"But since you overcame the slow cultivation caused by your Innate Soul Power through hard work and achieved such impressive results, why did you jump into the lake?" Bibi Dong asked.
Flat-top wore a weathered expression as he said painfully, "Although I traded two hundred times the effort of ordinary people for my current cultivation, the Soul Master's ceiling still exists. Three years ago, my cultivation reached Level 29. Since then, no matter how hard I worked, I couldn't break through that ceiling. Everyone else in the sect decided that I was a good-for-nothing destined to never break through Level 30 in this lifetime."
"I didn't want to give up. I tried countless methods to break through Level 30, but none of them worked. The sect grew more and more impatient with me. They thought I was a disgrace to the sect, so they drove me out, leaving me homeless. Then, on the road, some villains schemed away my travel money. In the end, I wandered all the way here to Coconut Grove City." After saying this, Flat-top looked at the rippling waters of Coconut Grove Lake. His meaning was obvious: after enduring so much pain and hardship, he had decided to jump into the lake.
Bibi Dong listened to Flat-top's arduous story, and the last bit of softness in her heart was touched.
A Soul Master with only 0.5 levels of Innate Soul Power had relied on his own efforts to become a Level 29 Soul Grandmaster. What kind of sect was this? It had treated him as a good-for-nothing instead of acknowledging his efforts. It was truly blind.
It was precisely such a tragic experience that had driven this person, who had faced adversity and setbacks without ever giving up, to finally develop suicidal thoughts.
Bibi Dong advised him, "I don't think you should give up on yourself like this. If you die just like that, you'll never escape the reputation of being a good-for-nothing. Only by living on, finding a way to break through your bottleneck, and proving yourself to those who looked down on you can you change their minds."
"But..." Flat-top fell silent.
"I think I might be able to help you." Bibi Dong suddenly felt the urge to help this chance acquaintance.
"Really?" Flat-top's body trembled slightly, but he immediately shook his head and politely declined. "Forget it. My problem isn't a small one, and you might not be able to solve it. I'll face it myself."
"I mean it. My name is Bibi Dong, and I'm the Saintess of the Spirit Hall. Perhaps the Spirit Hall can find a way for you to break through your bottleneck," Bibi Dong said.
Flat-top's eyes immediately flashed with a sharp glint at those words.
"All right, thank you..." A trace of gratitude flashed across Flat-top's melancholy, weathered face. He said, "You're the first person in this world to treat me well."
After dispelling his suicidal thoughts, Bibi Dong felt a sense of accomplishment. She smiled and said, "I already introduced my background. What about you? What's your name?"
"My name is Yu Xiaogang," Flat-top said.
When Bibi Dong heard that name, she froze. Only then did she realize that Flat-top's experiences matched those of someone whose background she had heard about.
Yu Xiaogang was a renowned figure in the Core Circle of the Soul Master World—the illustrious son of Yu Yuanzhen. He should have inherited his father's exceptional Talent, but during his Spirit Awakening, his Martial Soul underwent a reverse mutation and became a pig. Even his Soul Skill was farting. He had utterly disgraced the Upper Three Sects.
Back then, when Bibi Dong heard Qian Xunji describe Yu Xiaogang's experiences, she had even mocked him a few times.
At the thought of this, Bibi Dong felt even more guilty.
Seeing Bibi Dong freeze, Yu Xiaogang's eyes dimmed. He said, "Ah, I suppose you've heard my name too and know that I'm a good-for-nothing."
"No." Bibi Dong hurriedly retorted, "Yu Xiaogang, if you were truly a good-for-nothing, you would have sunk into despair long ago. But you proved yourself. Tell me, which Soul Master with 0.5 levels of Innate Soul Power can cultivate to Level 29? I didn't understand you in the past, so I mocked you. It wasn't until I met you that I learned about the side of you no one else knows. I'm sorry, Yu Xiaogang. I apologize for what I did in the past."
Hearing that Bibi Dong had mocked him in the past, a trace of resentment flashed through Yu Xiaogang's heart. Yet his face showed complete understanding. "It's all right. Everyone in the world sees me that way. You were merely influenced by the world's shallow opinions."
At that moment, Yu Xiaogang seemed to be shrouded in a Radiance of wisdom so dazzling that Bibi Dong could barely keep her eyes open.
"I heard that your Martial Soul is an external Martial Soul. Could I take a look?" Bibi Dong asked curiously.
"Luo Sanpao." Yu Xiaogang summoned his Martial Soul—a plump purple pig that let out a series of oinks.
Bibi Dong's gaze was immediately drawn to the ugly pig. Yu Xiaogang knew that she must be mocking his Martial Soul inwardly. He clasped his hands behind his back and said, "This is my Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao. I know that he is ugly and weak, but I have never given up on him, nor have I ever blamed him. He is my Martial Soul and my battle companion. From the moment I awakened him, I swore that one day, Luo Sanpao and I would stand together at the peak of this world."
Hearing his master say that he had never blamed him, Luo Sanpao's face revealed a trace of humanlike anger. But because he was his master, the pig could only helplessly turn his face away and refuse to look at him.
To Yu Xiaogang's surprise, Bibi Dong actually scooped Luo Sanpao into her arms and excitedly rubbed her cheek against him. "Wow, what an adorable Martial Soul!"
Yu Xiaogang raised his brows slightly and thought, Are your eyes all right? How can that thing, which looks neither like a pig nor a dog, possibly be considered cute? However, seeing that Bibi Dong seemed to like his Martial Soul, Yu Xiaogang began plotting again. Perhaps he could use this to grow closer to her and secure greater benefits for himself.
"By the way, I'm curious. What is your Martial Soul?" Yu Xiaogang asked, pretending not to know.
"You don't know?" Bibi Dong asked with evident resistance. She was unwilling to mention her Martial Soul.
Xiao Gang clasped his hands behind his back and said, "For the past few years, I've wished I could spend every moment cultivating, so I haven't paid much attention to the outside world. This is also my first time hearing that the Spirit Hall has a Saintess."
At this, Bibi Dong looked at Luo Sanpao and then thought of herself. Even he could calmly accept the truth about his Martial Soul, yet she was unwilling to face hers. In Bibi Dong's heart, Yu Xiaogang's image grew even greater.
"Death Spider Emperor. That's my Martial Soul. It's very ugly after Martial Soul Possession." Bibi Dong's eyes darted away as she said, "I don't really want to show it."
Yu Xiaogang sincerely praised her. "No. I think that for a girl as beautiful as you, no Martial Soul Possession could make you look too ugly."
A blush flashed across Bibi Dong's face.
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