The morning mist dispersed.
The Martial Arts Arena rang with the unbroken rush of cutting air.
Morning light fell upon the boy at the center of the Martial Arts Arena.
A year had passed, and Ling Xiao was already seven years old.
Dressed in fitted training clothes, with his black hair tied high, he looked every inch a young martial artist.
A year of physical training had made his lean frame considerably sturdier, giving him explosive strength beyond his years.
In his hands, he held a Bintie Spear, its entire length gleaming silver-white.
The spear was seven feet long, its tip glinting with a bone-chilling light.
At that moment, he stood in a low horse stance, his wrists turning as the spear seemed to come alive.
When he thrust, his feet brushed lightly across the ground, and his body shot forward like an arrow.
His movements were crisp and clean, without a hint of wasted effort.
When he swept the spear across to block, its shaft cut through the air with the force of a thousand jun.
With a deft turn of his wrist, he spun the spear tip into a spray of blossoms.
Every move followed a precise pattern.
He was still shorter than the spear, yet with it in hand, he already had the bearing of a martial artist.
Still as a pine, moving like a dragon.
His aura was fierce, nothing like his usual gentle, reserved self.
"Good!"
A booming cheer came from the edge of the Martial Arts Arena.
A middle-aged man in black training clothes stood there, his features stern and resolute.
He was Zhao Qing.
An eighty-third-rank Power Attack System Soul Douluo, with the Formation Breaking Spear as his martial soul.
He was a spear master renowned throughout Spirit Hall, his skill with the weapon so profound it seemed almost divine.
A year ago, Bibi Dong had ordered him to come and serve as Ling Xiao's personal spear instructor.
When he had first received the order, Zhao Qing had been rather reluctant.
In his eyes, the Pope's second disciple was an Innate Full Soul Power Plant type control-type Soul Master.
He should have devoted himself to cultivating Soul Power and Soul Skills. Without hard work, practicing the spear would get him nowhere.
After teaching Ling Xiao for a year, Zhao Qing had been won over by the boy's talent and diligence.
This child had not only possessed extraordinary talent as a Soul Master, but also had a rare gift for understanding the spear.
Ling Xiao could memorize any spear technique after watching it once, and after only a few repetitions, he could master it completely.
By combining the unique properties of his Soul Skills with deft force and control, he had forged a style of spearmanship all his own.
For an entire year, rain or shine, he had not missed a single day.
Ling Xiao lowered his spear and stood at attention, planting its butt against the ground as he slowly reined in its momentum.
He looked toward Zhao Qing and bowed slightly. "Teacher Zhao."
"Good work, boy. You've improved by leaps and bounds."
Zhao Qing strode over and patted Ling Xiao on the shoulder, his eyes full of pride.
"In just one year, your basic spear techniques have reached perfection. You've even made some progress with the Seven Forms of Breaking the Formation I taught you!"
"Among your peers throughout Spirit Hall, no one can match your skill with the spear!"
A seven-year-old child who had brought his spear technique to this level would make countless adult Soul Masters hang their heads in shame.
Even without Soul Power, this mastery of the spear alone would let him defeat an ordinary tenth-rank Soul Scholar with ease.
"It's because you taught me well, Teacher."
Ling Xiao's voice was calm, without a trace of pride.
"I still have plenty of shortcomings. I need to keep honing my skills."
He had a clear goal in mind when he took up the spear.
His Soul Skills focused mainly on control. Even if he gained Power Attack System Soul Skills later on, close-quarters combat would still be his weakness.
To develop in every area, he had chosen to cultivate a close-combat martial art.
The spear was the king of weapons. More importantly, it looked cool!
Wherever the spear tip pointed, nothing could stand in its way!
A year of bitter cultivation had not only brought his spear technique to a basic level of mastery.
It had also honed his body, making him stronger and stronger.
In the future, when he absorbed high-year Soul Rings, he would be able to withstand even more powerful energy surges.
"Having this kind of mindset matters more than anything else."
Zhao Qing nodded with satisfaction.
"His Holiness the Pope asked about your progress yesterday. I reported everything truthfully, and His Holiness was very pleased."
"That's all for today's training. Spend the rest of your time consolidating your spear techniques. Don't get greedy and rush ahead."
"Yes. Thank you, Teacher."
Zhao Qing smiled and waved a hand, then turned and left the Martial Arts Arena.
The arena fell quiet again.
The sun had risen fully, spreading golden light across the courtyard.
"Boss."
A seductive female voice came from the entrance to the Martial Arts Arena.
Ling Xi approached at an unhurried pace, carrying a tray.
