Martial Uncle Praised Her!

Spirit Hall Academy, opening day.

The future Spirit Kite Douluo, Yan Xi, walked through the streets of Spirit City, holding Bibi Dong's hand.

The newly appointed Pope's wife had deliberately changed into a simple dress today. She looked just like an ordinary young mother.

"Dong'er, remember: don't mention who you are at the academy," Yan Xi reminded her quietly. "For now, you're just an ordinary girl with excellent talent, staying with relatives."

Bibi Dong nodded, her little hand unconsciously tightening around Yan Xi's fingers.

She really liked her Martial Aunt.

She would comb Bibi Dong's hair herself, tell her stories before bed, and prepare delicious food for her after training.

Was this... what having a mother felt like?

"Martial Aunt, Martial Uncle..." Bibi Dong began hesitantly, feeling a little nervous. "D-does he not need to go to school?"

What she really wanted to ask was, Is Martial Uncle not coming to see me off?

Over the past three months, Huo Yuhao's daily routine had remained as regular as ever.

He trained his Spiritual Power, trained his Soul Power, underwent Golden Crocodile Douluo's training, fought Golden Crocodile Douluo, took medicinal baths, and visited the Spirit Hall library.

Bibi Dong's arrival hadn't diverted Huo Yuhao's attention.

Still, Bibi Dong always felt that her little Martial Uncle didn't seem to like her very much. The sensitive girl had gone to ask her teacher, Qian Xunji, about it.

Qian Xunji had patted Bibi Dong's head. "Yuhao's Second Martial Soul is far too powerful. He needs more time to train, too. If you want to play with him, you can go to the library. He's there whenever he isn't training."

So Bibi Dong went to the library to wait for him like a hare by a tree stump.

When Huo Yuhao saw Bibi Dong in the library, he was a little surprised. He thought the change in her surroundings, along with the influence of Spirit Kite Douluo, had made her want to improve herself.

He became a little less cold toward Bibi Dong and even found a few beginner books for her.

He did his best to fill Bibi Dong's barren mind with knowledge.

Bibi Dong also noticed the change in her Martial Uncle's attitude toward her. Every day around this time, she would find a few books and sit beside him to read.

Whenever she didn't understand something, even the most basic question, her Martial Uncle would answer her.

The change filled Bibi Dong with joy.

After all this time, she thought she had finally grown closer to her Martial Uncle.

Her teacher was the Pope and far too recognizable. Showing up at Spirit Hall Academy would make it hard for her to conceal her identity and make friends.

But Martial Uncle hadn't come either...

Yan Xi's steps faltered. Looking down at the girl, who was being so cautious, she understood.

"If Yuhao came to school, he'd only be there as a teacher. He wouldn't sit in a classroom and attend lessons like an ordinary child."

Bibi Dong's mouth fell open in surprise.

"Martial Uncle is that amazing?"

He was only two years older than her, wasn't he?

Yan Xi was surprised, too. "Did Brother Xun never tell you?"

Qian Xunji was such a Yuhao superfan. Had he really never told Bibi Dong anything about Huo Yuhao?

Bibi Dong shook her head and tugged at Yan Xi's hand. "Martial Aunt, Martial Aunt, tell me about him!"

All she knew was that her Martial Uncle had read lots of books and knew lots of things.

Her curiosity about Huo Yuhao had already overcome the gloom she'd felt because he hadn't come to see her off.

Primary Academy

Classroom of Class One, Year One.

After entering the classroom, Bibi Dong picked a seat at random.

The classroom was spacious, with more than thirty desks. Only a few seats were occupied so far. The children who had arrived earlier were gathered together, discussing their Martial Souls and Innate Soul Power.

They all looked about six, just like her.

Bibi Dong's arrival didn't draw much attention. Only a few people took a second look at her because of her adorable face.

Just as Bibi Dong was sitting quietly, ready to properly digest what she'd heard from her Martial Aunt about her little Martial Uncle, a round-faced girl suddenly came over.

The girl wasn't especially pretty, but her smile was bright and infectious.

"Hello, my name is Wu Duo'er. My Martial Soul is a Ghost Face Flower, and my Innate Soul Power is level four." The girl gazed at Bibi Dong with shining eyes. "What's your name?"

"Bibi Dong."

"Bibi Dong? What a strange name." Wu Duo'er sat beside her and studied Bibi Dong's face for a while. "You're so pretty. What's your Martial Soul?"

"My Martial Soul is a spider, and my Innate Soul Power is level eight."

Bibi Dong had no idea what counted as a normal level of Innate Soul Power.

Since she had to hide her Twin Martial Souls, she might as well conceal her Soul Power, too.

Level eight seemed reasonable to Bibi Dong.

The Soul Masters she'd encountered so far had all had Innate Soul Power around level six or seven at minimum.

Since she was a genius, being one level higher than them seemed normal, right?

"L-level eight?!"

At Wu Duo'er's cry, the other children in the classroom turned to look.

Level eight? What was level eight?

"Wow! Bibi Dong, you're amazing! Have you obtained your First Soul Ring yet? What's your Soul Skill?"

Bibi Dong shook her head. "I haven't decided which Soul Beast to choose for my First Soul Ring. Anyway, not absorbing a Soul Ring won't affect my training."

In truth, the reason Bibi Dong still hadn't obtained her First Soul Ring was simply that her body was too weak.

Her Martial Soul wasn't as outrageous as Huo Yuhao's, but she was still a genius with Innate Full Soul Power and Twin Martial Souls. Qian Xunji naturally wouldn't let Bibi Dong casually choose a Soul Beast to absorb.

Over the past three months, Qian Xunji had been helping Bibi Dong build up her health.

He had even given her some Whale Rubber, which could increase her body's capacity to endure the strain.

But Bibi Dong couldn't explain any of that to a classmate she'd just met, so she found a suitable excuse.

In no time, Bibi Dong had become the center of attention in the classroom.

Among her classmates, she saw all sorts of Martial Souls. Their Innate Soul Power was low, too. Many might never advance beyond Soul Elder or Soul Ancestor, yet they were still filled with anticipation for their future lives as Spirit Masters.

For people from ordinary families, becoming a Spirit Master was a major turning point that could change their lives.

At dusk, Bibi Dong went straight to the Spirit Hall library as soon as school let out.

At this hour, Huo Yuhao would still be there.

Her face showed her exhaustion, but her eyes shone remarkably brightly.

"Martial Uncle!" She spotted Huo Yuhao and ran over excitedly. "I made three friends today! They said my hair looked like maple leaves!"

Huo Yuhao looked down at the book in front of him and gave a quiet reply.

That sounded a little cold. He shouldn't dampen Bibi Dong's enthusiasm.

"Well done. You can make more friends. When you're young, friendships are simple; they're based only on appearance and how you feel. Once you grow up, it's hard to find friends like that again."

"Mm-hmm." Bibi Dong nodded again and again, smiling.

Martial Uncle praised her!

Sitting beside Huo Yuhao, who was only two years older than her yet seemed capable of anything, Bibi Dong's admiration for him was plain to see.