In the Face of Survival, Dignity is Not Worth Mentioning

Bibi Dong lightly spun the scepter in her hand, her fingertips ice-cold. "A person who can so readily betray his family and country is clearly cold and ruthless in disposition.

If he can betray Star Luo for profit today, who knows if he won't betray Martial Soul Hall if faced with greater temptation or crisis in the future. Such a person can be used, but not fully trusted, and certainly not placed in a core position."

Her gaze shifted to Yue Guan, carrying the clarity befitting the Pope. "Yue Guan, you brought him here. I've given you face, and resources will be appropriately allocated.

But you must understand, until he proves his absolute loyalty and irreplaceable value, he will not enter the true core training sequence, nor will he have access to any Hall secrets. This is the rule, and it's for stability."

Yue Guan's usual lazy smile remained unchanged. He bowed slightly. "Your Majesty's considerations are thorough. I understand. I merely thought his Martial Soul was special and might provide a case study for the Hall's research, while also causing a minor nuisance for Star Luo.

As for whether he can succeed or is worthy of trust, that naturally requires time and trials to prove. It's already his good fortune that Your Majesty is willing to give him an opportunity."

Originally, it was just a casual move, a gambit on his part, and he hadn't truly taken Chen Li seriously.

Bibi Dong's handling of the matter was entirely in line with Martial Soul Hall's interests and also saved his face, so he naturally had no objections.

"Good, as long as you understand." Bibi Dong no longer discussed the matter, shifting to more important topics. "Your trip to the border and your contact with her, how did it go?"

Yue Guan's expression turned serious, his lazy demeanor receding. He said in a low voice, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the contact went smoothly. She is safe there, and her identity has not been exposed. The items you instructed me to deliver have also been safely handed over to her, and she indicated she will proceed step-by-step according to the plan."

"Excellent." A deep glint flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes. "The seeds have been sown; we just need to wait patiently. The other arrangements should also proceed as planned. Have Ghost Charm act according to the original plan to ensure the stage for the Heaven Dou Empire is prepared as soon as possible."

"Yes, your subordinate understands." Yue Guan replied solemnly.

"You may go." Bibi Dong waved her hand.

Yue Guan said no more, bowed, and his figure blurred into a red shadow, leaving the Palace of the Pope silently.

In the vast hall, only Bibi Dong remained.

The towering dome cast deep shadows, enveloping the throne. She closed her eyes slightly, her exquisite face devoid of expression, only her fingertips tapping unconsciously and rhythmically on the scepter's gem, producing faint, regular sounds.

Martial Soul Hall's efficiency was truly astonishing.

Chen Li's living arrangements and identity registration were completed in just over an hour. A taciturn attendant led him to the area within Martial Soul City designated for internal personnel, pointing him to a room at the end of the second floor of an independent small building.

"Esteemed Chen Li, this is your residence. After the hour of Chen tomorrow, a specialist from the research institute will come to discuss Martial Soul research matters with you. Until then, please rest here. If you require meals or daily necessities, you may use your identity token to collect them from the logistics department." After giving his instructions, the attendant bowed and retreated, his steps light, clearly well-trained.

Chen Li pushed open the door and entered.

The room was not large, a standard one-bedroom, but it was complete despite its size.

The outer area was a small living room that served as both a study and a reception area, while the inner area was the bedroom, complete with an independent washroom.

The furnishings were simple and practical, the windows bright and clean. Compared to his own room in the Dust Family manor in Star Luo, which was luxurious but cold, this place felt more comfortable.

He sat down at the desk in the outer room, his fingers unconsciously stroking the smooth wood grain of the tabletop.

Joining Martial Soul Hall, this step had been taken.

Whether in his past life or this one, whether he possessed a system or not, an existence that had not yet grown and could not demonstrate its value would ultimately be looked down upon or even abandoned in a world where strength reigned supreme.

To live, and then to become strong, was a survival rule etched into his bones.

In his original plan, developing within the Star Luo Empire with the help of family resources was one path. After abandoning it, seeking out Yu Xiaogang in the Heaven Dou Empire, known for his theoretically invincible theories, was a backup option.

Now, by chance, being brought back to Martial Soul Hall by Yue Guan, this choice seemed abrupt but might actually be better. In terms of resources, foundation, and the possibility of accessing high-level knowledge and power, Martial Soul Hall was undoubtedly the optimal choice at present.

His allegiance was decided. The next step was to survive and establish himself within this behemoth, utilizing its resources to solve his fundamental problems and achieve rapid growth. If this path proved unworkable...

Chen Li's eyes turned cold, and the image of Tang San flashed in his mind. If all else failed, seeking out the Son of Destiny early and clinging to his coattails was also a viable strategy.

Although Tang San wasn't as good to his friends in practice, he did provide resources.

Especially.

When it came to survival, face was not worth mentioning.

However...

Chen Li took a deep breath, suppressing his distracting thoughts for the moment.

The immediate priority was to verify the potential of the Second Martial Soul he had obtained through the sign-in today, the Gulp Gulp Fruit, and what kind of turning point it could bring.

He closed his eyes, his mind calm, and the path of his Soul Power circulation quietly changed.

Instead of invoking the violent and scorching lightning, he communicated with the newly formed, void-like core within his body, which seemed capable of containing everything.

When he opened his eyes again, the air behind him slightly distorted, and a dark, void-like phantom about a meter in diameter, its edges subtly fluctuating, quietly appeared.

Unlike the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, which appeared with dazzling electrical sparks and astonishing momentum, this phantom had an eerie stillness, as if even light would be absorbed by it. The center of the phantom was a deep darkness, impossible to discern clearly, emitting an aura of both hunger and inclusivity.

"Is this the external manifestation of the Gulp Gulp Fruit Martial Soul?" Chen Li sensed it carefully. Unlike the clear sense of power and destructive impulse from the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, the Gulp Gulp Fruit felt more like a bottomless pocket or a furnace, with infinite possibilities hidden beneath its calm surface.

With a thought, he activated the exclusive storage space that came with the system.

In a corner of the space, hundreds of Soul Rings of various colors floated quietly, like preserved amber.

Nearly a hundred White Soul Rings, dozens of Yellow Soul Rings, and even a solitary Purple Soul Ring – these represented all of Chen Li's failed attempts to add Soul Rings to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit over the past few months, and they were also the most important raw materials he possessed.

His gaze swept over them, and Chen Li selected two White Ten-year Soul Rings. Following his intent, the phantom images of these two Soul Rings detached from the system space and appeared in the real space before him, emitting a faint fluorescence, their forms intact, as if they had just emerged from the corpses of Soul Beasts.