Bibi Dong's Shock

Meanwhile, in Martial Soul City at the Pope Palace, Bibi Dong received a dossier sent by Snake Lance Douluo.

Martial Soul Hall has three centers of power: the Pope Palace, the Elder Palace, and the Douluo Palace.

The Douluo Palace is the most prestigious entity within Martial Soul Hall, accessible only to deceased Title Douluo. It is merely symbolic, so decision-making power rests in the hands of the Pope Palace and the Elder Palace.

Excluding the seven Elders with soul power exceeding level 96, the Pope Palace holds the highest authority.

Although Snake Lance is a Title Douluo, he lacks the qualifications to be an Elder, and since the Elders generally do not interfere in the affairs of Martial Soul Hall, he owes his allegiance to Bibi Dong. However, because he is tasked with protecting Qian Renxue—who is the granddaughter of the Great Elder and level 99 Peerless Douluo Qian Daoliu—he drifts between the Pope Palace and the Elders, acting as a mediator who offends neither side.

As a Title Douluo Elder of Martial Soul Hall, he knows a thing or two about Bibi Dong's past. Knowing that Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong share a history, he cleverly prepared two versions of the report.

The version for Qian Renxue included information regarding Yu Xiaogang.

The other version, for Bibi Dong, skipped the part about Yu Xiaogang and focused solely on how remarkable Lan Si's talent is: twin martial souls, just over twelve years old, capable of killing a 2,500-year-old Soul-Eater Demon Spider alone at level 30, and currently in the process of absorbing that excessive-age soul ring.

"Twin martial souls. His martial souls are a Cyan Fire Lotus and a conical hammer no weaker than the Clear Sky Hammer, containing lightning attributes. How interesting."

Inside the spacious and bright main hall, Bibi Dong leaned lazily against her grand throne, one hand supporting her cheek, the other holding the dossier, murmuring to herself.

She was tall, wearing a long, golden ceremonial gown that fit her perfectly from head to toe. The dazzling dress shimmered with treasure light, adorned with over a hundred red, blue, and gold gemstones. The Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown atop her head radiated thousands of beams of light. A two-meter-long scepter inlaid with countless gems rested casually to her side. Her fair skin and near-perfect features made her look truly extraordinary. In particular, the invisible aura of nobility and divinity she exuded made one feel an urge to prostrate and worship.

A girl of about seventeen or eighteen with short golden hair walked into the hall and bowed to Bibi Dong: "Teacher, what are you looking at?"

"Elder Snake Lance sent word that they encountered a genius with twin martial souls in the Star Dou Great Forest," Bibi Dong replied with a playful smile.

"Twin martial souls? Isn't that the same as you, Teacher?" Hu Liena's face showed disbelief.

Bibi Dong nodded slowly, her noble face looking calm and composed.

"Teacher, will he join our Martial Soul Hall?" Hu Liena asked with a solemn expression.

A genius with twin martial souls is a double-edged sword. If they join Martial Soul Hall, it is a great boon; if they join another faction or establish their own, they will eventually pose a threat to Martial Soul Hall. One must know that the appeal of a genius is immense, and there are many factions on the Douluo Continent hostile to Martial Soul Hall. In such a situation, one must be extremely cautious when facing such a genius.

"Whether he joins our Martial Soul Hall is a matter for later. The key is whether he can survive this ordeal. Do you know that he is currently absorbing a Soul-Eater Demon Spider nearly 2,500 years old as his third soul ring?" A mocking smile appeared on Bibi Dong's noble face.

Long ago, Yu Xiaogang had summarized—or rather, researched—the absorption limits of soul rings based on data collected by Martial Soul Hall over the years.

First soul ring limit: 423 years; Second soul ring limit: 764 years; Third soul ring limit: 1,760 years; Fourth soul ring limit: 5,000 years; Fifth soul ring limit: 12,000 years; Sixth soul ring limit: 20,000 years; Seventh soul ring limit: 30,000–50,000 years; Eighth soul ring limit: Over 50,000 years; Ninth soul ring limit: Over 100,000 years.

Martial Soul Hall never officially recognized this, but Bibi Dong was the exception.

Her first martial soul followed these limits to obtain soul rings, with a configuration of: Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black, Black, Red.

Due to the scarcity of hundred-thousand-year soul beasts, her second martial soul's ring limit was set at over 50,000 years; aside from hundred-thousand-year rings, she would absorb any suitable one she encountered.

Yet Lan Si was attempting to break this limit, and by nearly 700 years beyond the third soul ring limit, reaching 2,500 years, while absorbing one of the most vicious and violent soul beasts in existence: the Soul-Eater Demon Spider.

It was simply wishful thinking.

No one knew better than her how terrifying the Soul-Eater Demon Spider was, for her second martial soul was the evolved version of it—the Soul-Eater Spider Emperor. The terrifying, violent energy contained within its soul ring was simply not something a level 30 quasi-Soul Elder could withstand.

"A 2,500-year-old Soul-Eater Demon Spider?" Hearing Bibi Dong's words, Hu Liena exclaimed, her eyes flashing with disbelief. Her pretty, rosy mouth formed an 'O' shape as she cried, "Teacher, didn't you say the maximum limit for the third soul ring is 1,760 years? Is he trying to kill himself by absorbing a 2,500-year ring?"

"Who knows? We will have news soon. Whether he lives or dies, we will know then," Bibi Dong laughed.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside the hall. A red-robed bishop walked in quickly, knelt, and bowed respectfully: "Greetings, Your Holiness the Pope."

"Well? Is the brat dead?" Bibi Dong asked casually.

"Reporting to Your Holiness, according to the message just sent by Elder Snake Lance, Lan Si has succeeded. Furthermore, he has obtained an external soul bone from the Soul-Eater Demon Spider—eight spider legs." The bishop held up a note with both hands, his voice trembling as he offered it.

"What?" Hearing this, even the composed Bibi Dong could not help but be shocked. She used the teleportation skill of her Death Domain to appear instantly before the bishop and snatched the note.

The note was clear, bearing the exclusive seal of a Martial Soul Hall Elder, and it was indeed in Snake Lance Douluo's handwriting.

Snake Lance Douluo would never dare to deceive her, which meant this information was true.

An external soul bone. This Lan Si, who possessed twin martial souls, actually had an external soul bone—and one produced by a Soul-Eater Demon Spider at that. If he were to fully mature and pledge loyalty to Martial Soul Hall, it would be fine; otherwise, he would become a greater threat to Martial Soul Hall than Tang Hao.

Just then, the bishop spoke again, trembling, "Reporting to Your Holiness, there is one more thing I need to report."

As he spoke, he glanced at Hu Liena, who was standing to the side.

Bibi Dong understood and waved her hand, signaling for Hu Liena to leave.

Although Hu Liena was very curious, she dared not defy Bibi Dong's will. She bowed slightly, performed a respectful salute, and turned to walk out of the hall.