And so it went.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Over that half month, the results of the Soul Master Elite Tournament finals spread far and wide.
Shrek Academy had won the championship in the finals, only to be disqualified because its team included a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
At that moment.
The dark-horse image they had built during the Heaven Dou qualifiers collapsed in an instant, and a deluge of abuse greeted them instead.
There was no shortage of malice from Canghui Academy, Elephant Armor Sect Academy, and the others Shrek had once ravaged.
"Heavens, no wonder Shrek Academy was so strong. It turns out they had a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast on their team."
"Exactly! With a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast there, how were a bunch of young Soul Masters in their teens and twenties supposed to win?"
"This cheating is absolutely disgusting. I despise this Shrek Academy!"
As for explanations, no one would listen.
Meanwhile, the reform documents Spirit Hall had issued one after another over the past half month had likewise sparked an overwhelming wave of discussion across every level of the continent.
People cared only about their own interests; at the slightest dissatisfaction, slander and complaints spilled from their lips.
Spirit Hall had abolished free awakenings and sharply reduced Soul Master stipends.
Naturally, this affected the interests of Soul Masters throughout the continent.
Those willing to pledge allegiance to Spirit Hall, those happy to accept reality, those who could not afford an awakening, and those Soul Masters who needed Spirit Hall's stipends to get by.
Naturally, they expressed their willingness to sign the agreement and pledge allegiance to Spirit Hall without much further thought.
Only those who already harbored disloyal intentions toward Spirit Hall felt dissatisfied and exceptionally furious.
Spirit Hall had never cared about any of this.
Much less would it care that the people of the continent knew of its glaringly obvious ambitions.
As for Tang Hao being slain by a sword before the Pope's Palace, that had fanned the flames of the new pope Qian Chenming's emergence, creating such a sensation that, for a time, everyone under heaven knew of him.
At that moment.
Inside Spirit City.
The competing teams had long since departed, leaving their rooms empty, and Shrek, whose departure had been delayed by Tang San's injuries, was no exception.
Only Ning Fengzhi and the Heaven Dou heavy cavalry, who had yet to find Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, could not take a single step away.
If they failed to find him and bring him back, they would face abuse and demands for accountability from every civil and military official at court.
Thus, ever since receiving Spirit Hall's written reply, Ning Fengzhi had hoped to find some trace of the crown prince.
After all, the reply was earnestly worded and bore Spirit Hall's papal seal, its every line brimming with the sincerity of "offering every assistance."
But sincerity that came too easily could also make one's skin crawl.
Half a month had passed like this.
It was as though Xue Qinghe had evaporated from Spirit City into thin air, leaving not even a trace of his presence.
The accompanying Heaven Dou Soul Masters and soldiers had practically turned the city upside down, while the men Spirit Hall had dispatched were like stones sinking into the sea.
Ning Fengzhi knew that no one in this world disappeared without a reason.
He was preparing to write another official letter when hurried footsteps sounded outside the door, bringing word that he was to be escorted alone into the Pope's Palace.
"Sect Master Ning, word has come from Spirit Hall. His Holiness the Pope is willing to accompany you back to Heaven Dou in person, meet His Majesty, and explain the crown prince's disappearance."
The brush in Ning Fengzhi's hand froze.
He slowly set it down and looked up at the subordinate delivering the message. "His Holiness the Pope... in person?"
"Yes. The message has been confirmed. His Holiness the Pope requests that we depart tomorrow."
Ning Fengzhi fell silent for a long time.
Suddenly, he could no longer understand this pope's thinking at all.
Although Crown Prince Xue Qinghe had disappeared inside Spirit City, there was really no need for this newly appointed pope to shoulder responsibility.
If responsibility truly had to be assigned, those of them accompanying the prince bore the greater burden.
Outside the window, Spirit City's sky was overcast, and wind poured in, carrying the chill of early winter.
He suddenly felt that this matter was stranger than he had imagined.
Xue Qinghe had disappeared.
Spirit Hall had sent men to search for half a month without success, and now the pope was stepping forward personally to go to Heaven Dou and "explain."
Explain what?
Ning Fengzhi narrowed his eyes. He could only set off for Spirit Hall's council chamber to probe the truth.
Before long.
The doors were pushed open, and Ning Fengzhi appeared in the entrance.
Dressed in plain-colored robes, his expression composed, he swept his gaze around the hall before finally resting it on Qian Chenming.
"Your Holiness." He cupped his hands slightly. "I have come regarding the crown prince's disappearance."
Qian Chenming sat in the principal seat, toying with a white jade thumb ring, seemingly in a good mood.
He raised a hand to indicate that Ning Fengzhi should sit, but instead rose himself and walked down with his hands behind his back.
"His Highness the Crown Prince disappeared in Spirit City. Spirit Hall cannot evade responsibility for this. I have ordered an all-out search, but half a month has passed without any leads."
He paused, his gaze sincere and frank.
"I thought it over. Rather than wait here idly for news, I should have men continue searching while This Pontiff personally accompanies Sect Master Ning back to Heaven Dou to explain matters to His Majesty face-to-face. First, it will demonstrate Spirit Hall's sincerity, and second, it will spare Sect Master Ning from bearing responsibility."
Ning Fengzhi said nothing.
At a loss, he lifted his teacup, taking quite some time to weigh his words before speaking. "I would be deeply grateful if Your Holiness were willing to make this journey in person."
Seeing this, Qian Chenming smiled gently. "Heaven Dou and Spirit Hall have maintained ties for many years. This matter must be resolved. Moreover, This Pontiff has only recently taken office and needs to make this journey as well."
Ning Fengzhi looked into his eyes, hoping to read something there.
But there was nothing in those eyes. They were as gentle as a pool of deep water, its bottom beyond sight.
He set down his teacup. "Very well. We depart tomorrow. I will accompany you."
Qian Chenming nodded. "Sorry for the trouble of showing the way, Sect Master Ning."
Then Ning Fengzhi rose and took his leave.
He still could not understand how everything had developed this way.
But as Qian Chenming had said, with this pope accompanying them back, the Heaven Dou delegation would indeed face far less condemnation.
If Xue Qinghe truly could not be found.
Ning Fengzhi, who needed to secure a way out for himself, could not help but welcome such a situation.
After Ning Fengzhi left, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan entered the hall, stood below the principal seat, and quietly reported on developments in Heaven Dou:
"Your Holiness is wise. We have roughly pinpointed the location."
"Then how many men should we bring along on this journey, Your Holiness?"
At this, Qian Chenming lifted his eyelids slightly, the faintest curve touching his lips. "Bring men? With a great throng of them, they really will think we're going to war. Do you understand?"
Then Qian Chenming turned around, his gaze settling on Yue Guan's face.
"Don't bring a single man. As for manpower, draw it from Heaven Dou."
Yue Guan nodded.
He understood His Holiness the Pope's meaning. There were countless Spirit Hall Branches in the Heaven Dou Empire; how could they lack men skilled in battle?
And finding a suitable pretext to gather those men together did not seem particularly difficult.
At least, it would make avoiding suspicion much easier.
With that thought, Yue Guan withdrew with the utmost respect.
Then Golden Crocodile Douluo strode into the hall. "Pope, what did you summon me for?"
"Transfer all the Angel Legion's personnel here to serve as the accompanying guards for this diplomatic mission to the Heaven Dou Empire."
Qian Chenming gave the order without betraying a thing.
Before you continue