Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes lit up in understanding, and he immediately withdrew from the hall to make preparations.
Although the Angel Legion numbered only a hundred or so, it was Spirit Hall's elite legion and had always possessed considerable fighting prowess.
At the same time.
If it accompanied the delegation to Heaven Dou, its presence as the Qian Family's personal troops would be entirely justified.
After all.
Whether the Qian Family's pope brought the Angel Legion along to put on a grand display or to demonstrate courtesy and respect for the visit to Heaven Dou.
None of the various powers would harbor the slightest suspicion.
Heaven Dou would surely even be delighted to see such a scene.
After all, as a secret force of the Qian Family, the Angel Legion had remained out of the public eye for years.
For its first appearance to actually be as an escort on a visit to Heaven Dou, Xue Ye would probably sit up from his deathbed and chuckle a couple of times upon hearing the news.
And this.
Was far too underhanded.
Time passed just like that.
Early the next morning, outside Spirit City, the morning mist had yet to disperse.
Qian Chenming wore white papal robes patterned in gold, accompanied by Azure Luan, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo, three elders of the Worship Hall.
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei also stood to his left and right.
Behind them was the Angel Legion, white-winged and clad in golden armor, as silent as a wall.
These were all the personnel Spirit Hall had dispatched for this trip to Heaven Dou.
Ning Fengzhi stood before the Heaven Dou contingent, his gaze sweeping over everyone as his eyes darkened slightly.
With so many powerful figures present, even the imposing presence of Sword and Bone Douluo beside him inevitably seemed somewhat diminished.
Only when they were about to depart did Ning Fengzhi step down from his carriage and cup his hands toward Qian Chenming. "Your Holiness, please."
Qian Chenming smiled. "You are too courteous, Sect Master Ning. Spirit Hall has caused Heaven Dou trouble this time. I should be the one saying please."
Once he finished speaking and boarded his carriage, the grand procession finally set off toward its destination, Heaven Dou Capital.
As for the Heaven Dou Empire.
At the very moment the procession departed, it too received word that Spirit Hall's newly appointed pope was about to visit.
For a time.
The vast capital was filled with shock and uncertainty.
The Heaven Dou Empire, the imperial palace's main hall.
Xue Ye sat high upon his dragon throne, his face sallow, yet his eyes carried a sharpness found only in those who had long held power.
Civil and military officials stood in two rows, the atmosphere so heavy that water could have been wrung from it.
"The crown prince disappeared in Spirit City!" Xue Ye slapped the document in his hand onto the desk, his voice furious. "And now that newly appointed pope is volunteering to come explain himself. Tell me, what is he scheming?"
Before his voice had faded, Ge Long, supreme commander of the armed forces and foremost among the officials, stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, in my opinion, Spirit Hall is afraid."
"Afraid?"
"Precisely. However powerful Spirit Hall may be, His Highness the Crown Prince ultimately vanished on their territory. If they fail to provide an explanation, how could Heaven Dou's million armored cavalry let the matter rest? His visit is nothing more than an attempt to beg forgiveness."
At those words, the hall immediately erupted into murmurs.
The civil and military officials nodded one after another, and some even sneered aloud. "So what if he is the pope? He still has to obediently come to Heaven Dou and bow his head."
Hearing this, the assembled officials grew even more agitated.
"Your Majesty, this move by Spirit Hall clearly shows they have a guilty conscience!"
"His Highness the Crown Prince disappeared in Spirit City. They cannot find him, so they are sending their newly appointed pope to apologize. What is that if not a guilty conscience?"
"In my opinion, that pope is coming to probe our strength and see what attitude Heaven Dou takes toward this matter."
"Your Majesty, since he dares to come this time, we absolutely must not show him a friendly face!"
Xue Ye raised a hand to quell the clamor in the hall, his gaze grave. "How many people is he bringing?"
Ge Long bowed. "Your Majesty, according to our reports, the pope is personally leading three worshippers-Azure Luan, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo-along with Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo, as well as an Angel Legion of roughly a hundred."
