Plan 3

Wu Ling's shadow boiled once more, and this time it churned even more violently than the previous two times.

Amid the surging shadows, two figures—one blue-haired and one red-haired—slowly rose from within.

They were two boys who resembled Wu Ling, though they looked several years older than him, around eighteen years old.

The red-haired Wu Ling clone stood nearly two meters tall, dressed entirely in tight black clothing that displayed every inch of his muscles.

The blue-haired one was only about 1.8 meters tall. He seemed somewhat slender compared to the red-haired clone, but his gaze, as though it could see through everything, and his indifferent demeanor made Bibi Dong and Gui Mei take him even more seriously.

Red: "Hello, Teacher. Hello, Grandpa Ghost!"

The red-haired Wu Ling flashed a brilliant smile and was the first to greet Bibi Dong and Gui Mei. His voice was incredibly loud, giving others the impression that he was rugged, bold, and bursting with excess energy.

After the red-haired Wu Ling finished speaking, the blue-haired Wu Ling only slowly opened his mouth after quite a while. "...Hello."

The blue-haired Wu Ling gave off an entirely different impression from the red-haired one. He seemed as though he had seen through everything in the world and cared about nothing, utterly devoid of passion.

Wu Ling also looked his two Clones up and down before explaining them to Bibi Dong.

"Teacher, this red-haired clone was created from my Hot-Blooded spirit. He possesses boundless energy, and his code name is Hot-Blooded. You can call him Xiao Hong. In the future, he will be responsible for my physical training.

"This blue-haired one, meanwhile, was created from my calm spirit. Under most circumstances, he can maintain a Mirror of Still Water as clear as his heart. You can regard him as free of desire and demands. His code name is Sage. You can call him Xiao Lan. In the future, he will be responsible for my swordsmanship.

"At the same time, I will study theoretical knowledge myself. My plan is for the three of us to spend half of each day training and studying, while using the remaining half to refine Soul Power."

Bibi Dong thoughtfully watched Xiao Lan and Xiao Hong. After a brief pause, she said, "Calmness and Hot-Bloodedness, boundless energy and freedom from desire—two completely opposing states of mind, yet they can exist independently without affecting you.

"Ling'er, I have to say, you have once again refreshed my understanding. But with your Soul Power, it should not be enough to sustain this for an entire day, should it?"

"What you do not know, Teacher, is that the two of them only consume Soul Power when they separate from me. Afterward, they can absorb and recover Soul Power on their own.

"After all, they count as mature Clones. They should learn how to replenish their own mana.

"Moreover, every time I obtain a Spirit Ring in the future, I will gain another slot for condensing a clone."

Bibi Dong lightly tapped the armrest with her fingertips. She keenly noticed a term in Wu Ling's words that did not belong to this era.

"Ling'er, now that you have obtained your second Spirit Ring, you should have received more information, right?"

"Of course."

Gui Mei could not make heads or tails of the cryptic exchange between Wu Ling and Bibi Dong, but he sharply recalled what had happened when Wu Ling had first become Bibi Dong's disciple.

Remembering Bibi Dong's reaction back then, Gui Mei wanted to shut off his five senses as he had last time, but Bibi Dong stopped him this time.

"No need. You must have noticed something during ordinary times as well. Listen together this time."

With a thought from Wu Ling, Xiao Hong, who had been curiously observing the surroundings, and Xiao Lan, who had been talking about things like the universe, worlds, and humanity, both vanished back into his shadow.

Wu Ling then cleared his throat and slowly began to recount the tale.

"Teacher, because of the person I summoned this time, the information I received concerns a different story from the same era.

"It is said that an unknown number of years after the Human-God War began, an Assassin Order led by Old Man of the Mountain Hassan quietly rose to prominence..."

Wu Ling let out a long breath, bringing this round of bluffing—no, historical storytelling—to an end.

Bibi Dong and Gui Mei used silence to calm their hearts. Having heard such a magnificent human epic, they felt as though they had gulped down a huge glass of ice-cold water in forty-degree heat, leaving their entire bodies refreshed.

After savoring the lingering flavor of the story, Bibi Dong asked, "Someone whose personal strength alone was enough to rival the gods, and who even bestowed the concept of death upon an immortal supreme god... Does someone that powerful truly exist in this world?"

Wu Ling nodded with certainty. "Teacher, the potential of humans is limitless. Think about my first Spirit Skill. Even a rank ninety-nine Title Douluo—could he slash out that sword strike transcending time and space through skill alone?"

Bibi Dong did not need to think long before receiving the answer she wanted.

She had originally wanted to say something else, but the setting sun outside the window suddenly made her change her words.

"Ling'er, it is getting late today. Go have a meal and get some rest first. You can also take the opportunity to familiarize yourself with your Clones.

"Oh, and you have been at Spirit Hall for two years now. If you miss your family, you can take a trip back over the next few days. You may bring them here as well."

Wu Ling froze, recalling Uncle Qie, whom he had not seen for two years and had not even exchanged letters with.

"It has indeed been a long time since I went back," Wu Ling muttered before bowing to Bibi Dong.

"Wu Ling thanks Teacher for this."

Bibi Dong merely nodded. Put nicely, this was to deepen her relationship with Wu Ling; it was not something worth making a fuss over.

"Alright, go back and rest first. Elder Gui needs to stay behind for a while."

"Alright. Goodbye, Teacher."

Watching Wu Ling's departing figure, neither Bibi Dong nor Gui Mei moved. Only after Wu Ling had left the Pope Palace did Bibi Dong ask, "What do you think, Elder Gui?"

"If Wu Ling had not been the one to say it, I would probably have taken it as nothing more than a story. But Your Holiness's words made me..."

"I was asking about Ling'er." Bibi Dong's expression was blank as she spoke, as though the story from before had merely been an ordinary tale.

"Wu Ling? I had originally worried that he was learning too many different things and might fall behind in Soul Power, but now it seems that his all-around development may become his advantage."

The contrast between Gui Mei's earlier and later words showed that his recognition of Wu Ling had deepened another step.

"Yes, taking him as my disciple has indeed been a pleasantly surprising thing. Oh, and I will have to trouble you to accompany him on his trip home."

"Of course. I am quite satisfied with that boy Wu Ling as well. I will go back with him tomorrow or the day after."

"Good. Also, inform Elder Ju later. Tell him that once you and Wu Ling return, we will begin the operation for Plan 3."

At the words "Plan 3," Gui Mei's entire body stiffened for a moment. He asked softly, "Could it be that Your Holiness..."

Bibi Dong gave a direct confirmation in response to Gui Mei's question.

"That is right. I have already reached rank ninety. It is time to put my ninth Spirit Ring on the agenda."

"Understood!"

"..."

Just as Bibi Dong and Gui Mei were making plans, an unexpected visitor suddenly appeared before Wu Ling.

An elderly man with white hair and a youthful face stood in the middle of his path, and the surroundings, which had still held some noise, fell silent as well.

"You are called Wu Ling, right?"