Chapter 7: Pope Qian Xunji
"Do you know that little girl?" Qian Daoliu asked in puzzlement.
"No," Qian Xunji replied. "I just find it surprising to see a genius with twin martial souls and innate full soul power. Such a case hasn't appeared in the soul master world for a thousand years."
The next day, at precisely nine in the morning, sunlight bathed all of Wuhun City.
In front of the Pope's Palace, Qian Daoliu stood at the entrance, grasping the Pope's scepter. Several Titled Douluo Elders were lined up neatly on the Palace steps, while below them stood the Platinum Bishops and Red-robed Bishops.
At the base of Pope Mountain were countless soul masters of the Wuhun Hall, their expressions filled with fervor.
Dressed in an imposing suit of golden armor and draped in a red cape, Qian Xunji climbed the steps toward the Pope's Palace at a measured pace. Countless watching eyes followed him, yet his demeanor remained steady, showing not the slightest sign of nerves.
Under Qian Daoliu's calm gaze, Qian Xunji ascended the final step to stand before him.
Bang!
Qian Daoliu lightly tapped the Pope's scepter on the ground, producing a crisp sound. Invisible Angelic soul power flowed silently from his body, causing the entire plaza before the Pope's Palace to feel even more sacred and solemn. The expressions of all the Titled Douluo Elders, Platinum Bishops, and Red-robed Bishops turned even more reverent.
"Qian Xunji, are you prepared to succeed to the position of Pope?"
In the past, Qian Daoliu's voice was gentle; now it carried a weighty dignity.
Qian Xunji answered firmly, "I am ready."
"The title of Pope is more than just a name. It represents an identity and a responsibility—to lead the Wuhun Hall, to lead all the soul masters on this continent, and to uphold the order of the soul master world. Are you mentally prepared to shoulder this burden?"
"I, Qian Xunji, will devote my life to the Wuhun Hall, leading all the soul masters on the continent and preserving order among them."
"Very good. Take up the scepter. From this day forward, you are the new Pope of the Wuhun Hall!"
Qian Daoliu held the Pope's scepter out in both hands. Qian Xunji knelt on one knee, extended his own hands, and received it. Then Qian Daoliu stepped back, while Qian Xunji stood before everyone, scepter in hand.
"Long live His Holiness the Pope! Long live His Holiness the Pope! Long live His Holiness the Pope!"
At someone's call, three thunderous shouts resounded throughout Wuhun City—"Long live… long live… long live!"
From the foot of the mountain to the top, and from the summit down again, the deafening cheers echoed around the entire city, lingering without end. All across the Wuhun Hall, people paused whatever they were doing, raised both hands, and shouted their praises for the Pope.
Amid this wave of cheers like a mountain roar or a tsunami, Qian Xunji, standing before the Pope's Palace, could not help but be swept up in the moment. A dreamlike sensation engulfed him, as though his body were suddenly towering and colossal—his mere footstep could cause the entire continent to quake.
But that intoxication lasted only a second before he regained his clarity. On this continent, strength was supreme; power without sufficient personal ability to back it up was meaningless.
"It's time to get in touch with Ning Zhiping," Qian Xunji murmured. Ning Zhiping was the current head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan. Meanwhile, Ning Fengzhi was still a young man of about twenty, diligently cultivating. At present, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan ranked only third among the Upper Three Sects. Within the clan, they had only one Titled Douluo Elder, whose lifespan was almost at its end, leaving them no match for the current head of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
What the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan needed most right now was Titled Douluo support and promising individuals who could break through to Titled Douluo.
As for Bibi Dong, Qian Xunji had considered the matter carefully the day before and resolved to send her away. Human nature is complicated, and everyone admires the strong; men chase beautiful women, and women often do the same. With Bibi Dong's extraordinary talent and beauty, she would inevitably become a future "Holy Maiden" of the Wuhun Hall. He'd even been told to take her as a disciple. Her status would become exalted beyond measure.
At that point, from the high priests and Elders on down to the general ranks of the Wuhun Hall, everyone would be exceedingly kind to this prodigious, gorgeous young girl whose potential was limitless—most likely driving her to disregard every young genius within the Wuhun Hall, just as in the original story.
But that alone wouldn't trouble Qian Xunji too much. His real dilemma was her hopelessly romantic nature—love was everything to her. In the face of love, ancestors, parents, siblings, relatives, duty, gratitude…none of it mattered; she could cast it all aside.
Even though, just before she died in the original story, Bibi Dong admitted Qian Xunji had taught her all she knew—her theoretical knowledge was definitely top tier—she was still enthralled by the Tang San family's philosophies. Back then, Qian Xunji was powerless to stop it while he was alive. And even long after his death, Tang San's disciple hammered away at those same philosophies, yet Bibi Dong only fell deeper under their spell.
Thus, even if Qian Xunji thoroughly destroyed the "invincible theories" of Bibi Dong's idol, she would simply fixate on someone else—maybe a Wang "so-and-so," or a Liu "so-and-so," or some other aspect like their skill in music, chess, literature, or art. So, in the end, Qian Xunji thought it best to send her away.
Spending so many resources of the Wuhun Hall on someone like Bibi Dong—and wearing himself out dealing with her in the future—just didn't appeal to him. At the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she certainly wouldn't enjoy the same top-tier cultivation resources she would in the Wuhun Hall.
Leaving aside anything else, such as a hundred-thousand-year ninth soul ring—could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan possibly get that for her? Look at Chen Xin: even when he broke through to Titled Douluo, his father was still alive at rank 97.
And among the seven first-class soul bones Bibi Dong would later possess, three of them came directly from the Wuhun Hall—ultra-high-quality bones that money couldn't buy.
Inside the Worship Hall.
Having retired, Qian Daoliu had removed his heavy armor and changed into a platinum-colored silken robe. He stepped through the main door, ready to enjoy his retirement as the Great Consecration of the Angel God, guiding future generations in the Angel God Trials.
There was one other person in the Worship Hall: an extremely elderly individual, standing over two meters tall but brimming with robust vitality. This was the oldest senior member of the Wuhun Hall, Golden Crocodile Douluo.
Back when Qian Daoliu and Tang Chen were first gaining fame across the continent, Golden Crocodile Douluo was already an Elder of the Wuhun Hall. He was an advisor to the ruling Pope at that time. Even a young Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had once received his guidance; when Tang Chen visited the Wuhun Hall, he respectfully addressed him as "Senior."
"Greetings, Great Consecration," said Golden Crocodile Douluo respectfully.
Qian Daoliu gave him a slight nod, his eyes revealing a trace of wistful emotion. How quickly time had passed—he remembered when he was the Young Master and Golden Crocodile Douluo was an Elder. When he became Pope, Golden Crocodile Douluo had saluted him. Now, they had become the Great Consecration and the Second Consecration.
Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke up, "Great Consecration, I have a suggestion."
"What suggestion?"
"I think, within the Worship Hall, strength should reign supreme. Henceforth, let us not address each other by our consecration titles but call each other 'brother' according to our power. Since you are stronger, you will be my elder brother."
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