Hu Liena's request

"You lost!"

Those words sounded like a needle stabbing Hu Liena's heart. Her gaze instinctively turned toward Xie Yue. In the round that narrowed three contestants down to two at this year's friendly tournament between the four academies, Xie Yue had sacrificed his own chances and voluntarily conceded, giving Hu Liena his place. Now, the championship was about to slip through her fingers.

Soul power surged out of Hu Liena as she struggled violently in the swamp. Yet the harder she struggled, the deeper she sank instead of escaping. First her hips, then her waist, and finally even her chest disappeared into the mire.

A match in the arena could not be stopped midway unless someone's life was in danger. This rule accounted for the strategy of deliberately showing weakness to lull an opponent into complacency, then launching a surprise attack at the last possible instant to win.

"Still refusing to concede?" Su Chen asked.

Trapped in the swamp, Hu Liena looked up at Su Chen. Clenching her delicate hands, she asked, "How does your Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring have two soul skills?"

Su Chen shook his head. "To be precise, this is another self-created soul skill of mine!"

"A self-created soul skill? You actually created two soul skills yourself?" Hu Liena asked in astonishment.

"Yes." Su Chen nodded.

"How is that possible? Someone who can create even one soul skill is already a one-in-a-hundred prodigy, and you created two?" Hu Liena stared at Xiao Han with shock and doubt in her eyes. There was actually someone in this world more outstanding than her and her brother, Xie Yue.

"There's no need to be so surprised. Creating your own soul skills isn't really that difficult!" Su Chen smiled faintly, his expression warm enough that he did not seem to be showing off. In truth, even if he was showing off, he really was that damn impressive!

Creating your own soul skills isn't really that difficult!

Hu Liena had no answer to that. Only someone who thoroughly understood their own martial soul and the attributes of their soul power had any chance of creating a soul skill of their own-and even then, it was merely a chance. Even among Titled Douluos, some had never created their own soul skills. Yet Su Chen actually said it was not difficult! Probably no one on the entire Douluo Continent except Su Chen, who had created two soul skills at the age of twelve, would dare say such a thing!

Faced with Su Chen, Hu Liena had no choice but to acknowledge his superiority. Her tightly clenched hands slowly relaxed. She let out a long breath. What could she accomplish by refusing to concede now? The swamp had already reached her neck. Was she supposed to conquer Su Chen with her mouth?

"You won!" Hu Liena lowered her gaze, stubbornly refusing to say, "I concede."

Thud.

Su Chen formed a seal with his hands, then slapped his palm against the ground. Hu Liena flew out of the swamp. By the time her feet touched the ground, the swamp beneath her had turned back into solid rock. The sight was truly magical.

"Could you grant me an unreasonable request?" Hu Liena suddenly asked.

"Tell me first. If it's reasonable, I can grant it." Su Chen smiled.

"Could you take off your mask?" Hu Liena asked earnestly.

"My mask?" Su Chen raised his brows slightly.

"Yes. I want to remember your face. One day, I'll defeat you!" Hu Liena clenched her delicate hands once again.

"I can't grant that request. You don't need to see my face to defeat me." Su Chen smiled and declined her request.

"Everyone! After six rounds of competition, we finally have our champion. The champion of this year's friendly tournament between Spirit City's four soul master academies is..."

"Su Chen! Su Chen! Su Chen!"

The announcer deliberately paused, and the spectators in the stands all shouted the same name.

"That's right-it's Su Chen!" The announcer raised Su Chen's hand and declared loudly.

"What a surprising little fellow!"

Inside the VIP room behind the one-way glass, Bibi Dong rested her gaze on Su Chen. "You two," she said slowly, "it's time for us to make our appearance!"

"What a fortunate little fellow!"

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked at Su Chen, both astonishment and envy in his eyes. With talent like his, Su Chen was indeed qualified to become the Pope of Spirit Hall's Direct Disciple.

A brilliant golden light blossomed above the arena, accompanied by nine soul rings. From innermost to outermost, their colors were yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, and black. Beside that brilliant golden light appeared another set of soul rings in the same colors. The difference was the black phantom behind their owner, which seemed to have a pair of wings.

"Titled Douluos!"

"Chrysanthemum Douluo!"

"Ghost Douluo!"

Everyone in the arena was stunned. They had never imagined that a routine friendly tournament between the four academies would draw the attention of such exalted Titled Douluos.

Had the Titled Douluos taken a liking to some of this year's contestants? Did they want to take them as Direct Disciples?

"Greetings, Your Excellencies!"

Not only the announcer and the Red-Robed Cardinal, but also every spectator in the stands rose to their feet and bowed with the utmost respect to the two figures descending from the sky.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo stepped onto the platform, then bowed respectfully toward the sky. "We welcome His Holiness the Pope!"

His Holiness the Pope?

Everyone in the arena except Su Chen was utterly stunned. Was His Holiness the Pope coming here in person? Had the Pope finally been moved? Had she found someone who satisfied her and decided to take him as her Direct Disciple?

A figure slowly descended from the sky. She was not tall, and her brilliant golden gown fitted her perfectly from head to toe. The dazzling garment glittered with the radiance of more than a hundred red, blue, and gold gemstones. The Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown atop her head shone with countless rays of light, and she held a scepter roughly two meters long, inlaid with innumerable jewels. Her fair skin and nearly flawless features made her look utterly extraordinary. Above all, the intangible nobility and holiness she exuded inspired an irresistible urge to prostrate oneself in worship.

"Greetings, Your Holiness!"

Unlike Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, everyone throughout the vast arena dropped to one knee before Bibi Dong. Some of the more devout knelt on both knees, as though worshipping a deity.

"Everyone, rise!"

Her ethereal, melodious voice echoed across the square. Once everyone had risen, their gazes all settled on Su Chen.

A rumor had circulated long ago: Bibi Dong intended to take a disciple. Anyone who won the Four-Academy Friendship Tournament had a chance of becoming Bibi Dong's Direct Disciple. Bibi Dong's Direct Disciple would someday be first in line to succeed the Pope of Spirit Hall. Perhaps none of the previous champions had been enough to move her, for ever since that rumor began, no one had enjoyed the good fortune of becoming her Direct Disciple.

Now that Bibi Dong had come to the arena herself, she must have found a student who moved her. As for who could be fortunate enough to win her favor, there was probably only one candidate: the champion of this year's tournament between Spirit City's four soul master academies-Su Chen!