Tang San remained stubborn and did not kneel on one knee.
So what if it's the Pope? No one from the Spirit Hall is worthy of his kneeling.
After all, he and the Spirit Hall share a deep-seated enmity.
Previously, when he went to the Spirit Hall to collect gold soul coins, it was out of necessity. Moreover, the gold soul coins were issued by the two great empires, and the Spirit Hall was just the distributor.
What he collected was issued by the two great empires, having nothing to do with the Spirit Hall.
On the contrary, it was the Spirit Hall that threatened the two great empires to distribute gold soul coins to civilian soul masters, making them the real villains!
If they dared to threaten the empires, what else wouldn't they dare to do?
Spirit Hall: "Ah, right, right..."
If we didn't threaten the two great empires, where would your gold soul coins come from?
Without threatening the two great empires, would they be so gracious as to provide you with benefits?
Villains are indeed the Spirit Hall, while the two great empires are good!
Without the Spirit Hall, in ten thousand years, civilians wouldn't even be able to awaken their martial souls, let alone receive soul master subsidies!
Fine, Tang San is a loyal supporter of the empire, he doesn't care about the lives of the civilians...
Similarly, others who did not kneel included Neuvillette and Focalors, as well as Dugu Yan. They just stood by and watched.
In terms of identity and power, even Bibi Dong, the Rakshasa God, and the Angel God had to bow to the two "people".
As for Dugu Yan, she was considered a follower of Neuvillette, with a martial soul of a Water Dragon, so arrogant that it would never bow to anyone else.
No one paid attention to the attitudes of Neuvillette and Focalors, nor did they dare to. As for Dugu Yan, as mentioned before, she was related to Neuvillette.
But Tang San was different, he was just an "ordinary" contestant.
Why wouldn't he show respect to the Pope?
"Halt!"
"Boy, why don't you bow when you see the Pope!"
A cardinal, pointing at Tang San, roared angrily.
He was a cardinal promoted by Bibi Dong, and naturally, he would do his utmost to protect her reputation.
This boy not bowing to the Pope naturally displeased him.
Upon hearing this, everyone subconsciously looked towards Tang San.
"Tang Yin, what do you mean by this? Trying to show off your uniqueness?"
"Do you know what you're doing?"
"You should know, this is the Pope, it's your honor to perform the knight's salute!"
Kneeling on one knee with the right hand clenched into a fist over the heart, this is not an insult, but a knight's ritual.
Knights, when making their vows, would perform this gesture.
Knights represent justice, bravery, fearlessness... and other positive images. Using the knight's salute not only shows respect for the Pope but also elevates oneself.
Facing the criticism from everyone, including his teammates, Tang San frowned and clenched his fists.
"I am not from the Spirit Hall, nor do I believe in the Angel God, why should I bow!"
Tang San said proudly with his head held high.
Yes, even civilians knew of the Angel God because Spirit Hall officials often said: "May the Angel God bless you..." and so on during interactions.
This was the Spirit Hall's way of spreading faith.
Tang San's words stunned everyone, and he made a very valid point!
The knight's salute requires sincerity, which Tang San lacked...
He was not a member of the Spirit Hall, did not believe in the Angel God, and did not respect the Pope.
There was indeed no requirement for him to perform the salute.
"This..."
On the surface, the Spirit Hall represents justice. At least, most of the Spirit Hall's people fight in the name of justice, especially the knights.
If not for fighting in the name of justice, they would have no faith!
Forcing others to believe in the Angel God and the Spirit Hall is not the knightly way.
In the original story, the Holy Knights did not participate in the Three Empire War!
Before the defeat of the Spirit Empire, they were still sweeping evil across the Douluo Continent...
Because Tang San had disrupted the Slaughter City, their workload had increased tremendously, leaving them no time to participate in the war!
As for the Holy Knights' eventual fate, it probably wasn't very good.
"And also, why did Referee Neuvillette, Water Godddes Focalors, and Dugu Yan not kneel, yet you demand that I do? Is it because I, Tang Yin, am weaker?"
Tang San spoke with righteous indignation.
As soon as he said this, the entire arena fell silent, everyone looking at Tang San in astonishment.
This guy really dares to speak his mind!
Everyone had seen Neuvillette and Focalors remain unmoved, but no one could say anything, nor did they dare to.
Dugu Yan...
But this "Tang Yin" actually dared to speak out bluntly!
Good fellow, truly a good fellow!
"The Pope will answer your question."
At this moment, Bibi Dong took a few steps forward, exchanged a glance with Tang San, and said,
"Lord Neuvillette and Water Godddes Focalors are true deities, they naturally do not worship the Angel God!"
"Boom!"
These words hit like a bolt from the blue, resounding in everyone's hearts.
Everyone was shaken, not understanding but feeling the awe.
Deities?
What Bibi Dong did next only confirmed this for everyone.
Bibi Dong knelt on one knee toward the direction of Neuvillette and Focalors, and sincerely said, "Greetings, Water Godddes, greetings, Lord Neuvillette!"
"???"
But you are the Pope!
You...
Bibi Dong did this without any ulterior motive; she genuinely appreciated Neuvillette and Focalors for letting her know the truth.
"Greetings, Water Godddes, greetings, Lord Neuvillette!"
If even the Pope kneeled, who would dare not to?
These are true deities!
Well, Tang San didn't kneel...
Neuvillette frowned at this sight, wondering why Bibi Dong didn't discuss this beforehand.
Isn't she exposing him and Focalors?
After a moment of thought, Neuvillette lightly tapped his staff on the ground with his right hand, causing a burst of aqua blue light.
At the same time, the bodies of the thousands present were all lifted by an invisible force.
Everyone swallowed hard, their eyes filled with fear.
Even if Neuvillette said he wasn't a deity, they wouldn't believe it!
Terrifying, truly terrifying!
Thousands of people!
Using one's own energy to lift thousands simultaneously, has any Titled Douluo seen such a thing?
Not to mention seeing it, they wouldn't even dare to think of such a thing!
Cold sweat dripped from Bibi Dong's forehead. When the Rakshasa God said that Neuvillette and Focalors were stronger than her, Bibi Dong had been skeptical.
Now, she no longer doubted it.
If not deities, how could they achieve this?
"Thank you, Lord Neuvillette!"
"Thank you, Water Godddes!"
Everyone hastily thanked them, their voices trembling.
If Neuvillette could lift so many people simultaneously, it meant he could also kill them all in an instant!
This was no joke.
Such divine power was not of this world!
Deities, absolutely deities!
Tang San was in a daze...
•••
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