Spirit City, the Pope's Palace.
Within were Porcupine Douluo and Snake Lance Douluo, both tasked with protecting the young master Qian Renxue, as well as all the high-ranking officials of the Spirit Hall. Even the elders, who rarely gathered all at once, were now present.
The presence of these peak powerhouses filled the wide hall with a sense of heaviness and impending storm.
Seated on the Pope's throne, Bibi Dong wore splendid papal robes and a purple-gold crown, holding a scepter. Her beautiful face was frosted over with coldness, her gaze sweeping over the crowd below, especially Qian Daoliu, who still sat with eyes closed, recovering, exuding a transcendent coldness.
Bibi Dong stood up, her cold, authoritative voice reverberating throughout the hall. "Everyone, you must know why I've gathered you here today."
Among the three great worships, the most hot-tempered Lion Douluo could not help but stand and ask bluntly, "Bibi Dong, is what the summons said true? Has a sect with at least six titled Douluos really appeared out of nowhere?"
"This is no trivial matter—don't take it lightly!"
Bibi Dong's eyes sharpened, two cold blades seemingly shooting at the Lion Douluo. Her voice was not loud, but her papal authority was unmistakable.
"Lion Worship, mind your words and status. Address me as His Holiness the Pope!"
"Have you forgotten even the most basic rules of Spirit Hall?"
As her powerful pressure spread, the Lion Douluo's face stiffened. Anger rose within him, but the Golden Crocodile Douluo beside him pressed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head slightly, signaling him to stay calm.
Golden Crocodile Douluo gazed at Bibi Dong, inwardly sighing at how, over the years, this Pope had subdued nearly all but the Worship Hall with her iron will, unmatched power, and unfathomable strength. Her prestige among the lower ranks of Spirit Hall was even higher, and she was certainly not someone the Elder Hall could deal with easily. Now was not the time for direct confrontation.
Feeling the power in Golden Crocodile's hand and the warning in his eyes, Lion Douluo grunted angrily and sat back down.
Bibi Dong saw this and smiled coldly, no longer entangling the issue. She clapped lightly, and the branch master of Yunluo City, already waiting outside, bowed deeply and entered.
"Relay every word and deed you witnessed outside Yunluo City, word for word, to all the worships and elders," Bibi Dong commanded.
"Yes, Your Holiness!" The branch master dared not be negligent, bowing deeply to the assembly before recounting in detail all he saw that day: the Golden Body Douluo defeating another Douluo, the Dragon Fist Douluo capturing a powerful Soul Douluo, and the two's shocking self-introductions.
As the story went on, the atmosphere grew more solemn, and even these continent-topping powerhouses wore looks of disbelief.
A hidden sect with at least six titled Douluos, yet Spirit Hall, with ears and eyes all over the continent, had heard nothing until now. It was simply unbelievable!
Even more unsettling was that this sect was founded on the so-called "body martial soul," something once believed to be a "half-useless" martial soul—overturning their entire understanding of soul masters.
After a long silence, the sixth worship, Fifteen Ton Douluo, finally spoke, his voice low, "This Body Sect is very powerful, but it's persisted for so long without making such a high-profile appearance… Their ambitions are not small."
Bibi Dong glanced at Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan below. Yue Guan nodded and stepped forward, his voice thin but clear, "Your Holiness, all followers and elders, according to urgent intelligence from the information department, the name 'Body Sect' is not new."
Yue Guan continued, "About half a year ago, rumors began circulating in the northern borders of the Heaven Dou Empire and among soul masters who traveled frequently that a force called the 'Body Sect'—the world's first mystic sect—was trying to establish a sect based on body martial souls."
"But… back then, everyone believed body martial souls had limited potential and couldn't become great weapons, so most dismissed the rumors as jokes and paid them no mind."
Hearing this, the fourth worship, Azure Luan Douluo, slowly opened his eyes, a sharp light flashing within, his voice cold, "They're gathering momentum!"
"The killing outside Yunluo City was a meticulously planned performance—a declaration to the whole soul master world before making their formal appearance."
Yue Guan nodded, "Exactly. Rumor has it that this sect once proclaimed 'All Body Under Heaven Are One Family.'"
"In other words, as long as you awaken an body martial soul, no matter where you're from, you're considered a disciple of the Body Sect!"
