Su Xu’s guard unit was led back to the Council Chamber of their respective area by Vice-Captain Lei Meng.
The process was serious and efficient.
Lei Meng presided personally, with two senior Squad Leaders responsible for recording and preliminary verification.
The knights lined up to report one by one.
When it was Su Xu’s turn, his face was calm as he stepped forward and first saluted Lei Meng.
“Su Xu, it’s your turn.
Report truthfully, omit nothing.” Lei Meng looked at him and spoke professionally, but there seemed to be an imperceptible hint of a reminder deep in his eyes.
“Yes.” Su Xu cleared his throat and began to report in a steady voice, “Subordinate Su Xu, twenty-four years old, originally from the West District of Spirit City, both parents deceased, no other immediate relatives.
Through the normal selection and audit process, I was transferred to the Supreme Pontiff Palace area for duty eleven days ago.”
He skipped the bribery part and only said “normal process,” and Lei Meng naturally wouldn’t expose it.
“spirit power Rank, Rank 42 Battle Spirit Ancestor.” Su Xu continued, releasing a slight wave of spirit power as proof.
Lei Meng sensed it, nodded slightly, and the recording Squad Leader quickly wrote it down.
“Spirit: Cone-Breaking Spear.” Su Xu held out his hand, a faint light flashing in his palm.
A phantom of a long spear, about two meters long, entirely black with a tip gleaming with cold light, appeared and then vanished.
This was the most standard Tool Spirit display.
“spirit ring configuration: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple.” With a thought from Su Xu, four spirit rings rose in sequence beneath his feet.
The colors and configuration were considered above average for a Spirit Ancestor, but not particularly outstanding.
“Spirit Ability details: First Spirit Ability, Armor-Piercing Pierce, a single-target linear thrust attack with a strong armor-piercing effect.
Second Spirit Ability, Sweeping Thousands, a wide-range sweeping attack with a broad angle.
Third Spirit Ability, Berserker Blessing, increases own strength, speed, and defense by sixty percent for a short time.
Fourth Spirit Ability, Sun-Piercing Strike, condenses all spirit power at the spear tip to launch a super-strong single-target penetrating attack, currently the strongest means of attack.” Su Xu described the Spirit Ability effects clearly but with some reservation, fitting the characteristics of the Cone-Breaking Spear Spirit without appearing too special or eye-catching.
These were all acquired through the original host’s cultivation and were his public assets for survival, able to withstand any inspection.
After listening, Lei Meng asked a few more questions about the years and general locations where the spirit rings were obtained, which Su Xu answered truthfully according to the original host’s memory.
Throughout the process, he behaved like an ordinary Spirit Ancestor guard who was reasonably talented and followed the rules, with nothing suspicious about him.
“Alright, next.” Lei Meng signaled Su Xu to step down and made a checkmark on the register.
Su Xu bowed respectfully and stepped aside to wait.
AI Model: gemini-3.1-flash-lite
About an hour later, the entire squad had finished registering.
Lei Meng announced some more disciplinary rules, emphasizing that during the investigation period, everyone must be on standby at all times and was not permitted to leave their posts without authorization.
He then dismissed everyone to rest, waiting for afternoon shifts or potential temporary assignments.
Su Xu followed the crowd out of the assembly hall, his expression normal, though he was clear-headed.
Bibi Dong had indeed taken action, and she was making a huge fuss about it.
This kind of comprehensive registration and investigation would likely have limited effectiveness in finding an enemy who might possess an unconventional ability like “Time Stop.” If a true powerhouse or someone with special abilities wanted to hide, how could they be easily exposed on a registration form?
This was more like a gesture, a means to exert pressure and check the basic loyalty of the internal staff, while also hoping to discover some previously overlooked clues that might be tangentially related to concepts like “time” or “stasis.”
As long as he didn’t expose it himself, this Clock Martial Soul was as if it didn’t exist in this World.
Returning to his dormitory, he closed the door and did not continue to Cultivate.
Instead, he relaxed his mind and gathered his energy, waiting for his afternoon guard duty.
The more critical the situation, the more important it was to act normal and keep a low profile.
Popes Palace, inner chamber.
Today, Bibi Dong had unusually not gone to the Supreme Pontiff Palace to handle official business.
She reclined on the cushioned couch by the window, wearing casual clothes.
Without the heaviness of the Supreme Pontiff robes, she appeared more domestically languid, yet the gloom and coldness gathered between her brows were even more intense than usual.
