Mind Control

Inside the Pope's Main Hall.

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

Seeing Ling Xiao enter with Ling Xi, she set down the documents in her hand and swept a glance over the two of them.

Her gaze lingered on Ling Xi for a brief moment, her eyes devoid of any ripples.

"Master."

Ling Xiao bowed, his tone respectful.

Ling Xi immediately followed suit, bowing low and not daring to look up.

"This servant Ling Xi pays respects to Your Holiness the Pope. May Your Holiness be well."

"Rise."

Bibi Dong's voice was cold and indifferent.

Her gaze fell back onto Ling Xiao: "You brought her here specifically for the sake of this maid?"

"Yes, Master."

Ling Xiao replied, explaining neither servilely nor overbearingly.

"A few days ago, when this disciple went to the outer city, I happened to discover this child."

"She possesses innate soul power of rank nine and has awakened a top-tier mental-type Succubus Martial Soul. Being an orphan, she is well worth cultivating."

"This disciple thought it would be a pity for such a genius not to join our Martial Soul Hall."

"So, I took her in as my personal maid to cultivate her along the way."

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

"And secondly, to request Master's permission to grant her access to the Martial Soul Hall Primary Academy and the freedom to enter the Library Pavilion."

"This will facilitate her growth in strength so that she may truly be of help to this disciple in the future."

He neither exaggerated his words nor concealed his intentions.

Bibi Dong looked at her prized disciple, already understanding his thoughts.

She knew Ling Xiao's temperament well.

He was steady and meticulous; he would never do anything without purpose.

For this young girl to be chosen by him, she must have exceptional qualities.

A top-tier mental-type Martial Soul with innate rank nine soul power.

She was indeed a rare talent.

Even among the Golden Generation of the Martial Soul Hall, she would be considered top-tier.

Granting a few privileges was, to her, a mere trifle.

"Granted."

Bibi Dong spoke faintly.

"I will issue the order to grant her the corresponding permissions."

"Since she is someone you have taken a fancy to, cultivate her well and do not let such talent go to waste."

"Thank you, Master!"

Ling Xiao bowed, a flash of joy crossing his eyes.

With these words from Bibi Dong, Ling Xi now possessed a legitimate status within the Martial Soul Hall.

Beside him, Ling Xi knelt on the ground.

Her voice trembled with excitement: "Thank you for your grace, Your Holiness!"

Emerging from the main hall.

She looked up at Ling Xiao beside her.

Everything she possessed was given to her by the youth before her.

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

The next day.

Ling Xiao utilized his status as the Pope's personal disciple to issue an order to the Soul Hunting Hall of the Martial Soul Hall.

He required the Soul Hunting Hall to arrange an elite soul-hunting squad.

Led by an elder at the Soul Douluo level, they were to escort Ling Xi to the Soul Hunting Forest.

To obtain the first soul ring for Ling Xi.

Upon receiving the order, the Soul Hunting Hall did not dare to show the slightest negligence.

Since it was the instruction of the Pope's second personal disciple, they would ensure the task was completed perfectly, even if it meant exhausting all their efforts.

That afternoon.

An elite soul hunting team, led by a Soul Douluo elder and composed of four Soul Kings and two Soul Ancestors, assembled and awaited orders outside Qinghui Hall.

"Boss, this servant will definitely not disappoint you."

Ling Xi stood before Ling Xiao, her eyes resolute.

"Be careful."

Ling Xiao looked at her and cautioned.

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

"There's no rush to hunt for a soul ring. A suitable one will do."

"Yes, Boss."

Ling Xi turned and followed the soul hunting team, quickly departing the Martial Soul Hall.

Heading in the direction of the Soul Hunting Forest.

During the three days Ling Xi was away.

Ling Xiao continued his routine of cultivation and reading, his days passing peacefully and uneventfully.

Through the soul imprint of his martial soul, he could vaguely sense Ling Xi's state after entering the Soul Hunting Forest.

