After absorbing this Spirit Bone, Murong Huai's Soul Power increased by two levels. Spirit Bones didn't raise a Soul Master's Soul Power as noticeably as Spirit Rings did, and nearly ninety percent of the energy in Murong Huai's Spirit Bone had gone toward granting him a Soul Skill and strengthening his mental power. The boost to his Soul Power hadn't been very great.
Besides, Murong Huai was only six years and two months old, yet he already had Level 27 Soul Power. He had surpassed everyone in the history of Douluo Continent.
...,
Pope Palace.
"Oh? Huai'er didn't choose a high-ranking Soul Douluo, but instead chose Gui Mei and Yue Guan, who had only recently reached the Soul Douluo level?" Qian Daoliu listened to Xiongshi's report, puzzled.
By ordinary reasoning, choosing a high-ranking Soul Douluo would surely be more worthwhile. Yet Murong Huai had chosen Gui Mei and Yue Guan, whose Soul Power was relatively low, leaving the others confused.
They couldn't have known that Murong Huai was aware these two would become Super Douluo in the future. There were plenty of other high-ranking Soul Douluo, but almost none of them would become Titled Douluo. They had either been stuck at the peak of the Soul Douluo level, unable to break through, or would die before then.
"Your Holiness, I've looked into them. Both are quite capable, and they can even perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill," Xiongshi explained, sharing what he'd learned.
"Oh? A Martial Soul Fusion Skill? Heh, looks like this little fellow has a keen eye." At that, Qian Daoliu nodded in satisfaction.
Xiongshi and Guangling nodded in agreement as well. A Martial Soul Fusion Skill performed by two Soul Douluo might not defeat a Titled Douluo, but it could at least hold one off. That was worth far more than a high-ranking Soul Douluo.
"Good. Send Gui Mei and Yue Guan to Murong Mansion, then."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
...,
That afternoon, two figures appeared at Murong Mansion. One had skin as fair as a baby's, strikingly beautiful features, and a voice and appearance that leaned feminine, though there was an Adam's apple on his neck. He wore a golden-yellow outfit. The other had fair skin and a face as handsome as jade, but black markings across his face made him look sinister and frightening. He was dressed in black.
These two were Gui Mei and Yue Guan. Yue Guan looked over Murong Mansion, holding his fingers in an orchid-like pose as he spoke in a teasing voice.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Old Ghost, what a magnificent mansion! Who would've thought we'd be assigned to protect Marshal Murong's only son? Hee hee hee..."
Hearing Yue Guan's pinched voice, Gui Mei's expression didn't change. He seemed to have grown used to it. In a slightly hoarse voice, he said,
"I heard Marshal Murong's son was named the Holy Son by the Grand Worship, and His Holiness the Pope took him as a disciple, too. He even picked the two of us himself. Chrysanthemum Guan, tone it down. Don't disgust the Holy Son..."
"Hmph, get lost, Old Ghost! Who are you calling disgusting? You'd better not scare the Holy Son..." Yue Guan gave an irritated snort and flicked his hair.
Creak—
The gate of Murong Mansion swung open. Tu Zhen and Ju Qinglan had opened it, and Murong Huai slowly stepped out behind them. When he saw the two men at the gate, he froze for a moment, but quickly recognized them from their clothes.
Gui Mei and Yue Guan, however, had never met Murong Huai and didn't recognize him.
Tu Zhen also belonged to Pope Palace. When he saw Gui Mei and Yue Guan, he said,
"Gui Mei, Yue Guan, you two got here pretty quickly." Then he turned and gestured toward Murong Huai.
"This is the Holy Son of our Spirit Hall."
At Tu Zhen's words, Gui Mei and Yue Guan hurriedly bowed. "Your subordinates, Gui Mei and Yue Guan, pay their respects to Your Highness the Holy Son."
"You don't need to stand on ceremony." Murong Huai waved a hand.
"Since you've arrived in time, we're just about to leave for Star Dome Valley. Come along with us."
"Yes, Your Highness the Holy Son."
