Chapter 33: Old Fart! I’m the Real Pope!

"We're finally back!"

With Ling Yuan and the two worships in tow, Qian Xunji returned to Spirit City.

Looking at the vast stretch of land before him, with its towering city walls and an air of heavy history, he couldn't help but admire the grandeur. The buildings within the city were splendid and orderly, arranged in neat rows.

Although the population wasn't as large as Heaven Dou Imperial City, it remained a lively and prosperous place—familiar and full of life.

As Qian Xunji soared over the city walls of Spirit City, his six pairs of dazzling golden wings unfurled behind him, he headed straight toward the Pope's Palace. His sword-like brows and starry eyes, paired with his flawless face, finally showed a faint smile.

At that moment, a phrase echoed in his mind:

'The great Pope Qian Xunji has finally returned to his loyal Spirit City!'

Soon, he landed with Ling Yuan and the two worships before the gates of the Pope's Palace.

The moment the Holy Royal Knights guarding the entrance saw Qian Xunji, they were instantly overjoyed and bowed in salute.

"Greetings, Your Holiness!"

"No need for formalities."

Qian Xunji smiled warmly, like the sun god himself, and stepped forward to pat a few knights on the shoulder. After exchanging some casual banter and a few words of encouragement, he led Ling Yuan and the two Consecrates into the palace.

According to the old fart's recent letters, he was probably in the study right now, handling the Spirit Hall's daily affairs.

Meanwhile, the few Holy Royal Knights who had just received Qian Xunji's praise were so fired up they seemed to be injected with chicken blood. They stood straighter than ever, full of excitement and energy.

As a transmigrator, Qian Xunji's previous-life education made him perfectly clear on one thing: how to establish his authority and truly become the unquestioned Pope of Spirit Hall.

First, he had to demonstrate his competence, intelligence, and methods before the higher-ups.

Then, among the lower ranks, he had to display an approachable, gentle demeanor like a spring breeze.

And finally, he needed to accomplish a few great deeds, win a few "victories."

With that, he, Qian Xunji, would naturally become the true Pope of Spirit Hall.

Not one still living in the shadow of that old fart.

Although his predecessor had technically held the title of Pope for over a decade, in terms of influence and control over Spirit Hall, he was far behind Qian Daoliu—the old fart who'd served for over sixty years and made a mighty name for himself across the soul master world.

That made it very difficult for Qian Xunji to get things done.

Originally, he could've handled Dugu Bo himself and taken the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

But he'd deliberately told Qian Daoliu about it. Moreover, he disguised the system's presence as a mysterious, noble, and sacred deity.

One reason was to rationalize the system's rewards and his foreknowledge as a transmigrator.

The other was to use the approval of this so-called divine being to gradually change Qian Daoliu's view of him.

To make that old fart stop underestimating him.

At the same time, with the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well as leverage, he'd gained the support of three worships: Golden Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, and Lion Douluo.

This time, upon returning...

'I, Qian Xunji, will take back everything that belongs to me!'

With Ling Yuan and the two worships at his side, Qian Xunji walked into the Pope's Palace in high spirits, chest out, full of momentum, heading straight for the study.

"Greetings, Your Holiness!"

Outside the study, the two Holy Royal Knights guarding the door also bowed respectfully upon seeing him.

Inside the study—

Upon hearing that Qian Xunji had returned, the old fart—Qian Daoliu—who had already been retired for over a decade and grown quite used to his leisure life, stopped writing with his numb hand.

He let out a soft snort, a trace of displeasure flashing across his handsome, mature face marked with years of experience, and waited for Qian Xunji to come in.

"Father, I'm back!!"

Qian Xunji smiled as he entered the study with Ling Yuan and the two worships.

"So you actually know how to come back!"

Qian Daoliu stood up and gave Qian Xunji a cold, sarcastic snort.

"As the Pope of Spirit Hall, you've been staying in Heaven Dou Imperial City for over a month."

"You think that's acceptable?"

'Ah!'

Qian Xunji could practically feel the thick aura of grievance radiating from the old fart's body.

This was the resentment of a retired old man who, after finally enjoying over a decade of peaceful retirement, had been dragged back to work for free.

"Father, you've misunderstood me with those words."

Qian Xunji put on an innocent look as he explained.

"This time I went out for official business!"

"According to the divine revelation of that mysterious and noble deity, I found a treasure land in the Sunset Forest near Heaven Dou Imperial City."

"This treasure land is called the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. Plants around it grow at ten or even a hundred times the normal speed."

"And around it grow many rare immortal herbs almost impossible to find elsewhere."

"These are priceless treasures that can evolve martial spirits!"

"What?!"

Qian Daoliu's expression changed at once, clearly in disbelief.

Seeing the shocked look on the old fart's face, Qian Xunji felt a deep sense of satisfaction.

