When Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and several other disciples saw the two of them, their hearts shook violently. What was going on?
How had Her Highness the Saintess ended up with the Emperor too?
The master and disciple, twin flowers? One in each arm?
An aloof Pope and an alluring Saintess-what a sin!
They looked at Lin Chen and Hu Liena, then at Bibi Dong above them. They were so envious that their hearts seemed to be dripping blood.
Bibi Dong's jade hand tightened slightly around her scepter. Expressionless, she said, "The finals will begin at the hour of Chen today. A total of thirty-three teams are taking part, and the greatest threats to us are the seeded teams from the other two great empires, as well as the Shrek Team."
"Lin Chen will lead the team in these finals. I order you to take the championship with an overwhelming advantage! Show the powers of the entire continent the foundations of our Spirit Hall!"
"Yes!"
"You may all leave for now~"
Tap, tap, tap...
There was still more than half a shichen before the hour of Chen. Xie Yue and Hu Liena had wanted to practice working together with Lin Chen for a little while, but he had turned them down.
Lin Chen said softly to Hu Liena, "You go on ahead. I have something to discuss with my wife~"
Hu Liena glanced at the two of them worriedly and said softly, "Then have a proper talk. Whatever you do, don't quarrel. Give in to Teacher a little more. She actually..."
Lin Chen stroked her pretty face. "I know. Go on~"
Tap, tap...
Then Hu Liena walked away with a catlike stride, swaying her perky hips.
Bibi Dong asked indifferently, "Is there something else?"
"Of course~" Lin Chen strode up to her and said solemnly, "I think it's time we had a proper talk today!"
Bibi Dong's heart tightened. She rose, walked past him, and said with her back to him, "What do you want to talk to me about?"
"Why haven't you come back to our bedchamber these past two days?"
Hearing Lin Chen's accusing tone, Bibi Dong felt her own jealousy rise. She said coldly, "Must I report my actions to you?"
Lin Chen sneered. "Why shouldn't you?"
Bibi Dong turned and glared at him. "Lin Chen, I'm the Pope!!"
"And I'm your man!!!"
"You!"
Lin Chen strode up to her and swept an arm around her slender waist. "Let me tell you, Bibi Dong, never mind being the Pope-even if you were a god king, you'd still be my woman!"
"What are you doing?!" A flicker of panic crossed Bibi Dong's beautiful eyes as she cried, "I'm warning you, if you keep this up, I won't be polite!"
Lin Chen smiled mockingly. "I'd like to see just how impolite you can get!"
[Ding, Soul Power Suppression]
Bibi Dong's expression shifted slightly as the figure reflected in her pupils drew closer and closer...
"Mmph..."
An incense stick later, Lin Chen removed her crown and robes. In a low voice, he said, "Three days without a beating, and you're up on the roof tearing off the tiles. Today I'll show you who your heaven is!"
The hour of Chen, the central plaza outside the Papal Palace
All thirty-odd teams participating in the grand finals had gathered here. The strongest among them were the seeded teams from the Star Luo Empire and Heaven Dou, the Shrek Team, the Divine Wind Blazing Fire Team, and Spirit Hall's seeded team.
Circular tiers of seats surrounded the plaza. The very center faced the gates of the Papal Palace, and Spirit Hall's competing team stood there under the leadership of Hu Liena and Xie Yue.
A trace of puzzlement flashed in Xie Yue's eyes. "It's already the hour of Chen. Why haven't His Holiness the Pope and Lin Chen come out yet?"
Hu Liena shook her head, looking worriedly at the great hall behind them. "I don't know. I hope Teacher and Brother Lin Chen can have a proper talk..."
In the spectator stands on either side, dozens of teams looked over in puzzlement. They were confused too, but none dared voice the slightest objection. After all, the Soul Master Tournament was being held by Spirit Hall, and they were now within Spirit Hall itself.
Shrek Academy
The beautiful Liu Erlong frowned deeply and asked in confusion, "What is that woman doing? Why hasn't she come out to preside over the tournament yet? How long are we supposed to wait?"
Beside her, Yu Xiaogang leaned on his cane and said placatingly, "Let's wait a little longer. His Holiness the Pope may have other matters to attend to."
The portly Ma Hongjun stared at Skywater Academy across the way, his eyes shining. "Third Brother, Third Brother, look! The Tianshui Girl Group is smiling at me!"
Dai Mubai sneered. "You damned fatty, how are they looking at you? They're obviously looking at me, all right?"
Clad in leather, Zhu Zhuqing spoke in a cool voice. "Hmph, at a time like this, instead of focusing on the competition, you still have the mind to care about beautiful women?"
Dai Mubai looked embarrassed. "Uh... Zhu Zhuqing, I..."
Unfortunately for him, Zhu Zhuqing did not listen to his excuses and walked straight off to the side.
Skywater Academy
Yu Hairou, the oldest among them, had a voluptuous figure and hair that reached her waist. Looking toward the Shrek Team, she had a flicker of surprise in her beautiful eyes. He came too?
Beside her, Xue Wu teased, "What's this? Has our Sister Hairou's heart begun to flutter with love?"
She was the Tianshui Girl Group's vice captain and second only to Yu Hairou in age. Her short hair was parted to one side, and she had a fiery figure. She wore a short skirt and hot pants, with a black leather strap tied around her snowy-white thigh, giving her an extremely sexy appearance.
Yu Hairou rolled her eyes at her. "What nonsense are you spouting, you little minx? Don't you find him attractive?"
Xue Wu smiled delightedly. "He's not the one I like~"
"Speaking of which, Yue'er, Bing'er, what type do you like?"
"Huh?" Shui Yue'er's pretty face reddened slightly. She was the youngest in the Tianshui Girl Group, and her face would turn bright red whenever the subject of someone she liked came up.
Clearly, she was not as uninhibited as older sisters like Yu Hairou and Xue Wu.
Shui Bing'er said softly, "All right, stop teasing Yue'er. The competition will begin soon, so focus."
The quietest of them, Gu Qingbo, asked in confusion, "It's already the hour of Chen. Why hasn't the competition started?"
The beautiful Shui Ningrou, who was leading the team, instructed them, "All right, don't speak carelessly in Spirit Hall. Since His Holiness the Pope hasn't come out yet, let's wait a little longer."
Divine Wind Blazing Fire Academy
A stunning young woman in a bright red short skirt stood in the spectator stands. Her fiery red hair was swept up high, her bangs parted to one side, and her eyes were fixed on Shrek Academy.
She was Huo Wu of Blazing Fire Academy, an eighteen-year-old level forty-four Soul Ancestor.
Feng Xiaotian said solemnly, "Huo Wu, don't worry. This time, we'll definitely defeat Shrek and beat Tang San."
On either side of the main platform
Ning Fengzhi, sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, stood with Prince Xue Xing and Dugu Bo on the right side of the hall. Elders Chrysanthemum and Ghost, along with Platinum Bishop Salas, stood on the left.
Ning Fengzhi asked, "Elders, may I ask when His Holiness the Pope intends to begin the competition?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo was somewhat baffled himself. After all, Bibi Dong had never been late before, nor had she given any order to delay the tournament.
The Spirit Hall outer elder presiding over the competition asked cautiously, "Uh... Elders, why don't you go and ask His Holiness the Pope what she intends?"
Ghost Douluo said in a detached tone, "His Holiness the Pope is inside discussing important matters with the Emperor. Why doesn't Elder Yang go and ask?"
Elder Yang hurriedly shook his head. "Uh... I wouldn't dare. Why don't we wait a little longer..."
Ghost Douluo sighed. "That's all we can do."