As soon as Murong Huai finished speaking, two carriages rolled up. Tu Zhen, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan boarded the second carriage, while Murong Huai and Ju Qinglan climbed into the first.
As if! Why would he want to sit with two grown men when the lovely, big-sister-next-door Ju Qinglan was right there?
Once everyone had boarded, the coachman set off for Star Dome Valley outside the city.
Murong Huai still planned to head to Star Dome Valley to train. Cultivating an Ultimate Martial Soul was difficult, and he also had swordsmanship to practice. He wasn't confident he could gain another three levels of Soul Power by the time he turned seven and reach the Soul Elder level.
Sigh, the road of cultivation was long and arduous...
︿(￣︶￣)︿...
Everyone else: Do you even hear yourself? How is that something a person would say!!!
...,
----Overseas.
Overseas, a vast island like a brilliant pearl floated above the waves. This mysterious island was made up of seven main peaks, with a towering sacred mountain rising at its center. It stood a thousand meters tall, its summit wreathed in clouds, where divine light seemed to flicker.
The island was surrounded by azure waters. Waves lapping against the shore sounded like heavenly music, and the air carried a salty freshness, made clean and pleasant by the purifying power of divinity.
Seven cities stood around the island, each with a massive Sacred Pillar that looked utterly miraculous. At the very center lay the Ring Sea, where sharks could sometimes be seen leaping from the water.
At its center was an island within an island. A sacred mountain rose there, and atop it stood a palace filled with an endless, holy aura, inspiring awe in all who beheld it.
Inside the palace stood an ocean-blue statue depicting a dignified, holy figure in robes, holding a trident.
Before the statue, a handsome man in a crystalline blue robe sat cross-legged, an almost imperceptible aura radiating from him.
After a long while, he slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air. A flash of light passed through them.
"Phew... I'm still a little short. The gap between Level 98 and Level 99 is enormous."
Just then, a woman in a red-and-blue dress walked in. Seeing her, the man smiled and said,
"Xiao Xi, why aren't you cultivating? What brings you to see your teacher?"
The woman didn't answer him directly. Instead, she said, "Teacher, I've just been feeling unsettled lately. I keep sensing that something major is about to happen."
"Ah, Xiao Xi, your talent surpasses your teacher's, and you've received the Sea God's Eight Trials from Lord Sea God. As long as you keep cultivating steadily, you'll certainly reach the Limit Douluo level. How could you be feeling unsettled?" The man smiled and shook his head.
This man was Haimala, the current High Priest of Sea God Island, a Level 98 Peak Douluo. The woman was Bo Saixi, the candidate to become the next High Priest and currently a Level 97 Peak Douluo.
Bo Saixi shook her head.
"Ah, let's not talk about me. How is your breakthrough coming along, Teacher?"
Haimala looked helpless. "Ah, the gap between Level 98 and Level 99 is enormous. But after being bathed in Sea God's Light, I'm only one step away from reaching that realm. I may be able to break through within a year."
"Teacher, if you break through, are you really going to the mainland again?" Bo Saixi asked, voicing the question that worried her most.
At her words, a ruthless glint flashed in Haimala's eyes. He stood and walked to the window, gazing toward the mainland.
"Back then, the Sea God and Angel God were evenly matched. But why should my Sea God lineage be confined to Sea God Island, guarding only part of the sea?
"Meanwhile, the Angel God's lineage can live on the mainland and awe the entire continent in the name of Spirit Hall. The world knows of Spirit Hall and its Angel God, yet hardly anyone knows the might of the Sea God of Sea God Island."
Hearing Haimala's words, Bo Saixi sighed, shook her head, and turned toward the exit.
"Teacher, you know those words are just a way to cover up what's really going on. I know I can't stop you. I only hope you can let go..."
As she spoke, Bo Saixi disappeared from Sea God Hall. Hearing her words,
A flicker of emotion passed through Haimala's eyes. He gazed at the scenery outside the window, lost in thought for a long while. Then he closed his eyes and murmured,
"A-Cheng, if only we hadn't... back then."
Before you continue