Maple Leaf City

Three days of seclusion passed in the blink of an eye.

The door to the cultivation room in Qinghui Hall opened slowly, and Ling Xiao stepped out.

During these three days of focused cultivation, he had stabilized his soul power at level twenty-two, and his second soul skill, Coiling Dragon, could now be deployed and retracted with ease.

Deep within his spiritual sea, the Demon Fruit Tree had grown even more lush and verdant, its branches gnarled and vigorous.

"Boss, you've finished your seclusion!"

Ling Xi, who had been guarding outside the door, greeted him immediately and bowed to Ling Xiao.

She held a booklet in her hands, which was the list of awakened children she had painstakingly compiled over the past three days.

"Mm."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly, took the booklet, and turned to walk into the study.

Ling Xi followed him inside immediately and stood beside the desk.

"According to your requirements, I have screened all children from Martial Soul City and the six surrounding towns who have an Innate Soul Power of level five or higher, and whose martial souls are either ordinary or trash-tier. There are ten in total."

"Five are from Martial Soul City, and five are from the surrounding towns. The origins, family situations, martial soul attributes, and Innate Soul Power levels of all the children have been recorded in detail in the booklet."

"Well done."

Ling Xiao opened the booklet, his gaze falling upon the pages.

The booklet was extremely detailed; not only did it contain basic awakening information, but Ling Xi had even sent people to investigate their family backgrounds, parents' occupations, and daily circumstances, showing just how much effort she had put into it.

At the top of the list was the child from Martial Soul City with the highest Innate Soul Power.

A youth named Zhou Heng, with level eight Innate Soul Power and an ordinary iron fork as his martial soul.

His father was a deacon in the External Affairs Department of Martial Soul Hall, and his family was well-off, possessing a modest reputation in Martial Soul City.

Ling Xiao only glanced at it before shaking his head and flipping past it.

This child had a wealthy family and was born into the Martial Soul Hall system; even if his martial soul was mediocre, he could still secure a stable position within the Hall later in life thanks to his father's influence.

He lacked both the desperation of being in a hopeless situation and the obsession to stake everything on power. The Azure Dragon Fruit was not suitable for him.

He continued to flip through the pages.

The remaining four children from Martial Soul City either had decent family backgrounds and lacked the resolve to burn their bridges, or they were mischievous, arrogant, and lazy—none met his requirements.

He rejected them one by one.

When he reached the latter half of the list, under the entries for the surrounding towns, Ling Xiao's gaze paused.

Bai Wei, female, six years old, from Maple Leaf City.

Innate Soul Power: Level seven.

Martial Soul: White downy feather (no attack, no defense, no auxiliary attributes; classified as a trash-tier martial soul).

Family background: A commoner family in Maple Leaf City. Her parents make a living by running a street stall. They have two sons and one daughter, with Bai Wei being the eldest.

The family is destitute, and her parents hold deep-seated patriarchal views. Because she awakened a trash-tier martial soul and could not rise in status as a soul master, she is treated with coldness and harshness at home.

Level seven Innate Soul Power could be considered the talent of a genius.

Yet, she happened to awaken a useless downy feather martial soul.

Her future life was already sealed; she would be trapped in a tiny corner for the rest of her days, never seeing the light of day.

Such a situation was so similar to that of Ling Xi back at the orphanage.

As long as she was given a glimmer of light, she would grasp it with all her might and offer her absolute loyalty in return.

Ling Xiao's fingertip tapped lightly on the two characters "Bai Wei."

It had to be her!

Standing to the side, Ling Xi followed Ling Xiao's gaze to Bai Wei's file, her eyes turning slightly red.

"Boss... this girl, she is so much like I was back then."

"Mm."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly, closed the booklet, and looked at Ling Xi.

"I have decided to make a trip to Maple Leaf City to see this Bai Wei in person. If she is suitable, then it will be her."

Ling Xi's eyes lit up, and she said immediately:

"Don't worry, Boss! I will go prepare right away!"

"No rush, we leave in two days."

Ling Xiao waved his hand and said indifferently.

"Before we depart, I must first go to the Pope Palace to report this matter to my master."

Even if it was just a trip to Maple Leaf City, which was not far from Martial Soul City, as the Pope's personal disciple, he had to report it to Bibi Dong.

It would be best to bring guards on this trip to ensure that nothing went wrong.

In the afternoon, Ling Xiao headed to the Pope Palace alone.

