Wuhun Hall Orphanage, Hu Liena

A few days later.

The carriage damaged during the Title Douluo breakthrough had long since been repaired.

After a long journey, Bibi Dong's carriage finally entered Spirit City.

Held in Yue Guan's arms, Ye Qifeng arrived in this world-famous majestic city that stood between the Two Great Empires, Heaven Dou and Star Luo.

As for why he was back in Yue Guan's arms—

Naturally, it was to avoid suspicion.

Along the way, Bibi Dong had spent day and night with Ye Qifeng, and she had grown quite fond of the little fellow.

When she became a Title Douluo, the little fellow had unknowingly helped her quite a bit.

Although after becoming a Title Douluo herself, that effect seemed to have weakened considerably.

She had actually wanted to adopt the little fellow, but whenever she thought of that man's existence—

She could not. Otherwise, she would only be harming him.

Whenever she thought of that shameless man, Bibi Dong's heart grew colder still.

Along the way, she had also realized that the closer she got to Spirit City, the more chaotic and colder her heart became.

Because of that shameless beast, she loathed this city beyond measure.

She even harbored a terrifying impulse to destroy it.

Besides, for quite some time to come, she would have matters to attend to and simply would not have the time to care for the little fellow.

Therefore, before arriving in Spirit City—

She handed Ye Qifeng over to Yue Guan.

And instructed him, "Send him to the Wuhun Hall Orphanage."

"Yes, Your Highness the Saintess."

Yue Guan accepted the order. Seeming to notice the reluctance in Bibi Dong's eyes, he added, "Your Highness the Saintess, rest assured. I will make the necessary arrangements with the Wuhun Hall Orphanage."

Very soon.

Yue Guan brought Ye Qifeng to the Wuhun Hall Orphanage located in the western part of Spirit City.

After finding Li Qing, the dean of the Orphanage, and explaining Ye Qifeng's origins, he entrusted Ye Qifeng to the Orphanage's care.

Yue Guan then headed straight for the Pope Palace to report his work to the Pope.

Bibi Dong, however, did not go to the Pope Palace. She did not want to see that disgusting thing, Qian Xunji.

Instead, she returned directly to her Saintess Hall.

She needed to make ample preparations to obtain the Ninth Spirit Ring for her first Martial Soul, the Death Spider Emperor.

She had planned the source of her Ninth Spirit Ring long ago.

It would be the Hundred-Thousand-Year Death Spider Emperor in Death Canyon.

After obtaining the Ninth Spirit Ring for her first Martial Soul, it would be about time to put the acquisition of Spirit Rings for her second Martial Soul, the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor, on the agenda as well.

As for the conflicting backlash problem of Twin Martial Souls, she had long since found a solution. Her second Martial Soul could absorb Spirit Rings without worrying about any danger.

She had already made up her mind.

Starting with the First Spirit Ring, her second Martial Soul would absorb Spirit Rings of at least fifty thousand years. She would not accept anything below fifty thousand years.

If there were Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings, that would be even better.

However, Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were far too difficult to find. They were things one could only encounter by chance, not seek out. She could deal with that later and wait a little longer.

She had planned it out: for the first six Spirit Rings, she would first absorb rings over fifty thousand years old. For the later ones, she would first see whether there were any traces of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts.

A year later.

Ye Qifeng had already lived in the Wuhun Hall Orphanage for a year.

He had grown quite a bit, though he was still just as pink and delicate.

The dean and teachers at the Orphanage were especially fond of him. He did not cry or make a fuss, and he was obedient and sensible.

He had been able to walk when he was only a few months old. Now, at one year old, he could already speak clearly and fluently, and had even learned to read and write quite a few words.

According to the Orphanage's customs, children without names were usually not given names and were only assigned numbers. Their real names would be chosen after their Martial Souls awakened, based on the Martial Souls they awakened.

Ye Qifeng had been the same. At first, he had been called Number Seven, but he changed it back to his original name—Ye Qifeng.

At the time, Dean Li Qing and all the teachers had been stunned. They all thought the child was so intelligent that he seemed almost monstrous.

However, children on Douluo Continent had always matured early, so they merely regarded him as an exceptional child whose intelligence had awakened early—just even earlier than usual.

Today.

Ye Qifeng was lying somewhat listlessly on a recliner beneath the shade of a large tree in the Orphanage.

