Taking a Master, Bibidong

Bibidong's expression shifted instantly at those words, scenes flashing through her mind.

Back then, she had truly believed that 'there are no useless spirits, only useless Soul Masters.'

But the one who said those words still hadn't broken through to the thirtieth rank even now—how ironic.

So Bibidong had long seen through it: the quality of one's spirit, the strength of one's rings, talent and foundation—all could determine a Soul Master's future ceiling.

She stared at Xiao Chen for a long moment before asking, "Where did you hear that saying?"

"I came up with it myself!" Xiao Chen replied without a flush or a missed beat.

Bibidong scrutinized him, trying to read something from his face, but found him calm from start to finish.

After a moment, she thought to herself, "Right—if that man had met Xiao Chen first, how could he have let him attach a White Spirit Ring, let alone let him join Spirit Hall!"

Bibidong realized that saying only really fit Xiao Chen.

After all, both of Xiao Chen's spirits were poor in quality, yet his strength far surpassed others at the same rank—he had the right to say it.

Still, Bibidong didn't want Xiao Chen to keep adding White Spirit Rings, so she continued, "Your Spirit Skill development is indeed excellent, but have you considered that if your starting point were higher, your path would be smoother?"

Xiao Chen nodded. "That's true."

"But the rings I've added weren't chosen at random. This time when I entered the Star Dou Forest, I encountered some century Soul Beasts, but I could sense that their rings didn't fit me. If I forced them on, they might even lower my combat power!"

Xiao Chen had already prepared his explanation.

Bibidong fell into thought again at this. After a moment, she spoke slowly, "You mean that when you go to obtain a spirit ring, you can sense which one suits you best?"

"Exactly!" Xiao Chen wasn't lying—the system could indeed sense the most compatible ring.

Hearing his confirmation, Bibidong immediately thought of a possibility.

"So this is the fabled Pure Heart—able to sense even the most fitting spirit ring!" she mused inwardly, without the slightest doubt that Xiao Chen might be deceiving her.

To make Bibidong believe him, Xiao Chen felt it necessary to reveal a bit more.

"Pope, the second spirit ring on my Wooden Bow granted me the skill Spiritual Shock, but beyond that, my eyes underwent a transformation—I gained passive abilities like expanded vision, dynamic capture, enhanced night vision, and danger warning!"

"These are the benefits of a perfectly compatible ring. If I'd forced on a century or millennium ring, I might have gotten a slightly stronger skill, but I'd have lost these far more valuable passive bonuses," Xiao Chen said solemnly.

Bibidong truly hadn't expected his spirit rings to grant passive skills.

She also realized that the skills Xiao Chen obtained were all very unique.

Normally, an Attack-type Tool Martial Soul's rings mostly enhanced attack power. Even with deviations, it was rare to see mental attacks or speed-boosting skills.

Hearing Xiao Chen's explanation now, it all made sense.

"Moreover, only the most compatible rings allow me to better execute Spirit Fusion Skills and Spirit Skill Fusion," Xiao Chen continued.

This time, Bibidong was finally convinced.

But she still made one request: "Promise me—if you sense a higher-year Soul Beast that's compatible with you, you must prioritize the higher-year ring."

"Naturally!" Xiao Chen agreed readily. After all, he was the one who decided what was compatible or not.

Bibidong believed Xiao Chen had a Pure Heart, so she naturally assumed he wouldn't lie to her—little did she know he had far more tricks up his sleeve.

"Aside from these, do your spirits and skills have any other special effects?" Bibidong asked with some curiosity.

Xiao Chen thought briefly, then said bluntly, "I can also perform Spirit Ring Sharing and Spirit Skill Sharing."

Bibidong looked puzzled, not understanding what that meant.

Xiao Chen explained at once, "Simply put, I can share a spirit ring from one spirit onto my second spirit, allowing me to stack and use the same skill from both spirits."

"That's possible?" Bibidong was shocked again. She immediately said, "Can you demonstrate?"

"Of course!" Xiao Chen said, releasing his spirits, then used the 'Brute Force' skill as an example.

'Brute Force' was a ring he'd added before getting the system, so sharing it was relatively easy.

As Xiao Chen performed Spirit Ring Sharing, Bibidong's spiritual power locked onto the Spirit Power aura of his spirits.

The moment the first ring on the Wooden Bow was shared to the Wooden Arrow, Bibidong could clearly sense that it was the same ring being transferred.

And the stacking of 'Brute Force' wasn't a simple one-plus-one—it relied on resonance from the same source of Spirit Power, layering and amplifying each other, unleashing power far beyond normal limits.

"Did you tell Chrysanthemum Douluo about this Spirit Ring Sharing?" Bibidong asked.

"No," Xiao Chen shook his head. "I've only told you, Pope."

Bibidong nodded in satisfaction, then smiled. "Still calling me Pope?"

Xiao Chen immediately performed a disciple's bow. "Disciple Xiao Chen greets Teacher!"

"Good!" Bibidong was genuinely happy—she hadn't smiled like this in a long time since becoming Pope.

She helped Xiao Chen up, then took out a Soul Bone. "This is your teacher's gift for accepting you as a disciple."

"Absorb it now—I'll guard you," she added.

Xiao Chen quickly refused. "Teacher, this Soul Bone doesn't fit me."

Bibidong paused, then said, "You can sense compatibility with Soul Bones too, not just spirit rings?"

"Mm," Xiao Chen nodded.

"Alright!" Bibidong put away the Soul Bone. For a moment, she didn't even know what gift of apprenticeship she should give Xiao Chen.

Finally, she took out a bracelet and said, "This is a Storage Soul Guide. It has ten cubic meters of space inside. It can store anything except living things."

"Thank you, Teacher!" This time, Xiao Chen didn't refuse.

Although Xiao Chen had the System Space, with this item, he would have the perfect cover when taking things out of the System Space from now on.

"By the way, Xiao Chen, from now on, when you attach Spirit Rings to your Martial Soul, you can only attach them to your first Martial Soul. Only after your Spirit Power level reaches the ninetieth rank should you attach Spirit Rings to your second Martial Soul," Bibidong said.

In her view, although Xiao Chen could sense the Spirit Rings most compatible with him, because his Spirit Power level was too low, he was unable to resonate with high-limit Spirit Rings.

She felt that as Xiao Chen's Spirit Power continuously increased, his own carrying limit for Spirit Ring limits would also keep rising. In this way, the range of Spirit Ring limits compatible with Xiao Chen would broaden accordingly.

Deep down, she still wanted Xiao Chen to obtain Spirit Rings that were both compatible with him and of a higher limit.