Inside Pope's Hall, Xiao Chen didn't agree right away. He wanted to discuss terms with Bibi Dong.
"Your Holiness the Pope, may I make a request?" Xiao Chen asked, looking at Bibi Dong.
At his words, Bibi Dong's gaze shifted slightly. She studied Xiao Chen with interest. As the Pope, it was already rare for her to take the initiative to accept a disciple, yet Xiao Chen had actually dared to make demands.
This boy isn't the least bit intimidated by me, Bibi Dong thought to herself.
Even Hu Liena, who had followed her since childhood, could hardly hide her deep-seated reverence when standing before her;
Even Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, both Titled Douluo, felt some fear in her presence.
Yet although Xiao Chen was respectful toward her, his gaze was clear and steady, free of panic or fear. He was so calm that he seemed to be looking at nothing more than an ordinary person.
Bibi Dong knew very well that anyone who could remain composed in her presence was either her equal in strength or possessed the purest of Pure Hearts.
Clearly, Xiao Chen was the latter.
Perhaps this is one of the reasons he can use Martial Soul Fusion Skills and Spirit Skill Fusion so freely, Bibi Dong thought to herself.
Bibi Dong was secretly delighted, but her expression remained perfectly composed.
Suppressing her admiration, she maintained the aloof dignity of the Pope and asked in an even tone, "Let's hear it. What are your terms?"
Bibi Dong was genuinely curious about what Xiao Chen would ask for.
"When I obtain Spirit Rings in the future, I must be the one to decide which ones I get. No one else may interfere!" Xiao Chen said.
At his words, Bibi Dong immediately recalled the report Chrysanthemum Douluo had sent back.
It had specifically mentioned that Xiao Chen had a particular fondness for Ten-Year Spirit Rings. Even when others were willing to help him obtain Century Spirit Rings, Xiao Chen refused them.
With that in mind, Bibi Dong understood what Xiao Chen was after.
"Xiao Chen, do you still want to hunt for Ten-Year Spirit Rings in the future?" Bibi Dong asked.
"Mm!" Xiao Chen nodded earnestly.
Bibi Dong wasn't angry. She began considering how to persuade Xiao Chen without disturbing his state of mind.
Seeing Bibi Dong fall into thought, Xiao Chen knew there was a chance. He had worried that she might reject his request outright, which would have made it difficult to negotiate.
A moment later, Bibi Dong asked, "Can you tell me why?"
Xiao Chen answered without hesitation. "Your Holiness the Pope, I feel that cultivation should ultimately depend on oneself. Spirit Rings can help improve one's cultivation and strength, but they must never become an absolute requirement for advancing one's realm."
Xiao Chen knew very well that the higher-ups in Spirit Hall understood the flaws in the cultivation system of Douluo Continent. So he took the opportunity to discuss the system's perspective on Douluo Continent with Bibi Dong.
As soon as Xiao Chen said this, Bibi Dong's expression changed.
Xiao Chen continued in a measured tone, "I firmly believe that even without hunting Soul Beasts, humans can form Spirit Rings through their own efforts."
Bibi Dong's heart gave a sudden jolt. She had never imagined Xiao Chen's ambitions were so great!
Seeing her expression, Xiao Chen knew his words had struck home, so he continued, "The strong prey on the weak—that is simply the law of nature. Humans may hunt Soul Beasts for meat, to obtain cultivation resources, or to improve their strength. None of these would affect Douluo Continent's ecological balance."
"But if Spirit Rings become a mandatory requirement for humans to advance their realms, then before long, Soul Beasts will inevitably go extinct. And when that happens, Soul Masters will disappear too!"
How could Bibi Dong not understand what Xiao Chen was saying? But she knew this was the law of this world, and no one could change it.
Perhaps the gods of the Divine Realm could, but it would surely be extremely difficult, she added silently.
Xiao Chen went on, "Humans have to hunt Soul Beasts to obtain Spirit Rings and advance their cultivation, but Soul Beasts don't need humans to improve their strength."
"Every living creature has its limits, and Soul Beasts are no different. If they realize that humans will wipe out their kind in the future, they may strike back against the human world at any cost. When that happens, Douluo Continent will be plunged into misery."
Bibi Dong nodded in agreement. She knew Xiao Chen's words were no exaggeration.
"What's more, no one knows whether there are ancient Soul Beasts among them that have survived for hundreds of thousands of years, or even come close to a million. If we provoke creatures like that, even Titled Douluo might be unable to protect themselves!" Xiao Chen dropped another bombshell.
As far as Bibi Dong knew, a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast was the pinnacle of Soul Beasts.
But hearing Xiao Chen's words, she suddenly recalled that whenever she visited Star Dou Forest, she could indeed sense faint, obscure fluctuations deep in its core.
Thinking it over, Douluo Continent had existed for an extremely long time. If Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts existed, why had she assumed there couldn't be Soul Beasts that had lived for hundreds of thousands of years, or even nearly a million?
Xiao Chen's concern isn't unfounded. As the number of high-level human Soul Masters continues to grow, Soul Beasts will inevitably have less and less space to survive. If we really provoke Soul Beasts that have lived for hundreds of thousands of years, they'll surely deal a devastating blow to the human world!
Bibi Dong considered the matter silently. She knew the gods were watching over Douluo Continent, but she couldn't guarantee they were watching at every moment, or that they would descend immediately. If the Soul Beasts ever revolted, the human world would suffer the heaviest losses.
I never expected this child to be so farsighted. But he's still too naive. Changing all this requires strength! With his talent, if he becomes a god, he'll surely go further than I have. But first, he must give both his Martial Souls high-year Spirit Rings. Only then will he have a voice in the Divine Realm after ascending!
With that in mind, Bibi Dong patted Xiao Chen on the shoulder. "I support your idea. But changing the cultivation system of Douluo World requires immense strength to back it up. Do you agree?"
Xiao Chen nodded. Of course he agreed.
Bibi Dong continued, "To be frank with you, there is a Divine Realm above Douluo Continent, and it is home to many gods. The fact that even they haven't been able to accomplish this shows how difficult it is."
Xiao Chen wanted to say that it wasn't that they couldn't do it; it was simply that no one had tried.
Bibi Dong continued, "You have extraordinary, heaven-given talent. Ten-Year Spirit Rings might not slow your cultivation, but they will certainly limit your true strength."
"If you ascend to godhood bearing eighteen White Spirit Rings, then even as a god, you'll be among the lowest ranks. How could you hope to shake up and rewrite Douluo Continent's cultivation system?"
"So obtaining high-year Spirit Rings now is all for the sake of your future ambition and the greater path ahead. To accomplish great things, one must make choices and sacrifices. As long as you never abandon your original purpose and can answer to your own conscience, that is enough!"
Bibi Dong's argument was genuinely persuasive. Xiao Chen found himself at a loss for a rebuttal.
But the system's restrictions remained, and there was nothing he could do about them. So he could only bring out the big guns.
Xiao Chen answered directly, "I have always firmly believed that there are no bad Spirit Rings, only useless Soul Masters who don't know how to develop their Soul Skills!"
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