Chen Xin kept his mouth shut, but his eyes flicked toward Gu Rong.
Gu Rong shot him a look back, its meaning perfectly clear: Say something yourself!
Chen Xin fell silent for two breaths before finally speaking, his voice low. "It's a good law. All sides joining forces to protect rare soul beasts will benefit the soul master ecosystem across the entire continent. I have no objections."
Yu Yuanzhen's fist was still raised in the air, and his voice was the loudest. "Fine! I'll swear the oath! At worst, I'll kill a couple fewer soul beasts from now on!"
Tang Xiao's tone had softened considerably. "In principle, the Clear Sky Sect can accept the framework of the Soul Beast Protection Law. But the specific provisions will require further discussion."
Tang Hao had remained silent throughout.
He stood there, his eyes behind the iron mask fixed on Qin Chuan.
Qin Chuan walked up to him.
"Tang Hao. What about you?"
Tang Hao was silent for several breaths.
He was weighing his options.
His soul power had been sealed, his body immobilized, and facing him were one level 97 Peak Douluo and two Titled Douluos.
He was now only level 94, having lost a level to the game last night. Even if his soul power recovered, he had no chance of winning against three Titled Douluos alone.
More importantly, there was Qin Chuan's Game Domain.
He had witnessed it today. At level 61, Qin Chuan could pin six Titled Douluos above level 90 to the ground. Once this man kept leveling up-to level 70, level 80, level 90...
Tang Hao dared not think any further. He exhaled. "As long as you give me my level back, none of this is an issue."
Qin Chuan smiled. "Sure. No problem."
All six Titled Douluos breathed a sigh of relief. Those were the very words they had been waiting for.
One whole level! How many years of cultivation would that take? Besides, someone already had them in the palm of his hand!
Soon, the negative effects on all six were removed.
But the Game Domain remained.
Their soul power began circulating again, yet not one of them made a move.
Qin Chuan raised his voice. "Please come forward one at a time, swear an oath upon your martial soul, and leave your soul power imprint."
Dugu Bo was the first to step forward. With a solemn expression, he declared before everyone, "I, Dugu Bo, swear upon my Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor martial soul to abide by every provision of the Soul Beast Protection Law and never wantonly hunt rare or endangered soul beasts. Should I violate this oath, may my martial soul turn against me and my cultivation crumble."
As his words fell, a wisp of pale green soul power condensed at his fingertip. It settled gently onto the paper, becoming his unique soul power imprint and adhering firmly to the law.
Gu Rong stepped forward second and solemnly swore, "I, Gu Rong, swear upon my Bone Dragon Martial Soul..."
A wisp of gray-white soul power flowed from his fingertip, forming an imprint upon the paper.
Chen Xin was third...
Tang Hao stepped forward last. His eyes beneath the iron mask were deep and cold as he said, word by word, "I, Tang Hao, swear upon my Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul to abide by the Soul Beast Protection Law, honor this agreement, and never violate it."
Powerful, domineering soul power slowly flowed out, forming a weighty imprint that branded itself firmly upon the law. Its force was steady and concentrated, without the slightest perfunctoriness.
Six distinct soul power imprints lay scattered across the paper, each clear and unmistakable.
Qin Chuan put the paper away, folding it neatly and tucking it inside his robes.
"Very good. The Soul Beast Protection Law takes effect as of today."
The six stood in the council hall with varying expressions. But there was one thing they all wanted to know.
Tang Xiao spoke. "Qin Chuan, when will our levels be restored?"
All six were still dwelling on the level they had lost in the Game Hall last night.
Qin Chuan thought for a moment.
"Once you leave Spirit City, the restriction will lift on its own."
"All right." Tang Xiao nodded. He did not want to stay here for even one more breath.
Finally, Bibi Dong spoke. "That's enough. You may leave."
The six Titled Douluos turned and headed toward the council hall's doors.
Tang Hao walked at the front, his steps heavy.
Tang Xiao followed behind, never falling even half a step back.
The others followed them out.
The six had arrived brimming with confidence, ready to settle the score with Qin Chuan.
As they left, each was quieter than the last.
Their figures disappeared through the council hall's doorway. Their footsteps faded into the distance until they could no longer be heard.
