After traversing various parts of the Pope's Hall, Ye Hao finally arrived at the Elder Hall.
The Pope's Hall was luxuriously decorated, no less extravagant than the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, and even surpassed it in some aspects.
In front of the Elder Hall, a Titan Giant Ape was tightly bound by six chains. Its eyes were lifeless, as if it had already accepted its impending death, sitting quietly on the ground, waiting for the end to come.
"Stinky ape, do you still remember me?" Ye Hao couldn't help but greet the Titan Giant Ape when he saw it again after so long.
"Roar?" The Titan Giant Ape shuddered, hearing the voice it despised so much.
When the Titan Giant Ape turned to look, its eyes were blood-red.
"Don't look at me like that, you know?"
"That rabbit will soon come to the Spirit Hall to reunite with you. By then, you'll both become soul rings and soul bones. Aren't you happy?"
As soon as Ye Hao finished speaking, the long-suppressed rage of the Titan Giant Ape erupted instantly, its powerful aura rapidly rising.
Before it could resist, the chains wrapped in black lightning struck first, electrocuting the Titan Giant Ape and causing it to convulse violently under a fierce black light.
Crackling sounds filled the air as the Titan Giant Ape trembled uncontrollably.
In an instant, the Titan Giant Ape's eyes rolled back, and it fainted, its massive, mountain-like body crashing to the ground, stirring up clouds of dust.
"Elder Ju, let's continue."
Ye Hao spoke up.
Elder Ju was momentarily stunned, then looked seriously at Ye Hao, who was walking ahead. This young master, whom he had never met before, was incredibly mysterious, and Elder Ju couldn't help but feel a hint of fear towards him.
"Elder Ju, if I remember correctly, you'll be ambushing Tang San in a few days, right?"
Facing Ye Hao's question, Elder Ju nodded without hesitation, reporting truthfully.
"Yes, we will set out tomorrow. Her Holiness the Pope's orders are firm: Tang San must not be allowed to appear at the Spirit Hall."
Ye Hao smiled slightly, "Then I wish you success in advance."
The Elder Hall held a supreme status, and only the top powerhouses of the Spirit Hall could reside there.
Passing through layers of buildings, Ye Hao and Elder Ju arrived outside the Angel Sanctuary.
Not far away, a majestic figure stood tall. From a distance, Ye Hao noticed that the figure seemed increasingly mysterious, exuding an aura of profound enigma.
"Grand Worship."
Ye Hao followed Elder Ju inside.
"What is it?" Qian Daoliu spoke indifferently.
Two simple words, yet they instantly created an oppressive atmosphere. Elder Ju didn't dare to raise his head, bowing at a forty-five-degree angle as he reported.
"Young Master has returned." Elder Ju felt his throat dry up.
"Hmm?" Qian Daoliu was momentarily puzzled. The team from the Heaven Dou Empire, led by Xue, shouldn't be back for a while. How could they have returned so quickly?
"Young Master..."
Could it be...
Elder Ju wiped the cold sweat from his brow and continued, "It's Young Master Ye Hao who has returned."
Qian Daoliu's eyes lit up, understanding dawning on him.
"I see, has he arrived?" Qian Daoliu never turned around, his gaze fixed intently on the statue of the angel. The angel statue was his faith, the goal he had pursued his entire life.
"Grand Worship, I'm already here." Ye Hao smiled as he stepped forward.
The unfamiliar voice quietly rang out, startling Qian Daoliu, who then transformed into a golden light and appeared in front of Ye Hao.
At first glance, just the first glance, Qian Daoliu was utterly shocked.
Similar, so similar.
Whether it was his expression, appearance, or innate demeanor, Ye Hao bore an uncanny resemblance to his mother, Bibi Dong.
Qian Daoliu examined him closely, repeatedly exclaiming in amazement. It was truly rare to find two people who looked so alike.
If Ye Hao were a girl, he could easily be called the second Bibi Dong.
When Qian Daoliu's gaze fell on the black scythe mark between Ye Hao's eyebrows, he instinctively sensed something and quickly averted his eyes.
