Gu Han came up with an excuse, saying he needed to search for a special herb, then bade farewell to Zhao Wuji and the others from Shrek Academy.
Gu Han and Yue Guan also set off for Spirit Hall.
Xiao Wu had wanted to go with him, but Gu Han had considered that Spirit Hall was home to many Titled Douluo. Although he had the Thousand-Change Mask, he still couldn't be certain he'd remain undetected—after all, Qian Daoliu was there as well.
So he had Xiao Wu stay at Shrek Academy for the time being, with Ning Rongrong and the others looking after her, and promised he would return as soon as possible.
After six years, he stepped into Spirit City once more.
As Gu Han breathed in the air, rich with all kinds of delicious food, he couldn't help feeling as though a lifetime had passed.
The buildings lining the streets, each with its own style, were just as they had been.
But with his senses far sharper now, he could detect two presences within Spirit Hall. They had been watching him ever since he entered Spirit City.
Without lingering, Yue Guan took him straight to the entrance of Pope Hall.
"Go on in. His Holiness the Pope is waiting for you." Yue Guan smiled, then vanished as his figure blended into the shifting light and shadow.
Gu Han straightened his robes, looked at the great doors, then strode inside.
The towering dome, the stained-glass windows reflecting the sunlight, and the papal throne at the far end—it felt as though this was the only place in all of Spirit City that hadn't changed.
Bibi Dong still wore her black-and-gold papal robe and a purple-gold crown, and held a jeweled scepter. Her breathtaking face showed not the slightest trace of age.
But her violet eyes had been fixed on Luo Chen ever since he entered.
She watched the young man walk in from outside the hall. He stood tall and straight, and the Thousand-Change Mask made his features seem rather ordinary, but his eyes were far more composed.
He hardly resembled the six-year-old child in her memories.
What made her frown slightly was that she couldn't quite make out the aura around him. It was as though a layer of mist shrouded him, giving her an unreal, illusory impression.
"Your disciple, Gu Han, pays his respects to you, Teacher." Gu Han stopped and bowed. His voice rang through the hall.
"Six years apart, and you've certainly changed quite a bit."
Bibi Dong's voice remained calm, giving away nothing of what she felt.
"Looks like your training out in the world helped you grow a great deal. Release your Martial Soul and Soul Rings. Let your teacher see what level you've reached over these six years."
"Yes, Teacher."
At a thought from Gu Han, five Soul Rings rose one after another beneath his feet: purple, purple, black, black, black.
When the Soul Power fluctuations from the three black Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings spread through the hall—especially from the last one, which was close to the hundred-thousand-year level—even Bibi Dong's composure faltered. Her fingers tightened around her scepter, and unconcealable shock flashed in her eyes as she looked at Gu Han.
A thirteen-year-old Soul King with five Soul Rings, three of them Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings.
This far surpassed anything recorded in the surviving texts of Spirit Hall. It even overturned everything the Soul Master World had ever believed. Gu Han alone was enough to rewrite history.
But what shocked Bibi Dong even more was still to come.
Gu Han didn't put away his Soul Rings. Instead, he raised his left hand.
Under Bibi Dong's abruptly constricting gaze, a long sword wreathed in the most extreme cold suddenly appeared in his palm.
His Second Martial Soul.
"This... what is this?!"
When Bibi Dong saw the Second Soul Ring appear, she shot up from the papal throne. The aura around her even faltered for an instant, beyond her control.
"Twin Martial Souls! He actually has Twin Martial Souls!"
She herself possessed Twin Martial Souls, and knew all too well how rare and powerful they were.
Gu Han's first Martial Soul, the Karma Scissors, had already been enough to astonish them.
And now he had awakened a sword-type Martial Soul with the attribute of Ultimate Ice.
"Teacher, this is my Second Martial Soul, the Heavenly Frost Sword. I awakened it by chance during one of my trials, thanks to an unexpected opportunity."
Gu Han had already thought up an explanation, so he blamed it all on an accident and a twist of fate without batting an eye.
The system was his greatest secret. No matter who it was, he absolutely couldn't let it be exposed.
After listening, Bibi Dong slowly sat back on her throne, but her gaze remained fixed on the Heavenly Frost Sword in Gu Han's hand,
and on the Soul Ring Configuration beneath his feet, enough to change history. She stayed silent for a long time—not because she didn't know what to say,
but because she needed time to absorb one shock after another.
Just then, a sweet, curious voice came from outside the hall:
"Teacher, you wanted to see me?"
Before the words had faded, a young girl swayed gracefully into the hall.
She had long orange hair and fair skin, and her figure was already taking shape.
A captivating charm radiated from her.
As Hu Liena entered the hall, she immediately noticed Gu Han standing in the center.
Of course, it wasn't just Gu Han himself who caught her eye. Even more striking were the terrifying Soul Ring Configuration beneath his feet and the rather handsome sword in his hand.
Her eyes filled with surprise and curiosity. She walked over to Bibi Dong, then immediately asked softly:
"Teacher, who is he?"
Bibi Dong reined in her outward emotions and resumed her usual dignified manner. She said evenly:
"He is Gu Han, your senior brother. I took him in as my disciple several years ago, but he has been training outside all this time and could only return today."
"Senior brother?"
Hu Liena blinked and looked Gu Han up and down, wearing a particularly intrigued smile.
"So I really do have a senior brother! No wonder I've never seen you at Spirit Hall. You've been training outside all this time."
Gu Han nodded slightly to Hu Liena in greeting, returning her salutation.
After seeing Gu Han's astonishing rate of growth, Bibi Dong's thoughts churned. No one knew what was going through her mind.
She waved Hu Liena away.
"Nana, go on ahead. Your senior brother and I still have things to discuss. From now on, if there's anything you don't understand, you can ask him."
"If he dares to bully you, tell me. I'll beat him up for you."
"Hehe, all right, Teacher." Hu Liena burst out laughing, then obediently agreed. At the doorway, she gave Gu Han another curious glance before turning to leave.
Once again, only the two of them remained in the hall.
Gu Han put away his Martial Souls and Soul Rings, then looked at Bibi Dong. As a thought occurred to him, he spoke:
"Teacher, um... there's something I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead." Bibi Dong looked at Gu Han and, unusually, smiled. Even if he didn't say it, she knew what was on his mind.
"Your disciple wants to make a trip to the Heaven Dou Empire," Gu Han said, unable to hide a hint of anticipation. "I want to visit Sister Xue."
"Fine, fine, you little brat. All you can think about is seeing Xue'er. You've been gone so long, and you still don't think to visit me, an old man."
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