Chapter 155: The New Pontiff Ascends
Two and a half months later.
Spirit City.
This city—revered as a holy land by Spirit Masters across the entire continent—welcomed an unprecedented grand ceremony today.
Before the morning light had even broken, the city was already bustling with the clamor of crowds.
Nobles from the two great empires—Heaven Dou and Star Luo—representatives from the "Upper Three Sects" (such as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect) and the "Four Great Clans," deans of major advanced Spirit Master academies, and countless Spirit Masters who had traveled from afar to witness the event, packed this already prosperous city to the point of absolute congestion.
Yet, no one dared to cause a disturbance.
For today marked the coronation ceremony of the new Pontiff: Qian Renxue.
...
Pontiff Mountain.
A towering flight of one hundred white jade steps stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way up to the Angel Plaza situated before the Pontiff Palace.
Each individual step had been scrubbed until it was utterly spotless, gleaming with a soft, warm luster beneath the morning sun.
As the sunlight poured down, the thirty-meter-tall statue of the Six-Winged Angel standing at the front of the plaza seemed to glow from within, suffused with a brilliant golden radiance.
The Angel held a holy sword in its hand, its six wings spread wide, and its gaze fixed upon the distant horizon—as if looking down upon this land that had been blessed by the gods.
Along the main thoroughfare leading directly from the city gates to Pontiff Mountain, magnificent purple-gold palace lanterns hung suspended every ten paces.
Exquisitely crafted and resplendent in their beauty, the tassels of the lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, emitting a faint, rustling sound.
Lining both sides of the street stood crowds of Spirit Masters hailing from every corner of the continent.
Though clad in a dazzling array of different garments, they all maintained a uniform demeanor of solemnity and reverence.
No one dared to speak above a whisper.
Everyone was waiting.
...
Angel Plaza.
The plaza was divided into three distinct zones.
To the left stood the core personnel of the Spirit Hall.
At the very forefront, six figures stood with their hands clasped behind their backs, exuding an aura as imposing and unshakeable as a mountain.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, Lion Douluo, Light Feather Douluo, Thousand Jun Douluo, and Demon Subduing Douluo—the Six Great Enshriners.
Each was a figure whose renown shook the land, yet at this moment, they stood in silence, appearing no different from the most ordinary of attendants.
Behind the Enshriners stood the seven Great Elders of the Spirit Hall: Yue Guan, Gui Mei, Demon Bear, Spirit Kite, Porcupinefish, Ghost Leopard, and Snake Spear.
Further back stood a dense multitude of Platinum Bishops and Cardinal Bishops, hailing from the various branch halls.
To the right stood representatives from powers across the entire continent.
At the very forefront, Ning Fengzhi—Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—stood with his hands clasped behind his back, while Sword Douluo Chen Xin stood directly behind him.
Ning Fengzhi’s expression was calm, yet deep within his eyes lurked a trace of imperceptible gloom.
Ning Rongrong was not present; ever since the incident that had occurred some time ago, she had been confined within the sect grounds—forbidden to step foot outside to this very day.
Standing beside Ning Fengzhi was Yu Yuanzhen, Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect.
A man of burly stature with a head of snow-white hair and beard, his tiger-like eyes radiated an imposing majesty even without a hint of anger, while faint arcs of lightning seemed to ripple about his body.
Standing behind him were the sect’s second-in-command, Yu Luomian, along with several of the sect’s elders.
Further back still stood the envoys from the Heaven Dou Empire and the Star Luo Empire, alongside representatives from the various advanced Soul Master academies.
The Heaven Dou Royal Academy, the Star Luo Royal Academy, and every other academy of renown had all dispatched their most distinguished representatives.
Further in the distance stood the Sect Masters of the "Lower Four Sects": Hu Yanzhen of the Elephant Armored Sect, the Sect Master of the Wind Sword Sect, the Sect Master of the Fire Leopard Sect...
...
In the very center of the plaza, atop a high platform...
A solitary figure stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
Qian Daoliu.
Clad in robes of white and gold, he stood tall and straight as a pine tree; his long black hair flowed down his back, groomed to absolute perfection.
He emitted not a single trace of Soul Power, yet merely by standing there in silence, he evoked within all who beheld him an overwhelming urge to kneel in reverence.
It was the sheer, crushing pressure of a Level 99 Peerless Douluo.
The entire plaza fell into a silence so profound that one could hear a pin drop.
At that very moment, the orchestras positioned on either side of the platform steps began to play.
The melody was ethereal yet solemn, its tune sacred—sounding as if it were music from the heavens themselves.
Every single note seemed to harbor a divine power, instantly quelling all other ambient sounds and compelling the minds and hearts of all present to become involuntarily immersed within it.
Every gaze simultaneously turned toward the foot of the grand staircase.
Under the collective gaze of the multitude, a solitary figure slowly approached.
Qian Renxue was clad in a pure white Pontifical ceremonial robe, trimmed with gold.
The robe’s train trailed long upon the ground—its hem spanning a full three meters—and was respectfully borne aloft by two female Holy Knights.
