Pope's Token

Pope's Token!

Its holder was equivalent to an elder of Martial Soul Hall, with a position of great prestige!

"I'm giving this Pope's Token to you."

Bibi Dong's voice came again.

"Thank you, Teacher."

Ji Wushuang turned the token over in his hand. It felt cool to the touch and carried a faint scent of chrysanthemums.

"The Pope's Token is of vital importance."

"Keep it safe. If someone else obtains it, it may bring unimaginable consequences upon Martial Soul Hall."

"And you must never give it to anyone else, no matter who it is!"

"Do you understand?!"

Bibi Dong's tone became noticeably sterner.

Ji Wushuang knew full well that Bibi Dong was the sort who responded well to being humored, so he went along with her solemnly. "This was given to your disciple by Teacher. Your disciple will guard it with his life. As long as I live, the token lives; if the token is destroyed, so am I!"

Though satisfied inwardly, Bibi Dong said, "Don't ever say such things again! A token is just a token. Your safety is what matters most!"

"Your disciple will remember! I will not disturb you any longer, Teacher. Please attend to your work; your disciple shall take his leave!" Ji Wushuang said, about to depart.

Bibi Dong's voice suddenly rang out. "What are you in such a hurry for? Has today's Combat Training begun? It seems I've been far too indulgent with you. You've already started slacking in your cultivation and putting more thought into other matters!"

As her words fell, Bibi Dong stepped out from behind the screen. Her long, jade-like legs were the first thing to catch Ji Wushuang's eye. She wore a purple outfit adorned with golden patterns, luxurious beyond compare, perfectly accentuating her graceful figure. Her pretty face bore light makeup, and her gaze was somewhat stern, making her look like a strict teacher.

Seeing Bibi Dong change faces as if performing a trick, turning hostile at a moment's notice, Ji Wushuang had long grown used to it. He immediately lowered his brows and obediently waited for what she would say next.

"Come!"

"Use that Sword Formation you used against the Lightning Leopard on your teacher once!"

Bibi Dong drew the Treasure Sword from the rack and walked toward the courtyard.

"..."

Ji Wushuang was speechless.

He had not expected Bibi Dong to still remember this.

"Go all out!"

"Use all your strength against your teacher!"

Bibi Dong stood with her sword in hand and spoke indifferently.

"Teacher, here I come!"

Ji Wushuang's gaze sharpened like a sword as he waved his hand.

"Cloud Shuttle, Qingshuang, Wind Howl, Red Leaf, Absolute Shadow, Life Slayer, Finger-Twisting Softness, Jade Ruyi!"

All eight swords flew forth, forming countless Sword Formations that surrounded Bibi Dong.

"This Sword Formation... is far more exquisite than the Wind Sword Sect's Sword Formation!"

"If this child hadn't always been under my watch, I would have suspected someone was secretly teaching him!"

Bibi Dong thought to herself.

She then drew her sword to counter the formation.

No matter how exquisite a Sword Formation was or how many variations it contained, it was useless if its user was not strong enough.

Against a top-tier expert like Bibi Dong, whose depth Ji Wushuang could not fathom, his cultivation was still far too shallow.

Bibi Dong merely swung her sword normally, yet Ji Wushuang's sword qi could not advance even an inch further.

Clang! The sound of metal striking metal rang out.

With a single sword strike, Bibi Dong forced back all eight swords.

The eight swords returned to their sheaths, and the Peerless Sword Casket closed. Ji Wushuang praised, "Teacher's strength is extraordinary. Your disciple still has much to learn from you!"

Bibi Dong idly played with the Treasure Sword and said, "Enough. My swordsmanship is inferior to yours. I even learned these sword techniques from you. I only defeated you because my cultivation is higher."

"Your Sword Formation has endless variations and is impossible to predict. Combined with your Third Spirit Skill, it is enough to give Soul Kings and even Soul Emperors a headache. But do not grow arrogant because of it. Remember, there are always greater people and higher heavens."

