Douro Continent

Chapter 408 Pope Bibi Dong (Part 1)

After a pause, Ning Fengzhi continued, "The Pope himself is unfathomable. He's hailed as the most powerful leader in the history of the Spirit Hall. Given your current situation, it's absolutely not advisable to confront them head-on. Avoiding them isn't running away. You're still young; even if you wanted to fight the Spirit Hall, there's plenty of time in the future. Why be so fixated on this one competition?"

Tang San frowned, and after a moment's thought, he shook his head. "No, I must participate in this competition. Uncle Ning, I understand what you mean. But I think this should also be an important test in my life. If I can overcome this, then it will become much more difficult for the Spirit Hall to deal with me in the future. They can't always have absolute power."

Looking into Tang San's eyes, Ning Fengzhi couldn't help but recall his father's youthful appearance; the two men's expressions were remarkably similar. Although Ning Fengzhi and Tang Hao weren't familiar with each other back then, and were roughly the same age, Tang Hao had always given him a sense of awe and reverence. Among his generation, no one could compare to Tang Hao. Now, Tang Hao's son seemed to be replicating this miracle, even surpassing his father's achievements. Clear Sky Sect, are your genes really that good?

"Alright. Since you've made your decision, I won't try to persuade you anymore. Your uncle will do his best to ensure your safety." Ning Fengzhi's words were calm, but as the head of a sect, this was tantamount to a promise he made to Tang San.

Tang San could sense that Ning Fengzhi's words at this moment were not motivated by any self-interest, nor were they intended to win him over. They were simply the concern of an elder for a younger person.

"Uncle Ning, perhaps I cannot join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, but as long as I live, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will always be my friend."

……

Wuhun City.

After being examined by Soul Masters, the master, dressed in simple clothes, entered the city. At his age, with a strength of only level 30-something, he naturally did not attract anyone's attention.

Without pausing for even a moment, or even taking a breather, the Grandmaster went directly to the Pope's Palace, the highest governing body of the Spirit Hall.

In front of the Papal Palace.

"Halt." Two Templar Knights clad in silver armor blocked the master's path, and a total of one hundred Templar Knights simultaneously raised their longswords. "This is forbidden territory. Take another step closer, and you will be killed without mercy."

Facing hundreds of paladins whose strength was clearly superior to his own, the master's expression remained as indifferent as ever. He raised his hand and revealed his token.

The lead paladin stepped forward quickly, and when he saw the six symbols on the token, he couldn't help but shudder. He knelt down on one knee with a thud, "Greetings, Elder."

The hundred paladins performed the same action in perfect unison, and against their backdrop, the originally ordinary master no longer seemed so ordinary.

"Take me to see the Pope." The master told the other party his purpose in the simplest of words.

Half an hour later, in the council hall of the Papal Palace, the master quietly sipped his finest tea, waiting patiently.

In the vast council hall, spanning over a thousand square meters, he was the only person present.

The master's gaze remained focused on the fragrant tea in his hand, never glancing at the magnificent surroundings. He simply waited quietly.

The three-meter-high archway opened, and a gentle voice sounded from outside, "You all stay outside and wait. No one is allowed to disturb us without my order."

"Yes."

The master finally shifted his gaze from the fragrant tea and looked towards the entrance of the council hall.

The door opened, and a woman walked in.

She was not tall, wore a magnificent black robe with gold trim, a nine-curved purple-gold crown, and held a two-meter-long scepter inlaid with countless jewels. Her fair skin and near-perfect features made her stand out from the crowd.

In particular, the intangible nobility and holiness emanating from them makes people unable to help but feel a sense of worship.

The master remained seated, and the woman, having entered through the gate, also stopped. Their gazes met in mid-air, without a spark igniting. Something flickered in the master's indifferent eyes: apology, reminiscence, and above all, melancholy.

The woman's gaze shifted dramatically. Although she appeared to be only around thirty years old, she was actually a year older than the master, well past fifty. The scepter in her hand fell to the ground with a soft clinking sound.

