Deeper Research into Soul Beasts

Along the way, Hu Liena said very little. Chu Hanxiang and Xu Mochen simply followed at her side as she led them to a secluded place.

Only after confirming that no one else was around did she take a deep breath and bow to Xu Mochen. "I'm sorry, Xiao Chen. I should have stepped in sooner, but I didn't, and you got hurt. I hope you can forgive Spirit Hall, too. I'll have my teacher deal with Yan and Qin Ze. Just don't take it to heart."

Seeing this, Chu Hanxiang nearly dropped her jaw in shock! What did she mean, asking Xu Mochen to forgive Spirit Hall? That was insane! Spirit Hall was the most powerful Soul Master faction on Douluo Continent, a holy land in the hearts of Soul Masters!

Just who was Xu Mochen? From what Sister Nana had said, Xu Mochen wasn't just not a member of Spirit Hall—even Hu Liena, a disciple of the Pope, treated him with such deference! Not even the crown princes of the two great empires could command that kind of treatment! This world was crazy!

Xu Mochen merely gave a wry smile, then put on a wounded, aggrieved expression and looked at Hu Liena. "I thought Sister Nana and I were friends, and that was why you helped me. I didn't realize it was only because of the background behind me. I truly considered you a friend, Sister Nana. I never thought you'd see me that way."

Hearing his words and seeing his "hurt" expression, Hu Liena was suddenly filled with both delight and guilt. She hurried to explain, "Don't misunderstand, little brother Xiao Chen. Of course we're friends. It's just that you really were targeted by some scoundrels in Spirit Hall, so I only hope you won't blame all of Spirit Hall for it. After all, most people in Spirit Hall are good."

The despondency vanished from Xu Mochen's face as he heard her out. He nodded earnestly. "Don't worry, Sister Nana. Of course I know there are plenty of good people in Spirit Hall. People like you and Sister Chu, for example."

As he spoke, he glanced at Chu Hanxiang, who still looked astonished. Though she hadn't quite processed what he meant, she immediately nodded. "That's right, little brother Xiao Chen. I don't know where you come from, but please believe me: Sister Nana and I would both be glad to be your friends."

At that, Xu Mochen's eyes lit up. He smiled. "Then I can relax. Sister Nana, Sister Chu, you don't have to worry about who I am. Just treat me as your little brother! I'll treat you as my own sisters, too."

Just like that, the three of them grew closer, and Xu Mochen took the opportunity to expand his network in Spirit Hall once again. Of course, he knew full well that Yan and Qin Ze wouldn't simply let him off the hook. For now, Yan would have a hard time beating him with just the power of his Martial Soul.

Xu Mochen wasn't particularly worried, though. He still had other trump cards up his sleeve. If he used them, he wouldn't fear Yan and all his lackeys coming at him together. His confidence came from the series of Soul Guidance Weapons Kong Dehan had custom-made for him before he left Douluo Continent, as well as the special potions Cang Ming had prepared for him. But he had come to Douluo Continent to strengthen his Martial Soul, so he wouldn't reveal these methods unless the situation became critical.

The afternoon classes were fairly simple. That day's lesson was a cultural studies course taught by another middle-aged female Soul Douluo named Fang Yun. She had an oval face, long purple hair that flowed like a waterfall, and square-framed glasses that gave her the air of a sage.

The lesson covered nothing more than some basic knowledge about Soul Beasts. The fundamentals of cultivation—things like the ideal Soul Ring ratios, Martial Soul classifications, and Soul Rings and Soul Bones—had all been covered in the introductory class. Even so, Xu Mochen still found the lesson incredibly dull.

It had to be said that Douluo Continent's research into Soul Beasts was rather backward. From what the teacher said, it amounted to listing the Soul Beasts' names and appearances, explaining how to estimate their cultivation age, and describing their habits and weaknesses.

The material looked comprehensive, but it was all superficial knowledge. It didn't cover any of those topics in depth, nor did it get to the heart of the matter.

For example, what exactly made up the bodily structure of each kind of Soul Beast? What abilities did its different organs provide? Why did Soul Beasts possess these innate abilities? And why were those particular places their weaknesses?

Without investigating the basic principles from a biological perspective, one could know what happened without knowing why. This knowledge was enough for Soul Masters to hunt Soul Beasts and obtain Soul Rings, but it was clearly inadequate for any deeper research or development.

No wonder Douluo Continent and Sun Moon Continent had developed for the same ten thousand years, yet their research was so far apart! Sun Moon Continent could use biological research to dissect the inner workings of Soul Beast biology, then apply what it learned to create all kinds of genetic potions and biomimetic Soul Tools. It could even use the research to explore and understand nature! Meanwhile, Douluo Continent's knowledge of Soul Beasts remained stuck at the most basic level: hunting them for Soul Rings and cultivation!

The other students were listening with rapt attention. Xu Mochen felt speechless, but then considered that there were many Soul Beast species on Douluo Continent that didn't exist in the Sun Moon Empire. He could use this lesson to get a general idea of them first, then look for a chance to visit Spirit Hall's library and learn more. If the information there wasn't comprehensive either, he would have to try to obtain Soul Beast specimens on Douluo Continent and take them back for research.

