Spirit Hall Was About to See a Changing of the Guard!

Along the way.

Qian Chenming walked in front, his steps unhurried.

The Six Great Enshrined followed half a step behind, their bearing respectful.

Getting from the Worship Hall to the Pope's Palace meant crossing three main roads and two squares.

As the morning light first dawned, Spirit City's guards had already begun changing shifts.

The first to see the procession was a guard captain stationed at the inner hall.

He rubbed his eyes, thinking he had not fully woken up.

All six of the Six Great Enshrined, together, following behind one person?

Who was that man?

The guard captain had never seen Qian Chenming, but he recognized Golden Crocodile Douluo's face. Even the Pope had to show that man some respect.

Yet now, Golden Crocodile Douluo had his head lowered like an attendant.

"Greetings, honored Enshrined!"

As they approached, the guard captain hurriedly dropped to one knee, his voice trembling.

As for who the young man in golden robes at the front was, he neither knew nor dared ask.

But he knew this man's status was already no lower than the Pope's.

None of the Six Great Enshrined answered.

Qian Chenming kept walking as though he had not seen him.

The guard captain knelt on the ground, cold sweat running down his spine.

Only after the procession had gone more than ten paces did he dare raise his head.

A young guard beside him asked in a hushed voice, "Captain, who... was that?"

The guard captain shook his head, his lips pale. "Don't ask. Don't ask what you shouldn't."

At that point.

The guard captain issued another order: "All guards on duty today must pay close attention to movements at the Pope's Palace."

The Six Great Enshrined, who rarely left the Worship Hall throughout the year, had all emerged today.

Never mind a guard captain like him.

Any ordinary person with a keen mind would have anticipated that something major might happen today.

Word spread quickly.

In the second square, several Red Cardinals were gathered to discuss matters.

Seeing the Six Great Enshrined from afar, they were startled at first. Since when had the people of the Worship Hall moved out together?

This...

Then they looked again and saw someone else walking in front.

The pupils of the leading Red Cardinal, who was past fifty, contracted.

He recognized Qian Chenming.

Indeed, portraits of every past Pope of the Qian Family were enshrined deep within the hall, and he had once been fortunate enough to see them in his youth.

Though he had only seen a portrait, that golden hair, those eyes, that commanding presence without a trace of anger...

"The... the former Pope?"

He blurted it out.

The people beside him paled. "What did you say? What former Pope?"

"Quiet!"

The leading Red Cardinal snapped under his breath, hurried forward, and bowed. "Greetings, honored Six Great Enshrined! And this distinguished lord is...?"

Although he recognized him, he did not directly mention the former Pope Qian Chenming by name.

After all, the former Pope had been dead for so many years. How could he suddenly have returned to life?

At a time like this.

For someone who knew nothing of the circumstances, playing dumb was the best approach.

Only then did the other Red Cardinals react, bending at the waist as well.

Qian Chenming stopped.

He looked at them, his gaze calm, yet none dared meet his eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

Sweat broke out on the leading Red Cardinal's forehead. "My lord, we were discussing... discussing the arrangements for the finals in three days."

"The finals of the Soul Master Elite Tournament?"

Qian Chenming's tone was mild. "Who is presiding?"

"My lord, it... it is Her Holiness the Pope herself."

So this point in time coincided with the historic milestone of the Soul Master Elite Tournament.

Qian Chenming said nothing, thinking without letting anything show.

He had finally learned the most important piece of information.

Then he glanced at the man and continued forward.

The Six Great Enshrined followed close behind.

Among them, a trace of surprise appeared on Golden Crocodile Douluo's face.

The former Pope had only just returned to life. How did he know Spirit Hall would be holding the Soul Master Elite Tournament finals in three days?

As for this matter.

In fact, old fellows like them who stayed in the Worship Hall knew nothing about it, nor would they pay attention to it.

Had Qian Chenming not mentioned it...

At that thought, Golden Crocodile Douluo could not help recalling the former Pope's earlier words.

Even during his years away from the mortal world, he had kept watching everything that happened there.

Now, it seemed that was indeed the case.

Just then, Qian Chenming glanced back at them and said with displeasure, "Is this how that unfilial son Liu'er spent every day with you in the Worship Hall? You actually know nothing whatsoever about what happens outside."

"He certainly feels at ease leaving Spirit Hall in an outsider's hands."

With those words.

The Six Great Enshrined grew tense as well.

Fortunately, Qian Chenming said nothing more and instead quickened his pace.

Only after they had gone far away did the Red Cardinals straighten up.

One of them wiped away his sweat and asked quietly, "Are they... heading to the Pope's Palace?"

"Where else?"

The leading Red Cardinal smiled bitterly. "I'm afraid the skies over Spirit City are about to change."

After that, wherever Qian Chenming passed, he left a sea of kneeling figures behind him.

Guards, stewards, bishops, elders...

No one dared stop him. No one dared ask.

All they knew was that the Six Great Enshrined followed behind him like bodyguards. His status spoke for itself.

At last, they reached the Pope's Palace.

The palace doors were shut tight.

The guards at the entrance saw the Six Great Enshrined and were just about to salute when they caught sight of Qian Chenming.

They did not recognize him, but the attitude of the six Enshrined had already explained everything.

Still, the guard captain hesitated before bracing himself to speak. "Elder Golden Crocodile, Her Holiness the Pope is discussing important matters inside. No one may enter without being announced."

Qian Chenming did not look at him.

Golden Crocodile Douluo stepped forward and said coldly, "Move aside."

The guard captain paled, but still gritted his teeth. "Elder Golden Crocodile, Her Holiness the Pope is attending to official affairs. Without announcing you, I dare not-"

Before he could finish.

Golden Crocodile Douluo raised his hand and slapped him.

The guard captain went flying and slammed into the palace doors with a dull thud.

"Are those dog eyes of yours blind?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice was icy. "You dare bar the former Pope's way?"

The other guards were so frightened that they all dropped to their knees.

Beside him, Azure Luan and Jiang Mo could not help looking intensely displeased as well.

That woman Bibi Dong really does blot out the sky with one hand in Spirit Hall now, they thought.

Even those beneath her no longer showed the Worship Hall any regard.

They could not help being enraged.

Had the Great Enshrined not made up his mind back then, how could they have willingly let Bibi Dong secure her position as Pope?

And now.

It was time to set things right.

Only then did Qian Chenming speak. "Golden Crocodile, don't frighten them."

His tone was flat, as though he were speaking of something inconsequential.

With that, he approached the palace doors and was reaching out to push them open.

But upon hearing the discussion inside, Qian Chenming stopped with interest.

At that moment.

Inside the spacious hall, everyone had gathered, including Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo and members of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation such as Hu Yuena and Xie Yue.

Bibi Dong sat upright on the papal throne, holding a scepter of authority studded with diamonds, her beautiful eyes shifting with an overbearing air.

She had summoned everyone today for just two matters.