"You've come." The gentle and pleasant voice easily gives people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

But the master's gaze hardened, and he stood up, placing his hands on the table before him. He turned to the woman and said, "Yes, I've come. Are you alright?"

A faint smile appeared on the woman's face. "What's wrong with being above ten thousand people? As the ruler of the Spirit Hall, even the emperors of two great empires would show me deference. Do you think there's anything wrong with me?"

The master sighed, "Bibi Dong, I know the bitterness in your heart."

"Bibi Dong? If you hadn't told me, I would have almost forgotten that name. Please call me Pope, or Your Majesty. I am no longer the naive Bibi Dong I once was."

Yes, the beautiful and graceful woman before us is none other than the Pope, the current supreme ruler of the Spirit Hall and the object of pilgrimage for all spirit masters.

She is the youngest pope in the history of the Spirit Hall, having assumed the position of pope before the age of forty.

At first, many people raised doubts.

However, as time went by, under her diligent governance, the Spirit Hall developed even more rapidly and became more united. Many people already believe that she will be the most outstanding pope of the Spirit Hall.

"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope." The master's pupils contracted slightly, and a trace of pain flowed from his eyes. He turned around, walked to the spot where he had been sitting, held a cup of fragrant tea, and seemed to be lost in his memories.

Watching the master's retreating figure, the indifference in the Pope's eyes vanished, and a hint of reluctance flashed across them. She lifted her foot, seemingly wanting to step forward, but ultimately stopped herself.

"What brings you here? It's been twenty years since we last met." The Pope's voice remained as calm as ever.

The master took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions in his heart. Even he himself did not expect that seeing Bibi Dong again would make him lose control so much.

When he turned around, all the extraneous emotions in his eyes had disappeared, leaving only his usual indifference.

"Your Holiness, I have come here with a request."

"Oh?" The Pope looked at the master with some surprise. "You've come to me for help? This doesn't seem like you. It seems time really does change a person. Speak."

The master did not explain. If it were his own business, he would never have come to beg the other party for anything. However, for the sake of his disciple, whom he regarded as a father and son, he had no choice but to come.

"Your Holiness, I would like to know how you overcame the challenge of having twin martial souls."

The Pope's pupils contracted slightly, and he said calmly, "You don't need to know this. What does it mean to you?"

The master didn't hide anything, "I've taken on a disciple who has been cultivating with me for seven or eight years. Fortunately, he possesses the same twin martial souls as you. This child is exceptionally talented, and I hope to nurture him into a powerful figure."

"Why should I help you? So that you can train a powerful person to oppose me?" The Pope's voice suddenly turned cold.

The master said in a deep voice, "Of course not. If you are willing to tell me how you did it back then, I can assure you that my disciple will never oppose the Spirit Hall in his entire life."

A slight smile appeared on the Pope's lips. "So, there are things even a theoretical master like you doesn't know. Yu Xiaogang, you're too late. Just a few days ago, I sent men to ambush the Heaven Dou Empire's participating teams on their inevitable route. The target was your disciple from the Clear Sky Sect. Therefore, you have no need to know the secret of twin martial souls."

The master's body trembled violently. He whirled around, glaring at the Pope. "What did you say?"

The Pope did not conceal anything, saying calmly, "Platform Bishop Salas sent word that a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect has appeared, possessing extraordinary talent. At such a young age, he has already broken through level forty, possesses twin martial souls, and has a fourth soul ring at the ten-thousand-year level. He may even possess a soul bone. He is close to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Heaven Dou Empire. Such a person cannot be used by my Spirit Hall, so the only option is to eliminate him."

"You..." The master suddenly stepped forward, grabbing the Pope's shoulders with both hands, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot. His whole body was trembling violently.

Looking at the master's ferocious gaze, the Pope was stunned for a moment. "Is he really that important to you?" With her strength, she could easily overthrow the master, but she did not do so. Instead, she let the master's burning hands firmly grip her shoulders.

The Grandmaster's breathing became heavy, and he said, word by word, "Bibi Dong, listen to me carefully. If anything happens to Tang San, I will destroy the Spirit Hall at all costs. I have no children of my own, and he is like my son."

(End of this chapter)