Whenever something could help him resolve his Martial Soul Malignant Mutation and shed the name of a waste, his mind was at its sharpest.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had failed to help Yu Xiaogang resolve his Martial Soul Mutation. Worse, they had dared to abandon him, planning to demote him to a lowly servant disciple. This left Yu Xiaogang utterly disappointed and drove him to leave. Yet across the vast continent, there were very few forces capable of helping him solve this problem.
If there was a way on this continent to resolve the Martial Soul Malignant Mutation in his body, Yu Xiaogang dared say that method was very likely in the Spirit Hall.
The Spirit Hall's founding era could no longer be traced. It had stood on the continent for ten thousand years and possessed the most complete collection of Martial Soul records,
so it surely had a method that could let Yu Xiaogang's Luo Sanpao evolve into the Golden Sacred Dragon.
The Spirit Hall was Yu Xiaogang's first choice.
Originally, after obtaining the Sect Token, Yu Xiaogang had planned to come to the Spirit Hall first, exchange some of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's secrets for the qualification to join the Spirit Hall and enter the Core Archives, then access the Spirit Hall's knowledge and find a way to make his Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, evolve. Once his Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, evolved into the Golden Sacred Dragon, he would use the Spirit Hall's support
to gradually attain the rank of Titled Douluo. At that point, he would naturally withdraw from the 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. Because the Sect Token had been taken away, Yu Xiaogang could forget about meeting the Pope. He was stopped by the guards outside Pope's Palace and was not even allowed inside.
He had never expected to encounter the Pope's disciple this time—the peerless genius with Twin Martial Souls. Truly, heaven was helping him.
Thus, Yu Xiaogang began scheming to use this Saintess of Pope's Palace to join the Spirit Hall.
Over the next few days, Yu Xiaogang secretly observed Saintess Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong was rarely this happy.
Ever since joining the Spirit Hall at the age of six, she had always cultivated inside Pope's Palace. Her teacher treated her well, but had uniquely kept her confined to Pope's Palace, leaving her desperately eager to see the outside world.
Therefore, every Soul Hunting expedition was a rare chance for Bibi Dong to relax.
On their way to the Star Dou Great Forest after leaving Spirit City, she pestered Elder Golden Bell relentlessly until he finally agreed to let her stay in Coconut Grove City and play for a few more days before going Soul Hunting.
Unfortunately, the outside world seemed to have no one who could truly interest her. Like her peers in Spirit City, once they recognized her identity as the Saintess of Pope's Palace, they were either respectful or obsequious. Not one sincerely wanted to be friends with her.
Because of this identity, an invisible barrier separated her from everyone.
"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 clutched Jin Zhong's hand and spoke coquettishly.
"All right, all right." Jin Zhong waved his hand. "The last day. This really is the last day. If we are late, 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 at the edge of Coconut Grove Lake in high spirits, ready to spend the day happily rowing a boat, she immediately spotted a striking figure.
A Flat-top stood by the lake.
He wore a black Scholar's Robe and exuded a scholarly air. With both hands clasped behind his back, he looked up at the sky.
A gentle breeze stirred the willow branches, and his Scholar's Robe swayed with the wind.
The Flat-top's face was weathered, filled with stories.
Bibi Dong was somewhat curious about him. She looked at him twice more and was about to leave when she saw the Flat-top suddenly lower his head and stare at the still surface of the lake. He let out a sigh, then took several more steps forward.
Bibi Dong's pupils narrowed slightly. She suddenly realized what he intended to do. Before he could jump in, she rushed forward and grabbed him. She looked like a frail young woman, but she was still a Level 50 Quasi-Soul King. Subduing the Flat-top, who wished to end his life, was easy.
"What is wrong with you? Why would you jump into the lake when everything is fine?"
Hearing Bibi Dong's words, the Flat-top tilted his head and merely sighed without saying anything else.
Bibi Dong sighed softly. "There seems to be a story in your eyes. Why not tell me about it? Perhaps I can help ease your troubles. There is no obstacle in life that cannot be overcome. Life is precious, so why seek death?"
"Are you really willing to hear my story?" the Flat-top asked.
"Of course. If you are willing to tell it, I will be your listener," Bibi Dong said.
"Thank you." The Flat-top began recounting his story in a hoarse voice.
"I was born into a great Sect. From childhood, everyone in the Sect placed their hopes in me. But no one expected that, during Spirit Awakening, my Martial Soul would undergo a Martial Soul Malignant Mutation. I should have awakened a powerful Martial Soul, yet it mutated in reverse into a weak one. My Innate Soul Power was only a pitiful Level 0.5."
"From that moment onward, the entire Sect's attitude toward me changed. My father ignored me, the Elders looked down on me, and the other Sect disciples mocked and bullied me."
"So..." Bibi Dong murmured, "you chose to end your life because of that?"
The Flat-top shook his head, and a blazing light shone from his eyes. He suddenly stood up and said solemnly, "No. I will never bow to fate. So what if my Martial Soul underwent a Martial Soul Malignant Mutation? So what if my Innate Soul Power is Level 0.5? So what if I have endured bullying and mockery from my family? I firmly believe that there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters. I will not give up. I will work hard to cultivate.
"If my Talent is lacking, I will put in more effort than ordinary people. If a hundred times the effort is not enough, then I will give two hundred times the effort.
"One day, I will tell my father, who looks down on me, and my indifferent Sect that even if I have a Waste Spirit, I can still make something of myself."
As he reached the emotional climax, the Flat-top's body trembled, and the terrifying aura of a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster erupted without reserve.
Only then did Bibi Dong suddenly realize that this Flat-top was actually a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster. He had only possessed Level 0.5 Innate Soul Power,
yet it was extremely difficult to find anyone on the entire continent who could cultivate such Innate Soul Power to this level.
Even more shocking was that when Bibi Dong had stopped the Flat-top from jumping into the lake, she had learned Yu Xiaogang's bone age.
He was even one year younger than her. Carrying the debuff of Level 0.5 Innate Soul Power, he had cultivated all the way to Level 29.
Bibi Dong recalled what the Flat-top had just said: If my Talent is lacking, I will put in more effort than ordinary people; if a hundred times the effort is not enough, then I will give two hundred times the effort. He had meant every word. One could only imagine how much effort and sweat lay behind his Level 29 Soul Power cultivation.
Thinking of him, then thinking of herself, Bibi Dong could not help feeling a wave of guilt.
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