Flat-top by Coconut Grove Lake (1)

Flat-top by Coconut Grove Lake (1)

Whenever it involved something that could help him resolve the malignant mutation of his Martial Soul and shake off the label of waste, his mind was at its sharpest.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had failed to help Yu Xiaogang solve his Martial Soul Mutation problem, yet they had even dared to abandon him, intending to demote him into a lowly servant disciple. This left Yu Xiaogang utterly disappointed in them and drove him to leave. But across the vast continent, there were very few forces capable of helping Yu Xiaogang solve this problem.

If there was a method on this continent that could resolve the malignant mutation of his Martial Soul, then Yu Xiaogang dared say there was a ninety percent chance it was within Spirit Hall.

No one could determine when Spirit Hall had been founded. It had stood on the continent for Ten Thousand Years and possessed the most comprehensive records on Martial Souls. There had to be a method among them that could allow Yu Xiaogang's Three-Eyed Blazing Demon to evolve into a Golden Sacred Dragon.

Spirit Hall was Yu Xiaogang's first choice.

Originally, after obtaining the Sect Token, Yu Xiaogang had planned to come to Spirit Hall first. By offering part of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's confidential information, he would exchange it for the right to join Spirit Hall and enter the Core Archives. Then he could access Spirit Hall's knowledge and find a way to transform his Martial Soul, Three-Eyed Blazing Demon. Once Three-Eyed Blazing Demon transformed into a Golden Sacred Dragon, he would use Spirit Hall's support to steadily rise to the rank of Title Douluo. By then, he could naturally leave Spirit Hall, return to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and reclaim everything that belonged to him. But plans could not keep up with change. Since his Sect Token had been taken away, Yu Xiaogang could not even meet the Pope. He was stopped directly outside Pope's Palace by the guards and not allowed in.

He had not expected to encounter the Pope's disciple this time—the peerless genius with Twin Martial Souls. Heaven was truly helping him.

Thus, Yu Xiaogang planned to use the Saintess of Pope's Palace to join Spirit Hall.

Over the following days, Yu Xiaogang secretly observed Saintess Bibi Dong.

Bibi Dong was unusually happy.

Ever since she had joined Spirit Hall at the age of six, she had been cultivating within Pope's Palace. Her master treated her well, but had always kept her confined to Pope's Palace, making her yearn desperately to see the outside world.

Therefore, every soul hunt was a rare chance for Bibi Dong to relax.

While traveling from Spirit City to the Star Dou Great Forest, Elder Golden Bell had finally agreed, after her persistent pleading, to let her stay in Coconut Grove City for a few more days before going on the soul hunt.

Unfortunately, the outside world did not seem to have anyone who could interest her. Just like the people her age in Spirit City, once they recognized her as the Saintess of Pope's Palace, they were either respectful or fawning. Not one of them sincerely wished to be her friend.

Because of this identity, an invisible barrier stood between her and everyone else.

"Saintess, it is time for us to leave," Elder Golden Bell said.

"Elder, just one last day. I promise, this is the last day. We will go to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow, all right?" Bibi Dong said coquettishly, holding Jin Zhong's hand.

"Fine, fine, fine." Golden Bell Douluo waved his hand. "One last day. This really is the last day. If we delay any longer, the Pope will blame us."

Bibi Dong happily went out. On this final day, she planned to go boating on Coconut Grove Lake.

When she arrived excitedly at the edge of Coconut Grove Lake, ready to spend a happy day boating, she spotted a conspicuous figure at a glance.

A Flat-top stood by Coconut Grove Lake.

He wore a black Scholar's Robe and exuded a scholarly air. With his hands clasped behind his back, he raised his head and gazed at the sky.

A gentle breeze blew, swaying the willow branches, and his Scholar's Robe fluttered in the wind as well.

Flat-top's face was weathered, as though it were filled with stories.

Bibi Dong was somewhat curious about him and looked at him a few more times. Just as she was about to leave, she saw Flat-top suddenly lower his head and stare at the calm lake surface. He sighed, then took several more steps forward.

Bibi Dong's pupils contracted. She suddenly realized what he intended to do and hurried forward to grab him before he could jump. She looked like a frail young woman, but she was still a level-50 prospective Spirit King. Controlling this Flat-top who sought death was effortless for her.

"What is wrong with you? Why would you jump into the lake when everything is fine?"

Hearing Bibi Dong's words, Flat-top merely tilted his head and sighed, saying nothing more.

Bibi Dong sighed softly. "There seems to be a story in your eyes. Why not tell it? Perhaps I can help ease your worries. There is no hurdle in life that cannot be overcome. Life is precious, so why seek death?"

"Are you really willing to hear my story?" Flat-top asked.

"Of course. If you are willing to tell it, I will be your listener," Bibi Dong said.

"Thank you." In a hoarse voice, Flat-top began telling his story.

"I was born into a great sect. Since childhood, everyone in the sect had high hopes for me. But no one expected that when my Spirit Awakening came, my Martial Soul would undergo a malignant mutation. I should have awakened a powerful Martial Soul, but instead it mutated in reverse and produced a weak Martial Soul. My Innate Soul Power was only a pitiful 0.5."

"From that moment onward, the entire sect's attitude toward me changed. My father became indifferent to me, the elders looked down on me, and the other sect disciples mocked and bullied me."

"So," Bibi Dong murmured, "you chose to seek death because of this?"

Flat-top shook his head. A blazing light burst from his eyes as he suddenly rose to his feet and declared solemnly, "No, I will never bow my head to fate! So what if my Martial Soul suffered a malignant mutation? So what if my Innate Soul Power is only 0.5? So what if I have suffered bullying and mockery from my own family? I firmly believe that there are no Waste Spirits, only waste soul masters. I will not give up. I will cultivate with all my might. If my talent is not enough, then I will put in more effort than ordinary people. If a hundred times the effort is not enough, then I will put in two hundred times the effort. One day, I will tell my indifferent father and my cold-hearted sect that even with a Waste Spirit, I can still make something of myself."

At the height of his emotion, Flat-top's body trembled, and the terrifying aura of a level-29 Soul Grandmaster was fully revealed.

Only then did Bibi Dong suddenly realize that this Flat-top was already a level-29 Soul Grandmaster. His Innate Soul Power had only been 0.5, yet it was difficult to find anyone on the entire continent with such Innate Soul Power who could cultivate to this level.

What was even more shocking was that when Bibi Dong had stopped Flat-top from jumping into the lake, she had learned Yu Xiaogang's bone age. He was even a year younger than her. Burdened by the debuff of 0.5 Innate Soul Power, he had cultivated all the way to level 29.

Bibi Dong recalled what Flat-top had just said: if his talent was not enough, he would put in more effort than ordinary people; if a hundred times the effort was not enough, he would put in two hundred times the effort. He had meant it. One could only imagine how much effort and sweat lay behind that level-29 Soul Power cultivation.

Thinking of him, then of herself, Bibi Dong could not help but feel a wave of guilt.