Inside the towering main hall, Bibi Dong reclined on her throne, eyes closed as she regulated her breathing.

Hearing that Ling Xiao requested an audience, she opened her phoenix eyes, a gentle smile surfacing within them.

"Let him enter."

Ling Xiao walked into the hall and bowed respectfully: "Disciple Ling Xiao pays respects to Master."

"Rise."

Bibi Dong said with a smile, her gaze falling upon him as she nodded in satisfaction.

"By the look of you, your three days of seclusion yielded quite a harvest?"

"Reporting to Master, the results were indeed quite good."

Ling Xiao replied respectfully, explaining the purpose of his visit.

"Disciple has come today to request your permission for something. I wish to visit Maple Leaf City; I have heard the maple leaves there are quite beautiful."

"Disciple intends to go and relax, to alleviate the fatigue from my recent cultivation."

He did not mention Bai Wei, not wishing to expose her too early.

Upon hearing this, Bibi Dong nodded with a smile:

"Such a small matter, you may decide for yourself; there is no need to report it specifically. However, although Maple Leaf City is not far from Martial Soul City, it is ultimately outside the city walls, so safety cannot be taken lightly."

As she spoke, she pressed a mechanism beside her throne and spoke indifferently:

"Summon Shi Jian to see me."

Within half an incense stick's time, a middle-aged man clad in profound black armor strode into the hall with long, purposeful strides.

He knelt on one knee to salute Bibi Dong, his voice like a booming bell, resonant and powerful.

"Subordinate Shi Jian pays respects to His Holiness the Pope!"

Shi Jian, a level 73 Spirit Douluo with the Vajra Ape martial soul, was a direct subordinate under Bibi Dong.

Even when facing a Titled Douluo, he could withstand several blows, making him a renowned and fierce warrior within Martial Soul Hall.

"Shi Jian, from today on, you are to follow Ling Xiao's command."

Bibi Dong's voice was cold and clear, carrying the majesty of an empress.

"In two days, you will accompany Ling Xiao to Maple Leaf City. You are to protect his safety throughout the journey; not a single mistake will be tolerated!"

"Subordinate obeys!"

Shi Jian responded immediately, turning to look at Ling Xiao and bowing respectfully.

"Subordinate Shi Jian greets Lord Ling Xiao! This subordinate shall swear to protect you with my life, my Lord!"

Ling Xiao looked at Bibi Dong on the throne, his heart stirred slightly, and he bowed:

"Thank you for your concern, Master."

He was merely going to the nearby Maple Leaf City, yet Bibi Dong had arranged a Spirit Douluo as his personal bodyguard.

This was simply too good!

"You are my disciple; your safety is naturally the most important thing."

"Go now, and mind your safety on the road. If you encounter anything you cannot resolve, send word back to Martial Soul Hall immediately."

"Yes, Master."

Ling Xiao saluted once more and, taking Shi Jian with him, exited the Pope Palace.

Two days later, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.

In front of Qinghui Hall, Shi Jian stood by the carriage in a tight-fitting outfit, holding the reins, his posture upright and his aura steady.

Ling Xi was busy packing the luggage, her delicate face full of excitement and anticipation.

"Is everything prepared?"

Ling Xiao walked slowly out of the hall, his gaze sweeping over the two of them as he spoke calmly.

"Reporting to Boss, everything is ready; we can depart at any time!"

Ling Xi replied immediately.

"Lord Shi Jian, I will have to trouble you on the road."

Ling Xiao looked at Shi Jian to the side, his tone becoming a bit more courteous.

"Lord Ling Xiao is too kind; protecting your safety is this subordinate's duty!"

Shi Jian responded respectfully, not daring to be arrogant.

The youth before him was the personal disciple of His Holiness the Pope, and his future achievements would be limitless.

Ling Xiao nodded and boarded the carriage.

Ling Xi followed closely behind.

Shi Jian took the driver's seat and flicked the reins; the carriage began to move slowly, heading toward the gates of Martial Soul City.

Inside the carriage, Ling Xi was reporting the situation in Maple Leaf City to Ling Xiao with great enthusiasm.

Ling Xiao leaned sideways against the carriage wall, his fingertips tapping lightly against his knee.

The carriage sped all the way south, galloping in the direction of Maple Leaf City.

The setting sun hung low, casting an orange glow across the horizon.

On the distant skyline, the silhouette of Maple Leaf City could already be faintly discerned.