Training

Hu Liena waited for Ye Xiaobao to get dressed.

Her face flushed as she said softly,

"Xiaobao, hurry and go. Teacher is still waiting for you."

It was also her first time seeing such a scene, and her face felt burning hot.

It was Ye Xiaobao's first time seeing Hu Liena so shy as well, and he found it rather amusing.

"Nana, I'm going to see Teacher."

With that, he briskly ran off.

Inside the Pope's Palace.

Bibi Dong sat in the palace's only seat, gently rubbing her forehead. There were simply too many matters demanding her attention.

She was preparing the Soul Hunting Plan, but some of the elders in the Hall of Elders were far from obedient, preventing many of her ideas from being effectively carried out.

Yet there was nothing she could do about it. Although Spirit Hall was the continent's foremost power, there were simply too many competing voices within it.

She secretly made up her mind. One day, she would completely take control of Spirit Hall!

At that moment, a golden-armored guard came to report.

"Your Holiness, Ye Xiaobao has arrived."

The moment she heard it was Ye Xiaobao, Bibi Dong immediately replied,

"Let him in."

"Yes!" The golden-armored guard withdrew after speaking.

Before long, Ye Xiaobao walked in step by step.

After stopping, he bowed and saluted.

"Teacher."

Bibi Dong nodded. "Mm."

Looking at Ye Xiaobao below her, Bibi Dong was extremely satisfied.

The young man had already grown into an adult, and his strength had improved at an astonishing pace. Her painstaking efforts over the years had not been in vain.

"Xiaobao, last time you said you wanted to go out and gain experience. I've given it some thought."

Seeing the anticipation on Ye Xiaobao's face, she smiled again.

"Soul Masters cannot cultivate behind closed doors. Going out to gain experience is a good thing, but... why did you choose the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Naturally, Ye Xiaobao could not say that Tang San was in the Heaven Dou Empire and that he wanted to steal Tang San's opportunities.

He calmly replied,

"There's no particular reason. I just think the Heaven Dou Empire is more suitable for gaining experience."

After saying that, he looked at Bibi Dong.

Upon hearing that reason, Bibi Dong instantly thought of her younger days.

Back then, hadn't she also gone wherever she wanted? She had even met the man who would affect the rest of her life.

After reminiscing for a while, she continued calmly,

"Very well. However, the Hall of Elders currently has no spare Titled Douluo to protect you. You must be exceedingly careful and do not reveal your strength lightly."

What Ye Xiaobao did not know was that it was not actually impossible to send a Titled Douluo to protect him.

Rather, Bibi Dong feared that he would become dependent on others, which would undermine the purpose of his experience.

"Teacher, rest assured. Your disciple will definitely protect himself."

Ye Xiaobao knew how much pressure Bibi Dong had endured over the years to nurture him.

She had even been willing to offend many of Spirit Hall's upper ranks, all to secure more resources for him.

Because his cultivation speed had been too slow, most of his current rank was due to Spirit Hall's unlimited supply of all kinds of resources.

Thinking of Bibi Dong's fate in the future, Ye Xiaobao had already made up his mind. He would never allow such a thing to happen.

When the time came, he would help Bibi Dong establish the Martial Soul Empire. It would count as repaying this debt of gratitude.

Bibi Dong nodded. With a flip of her palm, a white Head Spirit Bone appeared, floating above it.

"Absorb this Head Spirit Bone before you leave to gain experience. The stronger you are, the more at ease I'll be."

After she spoke, purple Soul Power controlled the spirit bone and slowly sent it flying toward Ye Xiaobao.

"Teacher, this... is far too precious."

Ye Xiaobao had not expected Bibi Dong to directly give him a Head Spirit Bone. It was one of the most precious types of spirit bone.

"Take it. This was originally prepared for you. I still have matters to attend to, so go absorb the spirit bone first."

"Thank you, Teacher."

Ye Xiaobao stored the spirit bone in his storage space.

After bowing, he turned and left.

"Ah, this child. I hope he returns safely." Bibi Dong was somewhat reluctant to see him go.

Although many people said she was ruthless, she truly treated these two disciples as her own children.

But her actual child represented more of an injury to her.

"Sixth Enshrined, Seventh Enshrined, come out!"

Once Ye Xiaobao had completely left the Pope's Palace, Bibi Dong called out sternly.

Two figures outside the palace immediately appeared within the Pope's Palace at incredible speed.

"Your Holiness, why have you summoned us?" Thousand Jun Douluo asked with his usual stern expression.

Demon Subduing Douluo stood with his arms crossed, looking distinctly unfriendly.

Over the years, he had often served as Ye Xiaobao's sparring partner. Yet whenever he brought up taking Ye Xiaobao as his disciple, Ye Xiaobao would always evade the matter.

He was certain that Bibi Dong had instigated it. Otherwise, why would such a fine child be unwilling to become his disciple?

Bibi Dong's expression turned solemn as she said in a deep voice,

"You two Enshrined have seen it as well. Xiaobao wishes to go out and gain experience, but Spirit Hall truly has no spare Titled Douluo to protect his path."

She paused, observed Demon Subduing Douluo's reaction, and continued,

"You also know that with Xiaobao's strength, once it is exposed, it would be exceedingly dangerous for him to lack a Titled Douluo's protection. If something were to happen..."

"I'd like to see who would dare!"

Demon Subduing Douluo's eyes widened in fury, and the imposing aura of a peak Douluo burst forth without reservation.

"Sixth Brother, come with me to find Eldest Brother. I simply can't rest easy letting this child go out alone."

Thousand Jun Douluo shut his eyes in anger, not wanting to say a word.

Could his younger brother really not see through something so obvious? Did he have a pig's brain?

There were so many Titled Douluo in the Hall of Elders. How could they possibly be unable to send even one?

Wasn't this plainly a provocation?

Yet his younger brother had fallen for it so readily.

However, he also understood that with anyone else, no amount of provocation would have any effect on Demon Subduing Douluo.

But who had made that person Ye Xiaobao?

Thousand Jun Douluo also wanted to make an effort for his younger brother.

"Your Holiness, even if Seventh Brother wishes to protect Ye Xiaobao, he needs a proper reason. Otherwise, it would be difficult for us to bring this up with Eldest Brother, wouldn't it?"

After speaking, he fixed Bibi Dong with a stern gaze, waiting for her answer.

Demon Subduing Douluo also caught on and chimed in,

"Right. How about letting me take Xiaobao as my disciple too? A teacher protecting his own disciple—Eldest Brother wouldn't have anything to say about that."

Listening to the brothers play off each other, Bibi Dong finally put her mind at ease.

That had originally been her plan. If Demon Subduing Douluo had not gone,

she could only have sent one of the Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo. She could not rest easy with anyone else.

"Very well. Seventh Enshrined, I know you have always wished to be Xiaobao's teacher. Once he returns from gaining experience, have him formally take you as his master."

"Good, then it's settled!"