The Night Before Departure

Inside the luxurious bedchamber, upon a massive bed crafted from the hide of a Thousand Year Thunderstorm Demon Bear, Su Zhen slowly opened his eyes, the intense pain radiating through his body forcing him to gasp.

"Someone, bring me a cup of water."

Su Zhen's hoarse voice emerged from his throat; having been unconscious for so long, he felt as though his body were falling apart.

The maid serving outside the door immediately brought a cup of Blue Silver Grass dew and handed it to Su Zhen. He took the cup, tilted his head back, and gulped it down before he finally felt his senses return.

"How long have I been asleep?"

Su Zhen rubbed his throbbing temples and asked.

"Answering the Young Master, you have slept for three hours."

"So long? Did Teacher not have a Healing System Soul Master come to treat me?"

"The Great Enshrined said you should go find him yourself."

"Where is Teacher?"

"The Great Enshrined is waiting for you at the Worship Hall."

Assisted by the maid, Su Zhen quickly dressed and headed out toward the Worship Hall.

Pushing open the heavy doors of the Worship Hall, the first thing Su Zhen saw was Qian Daoliu standing beneath the Angel God Statue.

"Teacher, I have arrived."

Su Zhen approached Qian Daoliu and called out softly.

"Xiao Zhen, are you wondering why I did not have a Healing System Soul Master treat your wounds?"

"Please enlighten me, Teacher."

"Every time you have been injured these past few years in the Worship Hall, you have sought out a Healing System Soul Master. This has caused your body to develop a dependency on them. If the day comes when there is no Healing System Soul Master by your side, how long will it take for your body to recover to its peak?"

Su Zhen was shocked to hear Qian Daoliu's explanation; this was a situation he had never anticipated.

"Many thanks for the guidance, Teacher. This disciple will minimize his reliance on Healing System Soul Masters from now on."

"Mm, just remember it."

"Yesterday, you gained the upper hand in your duel against the Lion. After a unanimous decision by us Enshrined, we have approved your plan to go out for experiential training."

Qian Daoliu shifted the topic to yesterday's duel and delivered the final verdict regarding Su Zhen's departure for training.

"That is wonderful! Thank you, Teacher and the other grandfathers, for your understanding."

Su Zhen was genuinely surprised and delighted by this news; he could finally set out to execute certain plans he had been harboring.

"However, considering your importance to our Martial Soul Hall, we will dispatch one Titled Douluo and two Soul Douluos to accompany you on your future training to ensure your safety. Of course, unless it reaches a life-or-death situation, they will not intervene."

"I shall strictly follow Teacher's arrangements."

"Go on then. Prepare for your training and leave tomorrow. You've been cooped up in the Worship Hall for so long, you must be stifled, right?"

"Yes, Teacher. I shall go and prepare now."

Su Zhen bowed respectfully and exited the Worship Hall.

"Since I am leaving, I should go find the little fox."

Su Zhen descended the steps in front of the Worship Hall and arrived at the complex of Martial Soul Hall buildings on the mountainside.

In front of the magnificent Pope Hall, Su Zhen found a Hall Guardian Knight and said to him, "Go to the Saintess Hall and tell the Saintess that Su Zhen is here, and have her come out to see me."

"Yes, My Lord!"

The Hall Guardian Knight bowed and turned to head toward the rear of the Pope Hall. The youth before him was not someone he could afford to offend; the Kirin Embroidery on his robes proved that this youth was a core member of the Worship Hall. A single word from him could cost the knight his job, even if he was a man of the Pope Hall.

Not long after, a young girl wearing a Bright Yellow Short Palace Dress came skipping out.

As soon as the girl exited the Pope Hall, she caught sight of Su Zhen standing outside the door.

"Brother Zhen, you came to see me?"

"That's right, Na'er. It's been a while since I came to find you. I'm free today, so I came to check on you."

Su Zhen looked at Hu Liena before him and revealed a bright smile.

