Golden light spilled over the streets of Spirit City, reflecting a dazzling halo. From time to time, Spirit Hall stewards in white or yellow uniforms hurried past.
Dressed in brand-new black clothes, Yang Wushuang walked along the bustling yet oppressive streets, looking somewhat out of place.
Spirit City covered a vast area. Even at Yang Wushuang's pace, the journey took nearly an hour. At last, a building of breathtaking grandeur filled his entire field of vision.
The main hall stood dozens of meters tall, built entirely from an unknown white jade that shimmered with sacred light beneath the sun.
Dozens of massive stone pillars, each requiring two people to encircle it with their arms, supported the enormous hall. Intricate angel reliefs adorned their surfaces. Atop the main hall, a huge golden angel emblem gleamed brilliantly.
This was the heart of Spirit Hall's power, a sacred place in the hearts of countless Soul Masters-and the deepest shackle in Yang Wushuang's heart all these years.
At the entrance to the square before the main hall, two guards in golden armor stood ramrod straight, spears in hand. Their auras were steady, their gazes sharp as eagles. Both were unmistakably Soul Emperor-level experts.
Yang Wushuang stopped and looked calmly at one of the guards, his voice reaching the man's ears.
"Sorry for the trouble, but please announce that Yang Wushuang of the Yang Family requests an audience with the Lord Worshipper."
At those words, the guard looked Yang Wushuang over carefully.
"Ah, Bishop Yang." The guard bowed slightly, his tone growing more respectful:
"Please wait a moment. I will report your arrival at once."
With that, he exchanged a glance with the other guard, then turned and strode toward the depths of the main hall.
"Bishop Yang, this way, please." The other guard immediately stepped forward and gestured politely for Yang Wushuang to follow.
Yang Wushuang gave a slight nod and followed the guard toward a side hall beside the square.
Because of Yang Wushuang's decision years ago, both the Yang and Niu families received certain privileges within Spirit Hall. As their respective family heads, Yang Wushuang and Niu Yue both held the position of Black Bishop.
Spirit Hall's hierarchy was strictly regimented. From lowest to highest, its ranks were White Steward, Yellow Grand Steward, Purple Bishop, Black Bishop, Red Bishop, Platinum Bishop, and finally Elder.
These were more than differences in title; they were directly tied to soul power level and contributions to Spirit Hall.
White Stewards were usually Soul Grandmasters; Yellow Grand Stewards needed to be at least Soul Elders; most Purple Bishops were Soul Kings; Black Bishops had to be at least Soul Emperors, with Soul Saints at the upper end. Red Bishops were all formidable figures at the pinnacle of the Soul Saint rank or even at the Soul Douluo level. As for Platinum Bishops, only Soul Douluos had any chance of attaining that position.
And as far as Yang Wushuang remembered, apart from the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, whose status rivaled that of a Titled Douluo, only Titled Douluos were qualified to serve as Elders.
The guard led Yang Wushuang into a reception hall. Its furnishings were simple, consisting of only a few antique tables and chairs, and a faint scent of sandalwood incense lingered in the air.
"Bishop Yang, please wait here," the guard said respectfully before withdrawing from the hall.
Yang Wushuang nodded and walked over to a chair alone. He carefully set the White Jade Bottle in his hand on the table beside him and gazed calmly out through the doorway, though countless thoughts churned within his heart.
Boom-
About fifteen minutes later, with a dull crash, the tightly closed doors were shoved open from outside.
An oppressive force as immense as a mountain swept in through the doorway and filled the entire hall. It was so powerful that the air itself seemed to congeal, and even the flame of the burning sandalwood incense faltered slightly.
Yang Wushuang's expression changed. The soul power within him instinctively surged, seeking to resist the pressure.
A burly man swaggered into the hall.
He wore a dark red robe trimmed with gold. His exposed arms were knotted with muscles brimming with explosive strength, and his dark golden hair stood straight up. His face was rugged, a faint scar marked his forehead, and his eyes held a domineering gaze.
When Yang Wushuang saw who had arrived, his pupils abruptly contracted, and a flicker of irrepressible shock flashed through his eyes.
He sprang up from his chair, straightened his clothes, and bowed.
"Black Bishop Yang Wushuang pays his respects to the Seventh Worshipper!"
The Seventh Worshipper, Demon Subduing Douluo!
A Peak Douluo whose cultivation had reached level ninety-six! Over the years, because of Seven-Colored Splendor, Yang Wushuang had dealt with Spirit Hall's senior figures many times. He had also met Demon Subduing Douluo, this great figure of the Worship Hall, twice.
