Seeing the Spirit Emperor captain charging, Lin Jie had no choice but to resist. After all, he was the one who had chosen to force his way into the Pontiff's Palace.
With a surge of spirit power, five Spirit Rings—yellow, purple, black, black, black—rose around his body, releasing a terrifying pressure.
"What—how is this possible? You actually…" The captain's eyes widened at Lin Jie's Spirit Ring configuration.
But shock did not stay his hand. To him, anyone who dared storm the Pontiff's Palace was a criminal who must be punished.
With a roar, his Violent Bear Martial Soul possessed him, muscles swelling, and his titanic strike barreled toward Lin Jie.
Just then, a golden silhouette appeared between them. One slender finger pressed forward lightly—and stopped the captain's unstoppable blow in its tracks.
The captain froze. His eyes widened, then quickly regained composure. With a respectful bow, he said, "Greetings, Elder Yue."
"That's enough. You may withdraw," Yue Guan said indifferently.
"But Elder Yue, he—" The captain began, but one glance from Yue Guan silenced him. Swallowing his words, he bowed again. "Yes, Elder."
Gathering up his unconscious comrades, the captain retreated with the others.
From the moment Yue Guan had appeared, Lin Jie had stood calmly, unmoving. Everything was unfolding as he had expected.
Beside him, Zhu Zhuyun's heart trembled. She dared not utter a word.
"Greetings, Elder Yue," Lin Jie said with a polite salute.
Yue Guan's strange, lilting voice sounded. "Boy, you've got guts. To dare break into Spirit Hall itself."
Lin Jie gave a wry smile. "Elder Yue jests. How would I dare? It was all a misunderstanding. In truth, I've come to join Spirit Hall."
"Join Spirit Hall? Heh." Yue Guan's lips curled into a peculiar smile, but then he recalled her words, and his tone shifted. "Come with me. His Holiness the Pontiff is waiting."
"Please wait, Elder Yue. I have something I wish to offer you first."
"Offer me something? Boy, do you even know what you're doing?"
"I believe Elder Yue will appreciate this gift."
Yue Guan's interest was minimal. At his level, few things could still catch his eye.
But when Lin Jie produced a jade box, Yue Guan's body suddenly trembled. From within, he sensed a familiar aura… one that resonated with his own Martial Soul.
"Boy… what is in your hand?"
"A gift for Elder Yue. The Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum."
"What did you say?!"
Lin Jie opened the box, revealing a perfectly preserved golden chrysanthemum, radiant with divine energy.
"This… this is…" Yue Guan's eyes widened in disbelief. In a flash he was before Lin Jie, the immortal herb already in his hands.
"An immortal treasure… the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum," he whispered, voice trembling. His heart surged with indescribable excitement.
The Chrysanthemum Douluo closed his eyes, inhaling deeply of its fragrance, his expression one of intoxicated joy.
Lin Jie understood his reaction. After all, when Dai Mubai had consumed this herb, it had elevated his talent to god-level. For Yue Guan, whose Martial Soul was itself the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, the benefits would be even greater.
After a while, Yue Guan managed to compose himself. His voice softened. "Boy, how did you come by this immortal herb?"
"By chance. I wonder if Elder Yue finds it to his liking."
"…I'll accept this gift. But I won't take it for free. Speak—what do you want in return?"
Lin Jie smiled. "Elder Yue is too kind. I only hope that in the future you might look after me. I ask for nothing more. As for this little incident of me breaking into the Pontiff's Palace…"
"Consider it forgotten. You've not yet formally joined Spirit Hall, but I will take responsibility for your actions."
Yue Guan's gaze shifted briefly to Zhu Zhuyun, uneasy at Lin Jie's side. He vaguely recalled her as a scion of the Star Luo Zhu Clan, but he paid it no further mind. All he cared about now was studying the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum in detail.
"Come with me. I'll take you to meet the Pontiff."
Lin Jie followed close behind, Zhu Zhuyun forcing herself to remain calm as she trailed after him.
Soon, they arrived before the grand hall of the Pontiff's Palace. Yue Guan went inside to announce him. Moments later, Lin Jie was ushered in, while Zhu Zhuyun was left waiting outside, nerves taut. Yue Guan departed at once—Lin Jie had no doubt where he was headed.
