Invitation from Spirit Hall

It was no wonder Bibi Dong felt uneasy.

Ever since Su Cheng rose to fame, too many people had compared him with Yu Xiaogang, even though their accomplishments were not comparable in the slightest.

But without question, Yu Xiaogang had been forced into becoming Su Cheng's stepping stone.

The title of Theory Grandmaster had become a complete joke.

At the moment, Su Cheng was drinking tea in Yan Mo's Bookstore while checking on the sales of his new book when he heard some discussion outside.

"I heard Master Su, like Yu Xiaogang, only had 0.5 Innate Soul Power, yet he still managed to make breakthroughs in Soul Ring theory."

"What kind of Waste is Yu Xiaogang? How is he worthy of being mentioned alongside Master Su? He keeps saying, 'There are no useless martial souls, only useless Soul Masters.' Then why doesn't he get a thousand-year Second Soul Ring like Master Su? Wasn't he just relying on having a good father?"

"That's true. The opening line in Counterattack of Ordinary People—'Princes and generals, are you born noble?'—is simply too imposing. It wouldn't be surprising for someone like him to achieve anything."

"Wouldn't the nobles of the Two Empires object to something like that?"

"What good would their objections do? Would they dare trouble Master Su? Setting aside his current prestige, do they really think Sword Douluo is just for show?"

"Hasn't the Grandmaster already left the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and Sword Douluo is Sword Douluo. He only has this one adopted son. Who knows what he's thinking?"

"But speaking of which, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really let lard cloud their brains..."

"Who says otherwise?"

"..."

Yan Mo smiled at Su Cheng across from him. "Master Su, your reputation truly is known by everyone now."

One could imagine that, as the new generation of Soul Masters gradually grew up and were no longer constrained by the old limits on Soul Ring absorption, Su Cheng would undoubtedly become their guide.

He then said with a bitter smile, "Sigh, I really don't know what the Sect Master and the others were thinking. Are you truly not going back?"

Yu Xiaogang was far from the only one mocked because of Su Cheng's rise. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was the true villain in this story.

They had been seen by the public as clowns incapable of recognizing talent. Many had even started shouting that they were unworthy of the name of the Upper Three Sects.

Though such remarks had limited practical impact on the sect, they still gave Ning Fengzhi a massive headache.

As a subordinate member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Yan Mo naturally did not want public opinion to keep fermenting like this.

"I'm not going back. The person I've been waiting for has arrived." Su Cheng glanced out the window, then rose to his feet. "Oh, and find a way to spread the word and give me a different title. Stop calling me Grandmaster. It sounds unlucky."

With that, he left the room, leaving behind only a stunned Yan Mo.

Su Cheng had indeed seen people from Spirit Hall.

And their status was extremely high.

The man wore spotless white robes. His skin was as tender as a baby's, and his features were enchantingly beautiful. If not for the clearly visible Adam's apple, he might have been mistaken for a peerless beauty.

Together with the black-clad figure in the distance, whose presence was faint but who felt unfathomable upon closer inspection, Su Cheng guessed that the two were likely the renowned Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.

By his calculations, it was about time people from Spirit Hall arrived.

Of course, with his eyesight, he naturally could not discern their realms. He had only noticed them because the man in white had deliberately entered his field of vision.

He was somewhat surprised as well. He had not expected these two to come in person.

"Master Su." Seeing Su Cheng leave the Bookstore, the man in white approached him of his own accord. The man in black remained in the distance, maintaining an air that kept strangers away.

"I'm no Grandmaster." Su Cheng studied the white-clad figure and said calmly, "Still, I didn't expect the renowned Chrysanthemum Douluo to know a mere Soul Grandmaster with only twenty-five levels of cultivation like me."

"Master Su, you jest. I've read your books several times from start to finish. I've also done quite a bit of research into herbs and the Medical Dao, but only after reading them did I realize I was merely a frog at the bottom of a well. Other than my cultivation, there is little about me worth praising."

"I mean it. Don't call me Grandmaster. Just call me by my name." Su Cheng frowned and emphasized it once more.

He truly did not want to be called a Grandmaster. The more he heard it, the more uncomfortable it made him feel.

Still, Yue Guan's attitude surprised him. He did not seem to be merely polite or simply carrying out the Pope's task.

"Very well, Mr. Su. I wonder whether you have time recently. Your Majesty the Pope wishes to invite you to Spirit City for a discussion." Seeing that Su Cheng genuinely disliked the title of Grandmaster, Yue Guan smoothly changed his form of address.

Su Cheng gave Yue Guan a slightly surprised look.

Given Bibi Dong's temperament, he believed she would never be this polite. It would already be good if she did not simply have him seized by force. Would she really ask whether he had time?

In fact, Su Cheng's earlier impression had been correct. Yue Guan truly held him in high regard.

This time, Bibi Dong had originally intended to casually send two people to bring him over.

Yue Guan had instead taken the task upon himself.

He was someone who cherished flowers and loved flowers, and he was also highly knowledgeable in the Medical Dao of herbs. Yet before seeing Su Cheng's theories, he had never imagined that flowers and herbs such as Gu Zhu, Lan You Flower, and Golden Thread Silver Chrysanthemum, which possessed only slight medicinal properties, could produce miraculous effects after being combined in special proportions. The book called it a chemical reaction.

"Since you two came personally, it seems I have no choice but to give you this honor." Su Cheng smiled. Since they were being so courteous, he had no reason to refuse.

After all, tactics like making three visits to recruit a worthy man would never work against that crazy woman Bibi Dong.

"You jest, sir."

Yue Guan wore a gentle expression and a mild smile.

Gui Mei still did not say a word, silently following beside them.

Over the next few days on the road, whenever Yue Guan had the time, he came to discuss the medicinal properties of herbs, as well as matters concerning the Medical Dao and Meridians, with Su Cheng.

They called it discussion, but in truth, Su Cheng did almost all the explaining while Yue Guan did his best to absorb it.

Su Cheng was more than happy with this arrangement.

Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were both elders with real authority, and they were also Bibi Dong's most loyal supporters. Building good relations with them would greatly benefit Su Cheng's future plans.

Though the time was short, Yue Guan felt he had gained enormously. He had even developed some new ideas for the development of his martial soul.

At his current realm, any further progress required him to thoroughly comprehend his own martial soul.

Even after they reached their destination, Yue Guan still wanted more.

Inside the Council Hall of Spirit City's Pope's Palace, Su Cheng was arranged by Chrysanthemum Douluo to wait while they went to report to the Pope.

At that moment, he was the only person in the enormous Council Hall, which covered more than a thousand square meters.

Su Cheng sat in his chair, silently drinking fragrant tea. As he waited, he conducted a final review of his plan.

Today's meeting was undoubtedly crucial to him.

The reason he had chosen "Veteran Actor" as one of his Initial Talents had been for this very moment.

There were three main schools of acting: presentational, experiential, and method acting. What he was about to use was the presentational approach.

Su Cheng had already carefully studied Yu Xiaogang's past experiences, state of mind, personality, and aspirations.

He had also formed the image of a new character in his mind—similar to Yu Xiaogang, yet fundamentally different.

Now, he would immerse himself in this "second self."

And put on a play for Bibi Dong.