Chapter 176: Martial Soul City

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After several days of traveling by carriage, Li Luochen and Qian Renxue finally arrived at the Martial Soul City.

This was Li Luochen's first visit to the Martial Soul City. Compared to the vast cities like Tiandou or Suotuo, Martial Soul City was much smaller—less than a tenth of Tiandou's size. However, it still left a deep impression on Li Luochen.

Though small in area, the city walls were constructed to the specifications of a capital city. Standing at an imposing eighty meters tall and over thirty meters thick, the walls were made entirely of granite, giving them a majestic appearance from afar. 

As someone with a keen eye for wealth, Li Luochen found the architecture of Martial Soul City truly breathtaking—it exuded opulence.

This city hadn't existed originally; it had been entirely funded and built by the Spirit Hall. Constructing such a city was no easy feat.

What made the Martial Soul City unique was that, unlike ordinary cities shaped as quadrilaterals, it was hexagonal, meaning it had six walls. Each wall was patrolled by soul masters dressed in uniforms specific to the Spirit Hall.

On each of the six walls was a massive relief sculpture identical to the ones on the Spirit Hall's tokens, symbolizing six powerful spirits.

Entering Martial Soul City gave one a sense of emptiness. There were few pedestrians on the streets and even fewer shops. Most of the businesses catered to the needs of soul masters, selling items like low-quality spatial storage soul tools.

Li Luochen felt like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden. He had thought Tiandou City was already luxurious, but the Spirit Hall surpassed it. Who was the pope that built this?

"How's that? Not bad, right? And this is just the urban area. The Pope's Palace and the Elders' Hall are even more magnificent—at least to you. To me, it's just home."

Qian Renxue smiled, finally gaining the upper hand with her "country bumpkin" boyfriend in tow!

"Looks like I've landed myself a sugar mama. Feed me, I'm hungry~"

Li Luochen suddenly cooed playfully, trying to make Qian Renxue laugh. She quickly caught on.

"Hmph, I need a well-behaved puppy. Would you like to be mine? I'm great at raising pets, you know~"

"Woof woof~"

Li Luochen obediently barked twice.

(A/N: Shameless, such a simp—I spit on you!)

As they bantered, Li Luochen and Qian Renxue made their way to the Pope's Palace.

The Pope's Palace was the most extravagant building in the Martial Soul City, though there was also the Douluo Hall, which ranked higher than the Pope's Palace.

The Pope's Palace stood halfway up the mountain, its grandeur visible even from afar. It was constructed in a columnar style with a domed roof, its exterior covered in golden material that gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight. This was where the highest ruler of the Spirit Hall resided.

The Elders' Hall was also located within the Pope's Palace, though ordinary people would never have the chance to see the elders.

Another structure sat atop the hill, much smaller than the Pope's Palace—only about a third of its size. Its architectural style was similar, but its facade was a pristine white, far less conspicuous than the Pope's Palace.

Li Luochen knew that this smaller building was the highest authority within the Spirit Hall—the Douluo Hall.

Only deceased Title Douluos could reside here. It was essentially the burial ground for Title Douluos. The reverent atmosphere of the Martial Soul City wasn't due to the Pope's Palace but rather because of this Douluo Hall.

Wherever the Pope's Palace was built, the Douluo Hall would accompany it, always positioned higher.

During major ceremonies, the Pope would personally visit the entrance of the Douluo Hall to pay respects. However, even the Pope had no right to enter the Douluo Hall before death.

This was an unbreakable rule. Anyone who violated it would face the wrath of all soul masters.

It was precisely because of the presence of the Pope's Palace and the Douluo Hall that the Martial Soul City was regarded as a holy site for soul masters after its establishment.

Of course, this was a widely acknowledged belief among most soul masters.

Later, this place would be destroyed by Tang San. But even if Tang San hadn't done so, Bibi Dong would have dismantled it herself. One lacked common sense, and the other lacked brains—both were formidable foes.

However, Li Luochen was confident that no one in this lifetime could overthrow the Spirit Hall. He wouldn't allow anyone to destroy Qian Renxue's home—or his in-laws'. Whoever dared to do so would face his wrath!

"Halt!"

The armored guard at the entrance of the Pope's Palace shouted.

"This is restricted territory! Step further, and you'll be killed on sight!"

