Chapter Two: The Gaze of the Pontiff
The massive gates of Holy Spirit City, adorned with the resplendent six-winged angel crest of Spirit Hall, had dwarfed Alex. Now, as Master Su Yuntao ushered him through the inner districts, past bustling markets and grand residences, a new structure began to dominate the skyline: the Holy Spirit Academy. It wasn't just a building; it was a sprawling complex of gleaming white spires, manicured courtyards, and imposing training grounds, all radiating an aura of disciplined power. The air here felt thicker, charged with soul power, a stark contrast to the rustic simplicity of Holy Spirit Village. This was the heart of the Spirit Hall's talent cultivation, a crucible for future Spirit Masters.
Alex observed it all with an unblinking gaze. His cold, obsidian-like eyes absorbed every detail: the vigilant guards patrolling the perimeter, the disciplined students in crisp white uniforms, the subtle hum of soul energy emanating from various training facilities. He saw not just an academy, but a fortress, a resource hub, and a potential cage. This was where he would hone his unprecedented power, concealed in plain sight. This was where he would lay the groundwork for his future dominance. His secret, the very essence of his transmigration, would remain inviolable.
"Here we are, young Alex!" Su Yuntao beamed, his usual weariness replaced by an almost giddy excitement. "The Holy Spirit Academy! A place only the most talented Spirit Masters can dream of entering. And you, with your divine martial soul and innate full soul power… you belong at the very top!"
Alex offered no verbal response, merely a subtle incline of his head. His disinterest in small talk was evident, a trait Su Yuntao, too engrossed in his triumph, seemed to overlook. His eyes scanned the academy's main entrance, noting the intricate carvings of mythical beasts and ancient Spirit Hall legends. Every detail was a piece of the puzzle, a potential strength or weakness to be exploited.
Inside, the academy's administrative office buzzed with activity. Senior instructors, their faces etched with years of rigorous training, processed new students. Su Yuntao, however, bypassed the general queue, leading Alex directly to a private office.
"Dean! I have a matter of utmost urgency! A genius, unprecedented in my career, perhaps in the history of Spirit Hall!" Su Yuntao's voice, usually reserved, boomed with an almost uncharacteristic fervor.
A stern-faced woman with neatly tied silver hair looked up from a stack of scrolls. Her eyes, sharp and assessing, landed on Alex. "Master Su Yuntao, your enthusiasm is noted. But to interrupt me during enrollment… this child better be worth it."
Su Yuntao practically vibrated with excitement. "Dean, he possesses a martial soul unlike anything recorded! The Devouring Hell Spider of Necro! And innate full soul power! Level 10!"
The Dean's eyebrows shot up. Her initial skepticism vanished, replaced by a flicker of genuine shock. She quickly moved to a simple awakening stone on her desk. "Place your hand, child."
Alex complied. The small crystal flared, not with the oppressive darkness of his initial awakening, but with a pure, brilliant white light, indicative of his innate Level 10 soul power. It was undeniable. The Dean's sharp eyes narrowed, studying Alex's utterly composed face. She could feel a faint, almost imperceptible chilling aura around him, a hint of the darkness Su Yuntao had described.
"Remarkable," she murmured, a rare expression of awe gracing her features. "This is... truly extraordinary. A martial soul unknown, coupled with Level 10 innate soul power at six years old… such talent must be reported directly to the Grand Elder Council. This is beyond my authority to simply enroll." She looked at Alex, a profound sense of caution in her gaze. "Welcome to Holy Spirit Academy, Alex. Your enrollment is assured, but your path here will be unique."
Alex merely nodded, acknowledging her words without warmth. His face remained an unreadable mask, giving away nothing of the calculations churning within his mind. He was exactly where he needed to be.
Meanwhile, in the most sacred and imposing structure in Holy Spirit City, the Great Spirit Hall Temple, Master Su Yuntao was granted an immediate audience. His excitement had only intensified during the journey from the academy. He knew the gravity of his discovery, and the potential rewards.
