Audience with the Pope

A mass of golden Soul Power condensed in Yue Guan's hand.

The mass of Soul Power carried the man out of Spirit Hall.

The irritating sounds of begging vanished along with him.

As for where that man ended up,

Yue Guan had probably found some random patch of flowers and trees and turned him into fertilizer.

Only after Yue Guan had dealt with him did Bibi Dong speak. "Yue Guan, I heard that the reason you were angry this time was because this man delayed a promising talent, and that person has already taken you as his master."

Yue Guan nodded. "Yes. That child is named Lu Fan. By coincidence, he and I can be considered fellow townsmen, and his Martial Soul is also the Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum. Its mutation is even more thorough than mine."

What did it mean for his mutation to be more thorough than Yue Guan's?

Wasn't that another way of saying the child's talent surpassed Yue Guan's?

Yue Guan was already level 95. If he worked hard during his lifetime, reaching level 96 was not entirely impossible.

If that child's talent was even better than Yue Guan's, didn't that mean he had a chance to reach an even higher realm?

After all, Yue Guan was her lackey.

Since the other party was Yue Guan's disciple, he was naturally part of the Pope's faction.

Bibi Dong's interest was immediately piqued. "Oh? I never expected Elder Chrysanthemum to hold someone in such high regard. What else is special about that child? This Pope is rather curious."

Yue Guan's heart instantly leaped into his throat, but he had no choice but to speak.

"That child possesses Innate Full Soul Power. He is not yet ten years old, yet he is already a level 27 Soul Grandmaster. With the resources of Spirit Hall assisting him now, breaking through to Soul Elder before the age of ten will not be a problem."

"He had never possessed any resources before. He achieved his current cultivation entirely through his own efforts. Without exaggeration, if he had joined Spirit Hall right after awakening his Martial Soul, he likely would not even have needed to wait until ten. He could have broken through to Soul Elder at nine."

Although he had to tell her something, Yue Guan did not reveal everything.

He did not expose the fact that Lu Fan's second ring was a thousand-year one.

Though Bibi Dong might question him about it in the future,

he himself had known Lu Fan for less than a day.

When the time came, he could simply say that he had only learned of it later.

Bibi Dong could not possibly do anything to him over such a minor matter.

Bibi Dong smiled faintly. "Without any factional backing, relying solely on his own talent, he has a chance to accomplish the feat of becoming a Soul Elder before ten. He truly is a peerless genius rarely seen in a century. This Pope congratulates Elder Chrysanthemum on gaining such an heir."

Hearing Bibi Dong say this, Yue Guan was overjoyed. "This subordinate thanks Your Holiness on behalf of Xiao Fan."

Those words meant that Bibi Dong had acknowledged Lu Fan as his disciple, so she certainly would not try to compete with him for the boy anymore.

Bibi Dong said, "It is getting late today. Have that little genius come pay his respects tomorrow. This Pope would also like to get to know him."

Yue Guan agreed. "Yes."

Bibi Dong nodded. "You may leave."

"This subordinate takes his leave."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei said in unison.

After the two left,

Bibi Dong rested her cheek on one hand and said disdainfully, "That Yue Guan is afraid I'll steal his disciple."

"With cultivation at that age, and the same Martial Soul as his, it is no wonder Yue Guan treasures him so much."

"But his talent has already surpassed Na'er's. He is even close to catching up to that bastard..."

Meanwhile,

inside the cultivation room, Lu Fan's condition

was the best it had ever been in his life.

Chrysanthemum Douluo had not deceived him.

Cultivating here was indeed at least twenty percent more effective than at Shrek Academy.

However, Lu Fan also discovered a problem while cultivating.

The Heaven and Earth Source Force here seemed to favor the light attribute even more.

"Is it because of the Angel God..."

Lu Fan guessed inwardly.

But no matter what, this place could indeed provide him with considerable help.

At Shrek Academy, he could raise his level by four or five ranks a year.

After coming here, that improvement would rise by another rank.

Lu Fan hardly dared imagine it.

Once he grew older and his body continued to develop,

his Soul Power cultivation speed would experience another surge before he reached twenty.

By then, just how terrifying would his annual Soul Power gains become?

When Yue Guan returned and saw that Lu Fan was still immersed in cultivation, he did not disturb him.

He merely instructed the cooks to keep watch through the night,

so that once Lu Fan finished cultivating, he could have hot food immediately if he was hungry.

He was attentive to the extreme.

Once Lu Fan finished cultivating,

he saw someone waiting outside the cultivation room.

When the person saw Lu Fan emerge, he hurriedly said respectfully, "Young Master Lu Fan, the elder ordered this subordinate to wait here. If you are hungry, you may dine now."

Lu Fan nodded.

He had indeed skipped dinner, and he was a little hungry now.

Led by the servant, he arrived at the dining area.

The table had long been filled with delicacies made from Soul Beasts that were at least a hundred years old.

A fire-attribute Soul Master stood nearby as well.

Whenever a dish was about to grow cold, he would heat it up.

After eating and drinking his fill, Lu Fan intended to return to his small courtyard to sleep.

The servant beside him followed and said, "The elder instructed that you must rise by noon tomorrow. At that time, the elder will take you to meet an important figure."

Lu Fan nodded in agreement.

At the same time, he began wondering whom Yue Guan would take him to meet.

"Worship Hall? Unlikely. Worship Hall and Elder Hall have never gotten along. Then he is probably taking me to see Bibi Dong."

Lu Fan's feelings toward Bibi Dong were rather complicated.

On one hand, under Bibi Dong's leadership, Spirit Hall had indeed been flourishing.

But on the other hand, Bibi Dong's intentions were impure. Her impurity was not the greed of someone seeking profit; it was pure hatred.

And she was somewhat stingy.

You could call her stingy, yet she could find opportunities during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament to give Spirit Bones to the younger generation she favored.

You could call her generous, yet Chrysanthemum and Ghost, two level 95 Titled Douluo who possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, had only one Spirit Bone between them.

Still, this gave Lu Fan an opportunity to win the two over.

Although Bibi Dong was capable, she was by no means a wise ruler.

Lu Fan believed that once they had formed a bond in the future, the two would definitely agree.

They had known Bibi Dong for decades and had not received a single Spirit Bone.

After knowing him for only a few years, they could receive Immortal Herbs.

As long as they were not fools, they would know which choice to make.

Even at worst, he could conceal the Immortal Herbs. They should not refuse over that.

The next day,

Lu Fan remembered what the servant had told him yesterday, so he rose early.

After arriving at Yue Guan's courtyard and having breakfast with him and Gui Mei,

Yue Guan said to Lu Fan, "Come with me. After the Pope learned about you yesterday, she said she wanted to see you today."

Lu Fan nodded and followed.

Gui Mei walked beside Yue Guan.

However, his temperament was cold. Unless someone spoke to him first, he would not take the initiative to speak.

As they neared Pope Palace, Yue Guan reminded him again, "Mind your attitude. Do not speak carelessly after entering. The Pope probably just wants to get acquainted with you. After all, you are a genius with Innate Full Soul Power."

Lu Fan nodded. "Don't worry, Teacher. I know what I'm doing."