Senior Sister Hu Liena

Inside the Papal Palace.

Held by Bibi Dong's hand, Liu Xinghan felt the unreal sensation in his palm. He was quite nervous, and his body had stiffened unnaturally.

He had finally succeeded in becoming her disciple.

And his teacher was the Pope of Spirit Hall, one of the continent's strongest figures. She even possessed a divine position and would one day become the powerful Rakshasa God!

Most importantly, she was stunningly beautiful!

Liu Xinghan was extremely satisfied to have a teacher who possessed both strength and beauty.

Bibi Dong turned her head toward Liu Xinghan and said, "Since you have acknowledged me as your teacher, we are family from now on. You do not need to be so restrained before your teacher. Remember that, understand?"

Hearing this, Liu Xinghan replied with a smile, "I understand, Teacher."

Led by Bibi Dong, Liu Xinghan arrived at a small island in the middle of a lake within the Papal Palace.

Flowers bloomed all over the island, creating a breathtaking view. At the center of the many flowerbeds stood a quiet, exquisite three-story wooden pavilion over ten meters tall.

Bibi Dong introduced it, saying, "This is your teacher's residence, and it will also be your residence from now on. Besides us, you have a Senior Sister who lives here as well."

That Senior Sister should be Hu Liena.

Liu Xinghan thought to himself.

As one of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation in the original story, Hu Liena possessed exceptional talent and was the Pope's disciple, yet she had fallen for Tang San, whom Spirit Hall regarded as its mortal enemy.

In the end, she had personally witnessed the teacher who had raised her and shown her immense kindness being killed by the man she loved. One could only imagine the pain in her heart when she saw that scene.

In the original story, she was a character with a tragic ending.

"Teacher, you're back!"

A tall figure rushed over, carrying a fragrant breeze as she threw herself into Bibi Dong's arms.

Liu Xinghan sized up the newcomer.

She was a beautiful young girl in a white dress. Tall and perfectly proportioned, she stood a head taller than him, around 1.65 meters in height. Her smooth pink hair made her fair skin appear even whiter.

Though her exquisite face was still somewhat youthful due to her age, she seemed to possess an innate, unusual charm that made it difficult to look away after just one glance.

Bibi Dong took Liu Xinghan's hand and introduced him. "This child is Liu Xinghan, the disciple Teacher has just accepted. That makes him your Junior Brother. As his Senior Sister, you must take good care of him from now on."

Only then did Hu Liena turn her gaze to Liu Xinghan, who still looked like a little boy.

Her eyes lit up. It had to be said that Liu Xinghan's appearance gave him a huge advantage. Having inherited his mother's excellent looks, he had never lost out to anyone in appearance.

Hu Liena extended her hand to Liu Xinghan and introduced herself, "Hello, I'm Hu Liena, Teacher's eldest disciple. From now on, I will be your Senior Sister."

Liu Xinghan took Hu Liena's hand and replied with a smile, "Senior Sister, my name is Liu Xinghan."

The title "Senior Sister" seemed to make Hu Liena particularly happy. Smiling brightly, she said, "Teacher, I'll take Junior Brother to pick a room."

With that, Hu Liena grabbed Liu Xinghan and ran inside.

At noon.

To celebrate Liu Xinghan's arrival, Bibi Dong arranged a lavish feast.

There were more than ten dishes, all made from the bodies of thousand-year soul beasts. It was extravagantly luxurious.

At an outside restaurant, a meal like this would have cost at least a thousand Gold Soul Coins.

As expected of the Pope of Spirit Hall. This is too extravagant.

Liu Xinghan marveled inwardly.

Seeing the shock on Liu Xinghan's face, Hu Liena quickly explained as his Senior Sister, "Junior Brother, we normally do not eat this well. Soul beasts are protected species after all, especially thousand-year soul beasts. Other than when it is necessary to obtain soul rings, they must not be slaughtered indiscriminately. Usually, our food can only be made from ten-year soul beasts. Today is only like this because we are celebrating your becoming Teacher's disciple."

Hearing this, Liu Xinghan nodded.

Using ten-year soul beasts as ingredients was normal.

After lunch, Bibi Dong spoke with Liu Xinghan alone.

During their conversation, Bibi Dong told him of her arrangements for his future.

As the Pope's disciple, he would no longer need to attend Spirit Academy. He would move here directly and cultivate alongside his Senior Sister, Hu Liena.

If he had any questions, he could ask his teacher, Bibi Dong.

Naturally, Liu Xinghan was more than willing.

How could the teachers at an academy compare to Bibi Dong, the Pope?

Even if Bibi Dong was too busy with official duties to spare the time, he could seek guidance from the Elders who were Titled Douluo, as well as the Papal Palace's Soul Douluo guardians. Hu Liena had told him that this was a privilege of being the Pope's disciple.

Furthermore, the master and disciple spoke about Soul Tools.

In the time ahead, Bibi Dong planned to establish a Soul Tool Hall within Spirit Hall and arrange for some spirit masters to study Soul Tool manufacturing techniques under Liu Xinghan.

Naturally, Liu Xinghan agreed without hesitation.

He had never intended to monopolize Soul Tool manufacturing techniques. Now that he was the Pope's disciple, he could be considered one of Spirit Hall's core members.

To help his teacher strengthen Spirit Hall, he had long wanted to use Soul Tools to arm Spirit Hall's Spirit Master Legion.

That way, when Bibi Dong sought to sweep across the land and unify Douluo Continent in the future, it would be much easier!

Liu Xinghan wrote down his suggestions for the construction of the Soul Tool Hall, then handed them to his teacher, Bibi Dong.

Liu Xinghan said, "Teacher, make sure the people brought in to study Soul Tools with me are quick-witted. I still need to cultivate myself, so I won't have much time to teach them endlessly."

He was still in the prime age for cultivation and had no time to waste teaching others how to make Soul Tools. Therefore, those learning Soul Tools from him had better be the kind who could grasp it after being taught once.

Bibi Dong nodded. "Naturally."

Since Soul Tools were a project she valued greatly, she would naturally scrutinize the candidates carefully. There was no way she would allow useless trash to join.

An idea struck Liu Xinghan, and he suggested, "Teacher, I'd like to recommend someone. If we can find a way to recruit him, he would be of great help to our development of Soul Tools."

Bibi Dong raised a brow and asked curiously, "Who is it?"

Liu Xinghan explained, "His name is Lou Gao, the president of the Blacksmith Association in Gengxin City. He can be considered the foremost forging master on Douluo Continent."

"Though Soul Tools differ from ordinary weapons, they still cannot do without forging. If he joins us, the development of our Soul Tools will surely yield results much faster."

Recruiting Lou Gao and bringing him into his own faction had been an idea that had arisen in Liu Xinghan's mind the first time he visited Gengxin City.

Not only would this strengthen himself, but Lou Gao would also have no chance to help Tang San forge Tang Sect Hidden Weapons in the future, indirectly weakening Tang San. It was killing two birds with one stone!

"Lou Gao?"

Upon hearing the name, Bibi Dong frowned and said displeasedly, "I've heard of him. He's a Soul Douluo. Spirit Hall once tried to recruit the Blacksmith Association, but this Lou Gao refused. They have deep ties with the Star Luo Empire's royal family, so Spirit Hall cannot move against them rashly. I'm afraid he won't agree to our recruitment."