"The world is full of wonders. You and your mother are incredibly alike." Qian Daoliu couldn't stop marveling. Today, he had truly witnessed something extraordinary.
A big question mark popped up in Ye Hao's mind.
"You may leave." Qian Daoliu spoke indifferently.
Elder Ju quickly bowed and then hurriedly left the place. The pressure from a level 99 Limit Douluo was simply too overwhelming.
"You look very much like your mother." Qian Daoliu gestured for Ye Hao to sit down.
Ye Hao nodded, "That's to be expected from a blood relative."
"What did you call me earlier?"
"Grand Worship..."
"No, you've already met Xue in Heaven Dou City, haven't you?"
Ye Hao nodded, "Yes, my sister has already acknowledged me, but..."
"Then why are you still calling me Grand Worship?" Qian Daoliu raised an eyebrow.
"Uh..."
Ye Hao was so nervous he could barely speak, just like when he had faced Bo Saixi.
But the feeling he got from Qian Daoliu was completely different from Bo Saixi. What Qian Daoliu gave Ye Hao was warmth, the kind of care an elder shows to a younger generation.
"Grand... Grandpa." Ye Hao gritted his teeth and finally spoke.
"That's more like it." Qian Daoliu smiled, a gentle smile, quite different from the coldness he had shown to Elder Ju.
"This is your first time at the Spirit Hall. Grandpa doesn't have much to give you, so take this as a meeting gift."
With that, Qian Daoliu took out a brocade box from behind him and handed Ye Hao a golden token.
Ye Hao quickly stood up and received the token with both hands, puzzled, "Grandpa, what is this?"
Qian Daoliu's lips curled into a slight smile, "This is the symbol of the Grand Worship. Holding this token is equivalent to the presence of the Grand Worship himself. Seeing this token is like seeing me."
"!!!" Ye Hao's hands trembled slightly. After hearing his grandfather's words, Ye Hao could feel the immense weight of the token in his hands. It was too heavy.
"Grandpa, please take it back. This gift is too precious." Ye Hao repeatedly declined.
Qian Daoliu, however, shook his head with a smile, "You are the heir of the Death God, with the potential to reach level 100 in the future. Under the leadership of you and your mother, the Spirit Hall will go even further. As for me..."
"Never mind that. Just keep the token. Whether it's the Titan Giant Ape outside or the Evil Spirit Orca group behind the Spirit City, these are not things just anyone can handle. Before you even arrived at the Spirit Hall, you've already gifted the Spirit Hall two great presents. This token belongs to no one but you."
Seeing this, Ye Hao stopped refusing and carefully stored the token in his Heart of the Death God.
"Grandpa, you must stand up for me." Ye Hao spoke with a hint of grievance, as if he had suffered greatly.
"What happened?" Qian Daoliu frowned, and the air around them instantly solidified, the atmosphere becoming oppressive.
Ye Hao slowly explained, "During my time in Heaven Dou City, I inadvertently made an enemy of Tang San, Tang Hao's son. Tang San and his teacher conspired to plot against me multiple times in Heaven Dou City. Especially after they learned my true identity, they didn't hesitate to attempt numerous assassinations."
"First, they sent the leader of the Strength Clan, Tai Tan, to provoke me. Then, they teamed up with Tang Xiao from the Clear Sky Clan. Not long ago, Tang Xiao even personally came down the mountain to join forces with Tang Hao in a life-and-death battle against me."
"If I weren't so lucky, I would have died out there and never had the chance to meet you, Grandpa."
After saying this, Ye Hao symbolically wiped away a tear.
At this moment, the smile on Qian Daoliu's face gradually faded, replaced by a dark, gloomy expression. He grew increasingly silent, like a slumbering lion, exuding an endless rage.
Ye Hao sat on pins and needles, keenly aware of the anger emanating from Qian Daoliu.
"Tang Hao, Tang Xiao, the Clear Sky Clan is courting death," Qian Daoliu said calmly, then sighed. "Back then, I made an agreement with Tang Chen that the Spirit Hall would never set foot in the Clear Sky Clan's territory. Because of this, I will personally go to the Clear Sky Clan to seek justice for you."