Hu Liena had been discovered at the Martial Soul Hall Orphanage by a Deacon responsible for awakening Martial Souls in the second year after Su Zhen was brought to the Worship Hall by Qian Daoliu, and on that very day, she was taken as a disciple by the Pope, Bibi Dong.

Su Zhen had met her during a holiday while he was taking Oscar out for a stroll in Martial Soul City. The two had crossed paths and clashed over a Hundred Year Deer Spirit Grass that could strengthen the physique. At first, they were at each other's throats, refusing to yield even after revealing their identities, until Bibi Dong arrived and took Hu Liena away, ending the conflict with Su Zhen's victory.

Afterward, Su Zhen told Qian Daoliu about the incident, but Qian Daoliu said nothing. However, the very next day, Hu Liena ran to the Worship Hall alone to apologize. Since then, they would often run into each other in various parts of Martial Soul Hall, and the two grew familiar with one another.

Su Zhen did not know why Bibi Dong had let her newly accepted disciple concede, but he felt that after this incident, Bibi Dong's influence within Martial Soul Hall had increased slightly.

Perhaps there had been some sort of trade between the factions of the Worship Hall and the Pope Hall.

"Na'er, I am leaving Martial Soul Hall tomorrow."

"What? Why are you leaving so suddenly, Brother Zhen? Is there some mission you need to carry out?"

Upon hearing the news of Su Zhen's departure, Hu Liena's expression changed instantly, and she asked urgently.

"I am going out to gain experience. I have stayed in the Worship Hall for too long; it is time to see the strength of spirit masters in the outside world."

"Is that so? Then, Brother Zhen, did you come to find me today to say goodbye?"

"That's right. I will be gone for quite a while this time, so you won't be seeing me for a long time."

"Then Brother Zhen must keep me company properly today; you cannot refuse me."

"Very well, I will spend the day with you."

Hu Liena grabbed Su Zhen's arm and headed down the mountain. The two spent the entire day wandering through Martial Soul City before parting ways, and after escorting Hu Liena to the front of the Pope Hall, Su Zhen returned home.

Hu Liena pushed open the heavy doors of the Pope Hall and walked inside. On the papal throne at the front of the hall sat a voluptuous woman draped in purple robes.

"Little Na, has he returned?"

The woman spoke, her voice carrying a languid yet majestic tone.

"Yes, Teacher. He left after escorting me to the front of the hall."

The woman was none other than the current Pope of the Martial Soul Hall and Hu Liena's teacher, Bibi Dong.

"You have done well. You may go; I will arrange opportunities for you to meet him again in the future."

"Yes, Teacher."

Hu Liena turned and left. At this moment, she was a completely different person from the one Su Zhen knew, her entire being radiating an icy coldness.

Only Bibi Dong remained in the vast, empty hall, leaning back against her throne.

"Heh, Su Zhen, I hope you and Little Na get along well. This is a surprise I have prepared for you for the future, after all."

Bibi Dong's casual voice echoed through the hall.

Su Zhen returned to his quarters and began to pack, stowing away healing salves, dry rations, and clothing into his spirit tool ring.

"This should be enough. I hope this journey allows me to successfully accomplish a few things."

Knock, knock, knock.

A knocking sound echoed. Su Zhen stepped forward to open the door, and Oscar appeared before him, still in his pajamas.

"Little Ao, it's so late. Why aren't you sleeping? What are you doing here?"

Su Zhen asked, puzzled.

"Brother Zhen, I thought about it after I got back. I want to accompany you on your journey."

"No, Little Ao. You are an auxiliary-system spirit master. Staying in the Worship Hall to cultivate properly is the path most suited for you."

Su Zhen sternly rejected Oscar's request.

"But~"

"There are no 'buts.' Now, immediately, at once, go back to sleep."

Su Zhen's voice grew louder, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority.

"Alright, Brother Zhen, I'm going back now. Please don't be angry."

Seeing that Su Zhen was becoming irritated, Oscar quickly turned and left, no longer daring to mention following him out.

Su Zhen closed the door, climbed onto his bed, sat cross-legged, and began his nightly cultivation.

The night passed quietly in the midst of his training.