Your Highness, is the disciple you are taking Tuoba Yan?

Tuoba Yan slowly descended to the ground.

Yue Guan, a Title Douluo, watched with envious, jealous, and resentful eyes.

"Your Highness, why are Tuoba Yan's Soul Rings so unique?"

"I heard that a while ago, Tuoba Xi spent a fortune to buy a Soul Bone with a 70,000-year lifespan. Tuoba Yan's second Soul Ring is a 5,000-year lifespan. He must have absorbed that 70,000-year Soul Bone after advancing to a Soul Master!"

Soul Bones can enhance a Soul Master's physique.

Besides increasing a Soul Master's level and granting them the ability to use more Soul Skills, they can also allow a Soul Master to absorb Soul Rings with higher lifespans when washing their Soul Rings.

Yue Guan, thinking about Bibi Dong's purpose for this trip, deliberately asked, "Your Highness, are you planning to take Tuoba Yan as your disciple?"

Bibi Dong smiled and said, "Just wait and see!"

After "proving his innocence," no one questioned Tuoba Yan's abilities anymore.

"Tuoba Yan, clearing Soul Hunting Valley will reward you with ten Crystal Peaches and a Myriad Illusion Heart Lotus. You will also be granted direct entry to the Martial Soul Hall's inner sanctum, with a reward of three million Gold Soul Coins, or your choice of a Soul Bone with a lifespan of no more than 70,000 years, and 1000 Honor Points."

Tuoba Yan walked to the front of the ceremonial attendant and took the numerous rewards he was due.

As the awards ceremony ended, the attendant's voice continued, "Next will be an important segment of this year's trials."

"I believe all of you present have heard the rumors."

"That's right. Pontiff Bibi Dong will be selecting students from among this graduating class of outstanding students, and taking them as disciples! Please welcome Pontiff Bibi Dong!"

Applause erupted again.

Everyone's gaze fell on Tuoba Yan, the champion of this year's trials, who had created a miracle.

No one was more outstanding than Tuoba Yan.

Many people felt that Bibi Dong would surely take Tuoba Yan as her disciple.

However, when Bibi Dong stood before the top twenty trialists lined up, she called out, "Hu Li Na, step forward!"

Hu Li Na was taken aback.

Like everyone else, she also believed that Bibi Dong would take Tuoba Yan as her disciple.

There were two reasons.

First, Tuoba Yan is in his second year and his Soul Master level is already a Three-Ring Soul Elder, possessing extraordinary talent.

Second, Tuoba Yan's mother is a close niece of the Qian Clan. Counting through each generation of Saint Sons and Saintesses of the Martial Soul Hall, they have already or will in the future have close ties to the Qian Clan.

She never expected that Bibi Dong wouldn't call the champion, Tuoba Yan, forward, but rather Hu Li Na, who ranked slightly lower.

Xie Yue quietly stood beside Hu Li Na and whispered, "Sister, hurry and go up!"

Hu Li Na suddenly realized and walked to Bibi Dong's front.

Bibi Dong said seriously, "Hu Li Na, you are very talented, even more so than I imagined. I want to take you as my disciple. Do you accept?"

Hu Li Na was thrilled.

Any disciple of the Pontiff would, barring unforeseen circumstances and when the time was right, be appointed as a Saint Son or Saintess, becoming a successor in the Pontiff's lineage.

"I accept. Teacher, please allow me to pay my respects!"

Hu Li Na was overjoyed and bowed deeply to Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong waved her hand and produced a red crystal and handed it to Hu Li Na.

Yellow Springs Crystal: A crystal said to originate from the City of Slaughter.

The City of Slaughter was established a thousand years ago. A crystalline body formed at the bottom of the Yellow Springs in the Road of Hell.

This substance can be directly absorbed by Soul Masters. Taking a small amount has little effect on a Soul Master.

The Martial Soul Hall and the City of Slaughter have an agreement, responsible for supplying living resources to the City of Slaughter. In return, the City of Slaughter will procure a certain amount of Yellow Springs Crystal for the Martial Soul Hall.

The amount of Yellow Springs Crystal is very rare, and only elders and the Pontiff are qualified to enjoy it.

Tuoba Xi, a meritorious Platinum Bishop, does not qualify to allocate Yellow Springs Crystal.

"Then, I declare this year's trials to be a complete success!"

Bibi Dong turned and left. Tuoba Xi quickly walked to her side and whispered something to her.

Then, Tuoba Yan noticed Bibi Dong's gaze staring at him in surprise.

And then, Bibi Dong left without a word, in the disappointed gaze of Tuoba Xi.

The closing ceremony ended, and Tuoba Yan and Tuoba Xi rode in the same carriage towards Martial Soul City.

Inside the carriage, Tuoba Yan curiously asked, "Grandfather, what did you say to the Pontiff, and why did the Pontiff look at me with such a surprised expression?"

Tuoba Xi replied truthfully, "I told the Pontiff that you have actually awakened Twin Martial Souls."

"You told the Pontiff my secret?"

"Yan'er, let me explain. In the past century, only two people have possessed Twin Martial Souls. The first Soul Master perished when their second Martial Soul attached a Soul Ring. The Pontiff is the first Soul Master to solve the problem of Soul Ring backlash. If she takes you as her disciple, she can solve the problem of your Twin Martial Souls attaching Soul Rings."

Tuoba Xi murmured to himself, "Your talent surpasses Hu Li Na's. You possess Innate Full Soul Power. You won the trials and created miracles. Especially since you possess Twin Martial Souls. I simply don't understand why Bibi Dong is still unwilling to take you as a disciple!"

Two years ago, Bibi Dong refused to accept Tuoba Yan, not even wanting to see him, due to a misunderstanding.

Bibi Dong mistakenly believed that Tuoba Yan was a lecherous scoundrel.

The misunderstanding has been cleared up.

Tuoba Yan used Whale Rubber not for aphrodisiac or strengthening purposes, but to expand his meridians and aid in his cultivation.

Now that the misunderstanding has been resolved, Tuoba Xi couldn't comprehend why Bibi Dong remained unwilling to take Tuoba Yan as a disciple.

Tuoba Yan reminded him, "Don't you remember what the former Pontiff did to her?"

Tuoba Xi's eyelashes narrowed, a glint of light flashing in his eyes as he spoke softly, "You mean the Seclusion Chamber incident?"

Tuoba Yan nodded. "Ever since the former Pontiff's Seclusion Chamber ordeal, Bibi Dong has been desperately seeking survival, already consumed with the desire to elevate the Martial Soul Hall and become its Saintess!"

"Yan'er, you've gone too far. The incident in the Seclusion Chamber has nothing to do with the Tuoba Clan."

"You've forgotten, both I and the former Pontiff were men." Tuoba Yan continued to guide him.

Tuoba Xi listened to Tuoba Yan's words, muttering to himself, "Is it because of that reason? Do you harbor resentment?"

Tuoba Yan nodded. "It's always been that way. She's unwilling to accept it."

Tuoba Xi felt a sinking feeling. "You're hiding something."

Tuoba Yan said, "You've forgotten the circumstances surrounding the former Pontiff."