"Hmph, what arrogance!" Lion Douluo snorted, his face full of disdain. "All Body Under Heaven Are One Family? Just six titled Douluos, and with such bluster! Even if one of them got lucky and obtained a 100,000-year soul ring, so what? They can still be uprooted!"
"In my opinion, we should take advantage of their unstable footing and root them out now, before they become a future threat. We must not repeat the tragedy of Tang Chen!"
At the mention of "Tang Chen," the hall instantly fell silent, the atmosphere growing even more grave. Tang Chen was a memory Spirit Hall would rather forget—a time when the peerless Clear Sky Hammer and the rise of the three upper sects threatened Spirit Hall's dominance.
Just then, Yue Guan added, "There's another reason my subordinates suspect a connection. A year ago, in Heaven Dou City, a mysterious powerhouse startled Bone Douluo Gu Rong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect with just a single glance. According to spies, a middle-aged man tailing a youth named Chen Yi had his head taken off… definitely no ordinary person."
"Combining today's events, my subordinates boldly speculate that the mysterious powerhouse's martial soul might be… the Brain!"
"What?!"
With those words, several worships looked shocked. They all remembered the Heaven Dou City incident a year before—Gu Rong, known for his defense and oddity, had been forced back by a single look. The cultivation required for that was terrifying.
Some even privately speculated that only Qian Daoliu himself could have taken that mysterious powerhouse head-on. Even the ninety-eighth-ranked Golden Crocodile Douluo might not have been enough.
If that mysterious powerhouse also belonged to the Body Sect… then the sect's strength would need to be reassessed.
Bibi Dong watched the reactions below, especially the grave faces of the worships, coldly sneering inwardly. To her, the rise of the Body Sect was a challenge, but also an opportunity. These worships, who always watched for threats to Spirit Hall's rule, would surely not let such a force grow unchecked. If they struck and won, Spirit Hall's obstacles would be removed. If they lost… the weakening of the Worship Hall would also benefit her as Pope.
As everyone's thoughts diverged and all eyes turned to Qian Daoliu, the anchor of Spirit Hall, he finally opened his eyes. They were calm, as if nothing in the world could disturb his emotions. Facing Lion Douluo's challenge and everyone else's expectant gazes, he uttered just four words:
"Let's wait and see."
His voice was gentle, but filled with undisputable decisiveness.
Those who wanted to speak—like Lion Douluo—swallowed their words, falling silent at the depth in Qian Daoliu's gaze. His authority in the Worship Hall was absolute.
Qian Daoliu's eyes swept over the crowd, finally landing on a black shadow beside Yue Guan, his tone calm and unreadable, "All Body Under Heaven Are One Family? Heh, even our Spirit Hall has soul masters with body martial souls."
His words were meaningful, touching the hearts of many.
…
Within the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect's study.
Ning Fengzhi held the fastest information delivered from the dark line, struggling to maintain composure. His face was full of shock and gravity. Beside him, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong both wore serious expressions—Gu Rong especially seemed to recall the humiliation and helplessness in Heaven Dou City a year ago.
"Golden Body Douluo, Dragon Fist Douluo… Fourth Elder, Fifth Elder…"
Ning Fengzhi repeated these keywords in a low voice, exhaling a long, heavy breath. "So Chen Yi came from this mysterious Body Sect, but I didn't expect their strength to be so terrifying."
He turned to look at Gu Rong, forcing a wry smile. "Uncle Gu, the mysterious powerhouse from Heaven Dou City is likely the Body Sect's top leader, but whether he's the sect master or first elder is unknown."
To Ning Fengzhi, anyone with such unpredictable power in the Body Sect must be the sect master or second elder.
Gu Rong snorted but didn't argue, his clenched fists betraying his inner worry.
Ning Fengzhi walked to the window, looking at the peaceful scenery outside the sect, his brows furrowing, then sighing worriedly.
"The mountain rain is about to fall, and the wind fills the building… I fear the sky above the Douluo Continent is about to change."
…
At this moment, similar scenes were playing out in the Star Lou Palace, Heaven Dou royal family, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the core of all the continent's major powers with the right to know.
The name of the Body Sect exploded through the long-silent world of soul masters like a sudden clap of thunder.
...
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