The expressions of Spirit Hall Academy's team, led by Evil Moon, were the most relaxed of all, yet the light that shimmered in their eyes was one of unwavering faith—faith in Spirit Hall, faith in the Pope.
Shrek Academy maintained the most low-key posture of anyone. The seven stood in a line from left to right: Dai Mubai, Tang San, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing.
The square before Papal Hall was no smaller than the competition platforms used in the earlier matches. Its surface was paved with special stone blocks, and upon closer inspection, one could detect a faint, lustrous glow upon them. Though they were not true jade, they were leagues beyond any ordinary rock. From this alone, one could appreciate just how terrifying Spirit Hall's wealth truly was.
A procession emerged from the side entrance of Papal Hall—twelve red-robed bishops, each holding a rank second only to the Platinum Bishops, walked forward in measured steps. They proceeded all the way to the front of the hall and split to either side, six on each.
The one at their head raised his voice. "Her Majesty the Pope arrives!"
"Long live, long live, long live!" Three thunderous cries rang out across all of Spirit Hall City like an avalanche crashing into the sea.
Those were not merely the voices of the Papal Knights arrayed in precise formation on the Papal Mountain. They were the shouts of every Soul Master throughout Spirit Hall City—the ones who were forbidden from approaching the mountain. For them, the Pope was the supreme object of their devotion.
The colossal doors of the hall slowly swung open, the six emblems on their surface gradually rotating apart.
Every gaze in the square was drawn inexorably toward those opening doors. Even the seven members of Spirit Hall Academy's team felt their heartbeats quickening.
Even as the golden generation of Spirit Hall, they had only ever seen the Pope once—when they had been awarded the Purple Record Medal.
She who emerged first was Bibi Dong, draped in a radiant golden ceremonial gown from head to toe, a purple-gold crown upon her head, a scepter in her hand, her expression one of solemn authority. Her entire person carried an ethereal quality, as though she were impossibly vast and towering.
No one even noticed her breathtaking beauty. In this moment, she represented nothing less than the majesty of Spirit Hall's supreme pontiff.
The golden gown fit her form to perfection. The magnificent dress shimmered with prismatic brilliance, adorned with well over a hundred gems in red, blue, and gold. The purple-gold crown atop her head blazed with countless rays of light, and every strand of radiance in this moment converged upon her alone.
Every soul who belonged to Spirit Hall dropped to one knee in an instant. "We greet Your Eminence the Pope!"
The atmosphere in that single breath was beyond description. Even those of iron will like Tang San and Dai Mubai, surrounded on all sides by that thunderous chant, could not suppress a sudden urge to bow in reverent worship.
Behind Bibi Dong followed four individuals. Three of them wore deep crimson ceremonial robes—unlike the entirely red vestments of the red-robed bishops, these were embroidered with elaborate gold and silver patterns throughout. Most striking was the gem at each chest, gleaming with golden light and as large as an infant's fist, radiating an air of opulence.
For ordinary people, these robes might simply signify nobility, but for Soul Masters, they represented the highest possible honor. Such crimson vestments were reserved exclusively for Titled Douluo. Clearly, these three men held exactly that status.
Of the three, only one was someone Tang San and the others had seen before—the ninety-sixth-level Titled Douluo from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, bearing the title of Sword: Chen Xin. Known as the Sword Douluo, said to possess the most devastating offensive power of any Titled Douluo.
Of the remaining two, the one on the left radiated a hazy, phantom-like aura over his entire body. Though dressed identically, his features were impossible to make out. As for the other, his skin appeared as delicate as a newborn's, and his bewitchingly beautiful face gave off a peculiar impression—had it not been for the Adam's apple visible on his neck, no one would have guessed he was a man at all.
Though Tang San recognized neither of them, the moment he laid eyes on them, a strong sense of familiarity washed over him. He thought to himself that these two must be the Chrysanthemum Douluo and the Ghost Douluo who had appeared that day, intending to assassinate him.
Only three categories of people were permitted to exit through the main doors of Papal Hall. The first was, naturally, the Pope. The second was any Titled Douluo who had proven their strength. And the third was a Spirit Hall Elder. Apart from these three, not even the Platinum Bishops or the emperors of the two great empires had the right to pass through those doors.
The fourth person walking alongside the three Titled Douluo clearly did not possess the strength of a Titled Douluo, yet the fact that he still emerged through those doors meant he held another identity—an Elder of Spirit Hall. More precisely, an Honorary Elder. This was none other than the master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, Ning Fengzhi.
Gu Dubo, too, had possessed the qualification to join them, but he had chosen not to. He simply remained where he was, standing quietly beside the Golden Iron Triangle.
Has the moment finally arrived? Tang San watched the five figures emerge from Papal Hall. At this point, on this grand platform, only the seven members of Shrek Academy remained standing. Even the seven from Wind Spirit Academy had already dropped to one knee.
The Shrek Seven Devils had never beforehand discussed what to do in a situation like this, yet they had all arrived at the same decision independently.
Dai Mubai, as a prince, would naturally never kneel before Spirit Hall. Zhu Zhuqing had similar reasons. Oscar had never taken Spirit Hall seriously to begin with—he only ever thought well of them when collecting the Gold Soul Coins they distributed.
As for Tang San, he would most certainly not bow to the Pope. Not because of his origins in the Clear Sky School or anything of the sort, but because of the iron pride that lived in his very bones.