Cardinal Lang Taihui

"Repeatedly demoting and promoting students grinds away their edges; those who remain in the end are either absolute geniuses or absolutely obedient hounds."

Gu Chensha thought to himself, Those who do not pledge loyalty to Martial Soul Hall are long since kicked out during this process.

"This feeling is truly a long-lost one."

As they spoke, Zhu Zhuqing and Hu Liena had already traversed two long corridors. Hu Liena slowed her pace and continued.

"Once you reach the Advanced Soul Master Academy, the bottom-tier elimination system is no longer in effect."

"The students who make it here are the cream of the crop, handpicked from millions of soul masters across the entire continent; there is no need for elimination-based screening anymore."

"However, the aptitude ranking system remains the core, and on that foundation, we implement a mentor-responsibility system."

Zhu Zhuqing raised her eyes to look at her, revealing an inquisitive expression.

Hu Liena smiled and explained.

"Simply put, it means you are matched with a mentor of a corresponding level based on your aptitude grade."

"Martial Soul Hall has clear standards for mentor grading: students entering the advanced academy are matched with a mentor who is at minimum a level 50 Soul King Purple Robe Bishop."

"Above that, level 60 Soul Emperors are Black Robe Bishops, level 70 Soul Saints correspond to Red Robe Bishops, and level 80 Soul Douluo correspond to Platinum Bishops. As for Titled Douluo above level 90, they are Star-tier mentors."

"Each mentor takes on at most three students at a time, and all cultivation resources and soul ring hunting are handled entirely by the mentor."

"Your growth ceiling is directly tied to the strength and resources of your mentor."

After listening, Zhu Zhuqing was silent for a few seconds before asking.

"If my soul power increases rapidly later and exceeds my current mentor's aptitude tier, can I change to a higher-level mentor?"

"Of course you can."

A flash of approval crossed Hu Liena's eyes.

"Aptitude assessments within the Hall are dynamic. As long as you demonstrate sufficient potential during the quarterly evaluations, you can apply to upgrade your mentor's specifications at any time. Even having a Titled Douluo elder provide personal guidance is not impossible."

At this point, Hu Liena stopped, turned to look at Zhu Zhuqing, and spoke with complete sincerity.

"Little Sister Zhuqing, according to the rules, a genius with Innate Full Soul Power should have been directly matched with a Platinum Bishop or even a Titled Douluo-level mentor."

"But your situation is special; for instance, your past combat ability and comprehension are all blank slates."

"The higher-ups have always been cautious regarding unknown variables. Giving you the highest-spec mentor immediately would, first, push you to the forefront of the entire Martial Soul Hall, and second, it wouldn't conform to the Hall's ironclad rules."

"It was I who specifically applied for you, skipping the credit assessment of the intermediate academy to match you directly with a Red Robe Bishop-level mentor."

"I chose this mentor personally: a level 79 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Saint. His mastery of stealth and assassination techniques ranks among the best of all Soul Saints on the continent, and it fits your Hell Spirit Cat martial soul perfectly."

"Rest assured, as long as your subsequent performance is brilliant, I can help you apply for a mentor upgrade at any time. I will never let you be buried by the rules."

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly, her tone calm and polite.

"Thank you, Sister. I understand."

"No need to be so formal with me."

Hu Liena smiled and said, "Let's go. The mentor is already waiting for you; I'll take you to meet him."

Before long, Hu Liena led Zhu Zhuqing to a secluded indoor cultivation area.

Beside a stone table in the center of the field sat a middle-aged man wearing a red bishop's robe.

His figure was slightly hunched, and his eyes held the restrained sharpness unique to Agility Attack System soul masters. He was clearly the level 79 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Saint that Hu Liena had mentioned.

Standing beside him were a boy and a girl, both no more than ten years old; they were presumably the other two students under his tutelage.

The boy had high, arched brows, and until just a moment ago, his face had worn an undisguised look of impatience and arrogance.

The moment he saw Hu Liena's group approaching, that defiance instantly receded a little.

The girl beside him kept her eyes lowered, her gaze occasionally stealing glances at the boy next to her.

The intent flowing in her eyes was self-evident.

Gu Chensha took all of this in, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement and reflection, silently talking to himself.

Having not been human for so long, watching the thoughts of these young people is quite a unique experience.

Staying in the Star Dou Great Forest, even if one has to use wit and courage to survive, it is truly straightforward and adorable compared to the convoluted minds of humans.

Seeing Hu Liena bring Zhu Zhuqing to the front, Lang Taihui immediately stood up, bowed to Hu Liena with a standard deacon's salute, and spoke respectfully.

"Miss Hu."

"Bishop Lang, please, no need for such formalities."

Hu Liena returned a half-salute, then stepped aside to bring Zhu Zhuqing forward, smiling as she introduced her.

"This is Miss Zhu Zhuqing, a genius with Innate Full Soul Power."

"Little Sister Zhuqing, this is Bishop Lang Taihui, a level 79 Agility Attack System Battle Soul Saint and a highly respected Red Robe Bishop of our Martial Soul Hall."

Zhu Zhuqing stepped forward half a pace, bowed slightly, and performed a standard junior's salute.

Her tone was polite, calm, and neither servile nor overbearing.

"Greetings, Bishop."

Lang Taihui waved his hand and said to Zhu Zhuqing.

"No need for formalities. Lord Hu has already told me about your situation."

"Innate Full Soul Power, Hell Spirit Cat spirit, a rare good seedling."

"Since you've joined my tutelage, you don't need to be so formal from now on. Just call me Teacher."

As soon as he said this, Zhu Zhuqing straightened up from her bow.

Her cool face showed no emotion, she merely said, "Thank you, Bishop, for your kind regard."

"It's just that as a junior, I've only just arrived and have not yet received any teaching from you, so I dare not presume."

"In the future, when you guide me, I will respectfully receive your teachings and will always address you as Bishop, never daring to neglect any courtesy."

The quiet room instantly fell silent.

Hu Liena's eyebrows twitched slightly, then returned to normal, the smile at the corner of her mouth deepening.

"This is even better."

She mused inwardly, showing nothing on her face, only glancing sideways at Lang Taihui, leaving the situation entirely to him.

The smile on Lang Taihui's face faded slightly, but he showed no displeasure.

He had taught for many years, what kind of students hadn't he seen?

Although rare, Zhu Zhuqing was not the first, nor would she be the last, to refuse to call him Teacher.

"Very well."

He nodded and took a sip of his tea.

"The matter of titles is not urgent. We can take our time and see how things develop."

As soon as he finished speaking, the young man beside him couldn't sit still.

He was already Lang Taihui's most valued direct disciple. Now that Zhu Zhuqing had arrived, she had naturally snatched away most of the core resources that should have been tilted towards him. He was already full of dissatisfaction.

Seeing Zhu Zhuqing publicly reject his teacher's face at this moment, the suppressed arrogance on his face instantly surged.

"What a grand attitude!"

"It's your great fortune from eight lifetimes to be taken under Bishop Lang's wing! You won't even call him Teacher?"