Sadly, flowers may bloom again, but people never regain their youth.
Yue Guan could only feel happy for Lu Fan and regretful for himself.
After bringing Lu Fan back to Spirit City,
Yue Guan was about to leave again.
But this time, Lu Fan stopped both Yue Guan and Gui Mei.
"Teacher, Uncle Ghost, are you going out to carry out another mission?"
Yue Guan did not understand why Lu Fan was suddenly asking this,
but he still nodded. "What is it?"
Lu Fan indignantly spoke up for the two of them. "Teacher, Uncle Ghost, you are both Level 95 Peak Douluos, yet the Pope is always ordering you around. She even sends you to handle trivial matters."
"You have worked diligently for so many years, yet in the end, you have not even gotten a single Spirit Bone. Is it really worth following someone like her?"
"She is obviously doing this because she does not want Teacher and Uncle Ghost to have time to cultivate. She is afraid that if you break through Level 96, you will escape her control and become members of the Worship Hall!"
Upon hearing this, Yue Guan and Gui Mei's expressions both changed drastically.
"Xiao Fan, do not speak nonsense."
A rare stern look appeared on Yue Guan's face.
Yet Lu Fan's final words—"in the end, you have not even gotten a single Spirit Bone"—had deeply stabbed his heart.
He and Gui Mei had served under two Popes.
For the former, it could be said that he had died too early.
The two of them had not yet rendered much merit.
But under the latter, they had worked diligently for so many years...
Lu Fan continued, "Even if you two do not obey her orders, could she really kill you? So long as you do not provoke her with your words, she probably would not even dare hurt you, would she?"
"Spirit Hall is not her personal domain."
"Teacher, the Worship Hall's enshrined elders are all super experts above Level 96. Those with lower cultivation remain at the Pope Palace instead. If the two sides ever come into conflict, you two would be the first people those elders would deal with. Do you honestly have the confidence to defeat two of them?"
Faced with Lu Fan's questioning, the two fell silent.
They weighed it in their hearts.
Their Martial Soul Fusion Skill was renowned throughout the land.
But against Title Douluos who were prepared for it,
it was difficult for it to have much effect.
Two against one was manageable, but in a two-against-two fight, it would be nearly impossible for them to win.
However, as Yue Guan thought it over, his gaze changed.
"Xiao Fan, tell me honestly. Did someone come to you and say something, perhaps even threaten you?"
Lu Fan shook his head. "No. These are all my own thoughts. I simply feel that it is too wasteful for Teacher and Uncle Ghost to keep working for the Pope."
"And you have not received the treatment you deserve at all."
"Alas."
Yue Guan and Gui Mei sighed.
"Xiao Fan, what you said is not without reason."
Although they acknowledged Lu Fan's words,
in the end, Yue Guan and Gui Mei still left.
Watching their receding backs,
Lu Fan murmured to himself, It seems that unless I bring out the Immortal Herbs, Teacher and Uncle Ghost will not dare agree.
Since that is the case, I need to make preparations early as well.
Quite a few things had happened over the past half year.
For example, Lu Fan had unexpectedly learned that Chrysanthemum Douluo was actually from the same hometown as him.
That day, Lu Fan had wanted to study medicinal theory.
So he had asked Yue Guan for several related books.
Looking at those books,
Lu Fan had said at the time,
"Why do Teacher's books feel so similar to my Hundred Herbs Chart?"
As he said this, Lu Fan had flipped through his Hundred Herbs Chart to compare them.
Upon hearing this, Yue Guan merely smiled. "That is because your Hundred Herbs Chart was originally left behind by me for Hundred Flowers Village."
Lu Fan had been utterly shocked at the time.
Yue Guan had then smiled and said, "Even the Storage Soul Tool you are wearing was left by me for the village chief. I never expected him to give it to you."
"Teacher, why did you give these things to Hundred Flowers Village?"
Lu Fan did not understand.
Could it be because Yue Guan had passed through that village,
seen that it was full of flowers,
and learned that the village's inherited Martial Souls were also flowers, causing him to develop some special attachment to it?
"Because that is also my hometown."
Yue Guan's words were startling.
"It is only because of certain matters that I have been unwilling to return there all these years."
Lu Fan did not ask further.
Something that had happened there had most likely deeply wounded Yue Guan's heart,
which was why he said he was unwilling to return.
The Hundred Herbs Chart in Lu Fan's hands could only be considered a watered-down version.
The Immortal Herb Chart he had obtained from Yue Guan was the true ultimate tome that recorded every type of flower.
He had also learned quite a few methods of making medicine and detoxifying poisons from another manual Yue Guan possessed.
With these preparations,
Lu Fan felt even more confident in Plan A for obtaining the Immortal Herbs.
If he could not carry out Plan A himself,
then Lu Fan would have no choice but to use Plan B and seize them by force.
Plan A, however, offered a chance to befriend Dugu Bo,
while Plan B would utterly offend Dugu Bo.
Once Dugu Yan was someday killed by the poison of her Martial Soul, Dugu Bo would surely come directly to settle the score with him.
All things considered, Plan A had a far higher priority.
Moreover, although Dugu Bo had a ruthless and sinister personality,
he could still be considered an upright man.
He kept his word and always did what he promised.
He was also a person of considerable charisma.
Meanwhile, Yue Guan, who was carrying out a mission with Gui Mei, suddenly spoke. "Old Ghost, do you think we were truly wrong?"
"We originally pledged ourselves to the Pope for our own interests, but now it seems Bibi Dong is by no means a wise leader."
Gui Mei, beside him, nodded. "Although Bibi Dong is highly talented and capable, she is far too stingy."
He was better off than Yue Guan, as he had one Spirit Bone.
But he had obtained that Spirit Bone while hunting soul beasts in his youth, and it had nothing to do with Bibi Dong.
In contrast, his old friend,
though a Title Douluo, was worse off than some low-ranking Soul Emperors and Soul Saints.
Forget a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone—even a Thousand-Year Spirit Bone was beyond him.
"And Xiao Fan was right. Bibi Dong ordering us about like this truly means she does not want us to cultivate and break through to a higher realm. If we continue following her, I am afraid we will not end well."
Hearing Yue Guan say this,
Gui Mei sighed. "But if we betray that woman, she will certainly not let us go unless we both break through Level 96."
For a Title Douluo, each breakthrough took years.
Not to mention, the two of them could not even spare time to cultivate.
The difficulty was immense.
"We can only consider this matter over the long term."
Martial Soul Academy
"Final exams?"
Lu Fan was somewhat speechless.
He had not expected that after coming to Douluo Continent, he would still have to take something like this.
Hu Liena waved her hand with a smile. "For you, Xiao Fan, this is no different from going through the motions."
"You will definitely meet the Soul Power advancement requirement. All that remains is fighting three Soul Masters who are at most Level 29 at the same time."
"Besides, your cultivation has conveniently remained at a very good level—Level 29. That way, the academy will not send three-ringed Soul Elders to fight you. At most, they will send Soul Grandmasters."
Lu Fan's mouth twitched upon hearing this.
"Sister Nana, I have already broken through."
Hu Liena blinked her beautiful eyes upon hearing that.
Before you continue