Hu Liena had lived in Spirit City for years and had long heard of the two other famous prodigies in Spirit Hall.
One was her elder brother, Xie Yue. The other was Yan, who followed him around all day.
She had always looked up to her brother.
She never imagined that she, too, would receive such an extraordinary opportunity today and become the Pope's disciple.
She was not only excited, but also filled with anticipation for the future.
Meanwhile, during the time she spent waiting for her awakening,
her ears were filled with wild rumors about someone else.
"Lin Yuan!"
A god had descended on the very day of his Martial Soul Awakening, and he had directly inherited a divine position.
His Innate Full Soul Power was level twenty.
These terrifying, mythical feats filled Hu Liena with intense curiosity.
She simply couldn't imagine what kind of terrifying genius could accomplish something like that.
Night fell.
Inside the luxurious bedchamber,
soft, warm light spilled across the broad bed.
Bibi Dong had long since shed her heavy, imposing papal robes.
Now she wore only a flimsy purple-black silk nightgown.
The smooth fabric clung to her skin, perfectly outlining her stunning figure.
The nightgown had a daringly high slit. With every movement, it revealed her long, straight, jade-white legs without reserve.
The unique allure of a mature woman radiated through the secluded bedchamber, dangerously seductive.
Lin Yuan sat on a soft couch not far away, his expression as calm as ever.
Bibi Dong reclined at the edge of the bed, resting her cheek on one hand as she gazed steadily at Lin Yuan with her beautiful eyes.
They were filled with undisguised affection and pride.
"Yuan'er, you've given Mother such a wonderful surprise."
"There isn't a second person on this continent with such peerless talent."
Bibi Dong's voice was soft and languid, nothing like the iron-fisted Pope she had been during the day.
After praising Lin Yuan, a trace of icy malice suddenly flashed deep in her eyes.
In her mind, she saw Qian Xunji at the awakening ceremony that day, disheveled and furious.
That sanctimonious beast had ruined her life.
That demon had used despicable means to imprison her in Spirit Hall.
Bibi Dong sneered inwardly.
Qian Xunji, you did everything you could to suppress us, mother and son.
But you only brought this upon yourself.
With Yuan'er as my trump card, your laughable Angel Clan will sooner or later be trampled beneath our feet.
A surge of hatred churned in her chest, but Bibi Dong quickly forced it back down.
She looked at Lin Yuan, her gaze once again turning utterly gentle.
Bibi Dong rose from the bed and stepped barefoot onto the soft carpet.
She walked slowly over to Lin Yuan and bent down slightly.
Her flawless face came very close, close enough for Lin Yuan to feel her warm breath.
A faint, sweet fragrance drifted toward him.
Bibi Dong reached out with her fair fingers and gently pinched Lin Yuan's cheek.
"Grow up quickly, Yuan'er."
"I'll give you everything you want, no matter the cost!"
Her breath was fragrant, and her voice carried an indescribable intimacy and dependence.
The next morning.
Sunlight streamed through the tall stained-glass windows and fell into one of the advanced Guidance Rooms inside Spirit Hall.
It was a classroom set aside specifically for the core prodigies.
The spacious room was nearly empty.
At the edge of the room stood the budding Spirit Hall Golden Generation.
Xie Yue, with his short silver hair and stern expression, and Yan, whose whole body seemed to radiate heat.
Apart from the two of them, the vast room held only Lin Yuan.
Six-year-old Lin Yuan sat quietly in a broad chair of honor.
He rested his hands casually on the armrests, his manner utterly composed.
His aloof aura sent waves of heart-stirring pressure through the room.
His short, deep-black hair resembled a peerless sword still in its sheath, its edge seeming capable of cleaving through anything.
Even though he hadn't said a word, Xie Yue and Yan didn't dare approach him to strike up a conversation. They could barely breathe under the pressure.
The heavy redwood doors were pushed open from outside.
Bibi Dong entered in a luxurious robe, her steps graceful.
Hu Liena followed close beside her, her face full of curiosity and nerves.
Bibi Dong walked to the front of the room and stopped.
She glanced at Xie Yue and Yan, then turned her attention to Hu Liena and briefly introduced her.
"This is Hu Liena."
"Starting today, she's my personal disciple. She'll be receiving instruction here with you from now on."
After finishing the introduction,
Bibi Dong turned her head toward Hu Liena, who stood beside her.
She raised a hand and pointed at Lin Yuan, seated in the chair of honor.
"Nana, go introduce yourself."
"His name is Lin Yuan. From now on, you must never defy him."
Hu Liena swallowed and followed Bibi Dong's gesture with her eyes.
Her gaze settled on the black-haired boy sitting in the chair.
Was this the monstrously talented prodigy she'd heard so much about?
Hu Liena was wound tight with nerves.
Her bright eyes fixed on Lin Yuan in the chair of honor, and her breathing grew noticeably faster.
This was the peerless prodigy said to have brought down a god and possessed Innate Full Soul Power of level twenty.
The aloof presence that naturally radiated from Lin Yuan pressed down on her heart like an invisible mountain.
Hu Liena's palms were slick with sweat. She nervously twisted the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling.
"I... I'm Hu Liena."
"My Martial Soul is the Demon Fox... I... I have Innate Soul Power of level seven."
"Please take good care of me from now on."
She stammered through her introduction. Her pretty face flushed bright red with embarrassment, and she didn't dare meet Lin Yuan's eyes.
Standing to one side, Bibi Dong watched Hu Liena's uneasy embarrassment and smiled gently.
She lifted her jade-white hand and patted Hu Liena's shoulder to reassure her.
Then Bibi Dong turned around and looked toward Xie Yue and Yan at the edge of the room.
"Starting today, Hu Liena is officially my personal disciple."
"You're both part of Spirit Hall's younger generation. Since you'll be receiving instruction under the same roof, you must support one another and look after her."
At her words, Xie Yue and Yan immediately bowed their heads respectfully and answered in unison.
Once the introductions were over, Bibi Dong went straight to the podium at the front and began the day's lesson.
As Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Bibi Dong had studied Martial Soul Theory in great depth.
Today's lesson covered the development of one's Martial Soul Origin, as well as the method for guiding the meridians when a Soul Master absorbed their First Soul Ring.
Her voice rang clear and sweet, like pearls of every size tumbling onto a jade plate, as she carefully explained the most profound principles of cultivation.
Xie Yue and Yan listened intently.
Hu Liena quickly composed herself and, sitting with her little face tilted attentively upward, committed every word Bibi Dong said to memory.
Yet in the solemn classroom, Lin Yuan seemed completely out of place.
He sat quietly in the broad chair of honor, propping his chin on one hand as he stared into the empty space before him.
His mind was already completely immersed in his own body.
Purple-black destructive lightning and emerald-green vitality flowed slowly through his meridians, converging.
He was carefully studying how these two entirely different divine powers tempered his body, probing the primal power deep within the Nine-Nether Ao Bloodline.
This exploration of divine-level power was millions of times more profound than the basic Martial Soul Theory taught outside.
As Bibi Dong paced at the podium, her sharp peripheral vision caught Lin Yuan's distraction.
She stopped, narrowed her beautiful eyes slightly, and spoke with a hint of sternness.
"Yuan'er, stand up."
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