Ning Fengzhi Brought a Soul Bone to Seek the Crystal Platform; Chen Xin Awaited a Seventy-Thousand-Year Soul Bone Replacement

On December 12, 2631 of the Douluo Calendar, fine flurries drifted through the morning air in Spirit City. Snowflakes landed on the gilded tiles of the Pope's Hall and instantly melted into beads of water, trickling down the tile ends and lending the perpetually imposing palace a touch of winter's gentle warmth.

Inside the Council Chamber of the Pope's Hall, Qian Xunji bent over his desk, working through a mountain of documents. His gilded pen swept across the parchment, leaving bold, vigorous strokes-he was checking the "Underworld Criminal Escort Lists" submitted by each Branch Hall, one by one. Every name and every offense required careful verification. After all, this concerned the implementation of Spirit Hall's new order, and there was no room for even the slightest mistake.

The glow of the snow outside spilled through the carved window lattice and fell across his golden hair, making the usually tense Pope look visibly more weary.

"Your Holiness."

A soft announcement came from outside the chamber. A deacon stood bowed in the doorway, holding a gold-embossed visiting card, his tone tinged with caution.

"Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, has arrived with Sword Douluo Chen Xin. They are waiting outside the hall."

Qian Xunji's pen paused, and a flicker of understanding passed through his eyes-some time ago, Guang Ling had attended a banquet for Ning Fengzhi's daughter as Spirit Hall's envoy. Upon his return, he had mentioned how deeply Ning Fengzhi treasured his young daughter.

Ning Fengzhi's personal visit this time surely involved more than a simple social call.

He set down his gilded pen and rubbed his aching brow. As he rose, he smoothed the creases in his golden papal robe, his voice returning to its usual calm.

"Show them in."

Soon, two figures entered the