Their Respective Destinations

"The Pope wants to take a disciple personally? And the Second Worship made a promise too!"

"These three kids are so lucky!"

"If it were me, I'd definitely choose the Pope. She'd teach me personally!"

"But the Worship Hall is amazing too! The Grand Elder and Second Worship have both spoken up!"

Everyone buzzed with discussion, their eyes brimming with envy and jealousy. Their gazes shifted between Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, and the three children, waiting for the final decision.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Taibai stepped forward and stopped in front of Qian Daoliu. He bowed slightly, his movements calm and unhurried. "Grand Elder, this junior dares to ask: would you be willing to take me as your personal disciple?"

Qian Daoliu was taken aback, then a smile appeared on his face, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "I have never taken a disciple before. But for you, I can make an exception."

"Master!" Li Taibai clasped his fists and bowed deeply, his voice respectful and firm.

Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction and took a jade pendant from his robes. It was a lustrous white, etched with intricate golden patterns, and gave off a faint spatial fluctuation.

"This is a Soul Tool. It has fifty cubic meters of space inside. Consider it an introductory gift from me."

"Thank you, Master!" Li Taibai took the pendant in both hands and bowed again. Then he stepped back and stood behind Qian Daoliu.

A system panel silently appeared in his mind.

Bound target: Qian Daoliu. Current favorability: 50. Daily check-in successful. Points received: 500.

His was a Favorability System.

It was his greatest trump card. The stronger and more influential the person he bound himself to, and the higher their favorability toward him, the more points he received from his daily check-in. He could use those points to exchange for items in the system's shop.

Five hundred points were enough to exchange for an ordinary Soul Power Enhancement Pill. As Grand Elder, Qian Daoliu was undoubtedly the most cost-effective "long-term meal ticket."

More importantly, Li Taibai was a sucker for pretty faces. Qian Daoliu's granddaughter, Qian Renxue, was peerlessly beautiful. Now that he had joined the Worship Hall, he was bound to get a chance to meet her. Xiao Xue, here I come.

Next, Ling Feng stepped forward.

He walked up to Bibi Dong, bowed slightly, and said respectfully, "Master."

A rare smile appeared on Bibi Dong's face. "Good."

She took out a black pendant.

"This is a Soul Tool. It's your introductory gift from me."

She didn't mention how much space the pendant held. It had only twenty cubic meters inside, nowhere near as much as Qian Daoliu's jade pendant. She had deliberately kept that from him, worried that the Worship Hall might snatch Ye Fan away too.

"Thank you, Master." Ling Feng took the pendant, bowed, then stepped back to stand behind Bibi Dong.

He quietly considered his prospects. Bibi Dong possessed Twin Martial Souls and would one day become a god. Following her meant a limitless future.

If he could win her favor...

Thinking of the Pope's bearing, then glancing at Hu Liena nearby—that lively little fox—Ling Feng couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at his lips. This couldn't be more perfect.

The atmosphere in the square froze once more. Everyone's gaze settled on the last person—Ye Fan.

Would he choose the Worship Hall or Pope Hall?

Ye Fan felt the gazes converging on him from all sides. Some were expectant, some scrutinizing, others curious.

He took a deep breath. He had already made up his mind.

The Worship Hall and Pope Hall appeared to be part of the same Spirit Hall, but in truth, they hid a fundamental conflict that could never be reconciled. Choosing one side meant standing against the other.

Bibi Dong was undeniably powerful, with boundless potential and the ability to become a god in the future. But her obsession and madness made Ye Fan instinctively wary.

Tie his fate to a woman who was "not right in the head"? Never.

If he, Ye Fan, was going to do anything, he would become the Heavenly Emperor Ye who controlled his own destiny. Only absolute strength could protect everything he wanted—including the beautiful women he had set his sights on.

Once he had made up his mind, Ye Fan didn't hesitate. He walked over to Golden Crocodile Douluo, clasped his fists, and bowed, his voice clear and resolute. "Master."

"Hahaha! Good! Good!" Golden Crocodile Douluo was startled, then burst into hearty laughter, unable to hide his delight.

"At last, I have a disciple too! Good lad, come back to the Worship Hall with me. I left in a hurry today and didn't bring a proper gift, but I'll make it up to you with something splendid when we get back!" He patted Ye Fan on the shoulder, not lightly.

Watching Ye Fan walk toward Golden Crocodile, Bibi Dong's violet eyes flashed coldly. Then she turned her gaze to Li Taibai and said pointedly, "Grand Elder, though Twin Martial Souls are powerful, the path of cultivation is full of thorns. The slightest mistake can lead to qi deviation and an explosive death."

"Don't let your momentary favoritism ruin a genius."

Qian Daoliu glanced at Bibi Dong. "There's no need for the Pope to worry about that. I have my own way."

With that, he didn't linger. He turned and headed toward the Worship Hall. Golden Crocodile Douluo followed close behind with Ye Fan, while Li Taibai walked at Qian Daoliu's heels.

