Gu Han followed the female deacon along the grand, solemn corridors of Spirit Hall.
Massive stone pillars supported the lofty ceiling, while murals depicted the glory of the angels and the great deeds of Spirit Hall.
The treatment he had received at Spirit Hall had healed most of his injuries, but the Soul Power in his body still felt somewhat unsteady.
As he silently circulated his Soul Power, he quickly worked out how to answer Bibi Dong.
At last, the female deacon stopped before a gilt door set with gemstones and bowed respectfully.
"Your Holiness the Pope, Gu Han has arrived."
"Come in."
A calm yet authoritative female voice came from within, resounding directly in the depths of Gu Han's soul.
The door slid open without a sound.
Gu Han stepped inside. The view opened up before him: it was an exceptionally vast hall, where light streamed through stained-glass windows and formed dappled patterns across the floor.
At the far end of the hall, a woman sat upon the papal throne.
She wore a luxurious black papal robe embroidered with gold and a purple-gold crown. In her hand was a scepter nearly two meters long, encrusted with countless gemstones.
Her skin was fair as snow, and her nearly flawless features made her look like a young woman. Yet her deep purple eyes held the authority of one who looked down upon all living beings.
This was the Pope of Spirit Hall—Bibi Dong.
Gu Han slowly composed himself and bowed slightly. "Gu Han greets Your Holiness the Pope."
Bibi Dong's gaze settled on Gu Han, as if it could see through every one of his secrets.
She did not immediately tell him to rise. Instead, she studied him in silence for a moment before speaking.
"Gu Han, six years old. A Mutated Martial Soul and Innate Full Soul Power. Your First Soul Ring was a thousand years old, and your current Soul Power is at level twenty. Your Second Soul Ring is nine thousand years old. A Soul Grandmaster at six?"
"Tell me, what exactly is your Martial Soul? And where did your Soul Rings come from?" Bibi Dong asked in an authoritative voice.
Gu Han knew this was the most crucial question. Fortunately, he had prepared his answer in advance.
He straightened and met Bibi Dong's gaze without flinching.
"Your Holiness the Pope, my Martial Soul is called the Karma Scissors."
"The Karma Scissors?" Bibi Dong's brow twitched almost imperceptibly. She had never heard of a Martial Soul by that name.
"Yes." Gu Han continued, "It doesn't seem to be a combat-type Martial Soul. It seems more like some kind of support-type."
"As for my Soul Rings, I don't know exactly why, but whenever my Soul Power reaches a bottleneck, one forms on its own. It seems to be an ability that comes with the Martial Soul itself." Gu Han's words were half true and half false.
He kept the system's existence completely secret, attributing everything that seemed impossible to the unknown Martial Soul called the Karma Scissors.
Soul Rings forming on their own was unheard of throughout the Soul Master World. Only Soul Beasts that transformed into humans could form Soul Rings on their own.
A barely perceptible flicker passed through Bibi Dong's eyes.
"Soul Rings forming on their own? Could he be a Soul Beast who transformed into a human?"
"Impossible. If he really were a transformed Soul Beast, how could I not have seen through it?" Bibi Dong immediately dismissed the thought she had just had.
"This child's existence could turn the established Soul Master system upside down." She fell silent for a moment, seemingly absorbing this astonishing information.
"Very good."
After a long while, Bibi Dong spoke again. Her tone revealed no hint of joy or anger. "Your Martial Soul has never been seen since time immemorial. Spirit Hall needs a genius like you."
"I wish to appoint you the Holy Son of Spirit Hall and devote all of Spirit Hall's resources to cultivating you. Are you willing?"
"The Holy Son!" Even though Gu Han had been prepared for this, he couldn't help but feel a jolt.
Without much hesitation, Gu Han immediately dropped to one knee. "Gu Han is willing. Thank you, Your Holiness the Pope, for your cultivation."
This was the best choice for him right now. Only by relying on Spirit Hall's resources and influence could he grow faster.
"Rise." Bibi Dong's voice seemed to soften. "Show me your Martial Soul."
"Yes." Gu Han stood up and summoned the Karma Scissors with a thought.
The phantom of an ancient pair of scissors appeared in his palm. Golden threads of light wound around it, flowing ceaselessly and radiating an abstruse aura.
Yet the instant the Martial Soul appeared, both Gu Han and Bibi Dong clearly saw that among the countless golden threads of light was a single thread of blood-red, so fine it was almost imperceptible, yet jarringly conspicuous!
The red thread of karma radiated hatred, clashing with the Karma Scissors' other threads.
Gu Han's heart sank. He immediately sensed his Martial Soul.
In an instant, he understood where the red thread of karma had come from. It was born from the intense hatred and murderous intent he had felt toward Tang Hao.
That negative emotion had actually stirred the Karma Scissors, condensing into a physical manifestation of "the karma of hatred."
It was a thread of karma born of Tang Hao.
Could this Martial Soul reflect and condense even its host's own emotions?
Gu Han was inwardly shaken. He had gained a deeper understanding of his Karma Scissors.
"Perhaps this thread of karma born from hatred could become a crucial piece of karma for dealing with Tang Hao in the future. But I'll have to control it carefully, lest it turn on me."
Bibi Dong looked at the blood-red thread. A light, difficult to describe, flashed deep in her eyes. She seemed to have thought of something, but did not point it out. She merely nodded.
"Put your Martial Soul away. Someone will naturally arrange everything for you from here on."
Bibi Dong paused, then continued, "By the way, from now on, call me Teacher. I'll teach you personally from time to time."
"Yes, Teacher." Gu Han put away his Martial Soul, and the red thread vanished with it.
Nuoding Academy, Dorm Seven.
Xiao Wu rested her chin in her hand as she sat on the edge of the bed, her little face full of gloom. Even her pretty scorpion braid drooped listlessly. Several days had already passed, and there still wasn't a word from Gu Han.
"Darn Gu Han, you awful Gu Han. Where did you run off to without even telling me?" she grumbled softly, feeling hollow inside.
Just then, a teacher from Nuoding Academy came to Dorm Seven and found Xiao Wu.
"Miss Xiao Wu, Gu Han asked me to pass along a message. He's gone away to train for a while. You might see him again soon, so don't worry."
Xiao Wu was startled by the teacher's message, then breathed a sigh of relief.
When she heard that even Gu Han didn't know when they would see each other again, she pouted once more, hurt and resentful. "Fine, go train. But you couldn't even come tell me yourself. Honestly."
Still, Xiao Wu was relieved to know Gu Han was safe and sound. She just missed him a little.
Spirit City.
Gu Han had changed into the clothes Spirit Hall had prepared for him and was poring over the various texts Spirit Hall had collected, frantically trying to learn more about this world.
A servant came to report respectfully.
"Your Highness the Holy Son, tomorrow you'll begin studying at Spirit Hall Academy. One 'special teacher' will show you around."
"A special teacher?" Gu Han wondered, but didn't dwell on it. He nodded.
But when he arrived at the designated place the next day, he saw the person waiting there. She was slender, with lustrous golden hair and clear blue eyes.
Though she was still young, she already possessed breathtaking beauty. Even Gu Han, with his composure, couldn't help a flicker of amazement in his eyes.
Before you continue