Early morning.
The sky was only just beginning to brighten when Ling Xiao got up.
In the courtyard of Qinghui Hall, he practiced a set of breathing and body-tempering punches.
He had learned it in his previous life from a Daoist priest, who had said it could strengthen the body and hone the bones and sinews.
His fists flowed like clouds and water. When he finished, he stood composed, not a bead of sweat on his brow.
For six years, he had never once neglected this body-tempering routine.
His long years of practice were beginning to pay off. His physique was far stronger than that of other children his age.
He had just wiped his hands clean when a maid's voice came from outside the hall:
"Lord Ling Xiao, His Holiness the Pope sent word. She requests that you and the Saintess go to the meditation room in the side hall. Her Holiness will personally instruct you both."
"Understood."
Ling Xiao replied, straightened his clothes, and walked out of Qinghui Hall.
Just outside the courtyard, he ran into Hu Liena, who was waiting not far away.
Today, she wore a white outfit suited for training, her chestnut hair tied high in a ponytail.
She looked less like a sweet and gentle Saintess and more like a spirited young warrior.
As soon as she saw Ling Xiao, she hurried over.
"Little tattletale, come on. Don't you dare tell on me again, got it?"
Ling Xiao kept walking and glanced at her from the side, his tone mild.
"If Senior Sister follows the rules, I won't need to trouble Master."
"Oh, so now you're using Master to put pressure on me?"
Hu Liena snorted and reached for his cheek, but Ling Xiao leaned aside before she could touch him.
"Besides, Master only says that stuff. She'd never really punish me."
"Today is the first time Master's teaching you. If you can't even sense the world's elemental energy, you'll make a fool of yourself."
She continued, still putting on a tough front.
Ling Xiao didn't respond. He only gave a slight nod.
He had lived two lives, and his spiritual power far surpassed that of ordinary people.
His spiritual power was already beyond the level of an ordinary Soul Master.
Sensing the world's elemental energy was a beginner's exercise. For him, it would be no challenge at all.
The two chatted as they walked, and soon arrived at the meditation room in the side hall of Pope Palace.
The room had been built over a ley line on the mountain behind Pope Palace, with a Gathering Origin Array set up all around it.
The concentration of elemental energy was several times higher than outside, and spiritual energy filled the air.
The room was simply furnished, with three meditation cushions in the center.
Bibi Dong was already seated on the cushion at the head of the room.
She had changed out of her elaborate papal robes and into a simple purple outfit, yet her regal presence and stunning beauty remained undiminished.
When the two entered, she said calmly:
"You're here? Sit down."
"Yes, Master."
Ling Xiao and Hu Liena bowed in unison, then took their places on the cushions to her left and right.
"Nana, you've cultivated for four years, and you're now a level twenty-five Soul Grandmaster."
Bibi Dong's voice was cool and steady.
"Just pay attention to the details in your daily practice. Don't rush things."
After giving Hu Liena a brief reminder, Bibi Dong turned her gaze to Ling Xiao.
"Ling Xiao, you've only just awakened your Martial Soul and haven't yet begun cultivating."
"Today, I'll teach you how Soul Masters cultivate. Listen carefully."
Ling Xiao straightened and nodded slightly.
"I'm all ears, Master."
"The essence of Soul Master cultivation is to absorb the elemental energy of the world, transform it into your own Soul Power, store it in your dantian, and use it to nourish your Martial Soul."
Bibi Dong's voice was serious as she explained the theory in detail.
"The purer and more abundant your Soul Power, the greater your Martial Soul's might."
"After awakening their Martial Souls, ordinary Soul Masters first sense the elemental energy drifting through the world. Then they draw it into their bodies, guide it along their meridians, and finally gather it in their dantian. Only after completing this first transformation have they truly set foot on the path of a Soul Master."
"Most Soul Masters need days or even months after awakening before they can sense elemental energy."
"Even a genius needs several hours."
"You don't need to rush. Just relax."
