Prepare Him a "Welcome Gift"

As soon as Xue Qinghe left, Meng Shenji hurried over to Qin Yuan and asked what they had discussed.

When he learned that Xue Qinghe had made no attempt to recruit Qin Yuan, he was puzzled. "His Highness didn't offer you anything?"

Qin Yuan smiled and shook his head, then said earnestly, "I like the way His Highness does things. I've always been used to taking it easy. If I joined him, I'd only end up causing trouble."

"His Highness respected my decision. When he needs me, I'll help ease his worries."

Qin Yuan had said all that deliberately for Meng Shenji to hear.

Meng Shenji failed to notice. Instead, he marveled inwardly at Xue Qinghe's skill.

Even someone like Qin Yuan, who clearly won't join any faction, has been won over by His Highness's charisma. With a ruler of his caliber, the empire is bound to enjoy a revival.

The officials of the Crown Prince's Residence could hardly have been happier.

After sending Meng Shenji away, Qin Yuan pondered Xue Qinghe's words.

The person Xue Qinghe had alluded to was probably Bibi Dong, the pope.

On that point, Qin Yuan agreed. What kind of pope traveled incognito just to buy treasures on the Black Market? She had even caused a massacre with her own hands to seize a Soul Bone!

Put mildly, she refused to be bound by convention or bothered with trifles. From another angle, she was neglecting her duties and out of her mind!

But if Qin Yuan had to choose between Ning Fengzhi and Bibi Dong, he would choose Bibi Dong without hesitation.

At least when Bibi Dong wanted to kill someone, her intent was out in the open. Qin Yuan could sense it. Ning Fengzhi, on the other hand, would devour a man without spitting out the bones.

Looking back over the original timeline, Ning Fengzhi had spent years leaping about and stirring up trouble, yet still came away with a good ending. He must have burned some very fine incense.

For some time afterward, Qin Yuan personally led the Fighting Team through their training.

When the advancement rounds began, he took the Fighting Team to the venue each day to watch the other Battle Teams' Soul Fighting matches.

The fifteen Battle Teams that had advanced from the Heaven Dou Empire were all potential opponents for the Fighting Team in the finals.

It was essential to size them up beforehand.

As for the teams advancing from the Star Luo Empire, imperial agents gathered intelligence on them for a council of advisers to compile and organize.

Time was like a wild donkey: once it started running, it never stopped.

In the blink of an eye, the day came for the group to depart.

The fifteen Battle Teams that had advanced from the Heaven Dou Empire, together with the Fighting Team, which had a direct berth in the finals, made sixteen Battle Teams in all. Escorted by the Royal Knights, they set out for Spirit City to compete in the final stage.

Meanwhile, inside the Papal Palace.

Hu Liena and the other two bowed respectfully to Bibi Dong on the high seat. "Greetings, Your Holiness."

Bibi Dong assessed their Soul Power cultivation and was well pleased. "Not bad. Your first year at the advanced Soul Master Academy is over, and what you've achieved meets This Seat's expectations."

Hu Liena clasped her hands and voiced her wish. "Teacher, I'd like to join the team for this year's Soul Master Tournament. I know my strength is limited, and I'd be content to serve as a substitute."

Xie Yue and Yan felt the same way.

With Spirit Hall's resources behind them, all three had a strong chance of reaching the Soul King realm before the next Soul Master Tournament.

To perform better then, they needed to experience the tournament atmosphere in advance.

Bibi Dong disagreed. Her expression darkened slightly. "No. You three are the future Golden Generation. You must not reveal yourselves so readily."

"This Seat didn't summon you here for the Soul Master Tournament. This Seat has other plans."

She glanced at Ghost Douluo beside her, signaling him to continue.

Ghost Douluo stepped forward. "Nana, you three are Spirit Hall's future pillars. The training planned for you is nothing like what our other talents receive."

"The trials ahead will test you severely. Competing in the Soul Master Tournament would drain too much of your energy; it isn't right for you now. Of course, you have no training assignments for the moment, so you may go and watch some matches."

"His Holiness the Pope has also found a suitable teacher for you. Your later trials will depend on how efficiently you learn from him. He is highly capable and has unique insights into cultivating Self-Created Soul Skills. I hope you'll train diligently under him and not let His Holiness's efforts go to waste!"

Hu Liena froze for a moment.

In her eyes, no teacher on the continent could surpass her own.

Who is he? How did he win Grandpa Ghost's approval—and Teacher's?

Resting her cheek against her right hand, Bibi Dong said languidly, "That man is proud and unruly. It cost This Seat dearly to persuade him to teach you Self-Created Soul Skills. Don't disappoint This Seat!"

"As for who he is, you'll see him at the Soul Master Tournament. He isn't a member of Spirit Hall, though. For now, he's employed by another academy's Battle Team..."

After leaving the Papal Palace, the three exchanged glances, their minds full of questions.

Bibi Dong and Ghost Douluo had said only that the teacher was capable. Neither had revealed his identity or anything specific about him.

Yan folded his arms. "Nana is His Holiness's disciple. As for Xie Yue and me, even we could easily ask a Titled Douluo in Spirit Hall to take us as students."

"For His Holiness to pay such a high price to bring someone in, he must be a Titled Douluo from another faction, or at least a Soul Douluo, right?"

Hu Liena was quick-witted. From what Ghost Douluo and Bibi Dong had said, she pieced together a few clues.

"If he were a Soul Douluo or Titled Douluo, would he be leading a team to the Soul Master Tournament? I'd wager he hasn't even reached Spirit Saint. Teacher must value him because he's learned a decent Self-Created Soul Skill."

Xie Yue clicked his tongue, sounding displeased. "Nana, would someone who's mastered a Self-Created Soul Skill be ordinary?"

"Spirit Hall has so many Titled Douluo. How many elders have you heard of who possess a Self-Created Soul Skill?"

Yan cut in. "Xie Yue, I think Nana has a point. He could be the sort of Soul Master who focuses on one thing at the expense of everything else. It's happened before. Feng Xiaotian of Godwind Academy has Innate Full Soul Power, but instead of cultivating properly, he spends all day puzzling over Self-Created Soul Skills."

"His talent far exceeds ours, but he's older than we are, and his Soul Power Level is still lower."

"I'd say that fellow hit the limit of his talent and struggled to advance, so he turned to researching a Self-Created Soul Skill. He just stepped in dogshit and caught His Holiness's attention!"

Seeing that Hu Liena and her brother still hesitated, Yan proposed a sly scheme. "Testing his strength is easy. When he comes to teach us, we'll prepare a little gift for him."

"If he can handle it, then he has some ability. If not, the sooner he gets lost, the better. For all we know, he's just a smooth talker who fooled His Holiness with honeyed words!"

"Clearing Spirit Hall of parasites for His Holiness is our duty, too!"