Martial Soul Hall Junior Soul Master Tournament

The night grew deep.

Bibi Dong didn't know how many times she had stolen glances at Su Yan.

"Master, if you have something to say, just say it."

Bibi Dong's pretty face flushed red as she looked toward the brightest star in the night sky. "That... Xiao Yan, how did you see through Yue Guan and Ci Xue just now?"

"Master, it's actually very simple." Su Yan smiled. "The blood on Elder Ju's body hadn't dried yet."

Bibi Dong suddenly understood.

She had also seen through it by relying on the fact that the "blood" on Yue Guan carried no scent of gore.

Su Yan continued to explain: "Scientific research shows that blood in the air coagulates in three to five minutes, but the blood on Elder Ju's body was still flowing."

"From their conversation, the injury was clearly caused earlier, yet the blood was fresh."

"So I deduced they had to be problematic."

"When Master took out the Flame-Flame Fruit, Elder Ju was clearly pained by the loss. Under those circumstances, it really raised suspicion."

"Keen observation, meticulous thinking." Bibi Dong's lips curved into a beautiful arc. "Science, Mr. Science—you trust him deeply. Where does he live? This master would like to pay him a visit."

"Pfft—" Su Yan couldn't help laughing. "Master, science is a vast system of theoretical systems and empirical methods, not a person."

"Theoretical systems, empirical methods?" Bibi Dong's delicate brows knitted with confusion. These things were somewhat beyond her understanding, unrelated to martial souls, so she didn't pay them much mind.

Bibi Dong turned to stare at Su Yan, her vermilion lips pressed white with hesitation. She hesitated, hesitated, and as they were about to reach the Martial Soul Hall, she finally asked: "Xiao Yan, were you scared just now?"

"What does Master refer to? If it's about the matter of certain death, with Master here, I'm not afraid." Su Yan raised a bright smile. "If it's about that wretch Yu Xiaogang, even less so. If his martial soul is just Luo Sanpao with Innate Half-Level Soul Power, I don't believe he'd be putting on this kind of face."

"Then the Junior Soul Master Tournament—are you afraid?" Bibi Dong counted on her fingers. "On his side, there's one Twin Martial Soul, three Innate Full Soul Powers, seven top-tier martial souls..."

"Master, stop counting." Su Yan rubbed his temples. "At most, they're bringing their talent over to Yu Xiaogang's side. In a few years, I can bring the talent back."

"Besides, I don't think Master's Bi's Training Method is any worse."

At this moment, Su Yan was shining in Bibi Dong's eyes.

Her eyes flickered slightly as she clenched her fists, silently swearing in her heart: Xiao Yan, I will definitely train you into the strongest soul master on the Douluo Continent!

Su Yan felt a chill run down his spine—perhaps it was because the night was deep.

Without realizing it, the three had already reached the Martial Soul Hall and returned to their rooms.

Su Yan stared at Bibi Dong with unusual seriousness: "Master, I observed the stars tonight. Your fate is troubled by small-minded people, so you need to stay far away from Yu Xiaogang!"

"You can read stars too?" Bibi Dong laughed, raising her hand to poke Su Yan's forehead. "Aren't you just a little kid yourself."

"I'm only small now." Su Yan explained huffily. "When I grow up, I won't be small anymore—I'll be big!"

"Fine, this master promises." Bibi Dong laughed heartily, taking out the small wooden box containing the Flame-Flame Fruit from her belt and handing it to Su Yan. "Xiao Yan, this is for you."

"The Flame-Flame Fruit!" Su Yan raised an eyebrow. "Master, isn't this the ultimate reward for completing all the training?"

"It is." Bibi Dong nodded.

"Then please, Master, keep it stored for now. I believe I'll get this fruit very soon."

At most, it's just a few training sessions—done in no time!

Bibi Dong agreed, putting the wooden box away, and said softly: "Eighteen types of training. You've completed one. Seventeen remain."

"Master..." Su Yan was startled. He regretted it.

There were still seventeen more training sessions! He could almost see the Flame-Flame Fruit waving goodbye to him.

Bibi Dong took out another wooden box. "Take it."

Su Yan opened the wooden box. Inside lay a round pendant, quiet and still.

The outer ring was silver, the center a whole piece of red, fire-like crystal, and inside the crystal, a golden dragon's head was encased.

Su Yan picked up the pendant. The crystal was actually warm.

