radicalducati Chapter 97 The March Term
Chapter 97 The March Term
The core area of the Spirit Hall is located in the center of the city, where it is one of the symbols of power on the entire continent.
The Papal Palace stands majestically, its black rocks gleaming solemnly in the sunlight. The plaza in front of the palace is paved with pristine white marble, and every ten steps stands a Spirit Hall guard clad in black armor, each with unwavering gaze and a composed demeanor.
Li Fulan followed Hu Liena, step by step ascending the steps leading to the main hall.
Xiao Wu was left at the Tranquil Abode. It wasn't appropriate to bring a little girl of unknown origin to meet the Pope. Moreover, Li Fulan didn't want Xiao Wu to be exposed to the Spirit Hall's attention too early.
"When you see the teacher later, be careful what you say," Hu Liena reminded her in a low voice. "She likes smart people, but not those who are too smart."
"Understood." Li Fulan nodded slightly. "Smart, but not overly assertive, right?"
Hu Liena turned around and smiled, without saying anything more.
The doors of the Papal Palace slowly opened, and an aura of majesty swept over us.
The interior of the hall was even more expansive than it appeared from the outside. The towering dome was carved with reliefs of the sages of the Spirit Hall throughout history, each one lifelike. The stone pillars on both sides were so thick that it would take three adults to encircle them, and their shafts were adorned with totems cast in gold and silver.
At the far end of the main hall, atop a high platform made of ninety-nine steps, stands the legendary papal throne.
A woman sat on the throne.
She wore a long, purple-gold robe, the wide sleeves concealing her hands. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her stunningly beautiful face even more breathtaking. Her high-bridged nose, slightly upturned phoenix eyes, and thin, slightly pursed lips exuded an aura of quiet authority.
She looked to be in her early thirties, but her eyes seemed to hold the weight of the entire continent's vicissitudes.
Bibi Dong.
The current Pope of the Spirit Hall, one of the strongest figures on the continent.
Hu Liena knelt on one knee and performed a standard greeting.
"Disciple Hu Liena greets her teacher."
Li Fulan did not kneel down, but bowed slightly, performing a traditional martial arts salute.
"Li Fulan, the alchemist from Wuhun City, greets His Holiness the Pope."
The atmosphere inside the hall froze instantly.
Several guards standing in the shadows had already drawn their weapons, their eyes fixed fiercely on the impudent young man. Not kneeling before the Pope? Was he tired of living?
But Bibi Dong simply raised her hand, signaling them to step back.
"An alchemist?" Her voice was cool, yet possessed a strange charm. "An interesting title."
Her gaze fell on Li Fulan, and she looked her up and down.
Is this the young man who killed Xue Qinghe and hunted the Dream Eater? He looks to be only in his early twenties, and his soul power fluctuations aren't particularly strong...
But her intuition told her that this man was not simple.
To escape Xue Qinghe's pursuit unscathed and even turn the tables on him is something no ordinary person could do. Moreover, hunting a Dream Eater is something even a Soul Douluo-level powerhouse wouldn't dare to attempt lightly.
"Raise your head."
Li Fulan looked up as instructed, her gaze calmly meeting Bibi Dong's.
For a moment, Bibi Dong was slightly taken aback.
The young man's eyes... showed no reverence, no fear, not even a flicker of emotion. He simply looked at me calmly, as if the person sitting before me wasn't one of the strongest on the continent, but an ordinary elder.
interesting.
Bibi Dong's lips curled up slightly, revealing a meaningful smile.
"Lena, you've found me an interesting person."
Hu Liena stood up and stood aside.
"Reporting to Master, I believe Mr. Li's talent deserves your personal inspection." She took out the wooden box containing the Benevolence and Righteousness Twin Swords from her sleeve. "These are the weapons he forged for me. Please appraise them, Master."
She opened the wooden box and presented the two swords.
