"Why would a surge of ghostly evil energy shoot into the sky in Spirit City? I never expected it to be caused by this child's Martial Soul Awakening."
Qian Xunji's gaze fell on Su Chen's Martial Soul. It was a powerful humanoid Martial Soul with its own accompanying followers. Its quality was clearly extraordinary.
"Reporting to His Holiness the Pope, this child is named Su Chen. He's from the Spirit Hall Orphanage. His Soul Power test just now showed Innate Full Soul Power."
The director deliberately emphasized the last few words.
Qian Xunji's eyes glimmered. "Xiao Chen, even in the history of Spirit Hall, no one has ever possessed a Martial Soul like yours. It may have special abilities. You can try communicating with it."
At his words, Su Chen focused on sensing his Martial Soul.
"My Martial Soul comes with the beginnings of a domain called the Nine Nether Lovesickness Ghost Domain. It forcibly weakens all enemies' attributes by fifteen percent, and Soul Power and spiritual power can't cleanse it. For every half hour inside the domain, all my attributes increase by five percent..."
"There's also a symbiotic domain, Three Souls Return to Their Places, Ghost Domain Unto Itself: the Ghost Emperor suppresses, the Ghost Bride binds and slays with the evil force of love, and the Ghost Celestial Master seals with runes. I don't know the specific effects yet. I expect I'll need to become a true Soul Master first..."
Su Chen didn't hide anything. Showing some of his talent was the best way to earn their attention.
Qian Xunji secretly drew a sharp breath. Just as he'd suspected.
Like Dong'er, this child had a powerful domain of his own.
And he had two of them.
A flawless piece of jade, one rarely seen in ten thousand years.
With proper cultivation, he'd surely become Qian Xunji's right-hand man in the future.
"Su Chen, from today onward, you'll become my Saintess's personal disciple and enter Spirit Hall's inner circle."
As soon as he spoke, the entire crowd erupted.
The Pope's personal disciple—what an unparalleled honor!
Huh?
Wait!
The Saintess's disciple?
Su Chen was stunned too.
He'd imagined countless possibilities.
He'd even considered becoming Bibi Dong's junior fellow disciple.
But he'd never thought he'd become her student.
The current Saintess.
Just yesterday, word had spread that she'd reached level forty-nine!
"What? You're unwilling?"
Qian Xunji narrowed his eyes.
"I'm willing."
Su Chen agreed without hesitation, though he had to steel himself.
He understood.
If he dared refuse...
"Congratulations, Your Holiness, on gaining a Saintly Grandson!"
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on gaining an excellent disciple!"
The many Spirit Hall members bowed to Qian Xunji and offered their congratulations.
Qian Xunji was delighted, and his tightly pursed lips relaxed. "Good, good. What a fine Saintly Grandson. I came in a hurry and didn't prepare a gift, so I'll have to leave that for another time."
"Demasi, let my good Saintly Grandson rest for three days. After that, personally escort him to the Pope Palace and have the Saintess teach him herself."
"This subordinate obeys!"
Director Demasi hurriedly bowed and accepted the order.
As soon as Qian Xunji left, the oppressive atmosphere finally lifted.
The children and Soul Masters nearby immediately crowded around, their faces wreathed in ingratiating smiles as they scrambled to curry favor with the future Saintess's disciple.
He'd gone from orphan to the Saintess's disciple, leaping several ranks in status. It was something no one would ever have imagined.
A hint of coldness flashed through Director Demasi's eyes. He immediately barked, "Everyone, stand back. Martial Soul Awakening will continue."
"Sigma, take Su Chen away and make sure he gets some rest."
"All right, Director."
"Sigma, where are you going?"
"To take Brother Su Chen back to the dormitory."
"What dormitory? Clear out my room and let him sleep there."
"Ah, all right, Director."
"Sigma, what are you off to do now?"
"I'm going to find Auntie Wang and have her clean the room."
"What do you need Auntie Wang for? Call my wife over. She has nothing to do and is free to serve...ahem, to look after him personally!"