"As for that so-called 'Grandmaster' you mentioned, he's a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan who was expelled. He once spent some time at the Spirit Hall and even had some interactions with your mother."
"Not long ago, I heard that he had become infamous, even reaching the point where everyone wanted him gone. It seems the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan made the right decision to expel him back then."
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly, then asked, "Was the journey here smooth?"
"It was relatively uneventful. During my fight with Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, I could have killed Tang Hao, but Tang Xiao interfered, so..."
As he spoke, Ye Hao took out two soul bones from his Heart of the Death God, which Tang Hao had dropped during their battle.
"These are the inherited soul bones of the Clear Sky Clan. Did you kill Tang Hao?" Qian Daoliu immediately recognized the origin of the soul bones in Ye Hao's hands and was visibly shocked.
It was worth noting that when Tang Xiao and Tang Hao joined forces, they were virtually "invincible" on the continent, barring the intervention of Limit Douluos.
Yet, this grandson he had never met before possessed such formidable abilities!
Truly, Qian Daoliu was impressed!
"No," Ye Hao shook his head with some frustration. "I severed one of Tang Hao's arms and a leg. He's practically crippled now. Unfortunately, Tang Xiao managed to save him. Otherwise, I wouldn't just have brought back his soul bones today, but his head as well."
"Hmm," Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction. Ye Hao's decisiveness in battle was reminiscent of Bibi Dong. Truly, like mother, like son.
"Was it you who destroyed the Strength Clan? News just came from Heaven Dou City not long ago," Qian Daoliu asked casually.
Ye Hao didn't hide it and simply nodded calmly. The destruction of the Strength Clan was inevitable.
If Tang San had been allowed to establish the "Tang Clan," the future threat would have undoubtedly been immense.
"Don't worry, your mother will handle this for you. If there's anything she can't resolve, I'll step in personally," Qian Daoliu said, patting Ye Hao's shoulder, clearly very pleased with him.
Then, Qian Daoliu suddenly asked, "Haozi, there's something I need to ask you, and you must answer me truthfully."
Ye Hao nodded silently, and Qian Daoliu continued, "Xue'er, your sister, does she have someone she likes?"
At this, Ye Hao became visibly uneasy, looking at Qian Daoliu with a puzzled expression.
"Grandpa, why are you interested in something like this?" Ye Hao couldn't help but ask, wondering who had told his grandfather about this.
"Last time, that dog named Little Red came to see me and accidentally let it slip."
Ye Hao: "..."
That damn dog, why does it blabber about everything?
"Is it true or not?" Qian Daoliu asked with great curiosity. The descendants of the Angel Clan were of utmost importance, and as her grandfather, he had to personally vet any potential suitors.
Ye Hao was stunned...
"Grandpa, what do you think of me?"
"You?" Qian Daoliu glanced at Ye Hao, then shook his head. "Xue'er is your sister. Could it be that the person Xiao Hong mentioned was..."
Ye Hao immediately interjected, "Grandpa, don't misunderstand!"
"Just as you said, she's my sister. How could I possibly have any improper thoughts about her?"
"Is that even possible?" Ye Hao shrugged, his expression full of desperation.
Qian Daoliu chuckled bitterly, "I didn't say it was you. Don't be so nervous."
"I'm just curious. Xue'er has very high standards. Ordinary men can't even catch her eye."
"Who is this boy that Xue'er has taken a liking to? I'm very curious."
Ye Hao: "..."
Sweating profusely!!!
That damn dog, its mouth really can't spit out anything decent.
He almost died of embarrassment on the spot, but thankfully, Ye Hao reacted quickly.
Before their identities were fully revealed, it was better not to bring up this matter.
No, he had to go and ask that dog later what other secrets it had spilled.
"Nothing, I haven't heard my sister mention anything," Ye Hao shook his head and added, "My sister has been staying in the palace all these years, carrying out missions. She's met countless talented young men."
"Besides, on this continent, there really isn't any young talent who can compare to my sister."
