Chapter 192

After the fourth round ended, the final showdown was imminent; the three remaining teams were each just one step away from the championship, and to everyone else, the fifth‑round final would surely be a fierce dragon‑tiger battle.

However, in the final fifth round, the eliminated teams had already left; they weren't even allowed to watch the battles of this last day, and only true young powerhouses had the right to step onto the plaza before the Papal Hall.

Bright sunlight showered the earth, and under its glow the Papal Hall shone even more resplendently golden and azure, towering and majestic.

Before the Papal Hall, two rows of Hall Guard Knights stretched from the hall's doors down the mountain, clad in bright silver armor and gripping heavy knight swords, making the entire Pope Mountain even more awe‑inspiring.

Early in the morning, the three teams that had advanced to the final top‑three showdown had already appeared before the Papal Hall, waiting silently; the teachers of the three great academies were not permitted to stand on the plaza and could only wait in the outer spectator resting area.

All twenty‑one contestants in the final stood motionless on the plaza, each awaiting the arrival of this ultimate moment.

The plaza before the Papal Hall was no smaller than the arena used in previous matches; its square ground was paved with special stones, and upon close inspection one could see a faint, lustrous sheen on each stone.

Although they were not real jade, they were far beyond ordinary rock, showing just how terrifying the Spirit Hall's wealth is.

After a long while, a group emerged from the side door of the Papal Hall—twenty‑four Cardinals whose rank was just below the Platinum Archbishop—walking slowly forward until they stood before the hall's doors, twelve on each side.

The leader shouted, "His Holiness the Pope approaches!"

At that moment, a shout like a collapsing mountain and roaring sea rose throughout Wu Hun City: "Long live! Long live! Long live!"

It was not only the voices of the neatly arrayed Hall Guard Knights on Pope Mountain, but also the cries of all Soul Masters in Wu Hun City who were forbidden to approach the mountain; to them, the Pope of the Spirit Hall was the supreme faith!

The massive hall doors slowly opened, and everyone's gaze involuntarily gathered toward the direction they were opening.

Clad head‑to‑toe in a resplendent golden robe, wearing a violet‑gold crown and holding a scepter, Bi Bi Dong stepped out of the Papal Hall with a solemn expression.

She gave off an illusory aura, as if infinitely tall, so that no one even noticed her exquisite face; at this moment she embodied only the dignity of a generation's Pope of the Spirit Hall.

The golden robe fit perfectly, its splendid fabric flashing with gemlight; over a hundred red, blue, and gold jewels adorned it, and the violet‑gold crown atop her head shone with myriad rays, all light converging solely on her at this instant.

Gu Xuan watched the scene calmly, his only thought being: "Damn, they're rich!"

As for Bi Bi Dong, Gu Xuan could say he felt no affection for her; when reading the original work he thought she was a psycho, a yandere, and moreover a lovesick fool…

If possible, Gu Xuan would never let his lust lead him into a mother‑daughter pairing; he'd rather kill and take bones!

As Gu Xuan's thoughts raced, all members of the Spirit Hall dropped to one knee at that moment, saying, "Paying respects to His Holiness the Pope."

In that instant the atmosphere was indescribable; hearing the shouts from all directions, everyone couldn't help feeling an urge to bow in worship.

Behind Bi Bi Dong followed four people.

Three of them wore great‑red robes, unlike the Cardinals' all‑red vestments; their red robes were embroidered with gold and silver patterns, especially a radiant gold gem on the chest as large as a baby's fist, exuding a luxurious aura.

To ordinary folk it might merely symbolize nobility, but to Soul Masters it is the highest honor.

Because only Titled Douluo are qualified to wear these red robes, it is clear that these three are exactly such individuals.

Among these three Titled Douluo, one was intimately familiar to Gu Xuan—this person was Chen Xin.

As a Titled Douluo attending such a grand gathering of the Soul Master world, Chen Xin naturally had to dress elaborately.

Of the other two, the one on the left was shrouded in a layer of illusory black mist; though wearing the same attire, his face was indiscernible.

As for the other, his skin looked as smooth as a baby's, his bewitching appearance giving a special impression; were it not for the Adam's apple on his throat, no one would think he was actually a man.

These two were the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo who had once tried to assassinate Tang San before the grand finals, and now they are the Heng and Ha Generals serving under Pope Bi Bi Dong.

The fourth person following Bi Bi Dong wore no robe signifying Titled Douluo honor, clearly lacking that rank's strength, yet he still emerged from these doors, indicating he held another identity.

He was an elder of the Spirit Hall, more precisely an honorary elder, and this person was Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect.