"Ah, all right..."
Sigma clearly hadn't expected the director to take such an interest. After a moment's hesitation, she quickly answered.
"Brother Su Chen, come on. Follow me."
Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Saintess's Palace.
Bibi Dong sat at her vanity in a light-colored nightdress, her beautiful wine-colored hair falling loose, a few strands resting in the hollow of her cleavage.
She changed into a gorgeous, elegant golden gown and walked out of her room.
Demasi and Su Chen had already been waiting in the courtyard.
When the Saintess appeared, Demasi hurriedly bowed. "Your Highness, as the Pope instructed, I've brought your disciple to you."
"Mm. You may leave."
"Yes, this subordinate takes her leave."
Bibi Dong's scrutinizing gaze settled on Su Chen.
He had a decent face.
A moment later, her lovely brows furrowed slightly.
The Martial Soul inside her had begun stirring for some inexplicable reason.
Her teacher had said Su Chen's Martial Soul surpassed her own in the realm of darkness. At first she hadn't believed it, but now she was starting to.
"Innate Full Soul Power... Mm, very good. Release your Martial Soul so I can have a look."
Buzz!
Three familiar figures quietly appeared, and ghostly energy spread soundlessly through the courtyard.
A cold wind swept by.
The Ghost Bride, dressed in a blood-red wedding gown and holding a red oil-paper umbrella, drifted over. The phantom images of red lanterns floated around her, and her resentful, baleful aura made the air feel gloomy and chilling.
The Purple-Robed Celestial Master Ghost appeared out of thin air. Her loose, dark-purple Taoist robe was grandly cut, its surface covered in eerie runes that gleamed with a dim, ghostly light. Her face was pale and coldly beautiful, with a few loose strands of hair hanging beside her cheeks, carrying a faint yin aura. She often held a dark talisman in her hand, pale purple lightning glimmering at her fingertips. Ghostly energy and the Dao's aura intertwined around her, making her wicked, baleful, and yet brimming with righteousness.
"This Martial Soul..."
Bibi Dong's gaze landed on the Red-Robed Ghost Emperor behind Su Chen. Her willow brows drew together, and confusion flickered in her eyes.
The Martial Soul truly was something that had never appeared on the continent before. No wonder her teacher had dumped him on her. She had no idea where to start, and she couldn't simply ask about the Martial Soul's development; that would make her seem ignorant.
"My Martial Soul is called the Nine Nether Red-Clad Ghost Emperor."
"I call this Ghost Bride in the red wedding gown Xiangsi."
"I call this Ghost Celestial Master in the purple Taoist robe Hongdou."
Even after a three-day, three-night examination, Su Chen, a transmigrator who'd been sent to Douluo Continent by a truck, still couldn't figure them out.
But based on what he'd learned so far, the red umbrella and talisman in the two ghost maidens' hands were their respective Martial Souls.
As for whether they needed additional Soul Rings, Su Chen had no idea.
He could only wait until he obtained his First Soul Ring and see what happened.
"Hongdou and Xiangsi... That's quite a choice of names..."
The corner of Bibi Dong's mouth twitched slightly.
"Ahem. From now on, you, Su Chen, are my disciple. Call me Teacher from now on. I've prepared a gift for you: a Storage Soul Tool I once used. It has twenty-six square meters of space and can even store living things!"
Bibi Dong took out an exquisite bracelet. A trace of reluctance flashed in her beautiful eyes.
She was still a disciple herself, and now she had to take on a disciple of her own.
"I understand, Teacher." Su Chen respectfully accepted the bracelet.
A trace of surprise flashed across his eyes. Bibi Dong was pretty generous at this point in time!
"Come with me. I'll take you to meet someone. He might know about your Martial Soul and be able to precisely analyze which Soul Ring you need."
Bibi Dong did her best to maintain a teacher's dignity, imitating Qian Xunji's usual manner. Her face was solemn.
Mm? Could it be Yu Xiaogang?