Ye Hao's words made sense, and Qian Daoliu nodded faintly, "It seems we'll have to wait until Xue'er returns to find out."
"You haven't seen your mother yet, have you?"
Ye Hao replied, "No, Elder Ju told me that my mother and Xiao Hong have entered seclusion for training."
"That dog has seen a lot and has pointed out many issues in the elders' cultivation. Your mother might be in seclusion for a while. In the meantime, you can wander around the Spirit Hall."
Ye Hao nodded and chatted with Qian Daoliu for a while longer before leaving.
As he walked out of the Elder Hall, Ye Hao felt a sense of relief.
"Whew—"
Ye Hao let out a sigh of relief, "I managed to get through that. No, I have to clear this up."
"That damn dog!" Ye Hao gritted his teeth.
Unfortunately, Xiao Hong was in seclusion with his mother, so Ye Hao couldn't confront it right away. Bored, he decided to wander around the Spirit Hall.
The Pope's Hall was massive, and for Ye Hao, who was visiting for the first time, it felt quite unfamiliar.
As he walked down the spacious corridors, many Spirit Hall disciples couldn't help but glance at him. This person looked so much like Her Holiness the Pope.
Ye Hao ignored them and found a random spot to sit, gazing at the bustling Spirit City in the distance. The streets were filled with carriages and pedestrians, creating a lively atmosphere.
"It's you!!!"
A furious shout suddenly came from behind. Ye Hao slowly turned his head to look.
"Well, well! Isn't this someone who was sent to the Death Canyon for training? What, you came back safe and sound?" Ye Hao looked at Yan, who was standing behind him, with great interest. Compared to a year ago, Yan had become even darker.
"What right do you have to enter the Spirit Hall!" Yan angrily questioned.
Because of Ye Hao, Yan had been punished by Ye Hao's mother. For Yan, his resentment toward Ye Hao was not trivial.
Although Hu Liena had specifically warned him on the way back that Ye Hao's status was noble and that he must not overstep, at this moment, Yan had completely forgotten Hu Liena's advice.
Ye Hao was annoyed. On his first visit to the Spirit Hall, he had to run into Yan, of all people.
"I have every right to be here. What's it to you?" Ye Hao sneered, not taking Yan seriously at all.
Back then, he had been peacefully eating noodles when Yan had to butt in, which had made Ye Hao extremely unhappy!
"You're asking for death!" Yan's body erupted with flames, his right fist encased in fiery rock. Just as he was about to smash it down on Ye Hao's head, a slender figure suddenly kicked Yan away.
"Yan! Have you lost your mind?"
Hu Liena, dressed in the Spirit Hall team uniform, stood with her hands on her hips, her face filled with anger.
"Nana, I..."
When Yan realized it was Hu Liena, he scratched his head and quickly said, "Nana, let me explain..."
Before Yan could continue, under the shocked gazes of everyone present, Hu Liena, the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, bowed respectfully to Ye Hao.
"Young Master, you've returned."
"..."
"..."
The revelation caused a wave of shock among the onlookers.
"Young Master?" Yan's pupils contracted.
Ye Hao smiled slightly and gestured for Hu Liena to rise.
"No need for such formalities. I just got back."
"By the way, Nana, is it okay if I call you Nana?" Ye Hao asked with a smile.
"Of course, Young Master. You may call me whatever you like," Hu Liena replied, her face slightly red.
"Good. Nana, has my mother come out of seclusion yet?" Ye Hao asked.
This was Ye Hao's first time at the Spirit Hall, and he had nothing to do besides wandering around. He really couldn't find anything to occupy his time.
"Not yet," Hu Liena shook her head and smiled. "Teacher just entered seclusion not long ago. She should be out by evening. Since this is your first time here and you might not know your way around, why don't I take you to Teacher's bedroom to wait?"
"Once Teacher comes out, I'll send someone to fetch you. How does that sound, Young Master?"
"Alright," Ye Hao nodded helplessly. "That's the only option. Lead the way."
Under Hu Liena's guidance, Ye Hao headed toward his mother's bedroom.
