Douluo Dalu: From Shinobi to Spirit Master

In a dimly lit hall, whispers interwove like the rustle of leaves in the wind. Shadowed figures loomed, their voices fluctuating between defiance and hesitation.

"The Martial Spirit Hall... Their intentions are far from simple."

"Hmph! Why worry? Even their Pope fell to Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer. The Spirit Hall might have its reputation, but their bark is worse than their bite."

A sharp snort echoed, silencing the younger voices. An elder spoke, his tone heavy with the weight of past memories.

"You ignorant whelps. Have you ever faced Qian Daoliu? Felt the suffocating pressure of his Angelic Domain? Even if Tang Hao's power is unmatched, you underestimate what the Spirit Hall represents."

"But the Clear Sky Clan won't sit idly by," another chimed in.

Their debate spiraled into a cacophony of voices, yet no conclusion emerged. All eyes eventually turned to the figure seated above.

The man's stature was a fortress unto itself, his muscles carved like stone. Though seated, his towering frame exuded unparalleled authority. White hair, sharp as needles, framed his face, and his eyes gleamed like molten gold under a stormy sky. He emanated a calm that promised protection against the collapse of the heavens themselves.

"Enough."

His voice was deep and resonant, carrying the weight of a rolling thunderstorm. Silence fell instantly, respect seeping into the very air.

"We will attend."

His declaration left no room for debate. As the room emptied, the elder added, "And bring back that brat Yu Xiaogang. He's yet to answer for abandoning the Holy Maiden without permission. This time, he goes with us."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Let's see what game the Spirit Hall is playing. A young girl as Pope? If not for Qian Daoliu, I'd crush their pretense of power myself. Let them know the strength of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

One week had passed before Su Chen resurfaced from the depths of his experiments and cultivation.

Ju Douluo appeared unexpectedly, bearing the Pope's edict along with unexpected news.

"The Pope's Succession Ceremony... and a competition? What's the purpose?"

The morning sun bathed Spirit City in golden light. Su Chen squinted against its brilliance as he walked beside Ju Douluo. The latter's towering figure contrasted with Su Chen's slender form, drawing curious glances from passersby.

"Whose idea was this?" Su Chen asked, his tone tinged with curiosity.

Ju Douluo's soft, ever-smiling face lit up with admiration. "Naturally, Her Holiness the Pope's. Her wisdom is beyond compare!"

Su Chen raised an eyebrow. While he had been privy to some of the Spirit Hall's strategies, this specific detail had escaped him.

"An interesting approach," he murmured, piecing it together in his mind. "The competition will both display our strength and assert our dominance. A deterrent without outright conflict... clever."

Ju Douluo nodded approvingly. "Her Majesty's brilliance knows no bounds. And as for you, young one, she's taken quite an interest in your progress."

"Me?" Su Chen frowned. "What could she possibly need from me? I'm not even eligible for the competition."

Ju Douluo clicked his tongue, his exasperation almost theatrical. "Do you hear yourself, boy? Her Majesty values you! Do you know how rare that is?" He muttered under his breath, "Why her attention is wasted on such an ungrateful brat, I'll never understand..."

Ignoring the elder's grumblings, Su Chen focused on the looming Pope's Palace ahead.

The Pope's Palace was quieter than usual. Apart from a few elders delivering reports, the vast hall seemed almost barren. At its center, seated on her high throne, was Bibi Dong.

Clad in her opulent papal robe, she radiated authority. Her features were as sharp as a blade, yet her burgundy eyes betrayed a fleeting softness when they landed on Su Chen.

Su Chen remained in the corner, content to observe. His thoughts drifted back to his experiments, calculations replaying in his mind as he waited for her summons

After further refining the dual cultivation method, Su Chen marveled at its effectiveness. The new technique, while not incorporating chakra to double training efficiency, had significantly improved the spiritual energy absorption circuit. This enhancement resulted in a 20–30% boost in cultivation efficiency. Paired with the mimicry training environment, the overall improvement reached nearly 50%. By Su Chen's standards, it was an acceptable outcome—though he failed to realize how revolutionary this would be for the Spirit Hall.

A method that could increase cultivation speed by half? For any force on the continent, such a breakthrough would be a treasured legacy, safeguarded for generations.

When Su Chen presented this to Bibi Dong, her reaction was far beyond anything he had anticipated.

Time passed, and the grand hall gradually fell silent. Feeling someone's gaze, Su Chen lifted his head to meet a pair of burgundy eyes filled with curiosity.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing, just some research," Su Chen replied, glancing around the now-empty hall. Only the two of them remained.

"You, when will you start acting like a real six-year-old child?"

Bibi Dong stretched lazily on the Pope's throne, her every movement graceful yet commanding. Her luxurious papal robes accentuated her perfect figure, the curves visible even in her seated posture.

Su Chen froze. This woman. Did she have no concept of propriety? Or did she simply not care?

If he truly acted his age, he'd be running around playing with mud, not standing here presenting research to the Pope of the Spirit Hall.

Bibi Dong noticed his stiff posture and smirked, clearly enjoying the discomfort she caused. She leaned back with a satisfied expression, her earlier fatigue dissipating.

"Alright, let's go check on your… what did you call it? Ah, yes, your laboratory."

Bibi Dong extended her hand toward him casually. Su Chen hesitated but ultimately dodged the gesture out of reflex.

"Laboratory?"

His amber eyes lit up in surprise. "It's already built?"

The Spirit Hall's efficiency was as impressive as ever. To construct a fully equipped laboratory in just six or seven days was a feat no other organization could match.

"Of course."

Before Su Chen could process her words further, Bibi Dong reached for his hand again. This time, he didn't evade—likely too preoccupied with his excitement over the laboratory to notice.

Guided by Bibi Dong, they made their way to the lush garden behind the Pope's Palace.

Upon reaching the familiar grounds, Su Chen stopped and narrowed his eyes.

"This is the lab?" he asked, his tone flat.

Bibi Dong chuckled, the corners of her lips curving into a playful smile. "What's wrong? Don't believe me?"

Without waiting for a reply, she led him deeper into the garden. Stopping at its center, she raised her hand, her soul power radiating outward. Strange symbols began to glow on the ground. Suddenly, the grassy surface split apart, revealing a hidden passage that descended underground.

"Let's go." Bibi Dong gestured with a slight push, her charming smile brimming with confidence.

Though cautious, Su Chen trusted her. There's no reason for her to harm me.

He nodded and stepped forward, descending into the hidden corridor.

The pathway was illuminated by night pearls embedded in the walls, casting a soft, ethereal glow. After walking for several minutes, they reached a door.

Su Chen pushed it open cautiously.

Inside was a scene that took his breath away. Despite his meticulous planning and high expectations, the sight before him exceeded them all.