As the words fell, Bi Bidong personally placed the crown upon his hair bun.
The golden crown complemented his jet-black hair, lending a touch of authority to his still-youthful face.
"The ceremony is complete—pay respects to the Holy Son!"
The master of ceremonies' voice suddenly rose, carrying a force that pierced the clouds and exploded over the square.
In an instant, thousands of armored guards of the Spirit Hall below knelt on one knee in unison.
The crisp clatter of armor merged into a continuous sound, and a powerful voice erupted in the air:
"Pay respects to the Holy Son—!"
Following closely, the observing disciples, deacons, and bishops of the Spirit Hall bowed one after another, their countless voices converging into an overwhelming torrent:
"Pay respects to the Holy Son—!"
Among the representatives of the various major sects who had come to observe the ceremony, aside from the highest-ranking few, the rest also bowed, their countless voices merging into a roaring flood:
"Pay respects to the Holy Son—!"
The sound waves crashed against the colonnades surrounding the square, reverberating back in layers, shaking the very air.
Under the sunlight, the figures of tens of thousands bowed like tides, with only Su Yu on the high platform standing tall and straight.
The golden crown gleamed brilliantly in his hair, fully showcasing the revered status of the Holy Son.
Su Yu stood there, gazing at the prostrate crowd beneath him and listening to the deafening shouts. He slowly raised his hand.
He gave a slight nod to those below—a gentle gesture, yet one that carried an innate dignity.
At this moment, no words were needed. The entire Martial Soul Holy City had already imprinted in memory—the new Holy Son of the Spirit Hall had officially been born.
Su Yu took his seat in the place reserved for the Holy Son, located slightly behind Bi Bidong and forming a triangular arrangement with the positions of the two emperors, both honoring his status and maintaining propriety.
His fingertips lightly traced the patterns on the armrest of his chair, his gaze calmly fixed on the center of the square.
Just then, from the seating area of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, Yu Yuanzhen slightly raised the corner of his eye, giving a discreet signal to a gray-robed elder behind him.
The elder understood implicitly, quietly moving to Yu Tiandou's side and whispering a few words into his ear.
After hearing them, a flicker of excitement and fighting spirit flashed in Yu Tiandou's eyes. He abruptly stood up, straightened his robes, and strode purposefully to the center of the high platform.
Stopping before Bi Bidong, Xue Ye, and Dai Tianfeng, he bowed and said:
"Your Holiness the Pope! Your Highness Tiandou! Your Highness Xingluo! I am Yu Tiandou of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan!"
Emperor Xue Ye looked at the spirited young man before him, recognizing him as the outstanding talent of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's current generation, and couldn't help but smile:
"Oh? It's Yu Tiandou. What brings you here?"
Yu Tiandou straightened up, his gaze turning toward Su Yu's direction, and declared clearly:
"Your Highness Tiandou, I boldly wish to seek guidance from the newly crowned Holy Son!"
"This is not a challenge, but I have long heard of the Holy Son's exceptional talent and am truly itching to seize this opportunity to spar with him."
"This will also allow me to clearly see my own shortcomings. I humbly request the permission of Your Holiness the Pope, Your Highness Tiandou, and Your Highness Xingluo!"
As soon as his words fell, a low murmur of discussion immediately arose on the high platform.
Everyone knew this was a common challenge following the ceremony—both a test for the new Holy Son and an opportunity for the great clans to showcase the strength of their younger generation.
All eyes instantly focused on Su Yu, eager to see how the ten-year-old Holy Son would respond.
Su Yu rose from the Holy Son's seat and strode steadily to the center of the high platform, standing opposite Yu Tiandou.
He tilted his head slightly and bowed toward Bi Bidong and the two emperors:
"Teacher, Your Majesty Xue Ye, Your Majesty Dai Tianfeng, I am willing to accept Yu Tiandou's challenge."
As soon as he finished speaking, he lifted his gaze to the audience below, sweeping over the seats of the various sects, his voice clear and resolute:
"Not only Yu Tiandou, but anyone present today—regardless of which sect or academy you hail from—if you wish to spar, I, Su Yu, will gladly oblige."
His words caused an immediate uproar on the high platform.
No one had expected this ten-year-old youth to possess such boldness, daring to challenge the great sects right after his coronation as Holy Son, without a trace of timidity.
Bi Bidong watched Su Yu's upright figure, a flicker of approval passing through her eyes before she spoke in a deep tone:
"Since this is a spar, it should be kept within bounds. The Spirit Hall's plaza is not a battlefield for life-and-death struggles."
Emperor Xue Ye clapped his hands and laughed, "Excellent! With such magnanimity, Your Highness the Holy Son truly lives up to the Pope's discerning eye!"
"It is a fine thing for the young to exchange pointers. I, too, wish to see whether the rising star of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan or the Spirit Hall's new Holy Son will prove superior."
Dai Tianfeng also nodded and said, "In that case, let the two of them take the stage and grant us a spectacle."
Upon hearing this, Yu Tiandou's fighting spirit intensified. He took half a step back and cupped his hands toward Su Yu:
"Your Highness, please!"
Su Yu returned the gesture, his tone calm yet edged with sharpness:
"Brother Yu, I await your guidance."
The two stood facing each other, and the atmosphere in the plaza instantly grew tense. Everyone held their breath, awaiting the start of the contest.
Yu Tiandou stomped his right foot forward, his eyes narrowing as Soul Power surged around him, crackling with pale blue lightning.
"Yu Tiandou, Martial Soul: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, thirty-fifth rank power attack system Battle Soul Elder!"
With his shout, a violent Dragon Might erupted, and a phantom materialized behind him.
A tyrannical dragon covered in blue scales roared, its ferocious fangs and thick claws exuding an intimidating aura.
Simultaneously, three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—rose from his feet, encircling his body.
The purple glow of the third Soul Ring was especially conspicuous, marking strength far beyond that of an ordinary Soul Elder.
His arms had already dragonified, covered in blue scales up to the back of his hands. His knuckles thickened, and his fingertips crackled with electricity; each breath carried the rumble of thunder.
"Your Highness, I await your guidance!"
Yu Tiandou's voice had grown slightly hoarse due to the Martial Soul Fusion, his gaze fixed intently on Su Yu opposite him.
Su Yu stood with his hands behind his back, meeting Yu Tiandou's gaze calmly, his tone betraying no emotion:
"Su Yu, Martial Soul: Wood Release, thirty-ninth rank control system Battle Soul Elder."
As soon as he spoke, Soul Power erupted around him, and three Soul Rings rose from his feet.
The first was a deep purple, the second a rich purple, and the third—startlingly—was a pitch-black as dark as ink!
Purple, purple, black!
When these three Soul Rings encircled Su Yu, the entire plaza fell into a deathly silence.
On the high platform, the composure on Yu Yuanzhen's face instantly shattered as he abruptly clenched his fists.
Ning Fengzhi's jade ruyi trembled slightly in his hand, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Emperor Xue Ye and Dai Tianfeng exchanged a glance, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.
The Titled Douluos all released their spiritual power, carefully probing the aura of that black Soul Ring.