After the two left, Xie Yue couldn't help but shake his head. "You're too reckless. Thankfully, nothing happened. If that punch of yours had really landed, I'm sure Her Holiness the Pope wouldn't have let you off easily."
Yan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, still shaken. "What's Ye Hao's background?"
"Why would Nana treat him like that?"
Xie Yue whispered, "From what Nana said, Ye Hao is..."
As he spoke, Yan felt his back drenched in cold sweat, his eyes filled with fear. That was close!
He had almost made a huge mistake!
---
"We're here," Hu Liena stopped in front of Bibi Dong's bedroom.
"This is Teacher's residence, Young Master. Feel free to look around. Once Teacher comes out of seclusion, I'll send someone to notify you immediately."
Ye Hao smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Nana."
"Young Master, I'll take my leave now."
With that, Hu Liena left.
After Hu Liena was gone, Ye Hao stood in front of the half-open bedroom door. A faint, soothing fragrance wafted out from his mother's room.
Ye Hao hesitated for a long time but ultimately decided not to enter.
He had never met Bibi Dong before. Entering her bedroom so abruptly would be disrespectful.
---
Outside the Spirit Hall, a disheveled and dirt-covered Grandmaster arrived. As he gazed at the towering structure of the Pope's Hall, his eyes were filled with anger and a desire to destroy it.
"Stop! Beggar, get lost!" The Holy Knights guarding the entrance blocked Yu Xiaogang's path.
"How dare you!" Yu Xiaogang roared. "Do you know who I am?"
"Get lost! We don't care who you are! Look at you, dressed in rags. You're clearly a beggar. Get out of here!" The knight waved dismissively.
"You! Short-sighted fools!" Yu Xiaogang was furious. He had intended to show them the Pope's Token, but then he remembered how Ye Hao had humiliated him, making him a laughingstock in Heaven Dou City. Even walking down the street had become a nightmare, with everyone wanting to beat him up.
Now that he had arrived at the Spirit Hall ahead of Ye Hao, as long as he could get the method for cultivating a twin spirit from Bibi Dong, Ye Hao would no longer be a threat.
"Ye Hao should still be on his way with the main group. He probably hasn't arrived at the Spirit Hall yet," Yu Xiaogang thought gleefully. As long as Ye Hao wasn't here, he could play the victim card when meeting Bibi Dong. Given their past relationship, she might sympathize with him.
"I'm here to see Her Holiness the Pope," Yu Xiaogang said coldly, his hands behind his back.
"You?" The knight looked at Yu Xiaogang with disdain. "Dressed in rags and still dreaming of meeting Her Holiness the Pope? You're delusional. Get lost! Or we won't be polite."
"Hmph!" Yu Xiaogang was unfazed. He reached into his pocket, and when he felt the Pope's Token, he couldn't help but smirk.
At the same time, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward.
But then, he was immediately stunned.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang's insolence, the two knights guarding the entrance didn't hold back. They each gave him a hard slap, sending Yu Xiaogang reeling.
Yu Xiaogang's head spun, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes rolling in their sockets.
"How dare you hit me! I'll tell Bibi Dong and have her punish you!" Yu Xiaogang blurted out in his daze.
As soon as Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, a barrage of fists rained down on him like a storm.
"Ahhh!!!" Yu Xiaogang howled in pain as the two Holy Knights showed no mercy.
"Damn you! How dare you call Her Holiness the Pope by her name! Who gave you the guts!"
"Look at yourself in the mirror! Dressed like a beggar and still dreaming of meeting Her Holiness the Pope? I'll teach you some manners!"
The two knights swung their fists relentlessly, leaving Yu Xiaogang's face bruised and swollen.
"I'll report you to Bibi Dong! You're all going to die!!!" Yu Xiaogang stubbornly reached into his pocket, desperate to grab the Pope's Token.
"Damn it! This bastard is still cursing us! Beat him harder!"
"Got it!"
The two knights raised their spears and began whacking Yu Xiaogang's buttocks.
"Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!!!"
Fueled by their anger, they beat him mercilessly, determined not to stop until he was half-dead.