"Your disciple will remember Master's teachings."

"Go collect the Whale Rubber." Bibi Dong brushed past Ji Wushuang, carrying a waft of fragrance with her.

"Your disciple takes his leave." Ji Wushuang leaped away.

Bibi Dong looked back at him and murmured, "This little fellow is looking more and more mature. His Soul Power has increased too quickly, and with the Whale Rubber, Whale Pearl, and Spirit Bone, it seems he has developed too quickly."

He was only ten years old—how did he look anything like a ten-year-old?!

Bibi Dong noticed the looks in the surrounding maids' eyes. Her willow brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of displeasure rose in her heart. However, she had no interest in venting that displeasure on them; it would not suit her status.

Inside the Martial Soul Hall Academy dining hall.

The four gathered in a private room.

Ji Wushuang took out three pieces of whale jelly and said, "This is called whale jelly. It is produced in the brains of ten-thousand-year whale-type Spirit Beasts. After a Soul Master consumes it, it can strengthen their physical body. I once consumed a piece of Ten Thousand Year Whale Jelly myself. When taking it, it needs to be roasted over intense flames until softened."

"One piece for each of you."

"When you obtain your third Spirit Ring, you can try increasing its age by another three to five hundred years beyond the original limit."

"..."

The three of them were dumbfounded.

"This little thing can let us absorb Spirit Rings that are three to five hundred years older?" Yan's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

Ji Wushuang said, "That mainly depends on how much your physical strength improves after consuming the whale jelly. When absorbing thousand-year or hundred-year Spirit Rings, what matters most is still the strength of your body."

Xie Yue said, "Yan, fire."

Yan nodded.

He had accepted Ji Wushuang's earlier suggestion.

He had decided that, from then on, he would only absorb Pure Fire Attribute Spirit Rings.

After absorbing a Pure Fire Attribute Spirit Ring for his second Spirit Ring, Yan's offensive power had become even more formidable. However, without the abilities of the earth attribute, his defense had weakened as well.

There were gains and losses.

Under the roasting heat of the raging flames, the three pieces of whale jelly quickly softened and gave off a rich fragrance.

"Mmm! Smells amazing!" Yan smacked his lips, already unable to wait to swallow the whale jelly in one bite.

Ji Wushuang could not help but laugh.

Whale jelly smelled good, but its taste left much to be desired.

"Brother Wushuang, can we eat it now?" Hu Liena was getting impatient as well.

After eating this, she could become stronger...

Ji Wushuang said, "It's about ready."

Hearing this, the three waited until the whale jelly was no longer quite so hot before taking large bites.

Yet in an instant, a foul taste shot straight to their heads, and all three of their expressions changed drastically.

"I forgot to tell you."

"Whale jelly smells good, but when you eat it..."

Ji Wushuang sighed.

Yan's face reddened as he said, "You did that on purpose. You wanted to watch us make fools of ourselves..."

Ji Wushuang spread his hands innocently. "I've been wronged. I really forgot!"

"Gulp!" Hu Liena turned her grief and indignation into appetite and decided to end it quickly. In just a few bites, she swallowed the whale jelly in her hand, then hurriedly picked up some fruit juice and drank it as though rinsing her mouth.

"Whew..." Hu Liena let out a breath.

Seeing this, Yan and Xie Yue gritted their teeth and forcefully swallowed their whale jelly without even chewing.

"Ji Wushuang! You scheming bastard!" Yan said with a dark expression.

Xie Yue nodded in agreement.

Ji Wushuang ignored them and continued eating his feast. As he ate, he said, "After consuming the whale jelly, your bodies will first heat up, and a surge of strength will emerge within you. Don't worry; those are all normal reactions."

"Just use your Soul Power to guide it and digest it."

Before the three could respond, they discovered that what Ji Wushuang had said was already happening.

They immediately sat cross-legged and calmly began refining it.