She flicked her finger, and a golden orb of light flew into Ling Xiao's brow.
A vast amount of information poured into Ling Xiao's mind.
It was the Heaven Origin Soul Art, the most advanced cultivation method at the heart of Spirit Hall.
This art had been passed down by Spirit Hall for hundreds of years. It was several times more intricate than ordinary cultivation methods.
"This Heaven Origin Soul Art is one of the core cultivation methods of Spirit Hall. It's balanced and impartial, and highly adaptable."
Bibi Dong's voice lowered.
"It's perfectly suited to your Plant-type Martial Soul."
"I've imprinted the detailed method into your mind. Study it carefully, circulate your thoughts according to the instructions, and try to sense the elemental energy of the world."
"Thank you, Master."
Ling Xiao bowed, gratitude in his voice.
Hu Liena sat to the side and secretly stuck her tongue out at Ling Xiao.
Ignoring her antics, Ling Xiao closed his eyes and cleared his mind of every distraction.
Following the Heaven Origin Soul Art's instructions, he focused his spiritual power and guided it slowly along his meridians, sensing the elemental energy drifting through the world.
The moment Ling Xiao's mind sank into his spiritual world, he felt as though he had entered another realm.
Because of the Gathering Origin Array, the meditation room was filled with countless pale golden specks of light.
Each speck was pure elemental energy from the world.
The Demon Fruit Tree in his Sea of Consciousness shivered slightly, as though it had caught the scent of blood.
Its gnarled branches swayed gently, releasing a pull.
The elemental energy outside seemed to have found an outlet and surged toward his body in a frenzy!
He didn't need to guide it at all.
The energy followed the meridian pathways of the Heaven Origin Soul Art and circulated at great speed.
Wherever it passed, the warm elemental energy gradually nourished and widened his meridians.
In the end, it gathered in his dantian and transformed into pure Soul Power.
The entire process took no more than fifteen minutes.
Bibi Dong, seated at the head of the room, abruptly sat up straight.
A flicker of shock crossed her eyes.
She realized that Ling Xiao had already entered a state of meditation and cultivation.
The elemental energy around him surged into his body like a rising tide, transforming into his own Soul Power!
In just fifteen minutes!
Back then, she had possessed Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power, and had been hailed as an unparalleled genius rarely seen in Spirit Hall in a century.
Even she had needed an hour to successfully transform the world's elemental energy for the first time.
Ling Xiao had taken just fifteen minutes to travel a road that took others days or even months!
"Th-this is impossible!"
Hu Liena was gaping beside her.
She had just been thinking that even if Ling Xiao was a genius, it would take him half a day to begin cultivating.
Reality had slapped her hard across the face.
To master the basics in fifteen minutes—what kind of monstrous talent was that?!
Under their astonished gazes, Ling Xiao slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was clear and bright as the Soul Power around him gradually settled.
He bowed to Bibi Dong.
"Master, I haven't let you down. I've sensed the world's elemental energy and completed my first cultivation."
Bibi Dong took a deep breath, suppressing the emotions surging within her.
She looked at the six-year-old boy before her, deeply satisfied.
She had thought that Ling Xiao, with Innate Full Soul Power and a top-tier Plant-type Martial Soul, was a rare genius.
Now she realized she had still underestimated her disciple.
Such powerful spiritual strength. Such heaven-defying comprehension.
"Good! Good! Good!"
"Ling Xiao, you truly haven't disappointed me!"
Hu Liena couldn't help leaning over to poke Ling Xiao's arm as she complained:
"Junior Brother, you're way too freakish! Did you secretly practice this before?"
Ling Xiao glanced at her coolly.
"This is my first time practicing the method Master taught me."
Bibi Dong tapped Hu Liena on the forehead, exasperated.
"Look at your Junior Brother, then look at yourself!"
"Now do you understand that there's always someone better?"
Hu Liena stuck out her tongue and hunched her shoulders, not daring to speak.
This aloof little Junior Brother was pretty impressive!
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