After Chrysanthemum Douluo fled, Lin Mu removed his Nava Flame Armor and turned to look at the crowd. They stared at him in disbelief, unable to process what had just happened. Lin Mu's defeat of Dugu Bo had already shattered their understanding of the world, but they hadn't expected even Yue Guan to be so thoroughly outmatched.
Meng Shenji suppressed his shock and stepped forward, bowing slightly to Lin Mu with the utmost respect. "Teacher Lin Mu, are you truly just a Soul Saint?"
Everyone leaned in, eager for the answer. Aside from the members of the Royal Fighting Team, no one else had witnessed the battle between Lin Mu and Dugu Bo; they only knew that Dugu Bo had been subdued. Now, they had all seen Lin Mu systematically beat the renowned Chrysanthemum Douluo, every movement flowing with decisive power.
When Chrysanthemum Douluo unleashed his eighth Soul Skill, Lin Mu's speed had been so terrifying that even the three Board Members had only seen a blur. Immediately afterward, the Titled Douluo was smashed into the ground, seemingly unaware of how he had even been hit. In their sight, Lin Mu had appeared to vanish into thin air.
Facing Meng Shenji's question, Lin Mu calmly replied, "I only have seven Soul Rings. Didn't you all see that during the fight?"
Hearing this, the three Board Members snapped back to reality. Indeed, Soul Rings could not be faked. During the battle with Qin Ming, Lin Mu had clearly displayed only seven rings. Remembering that astonishing hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring, the shock in the room lessened slightly, replaced by awe.
Meng Shenji took a deep breath. "Teacher Lin Mu, your strength is truly terrifying. Defeating two Title Douluos consecutively is unprecedented, and likely to remain so."
Lin Mu merely smiled faintly. In truth, through this personal encounter, he realized that Chrysanthemum Douluo was significantly stronger than Dugu Bo. However, both of their Soul Skills were primarily area-of-effect attacks, making them relatively weak in high-level single-target combat. If he had faced a Title Douluo with a top-tier Power Attack Beast Soul, the victory wouldn't have been so effortless.
At this moment, Board Member Zhi Lin stepped forward, his face etched with worry. "Teacher Lin Mu, severely injuring an Elder of the Spirit Hall is a direct insult to their authority. Given their reputation, they will not let this go easily. We must prepare for the fallout immediately."
Meng Shenji's expression turned grave. The Spirit Hall was currently at the peak of its power. Using this incident as a pretext to pressure the Heaven Dou Imperial Family would be a major crisis. However, looking at the unfathomable Lin Mu, a resolute light flashed in his eyes. Such a talent was far more valuable than anything else the empire possessed. Even if it meant a total break with the Spirit Hall, binding Lin Mu to the Empire was worth any price.
"Teacher Lin Mu," Meng Shenji said with unwavering determination. "Please focus on leading your disciples to hunt for their Soul Rings. I will go to the palace immediately to report this to His Majesty. The Empire will stand behind you."
The intent was clear: Meng Shenji would persuade Emperor Xue Ye to protect and win over Lin Mu at all costs. Even if Lin Mu hadn't formally pledged allegiance, as long as he stood against the Spirit Hall, he was an ally.
"Then I'll leave that to you, Board Head Meng Shenji," Lin Mu nodded.
Under the watchful eyes of the academy, Lin Mu, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Ye Lingling left the grounds and headed toward the Star Dou Great Forest. Lin Mu brought Xiao Wu along specifically to prevent the Spirit Hall from using her as leverage. The Spirit Hall was ruthless, and leaving her alone at the academy would only invite trouble.
In the Supreme Pontiff Palace of Spirit City, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan staggered through the halls in a disheveled state, his body wracked with pain. As he approached the main hall, a blurry, ghostly figure appeared silently before him. It was Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei.
Individually, Yue Guan and Gui Mei were not the strongest Title Douluos, but their Soul Fusion Technique, the Polar Stillness Domain, gave them a transcendent status within the Spirit Hall. Ghost Douluo had intended to mock his partner, but seeing Yue Guan's miserable state, he swallowed his words and helped him up.
"How did you get this injured? Who did this?!" Gui Mei asked in shock.
Yue Guan gave a bitter, hoarse smile. "Old Ghost... take me to see the Pope first."
Inside the magnificent hall, Bibi Dong sat on her throne, her gaze indifferent. When she saw the heavily injured Yue Guan, her eyes narrowed, but her voice remained cold. "Yue Guan, I ordered you to bring Lin Mu here. Where is he?"
Hearing that indifferent tone, Yue Guan felt a chill in his heart, recalling Lin Mu's warning about being a mere pawn. He managed to stand straight with Gui Mei's support. "Your Holiness, I found Lin Mu, but he refused to come."
Bibi Dong's face darkened. "Were these injuries caused by Lin Mu?"
In her estimation, Yue Guan was a Level 94 Title Douluo, far superior to Dugu Bo. Unless he encountered a Super Douluo, he should have been able to escape unscathed. Yet Yue Guan's condition suggested he had been completely overwhelmed.
"Your Holiness... Lin Mu's strength is far above mine. I was powerless against him."
"What?!" Both Bibi Dong and Ghost Douluo were stunned.
Seeing that Yue Guan wasn't exaggerating, Bibi Dong finally realized the gravity of the situation. This young Soul Saint possessed power far exceeding her wildest expectations. Subduing him by force would likely require her personal intervention, which would mean a fight to the death.
A glint flashed in her eyes as she weighed the options. "Since he is this powerful, the matter of recruitment will be put on hold for now."
In her mind, if she couldn't subdue him easily, it was better to let the situation develop. Perhaps Qian Renxue could achieve what force could not.