Chapter 32: Neuvillette the Hyper Douluo?
These past days, Lei Bao felt as though he had been reborn. Every time he saw his son Lei Ke flexing his new right arm while training in the courtyard, an unconscious, gratified smile would rise to his face. That arm meant more than just the continuation of his son's martial path—it was a symbol of the Lei family's future hope.
Since pledging allegiance to the Church of the Water God, one pleasant surprise after another had come his way. What caught Lei Bao most off guard was this: even after pouring substantial funds into the church's construction, the City Lord Manor's tax revenue hadn't fallen. Instead, it had risen. Thinking it over carefully, he chalked it up to the prosperity the church had brought. More and more soul masters were arriving, drawn by reputation. The shops in the city were doing brisker and brisker business. Taxes naturally swelled along with the tide.
In his training chamber, Lei Bao felt the flow of soul power within his body, and his gratitude toward Furina deepened yet another layer. The profound subtleties of the Mysterious Heaven Technique far exceeded anything he'd imagined. This cultivation method seemed to have thrown open the gates to an entirely new world. Soul power that had long been stagnant now ran freely once more, like a spring river thawed after winter, brimming with fresh vitality. Even more gratifying was how much more pronounced the effects were on Lei Ke. In just over a month, the boy who had once sunk into a deep melancholy over his severed arm was now a Soul Elder, his spirit ablaze with confidence.
"Father, I feel my soul power has grown another step," Lei Ke said as he withdrew from his meditation, his face glowing with a self-assurance he'd long since lost.
Lei Bao looked his son over. At sixteen, the boy had already passed the optimal window for training. Yet with the sacred medicines and cultivation techniques that Furina had bestowed, he was catching up to his peers at a staggering pace. The Soul Ascension Pill had consolidated his foundation. The Foundation-Building Spirit Liquid had cleansed his meridians. And the Profound Water had elevated the very quality of his soul power by an entire tier.
"Train well. Following the Lady Pope, your future knows no bounds." Lei Bao patted his son on the shoulder, his voice brimming with expectation. "Continue your training! Practice your new soul skills more. You've fallen far behind these past years—if you don't push harder, you'll never keep up with others your age."
"Yes, Father." After agreeing, Lei Ke departed with the steward, heading toward the manor's rear training yard to practice.
Thinking of Furina, Lei Bao couldn't help a silent, admiring sigh. This Pope—who seemed so delicate, whose figure was perhaps a touch... modest—handled every matter with unmistakable extraordinary flair. Offering free martial soul awakenings to commoners? In the world of soul masters, such a benevolent act was practically unheard of. And the cakes she created with her soul skills were nothing short of miraculous—curing who knew how many stubborn and baffling ailments.
What inspired the deepest admiration, though, was this: she had made cultivation techniques public. She had given even ordinary people without a trace of soul power the means to strengthen their bodies and improve their health.
Such breadth of spirit. Such largeness of vision. Even a weathered old veteran like Lei Bao, who had navigated the treacherous waters of officialdom for so many years, could only bow his head in genuine respect. Even Shrek Academy—renowned for molding monsters—would likely struggle to match the Church of the Water God when it came to the sheer generosity of resources and the effectiveness of talent cultivation.
And that was without even mentioning Furina's own astonishing natural talent. Lei Bao knew only too well how rare twin martial souls were. And a soul ring configuration of two purple and two black? That shattered every conventional understanding in the soul master world. Such talent. Such strength. It stirred a daring speculation in Lei Bao's heart: perhaps this Pope who called herself the Water God truly possessed the potential to ascend to divinity.
"Perhaps... Her Holiness really could follow the path of the legends from ten thousand years ago. Ascend to godhood. Become the true Water God." Lei Bao gazed at the drifting clouds beyond his window, murmuring the thought aloud before he even realized it.
Just then, a familiar voice broke the quiet of his study. "City Lord, Her Holiness the Pope summons you to discuss a matter of importance."
