Where's My Money?

Bibi Dong looked at the child before her, stubborn as a little calf. Hearing him say, "What if you don't want me either?" the anger in her heart seemed to be doused by a basin of ice water, turning into an indescribably complicated ache.

How was this greed for money?

This was clearly self-protection born from an extreme lack of security.

Like a young beast that had once been abandoned, even after being brought into a warm nest, it would still instinctively hide away food for the winter in a corner, always prepared to wander again.

Because he did not dare gamble.

He feared that if he lost the gamble, there would be no turning back.

In this world where the strong preyed on the weak, such an intense sense of crisis and self-preservation was not a bad thing for an orphan. One could even say that it was precisely this sense of crisis that would allow him to go further in the future.

But that did not mean she could tolerate him turning the academy's atmosphere into a complete mess.

"Fine."

Bibi Dong sighed softly and resumed her cool, detached Pope's demeanor. "Since you have your own philosophy of survival, I can't be bothered to forcibly change your views. But remember one thing."

She raised a finger and lightly pointed at Xuan Hao's forehead, her tone stern.

"As for what happens at the academy, I can turn a blind eye and refrain from interfering. But you'd better restrain yourself! That is Spirit Academy, a place for nurturing elites, not your bandit den!"

"You can collect Protection Fees, but don't make it look so ugly. If anyone complains to me again, saying you've turned the academy into a mess and even disrupted normal teaching order..."

Bibi Dong's gaze sharpened. "Then don't blame me for confiscating your entire little treasury and throwing you into Mizong Grand Canyon to fight real Soul Beasts for scraps!"

"You are my disciple. Every word and action of yours reflects on me. If you ruin your own reputation, the one people will point at and curse for failing to teach her disciple properly will be me, your teacher!"

Xuan Hao shrank his neck. Though he had been scolded, the moment he heard the words "turn a blind eye," his heart blossomed with joy.

Wasn't that basically permission?

As long as he did not go overboard, he could keep the protection fee business going!

"Got it, Elder Sister! I promise I'll keep a low profile and do great things from now on! I'll strive for sustainable development and never embarrass Elder Sister!"

"...Shut up."

Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at him irritably, then stood up. "Come with me."

She led Xuan Hao through several corridors to a side hall located in the wing of Papal Palace.

Though this side hall was not as luxurious as the main hall, it was still quite spacious. It even had a small Simulated Cultivation Ground, clearly prepared specifically for cultivation.

"For the next three days, stay here obediently. You are not allowed to go anywhere."

Bibi Dong pointed at the empty hall. "Consider this your punishment. Reflect on yourself properly, and calm your mind while you're at it."

"Huh? House Arrest?" Xuan Hao grimaced.

"What? You think it's too light? How about going to Punishment Hall for a few strikes instead?"

"No, no, no! This place is great—peaceful! Perfect for contemplating life!" Xuan Hao hurriedly waved his hands and darted into the side hall.

Before leaving, Bibi Dong seemed to remember something. She stopped, turned around, and asked,

"By the way, how has your cultivation of the Soul Power Meditation Method I gave you been going?"

"Pretty well." Xuan Hao said, "It feels like my Soul Power circulates much more smoothly than before, and that... that feeling of the two Martial Souls fighting each other has eased up quite a bit too."

Bibi Dong raised her brows slightly. She had specially modified this Meditation Method based on the characteristics of Twin Martial Souls. It was extremely difficult, especially in its demands on Spiritual Power.

The brat had practiced it for less than a month and could already feel the effects?

Bibi Dong entered the side hall and closed the doors. "Now, right here, perform Martial Soul Possession and circulate the Meditation Method for me to see."

"Okay."

Xuan Hao did not hesitate. He sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion and took a deep breath.

With a deep dragon roar, brilliant golden light instantly covered his entire body. Fine dragon scales emerged, and an overbearing sense of power filled the hall.

Immediately afterward, he closed his eyes and began guiding the Soul Power within his body along the special route Bibi Dong had taught him.

Bibi Dong stood at the side. Her powerful Spiritual Power instantly enveloped Xuan Hao as she carefully sensed the path of every strand of Soul Power within him.

