Mind Control

Inside Pope's Main Hall.

Bibi Dong sat on her throne, reviewing the files submitted by the Elder Hall.

When Ling Xiao entered with Ling Xi, she set the files down and glanced at them both.

Her gaze lingered on Ling Xi for a moment, her eyes utterly unruffled.

"Master."

Ling Xiao bowed, his tone respectful.

Ling Xi immediately followed suit, bending at the waist and not daring to raise her head.

"This servant, Ling Xi, pays her respects to Your Holiness the Pope. May Your Holiness enjoy good health."

"Rise."

Bibi Dong's voice was cool and even.

Her gaze returned to Ling Xiao. "You brought her here specially. Is this about your maid?"

"Yes, Master," Ling Xiao replied, explaining calmly and without deference or servility.

"A few days ago, I went to the outer city and happened upon this child."

"She has innate Soul Power at rank nine and awakened a top-tier, mental-type Succubus Martial Soul. She has no parents and is well worth cultivating."

"I thought it would be a shame for such a genius not to join Spirit Hall."

"So I took her in as my personal maid and decided to cultivate her as well."

"I brought her here today, firstly to report this matter to you."

"Secondly, I'd like to ask for your permission to let her enter Martial Soul Hall Primary Academy and freely access the Library Pavilion."

"That would make it easier for her to improve her strength and truly help me in the future."

He neither exaggerated nor concealed his intentions.

Bibi Dong looked at her favored disciple and already understood what he had in mind.

She knew Ling Xiao's temperament.

Steady and meticulous, he never did anything pointless.

If he had taken an interest in this young girl, she must have something exceptional about her.

A top-tier mental-type Martial Soul with innate Soul Power at rank nine.

She was indeed a rare talent.

Even among the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, she would rank near the top.

Such a small privilege was nothing to her.

"Approved," Bibi Dong said calmly.

"I'll issue an order granting her the appropriate permissions."

"Since she's someone you've taken an interest in, cultivate her well. Don't let her talent go to waste."

"Thank you, Master!"

Ling Xiao bowed, delight flickering in his eyes.

With Bibi Dong's approval, Ling Xi now had a legitimate place in Spirit Hall.

Ling Xi knelt beside him.

Her voice trembled with excitement. "Thank you for your kindness, Your Holiness the Pope!"

After leaving the main hall,

she looked up at Ling Xiao beside her.

Everything she had was a gift from this young man.

From now on, he would be the center of her world.

The next day,

Ling Xiao used his status as the Pope's personal disciple to issue an order to Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Hall.

He wanted the Soul Hunting Hall to arrange an elite Soul Hunting squad.

A Soul Douluo-level elder was to lead them and escort Ling Xi to the Soul Hunting Forest.

They would help Ling Xi obtain her First Soul Ring.

The Soul Hunting Hall received the order and didn't dare show the slightest delay.

It was the command of the Pope's second personal disciple. They would carry it out to perfection, even if it took everything they had.

That afternoon,

an elite Soul Hunting squad had assembled outside Qinghui Hall. It consisted of a Soul Douluo elder, four Soul Kings, and two Soul Ancestors, and was awaiting orders.

"Boss, I won't let you down."

Ling Xi stood before Ling Xiao, her eyes resolute.

"Be careful," Ling Xiao told her.

"I've already spoken to the elder leading the team. Your safety comes first."

"There's no rush to hunt for a Soul Ring. Just find one that suits you."

"Yes, Boss."

Ling Xi turned and hurried off with the Soul Hunting squad, leaving Spirit Hall.

They headed toward the Soul Hunting Forest.

During the three days Ling Xi was away,

Ling Xiao continued his routine of cultivating and reading. His days passed in quiet calm.

Through the soul imprint left by his Martial Soul, he could vaguely sense Ling Xi's condition after she entered the Soul Hunting Forest.

When she successfully absorbed her First Soul Ring,

Ling Xiao sat cross-legged on the cushion in Qinghui Hall and slowly closed his eyes.

He could sense the Soul Ring's energy being absorbed bit by bit, refined, and fused into her Soul Power and Martial Soul.

The instant Ling Xi successfully absorbed the Soul Ring,

a surge of pure Soul Power rushed through the soul imprint and poured into Ling Xiao!

Ling Xi had leaped from a level-ten Soul Scholar to a level-twelve Soul Master.

As her Soul Power surged by two levels, Ling Xiao was nourished in turn, and his own Soul Power rapidly increased.

The Heaven Origin Soul Art within Ling Xiao's body surged into motion.

The barrier to level thirteen was like paper; it shattered in an instant!

Surging Soul Power raced through his meridians before finally flowing into his dantian.

His Soul Power Level rose directly from level thirteen to level fourteen!

After half a month of hard cultivation, Ling Xi's breakthrough had brought him the final push he needed to advance by one level.

Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.

A glint flashed through his dark gaze.

Success!

The Soul Power he'd received in return was greater than he'd expected.

Ling Xi had only advanced two levels, yet that alone had allowed him to advance one.

As he gained more hosts in the future, his cultivation speed would reach unprecedented, terrifying heights.

He lowered his gaze to his palm.

Feeling the increasingly abundant Soul Power within him, he curled his lips into a smile.

Two days later, Ling Xi returned safely to Spirit Hall with the Soul Hunting squad.

The moment she stepped into Qinghui Hall,

her face lit up with excitement and delight.

"Boss, this servant has fulfilled her duty. I successfully absorbed a four-hundred-year Bewitching Fox Soul Ring and grasped my First Soul Skill, [Mind Control]!"

"My Soul Power also advanced to level-twelve Soul Master!"

Ling Xiao gave a slight nod, very pleased.

"Tell me about it. What exactly does your First Soul Skill do?"

"Yes!"

Ling Xi respectfully reported,

"[Mind Control] uses the Succubus Martial Soul as its guide and the Bewitching Fox Soul Ring as its foundation. It can unleash a mental attack on a target, forcibly invade their mind, and bring them under control."

"First, it can read a target's surface thoughts and probe for information."

"Second, it can briefly control targets with weak wills and less mental power than me, forcing them to obey my commands."

This Soul Skill perfectly suited the role Ling Xiao had in mind for her: gathering intelligence, controlling others in secret, and beguiling their minds.

With this Soul Skill, Ling Xi could handle many covert operations that he couldn't conveniently manage himself, becoming his eyes and hands hidden in the shadows.

"Very good."

"You haven't let me down."

With Bibi Dong's tacit approval and Ling Xiao's status as the Pope's personal disciple to back her, Spirit Hall's resources flowed to Ling Xi in an unending stream.

The finest cultivation techniques, the most comprehensive instruction in Soul Master theory, the most professional combat training for Soul Skills.

Whatever Ling Xi needed, Ling Xiao would obtain for her without hesitation.

Ling Xi didn't disappoint Ling Xiao.

Her talent was already top-notch. With the Succubus Fruit boosting her and her own relentless effort, her growth was astonishing.

In her daily life, she also kept Qinghui Hall's affairs in impeccable order.

In secret, she began helping Ling Xiao handle intelligence work.

Relying on [Mind Control], she quietly gathered all kinds of information from within and beyond Spirit Hall.

At night, the lights in Qinghui Hall stayed on.

Ling Xiao sat at his desk, studying the intelligence Ling Xi had compiled on the factions in Spirit Hall's Elder Hall.

His fingertips tapped lightly against the desktop.

Ling Xi stood quietly at his side.

Every now and then, she glanced up at Ling Xiao.

Moonlight streamed in through the window.

It illuminated the handsome side of the young man's face, and the girl's intent expression.