Return to Spirit City

Upon returning to the Martial Soul Hall Branch, Luo Ling saw that Bibi Dong and the two elders, Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo, were already standing at the entrance.

"What is it, Teacher?" Luo Ling asked in confusion.

"Get ready to return to Spirit City." Bibi Dong shot Luo Ling a glare.

"We're returning to Spirit City now?" Luo Ling scratched his head, pretending not to understand.

"Hmph!" Bibi Dong snorted softly. Remembering what Luo Ling had said earlier, she could not help but speak. "You little brat may be young, but your words are awfully sharp!"

"Teacher heard it all?" Luo Ling smiled. Since Bibi Dong had already made it clear, he simply stopped playing dumb.

"What do you think?" Bibi Dong replied irritably.

"Then what does Teacher think of what I said?" Luo Ling slowly dropped his smile and asked seriously.

Bibi Dong fell silent. Looking at the boy before her, her expression was complicated.

On one side was an obsession she had held for years; on the other was cruel reality. She truly did not want to believe that Yu Xiaogang was the kind of person Luo Ling described.

"Yu Xiaogang's theoretical materials came from Spirit Hall, didn't they?" Luo Ling spoke again while Bibi Dong remained silent.

Bibi Dong came back to herself and nodded lightly.

"He obtained those materials from Spirit Hall, yet brazenly claimed them as his own, making the world believe he was a Grandmaster who cared for ordinary Soul Masters."

Luo Ling spoke word by word. "Yet he used Spirit Hall's materials without doing anything beneficial for Spirit Hall."

"After coming to Notting City, he never even taught any disciples..."

Luo Ling paused here, then looked into Bibi Dong's eyes and said with utmost seriousness:

"I don't think someone like that deserves Teacher's concern."

Luo Ling's voice was calm, yet it made Bibi Dong's heart tremble.

As for Bibi Dong, a character from the original Douluo Continent story, Luo Ling saw her as someone both pitiful and foolish.

Abandoned by Yu Xiaogang and violated by Qian Xunji—such was the tragedy of being a woman.

Being toyed with by a hypocritical petty man like Yu Xiaogang was foolish.

Spirit Hall had raised her for so many years, yet she had handed Spirit Hall's materials to Yu Xiaogang. That was even more foolish.

How could the tragedy that had befallen Bibi Dong have nothing to do with herself?

A foolish woman blinded by love.

The power of the Soul of Desire was taking effect. Ever since the Soul of Desire had obtained its Soul Ring, its power had become even more subtle and imperceptible.

His deep red eyes watched Bibi Dong's bewildered expression, yet Luo Ling's heart remained incomparably calm.

The Soul of Desire's power did not directly alter a person's will. Instead, it planted a suggestion in the target's heart, making them recall Luo Ling's words from time to time.

Dripping water could pierce stone. Once the target discovered that Luo Ling's words were all true, the suggestion would be complete.

Bibi Dong loved Yu Xiaogang, but when one day she discovered that she had been deceived, what would such obsessive love become?

Luo Ling was looking forward to it.

Bibi Dong's lips parted slightly. Luo Ling's words had been branded deep into her heart. She took a deep breath and looked in the direction of Notting Academy.

"I'll find out what kind of person Xiaogang truly is!" she murmured.

A faint smile appeared on Luo Ling's face, but his expression changed the next moment.

Bibi Dong walked over to him, grabbed his ear fiercely, and twisted it.

"Children shouldn't meddle blindly in adults' affairs from now on!" Bibi Dong said viciously, making Luo Ling shudder in pain.

Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo could only watch the scene helplessly. When had they ever seen Bibi Dong like this?

This little boy, whom they had only known for a few days, was far too bold. They did not even dare mention the matter between Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang.

"Got it, Teacher!" Luo Ling bared his teeth as he begged for mercy.

It had to be said that the Soul of Desire's power was truly incomparably potent.

More than ten days had passed since they left Notting City.

The attitudes of Bibi Dong and the two elders, Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo, toward Luo Ling had changed greatly. They had become much more affectionate.

As for Hu Liena, there was no need to mention her. She had long become Luo Ling's little fangirl, though her constant insistence on calling herself his Elder Sister made Luo Ling rather uncomfortable.

"Uncle Chrysanthemum, is your Martial Soul, the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, an Immortal Herb?" Luo Ling asked with feigned curiosity inside the carriage.

During these days of traveling to Spirit City, Luo Ling had grown much closer to Chrysanthemum Ghost Douluo. They now addressed each other as uncle and nephew.

Along the way, Luo Ling had been trying to get close to them, hoping to learn information about Immortal Herbs from Chrysanthemum Douluo.

Originally, he had planned to go to Heaven Dou City to obtain Immortal Herbs. Now that he had encountered Bibi Dong, that plan could only be set aside for the time being. Still, there was no harm in making preparations first.

Few people in the world knew about Immortal Herbs. As far as Luo Ling knew, only Tang San, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and the Breaking Clan possessed information about them.

"Yes." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded. At the mention of Immortal Herbs, a longing expression appeared on his face.

"Immortal Herbs are treasures born between heaven and earth. They are exceedingly rare, and every single one possesses the power to seize the creation of heaven itself."

"Then, Uncle Chrysanthemum, do you know where there are any Immortal Herbs?" Luo Ling hurriedly pressed.

Chrysanthemum Douluo looked embarrassed as he answered, "I don't know where any Immortal Herbs are either."

"Divine treasures like Immortal Herbs generally grow in perilous and wondrous places that ordinary people find difficult to reach."

"I only know of them because my Martial Soul has been passed down in my family, along with inherited records."

"Then, Uncle Chrysanthemum, do you have an illustrated guide to Immortal Herbs? Maybe I'll come across some someday." Luo Ling asked, pretending to be excited.

"There is naturally an illustrated guide." Chrysanthemum Douluo gave Luo Ling a surprised look, then glanced at Bibi Dong beside them. Only after seeing her nod did he say, "If Xiao Ling is interested, you can come find me later."

"Xiao Ling! Soul Masters rely on their own Martial Souls and Soul Power. Do not let external things cloud your mind!" Bibi Dong suddenly warned from the side.

"Understood, Teacher!" Luo Ling suppressed his emotions and nodded. "I'm only learning about them. I won't delay my cultivation."

He had obtained information about Immortal Herbs. Next, he only needed to find an opportunity to retrieve them.

As for whether he should tell Bibi Dong about the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and rely on Spirit Hall to obtain the Immortal Herbs, Luo Ling felt that he needed to wait and see.

After all, they had only known each other for a short time. The Soul of Desire's affinity effect was powerful, but it was not invincible.

The human heart was unfathomable.

While the two were still talking, the coachman's voice came from outside the carriage.

"Everyone, we've arrived at Spirit City!"

Luo Ling stopped talking and slightly lifted the curtain to look outside.

In the distance stood a hill, covered in all manner of crisscrossing buildings. At its summit was a magnificent palace, majestic and imposing.

At the center of the palace stood a giant statue resembling an angel. It reminded Luo Ling of the Statue of Liberty in America from his previous life, though this one was even more sacred and resplendent.

"As expected of Spirit City." Luo Ling shook his head in admiration. Before this city, Notting City could probably only be considered a small village.

No wonder Hu Liena had called Notting City shabby.

One's horizons determined one's standing; that was not just empty talk.