"So beautiful! Thank you, Master!" Su Yan put on the pendant. The warmth of the crystal enveloped his body, cozy and soothing.

"I'm glad you like it." Bibi Dong turned and went back to her room.

Su Yan sat cross-legged on the sofa, ready to cultivate.

The pressure of the Junior Soul Master Tournament was no small matter. His opponents were all once-in-a-lifetime geniuses. He needed to work even harder.

The next morning, just as dawn broke, the sun slanted gently onto Su Yan. The crystal on his chest glowed red, as if absorbing the sun's warmth.

Beside him, Tang Chi slept sprawled in disarray, one foot resting on Su Yan's thigh. A trace of sorrow leaked from his brow as he murmured in his sleep: "Mother, my Innate Soul Power is level 9. I'm going to become a soul master!"

He curled up his body. "Don't worry, Mother. I'll go to the Martial Soul Hall and find Father."

Su Yan moved Tang Chi's foot aside. Tang Chi suddenly woke up, two tear streaks still on his face.

Seeing Su Yan's cross-legged posture, he asked incredulously: "You meditated all night?"

"All night."

"What level are you now?"

"Level 10."

"Level 10!" Tang Chi exclaimed. "That's only two days!"

"What's Level 10?" Bibi Dong stretched and yawned as she walked out.

Tang Chi scurried over, knelt, and bowed. "Holy Maiden, please teach me cultivation too."

"You want to take me as your master too?" Su Yan's lips curled with a hint of cunning.

After a moment of silence, Bibi Dong and Tang Chi spoke in unison: "I wouldn't dare."

Both were afraid of death—one feared her disciple dying, the other feared dying herself.

"But you can join us." Bibi Dong helped Tang Chi up from the ground. "I'll treat everyone equally."

"Thank you, Holy Maiden."

"Just call me Instructor."

"Yes, Holy Maiden Instructor."

After breakfast, the three arrived at the training ground.

"First, let me tell you about the Junior Soul Master Tournament." Bibi Dong pulled a whiteboard and several markers from her belt and began drawing on it.

"The triennial Junior Soul Master Tournament is a competition where children around twelve years old from Martial Soul Hall fight. There are separate tracks for Power Attack System, Agility Attack System, Control System, and Support System, with individual participation."

"The child who takes first place will be rewarded with an Artificial Soul Bone. Those who perform exceptionally may be taken as disciples by the old fogies in the Elder Hall, or even the Worship Hall."

"Two tournaments ago, while keeping the individual track, a team competition was added. An instructor leads a team of no fewer than seven members in battle."

"The team competition is divided into the Single Arena Match, Doubles Match, and Seven-Person Team Match."

"The team that takes first place will also be rewarded with an Artificial Soul Bone and receive a direct qualification for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament."

"The one we're preparing for is the Junior Soul Master Tournament six years from now. First, we need at least seven members."

Bibi Dong held up two fingers. "We only have two members right now. We need to recruit five more to join."

"What if we don't have enough people by then?" Su Yan asked.

"Don't worry about that. Martial Soul Hall will assign them randomly, and I've also sent Yue Guan back to the Main Martial Soul Hall to see if there are any suitable children."

"Achoo!"

On the road to the Main Martial Soul Hall, Yue Guan sneezed while sitting in front of a carriage. Behind the carriage sat over a dozen children—the ones collected from Notting City.

"Five, five, I still need five." Yue Guan muttered, his face full of despair. "With the Holy Maiden's reputation, how is the Main Martial Soul Hall supposed to find her five children?"

Beside him, Su Yuntao also sat in the carriage and asked with concern, "Elder Ju, are you alright?"

Yue Guan stared at him darkly. "I'm fine."

Then he suddenly asked, "Was it you, kid, who led Su Yan to Notting City?"

"It was me." Su Yuntao smiled.

Yue Guan gritted his teeth, then extended a thumb and his habitually crooked pinky. "Good, very good!"

"Elder Ju thinks so too?" Su Yuntao gazed into the distance, filled with emotion. "That child Su Yan is indeed good. He's fulfilled Village Chief Jack's wish."

"You mean Old Jack from Holy Soul Village?" Yue Guan suddenly turned serious.

Su Yuntao was startled. "Elder Ju, you know Village Chief Jack?"

"I don't." Yue Guan looked away, his eyes deep and unfathomable.

"Village Chief Jack spent his whole life hoping the village would produce another soul master. Now, that wish has come true."