When she successfully absorbed her first soul ring.

Ling Xiao sat on the futon in Qinghui Hall and slowly closed his eyes.

He could sense the soul ring's energy being absorbed bit by bit, refined, and integrated into her own soul power and martial soul.

The moment Ling Xi successfully absorbed the soul ring.

A stream of pure soul power surged into Ling Xiao's body along the soul imprint!

Ling Xi broke through from level ten Soul Scholar to level twelve Soul Master in one go.

With the surge of two levels of soul power, Ling Xiao also received a backlash, and his soul power rapidly increased.

The Heaven Origin Soul Art within Ling Xiao's body circulated wildly.

The level thirteen soul power barrier was like paper, instantly broken through!

Surging soul power coursed through his meridians, eventually converging in his dantian's sea of qi.

His soul power level directly broke through from level thirteen Soul Scholar to level fourteen!

His half-month of arduous cultivation, combined with Ling Xi's breakthrough, naturally led to a one-level increase.

Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.

A glint flashed in his dark pupils.

It worked!

The backlash soul power was more than he had anticipated.

Ling Xi's mere two-level breakthrough allowed him to advance by one level synchronously.

In the future, as his hosts increased, his cultivation speed would reach an unprecedented and terrifying level.

He looked down at his palm.

Feeling the increasingly potent soul power within him, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.

Two days later, Ling Xi returned to the Martial Soul Hall with the soul hunting team.

As soon as she stepped into Qinghui Hall.

Her face was filled with excitement and joy.

"Boss, this servant has fulfilled her mission, successfully absorbing the four-hundred-year Bewitching Fox soul ring and comprehending the first soul skill, [Mind Control]!"

"My soul power has also broken through to level twelve Soul Master!"

Ling Xiao nodded slightly, very satisfied.

"Tell me, what are the specific effects of your first soul skill?"

"Yes!"

Ling Xi respectfully reported.

"[Mind Control], using the Succubus Martial Soul as a guide and the Bewitching Fox soul ring as a foundation, can release a mental shock to the target, forcibly invading their mind and achieving control."

"First, it can read the target's surface thoughts and gather intelligence."

"Second, it can temporarily control targets with weak willpower and lower spiritual power than mine, making them obey my commands."

This soul skill perfectly matched Ling Xiao's positioning for her: intelligence gathering, covert manipulation, and mental charm.

With this soul skill, Ling Xi could handle many covert affairs that were inconvenient for him to handle personally, becoming his hidden eyes and hands.

"Very good."

"You haven't disappointed my expectations."

With Bibi Dong's tacit approval and the endorsement of Ling Xiao's status as the Pope's direct disciple, the resources of Martial Soul Hall flowed toward Ling Xi in an endless stream.

Top-tier cultivation techniques, the most comprehensive theoretical instruction for spirit masters, and the most professional practical training for spirit skills—as long as Ling Xi needed them, Ling Xiao would procure them for her without a moment's hesitation.

Ling Xi did not disappoint Ling Xiao.

Her talent was already top-tier, and with the added enhancement of the Succubus Fruit combined with her death-defying efforts, her growth rate was astonishing.

In her daily life, she managed the affairs of Qinghui Hall with impeccable order.

In the shadows, she began assisting Ling Xiao in handling intelligence matters.

Relying on the [Mind Control] spirit skill, she gathered various pieces of information from both inside and outside Martial Soul Hall without making a sound.

The lights in Qinghui Hall burned bright throughout the night.

Ling Xiao sat at his desk, reviewing the intelligence on the Elder Hall faction that Ling Xi had organized.

His fingertips tapped rhythmically against the tabletop.

Ling Xi stood quietly to the side.

From time to time, she would look up at Ling Xiao's figure.

The moonlight from outside the window spilled in.

It illuminated the young man's handsome profile, and it also illuminated the young woman's focused expression.