Chapter 9: Su Yuntao's Urgent Mission: Part 4

The evening was slowly descending upon the City of Spirits as Su Yuntao approached its imposing walls. Outside, people worked tirelessly in the fields, tending to the land that provided their sustenance. Upon reaching the entrance, he encountered a long line of individuals waiting to be assessed by the guards.

The guards, with armor gleaming under the last rays of the sun, held a mystical sphere that determined whether the aspirants possessed soul power. Those whose hands caused a flash in the sphere were welcomed, while those who generated no reaction were coldly turned away. A man, upon being rejected, inquired the reason, and a guard responded indifferently that only soul masters could enter the holy city.

When it was Su Yuntao's turn, he greeted the guard with a nod of his head and placed his hand on the sphere. It glowed normally, indicating that he possessed soul power. The guard, showing no surprise, simply nodded and allowed him to pass.

Crossing the gates, Su Yuntao found himself on an avenue flanked by shops, restaurants, and other establishments catering to the needs of visitors. The street was alive with activity, with vendors announcing their wares and passersby of all sorts coming and going.

At the end of this bustling avenue, a large square opened up, serving as a meeting point and the center of social life in the City of Spirits. At the edge of the square, a monumental staircase of about 300 steps stretched upward, leading to a palace that stood majestically atop a hill. This palace was connected by bridges to two other hills, each crowned with its own palace, but without stairs leading directly to them. The only way to reach these additional palaces was to first ascend the central staircase and then cross the bridges that branched from the main palace.

The imposing structure, visible from any point in the square, seemed to watch over and protect the city. Su Yuntao, his gaze fixed on the staircase leading to the palace, knew that would be his next destination.

Su Yuntao continued his way along the main avenue of the City of Spirits, observing with curiosity the shops and the passersby who mingled in a constant bustle. Halfway down, to the right, a street veered towards a gigantic coliseum. The structure was imposing, and from its doors came and went soul masters, some wearing the fatigue of battle on their faces and others with clothes stained with blood that bore witness to recent fights. The cheers and acclamations of the crowd resonated from within, creating a vibrant atmosphere of competition and spectacle.

For a moment, Su Yuntao paused, contemplating the scene with a mix of fascination and awe. The cries of victory and the echo of clashes between soul powers awakened in him a longing for adventure and the temptation to immerse himself in the fervor of the crowd. But then, a thought of Ma Xiu Nuo crossed his mind, reminding him of the gravity of his mission and the importance of his visit to the Pope. With a sigh, he turned his gaze away from the coliseum and resumed his steady pace towards the square, leaving behind the din of the arena, but carrying with him the echo of the excitement he had felt.

Upon reaching the square, he headed towards the grand staircase. He began to ascend the 300 steps that led to the palace, a journey that, though demanding, was imbued with a solemnity that inspired respect and reverence. Once at the top, he was met by the inquisitive gaze of guards who guarded the entrance.

"What business brings you here?" asked one of the guards with a firm voice.

"Su Yuntao, on behalf of the deacon of the city of Nuoding, Ma Xiu Nuo, I come to see His Holiness the Pope," Su Yuntao replied confidently, while extending the token that had been given to him as proof of his mission.

The guard took the token seriously, examining it closely under the light. After moments that seemed eternal, he nodded his head, acknowledging the authenticity of the object.

"Very well," said the guard, returning the token to Su Yuntao. "I will inform the Pope of your arrival. Wait here." The guard entered the palace, leaving Su Yuntao to wait.

In a room adorned with silk tapestries and banners that fluttered with the slightest current of air, a man sat on an elevated throne, his figure imposing a dominant presence over all present. The tension in the room was palpable, and every word he uttered resonated with the force of an unbreakable command.

"Have you not found them yet?" exclaimed the man on the throne, his voice almost a roar as his hand struck the arm of the throne with a dull sound. "You have 3 days! In 3 days I want their location and all preparations made."

The others bowed in a gesture of submission and acceptance. One of them, with the audacity granted by urgency, dared to ask, "Your Majesty, how many troops should we prepare?"

The man on the throne, known as Qian Xun Ji, contemplated the question with a penetrating gaze before responding decisively. "With 2 Titled Douluos, 6 Counters, and 15 Saints it will be enough."

Just at that moment, the heavy silence of the room was interrupted by the sound of the large doors opening. The guard who had spoken with Su Yuntao moments before entered with a firm step, knelt reverently, and said, "Your Majesty, there is someone outside requesting to see you. He says he comes on behalf of the deacon of the city of Nuoding."

Qian Xun Ji frowned slightly, his interest piqued by the mention of the deacon. "Oh," he murmured thoughtfully, "I wonder what he wants. Let him in, I hope it's something important."

The guard nodded, "Yes, Your Majesty." He rose gracefully and withdrew from the room to fetch Su Yuntao.

The guard approached Su Yuntao, who was at the top of the grand staircase, contemplating the vast expanse of the City of Spirits that unfolded before him. The view from that place was overwhelming, and for a moment, Su Yuntao felt part of something much larger than himself.

"His Majesty has allowed you to enter," said the guard, interrupting his thoughts.

"Thank you," replied Su Yuntao, turning to follow the guard into the palace.

Upon entering the throne room, Su Yuntao met the penetrating gaze of Qian Xun Ji. With reverence, he knelt and said, "I see His Majesty."

"You may rise," indicated Qian Xun Ji with a gesture of his hand.

Su Yuntao obeyed and, standing once more, carefully extracted a letter from his tunic. He held it above his head with both hands, a gesture that denoted the importance and respect that the message he carried deserved.

Qian Xun Ji extended his hand towards the letter and, using his soul power, drew it towards him. The letter gently flew from Su Yuntao's hands to those of the ruler. Qian Xun Ji broke the seal with an agile movement and read the contents attentively, his expression inscrutable.

Once he had finished, he gestured with his hand and, again using his soul power, made the letter slide towards one of the individuals in the crowd. The letter passed from hand to hand, each recipient quickly reading the message before passing it to the next, while Su Yuntao stood by, observing the process and waiting for Qian Xun Ji's response.