The Pope's Letter and Conditions

Bibi Dong closed her eyes for a moment.

Her feelings toward Hu Liena were complicated.

Because of the incident with Qian Xunji, she had never liked Qian Renxue; every time she looked at her, she was reminded of Qian Xunji, the inner demon that haunted her entire life.

Therefore, after Bibi Dong took Hu Liena as her disciple, she poured all of her maternal love onto her.

Bibi Dong shook her head. Forget it, no need to dwell on these things.

"Yue Guan."

"This subordinate is here."

"I will write a letter to Qin Yao personally."

Bibi Dong raised her hand to signal for Yue Guan to rise.

"Additionally, I intend to send the seven members of the Martial Soul Hall Academy Team to Heaven Dou City for training."

Yue Guan was stunned, not quite understanding the meaning behind this arrangement from the Pope.

"You and Gui Mei will lead the team."

Bibi Dong added, "Nominally, they are going to seek guidance from His Highness the Holy Son, but in reality, it is time for Liena and the others to see the world. Staying cooped up in Martial Soul City to train will never produce true capability."

Yue Guan quickly grasped Bibi Dong's intent; the Pope was killing two birds with one stone.

On one hand, she was allowing Hu Liena and the others to leverage Qin Yao and the resources of Heaven Dou to improve themselves.

On the other hand, by writing the letter personally and lowering her posture to request immortal herbs for Hu Liena, if Qin Yao agreed, it showed the Pope's great influence; if he refused, it served as a probe.

As for sending him and Gui Mei to lead the team, having a level 96 and a level 95 Title Douluo escorting seven children was a display of sufficient grandeur.

Bibi Dong was truly attentive to these children, especially Hu Liena.

"This subordinate understands." Yue Guan cupped his hands. "When shall we depart?"

"Once the letter is written, set off within three days."

Five days later.

Sunset Forest, at the bottom of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well valley.

Qin Yao had just finished a round of cultivation, his purple soul power slowly receding into his body.

Dugu Yan slid down from the cliff wall, holding a wax-sealed letter in her hand.

"Your Highness, a letter from Martial Soul City. It was delivered by a special messenger from the Pope Palace, and after Grandfather received it, he told me to bring it over immediately."

Qin Yao took the letter and glanced at the wax seal.

It bore the emblem of the Nine-Curve Purple Gold Crown.

The Pope's private seal.

He tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.

The letter was written in Bibi Dong's own hand; the script was upright and powerful, the wording polite but not servile. Even when asking for a favor, this woman could not hide the arrogance in her bones.

The content of the letter was not long.

The first paragraph concerned the Martial Soul Hall Academy Team.

Seven young soul masters were about to head to Heaven Dou City for training, led by Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei. She hoped His Highness the Holy Son would not begrudge them his guidance, as they were, after all, the future of Martial Soul Hall.

The second paragraph was the crux of the matter.

Bibi Dong stated that her disciple, Hu Liena, practiced diligently and possessed outstanding talent, but her progress had slowed due to limited resources.

If Qin Yao possessed any suitable immortal herbs, the Pope was willing to exchange them for a 50,000-year Mental Aggregation Wisdom Skull. Furthermore, she would personally take action in the future to help him hunt a hundred thousand year soul ring.

At the end of the letter, a note was added: The soul bone had been sent along with the team; the Holy Son could verify its quality first.

Qin Yao folded the letter and tucked it into his robe.

A 50,000-year Mental Aggregation Wisdom Skull.

He certainly knew of this soul bone.

In the original story, this item eventually fell into the hands of Tang San. Its attached mental aggregation effect was extremely practical, allowing for a significant increase in the efficiency of mental power usage.

At 50,000 years, the quality was neither too high nor too low, but its strength lay in its mental attribute, making it incredibly useful.

After all, mental power was notoriously difficult to cultivate.

But for Qin Yao to absorb it himself?

There was no need. He had always set his sights on hundred thousand year soul bones; a 50,000-year item was not quite enough.

But to use it for others...

Qin Yao glanced at Ye Lingling, who was practicing healing techniques on the other side of the valley, then looked at Dugu Yan, who was leaning against the stone wall wiping away sweat.