Along the way, Li Taibai and Ye Fan happened to meet each other's eyes. A sharp glint flashed in both their gazes, as if invisible sparks had clashed in the air.

One was a system holder backed by the Grand Elder; the other was an ambitious man intent on becoming an emperor. Each saw in the other a fighting spirit that couldn't be underestimated.

"Heh, it's good to be young. So full of energy." Golden Crocodile Douluo saw it all and laughed, stroking his beard instead of taking offense.

Competition between geniuses often brought out their potential.

Once Qian Daoliu and the others had left, the pressure in the square eased considerably.

Ling Feng stepped forward and respectfully addressed Bibi Dong. "Master, among the children who awakened their Martial Souls today, there was another girl besides the three of us. She has innate Soul Power of nine and a half ranks, and her Martial Soul is a Heavenly Fox. Her talent is quite remarkable too."

"Oh?" Bibi Dong's eyes lit up, interest flashing in her violet gaze.

Though nine and a half ranks of Innate Soul Power couldn't compare to Innate Full Soul Power, it still made her a top-tier genius. With a little nurturing, she would surely become a Titled Douluo one day, which would greatly benefit Bibi Dong's control over Spirit Hall. "Where is she?"

"Nana, come here." Ling Feng turned and beckoned to Hu Liena, who stood nearby.

Hearing him call, Hu Liena's little face flushed. Nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, she hurried over.

She stopped in front of Bibi Dong and tried to straighten her small frame. Imitating the others, she bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope."

Her voice was soft and timid, yet clear.

"Release your Martial Soul and let me see it." Bibi Dong's voice softened a little.

Hu Liena didn't dare delay and quickly urged the Soul Power within her.

A faint white light flashed, and the phantom of a snow-white little fox appeared behind her. Its fluffy tail swayed gently, and its lively eyes studied Bibi Dong with curiosity, giving off an aura that was both pure and alluring.

At the same time, it released Innate Soul Power close to the tenth rank. Though it wasn't as astonishing as that of Li Taibai and the other two, it still far surpassed that of Soul Masters her age.

Bibi Dong felt the fluctuation of Soul Power and smiled with satisfaction.

The Heavenly Fox was a high-grade Martial Soul. Paired with nine and a half ranks of Innate Soul Power, it promised a bright future.

Although Hu Liena couldn't compare to the three with Innate Full Soul Power who had gone with the Worship Hall, she was still talented enough.

(When Li Taibai, Ling Feng, and Ye Fan awakened their Martial Souls, their Soul Power fluctuations had been extremely obvious. With the strength of Titled Douluo and above, Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, and the others could tell at a glance that all three possessed Innate Full Soul Power. There was no need for an additional test.)

"Your name is Hu Liena?" Bibi Dong asked.

"Yes, Your Holiness the Pope. My name is Hu Liena." Hu Liena lowered her head and answered softly, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

Looking at her well-behaved appearance, Bibi Dong's voice grew even gentler. "Would you be willing to become my disciple and cultivate in Pope Hall?"

Hu Liena jerked her head up. Become the Pope's disciple? She had never even dared to dream of such a thing!

She pinched herself hard. Only when she felt the pain did she realize it wasn't an illusion.

"I... I'm willing!" Hu Liena was so excited that her voice trembled. She quickly bowed deeply again, her forehead almost touching the ground.

"Your disciple, Hu Liena, pays her respects to Master!" Tears slipped uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes, but this time they were tears of joy.

From that day on, she would no longer be an unnoticed little girl from the orphanage. She was now Bibi Dong's personal disciple!

Seeing Hu Liena cry with joy, a rare softness appeared in Bibi Dong's eyes. She nodded gently. "Get up. From today onward, you are my second disciple." She turned to Ling Feng. "Ling Feng, you're the senior brother. Make sure to look after your junior sister from now on."

"Yes, Master." Ling Feng bowed in reply. This little fox really hadn't disappointed him.

The children in the square looked at Hu Liena with envy and jealousy, while the orphanage director was so moved that tears streamed down his aged face. He repeatedly clasped his hands and bowed to the heavens.

Yan walked over to Hu Liena, grinning. "Nana, you're amazing! Don't forget about me in the future!"

Hu Liena nodded vigorously, wiped away her tears, and broke into a radiant smile.

Looking at her two disciples, a glint of ambition flashed in Bibi Dong's violet eyes. Though she hadn't managed to get Li Taibai and Ye Fan, she still had Ling Feng and Hu Liena, as well as the forces she was secretly cultivating. One day, she would achieve her goal.

"Come on. Follow me back to Pope Hall." Bibi Dong turned around. "From today onward, you are core disciples of Pope Hall. Take the strong as your goal, and forge ahead through hardship."

"Yes, Master!" Ling Feng and Hu Liena replied in unison, following close behind her.