Ling Feng communicated with Bibi Dong through spiritual power, sharing his insights with her.
"This method of cultivation might really work!" Bibi Dong exclaimed in amazement.
Both of her Martial Souls in her previous life had been top-tier Spider Emperor Martial Souls, so she could naturally tell whether Ling Feng's cultivation method was correct.
But he'll need to absorb a Soul Ring from at least a Spider King, if not a Spider Emperor, before he has a chance to evolve his Martial Soul into a true Spider Emperor! Bibi Dong thought.
Even so, this was more than enough to make Bibi Dong see Ling Feng in a new light.
Bibi Dong suddenly thought of Yu Xiaogang. His Martial Soul had mutated, leaving him unable to advance in cultivation.
"Ling Feng, if Yu Xiaogang cultivated according to your theory, could he possibly fix the flaws in his Martial Soul?"
Ling Feng thought it over. "If he hasn't absorbed any Soul Rings yet, there might be a chance."
"He'd also need to deeply understand his own Martial Soul, so he could figure out what it was missing and make up for it."
"Of course, I'm not him, so I can't say whether this method would suit him."
Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul, Luo Sanpao, was an external Martial Soul with a degree of autonomy.
Ling Feng had a feeling that letting Luo Sanpao choose which Soul Beast's Soul Ring to absorb would probably be more reliable than leaving the decision to Yu Xiaogang.
After all, Luo Sanpao could even replenish Yu Xiaogang's Soul Power by eating radishes, so it ought to know what it was lacking.
If they replaced the radishes with Spirit Ginseng, Luo Sanpao might be able to evolve and break through its bottleneck.
But these were all just Ling Feng's guesses.
"You make a lot of sense!" Bibi Dong agreed.
She felt that even without her guidance, Ling Feng could evolve his Demon Spider Martial Soul into a Death Spider Emperor—or some other kind of Spider Emperor.
"How could Yu Xiaogang have missed something so obvious back then?"
"He even wrote in his Martial Soul Theory about a method of cultivation based on the fusion of opposing forces—having plant Martial Souls absorb Soul Rings from animal Soul Beasts and Beast Martial Souls absorb Soul Rings from plant Soul Beasts. But is that method really beneficial to Soul Masters?"
Bibi Dong reconsidered Yu Xiaogang's Martial Soul Theory and suddenly felt that something was off.
With her Spider Emperor Martial Soul, she could indeed absorb Soul Rings so recklessly. But what about ordinary Soul Masters?
Bibi Dong stopped herself from thinking any further. If she kept at it, she'd be embarrassed on Yu Xiaogang's behalf.
Without a body, she wasn't affected by hormones or physical desires, and she had lost the rose-colored glasses she'd worn for Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang's famous theories from her previous life now seemed so flimsy under scrutiny.
What she didn't know was that Yu Xiaogang had compiled those theories by looking through Spirit Hall's database.
Just like the dumb AI Ling Feng had used in his previous life, Yu Xiaogang could have been misled by a corrupted database and ended up with the wrong results.
Pope Palace.
A blond man dressed in a dazzling golden robe and wearing the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown watched as a young woman entered the Pope Palace.
The girl had fair skin and flawless features. An air of youthful vitality radiated from her, intoxicating anyone who looked at her.
"Teacher, did you need something?" the girl asked.
These two were none other than Qian Xunji, the current Pope of Spirit Hall, and his disciple, Bibi Dong.
Qian Xunji nodded. "How long has it been since you last attended classes at Spirit Academy?"
Bibi Dong didn't know why Qian Xunji was asking, so she answered honestly. "A few months!"
"Teacher, let me explain." Afraid that Qian Xunji would get angry, Bibi Dong hurried to explain.
"The classes those teachers give aren't interesting. Your instruction is all I need!"
"Those teachers can't help me solve the cultivation problems caused by my Twin Martial Souls. I might as well cultivate on my own!"
But Qian Xunji didn't blame Bibi Dong. He merely said, "Go back to the academy and attend classes."
"A student has joined Spirit Academy whose Martial Soul is a Demon Spider, and whose third Soul Ring is a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring."
"Go find out how he absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring. It might give you some insight into your own cultivation!"
Every Soul Master had their own secrets, and Spirit Hall respected that.
So until Ling Feng chose to reveal his secret, Spirit Hall hadn't forced him to explain how he'd absorbed a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring.
Besides, Ling Feng had already joined Spirit Hall. He was one of their own, so they had even less reason to use force.
That was precisely why Qian Xunji had asked Bibi Dong to learn about Ling Feng's secrets herself.
"A third Soul Ring that's ten thousand years old? Could he also have Twin Martial Souls?" Bibi Dong asked in surprise.
Putting herself in his shoes, she assumed Ling Feng had Twin Martial Souls too.
As soon as Ling Feng chose to join Spirit Academy, those who took an interest in him had compiled information about him and sent it to Qian Xunji.
So, in Qian Xunji's eyes, there was nothing secret about Ling Feng's cultivation history.
"His Martial Soul is a Demon Spider. His Innate Soul Power was level three. After ten years of cultivation, he has just reached level thirty-four and become a Soul Elder. He doesn't have Twin Martial Souls."
Ling Feng's Martial Soul had also been awakened at Spirit Hall, so they had a record of it.
"Only three levels of Innate Soul Power, yet he's cultivated at such an astonishing speed?"
Bibi Dong herself had Innate Full Soul Power and guidance from the Pope. After eleven years of cultivation, she had only reached level forty-six, becoming a Soul Ancestor.
So when she heard Ling Feng's cultivation level, she was surprised—and understood why Qian Xunji had gone to such lengths.
"Teacher, I understand. I'll return to the academy for classes tomorrow," Bibi Dong said.
"Mm. Go ahead," Qian Xunji said, waving a hand.
Bibi Dong bowed and turned to leave.
As Qian Xunji watched Bibi Dong turn away, the loving look in his eyes changed at once.
His eyes brimmed with possessiveness and greed as he watched her leave.
Only after Bibi Dong had disappeared completely from his sight did his gaze soften.
He waved a hand, and a figure appeared behind him.
"Your Holiness the Pope!"
Qian Xunji said, "The legitimate heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has come to Spirit City. Find a way to keep him here and get him to join Spirit Hall."
"Once he joins Spirit Hall, announce it to the Soul Master World and shake the confidence of the Soul Masters in the Upper Three Sects."
"This may be our chance to bring the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to heel!"
If even a legitimate heir of an Upper Three Sects clan joined Spirit Hall, then it would only be natural for others in his clan to follow.
If Yu Xiaogang knew what was good for him, Spirit Hall might even support him as the next clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Then, with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan siding with Spirit Hall, the alliance among the Upper Three Sects would fall apart without a fight.
Spirit Academy.
Though it was an advanced Soul Master academy, its teaching style was much like that of the Soul Master academies outside—free and relaxed.
But its library and faculty were on a level those other academies couldn't match.
If an academy student caught the eye of one of Spirit Hall's bishops or elders, they might even be taken on as a disciple.
In the few days since joining Spirit Academy, Ling Feng had spent his time either cultivating or following Bibi Dong's advice and going to the library in hopes of running into the younger Bibi Dong.
Unfortunately, it seemed they were destined not to meet. He still hadn't run into her.