"No, Senior Sister. Teacher didn't blame me."
Ye Xuan didn't want to tell Hu Liena what Bibi Dong had said to him just yet.
After all, the whole thing sounded absurd.
"Junior Brother, what level is your Soul Power now?"
"Level sixteen. I'm only four levels away from breaking through to level twenty and becoming a Soul Grandmaster."
Hearing Ye Xuan's answer, Hu Liena's mouth fell open in shock.
As far as she knew, it had only been a little over two months since Ye Xuan awakened his Martial Soul.
But soon,
she remembered that the Soul Ring Ye Xuan had absorbed came from Xiao Wu, a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, and felt a little more at ease.
"Little Ye Xuan, what kind of Second Soul Ring do you want to choose?"
Hearing Hu Liena's question, Ye Xuan couldn't help falling into thought.
That was true.
At his current rate of cultivation, he would definitely break through to level twenty within a year.
He really did need to start preparing for his second Soul Ring.
"Mm, Senior Sister. I'll give the Soul Ring some serious thought."
Seeing the earnest look on Ye Xuan's face, Hu Liena still felt a little worried.
Xiao Wu was a transformed Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Being lucky enough to take her in and make her his was already a blessing from fate.
She hoped her junior wouldn't let the enormous difference in Soul Ring quality unsettle his state of mind.
However,
Hu Liena had no idea that Ye Xuan wasn't worrying about being unable to find a suitable Soul Ring.
If anything, there were too many suitable ones, and he couldn't decide which to absorb first.
The gravely wounded Sky Dream Ice Silkworm and the dying Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin, were both excellent choices.
What's more, as long as he could subdue the Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, taking in the Ice and Snow Emperors of the Far North and Ice Bear King Xiaobai would become much easier.
And once he eventually made it to Sea God Island, he could bring the Demon Soul Great White Shark, Xiao Bai, into his team as well.
As Ye Xuan walked along, imagining all the Ferocious Beasts he would subdue in the future, two tall young men blocked his way.
They merely gave Ye Xuan a disdainful glance before turning their attention to Hu Liena, who was walking beside him.
"Nana, is this the brat who took our spot and stole the show at the Martial Soul Exchange Conference?"
The burly red-haired young man's voice was full of disdain, though he seemed particularly polite toward Hu Liena.
Hu Liena's expression changed when she saw them.
Then she shot a displeased look at the young man standing beside her with a smile plastered on his face.
The pair before them were none other than the future Golden Generation of Spirit Hall:
Yan, whose Martial Soul was the Flame Lord, and Hu Liena's older brother, Xie Yue, whose Martial Soul was the Full Moon Scimitar.
Hu Liena pulled Ye Xuan behind her.
"Yan, this was all Teacher's decision. If you have a problem with it, you can go ask her. Why come here to bother my junior brother?"
At Hu Liena's words, Yan, who had been bristling with anger, immediately softened.
"N-no, Nana. I'm just a little unwilling to accept it. After all, the list of participants was set three months ago. Xie Yue and I had prepared for ages, and then..."
"So what? Teacher chose who would take part. If you're unhappy about it, go ask her directly."
Hu Liena couldn't be bothered to argue with Yan. In her eyes, he was like a piece of sticky gum she couldn't get rid of.
He relied on his grandfather, a Spirit Hall Elder, and his talent with dual fire-and-earth attributes to keep disturbing her peace and quiet.
"Nana, I'm sorry. I really couldn't hold him back, so..."
Xie Yue looked somewhat apologetic. He knew Yan had feelings for his sister, but his sister simply wasn't into his type.
"Brother, the Spirit Hall Golden Generation trial in three years is crucial to us. Spirit Hall definitely won't pour resources into the weak."
Hearing Hu Liena, a hint of tension rose in Xie Yue's eyes.
Yan quieted down as well.
Compared with the trial three years from now, this Martial Soul Exchange Conference was clearly just child's play.
"Mm, don't worry, little sister. I won't hold you back."
Xie Yue's talent was actually about the same as Hu Liena's. The difference was that Pope Bibi Dong had taken an interest in Hu Liena and made her a disciple, giving her access to far more resources.
Hearing Xie Yue and Hu Liena's exchange, Yan, now back to his senses, spoke in a muffled voice.
"Don't worry, Nana. I won't hold you back either!"
Hu Liena responded to Yan with an utterly exasperated roll of her eyes.
Yan might have been a little stupid, but he wasn't a bad person. He would make a fine teammate.
"Senior Sister, what is the Spirit Hall Golden Generation trial?"
The original story never mentioned this kind of trial.
So Ye Xuan knew absolutely nothing about it.
Hearing Ye Xuan's question, Yan folded his arms and gave him a scrutinizing look.
But before he could say anything, Hu Liena answered Ye Xuan.
"Basically, all the talented upper-year students at Martial Soul Academy are gathered together and sent into a valley filled with thousand-year, or even ten-thousand-year, Soul Beasts. They have to fight it out, and only the strongest make it through."
"Spirit Hall also sends Elders to guard the place, to make sure as few students as possible die."
"The seven who last until the end without being eliminated become the Golden Generation."
Hu Liena paused.
"Of course, anyone who's too afraid to fight and hides until the end is eliminated on the spot. That's why Spirit Hall rarely manages to fill all seven spots in its Golden Generation. Last time, for example, only four earned that honor."
After hearing Hu Liena's explanation, Ye Xuan finally understood how the Golden Generation was selected.
No wonder the Golden Generation of Spirit Hall in the original story consisted of only Yan, Xie Yue, and Hu Liena.
So everyone else had been eliminated.
"Three years from now... Thank you, Senior Sister. I understand."
Time flew by.
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
Pope Palace.
A bright-eyed young man was kneeling in the hall.
"Teacher, your disciple has broken through to level twenty. I ask your permission to go hunt for my Second Soul Ring."
Ye Xuan's voice echoed through the hall. Bibi Dong, seated in the main seat, looked down at him, a faint smile playing at her lips.
"Not bad. You've actually broken through to level twenty in just one year. Ye Xuan, I truly didn't misjudge you."
Receiving Bibi Dong's praise, Ye Xuan merely nodded, his expression still calm.
"Without your guidance, Teacher, your disciple could never have broken through so quickly."
Hearing his answer, Bibi Dong only smiled faintly.
She was very pleased with this considerate and obedient young disciple, Ye Xuan.
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