A year had passed, and Ling Xi was seven years old too.
She had grown quite a bit taller, and her features had become more and more exquisite. She was clearly a beauty in the making.
She stopped in front of Ling Xiao and offered him the tea and towel from the tray.
Her voice was gentle. "Boss, wipe off your sweat and have some tea while you rest."
Ling Xiao took the towel and wiped the fine sweat from his brow.
Then he took the teacup and drank.
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 rank fifteen.
In one year, she had advanced from rank twelve to rank fifteen.
That rate of cultivation put her among the top geniuses.
Not only had her Soul Power advanced rapidly, but she had also managed all the tasks he had given her with perfect order.
"It's my good fortune to work for you, Boss. It's no trouble at all."
Ling Xi's eyes brimmed with admiration and affection as she looked at Ling Xiao.
He had given her a new life, given her strength, and given her everything she had now.
Over the past year, she had watched Boss cultivate tirelessly day after day, and watched him plan every move with calm precision.
She felt nothing but admiration and loyalty.
"Tell me. Has anything important happened recently?"
Ling Xiao walked to the stone bench at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena and sat down.
He looked up at Ling Xi and spoke calmly.
Ling Xi immediately let her smile fade, her expression turning serious.
"Boss, there is something I need to report to you."
"First, there have been developments within Spirit Hall."
"His Holiness the Pope recently ordered Spirit Hall to speed up the establishment of branch halls throughout the territories of the Two Great Empires."
"At the same time, she has purged several sects secretly aligned with the Two Great Empires."
"She wiped out several Evil Soul Master sects and seized a great deal of resources."
"The Elder Hall has been quite displeased. Its members have raised objections at several meetings, but His Holiness the Pope has overruled them each time."
Ling Xiao listened and gave a slight nod, unsurprised.
Ever since Bibi Dong had become the Pope, she had been gradually consolidating her power and eliminating dissent.
Those old fogies in the Elder Hall had never been happy with her, a female Pope, and had obstructed her at every turn.
It was only a matter of time before their conflict erupted.
"Second, there's the boy named Tang San you asked me to keep an eye on," Ling Xi continued.
"According to a report from our people in the Heaven Dou Empire, Tang San of Holy Soul Village has entered Nuoding Academy and become Yu Xiaogang's disciple."
Ling Xiao's hand paused slightly as he held his teacup.
The story had finally reached its first major turning point.
Tang San had entered Nuoding Academy and become Yu Xiaogang's disciple.
This was the true beginning of his path as a Soul Master.
He looked up at Ling Xi and gave a calm instruction:
"Keep watching Nuoding Academy."
"Record everything Tang San and Yu Xiaogang do, down to the smallest detail, and report to me regularly."
"Don't interfere. Just keep an eye on them."
He knew just how terrifying Tang San's protagonist halo was.
It was not yet time to intervene.
"Yes, Boss."
"Third, there have been developments involving 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 imperial palace of the Heaven Dou Empire with Sword Douluo Chen Xin. We don't yet know the specifics."
"In the Star Luo Empire, the struggle for the throne within the royal family has grown fiercer."
"The eldest prince, Dai Weisi, and the second prince, Dai Mubai, have begun competing to become the heir."
Ling Xiao's eyes flickered, but he said nothing more.
"I see."
Ling Xiao set down his teacup and looked at Ling Xi.
"You've done well gathering intelligence. Keep watching."
"Yes, Boss."
Ling Xi looked at the boy before her.
The morning sun fell upon him, and his whole figure seemed to glow.
He was still a boy, yet as he sat there, planning everything with calm assurance, he seemed to have everything under control.
Ling Xi couldn't help asking softly, "Boss, your Soul Power is already at rank nineteen, isn't it?"
"Are you about to break through to rank twenty and absorb your second Soul Ring?"
"Mm."
Ling Xiao nodded slightly.
"Soon. I'll break through to rank twenty in half a month at most."
After a year of hard cultivation, combined with the Soul Power he gained whenever Ling Xi advanced, his Soul Power had risen from rank fourteen to rank nineteen.
He was just one step away from becoming a rank-twenty Soul Grandmaster.
Once he broke through to rank twenty and absorbed his second Soul Ring, the Demon Fruit Tree would produce a second Mythical Zoan Fruit.
Ling Xiao slowly rose to his feet.
He gazed beyond the Martial Arts Arena, toward the main hall of Spirit Hall.
Under the morning sun, the golden roof of Pope Palace gleamed brilliantly.
His hand brushed lightly over the spear he held.
The spear tip flashed with a cold glint.
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