Fasnuo Province, Spirit Hall's main hall.
Yu Cheng stood before the conference table, carefully reviewing the dossiers.
Over the past year, he had grown considerably taller, and the childishness had faded from his face. Dressed in a steward's uniform, he already looked somewhat like an adult.
Beside him stood Kori, the Archbishop of Fasnuo Main Hall.
This Soul Saint, already past seventy, was slightly bent at the waist as he listened attentively like a student attending a lesson.
"Subject Fourteen: martial soul, hoe; Innate Soul Power, rank four. Consumed one piece of hundred-year Whale Rubber. First Soul Ring absorbed from a five-hundred-year Rock Porcupine. No adverse reactions. Conclusion: success."
"Subject Twenty-Three: martial soul, Azure Edge Sword; Innate Soul Power, rank six. Consumed three pieces of Thousand-Year Whale Rubber, supplemented by medicine to strengthen the meridians. Second Soul Ring absorbed from a nine-hundred-year Gale Demon Wolf. Slight meridian damage occurred during absorption and has since recovered. Conclusion: success."
"Subject Sixty-Five..."
"..."
"In summary, I have consolidated ten theories..."
Yu Cheng's voice remained calm.
He had come to Fasnuo Main Hall and participated in the research for a full year.
Over that year, Spirit Hall had secretly recruited more than a hundred young Soul Masters as test subjects based on his data.
They consumed Whale Rubber of varying ages and quantities, then absorbed their first three Soul Rings to obtain the best experimental data.
The final results were astonishing.
Every Soul Master who participated in the experiment had successfully absorbed Soul Rings beyond their limits!
The success rate was one hundred percent!
"Yu Cheng..."
Archbishop Kori's face was filled with excitement, and his eyes even reddened slightly.
"Yu Cheng, do you... do you know what an incredible feat you've accomplished?"
He drew a deep breath to steady his emotions.
"You have opened a new door for the world of Soul Masters, allowing more people to transcend their talents and break through their limits!"
Yu Cheng shook his head, his expression still composed.
"You flatter me, Archbishop. With my efforts alone, even if I knew the effects of Whale Rubber, I likely could not have verified them."
He said solemnly, "We should thank Spirit Hall, thank the Angel God for its favor, and thank the countless Soul Masters as well."
Kori fell silent for a moment.
He had spent many years navigating Spirit Hall, always calm and at ease.
Yet at this moment, he realized that before Yu Cheng, he was like a raw recruit.
"Hahaha."
Kori burst into laughter.
He patted Yu Cheng on the shoulder. "You're right. Spirit Hall differs from the other sects. Its foundation lies with the countless Soul Masters."
If another sect had obtained the Whale Rubber Theory, they would not have spent so much time researching it.
They might even have treated it as a core secret, allowing only descendants of the main family to absorb it.
But Spirit Hall was different.
They intended to publish this theory to the entire continent.
Therefore, they had to ensure the theory was accurate and the experimental data as detailed as possible.
Kori composed himself and looked at Yu Cheng, his gaze turning solemn.
"Such a major achievement must be reported to Spirit City at once. Yu Cheng, come with me! His Holiness the Pope will surely receive you personally and grant you the highest rewards and honors!"
"Your name will spread across the continent along with this theory!"
Meet the Pope?
Bibi Dong?
A warning bell rang faintly in Yu Cheng's heart.
In the original story, this woman was not someone easy to deal with.
Her life had been full of hardships, and she was deeply scheming. Without the help of a high priest, she had ultimately become a god.
Most importantly...
She was currently undergoing the Rakshasa God Trial, and her mental state seemed somewhat unstable.
Yu Cheng could not figure out that madwoman.
But Yu Cheng knew that once his theory was made public, Yu Xiaogang's Ten Great Theories would become a complete joke.
If Bibi Dong wanted to protect Yu Xiaogang, wouldn't going there be like sending a sheep into a tiger's den?
He should hide for now and wait to see how things developed.
"Ahem."
Yu Cheng gave a light cough and smiled faintly. "The credit belongs to everyone. I merely did a little supporting work. It is most appropriate for you, Archbishop, to go to Spirit City and make the report."
"There will surely be plenty of social obligations in Spirit City. What would a child like me be doing following along?"
"Besides, I plan to find an intermediate academy to attend next."
"If that is your decision, I will not force you." Archbishop Kori nodded.
Looking into Yu Cheng's calm eyes, he felt both admiration and appreciation.
He did not claim credit, nor did he rush blindly ahead.
Such temperament was truly rare in one so young.
That very day, Kori left Fasnuo City with a copy of the experimental data under the protection of First Team's elite knights.
Spirit City.
The holy land in the hearts of countless Soul Masters.
Its majestic city walls, a hundred meters high, formed a distinctive hexagonal shape. Each side bore an engraved image of a solemn martial soul.
At the city's center, Pope's Mountain rose majestically.
Council hall.
Bibi Dong sat upon the throne.
She wore a magnificent purple-and-gold robe, a Nine-Curved Purple-Gold Crown upon her head, and held a scepter inlaid with nine gemstones.
Her exquisite face resembled the most finely crafted sculpture.
Merely sitting there, she exuded an invisible majesty that filled the entire hall and made the air feel heavier.
Below the steps, Kori lowered his head and held a black Soul Tool box high above his head with both hands.
His heart pounded like a drum, and the clothes on his back had already been soaked through with cold sweat.
Facing this young Pope, he felt pressure far greater than he had under the previous Pope, Qian Xunji.
A servant stepped forward, accepted the black box, and respectfully presented it before Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong extended her slender, fair fingers and lightly brushed the Soul Tool patterns across the black box's surface.
A trace of Soul Power flowed out, and the lid slid open.
"Shocking! More than a hundred Soul Masters gathered together to do this!"
She glanced at the document, a hint of scrutiny in her eyes.
The title was rather distinctive.
As Pope, she had seen far too many so-called "major events," many of which were exaggerated or driven by ulterior motives.
Bibi Dong picked up the document and began reading.
As she read further, ripples gradually appeared in her tranquil eyes.
Confusion, surprise, then increasingly intense shock.
The data in this report was far too detailed, far too solid!
More than a hundred experimental cases, each with a name, background, martial soul, and Innate Soul Power records.
The age and dosage of Whale Rubber consumed by each person, as well as their supplementary methods.
The species and age of the soul beasts absorbed.
Their physical reactions and Soul Power changes throughout the process.
Finally, it had all been organized into ten core theories, with clear structure and precise conclusions!
"Is all the data recorded in this report true?"
Bibi Dong raised her head, her gaze like tangible lightning as it turned toward Archbishop Kori below.
Kori bent even lower, but his voice was incomparably resolute:
"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope! Every word is true!"
"All experiments were conducted under the strict supervision of Fasnuo Main Hall. The Soul Masters who participated are currently under observation and recuperating at the main hall. Your Holiness may send people to verify it at any time!"
"Good! Very good!" The corners of Bibi Dong's lips curved upward.
She closed the report, and a blazing light gradually rose in her eyes.
"Where is Yu Cheng? I wish to meet this young genius."
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