Li Luochen looked at the guard, wondering if he lacked basic awareness. Still, the guard was doing his duty.

Li Luochen then glanced at Qian Renxue. Their eyes met—should she show her Holy Maiden token, or should he present the Pope's token?

Casually, Qian Renxue pulled out a golden token engraved with a six-winged angel.

"Holy Maiden! I was merely following protocol. Please forgive me, Holy Maiden."

The guard immediately knelt on one knee and apologized to Qian Renxue.

"Rise. Open the gates. I wish to see the Pope."

Qian Renxue spoke coldly. As they approached the gates of the Pope's Palace, her expression darkened—like a storm was brewing.

Li Luochen quickly took her hand, calming her down to avoid upsetting the baby.

The guards promptly opened the gates.

Inside, Pope Bibi Dong was lounging in her chair, legs crossed, head resting on one hand, feigning sleep. Beside her stood Hu Liena, the prospective Holy Maiden.

When footsteps approached, Bibi Dong slightly opened her eyes. She saw a brat daring to appear before her. Next to him was a stunning blonde woman. Though it had been a long time since they'd last met, Bibi Dong recognized her own flesh and blood—the daughter she had neglected.

Bibi Dong snapped fully awake. Her daughter had returned, and she wanted to take a good look.

"She's grown even more beautiful. Her eyes, nose, and chin resemble mine more and more. Such a pity she's fallen for that brat.

Xiaoxue must be twenty-three this year. Time flies—she's all grown up now. I regret not treating you kindly back then.

You must resent me, I failed as a mother. But seeing your hair reminds me of that bastard! Xiaoxue, it's all my fault—I shifted my hatred onto you."

A wave of sorrow washed over Bibi Dong. Hu Liena sensed her teacher's mood shift but didn't understand why.

The two figures before her: the woman was stunningly beautiful—far more so than her—and already pregnant. The man beside her was likely Li Luochen, whom she had heard of.

He was hailed as the youngest genius soul master on the continent, the top of his generation, with soul power already reaching the Soul Douluo level.

Hu Liena longed to pursue such a man, but at level 59, she still had a long way to go.

Still, she carefully studied Li Luochen. Standing just over two meters tall, his physique was muscular yet aesthetically pleasing. His handsome features, refined through his spirit's evolution, radiated masculinity without being overly soft.

Hu Liena found Li Luochen very much to her taste—tall, strong, handsome, and powerful. The more she looked, the more she liked him.

Yup, confirmed. Hu Liena was definitely an old-school fangirl.

While Hu Liena was captivated by Li Luochen's charm, Bibi Dong suddenly noticed something alarming—Qian Renxue's swollen belly. This meant her little girl had already been claimed by this brat, and they even had a child together.

"Li Luochen!"

Bibi Dong roared, rushing toward Li Luochen. Her eyes glowed with purple-black light as her soul rings emerged—two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.

Li Luochen was immediately suppressed by Bibi Dong's overwhelming soul power. He quickly unleashed his spirit and soul rings to resist.

Black, black, black, black, red, red, red, red.

His eight soul rings withstood Bibi Dong's soul power. To his surprise, her soul power had reached level 99—her aura far surpassed that of Jin E Douluo.

Suddenly, Bibi Dong grabbed Li Luochen by the neck.

Before she could squeeze for long, Qian Renxue released her spirit—the Angelic Holy Sword pointed directly at Bibi Dong's throat.

"Let him go!"

Qian Renxue shouted.

Bibi Dong was shocked to see her daughter pointing a sword at her for this brat. With a sigh, she released her grip.

But her intimidating aura remained.

"Li Luochen, if I find out you've wronged Xiaoxue or caused her any suffering, I will annihilate you!"

Bibi Dong glared at Li Luochen.

Li Luochen was utterly terrified. If not for his experience in the City of Slaughter, he might have wet himself.

Goodness, was this what having a terrifying mother-in-law felt like?

"Understood, Mother-in-law."

Bibi Dong shot Li Luochen another glare but accepted the term—he was correct to call her that.

She then turned to Qian Renxue and grabbed her hand.

Qian Renxue instinctively tried to pull away, but how could she escape Bibi Dong's grasp?

"What are you doing?! You can't kill me, your wretched child! Are you planning to kill my baby?!"

Qian Renxue screamed, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

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