The Youngster Practicing His Spear

The morning mist dispersed.

The Martial Arts Arena echoed with a continuous series of piercing whistles.

Morning light fell upon the youth in the center of the arena.

A year had passed, and Ling Xiao was now seven years old.

Dressed in a tight-fitting martial outfit with his black hair tied high, the image of a young warrior leaped off the page.

A year of physical conditioning had made his lean frame much sturdier, granting him an explosive power that defied his age.

In his hands, he gripped a Bintie Spear, its body entirely silver.

The spear was seven feet long, its tip gleaming with a chilling, sharp light.

At this moment, he sank his waist into a horse stance, his wrists turning as if the spear had come to life.

When thrusting, his footsteps were light, his body moving like an arrow.

His movements were clean and crisp, without a hint of hesitation.

When blocking horizontally, the spear shaft swung across with the force of Thousand Jun, whistling through the air.

With a deft flick of his wrist, the spear tip bloomed into a flurry of blossoms.

Every move and every stance followed a clear method.

Even though he was not yet as tall as the spear, with it in his hand, he already possessed the bearing of a true warrior.

Still as a pine, moving like a dragon.

His aura was sharp and fierce, a stark contrast to his usual gentle and reserved demeanor.

"Good!"

A resonant cheer rang out from the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.

A middle-aged man with a resolute face, dressed in black martial attire, stood there.

He was Zhao Qing.

An eighty-third-level Power Attack System Soul Douluo with the Formation Breaking Spear martial soul.

He was the recognized master of the spear in Martial Soul Hall, his spear techniques reaching a divine level of perfection.

A year ago, Bibi Dong had issued an order to bring him in as Ling Xiao's exclusive spear instructor.

When he first received the order, Zhao Qing had harbored some reservations.

In his view, His Holiness the Pope's second disciple was a Plant type Control System Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power.

He should have been focusing on cultivating his soul power and soul skills; practicing the spear without immense dedication would lead nowhere.

After a year of teaching, Zhao Qing had been won over by Ling Xiao's talent and hard work.

This child not only possessed heaven-defying talent as a Soul Master but was also gifted with an extraordinary intuition for the way of the spear.

The spear techniques he taught were remembered by Ling Xiao after a single viewing and mastered after only a few repetitions.

By combining the characteristics of his own soul skills, Ling Xiao had integrated finesse and restraint into his spearwork, carving out a path entirely his own.

For the past year, regardless of wind or rain, he had never missed a single day of training.

Ling Xiao retracted his spear and stood firm, resting the weapon on the ground as his momentum slowly faded.

He looked toward Zhao Qing and bowed slightly: "Teacher Zhao."

"Good lad, your progress is rapid."

Zhao Qing strode over and patted Ling Xiao on the shoulder, his eyes filled with gratification.

"In one year, your basic spear techniques have reached perfection, and you have even achieved minor success in the Seven Forms of Breaking the Formation I taught you!"

"Looking across the entire Martial Soul Hall, no one in your age group can surpass your spear skills!"

For a seven-year-old child to reach this level of spear mastery was enough to make countless adult Soul Masters blush with shame.

Even without the enhancement of soul power, his spear skills alone would allow him to easily defeat an ordinary tenth-level Soul Master.

"It is because of your good teaching, Teacher."

Ling Xiao's tone was calm, devoid of arrogance.

"There are still many shortcomings that need further refinement."

He practiced the spear with a clear goal in mind.

His soul skills were primarily focused on control, and even if he gained Power Attack System soul skills later, close-quarters combat would always be his weakness.

For the sake of comprehensive development, he had chosen to cultivate a close-combat martial art.

The spear, the king of all weapons—and most importantly, it was cool!

Wherever the spear tip pointed, he would be invincible!

A year of bitter training had not only brought his spear techniques to minor success.

It had also tempered his physical body, making his constitution increasingly robust.

In the future, when absorbing soul rings from higher-level spirit beasts, I will also be able to withstand stronger energy impacts.

"Your mindset is more important than anything else."

Zhao Qing nodded with satisfaction.

"His Holiness the Pope also asked about your cultivation progress yesterday. I reported truthfully, and His Holiness was very pleased."

"Today's training ends here. For the remaining time, focus on solidifying your spear techniques. Don't be greedy for more or rush."

"Yes, thank you, Teacher."

Zhao Qing smiled and waved his hand, then turned and left the Martial Arts Arena.

Silence returned to the Martial Arts Arena.

The morning sun had fully risen, and golden sunlight filled the courtyard.

"Boss."

A charming female voice came from the entrance of the Martial Arts Arena.

Ling Xi walked over, holding a tray.

A year had passed, and Ling Xi was now seven years old.

