Spirit City, the Pope's Palace.
Bibi Dong looked with satisfaction at the four youths before her. As Pope, she already knew everything they had done in the Star Dou Great Forest.
"You worked together in the Star Dou Great Forest, neither abandoning one another nor giving up. You fought a Mutated Giant Ape comparable to an eighty-thousand-year soul beast, escaped with your lives from the pursuit of a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and obtained two perfect Soul Rings. As Pope, I am very pleased, and I am proud of you." With that, she winked at Xiao Yan and Hu Liena, who stood closest to her, and said softly, "You did very well. As your teacher, I am proud of you too." She then gave Xie Yue some pointers on his Self-Created Soul Skill and took a careful look at Yan's Mutated Martial Soul. After devising a new cultivation plan for him, she dismissed the two of them.
"Teacher!" Once Xie Yue and Yan had left, Hu Liena threw herself into Bibi Dong's arms. "You child, you're so grown up, and you still act spoiled." Bibi Dong affectionately stroked her head. At this moment, they were no longer disciple and teacher, nor were they extraordinary, incomparably powerful "Lord Soul Masters." They were like an ordinary mother and daughter, sharing each other's warmth.
Xiao Yan watched them with a gentle gaze, a long-lost softness suddenly stirring in his heart. A mother's love... it seemed he had last felt it a very, very long time ago. Bibi Dong clearly noticed Xiao Yan's feelings. She raised her head and waved her free hand at him, beckoning him to join in this warmth between teacher and disciples.
Xiao Yan blushed, clearly unaccustomed to such a scene. Bibi Dong noticed and could not help smiling. She used a gentle current of Soul Power to bring him over and gave him a warm embrace, the likes of which he had not felt in a long time.
"Master, you're so biased. You weren't even willing when I hugged you, but you're awfully eager with little junior brother," Hu Liena said coquettishly. At that, not only Xiao Yan but even Bibi Dong herself could not help blushing. Flustered and angry, she gave Hu Liena a tap on the head and said with a laugh, "You little rascal, teasing your teacher now, are you?" She released them both, composed her face, and stood up. "All right, enough fooling around. Today is quite a big day for the two of you."
With that, she led them outside the palace. To their surprise, ranks upon ranks of people had suddenly gathered at the entrance to the Pope's Palace. Several of Spirit Hall's elders stood waiting on either side, evidently awaiting the Pope's entrance.
"Let's go," Bibi Dong said softly. The two followed the Pope toward the golden platform at the end of the path, basking in the crowd's cheers and attention. Hu Liena had been raised as a successor since childhood. Though the occasion left her somewhat at a loss, she still strode forward confidently, looking quite valiant and spirited, drawing the admiration of every young man present. Xiao Yan had devoted himself to cultivation for the past six years, and this was his first time facing such a situation. Yet the grand occasion did not make him uncomfortable. Quite the opposite: for some reason, it felt exceptionally familiar-as though in another world, he too had been a favored genius destined to be surrounded like the moon by stars, the center of everyone's attention. Though slender, he possessed a hidden, mysterious and powerful charm that won the hearts of every young woman present. The talented young man and beautiful young woman complemented each other perfectly.
After the two stepped onto the platform, Bibi Dong suddenly made her move. A powerful surge of Soul Power poured from her hand, whipping up a tremendous gale that subdued the noisy crowd and drew everyone's attention. The hem of her dress fluttered slightly, lending her an air of majesty without anger.
"Today, I have gathered everyone here to announce to all members of Spirit Hall where the future of our Spirit Hall will lead."
With that, she waved her left hand and said gently, "Nana." Hu Liena understood at once. She stamped a long leg and summoned her Demon Fox Martial Soul. Fox ears grew atop her head, and a pretty, bushy tail suddenly appeared behind her, adding a touch of allure. Five Soul Rings-yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black-revolved quietly around her: a perfect Soul Ring configuration, proclaiming that she was not only exceptionally beautiful, but also stood at the pinnacle of her peers in strength.