He passed through vast, echoing corridors, adorned with murals depicting glorious battles and revered figures of Spirit Hall history. The very air thrummed with a profound, almost suffocating spiritual energy. Finally, he stood before the immense, golden doors of the Grand Elder Hall, his heart pounding against his ribs like a drum.
The doors parted silently, revealing a chamber of breathtaking scale and power. High arched ceilings, stained-glass windows depicting divine angels, and a floor of polished, radiant white marble. At the far end, on a magnificent throne carved from what appeared to be pure gold, sat the Supreme Pontiff, Bibidong.
She was a vision of chilling beauty and undeniable power. Her aura was like a frozen lake, calm on the surface, but with unfathomable depths beneath. Her long, luxurious purple hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a face of exquisite, ethereal grace. Yet, her eyes, a piercing, almost unnerving shade of green, held a cold, intelligent glint that spoke of ruthless ambition and absolute control. She was formidable, terrifying, and utterly captivating.
To her sides stood the Grand Elders, the true pillars of Spirit Hall's power. Ghost Douluo, cloaked in shadowy mist, his presence a chilling void. Spirit Douluo, radiating a serene yet powerful spiritual pressure. And others, their faces obscured by the dim light of the chamber, but their auras radiating immense, unquantifiable power. Su Yuntao felt a shiver run down his spine, a primal fear in the face of such overwhelming might.
"Master Su Yuntao," Bibidong's voice, surprisingly melodic yet imbued with an undeniable authority, echoed through the vast hall. "You requested an immediate audience. Your urgency must be warranted."
Su Yuntao knelt, prostrating himself with deep reverence. "Pontiff! Esteemed Elders! Your humble servant apologizes for the intrusion, but I bring tidings of a talent unparalleled! A true divine gift to our Spirit Hall!" He spoke with a tremor in his voice, not of fear, but of profound excitement.
Bibidong's green eyes, unblinking, regarded him. "Speak. We have heard such claims before, often exaggerated." Her tone was dismissive, almost bored. The elders remained silent, their presences oppressive.
"This is different, Pontiff! Truly! In Holy Spirit Village, during the martial soul awakening ceremony... I witnessed something beyond comprehension!" Su Yuntao began, his words tumbling out in a rush, desperate to convey the full terror and wonder he had experienced.
He recounted the tale: the oppressive darkness that had enveloped the temple, plunging it into absolute night. The silent, spectral illusions of monstrous, decaying beasts that had flickered in the void. The terrifying manifestation of the Devouring Hell Spider of Necro, a creature of obsidian and shadow, eyes numbering in the dozens, radiating an aura of death and ancient power. His voice cracked slightly as he described the chill that had permeated his very soul.
"And his innate soul power, Pontiff!" Su Yuntao cried, his voice trembling with a mix of awe and lingering terror. "It was... Level 10! Full innate soul power! For a six-year-old, with that martial soul!"
A profound silence descended upon the Grand Elder Hall. The air grew heavy, thick with the weight of unseen contemplation.
Ghost Douluo's shadowy form seemed to waver. "Darkness… and necromancy? An unknown martial soul… and innate Level 10?" His voice, raspy and chilling, held a rare note of surprise. "Are you certain, Master Su Yuntao? Such claims are grave."
Spirit Douluo, usually calm, frowned deeply. "A martial soul of such inherent evil, yet with Level 10 innate soul power... it defies conventional understanding. Such a being could be a great threat, or a magnificent tool."
Bibidong's expression remained impassive, but her green eyes had subtly narrowed. A flicker of intense interest, almost a predatory gleam, had entered their depths. "Tell me more of this 'darkness' and 'necromancy'," she commanded, her voice gaining a sharper edge. "Describe the aura. The illusions."
Su Yuntao elaborated, doing his best to convey the chilling weight of the darkness, the feeling of decay, the silent screams of the illusory beasts. He spoke of the martial soul's terrifying beauty, its unique, almost divine, presence.
The Elders exchanged glances. There was concern, even apprehension, in their collective aura. This was not a standard elemental martial soul, nor a simple beast spirit. This bordered on the forbidden, the demonic, yet it possessed a level of innate purity in its soul power that was baffling.