She had also grown taller, and her features were becoming more refined, a true beauty in the making.

She walked up to Ling Xiao and handed him the tea and towel from the tray.

Her voice was soft, "Boss, wipe your sweat first and have some tea to rest."

Ling Xiao took the towel and wiped the light sweat from his forehead.

He then took the teacup and took a sip.

His gaze fell on Ling Xi, "You've worked hard these past few days."

He could sense that Ling Xi's soul power had reached level fifteen.

In one year, she had broken through from level twelve to level fifteen.

This cultivation speed could be considered top-tier genius level.

Not only had her soul power progressed rapidly, but she had also managed everything he had entrusted to her in an orderly fashion.

"It's my fortune to be able to do things for you, Boss. It's not hard at all."

Ling Xi's eyes, as she looked at Ling Xiao, were filled with adoration and admiration.

It was Ling Xiao who had given her a new life, given her strength, and given her everything she had now.

Over the past year, she had watched her Boss cultivate diligently day after day, and watched him strategize.

Her heart was filled only with respect and loyalty.

"Tell me, are there any important matters recently?"

Ling Xiao walked to a stone bench by the Martial Arts Arena and sat down.

He looked up at Ling Xi and spoke calmly.

Ling Xi immediately suppressed her smile, her expression becoming serious.

"Boss, there are indeed matters that require your attention."

"The first is the internal movements of the Martial Soul Hall."

"His Holiness the Pope recently ordered the Martial Soul Hall to accelerate the progress of establishing branch halls within the territories of the Two Great Empires."

"At the same time, a group of sects secretly affiliated with the Two Great Empires were purged."

"Several evil soul master sects were eliminated, and a considerable amount of resources were confiscated."

"The Elder Hall has many reservations about this, and has raised objections several times in council meetings, but His Holiness the Pope has suppressed them."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly upon hearing this, unsurprised.

Since Bibi Dong became Pope, she had been gradually consolidating power and purging dissenters.

Those old geezers in the Elder Hall were already dissatisfied with her as a female Pope and were constantly obstructing her.

It was only a matter of time before the conflict between the two sides erupted.

"The second matter concerns the young man named Tang San whom you asked me to keep an eye on."

Ling Xi continued her report.

"According to the information from our people in the Heaven Dou Empire, Tang San from Holy Soul Village has entered Nuoding Academy to study and has taken Yu Xiaogang as his teacher."

Ling Xiao's hand, holding the teacup, paused slightly.

The plot had finally reached its first critical juncture.

Tang San entering Nuoding Academy and taking Yu Xiaogang as his teacher.

This was the true starting point of his path as a soul master.

He looked up at Ling Xi and calmly instructed:

"Keep an eye on Nuoding Academy's movements."

"Record every detail of Tang San and Yu Xiaogang's whereabouts, and report them to me regularly."

"No need to interfere, just watch."

He knew how terrifying Tang San's protagonist halo was.

Now was not the time to intervene.

"Yes, Boss."

"The third item is the movements of the Upper Three Sects and the Two Great Empires."

Ling Xi continued.

"Ning Fengzhi of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect recently went to the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial palace with Sword Douluo Chen Xin. The specifics are still unknown."

"On the Star Luo Empire's side, the struggle for succession within the royal family is becoming more intense."

"The First Prince Dai Weisi and the Second Prince Dai Mubai have already begun their competition for the throne."

Ling Xiao's eyes flashed upon hearing this, but he didn't say anything more.

"I understand."

Ling Xiao put down his teacup and looked at Ling Xi.

"Your intelligence gathering is excellent. Keep it up."

"Yes, Boss."

Ling Xi looked at the young man before her.

The morning sun fell upon him, making him glow.

He was clearly still a youth, yet he sat there, strategizing with complete confidence.

Ling Xi couldn't help but whisper, "Boss, your Soul Power has already reached level nineteen, hasn't it?"

"Are you about to break through to level twenty, becoming a Soul Grand Master, and absorb your second Soul Ring soon?"

"Mm."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly.

"Soon, within half a month at most, I'll break through to level twenty."

A year of arduous training, plus Ling Xi's Soul Power feedback with each of her breakthroughs.

His Soul Power had risen from level fourteen all the way to level nineteen.

He was just one step away from becoming a level twenty Soul Grand Master.

Once he broke through to level twenty and absorbed his second Soul Ring.

The Demon Fruit Tree would sprout a second Phantom Beast type fruit.

Ling Xiao slowly stood up.

He looked towards the direction of the Martial Soul Hall's main palace, beyond the Martial Arts Arena.

Under the morning sun, the golden roof of the Pope Palace gleamed.

His hand gently brushed over the long spear in his hand.

The tip of the spear flashed with a cold glint.