391. Long Live The Pope!

Under Ning Rongrong’s urging, Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo had no choice but to follow the red-robed cardinal.

However, before they could climb a few steps, another red-robed cardinal arrived and directed them away.

Amid Ning Rongrong’s cheers, Ning Fengzhi, filled with confusion, proceeded toward the Pope’s Hall.

Also escorted away was the Empire’s guest elder, Poison Douluo, who was accompanying Xue Qinghe.

Without saying much, Dugu Bo followed briskly. After all, as an elder who hadn’t yet assumed his post, he had finally found his organization.

Heh heh heh...

Liu Erlong looked at the Pope’s Hall perched halfway up the mountain, her eyes glimmering with joy. The closer she got, the clearer the grand structure became.


---

The bright sunlight bathed the earth.

Under its illumination, the Pope’s Hall shone brilliantly, like the dwelling of an immortal.

In front of the Pope’s Hall, two rows of temple knights extended from its entrance all the way down the mountain.

Their gleaming silver armor and hefty knight swords exuded a solemn aura, making the entire Pope’s Mountain even more majestic.

Among the thirty participating teams, many couldn’t help but gaze in awe and curiosity.

On the grand square before the Pope’s Hall...

Only the truly strong young heroes had the privilege to step foot there.

The square’s ground was paved with special stone blocks that emitted a faint lustrous glow, resembling jade, a testament to the Pope’s Hall's opulence.

Before long, all the competitors stood on the square.

Temple knights quickly stepped forward to maintain order, organizing them into groups based on their academies.

Each team formed a neat formation facing the Pope’s Hall.

This year, including the Spirit Hall Team, there were a total of thirty-one teams participating.

The team members stood quietly on the square, curiously awaiting what would happen next.

Unable to hold back, someone asked,
“Cardinal, is the next competition going to be held here? Shouldn’t we draw lots first?”

The red-robed cardinal, standing solemnly and facing the Pope’s Hall, replied without turning his head,
“There’s no need for a draw. You’ll find out soon.”

As his voice fell, figures began to emerge from the side doors of the Pope’s Hall—twelve red-robed cardinals in total.

They walked slowly to the main entrance of the hall, forming two rows with six people on each side. The leading figure shouted loudly:

“Her Majesty the Pope is arriving!”

“Long live! Long live! Long live!”

The three cries of praise resounded seamlessly, like a mountain-shattering wave echoing across Spirit City.

It wasn’t just the voices of the temple knights.

It was also the collective shout of all the soul masters in Spirit City who couldn’t get close to the Central Divine Mountain.

To them, the Pope of Spirit City was the highest faith!

The massive gates of the Pope’s Hall slowly opened.

The six emblems on the double doors shifted out of alignment as they moved apart.

All eyes instinctively turned toward the opening gates.

Hu Liena and her two companions stood within the formation.

Even the normally calm Xie Yue and Yan couldn’t help but feel their hearts race.

Despite their extraordinary talents, they rarely had the chance to see the Pope.

Adorned in a radiant golden long gown, wearing a purple-gold crown, and holding a scepter, Bibi Dong emerged first from the Pope’s Hall.

Her expression was solemn, and her presence carried a surreal majesty.

Years of being in a position of power made her seem almost otherworldly, infinitely grand and unshakable.

At this moment, no one paid attention to her breathtaking beauty.


At this moment, she embodied the majesty of the Pope of the Spirit Hall.

All light seemed to converge upon her.

In the eyes of everyone present, there was reverence mixed with a hint of curiosity.

Who is the young man beside Her Majesty the Pope?

Beside Bibi Dong, a golden-haired young man walked nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with her.

His golden hair was long and flowing, his violet eyes sharp and commanding, and his posture tall and upright.

His face was calm and expressionless, his left arm slightly raised to support Bibi Dong’s delicate hand.

He wore a regal purple-gold robe encrusted with gemstones, elegant and noble.

The collar was embroidered with the characters “Dong Xue” on either side.

Even as he stood beside the continent’s most esteemed soul master, the Pope herself, his aura of nobility was impossible to conceal.

Peerless.

His presence radiated a harmonious grandeur that seemed to blend seamlessly with the atmosphere.

It wasn’t overwhelming; instead, it was perfectly balanced, complementing Bibi Dong’s authority.

“Ah Jue...”

Within the Thunder Academy’s formation, Liu Erlong’s eyes fixated on the golden-haired figure.

Her heart surged with emotion, and her gaze was filled with tender longing.

In her dark, beautiful eyes, Bibi Dong had become nothing more than a backdrop.

Finally, finally, I see Ah Jue again!

As the crowd murmured in confusion, all those affiliated with the Spirit Hall knelt on one knee.

“Greetings, Your Majesty the Pope! Greetings, Your Highness the Holy Son!”

The thunderous cry rolled across the square, creating an atmosphere so intense it was indescribable.

In the midst of the calls echoing from all directions, everyone felt an almost irresistible urge to bow in worship.

Behind Bibi Dong and Qian Renjue stood six figures.

Four of them wore the unique ceremonial robes of Titled Douluo.

The baby-fist-sized gemstones adorning their attire exuded extravagance.

They were none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Sword Douluo, and Poison Douluo.

However, Sword Douluo’s ceremonial robe was notably missing its gemstone.

Those who walked through the main gates of the Pope’s Hall were limited to the Pope, the Holy Son, elders, and Titled Douluo.

Even platinum bishops or the emperors of the two great empires were not qualified to set foot here.

The two other figures standing alongside the Titled Douluo were clearly not of Titled Douluo strength.

This meant they could only be honorary elders of the Spirit Hall—namely, Ning Fengzhi, the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and his daughter, Ning Rongrong.

At this moment, Ning Rongrong held a baby-fist-sized gemstone in her hand, her face flushed with shyness and delight.

She shouldn’t have been allowed to step out here, but she had received the Pope’s permission.

Bibi Dong had even pinched her cheek and praised her beauty.

The Pope had also commented that she and the Holy Son made a good match.

Little did she know, this was her future mother-in-law.

If she did, she would have been even happier.

The relationship between the Pope and the Holy Son as mother and son was still a secret.

Ning Rongrong’s lively, intelligent eyes were fixated on Qian Renjue’s back.

Clinging to Ning Fengzhi’s hand, she paid no attention to where she was walking.

Her Holy Son brother looked even more handsome and imposing today.

Within the formation of participants, all knelt on one knee, forming a sea of black.

Qian Renjue felt a surge of emotion. So this is the allure of power, he thought, as his calm violet eyes swept over the crowd.

When his gaze landed on Hu Liena, he paused briefly, sensing a faint feeling of being watched.

Focusing his attention, he saw an elegant figure and was momentarily stunned.

He hadn’t expected Liu Erlong to be here.

Bibi Dong, catching a glimpse of Qian Renjue’s reaction, was intrigued and pleased to see him making an impression.

Following his line of sight, she surveyed the crowd but found nothing unusual.

Still, she had a vague feeling of familiarity, as though she had seen this figure in an old intelligence report from years ago.

Bibi Dong didn’t linger on Liu Erlong for long.

With a slight wave of her scepter, she commanded,
“Rise.”

Those kneeling stood up at her command.

But Bibi Dong’s expression suddenly shifted as she took a clearer look at the woman.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

She had now seen that woman’s full appearance!