Shi Meng smiled sheepishly. "I was in a hurry to report back. I found two more children with Soul Power this time."
Another slightly rounder guard noticed Ye Guyi, his eyes lighting up as he teased, "This wouldn't happen to be the wife you found, would it? She's quite pretty. Standing next to a rough fellow like you, she's like a flower planted in cow dung."
Shi Meng's face immediately turned serious. "Don't talk nonsense! This is my benefactor, Young Miss Ye Guyi. Thanks to her intervention on the road, I was able to return alive." He turned to Ye Guyi and said apologetically, "Young Miss Ye, they just like to joke. Please don't take it to heart."
Ye Guyi shook her head slightly, indicating she didn't mind.
"Alright, alright, we won't delay you," the tall, thin guard quickly stepped aside. "Go on in; there are merchant caravans waiting behind you."
Shi Meng nodded in agreement. "I'll treat you to drinks another day!"
As they entered the city gate, Ye Guyi noticed a detail—not only were they not charged an entrance fee, but even the merchant caravans and ordinary citizens behind them entered and exited freely without any toll.
"Is there no fee to enter the city?" she asked curiously.
Shi Meng explained, "Our Axis Cult doesn't care for such small profits. Since we claim to benefit the people, wouldn't charging even for entry contradict our purpose?"
This answer gave Ye Guyi an even better impression of the Axis Cult.
Upon entering Fontaine City, Ye Guyi was immediately drawn to the scene before her. The streets were wide and clean, lined with shops on both sides. Various cries of vendors rose and fell, yet it didn't feel noisy at all. Most pedestrians wore relaxed smiles, and children played and frolicked by the roadside. The entire city brimmed with a vitality and harmony she had never seen before.
What surprised her most was seeing several richly dressed nobles queuing in front of the same shop as ordinary commoners, surprisingly at peace with one another. In the strictly hierarchical Douluo Continent, this was an almost unimaginable sight.
After walking for a while, a grand building caught Ye Guyi's attention. It was circular, resembling an ancient Roman colosseum, with Spirit Masters constantly entering and exiting. A plaque reading "Fontaine Great Soul Arena" hung over the entrance.
"What is that building?" she asked, pointing in that direction.
Shi Meng's eyes lit up, his tone filled with pride. "That is the Soul Arena our Pope advocated for. It's a great place for Spirit Masters to conduct practical training and earn rewards. It's said that Soul Arenas were very prosperous ten thousand years ago but gradually declined. However, the Pope believed they would be very helpful for the growth of commoner Spirit Masters, so she decided to build one."
He continued to explain in detail: "The scale isn't very large yet; the Pope said she'll build a bigger one in the future. But for now, it's already quite successful. Many Spirit Masters are willing to sign up for matches. Whether they win or lose, they receive a reward, as long as they don't play passively."
"The rules are simple, too. Weapons and spirit tools other than Martial Souls are permitted, as long as they don't endanger lives. And there's no need to worry about injuries; the Soul Arena is equipped with Healing System Soul Masters and medicines provided by our Axis Cult. Most importantly, the Pope uses the healing Spirit Ability of her first Martial Soul, 'cake,' to treat the injured. The fee is extremely low, almost free for Spirit Masters."
At this point, Shi Meng smiled slyly. "However, for those nobles who care about pomp and circumstance, the fee is higher. After all, they always have so many special demands."
Ye Guyi couldn't help but remark, "You guys really are wealthy and powerful."
"If Young Miss Ye is interested, you can also register as a Soul Fighter," Shi Meng introduced enthusiastically. "An Elementary registration is only fifty bronze coins. If you want more Advanced services, the cost will be higher, which the nobles and wealthy merchants quite like."
"I'll consider it," Ye Guyi nodded slightly, her gaze involuntarily sweeping across the street again.
Every detail of this city was challenging her established perceptions. Free entry, commoners and nobles coexisting as equals, and providing almost free training grounds for Spirit Masters... all of this was completely at odds with the world she had known.
Shi Meng seemed to see through her thoughts and said with a smile, "Incredible, isn't it? I felt the same way when I first came. But after staying for a while, you'll find that this is just daily life in Fontaine City. The Pope often says that if we can't even achieve basic fairness, how can we talk about benefiting all living beings?"
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the street, casting long shadows of the two. Ye Guyi looked at the city bathed in golden light, and a soft place deep in her heart was gently touched.
Perhaps this seemingly incredible Axis Cult really could bring about some change.
"Where are we going next?" she turned and asked Shi Meng, her tone unconsciously carrying a bit more anticipation.
"I'll take you to the cult's reception to get settled first," Shi Meng answered respectfully. "After I report everything to the Pope, I will bring her to see you. I bet the Pope will definitely be very interested in you."
This suggestion made Ye Guyi's heart race slightly. She became increasingly curious about that "Pope" who possessed twin spirits and a spirit ring configuration of two purple and two black.
"Alright," she responded simply, her gaze already fixed on the depths of the city, where a grand water-blue building stood, shimmering in the sunset.
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