After someone shouted the six words "Paying respects to His Holiness the Pope," six of the seven Spirit Hall Academy members knelt, leaving only a girl in a golden garment with a veil who remained motionless in place.

Gu Xuan likewise did not kneel; not only him, but all members of the Royal Battle Team and the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect team kept their eyes on Gu Xuan, and since he didn't kneel, neither did they.

Although there were two teams, their core was a single person—Gu Xuan.

Although no rule required Soul Masters to bow to the Pope of the Spirit Hall, at this moment the fourteen members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect team and the Royal Battle Team undoubtedly appeared defiantly independent.

Of course this does not include the female member of the Spirit Hall team, since those affiliated with the Spirit Hall already knew her identity, but because her status was special, no one dared to comment.

As for this person, the most surprising to Gu Xuan was that the woman was Qian Renxue.

This was something even Gu Xuan hadn't imagined; he could never have expected Qian Renxue to participate in this year's Continental Elite Soul Master Academy Tournament.

Xue Qinghe had been confined indoors for two days due to severe illness, so at this moment the seat representing the Heaven Dou Empire was vacant.

When he heard that news, Gu Xuan inwardly laughed; Xue Qinghe certainly wouldn't come, after all she had already appeared before him.

Moreover, Qian Renxue's gaze toward Gu Xuan at this moment was loaded with meaning, making him feel somewhat uneasy.

Bi Bi Dong's gaze fell directly on those fourteen young Soul Masters, and at that moment all Spirit Hall affiliates glared at them angrily, seeing it as disrespect toward His Holiness the Pope.

However, when Bi Bi Dong's gaze swept over Qian Renxue, she slightly waved her scepter, said nothing more, and softly said, "Please rise."

After Bi Bi Dong's words, those who had knelt rose, looking reverently with fervent eyes at their Pope.

A faint smile appeared on Bi Bi Dong's face as her gaze swept from left to right across the twenty‑one young Soul Masters competing in the top‑three finals.

"From you I see the hope of the Soul Master world's younger generation; before the Papal Hall I wish to witness all your talent and strength, and the ultimate victor shall receive the Spirit Hall's greatest reward." As she spoke, she lightly waved her scepter.

With her motion, three points of light instantly expanded before Bi Bi Dong, floating in midair.

They were three distinct objects, small in size, bone‑shaped: a right arm bone, a skull, and a left leg bone, each flashing with red, light blue, and dark green light respectively.

They were soul bones, and there were three of them.

Even at the foot of Pope Mountain the glow of the three soul bones was clearly visible, and in an instant the entire Wu Hun City boiled over.

Besides those who had known in advance what the final prize would be, who could have imagined it would be three soul bones? From the light one could see that each was of extraordinary quality; even Spirit Hall insiders' eyes gleamed with greed.

If this were not the Papal Hall, or if there were not several Titled Douluo present to exert their authority, someone would surely have rushed forward, unable to restrain their greed.

These are soul bones! They are the most precious treasures for a Soul Master, rare and unattainable, and these three soul bones clearly come from spirit beasts of at least ten‑thousand‑year age.

The Ghost Douluo's eerie low voice from behind the Pope said, "The three soul bones are respectively the Wisdom Skull of Spiritual Condensation, the Flame‑Blazing Right Arm of Explosive Combustion, and the Swift‑Striding Left Leg of Wind‑Chase; all are drawn from ten‑thousand‑year spirit beasts."

"Among them, the Wisdom Skull of Spiritual Condensation comes from a spirit beast over fifty thousand years old, personally slain by the previous Pope; it is the finest of soul bones, second only to External Soul Bones and the top‑grade soul bones produced by hundred‑thousand‑year spirit beasts."

After the Ghost Douluo finished, Pope Bi Bi Dong said calmly, "There can only ever be one victor, and likewise only one champion; therefore these three soul bones will go to the final champion team. I hope the three academies that have reached the top three will give their all and earn this honor."

At this moment, no Soul Master of any rank could look at the soul bones without their eyes flashing red, and with three of them the fierce fighting spirit practically surged forth from the bodies of the twenty‑one competing Soul Masters.

Even Gu Xuan coveted those three soul bones deeply; after all, even if he himself had no use for them, he could give them to his companions.

Bi Bi Dong continued, "This morning will be each of your three teams sending out seven individuals for personal elimination matches; the remaining teams will gain the initiative and advance directly to tomorrow's championship showdown, while the two losing teams will compete this afternoon for the other final spot. You may now send out your first combatant."

Under Bi Bi Dong's personal announcement, the fifth round of the finals began.

ps: typos will be corrected later.

(End of chapter)