In his hands was a book on Martial Souls that he had borrowed from Dean Li Qing, and he was reading it with great interest.

The Orphanage's teachers seemed especially busy today.

He had heard from one of the older girls responsible for sweeping the courtyard that another group of orphans was being sent to the Orphanage today.

Unlike the other orphans, Ye Qifeng did not run over curiously to join the excitement.

This sort of thing happened often.

He had seen it many times over the past year.

Every month, one group left, and another arrived.

However, newborn infants like him were actually rare. Most were between one and five years old.

From Dean Li Qing, Ye Qifeng had learned about the Wuhun Hall Orphanage:

"Douluo Continent is a cruel world. The rampage of Evil Soul Masters, the conflicts and slaughter between Spirit Masters, and the life-and-death struggle between Spirit Beasts and humans result in countless children becoming orphans every year. Spirit Hall merely adopts a portion of them."

"The Wuhun Hall Orphanage was built by Spirit Hall specifically to take in these orphans. Of course, that only includes orphans discovered by Spirit Hall personnel and brought back to Spirit City."

"The Orphanage is funded by Spirit Hall. The orphans are raised until their Martial Souls awaken at the age of six, then Spirit Hall assigns them according to the aptitude revealed by their awakened Martial Souls."

"Those with the aptitude to become Spirit Masters are sent to Spirit Hall Academy to study and become Spirit Masters, serving as Spirit Hall's reserve strategic talent."

"Ordinary people without Martial Soul aptitude are assigned jobs in organizations under Spirit Hall, becoming its grassroots personnel. At the very least, they do not need to worry about making a living."

Spirit Hall truly did this very well. It was humane; not only did it save the lives of many orphans, it also gave them a bright future.

Because of this, Dean Li Qing often extolled Spirit Hall's generosity and achievements.

She would frequently remind the orphans, "Everyone must remember to be grateful. It is because of Spirit Hall that we have this Orphanage, that everyone has a place to stay, and that we have hope of surviving. With hope, there is a future!"

Very soon.

The dean and teachers finished receiving the new batch of orphans.

They then arranged accommodations for the newly arrived children.

The Orphanage's accommodations were in a communal dormitory. Although there were many people, the space was spacious enough.

Every orphan was assigned an individual small bed once they reached the age of one.

Since Ye Qifeng had already turned one, he had moved into the communal dormitory a month earlier.

The beds beside his had originally been occupied, but their occupants had all left the Orphanage after awakening their Martial Souls at the age of six.

When Ye Qifeng returned to the dormitory, someone was already sitting on the bed next to his.

It was a timid little girl with short pink-gold hair.

Two boys occupied the two beds opposite them. One had black hair and sat properly, while the other had red hair and sprawled carelessly across his bed.

The girl looked to be around three years old, while the two boys were noticeably taller than her and looked about four.

All three wore simple, rough linen clothes and had not yet changed into the Orphanage's uniform.

When Ye Qifeng entered, six eyes immediately turned toward him.

"Hello, everyone."

Ye Qifeng smiled and casually greeted them.

Seeing a suddenly appearing pink and delicate little boy greet them in a babyish voice, the three of them did not react at first. They froze for a moment, all crying out inwardly at the same time, So cute!

"Oh, hello. My name is Xie Yue. What's your name?"

The black-haired boy was the first to recover.

"My name is Ye Qifeng. You can call me Qifeng."

When Ye Qifeng heard that it was actually Xie Yue, his eyes widened in surprise.

"So that means... the red-haired one is Yan, and the little girl is Hu Liena?"

Ye Qifeng's gaze swept over the red-haired boy and the pink-gold-haired girl in turn.

"The future Golden Generation trio of Spirit Hall?"

His guess was soon confirmed.

"He's Yan, my friend. She's Hu Liena, my younger sister."

Xie Yue spoke again, introducing them one after another along Ye Qifeng's line of sight.

"Haha, hello."

At that moment, Yan sprang upright from the bed and greeted him carelessly.

"Hello."

Hu Liena timidly clutched the hem of her clothes as she spoke softly. Though she was a little shy, her eyes were filled with curiosity.

Thus, Ye Qifeng first met the three of them at the Orphanage.

For a long time afterward, they lived together, gradually becoming familiar with one another as their relationship grew closer and closer.