'So even you, old fart, have this kind of reaction like you've never seen the world before!'

"Big brother, what His Holiness said is true!"

"We and Third Brother have already taken the pills refined from those immortal herbs. Our martial spirits evolved, and our soul power advanced!"

"Second Brother even broke through to Level 99!"

At the side, Lion Douluo spoke with hearty joy, backing up Qian Xunji's words.

"Golden Crocodile, you broke through to Level 99?"

Qian Daoliu was overjoyed to hear that Golden Crocodile Douluo had also broken through.

Golden Crocodile Douluo was actually forty-five years older than Qian Daoliu and had watched him grow up. In Spirit Hall, aside from Qian Xunji, Qian Daoliu was closest to Golden Crocodile Douluo.

In the past, Qian Daoliu had even wanted to call him uncle.

But when Qian Daoliu became Pope, Golden Crocodile insisted on using official titles, saying that was proper etiquette.

When Qian Daoliu stepped down and became Grand Worship of the Elder Hall, Golden Crocodile reversed things, calling Qian Daoliu big brother due to his superior cultivation.

Because he'd been stuck at Level 98 for so long—

Golden Crocodile Douluo had broken through to Titled Douluo late in life, and his body had already passed its prime, starting to decline.

That meant his lifespan was far shorter than Qian Daoliu's.

If he stayed stuck at Level 98, Golden Crocodile might only live to around five hundred—just three more centuries at best.

That was something Qian Daoliu absolutely didn't want to see.

"This time, you did well."

Hearing that Qian Xunji had helped Golden Crocodile Douluo break through to Limit Douluo, Qian Daoliu's expression finally softened.

And for the first time, his words carried a trace of approval.

But in response, a sharp gleam flashed through Qian Xunji's eyes.

'That's just the beginning!'

'I've got something even more explosive!'

"By the way, Father!"

As if just remembering something, Qian Xunji smiled slightly and spoke casually.

"While I was in Heaven Dou Imperial City, besides getting those immortal herbs to help my uncles evolve their spirits and advance their cultivation..."

"I also ran into that Yu Yuanzhen. He brought that little Yu brat and Bibi Dong, trying to apologize to our Spirit Hall."

"But their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan caused us to lose a peerless genius with innate full soul power and top-tier twin spirits. All the emotions and resources we invested over the years were completely wasted."

"A simple verbal apology wasn't enough, so I asked for a bit of compensation—not much."

"Their inherited soul bone: True Dragon Nine Crowns, a ten-thousand-year space-attribute right arm bone, one hundred million gold soul coins, various rare treasures, and some of their properties in Heaven Dou Imperial City."

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Daoliu's expression changed drastically. He instantly flew into a rage and shouted,

"Qian Xunji, how could you do such a thing!"

"Even though that Yu Xiaogang took Bibi Dong away, causing our Spirit Hall to lose a genius…"

"That was because we failed to properly educate Bibi Dong ourselves."

"If it wasn't Yu Xiaogang, then in the future, it would've been a Wang Xiaogang or a Chen Xiaogang."

"But the True Dragon Nine Crowns is a soul bone passed down in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. And you used this as an excuse to demand both the True Dragon Nine Crowns and a ten-thousand-year Void Soul Bone from them?"

"If word of this gets out, how will our peers in the soul master world view Spirit Hall!?"

As a man who had always been open and upright, someone who conducted himself with the demeanor of a gentleman, Qian Daoliu couldn't bear it.

Just thinking about the reputation he had built up for Spirit Hall over the past few decades potentially being ruined overnight filled him with fury.

He roared in anger, scolding Qian Xunji harshly.

But Qian Xunji didn't care at all. He simply smiled and spoke in a calm and unhurried tone.

"Father, you're overthinking it."

"That Yu Xiaogang abducted a genius from our Spirit Hall—someone with innate full soul power and top-tier twin martial souls."

"She's the kind of genius who, once matured, could sustain a great sect for hundreds of years."

"Someone like that is priceless."

"If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan thinks they can settle this with just a verbal apology, then where is the dignity of Spirit Hall?"

"I don't think I went too far."

"For someone with innate full soul power and top-tier twin martial souls, asking them to compensate with the True Dragon Nine Crowns, a ten-thousand-year Void Soul Bone, and several other items—honestly, I think that's quite fair."

"Everything I've done is for the sake of Spirit Hall."

"In any case, I, Qian Xunji, have a clear conscience!"

At that, Qian Xunji straightened up with pride and declared confidently,

"You wouldn't understand."

Qian Daoliu was still furious, his face twisted with rage as he roared on.

But suddenly, Qian Xunji turned serious.

His eyes locked onto the old man Qian Daoliu, and he said the words he had long been holding in.

"Father, I don't believe I'm wrong."

"And please remember—I am the Pope."