When the class ended, Hu Liena noticed a red-robed cardinal of Spirit Saint rank approach her. He told them that His Holiness the Pope had heard about what happened that morning and wanted Hu Liena and Xu Mochen to go to Pope Palace at once.

Hu Liena had expected this, of course. She first asked Chu Hanxiang to leave, then boarded the carriage waiting for them with Xu Mochen. Under the cardinal's guidance, they headed toward Pope Palace. Hu Liena seemed a little nervous along the way, while Xu Mochen merely gave her a reassuring look before closing his eyes to rest.

Before long, the carriage arrived at Spirit Hall. As Hu Liena and Xu Mochen approached the entrance to Pope Palace, the soldiers on guard recognized Hu Liena at once and respectfully called out, "Greetings, Lady Hu Liena!" Then they slowly opened the great doors.

There was no one in the Council Hall inside Pope Palace, but Hu Liena clearly knew where Bibi Dong was. She led Xu Mochen into the palace, winding through its interior, climbing several flights of stairs, and passing through a number of corridors.

Hu Liena held a token as she walked. Spirit Hall's clergy they passed bowed to her, and the guards let them through at every checkpoint. At last, Hu Liena brought Xu Mochen to a door on the top floor of Pope Palace.

Hu Liena knocked, then said respectfully, "Teacher, your disciple Hu Liena has brought Xu Mochen." A moment later, a calm reply came from inside. "Come in. The door's unlocked."

Only then did Hu Liena relax. She immediately opened the door. As it swung open, a room filled with old-world charm came into view: bookshelves neatly packed with books, paintings and maps on the walls, crystal lamps hanging overhead, and, beyond the colorful stained-glass windows, all kinds of potted plants and strange models.

At the far end of the room stood a grand desk made of fine wood. Files, stationery, and ornaments were arranged neatly on its surface. Behind the desk, Bibi Dong, dressed in a white papal robe, was carefully reviewing the documents before her.

When Bibi Dong looked up and saw Hu Liena and Xu Mochen, she immediately set aside her work and rose from her desk. She gestured warmly toward the luxurious sofas arranged on either side of the room. "Nana and Xiao Chen are here. Come, sit down for a while. There's no one else here, so there's no need for all that formality."

Hu Liena and Xu Mochen didn't refuse. They politely sat on one sofa, while Bibi Dong took the one opposite them. The stern authority she had displayed in Pope Palace the day before was nowhere to be seen in her eyes. Instead, she seemed almost like a kindly elder. If Xu Mochen hadn't been so perceptive to shifts in a person's aura, he would never have connected the inheritor of the Rakshasa God with this seemingly gentle woman.

Bibi Dong first asked Xu Mochen with concern, "Xiao Chen, I hope you don't mind me calling you that. How has your day been? I heard you had a bit of a disagreement with some students. I also heard about what happened this morning. It's true that, as Spirit Hall has grown larger than ever, some people with ill intentions have inevitably begun to appear. Don't worry, I'll notify the relevant people and have this matter handled properly. I won't let you suffer any injustice."

"No, no, Your Holiness, you're making too much of it. I just had a little friction with a classmate. Besides, studying is never smooth sailing; running into a few difficulties is only to be expected. I would never resent Spirit Hall because of it."

As Xu Mochen spoke, he hurriedly waved his hands, acting as though he were overwhelmed by the attention. "Besides, I've met quite a few friends, like Hu Liena and Chu Hanxiang. They're both very kind and have treated me well. To be honest, I really like the atmosphere at Spirit Hall Academy. Soul Masters are bound to clash from time to time, and I came here to temper myself, not to enjoy an easy life, didn't I?"

On the surface, Xu Mochen was putting on a modest act. In truth, he had already seized the opportunity to quietly siphon off the Rakshasa God's divinity from Bibi Dong. At that moment, he hoped the conversation would last as long as possible.

Bibi Dong had no idea that Xu Mochen was secretly siphoning off her Rakshasa God divinity. She merely smiled warmly. "That's good. Don't worry. While you're studying here, just think of this place as your home. If you have any questions or need anything, you can come straight to me. If I'm not here, you can also go to Elder Hall and find the elders Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo."

As she spoke, Bibi Dong took a six-sided token from her storage ring and handed it to Xu Mochen. "You can use this token to come directly to me at Pope Palace. Or you can take it to Elder Hall and tell the guards outside that you're looking for Elder Ju or Ghost Elder. They'll notify them for you."

Xu Mochen immediately thanked her, then took the token from Bibi Dong and examined it closely. He soon noticed that it differed in many ways from the "Six-Sided Martial Soul Elder Token" described in the original story. For instance, it bore no Seven Kill Sword, chrysanthemum, or Gui Mei.

Based on the original story and the other information he knew, the six sides showed a dark golden Clear Sky Hammer, a seven-colored Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, the head of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon wreathed in blue lightning, a holy sword with golden wings, a trident with blue fins, and a magic sword surrounded by blood-red souls!

Seeing these six emblems, Xu Mochen instantly recognized the six great powers they represented: the Clear Sky Sect, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, Spirit Hall, Sea God Island, and the Capital of Killing!