"Hu Liena, a level fifty-five Battle Soul King, is the strongest in Soul Power among Spirit Hall's younger generation." Having spoken, Bibi Dong waved her right hand and said in the same gentle voice, "Yan'er."
At her words, Xiao Yan stamped down with all his strength and summoned four Soul Rings of different colors. Though their colors were in disarray, not one person present dared laugh, for in the face of Xiao Yan's vast Soul Power, even a Five-Ring Soul King had no grounds for arrogance. Xiao Yan raised his left hand, and a multicolored flame burned and danced above his palm. He grabbed sharply with his right hand, and a mottled Black Ruler suddenly appeared and plunged heavily into the platform, displaying endless power like an abyss.
The crowd drew a sharp breath. Most had already heard that Xiao Yan possessed the rare Twin Martial Souls, but rarer still was that his Twin Martial Souls could not only be used at the same time, but also complemented each other, making them even more powerful.
"Xiao Yan, a level forty-one Battle Soul Ancestor. The youngest Four-Ring Soul Ancestor in Spirit Hall's history." Bibi Dong could hardly conceal the pride in her voice. She turned and took two custom-made tokens from a box on the platform, fashioned from expensive crystal and inlaid with gold and silver. She handed them to the two.
"These are Holy Son Tokens. I commissioned master craftsmen to make them. They carry the same authority as the Pope Token," Bibi Dong said with a smile. Then, in a voice only Xiao Yan and Hu Liena could hear, she said, "These are gifts your teacher paid for out of her own pocket."
The same authority as the Pope Token. Those few words were enough to shock the crowd once again. Everyone knew that the Pope Token, also called the Heaven Dou Six Emperors Plaque, was a supreme treasure: to see the token was to see the Pope herself.
Xiao Yan and Hu Liena also understood perfectly that their teacher had secured a powerful source of support for them. But clearly, even the Pope could not have so easily done something that broke the rules.
Bibi Dong clearly noticed her two disciples' concerns. She affectionately stroked their heads and reassured them, "Your teacher is here. There's no need to worry."
The gratitude in Xiao Yan and Hu Liena's hearts was beyond words. They wiped their eyes and reverently accepted their tokens. Bibi Dong then turned to face the crowd, her voice ringing like a great bell.
"From today onward, Hu Liena is Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, and Xiao Yan is Spirit Hall's Holy Son. Both are first in line to succeed me as Pope. Whoever becomes a Titled Douluo first will be Spirit Hall's next Pope," Bibi Dong declared, as though her words were an unchangeable iron law. Before her voice had faded, the crowd erupted in cheers.
"Hail the Holy Son!"
"Hail the Holy Maiden!"
Xiao Yan looked around and saw Xie Yue leading the applause. Yan waved a fist at him, then burst into unrestrained laughter. The elders nodded slightly to them, while the two Douluo, Ghost and Chrysanthemum, smiled kindly.
Bibi Dong wore a smile, clearly very pleased with the scene. Her two disciples' status had risen with the tide, and they would surely become the pillars of Spirit Hall in the future.
Just as the crowd was cheering, a holy and powerful wave of Soul Power bore down on everyone. They looked up into the sky. The one who had acted was an old man with white hair and beard, standing with his hands behind his back. Holy and noble, he was like a deity.
Bibi Dong swept her hand out sharply, and the powerful pressure vanished completely, as though it had never existed. She was clearly enraged, staring fixedly at the old man with indescribable fury and hatred in her eyes.
The old man met her gaze for a moment, then disappeared soundlessly into the world. After she left, Bibi Dong's expression softened considerably. The crowd then surged toward the Holy Son and Holy Maiden, lifting them up as a jubilant celebration began.
Deep within Spirit Hall, atop an enormous stone chair.
The old man slowly opened his eyes and said softly:
"Xiao Yan..."
Then the light of an angel shone down, as though it meant to sweep everything away.