Bibi Dong

Spirit City, Inner City.

Spirit Hall had stood for nearly a thousand years, and the Inner City, its birthplace, had been renovated by countless generations of master craftsmen. Every brick and stone, every blade of grass and tree in the city, seemed to carry the weight of history.

As Yu Xiaogang walked along a narrow road, he took in the scenery around him, and memories of his youth studying at Spirit Hall came flooding back.

In terms of talent alone, he had been at the very bottom among his fellow students at Spirit Hall—undisputedly ranked last.

After all, Spirit Hall recruited students from across the entire continent. Whenever the awakening ceremony revealed a promising Soul Master, the discovery was reported directly to headquarters, and the child was sent to one of Spirit Hall's affiliated Soul Master Academies for training. As a result, Yu Xiaogang's class had included many talented Soul Masters from humble backgrounds. Bibi Dong was a prime example.

Despite having two commoner parents, she had awakened Twin Martial Souls and possessed Innate Full Soul Power.

When word of Bibi Dong's gifts reached Spirit Hall headquarters, it immediately caused a stir in the Elder Hall and the Papal Palace in the Inner City. The Pope himself had even ordered that she be sent to the academy, and had directly bestowed the title of disciple upon her.

People back then had naturally believed Bibi Dong had a brilliant future ahead of her. They'd showered her with praise and fawned over her. But to Yu Xiaogang now, all of that had been an omen of the tragedy that awaited her.

At the thought, Yu Xiaogang couldn't help but sigh.

Compared with a genius Soul Master like Bibi Dong, students like Yu Xiaogang had usually gotten into Spirit Hall Academy through family connections.

It was only natural that the other students looked down on them. Yu Xiaogang, however, had made quite a name for himself with his theoretical knowledge, though most students remained skeptical.

After all, in Douluo Continent, where everyone possessed a Martial Soul, people tended to believe in personal strength above all else. In the eyes of most, someone like Yu Xiaogang, who had only theoretical knowledge and no strength to back it up, was nothing but a laughingstock.

Still, a small number of people were interested in Yu Xiaogang's theories. Bibi Dong was one of them.

Among their classmates, Bibi Dong had been a goddess in all but name, thanks to her exceptional talent and striking beauty.

Countless young men had spent their days dreaming of her, while countless young women had secretly pined for her.

Yet this goddess had taken the initiative to approach Yu Xiaogang, the class's bottom-ranked good-for-nothing. The sheer contrast had caused an enormous stir.

To be fair, Bibi Dong had initially approached Yu Xiaogang to solve the problems she faced in cultivating her Twin Martial Souls.

But as they spent time together, she was won over by the depth of his theoretical knowledge. Even the academy's teachers couldn't match the insight of his explanations and ideas about Martial Souls.

And since Bibi Dong was still an innocent young woman at the time, she had gradually fallen for Yu Xiaogang without even realizing it. The two had maintained an ambiguous relationship ever since.

They remained together until after graduation, when outside forces drove them apart.

After being disowned by his family, Yu Xiaogang had ventured out into the wider world on his own. He later met Flender and Liu Erlong, and the three formed the Golden Iron Triangle.

Bibi Dong, meanwhile, had been summoned to serve under the Pope, who personally instructed her in cultivation. Yu Xiaogang had never expected that the Pope had ulterior motives, and that they would eventually lead to Bibi Dong's tragedy.

"Fate can be cruel."

Yu Xiaogang sighed. Only then did he realize he had reached the Papal Palace.

The building before him stood a hundred meters tall. Its symmetrical structure soared into the clouds, imposing and magnificent.

The palace was built of white marble, and the sunlight glinting off it cast golden reflections that made it seem both sacred and awe-inspiring.

Atop a long flight of steps stood a golden palace gate, its surface inlaid with jewels forming the Pope's crest. It glittered brilliantly.

On either side of the gate stood enormous Angel Statues, each holding a divine halberd, their wings spread wide. They lent the Papal Palace an even more hallowed air.

Yu Xiaogang drew a deep breath and started up the stone steps, climbing steadily to the top.

"Stop! Who goes there?"

A Golden Armored Guard stepped forward in front of the palace gate and blocked Yu Xiaogang's path.

Well, at least he hadn't started swearing. The guards in Spirit City really were different from those in Heaven Dou City. The difference in manners was obvious.

Yu Xiaogang smiled slightly and took the Elder Token from his robe.

When the Golden Armored Guard saw the seven symbols on the token, he immediately dropped to one knee and clasped his fists. "This subordinate pays his respects to Elder Yu."

Yu Xiaogang nodded. "I'm here to see the Pope. Go announce me."

"Yes, sir. This subordinate will do as you command."

The Golden Armored Guard answered at once, then rose and hurried toward the back of the Papal Palace.

The other Golden Armored Guard at the gate had already come forward. He bowed and ushered Yu Xiaogang inside.

The hall was furnished with extravagant splendor.

Directly opposite the entrance stood the Pope's Throne, raised above several steps and entirely gilded, its appearance proclaiming its majesty.

On either side below the throne were two rows of tables and chairs, all made of expensive wood. The fabric draped over them was embroidered with angels, lending the room a sacred atmosphere.

At the guard's direction, Yu Xiaogang took the seat at the front of the left-hand row.

The guard brought him a cup of fragrant tea, set it gently before him, then bowed and withdrew from the Papal Palace.

Yu Xiaogang lifted the cup and gently blew away the steam before taking a small sip.

A delicate fragrance spread through his mouth and then through his body, leaving him feeling as though he'd relaxed all over.

Excellent tea!

Spirit Hall really was rich!

Yu Xiaogang marveled inwardly, then continued to savor the fragrant tea as he waited for his visitor.

About five minutes later, a faint sound came from outside the hall.

Yu Xiaogang turned to look and saw a woman in a golden robe, holding a scepter, enter the hall.

She was none other than the current ruler of Spirit Hall, Pope Bibi Dong.

Compared with the youthful, tender girl she had been, she now radiated a powerful presence. Her beautiful face was filled with authority, and she carried the allure of a mature woman.

Bibi Dong walked unhurriedly to the Pope's Throne at the head of the hall and sat down gracefully.

Only after the guards by the entrance had left did she speak. "It's been many years. What brings you to see me, Elder Yu?"

Yu Xiaogang set down his teacup and looked at Bibi Dong, seated on the Pope's Throne. "I've come to ask you for something. When you were adding Soul Rings to your Second Martial Soul, did you run into any problems? And how did you solve them?"

"Oh? I never thought that the 'Grandmaster' of the Soul Master World would come to me for advice on theory. How unusual."

As she spoke, Bibi Dong turned to look at Yu Xiaogang.

Her expression had been cold, but when she saw his face, her eyes softened a little.