The hem was embroidered with a subtle, intricate pattern of a six-winged angel; with every step she took, the golden threads of the design seemed to shimmer in and out of view, as if the angel’s wings were gently unfurling.
Her golden hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall, tumbling all the way to her waist. Her skin was fairer than snow, her features coolly exquisite, and though a faint smile played upon her lips, she exuded an inherent majesty that seemed to transcend all mortal beings.
Step by step, she ascended the stairs.
With every step she took, it felt as though she were treading directly upon the heartbeats of everyone present.
The very moment she ascended the final step and set foot onto the Angelic Plaza, the sunlight pierced through the clouds, bathing her in its golden glow.
Her pure white ceremonial robe appeared edged in molten gold, while the ethereal silhouette of the six-winged angel behind her shimmered into semi-visibility.
With wings unfurled and holy light swirling around her, Qian Renxue in that moment was breathtakingly beautiful—a vision of such absolute sanctity that she seemed utterly beyond mortal profanation.
It was as if a true angel had descended to the mortal realm.
To the left, every member of the Spirit Hall simultaneously bowed in deep salutation!
"We respectfully welcome Your Holiness, the Pontiff!"
Their voices rang out in perfect unison, resounding like a sudden clap of thunder!
Even the Six Great Enshriners bowed their heads slightly, offering their own gestures of respect.
To the right, representatives from the various major factions, observing this scene, wisely followed suit and bowed respectfully: "Greetings to Your Holiness, the Pontiff!"
Only those standing at the very forefront—figures such as Ning Fengzhi and Yu Yuanzhen—offered merely a slight nod of the head, refraining from bowing their bodies.
Qian Renxue’s expression remained unchanged as she slowly made her way toward the raised platform situated at the very center of the plaza.
Qian Daoliu stood there, gazing at his granddaughter—a vision of peerless grace. In his eyes flickered a trace of gratification, a hint of pride, and a touch of... an indescribable complexity.
She has grown up.
She has finally grown up.
Qian Renxue walked up to him and came to a halt.
As the sunlight poured down, the golden radiance of her Papal robes intertwined with the ethereal silhouette of the Angel surrounding her, creating a scene of dreamlike, transcendent beauty.
Qian Daoliu took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping across the entire assembly.
His voice—imbued with vast Soul Power—rang out like the tolling of a great bell, reverberating throughout the entirety of Spirit City!
"The Spirit Hall, blessed by the grace of the Angel God, upholds a legacy spanning ten thousand years, serving as the guardian and protector of the continent’s Soul Masters!"
His voice was mighty and resonant, echoing amidst the surrounding mountains!
"Today, the mandate of heaven descends anew. The new Pope—bathed in divine grace and inheriting the grand succession—ascends the throne this day, a proclamation made known to the entire continent!"
As his words fell silent, an attendant standing nearby respectfully presented a ceremonial tray.
Resting upon the tray was an exquisitely carved Angelic Crown.
Qian Daoliu lifted the crown and turned to face Qian Renxue.
His voice took on a tone of solemnity and gravity: "In the name of the Angel God, I bestow upon you... the Title of the Pope."
The crown was slowly placed upon Qian Renxue’s head.
Immediately thereafter, Qian Daoliu retrieved another item from the tray: a longsword.
The blade measured four feet in length; its surface was a pristine white, while its hilt was inlaid with the emblem of a six-winged angel.
Holding the sword reverently in both hands, Qian Daoliu presented it to Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue raised her hands and accepted the longsword.
She drew the blade three inches from its sheath; a flash of cold, piercing light erupted, and a surge of sword intent soared toward the heavens!
She turned to face the assembled multitude.
In her right hand, she held the Holy Sword aloft.
Behind her, her Six-Winged Angel Spirit fully manifested in all its glory!
Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red, Red!
Nine Soul Rings circled majestically around her form!
The Angelic Domain—unleashed at full power!
A tide of holy light swept across the entire Angelic Plaza, enveloping every single person within its embrace!
The radiance was warm and sacred, yet it carried an undeniable, absolute majesty—a power that compelled all who stood within it to instinctively bow down in reverence!
With 93rd-rank Soul Power, amplified by the Angelic Domain, a towering golden pillar of light—connecting heaven and earth—shot straight into the firmament!
High above the azure dome, the colossal apparition of an angel materialized; its six wings spread wide as it gazed down upon the land below!
In that instant, every corner of Spirit City—and every single person within it—felt that supreme, overwhelming pressure!
Qian Renxue’s voice, amplified by her Soul Power, resounded throughout the entire city: "I, Qian Renxue, today succeed to the Post of the Pope of the Spirit Hall!"
"By the divine oracle of the Angel God, I shall take command of the Spirit Hall and rule over all Soul Masters across the continent! I vow to uphold the legacy of the Spirit Hall and glorify the Angel God. Those who submit to me shall enjoy divine grace and protection, their path in the way of the Soul unobstructed! Those who defy me shall face the Angel’s Judgment—their souls shattered and scattered into oblivion!"
As her voice faded, the holy radiance filling the skies reached its absolute zenith!