The time it took for an incense stick to burn soon passed.

The surprise in Bibi Dong's eyes grew stronger and stronger.

Though he was still somewhat immature, the child's talent for wielding Spiritual Power was frighteningly high. He seemed to naturally understand how to find a point of balance between violence and calm.

"That's enough."

Bibi Dong spoke, interrupting Xuan Hao's cultivation.

Xuan Hao slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath. The dragon scales on his body faded away as he looked at Bibi Dong expectantly. "How was it?"

"Barely acceptable."

Though Bibi Dong was astonished inwardly, her expression remained calm and detached, even somewhat critical. "You've adapted fairly well, and the route of your Soul Power circulation is basically correct."

"However, your control over Spiritual Power is still far too crude. It could even be called unstable. Several times just now, if you had not been lucky, that surge of Soul Power would have already gone astray."

"The cultivation of Twin Martial Souls allows no room for luck."

Bibi Dong sternly lectured him. "During these three days of House Arrest, aside from reflecting on yourself, devote all your energy to refining your Spiritual Power. You can only be considered barely initiated once you can split your attention between two tasks."

"Enough. I'm leaving. Someone will bring you meals over the next few days, so don't even think about sneaking out."

Half a month later.

The gates of Spirit Academy came into view once more.

What had originally been a token three-day House Arrest had been forcibly dragged out by Bibi Dong into half a month of devilish special training.

Over the past half month, Bibi Dong had been like someone with an obsessive compulsion. Even if Xuan Hao's meditation was off by the slightest bit, or his Spiritual Power fluctuated even a little too much, she would drag him out for extra training.

Fortunately, that hellish torment had finally ended.

Xuan Hao took a deep breath of free air. He did not hurry back to the dormitory or go to class. Instead, his eyes gleamed green like those of a wolf that had starved for half a month as he charged straight toward the third-year teaching building.

There was only one thing on his mind now—money!

That day in the plaza, Bibi Dong had carried him away like a chick. She had left in such a rush that the big iron box full of money was still there!

The Junior Department and Intermediate Department of Spirit Academy had nearly a thousand students combined.

Based on his previous investigation, Soul Grandmasters above level twenty made up roughly one-fourth of them, around two hundred and fifty people.

Ten Gold Soul Coins per person meant two thousand five hundred Gold Soul Coins!

The remaining seven hundred and fifty little weaklings, one coin each, meant another seven hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins!

Added together, that was three thousand two hundred and fifty Gold Soul Coins!

What kind of concept was that?

He had nearly fought that restaurant boss to the death over three Gold Soul Coins before.

Now, he could earn more than three thousand a month!

That was thirty-six thousand a year!

Three hundred and sixty thousand in ten years!

And that was only the current scale. Once he became a Soul Grandmaster and recruited those two hundred-plus upper division seniors as "members," his monthly income would have to double again!

Filled with visions of a wonderful future, Xuan Hao rushed energetically to the entrance of Hu Liena's classroom.

It happened to be break time.

Xuan Hao did not care that the teacher inside had not yet come out. Grabbing the doorframe, he stuck half his head in and shouted at the short-haired golden figure seated in the front row.

"Senior Martial Sister!!"

Hu Liena, who had been organizing her notes, was so startled by the shout that her hand shook and her pen fell to the floor.

She whipped around. Upon seeing that familiar face with its radiant smile, she froze for a moment before a flash of delight filled her eyes.

"Xuan Hao?!"

Without even bothering to pick up her pen, Hu Liena hurriedly stood and ran out. She grabbed Xuan Hao and looked him over from head to toe, her eyes full of concern. "You're finally back! Why were you gone so long? Didn't they say it was only three days?"

"You look thinner... Did Teacher punish you badly? Did she hit you?"

Seeing Hu Liena's genuinely worried expression, warmth rose in Xuan Hao's heart.

But the next second, that warmth was washed away by the coppery stench of money.

He grabbed Hu Liena's wrist in return, his eyes shining as he asked urgently,

"Senior Martial Sister, that's not important!"

"Where's my box?!"

"Where's my money?!"

Hu Liena: "..."