At these words, the hall instead fell silent for a moment.
Everyone was speculating.
Only after a short while did someone speak. "Three worshippers, two Titled Douluo, and the legendary Angel Legion. Spirit Hall truly is afraid."
At those words, the hall grew lively once more.
The Angel Legion, three worshippers, and two Titled Douluo-what a grand display.
And this display.
Did it not demonstrate the importance they attached to their diplomatic visit to Heaven Dou, along with the utmost courtesy?
Otherwise, even the worshippers who stayed within the Worship Hall year-round would not have come.
And that Angel Legion clearly represented the Qian Family's absolute highest standard of pomp.
For it to accompany the delegation as an escort this time made the courtesy being extended to the Heaven Dou Empire all the more self-evident.
"This is no diplomatic visit. He is clearly coming to beg forgiveness, and he is afraid we will refuse to show him any respect, so he has brought out everything he has."
"Heh, everything he has? However powerful Spirit Hall is, can it surpass Heaven Dou's million armored cavalry?"
"Exactly. However young that pope is, he still knows fear."
Listening to the discussion filling the hall, Xue Ye showed neither joy nor anger, merely rubbing the armrest of his dragon throne slowly.
"Ge Long."
"Your servant is here."
"In your opinion, is that pope coming to beg forgiveness sincerely, or does he have some other scheme?"
Ge Long pondered briefly, then cupped his hands. "Your Majesty, I believe that whether he is sincere or merely pretending, his willingness to come in person already puts him at a disadvantage."
"Oh?"
"Heaven Dou's crown prince disappeared in Spirit City. No matter what, Spirit Hall cannot escape involvement in this matter. As its newly appointed pope, his footing is not yet secure, yet he is already rushing to Heaven Dou. He simply fears that we will use this incident to make trouble. Since that is the case, Your Majesty need only remain seated in court and see how he makes his story hold together."
His words were brimming with confidence, and the civil and military officials in the hall voiced their agreement.
"General Ge Long is absolutely right!"
"If that pope truly had confidence, why would he need to make this trip himself?"
"Exactly. If he did not come, it would not be impossible for Heaven Dou's armored cavalry to trample Spirit City flat."
"Your Majesty, I request permission to question that pope to his face about the crown prince's whereabouts when he arrives!"
"I request permission as well!"
For a time, requests rang out across the hall, one after another.
Xue Ye raised a hand to quiet them.
"What is the hurry?"
The hall immediately fell silent.
"Since he wishes to come, let him come. I would like to see whether Spirit Hall's new pope is truly someone of substance or merely a sack of straw."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. "Convey my verbal decree. Court shall be held in the main hall when the time comes, and Spirit Hall's pope shall be received in audience. All civil and military officials must attend in court robes, without fail."
"We obey Your Majesty's decree."
The court session ended, while outside, within Heaven Dou's territory
By now, news of Spirit Hall's new pope visiting Heaven Dou had also spread through the streets and alleys like the wind.
In teahouses, taverns, on street corners and in alleyways, everyone was discussing the same thing.
"Have you heard? Spirit Hall's new pope is coming to Heaven Dou!"
"What is he coming for?"
"What else? His Highness the Crown Prince disappeared in Spirit City, and they cannot find him, so the pope is coming in person to apologize."
"Tsk. To think the mighty Spirit Hall would live to see this day."
"Exactly. I heard he is bringing the legendary Angel Legion and three worshippers. Quite the grand procession."
"What good is a grand procession? Once he enters Heaven Dou's territory, even a dragon must coil up, and even a tiger must lie down."
"Exactly. Heaven Dou has stood for a thousand years. Who have we ever feared?"
"Just wait for a good show. I want to see the look on that pope's face when he meets our emperor."
The whole city buzzed with discussion, and no one thought the newly appointed pope could stir up any waves.
In the eyes of Heaven Dou's people, this move by Spirit Hall was already the ultimate display of weakness.
Before you continue