan alone."

"So what?" Dugu Bo let out a cold laugh. "Ye Guan is this old man's brother. Wherever he goes, I follow. Is there a problem? Could it be that outsiders are no longer allowed to set foot in Spirit City these days?"

Yue Guan's mouth twitched, and in the end he could only agree helplessly. "As you please, then."