He had never imagined that coming to report such a minor matter today would draw the attention of this towering figure.
Demon Subduing Douluo casually surveyed the hall before his gaze settled on Yang Wushuang. He looked him up and down, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
In his eyes, a level seventy-eight Soul Saint-and one with no hope of advancing-was hardly worth his notice.
If his elder brother had not reminded him again and again before he left, he would never have bothered wasting time meeting such a minor figure.
Demon Subduing Douluo cleared his throat, deliberately assumed a stern expression, and said in a deep, rumbling voice, "There is no need for such ceremony. Bishop Yang, what brings you here today?"
Not daring to show the slightest negligence, Yang Wushuang respectfully presented the jade bottle from the table to Demon Subduing Douluo.
"My lord, this is the Seven-Colored Splendor I have refined recently."
"Oh." Demon Subduing Douluo glanced at the jade bottle, then put it away. He regarded Yang Wushuang with an impassive gaze.
"Since Bishop Yang has delivered it in person, I imagine this is more than a simple delivery of medicine?"
"Lord Worshipper, my grandson, Yang Chang'an, reached level ten today. He needs to hunt for a suitable soul ring, so I have come to report the matter and request permission to take him to the Soul Beast Forest."
"Oh? He broke through?"
Demon Subduing Douluo raised an eyebrow. He strolled unhurriedly to the seat of honor, sat down, picked up the teacup on the table, and drained it in one gulp.
"Then how long do you intend to be away?"
"One month," Yang Wushuang answered almost without thinking. He had settled on that duration long ago.
"Including the journey there and back, as well as the time needed to find a suitable soul beast in the Soul Beast Forest, one month should be enough."
"One month?"
Demon Subduing Douluo set down his teacup, his brows creasing slightly as his sharp eyes fixed on Yang Wushuang.
"Bishop Yang, you should understand your position. You are someone under Spirit Hall's special 'protection.' Isn't a month away from Spirit City a little too long?"
"If something were to happen, who would take responsibility?"
Yang Wushuang's heart tightened. He was about to explain when Demon Subduing Douluo abruptly changed tack:
"How about this? I happen to have some time to spare lately. Why don't I personally take your grandson to hunt for his soul ring?"
"What?!"
Yang Wushuang looked up in astonishment. A Peak Douluo personally hunting a soul ring for a child who had only just reached level ten? It sounded like a tale from the Arabian Nights!
He was not worried that Demon Subduing Douluo would harm the hope of the Yang Family. Given the man's status and strength, there was simply no need for him to do such a thing.
Though puzzled, Yang Wushuang still replied respectfully, "It is Chang'an's good fortune to receive such favor from you, Lord Worshipper. Naturally, I have no objection."
"Heh heh."
Watching Yang Wushuang's cautious demeanor, Demon Subduing Douluo suddenly grinned and waved a hand.
"Never mind, never mind. Hunting for a soul ring is ultimately a matter between you and your grandson. For an outsider like me to interfere would be rather inconsiderate."
Without waiting for Yang Wushuang to respond, he abruptly pulled a Brass Bracelet from inside his robe.
Whoosh!
With a flick of Demon Subduing Douluo's finger, the bracelet flew straight toward Yang Wushuang.
Startled, Yang Wushuang hurriedly reached out with both hands and caught the bracelet securely.
"With this token, you may leave. I'll give you a month and a half. That should be enough, shouldn't it?"
"Also, this Soul Tool..." Demon Subduing Douluo pointed at the bracelet in Yang Wushuang's hands, a meaningful smile curling at the corner of his mouth:
"Consider it my gift to that precious grandson of yours."
Yang Wushuang looked down, his doubts deepening. He drew a deep breath, forcibly stilled the turmoil within him, and bowed to Demon Subduing Douluo again.
"On Chang'an's behalf, I thank you for your generosity, Lord Worshipper!"
"Mm." Demon Subduing Douluo nodded in satisfaction and waved Yang Wushuang away. "All right, all right. Your business is finished. You may go."
"I shall take my leave."
Yang Wushuang bowed once more, then turned and walked out. As the doors slowly closed, silence immediately returned to the hall.
Demon Subduing Douluo sat alone in the seat of honor, looking at the closed doors as the smile gradually faded from his face. He scratched his short, dark golden hair, a trace of bewilderment and uncertainty appearing on his face, and muttered under his breath:
"Fifth Brother... will this really work?"
As his words faded, Demon Subduing Douluo's burly figure vanished from the hall in an instant, as though he had never been there.