Lei Bao looked up to find Wang Situ hovering just outside the window, his martial soul fully unfurled. The man's pristine white wings shimmered faintly in the sunlight, lending him an almost luminous vitality. But what caught Lei Bao's eye most was the sight of Wang Situ's head—once gleaming and utterly bald, now covered in a thick, luxurious mane of hair. The man looked a full decade younger, at least.
"Wang Situ. It seems you've been faring quite well in the Church of the Water God," Lei Bao remarked, his tone laden with meaning.
At this, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Wang Situ's face before melting into earnest, heartfelt gratitude. "All by Her Holiness's gracious blessing. I have never forgotten the kindness you showed me all those years ago, my lord, when you first recognized my worth..."
"No need to explain." Lei Bao waved a dismissive hand. "When I first sent you to the church, it was to test their true mettle. Now that we both serve Her Holiness, let the past be the past."
At these words, Lei Bao's own heart swelled with emotion. When Wang Situ had first defected to the church, Lei Bao had seethed with fury. Who could have predicted that barely a day later, he himself would be won over by Furina's divine skill, willingly joining the Church of the Water God of his own accord? Looking back, perhaps it had simply been the will of heaven.
"What matter does Her Holiness require?" Lei Bao gathered his thoughts and asked, his expression turning serious.
Wang Situ shook his head lightly. "Her Holiness did not specify. But since she has summoned you so deliberately, it must be a matter of significance. From the look on her face, it seemed of considerable gravity."
Hearing this, Lei Bao did not dare tarry. He retrieved an exquisitely crafted flight-type soul tool from his storage ring—a piece he'd bought years ago at great expense. It had served him well on many occasions. If only he'd been more cautious back then... but there was no medicine for regret in this world. At least he had met Furina.
"Let's move at once."
The soul tool unfurled its wings and soared skyward. The journey from the City Lord's Manor to the Church of the Water God was not far, but every flight along this route stirred different feelings in Lei Bao. The sunlight today was just right. From high above, he could see that the church's new temple had already begun to take shape. The building he'd personally overseen was rising at a breathtaking pace.
In mere moments, the two had touched down at the church's compound. Though the current headquarters was still modest in scale, there was something quietly extraordinary in every corner. Even the most ordinary believers on duty were filled with vigor, their bearing disciplined and measured.
The two walked directly toward the council chamber, but at a turn in the corridor, they encountered Neuvillette, who was deep in discussion with a subordinate. The Water God's Envoy was clad today in a long blue robe, his scepter in hand, his expression solemn.
Even from several zhang away, Lei Bao could feel the unfathomable depth of the energy fluctuations emanating from the man. It was stronger than any Titled Douluo he'd ever encountered. Could he be a Hyper Douluo?
As for Limit Douluo—Lei Bao didn't even dare entertain the thought. The only Limit Douluo he'd ever known was the Dragon God Douluo who had once emerged from Shrek Academy. But that had been a very long time ago, and he'd heard no word of him in all the years since. Likely, the Dragon God Douluo had long since passed.
"Lord Envoy." Lei Bao and Wang Situ halted at once and bowed respectfully.
Neuvillette inclined his head slightly in return, his gaze pausing for a moment on Lei Bao. "The City Lord arrives at an opportune moment. Her Holiness the Pope awaits."
His voice was even, yet carried an indisputable authority that inspired involuntary awe.
Watching as Neuvillette resumed his discussion with the subordinate—something about recruiting soul engineers—Lei Bao couldn't help a silent shudder of relief. If he'd rashly made an enemy of the Church of the Water God back then, a mere flick of this envoy's hand could have reduced his City Lord's Manor to flying ash. At the thought, his resolve to follow Furina only hardened further.
"Let us hurry. We shouldn't keep Her Holiness waiting," Lei Bao said to Wang Situ, unconsciously quickening his stride.