Bibi Dong reached out and summoned two long swords, which flew into the air and hovered in front of her.
She first picked up the white sword and felt the energy flowing through its blade. Then she picked up the black sword, her brows furrowing slightly.
"This isn't a soul tool," she said, a hint of doubt in her voice, "but it's not an ordinary forged weapon either. The energy circuitry on it... is very unfamiliar."
"Your Holiness has a keen eye," Li Fulan said. "These two swords are indeed not soul tools in the traditional sense. They employ a different technology—alchemy."
"Alchemy?"
"Simply put, it's a technology that uses special materials and energy circuits to achieve supernatural effects," Li Fulan explained. "Traditional soul tools require the user to inject soul power to function, while alchemical creations can store energy and achieve more diverse functions."
He paused, then pointed at the white sword and continued.
"For example, this white sword has a special energy circuit engraved inside, which can transform the soul power input by the user into an extremely sharp force field. This force field can cut through any material, and the target being cut will not feel any pain in the first few seconds."
"The black sword, on the other hand, has an 'absorption-type' energy circulation. When it pierces a target, the soul power is forcibly extracted and converted into the user's power."
Bibi Dong listened quietly, her fingers gently stroking the blade of the sword.
She could sense the extraordinary nature of these two swords. As a level 96 peerless expert, she had seen countless divine weapons, but this was the first time she had ever seen weapons with such a unique principle.
"You mean, this kind of 'alchemy' can create weapons that are different from soul tools?"
"Not just weapons." A glint flashed in Li Fulan's eyes. "Armor, potions, mechanisms, even... transportation. Given enough materials and time, alchemy can create many things."
Bibi Dong remained silent for a moment.
If what the young man said is true, then his value far exceeds her expectations. A completely new technological system is enough to change the landscape of the entire continent.
But she is not someone who is easily persuaded.
"Words are useless." She placed the twin swords back into the wooden box and looked coldly at Li Fulan. "I want to see real value."
"What kind of test does His Holiness the Pope want?"
Bibi Dong stood up and slowly walked down from the platform.
Her figure was tall and slender, and every step she took carried an indescribable elegance. Her long, purple-gold robe trailed behind her like a flowing river.
She walked up to Li Fulan and looked down at him.
Upon closer inspection, this young man was indeed quite handsome. He had short, blond hair, deep-set eyes, and features so exquisite they looked like they had been painted.
"Three months." She held up three fingers. "I'm giving you three months. If you can produce results that satisfy me, the Spirit Hall will give you all the resources you want."
"What if you can't produce it?"
Bibi Dong's lips curled into a dangerous smile.
"Then you can stay in the Spirit Hall and be my personal alchemist for life."
These words sounded like a threat, but there was a hint of amusement in their tone.
Li Fulan paused for a moment, then smiled.
"His Holiness the Pope is really... direct."
"I never beat around the bush." Bibi Dong turned around and walked back to the high platform. "Lena, arrange a place for him to stay, and give him a Spirit Hall token. Within three months, whatever materials he needs, he can put it on the tab."
"Yes, teacher."
"Furthermore," Bibi Dong added calmly as she sat down on her throne, "I will have people monitoring your progress. I hope you will not disappoint me."
Li Fulan bowed again.
"Three months from now, I will give His Holiness the Pope a surprise."
Stepping out of the Papal Palace, the sunlight was a bit dazzling.
Hu Liena gave Li Fulan a deep look.
"You're really brave." Her voice carried a hint of helplessness. "You didn't react at all to the pressure from the teacher."
"I'm used to it." Li Fulan shrugged. "You get immune to that kind of oppressive feeling after a while."
Hu Liena didn't know what he meant, but she didn't ask.
"Is three months enough?"
Li Fulan looked up at the sky, a confident smile playing on her lips.
"That's enough."
He already had a plan in mind for what to showcase.
Bibi Dong wants to see value? Then show her what real "cutting-edge technology" is.