Hu Liena had been summoned and stood quietly to the side.
She keenly sensed that her teacher’s state was wrong; it wasn’t just exhaustion, but a deep-seated pain, anger, and…
a faint, almost imperceptible trace of vulnerability?
This was something that should absolutely never appear on her teacher, who was as powerful and firm as a god in her mind.
“Teacher, you…” Hu Liena finally couldn’t hold back and spoke softly, her beautiful fox eyes full of worry.
“Are you feeling unwell?
Or…
has something troublesome happened in the Palace?
Can this Disciple share your burden?”
Bibi Dong raised her eyes to look at her most beloved Disciple, her cold gaze softening slightly.
After a moment of silence, she shook her head: “It is nothing, just some old ailments acting up.
I will be fine after resting for a few days.
As for the affairs in the Palace, the Elders will handle them.”
Hu Liena did not believe her.
She had followed Bibi Dong for many years and knew the tenacity of her teacher’s character well.
If it were just ordinary ailments or troublesome matters, it would be impossible for her to display such an expression.
Biting her lip, she stepped forward, her tone more earnest: “Teacher, please do not keep things from Nana.
Is it…
related to the suddenly strengthened security in the Palace over the past few days, and the comprehensive personnel registration that started this morning?
What exactly happened?
This Disciple is truly worried about you!”
Looking at the sincere concern in Hu Liena’s eyes, Bibi Dong’s heart softened slightly, but more than that, she felt a resistance to dragging her into unknown danger.
That enemy hidden in the shadows was too eerie and unpredictable; even she had fallen victim repeatedly, with no clues to go on.
Although Nana was exceptionally talented, she was still young, and her strength was far from reaching the Titled Douluo level.
If she were to be involved, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Nana,” Bibi Dong’s voice turned serious.
“Some things are better left unknown to you.
You only need to remember that there may be unknown dangers lurking within Spirit City recently.
Once you notice anything unusual, or encounter anything incomprehensible or unreasonable, no matter how small, you must report it to me immediately.
Do you understand?”
Hu Liena’s heart tightened.
Her teacher’s words undoubtedly confirmed her guess.
Something big had happened, a major event that even her teacher found troublesome, and perhaps even threatened her own safety!
“Teacher!
What exactly is the danger?
Even you…” Hu Liena became anxious.
“Do not ask any more!” Bibi Dong’s tone suddenly turned sharp, but seeing Hu Liena’s instantly reddening eyes and stubborn gaze, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
She knew that while this Disciple appeared gentle, she was actually strong-willed.
If she didn’t reveal some information, Nana probably wouldn’t feel at ease and might instead act on her own out of curiosity and worry, which would be even more dangerous.
After hesitating repeatedly, Bibi Dong lowered her voice, as if afraid of being overheard by an invisible existence: “The enemy…
may possess some kind of eerie ability involving the ‘time’ dimension.
It is extremely secretive and impossible to guard against.
Even I…
have yet to find its traces.”
“Time ability?!” Hu Liena gasped.
As the Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall, she naturally knew about the Spirit Fusion Ability of the Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluos, but that did not seem to fully align with the “eerie,” “secretive,” and “impossible to guard against” descriptions provided by her teacher.
Could there be an even more terrifying time Spirit Ability in existence?
Had even a Peak powerhouse like her teacher suffered a loss?
Boundless worry instantly overwhelmed her.
She finally understood why her teacher was so abnormal and why she was making such a big fuss with the investigation.
An enemy who could control time, hide in the shadows, and whom even her teacher couldn’t deal with…
this was too terrifying!
“Teacher,” Hu Liena’s voice carried a hint of trembling, “You must be careful!
This Disciple…
this Disciple will be obedient and will help you keep an eye out!”
She secretly swore in her heart that she must work harder to Cultivate, and at the same time use her own methods to secretly investigate any clues that might be related to “time.” She absolutely could not let her teacher face such danger alone!
Bibi Dong looking at the light of renewed fighting Spirit and worry intertwined in her Disciple’s eyes, felt both comforted and heavy-hearted.
She waved her hand: “Alright, you know about this now, but you must not spread it.
Go back and Cultivate, and remember my words.”
“Yes, Teacher, please take care.” Hu Liena bowed deeply and retreated from the Popes Palace, looking back every few steps.
In the Popes Palace, Bibi Dong was once again left alone.