"A martial soul of ultimate darkness and divine necromancy," Bibidong mused, her voice soft, almost a whisper, yet it commanded absolute attention. Her fingers, long and slender, tapped rhythmically on the armrest of her throne. "Such a power… it is unprecedented. Uncharted. A double-edged sword that could either sever our enemies or pierce our own heart if wielded improperly."
She paused, her gaze distant, as if seeing beyond the confines of the hall, into a future shaped by this new variable. A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on her lips. "However, great risks often hide even greater opportunities. A Level 10 innate soul power with a unique martial soul is a gift from the heavens, regardless of its appearance." Her eyes swept over the Elders, a silent challenge in their green depths. "This child must be nurtured. Guided. And most importantly, understood."
Ghost Douluo seemed to sigh, a sound like wind through dead leaves. "Pontiff, perhaps we should observe him from a distance. Such a martial soul... it might have inherent dangers."
"Dangers?" Bibidong's voice was sharp, cutting through the elder's caution. "Do you not believe in Spirit Hall's ability to control and guide even the most potent of talents, Elder Ghost?" Her tone left no room for dissent. "No. I have decided."
She rose from her throne, her purple robes swirling around her like a storm. Her presence filled the vast hall, dwarfing even the powerful elders. "This child, Alex, is a direct blessing from the heavens to Spirit Hall. I wish to see this genius personally. I will assess his potential, his character, and ascertain the true nature of this unprecedented power for myself." Her gaze returned to Su Yuntao, cold and resolute. "Master Su Yuntao, you have done well. Convey my personal invitation to young Alex. He is to present himself before me in this very hall, tomorrow, at noon."
Su Yuntao, still on his knees, felt a wave of relief and triumph wash over him. He had delivered. He had been instrumental in bringing such a genius to the attention of the Pontiff herself. "Yes, Pontiff! It shall be done!"
Back at Holy Spirit Academy, Alex was already settling into his spartan, yet comfortable, dormitory room. He had already mentally mapped out the academy layout, identified key training facilities, and begun formulating a rigorous self-training regimen. The Infinite Upgrade System might not be active yet, but every breath he took, every observation he made, was laying the groundwork.
A short while later, a solemn-faced instructor, accompanied by Su Yuntao, arrived at his door. The instructor's voice, usually authoritative, held a tremor of nervous reverence.
"Alex," the instructor began, "The Supreme Pontiff, Bibidong, has personally requested your presence. You are to meet her tomorrow, in the Grand Elder Hall, at noon."
Alex's eyes, wide and dark, gave no flicker of surprise. He had anticipated this. Such a dramatic martial soul awakening, coupled with his innate Level 10 soul power, was bound to draw the attention of Spirit Hall's highest echelons. Bibidong. The future Soul Land villain, the Spider Queen, a woman of terrifying power and ambition. This meeting was not just an invitation; it was an evaluation, a probing.
She wants to see if I can be controlled, Alex mused internally, his thoughts perfectly calm. She wants to gauge the depth of my unique power. She wants to see if I'm a tool or a threat.
He knew how to play this. He needed to appear valuable, immensely so, but also manageable. His cold, aloof demeanor would serve him well. It would project a sense of quiet power, a depth that would intrigue her, without betraying any underlying rebelliousness. He would maintain his unreadable expression, his answers concise, his presence a captivating enigma. He would allow his "certain charm" to subtly surface, not through overt friendliness, but through the sheer magnetic intensity of his unique being.
"Understood," Alex responded, his voice even, devoid of the awe or nervousness any other six-year-old would feel at such a summons. "I will be there."
The instructor and Su Yuntao exchanged a glance. Even in this, the child was exceptional. No fear, no excitement, just absolute, calm acceptance.
Alex closed the door behind them. His obsidian eyes glinted in the dim light of his room. The game was escalating. Facing Bibidong was not just a challenge; it was an opportunity. An opportunity to embed himself deeper into the very heart of Spirit Hall, to gain access to resources he couldn't even dream of otherwise. The path to ultimate power was opening, and he was ready to walk it, a shadow disguised in plain sight.