Douluo Continent: My Martial Soul is the Black Dragon, I am the Lord of the Gods

Chapter 221 A Pillar of the State
……

As the opening ceremony of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Soul Master Tournament approaches, the bustling city of Tiandou is becoming increasingly lively.

With the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, Bi Ji, Zi Ji, and Xiong Jun under the cover of the Ice Dragon King's aura, Xuan Ming successfully entered Tian Dou City.

The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was like a wild horse, full of curiosity about everything around it. One moment it would drag Brigitte to watch the street performers, and the next it would clamor to eat all kinds of snacks.

Along the way, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion was extremely eye-catching, after all, the aura of a thousand-year-old soul beast on her body was very obvious. However, since there was an even more eye-catching one behind her, nothing that people didn't want to see happened.

“Why do I feel like a lot of people are watching you?” Brigitte couldn’t help but ask.

She was initially quite worried that the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, disguised as a soul beast, might cause some conflict when it entered human territory.

But, unexpectedly, no one bothered them at all!

Although everyone along the way was looking at them, their gazes were mainly focused on Xuan Ming, and their expressions were extremely complex!
Moreover, there are many eyes secretly watching them!

“I’m a celebrity here,” Xuanming said.

"The specifics are a bit complicated. If you're interested, ask Arou."

As he spoke, a dark spatial gate opened in front of them, and Xuanming led everyone inside.

"Quickly inform the sect leader, Xuanming has returned!"

"Quickly inform His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"..."

With Xuanming's return to the city, the already bustling city became even more lively.

……

Arou's little courtyard.

After locating Arou, Xuanming immediately brought Biji and the others over via spatial teleportation, thus escaping the covert surveillance.

"Xuan Ming?"

Seeing Xuanming emerge from the void, Arou breathed a sigh of relief.

"Where is this?" The Three-Eyed Golden Lion followed closely behind, and Bi Ji and the others also slowly walked out.

"Where to stay." Xuanming stepped forward and briefly explained Biji and the others' situation to Arou.

"A ferocious beast?" Arou's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously became a little nervous, but she quickly relaxed.

Since Xuanming was able to bring them here, she didn't need to worry about their safety.

"They'll be staying here for the next while, thank you for your help," Xuanming said.

"I need to go out for a bit. Could you take care of them for me?"

Arou nodded without asking any further questions.

Xuanming turned to look at Biji, "This is Arou, whom I told you about before. I have something to do, so you can rest here first."

"Aren't you going to play with me?" The three-eyed golden lion leaped lightly and pounced into Xuanming's arms, looking at him expectantly.

“I’ve been away for half a year, but I’m back now. I need to say hello to my friends. I’ll take you out to play later,” Xuanming said.

"Oh." The three-eyed golden lion snuggled against Xuan Ming and then let go of him.

"Come back soon."

"Hmm." Xuanming nodded, and the dark void opened again, taking him away from the courtyard.

……

Wuhun Temple.

"You're getting more and more uninhibited in front of others, aren't you?"

Outside the spatial gate, Yue Guan and Gui Mei, sensing an unusually cold aura, instinctively activated their martial spirits and crouched down.

Upon seeing Xuanming emerge from inside, Yue Guan's expression began to falter.

They used to come at least late at night, but now they don't even try to avoid people during the day?

“I can’t exactly go through the main entrance, can I?” Xuanming said.

"Why has your aura changed?" Ghost asked in confusion.

He remembered Xuanming's aura; in the past, when this kid sneaked into the Martial Soul Temple late at night, the two of them pretended not to see him.

But today, the aura of this door is extremely unfamiliar, completely different from the spatial door Xuanming used to have!
"I absorbed a soul ring and acquired some evil attributes," Xuanming said.

When imbued with evil attribute energy, his spatial power becomes more stable and extends further. However, this icy aura is particularly noticeable, just as noticeable as the fiery holy aura.

"Evil attribute?" Yue Guan's eyes twitched slightly.

"Are you alright?" Evil attributes are not something a human soul master can withstand!
Even among soul beasts, it belongs to the kind of thing that only exists in legends and almost no one has ever seen it!

"It's alright, much better than before." Xuanming completely concealed his aura.

"Where is the Pope?"

"It's in the council hall, but I suggest you wait a bit," Yue Guan said.

"Why?" Xuanming asked, puzzled.

"Elder Golden Crocodile has arrived," Yue Guan said.

The Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies is hosted by the royal families of the two great empires, with the assistance of the Spirit Hall. The finals of the previous tournament were held in Heaven Dou City, and this year's finals should be held in Star Luo City by the Star Luo royal family.

The Elders' Hall is preparing to change the venue of the finals to Wuhun City, while Bibi Dong insists on continuing to hold it in Tiandou City.

They could roughly guess why.

It's not just about Xuanming; it's also about the power struggle between Bibi Dong and Jin E.

If the event were held in Wuhun City, Bibi Dong would have to return to Wuhun City; otherwise, her authority as Pope would completely collapse, and it would be virtually impossible for her to regain her power as Pope in the future.

Now, Wuhun City is under the control of Jin E. Not to mention the Elders' Hall, even the power of the Papal Hall has been seized by Jin E. If Bibi Dong were to return at this time, she would be humiliating herself, or even walking into a trap!
However, if the event could be held in Tiandou City, Bibi Dong could take the opportunity to re-establish the Pope's authority and reclaim her power.

"Wait, what are you doing?"

Seeing Xuanming head towards the council hall, Yue Guan quickly stepped forward to stop him.

"Let's go in and take a look," Xuanming said.

“Elder Golden Crocodile is inside,” Yue Guan emphasized.

“I’m not deaf,” Xuanming said.

Yue Guan's eye twitched. "What do you want to do?"

"Let me tell you, the two elders of the Thousand-Pound Demon-Subduing Sect are also here. If a fight really breaks out, we can't beat them!"

Now that things have escalated to this point, the two brothers have no way out!

She's truly inextricably linked to Bibi Dong!

If Bibi Dong is finished, the two of them will be finished too!

“I’m not going to fight,” Xuanming said.

"I haven't seen her for six months. Is it okay if I go see her?"

"..."

……

Inside the council hall, the atmosphere was tense. Bibi Dong sat in the main seat, while the two elders, Golden Crocodile Douluo and Thousand-Pound Demon Subduer, stood in the center of the hall.

"Bibi Dong, the finals of this year's All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament should have been held in Star Luo City. Why did you insist on staying in Heaven Dou City? What are your intentions?" Golden Crocodile Douluo crossed his arms and spoke in a loud voice that made the air in the hall tremble slightly.

Bibi Dong sneered, "Elder Jin'e, you're quite good at playing dumb. This competition for the final venue is nothing more than a power struggle between you and me. What, are you afraid that I'll regain my prestige in Heaven Dou City and reclaim the papal power that rightfully belongs to me?"

Golden Crocodile Douluo's face darkened, a flash of anger crossing his eyes. "Hmph, don't make false accusations! I'm doing all this for the greater good of the Spirit Hall. Spirit City is the foundation of our Spirit Hall. Holding the finals there is the only way to demonstrate our prestige and strength. Your insistence on holding it in Heaven Dou City suggests you're trying to collude with the two great empires for nefarious purposes?"

Bibi Dong stood up. "Jin E, stop spouting nonsense here. Heaven and earth can bear witness to how much I have done for the Spirit Hall. On the contrary, what have you done to the Spirit Hall in the past year?"

"I finally managed to dismantle the seven major sects, but you, after only a year of temporary administration, have made the situation in the Soul Master world seem to have reverted to what it was twenty years ago. The Spirit Hall's prestige has been lost, and its power has waned."

"Elder Jin'e is truly a pillar of the Spirit Hall!"

"You..." Golden Crocodile Douluo was so angry that he glared and his soul power surged, and a powerful sense of oppression came over him.

"Bibi Dong, don't think you can still act as recklessly as before! The Spirit Hall is no longer under your control!"

Just then, Xuanming stepped into the council hall.

His appearance instantly made the already tense atmosphere even more delicate.

Bibi Dong, Golden Crocodile Douluo, and the two Douluo Qianjun Jiangmo all turned their gazes to him simultaneously.

Golden Crocodile Douluo frowned and said coldly, "Xuanming, what are you doing here? This is not a place you can come and go as you please."

Xuanming glanced at the golden crocodile, ignored him, and walked straight toward Bibi Dong.

Seeing that Xuan Ming ignored him, Golden Crocodile Douluo was immediately enraged and shouted, "Xuan Ming, you brat, how dare you ignore this elder!"

Xuanming stopped in his tracks and glanced back at the golden crocodile.

"Stupid."

"..."

(End of this chapter)