"What are you looking at?" Qian Renxue raised an eyebrow as she noticed Li Xun's gaze.
Li Xun chuckled without answering and stepped forward, picking up the Papal Token. "Sister Xue, is this the legendary Papal Token?"
"Why? Do you want it?" Qian Renxue looked at him with a teasing smile.
"If you insist on giving it to me, I wouldn't refuse," Li Xun replied, playing with the token and grinning.
"This token symbolizes the Pope's authority. Holding it is equivalent to the Pope's presence. Since you're on my side, it's useless to you," Qian Renxue shook her head. "Besides, doesn't Teacher have one as well?"
"How is it useless? Didn't Yu Xiaogang use it to intimidate others for quite some time? I won't use it in Spirit City or around the Pope," Li Xun disagreed with her.
"And Teacher's token is Teacher's. You'll become the Pope sooner or later. What's the difference if I get this token a day earlier or later?"
Qian Renxue pondered for a moment before saying, "I can give you the token, but you must promise not to use it for evil."
"Don't worry, I definitely won't use it to bully ordinary people," Li Xun quickly assured her, stashing the token into his Soul Guiding Device as Qian Renxue nodded.
After all, bullying ordinary people isn't as fun as bullying Yu Xiaogang.
"Are you satisfied now?" Qian Renxue laughed softly, seeing Li Xun's eagerness to keep the token. "Then get to work."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
In the Pope's Hall of Spirit City, Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed to Bibidong. "Your Majesty, Yu Xiaogang claims that the blueprints were created by his disciple and have nothing to do with him. He refuses to provide them to our Spirit Hall."
Bibidong, resting her cheek on her hand while seated on the papal throne, looked at him in surprise. "Did you ask him directly?"
"No, I initially intended to purchase them, but Yu Xiaogang was very firm in his refusal," Chrysanthemum Douluo explained hastily.
"Very well, let it be," Bibidong sighed, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.
She knew Yu Xiaogang's stubbornness well. Pressuring him wouldn't change anything, and the Hidden Weapons weren't significant enough to affect her plans.
"How is Xiaoxue doing?"
"Your Majesty, the Young Master's anger seems to have subsided. She was adamant about killing Yu Xiaogang a while ago, but she seems to have calmed down recently," Chrysanthemum Douluo replied with a smile.
"That's good," Bibidong nodded in satisfaction, then slowly stood up. "Tomorrow is the preliminary round of the Continental Soul Master Competition. Go to the treasury and retrieve the Soul Bones I preselected, then announce the championship rewards."
"Your Majesty, although Nana and the others are highly talented, isn't this too risky? I've heard that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's current generation is just as gifted," Chrysanthemum Douluo hesitated, recalling the rumors he had heard in Heavenly Dou City.
Bibidong chuckled softly. "Yue Guan, you underestimate Nana and the others. Just recently, she, Xie Yue, and Yan have all broken through to the Soul King level."
"I'm only presenting these three Soul Bones as a formality. They're still young, and if I directly bestowed the Soul Bones upon them, it might cause discontent."
"Your Majesty's foresight is truly remarkable. I believe these children will surely be grateful for your benevolence upon hearing this news," Chrysanthemum Douluo forced a smile, though a faint sense of bitterness welled up in his heart.
What is most important for a Soul Master? A Spirit Ring and a Soul Bone. While Spirit Rings vary depending on one's upper limit and physique, Soul Bones can be absorbed by anyone.
Now, even a few budding children have been preordained to receive Soul Bones, while he and Old Ghost, who have served Spirit Hall for so many years, have never been rewarded with even a single Soul Bone.
The only Soul Bone they have was one Old Ghost obtained himself. Just thinking about it is enough to make one's heart ache.
Chrysanthemum Douluo, after all, is a Title Douluo. The chaotic thoughts only affected him for a moment. "Your Majesty, if there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."
Bibidong waved her hand with her eyes closed, then suddenly remembered something. "By the way, how is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School doing lately? Have they moved on from the matter of Yu Xiaogang?"
Chrysanthemum Douluo glanced at Bibidong discreetly. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has been quiet recently. It seems they have put the matter behind them after receiving compensation."
"Very well, you may leave."
Bibidong nodded. "When you return to Heavenly Dou, continue to monitor the movements of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. If necessary, remind Xiaoxue."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Chrysanthemum Douluo bowed and slowly retreated.
After leaving the grand hall, Chrysanthemum Douluo turned back to look at the majestic hall symbolizing the Pope's authority and let out a heavy sigh.
At the Education Committee of the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy.
At this moment, Li Xun and the rest of the team were listening to the teachings of the three Education Committee members.
But to call it "teachings" would be an overstatement—it was more like a lament. Meng Shenji, leading the trio, was tearfully trying to persuade Li Xun not to act impulsively.
This situation arose entirely because the presence of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Li Xun in the Heaven Dou Empire had skyrocketed.
Rumors were even spreading that Li Xun was the Heavenly Dou's "Little State Master."
"Xiao Xun, the Heavenly Dou Royal Academy has never won the Soul Master Competition before. Grandpa Meng knows you are talented and strong, but wouldn't it be better to hide your strength and make a grand entrance during the finals?" Meng Shenji's face was full of worry as he slowly extended his hand. "Three tournaments—three whole tournaments! Finally, this year, Heavenly Dou has a group of geniuses like you. Now that the second team has disbanded, can you please be more cautious?"
"That's right! Xiao Xun, you can still make a name for yourself after winning the championship," Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin chimed in, nodding repeatedly.
"Grandpa Meng, don't worry," Li Xun exchanged a smile with his teammates. "I promise you that the championship of this year's Continental Soul Master Competition will belong to our academy."
"Ah!" Meng Shenji shook his head and sighed deeply. "Xiao Xun, this is a continental competition. The participants are filled with strong individuals and emerging talents. Can you hold back a little? Think of it as gathering information on your opponents in advance."
"Gathering information? Grandpa Meng, perhaps our secrecy has been too effective, making you unaware of our true strength." Li Xun laughed heartily, then turned to look at his teammates. "Brothers, unleash your Martial Souls and show the Education Committee what we're made of."
As soon as he finished speaking, the students, led by Dugu Yan and Zhu Zhuqing, all released their Spirit Rings beneath their feet—and astonishingly, each of them had four Spirit Rings: yellow, yellow, purple, purple.
"If this still isn't enough, please take another look," Li Xun said, seeing that Meng Shenji and the others remained unmoved. Slowly, five Spirit Rings appeared beneath his feet.
When Li Xun's third and fourth Spirit Rings appeared, Meng Shenji and the others showed no reaction, as they were already aware that his Fourth Soul Ring was a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. The threshold for surprise had long since passed.
However, when Li Xun's fifth Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring emerged, Meng Shenji, Zhi Lin, and Bai Baoshan could no longer remain seated.
Meng Shenji abruptly stood up, his beard trembling as he exclaimed, "Xiao Xun, you've actually broken through to become a Soul King!"
"And not just any Soul King, but one with every Spirit Ring surpassing the limits," Bai Baoshan added, his eyes wide with astonishment.
Zhi Lin laughed heartily, "This isn't just surpassing the limits; it's the pinnacle of limits."
(End of Chapter)