Stepping into the vast chamber, Lin Jie once again beheld Bibi Dong. Her presence struck him just as powerfully as before.
He bowed deeply. "I greet Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong set down the document in her hand and looked at him. "Rise."
"Welcome to Spirit Hall, Lin Jie. From today onward, you are one of us. As for your past deeds—I will not pursue them."
Whether she referred to his intrusion today, his earlier clashes with Spirit Hall, or the tournament, it didn't matter. What mattered was her magnanimity—the bearing of the woman who ruled the continent.
Lin Jie glanced at her, inwardly impressed.
Looking upon her beauty and majesty, he couldn't help but sigh. To rise to such a height was no simple feat.
"Since Your Holiness shows such generosity, I, Lin Jie, will set aside all past grudges. From this day forward, I will serve only you, only Spirit Hall. Should my loyalty waver, may I be struck down by heaven's lightning."
"Very good. Your heart pleases me. Rest assured, Spirit Hall does not mistreat its talents. Tell me what position you desire, and I will consider it."
Lin Jie smiled faintly. Since he had chosen to join Spirit Hall, he would play the role properly. "Your Holiness, I've yet to earn merit. How could I ask for rank? That can wait. Instead, I have something I wish to offer you—an item of rare destructive power. Earlier, I observed the strength of your palace guards. They are strong, but with this weapon, I could have defeated them with ease."
"You speak of the soul power grenades?"
"Your Holiness knows of them?"
"Hu Liena mentioned them to me. Their power is impressive."
"Not only grenades. There is also this." Lin Jie drew out his soul tool pistol.
Bibi Dong's brows arched slightly.
"This is a soul tool pistol. Its power is immense, not inferior to the grenades, and far more practical. If mass-produced and equipped to Spirit Hall's knights, our overall might would rise dramatically."
"You claim its power rivals the grenades?"
"Exactly. If Your Holiness would grant me a test field, I can demonstrate its strength. Seeing will be believing."
"…Very well."
Her interest was piqued. If both weapons could be standardized, many of her plans would indeed become far easier to achieve.
"By the way," she added, "the woman outside—she's from the Zhu Clan of the Star Luo Empire, is she not? Why is she with you?"
"Her name is Zhu Zhuyun, eldest daughter of the Zhu Clan. She tried to assassinate me, but I captured her alive. For now, she's my prisoner. Given my… connection with her family, I chose to keep her. But Your Holiness need not worry—I will handle her."
"Very well. That is your affair. See to it yourself. Now—come."
She led him to a vast training ground. Zhu Zhuyun, meanwhile, was taken elsewhere to be secured. She knew that if she valued her life, she wouldn't dare attempt escape.
Standing upon the open plaza, Bibi Dong's lips curved faintly. "Now, let me see this soul power grenade and soul tool pistol of yours."
"Yes, Your Holiness. Would you prefer I demonstrate against a target… or with you personally?"
"I'll do it myself. I want to feel the strength of your weapon firsthand."
"Then forgive my offense. Though Your Holiness's power is beyond compare, please be cautious—my gun is no toy."
"No matter. Do your worst. I wish to see just how strong it is."
Lin Jie retreated a dozen meters, and with a flick of his fingers, two sleek pistols appeared in his hands. Though not as devastating as his electromagnetic railgun, their power was formidable.
Bang! Bang!
Shots rang out, bullets streaking like lightning toward Bibi Dong.
Her beautiful eyes sparkled. With her strength, she could sense the immense force and piercing power within them. Against an ordinary Spirit Emperor, such a strike could prove fatal.
As the bullets closed in, she lowered her Pontiff's Scepter. A Spirit Ring flared, and the bullets halted a meter before her, suspended in midair.
Bang! Bang!
Two more shots blazed forth. The halted bullets trembled, then merged with the new ones into a massive orb of energy.
Bibi Dong's brows knit, and she poured out more spirit power.
Boom!
The energy orb exploded violently, thunderous shockwaves tearing through the air.
Her scepter swept again, spirit power surging to suppress the blast.