Bibi Dong Loses Her Composure

"Of course. However, this first Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament concerns the honor of our Martial Soul Hall. The championship must belong to Martial Soul Hall. Therefore, we cannot organize it blindly. Five years—five years from now, you will be twenty years old. With your talent, being promoted to Soul King will be more than achievable. You may even become a Soul Emperor. By then, you will certainly be able to win the championship of the first Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament for Martial Soul Hall."

Seeing Bibi Dong's innocent expression, Qian Xunji smiled and did not refuse.

"Thank you, Teacher."

In her Previous Life, Little Linzi had mentioned the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament to her more than once. She vaguely remembered promising him that she would hold such a tournament once she became Pope.

Now, she had fulfilled that promise to Little Linzi ahead of schedule.

But that was not the most important thing.

Her true goal was to find an excuse to leave Spirit City and "run into" Little Linzi outside.

"Teacher, I wish to select ten members under the age of twenty from the Martial Soul Hall Advanced Soul Master Academy to form a team with me. We will travel to the Great Soul Arenas throughout the Two Great Empires for team soul duels. This will temper our practical combat ability and strengthen our team coordination. Then, five years from now, the championship of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament will belong to none other than Martial Soul Hall."

After laying the groundwork for so long, Bibi Dong finally revealed her true purpose.

"Very well. Flowers raised in a greenhouse can never truly grow. It is indeed time for you to temper yourself. Tomorrow morning, go directly to Martial Soul Hall Academy and select your people. This Seat will have word sent down."

Qian Xunji readily agreed.

However, after Bibi Dong left, his expression immediately darkened. He ordered, "Go summon Ling Yuan."

"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope."

A Moment Later, Ling Yuan entered the Papal Palace's Council Hall after being summoned by a Temple Knight.

"Your Holiness the Pope!"

She Knelt on One Knee, her tone and demeanor exceedingly respectful.

Qian Xunji nodded slightly and asked whether Bibi Dong had displayed any unusual behavior lately or come into contact with anyone, especially any outstanding young men.

Ling Yuan did not lie. Aside from Bibi Dong ordering her to secretly search for Lin Hanye, the Ice-Haired Pretty Boy, Immortal Herbs, Whale Rubber, and Medusa's Head Soul Bone, she reported everything in exhaustive detail.

Bibi Dong had instructed her to do so beforehand.

Qian Xunji could not make heads or tails of it and ordered, "Continue protecting the Saintess. From now on, if anyone with improper intentions tries to mislead the Saintess, report it all to This Seat in the First Moment, without omitting a single detail."

"I will obey Your Holiness the Pope's command." Ling Yuan respectfully withdrew.

"Do you think she concealed anything from This Seat?"

Only after Ling Yuan left did Qian Xunji ask the two Personal Guard Douluo beside him.

"Probably not. Ling Yuan is an orphan taken in by Martial Soul Hall. She grew up in Martial Soul Hall and received its careful cultivation. During the Great Priest's tenure as Pope, she was already greatly valued. It is impossible for her to betray Martial Soul Hall or His Holiness the Pope."

Jin Zhong Douluo, standing to Qian Xunji's left, was a burly old man clad in the crimson robes exclusive to Martial Soul Hall's Titled Douluo elders. Golden armor and garments could be seen beneath them, and he radiated an imposing aura.

After a moment of silence, he spoke to Qian Xunji.

Qian Xunji nodded slightly in agreement.

"That is not certain. Though Ling Yuan may not betray Martial Soul Hall or His Holiness the Pope, one can never truly know another's heart. She has raised Your Highness, the Saintess for so long and has practically watched her grow up. She may very well conceal something from His Holiness the Pope."

Yet the other Personal Guard Douluo, the gaunt Silver Hammer, made Qian Xunji wary.

"While the Saintess is away participating in team soul duels, have Yue Guan and Gui Mei accompany her for 'protection.' In addition, secretly investigate the ten male Martial Soul Hall students the Saintess selects tomorrow. Correct them if they have faults; encourage them if they do not."

"Your Holiness is wise."

Hearing This, Jin Zhong and Silver Hammer exchanged a glance, then simultaneously bowed and began flattering Qian Xunji.

As Qian Xunji's Personal Guard Douluo, the two were among his most trusted confidants. Thus, Qian Xunji never worried that they would betray him, nor did he need to conceal his thoughts from them.

Meanwhile, after leaving the Papal Palace, Ling Yuan arrived at the training grounds reserved for the Saintess. It was exceptionally quiet there, with no one to disturb them.

Bibi Dong had already been waiting for some time.

She had changed into a fitted light-purple combat outfit. As she attacked Ling Yuan, she asked, "What did that man ask you?"

"He asked about Your Highness, the Saintess's recent circumstances, and whether you had come into contact with anyone."

Ling Yuan answered while meeting her attacks.

She did not know whether it was an illusion.

But she felt that the Saintess's combat skills had improved far too ridiculously over this period.

Both the force of her attacks and her speed had undergone a tremendous leap.

If neither side used soul skills, even a Soul Emperor would likely no longer be her match.

"Old fox." Bibi Dong cursed under her breath. She did not seem surprised and instead asked, "Where has Haibodong reached?"

Haibodong was naturally Lin Hanye.

As early as when he entered Suotuo City, he had been noticed by the city guards. The guards notified the Suotuo City Martial Soul Branch Hall, which reported it to Ling Yuan, who then reported it to Bibi Dong.

The moment Bibi Dong heard the name Haibodong, she thought of Lin Hanye.

Because Haibodong was Lin Hanye's Village Chief.

Lin Hanye had even mischievously given that little old man the title of Ice Emperor in private.

No one other than Lin Hanye would use that alias.

"He has already left the Balak Kingdom and should now be within the Star Luo Empire. According to reports from the Martial Soul Branch Halls, he is traveling the continent alongside a Young Woman named Liu Erlong and a civilian Food System Soul Master named Shao Xin, fighting soul duels at the Great Soul Arenas along the way."

Ling Yuan dodged Bibi Dong's punch.

"Liu Erlong?"

After forcing Ling Yuan back with a punch, Bibi Dong did not continue attacking. Her expression suddenly turned dangerous.

"Your Highness, the Saintess, what's wrong?"

Ling Yuan stopped as well and stepped forward in confusion.

Bibi Dong seemed to have become a different person, like a young woman who had just learned that her beloved had cheated on her. "What's the deal with that Liu Erlong? How old is she? What's her martial soul? How much soul power does she have? Is she pretty? Does she have a good figure?"

"Uh..." Ling Yuan had never seen Bibi Dong like this before and was momentarily at a loss.

"Mark their travel route and current location on the map."

Realizing she had lost her composure, Bibi Dong coughed lightly, her face returning to its previous cold expression.

Didn't the Saintess like that kid named Lin Hanye, the one with only half a rank of Innate Soul Power? Since when did she start caring so much about Haibodong? Still, I have to admit, that Haibodong kid really is quite handsome.

After silently complaining for a while, Ling Yuan took a map out of her Storage Soul Tool.

She marked Lin Hanye and the others' current location, along with their route of travel.

This was no ordinary map, but a military map. It included the locations of nearly every major city and town across the Two Great Empires and all their affiliated nations.