Both were suitable candidates, but Qin Yao was no fool; without merit, he would naturally not grant such a reward just like that.

Furthermore, the contents of Bibi Dong's letter were not as deranged as expected; perhaps it was because, at this point in time, she had yet to cross paths with Yu Xiaogang again.

But what intrigued Qin Yao most was Bibi Dong's offer to personally hunt a hundred-thousand-year soul ring for him.

As for the immortal herbs Bibi Dong wanted in exchange.

Qin Yao pondered the inventory currently in his possession.

It wasn't that he lacked options suitable for Hu Liena, but he needed to be clear on one thing: was Hu Liena truly worth his investment?

In the original story, this woman was fiercely loyal to Bibi Dong and possessed remarkable talent, yet it was truly absurd that she fell for Tang Yin even after knowing he was from the Clear Sky Sect.

However, Qin Yao didn't care; if Hu Liena were to betray Martial Soul Hall in the future, he would personally snap her neck!

Still, having an entire team arrive at once was quite a nuisance!

Qin Yao rubbed his temples.

"Troublesome."

Dugu Yan leaned in: "Your Highness, what is troubling you?"

"The Pope is sending people from the Martial Soul Hall Academy over for me to take on as trainees."

Dugu Yan wrinkled her nose: "Your Highness is not a nanny."

"Yue Guan and Gui Mei are coming too."

Dugu Yan's expression shifted; she hadn't expected two Title Douluo to be arriving as well.

"Then what does Your Highness intend to do?"

Qin Yao shoved the letter back into his Soul Guidance Gun.

"We'll see when they get here. Regardless, they are coming, and there is no stopping them."

He paused, then added: "The Pope also wants to trade a fifty-thousand-year soul bone for my immortal herbs."

Dugu Yan's ears perked up: "A fifty-thousand-year soul bone?!"

"Mental Aggregation Wisdom Skull," Qin Yao nodded, "The quality is decent, but it's of no use to me."

"Then give it to me!"

Dugu Yan blurted out, only to realize how rash she had been, and quickly corrected herself.

"I mean, if Your Highness thinks it is appropriate..."

Qin Yao glanced at her without answering.

"Whether I trade for it or not will be decided once the item arrives."

He stood up and walked back toward his cultivation spot.

After taking two steps, he suddenly stopped.

"Yanzi."

"Yes!"

"Cultivate diligently lately. Once they arrive, you will likely have to exchange a few blows with them."

Qin Yao did not turn back, continuing instead.

"Prepare yourself in advance. Don't embarrass me when the time comes."

Dugu Yan straightened her back.

"Rest assured, Your Highness."

"Good!" Qin Yao tossed out the single word and continued forward.

Dugu Yan made a face at his retreating back, then turned and dragged Ye Lingling away.

"Lingling, Lingling! The Pope's disciples are coming, the people from the Martial Soul Hall Academy! His Highness wants me to fight them!"

Ye Lingling looked somewhat uneasy: "Will it be dangerous?"

"What is there to fear with His Highness around?"

Dugu Yan patted her chest.

"Besides, His Highness told me to study their soul skills in advance. Lingling, help me think—what are the weaknesses of the Demon Fox martial soul?"

Ye Lingling thought for a moment.

"It is a mental-type control martial soul, so it fears opponents with strong willpower and high mental power. Your Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor carries a poison-type mental interference, so you should have some resistance."

"Right, right! That's it!"

The two crouched by the stream and began whispering as they studied the matter.

Qin Yao sat back in his cultivation spot and closed his eyes.

What he hadn't told Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling was that Hu Liena and Xie Yue possessed a Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

That move, "Demon Charm," released a Red Mist Domain that reduced the senses, soul power, and mobility of everyone within it by fifty percent, and within that domain, only the casters could see.

When a peak Soul Ancestor unleashed such a fusion skill, even an average Soul King would be no match for them.

Not to mention Dugu Yan.

However, it is precisely for this reason that it is worth practicing.

True warriors cannot be raised in a greenhouse. Letting them spar with each other is also quite excellent.

Qin Yao closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, and his purple soul power began to circulate within his body once again.

Seven days later, the Martial Soul Hall Academy Team will arrive in Heaven Dou City.