This was an absolute one-on-one finishing move.
Nearby, Yue Guan watched the terrifying destruction it had caused and drew in a sharp breath.
Was this the kind of destruction an ordinary Soul Elder could cause?
He knew that from this day on, Soul Masters of the same rank who faced Su Ming would have no chance of survival.
Su Ming slowly lowered his right hand, and the black currents of air around him dissipated.
He turned to Yue Guan, who was still in shock, and said calmly:
"Elder, let's go. It's time to return to Spirit Hall."
After returning to Spirit City, Su Ming first went to the Pope Palace.
Inside the grand hall, Bibi Dong had changed back into her imposing papal robes and was seated high upon her throne.
Su Ming walked to the center of the hall and bowed. "Your Holiness the Pope, I've finished absorbing my third Soul Ring."
Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her expression calm.
With Spirit Hall's resources and Yue Guan personally escorting him, securing a two-thousand-year Soul Beast had been well within expectations.
She picked up the teacup on the long table and asked casually, "Good. It's enough that you completed it as planned. Now that you're back, what level has your Soul Power stabilized at?"
Su Ming replied, "Your Holiness, my Soul Power has successfully reached level thirty-nine."
"Clink."
The teacup in Bibi Dong's hand stopped in midair without warning.
Her formerly composed expression froze the instant she heard the words "level thirty-nine."
Her eyes fixed on Su Ming below.
Level thirty-nine?
He'd only absorbed a two-thousand-year Soul Ring, yet his Soul Power had shot all the way up to level thirty-nine?
He was just one step away from becoming a level-forty Soul Ancestor?
How was that possible?
He'd gone from level thirty to level thirty-nine—a full nine levels!
Bibi Dong hurriedly set down her teacup, her voice betraying her shock. "Level thirty-nine? What exactly happened?"
There was no need for Su Ming to hide it, so he answered honestly. "Your Holiness, this was partly due to the effects of the Immortal Herb Narcissus Jade Bone, and partly due to the energy returned to me by the Soul Beast."
"In Star Dou Forest, I didn't absorb the two-thousand-year Soul Beast originally chosen for me. Instead, I chose a five-thousand-year Hell Soul Yama Vulture."
At this, Bibi Dong's brow twitched.
"I personally prepared that two-thousand-year Soul Beast for you, yet you took it upon yourself to absorb a five-thousand-year Ferocious Beast?"
Bibi Dong's voice turned stern, carrying the pressure of one in power. "Do you know that when a Soul Grandmaster absorbs a five-thousand-year Soul Ring beyond his limits, the slightest misstep can make his body explode?"
Su Ming lowered his head and replied calmly, "I know. But after taking the Immortal Herb, I felt that the strength of my meridians and bones had undergone a qualitative leap. Books say that a Soul Ring's age limit depends on the body's overall constitution."
"I felt that the energy contained in that two-thousand-year Nether Ghost-Faced Swallow was too slight and couldn't satisfy the needs of my martial soul."
"To better suit my needs, I took it upon myself to choose the five-thousand-year Hell Soul Yama Vulture. Fortunately, I succeeded in the end. I hope Your Holiness will forgive me."
Bibi Dong listened to Su Ming's explanation, and her mood finally eased somewhat.
The Immortal Herb again?
Its effects were actually this powerful?
"Release your Soul Power and let me see."
"Yes."
Su Ming didn't waste words. His body trembled slightly.
In an instant, a powerful surge of Soul Power burst from within him.
Bibi Dong sensed it. There was no use of any unstable secret technique, nor any sign that his foundation was shaky.
His Soul Power was steady as a ten-thousand-year-old boulder. He truly was a level-thirty-nine Soul Grandmaster.
Bibi Dong let out a breath of relief.
A ripple of shock stirred within her.
She had thought she understood the Immortal Herb's effects, but she had greatly underestimated them.
Bibi Dong studied Su Ming anew.
Twelve years old, level thirty-nine, a top-tier Evil Phoenix martial soul, and a terrifying physique capable of withstanding a five-thousand-year Soul Ring.
If this monster fully matured, his strength would reach an unimaginable level.
Faced with such an unparalleled prodigy, Spirit Hall should do everything in its power to treat him well and grant him the highest status and resources. They absolutely couldn't let him grow disillusioned with Spirit Hall and choose to leave.
Looking at the boy before her, Bibi Dong was suddenly seized by a powerful urge to take Su Ming as her personal disciple.
But the moment the thought arose, the image of the former Pope, Qian Xunji, flashed through her mind.
She couldn't help feeling a visceral revulsion.
Suppressing her impulse, Bibi Dong drew a deep breath and composed herself.
Looking at Su Ming, she announced, "Su Ming, although you acted without authorization this time, you did so in pursuit of the utmost, and ultimately succeeded. I won't hold you responsible. But remember, if anything similar happens again, you must inform me beforehand and wait for my approval."
"Yes!" Su Ming nodded.
Bibi Dong was only concerned about him.
Bibi Dong continued, "In view of the astonishing talent you've shown, I hereby formally accept you as my named disciple. From this day onward, you'll enjoy the highest level of core resources and treatment, equal to Hu Liena."
Su Ming was slightly taken aback.
He hadn't expected Bibi Dong to suddenly announce that she would take him as her disciple. Even if he was only a named disciple, this status within Spirit Hall meant that he had entered the core circle of the Pope's faction.
Previously, he had enjoyed the same treatment as Hu Liena and the others, but Hu Liena was, after all, a personal disciple, and her treatment had still been different.
His treatment had really only been about the same as Xie Yue's and Yan's.
But now he was truly on the same level as Hu Liena.
"Thank you for nurturing me, Teacher. I won't let you down." Su Ming immediately changed how he addressed her and bowed.
He understood that Bibi Dong's reason for not accepting him as her personal disciple was probably connected to Qian Xunji.
Was she afraid I'd become the Secret Chamber Douluo?
Or was she afraid she'd become the Secret Chamber Douluo?
A random thought crossed Su Ming's mind.
"Mm. You may leave. Spend the next two days consolidating your cultivation." Bibi Dong waved a hand, signaling that he could go.
"Yes, this disciple takes his leave."
Su Ming turned and strode out of the Pope Palace.
Bibi Dong watched him leave, her starry eyes lost in thought.
Su Ming returned to the Golden Hall.
As soon as he reached the entrance, he saw an orange-red figure sitting on the stone steps.
Hu Liena rested her chin in her hands, boredly kicking the pebbles at her feet.
Hearing the steady footsteps, she jerked her head up. When she saw Su Ming, her eyes lit up, and she quickly brushed the dust from her bottom and stood.
"Su Ming! Where have you been these past two days?"
"I went to the Cultivation Room to look for you, but you weren't there. I went to the Pope Palace to ask Teacher, but she only told me not to meddle. How come you've been nowhere to be seen for two whole days?" Hu Liena pouted and complained.