Only Qin Chuan, Bibi Dong, Yue Guan, and Gui Mei remained in the council hall.
Yue Guan was the first to lose his composure.
"Hahaha!" He burst out laughing. His golden ponytail bounced against his shoulder, and his eyes narrowed with laughter on his refined face.
"Qin Chuan! That line of yours, 'Tang Chen, what brings you here?' had Tang Hao and Tang Xiao spinning in circles! Those two turned their heads faster than I can unleash a soul skill!"
Gui Mei could no longer hold back either. Rare laugh lines appeared on his deathly pale face. Though his smile was somewhat unnerving, he was undeniably laughing.
"Six Titled Douluos, called useless by a Soul Emperor and then all pinned to the ground." Gui Mei shook his head. "In all my years, this is a first."
Yue Guan laughed a while longer, then turned to glance at Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong sat in the seat of honor, her expression tightly controlled. The corners of her mouth twitched twice, as though she were holding something back.
She was the Pope.
The supreme leader of Spirit Hall.
In front of her subordinates, she could only suppress her laughter.
Who knew whether holding it in might leave her with an internal injury?
Yue Guan could tell that Her Holiness was in an exceptionally good mood.
Bibi Dong cleared her throat, suppressing the curve at the corners of her mouth. She rose, the hem of her papal robes trailing along the floor, and walked over to Qin Chuan.
"Qin Chuan. Come with me."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Qin Chuan followed Bibi Dong toward the secret chamber.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei remained in the council hall.
Once Qin Chuan and Bibi Dong had gone far enough, Yue Guan spoke first.
"Gui Mei, what do you think Her Holiness is taking him to the secret chamber for?"
Gui Mei glanced at him. "They'll probably be discussing important matters next."
Yue Guan nodded. "Yes, Her Holiness is overjoyed today. The Soul Beast Protection Law was successfully finalized with their oaths, all six Titled Douluos agreed to abide by it, all six were put in their place, and Qin Chuan rendered another great service. I'd be happy too if I were Her Holiness."
Gui Mei nodded without saying anything more.
The two Titled Douluos stood in the empty council hall. Shattered black ironwood littered the floor, and the cracks in the vaulted ceiling remained.
Sunlight spilled through the cracks, falling beside their feet.
Bibi Dong led Qin Chuan into the secret chamber.
The stone door closed behind them. The heavy slabs came together with a muffled rumble, shutting out every sound from outside.
The secret chamber was unchanged. Four stone walls, a long blackwood table, and two chairs.
There was leftover tea in the teapot on the table, remaining from last night. The door to the adjoining room stood half open, and the bed inside had yet to be tidied.
Bibi Dong walked up to the table without sitting down.
She raised a hand and removed the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown from her head, setting it gently on the tabletop and resting the Pope's Scepter against the table's corner. Freed from the crown, her long purplish-pink hair cascaded down, spreading over her shoulders and back.
She stood with her back to Qin Chuan for two breaths before slowly turning around.
The emotions she had suppressed for so long finally broke free.
"Hahaha... Qin Chuan, let me laugh for a moment first... hahaha."
Bibi Dong bent straight over, bracing one hand against the table's edge and clutching her stomach with the other as peals of unrestrained laughter rang out.
Qin Chuan stood beside her, a faint smile rippling through his eyes as he remarked softly, "It's been so long since I've seen Sis Dongdong laugh this freely."
Bibi Dong laughed for quite a while, her chest rising and falling, before slowly steadying her breathing and straightening up.
She let out a soft breath, and the faintest trace of relief passed through her eyes.
"Qin Chuan..." Her voice was far lower and gentler than it was before outsiders, carrying the ease of a heavy burden lifted. "I originally thought that to enact the Soul Beast Protection Law, we'd have to spend at least several months entangled with the Upper Three Sects, enduring confrontations and conflicts and draining our strength before there was any chance of implementing it."
Her gaze settled on Qin Chuan, approval in her eyes.
"But with your strength alone, in just ten short minutes, you dealt with all six Titled Douluos and finalized every agreement!"
Qin Chuan said, "Do I get a reward, Sis Dongdong?"
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