Part-Time Librarian

"Starting today, I'll gradually teach you the basic and even advanced Soul Master Meditation Methods. You may not understand what that means, but you don't need to."

"During this time, I require you to prioritize improving your physique. Only a strong physical foundation can withstand greater energy."

"All right, start running..."

Early in the morning, Bibi Dong appeared in Wang Zhao's room and dragged him from his bed into the courtyard, ready to formally teach him Spirit cultivation.

With dark circles beneath his eyes, Wang Zhao forced himself to stay alert. Although he had been mentally prepared when he heard Bibi Dong's words, his vision still went black.

Ugh, I was too excited to sleep until midnight last night. What exactly was I even looking forward to...

Could I really expect the running exercise method still being used all the way into Dou 3 to be any different in this era?

He sighed inwardly. Without refusing, he began running laps around the courtyard.

After a round of tests.

Bibi Dong gained a rough understanding of Wang Zhao's physique. It was fairly good, nearly comparable to that of a six-year-old raised by some minor families. That was quite rare for a child like Wang Zhao, who came from a remote rural village.

What she did not know was that Wang Zhao had understood the importance of physical fitness at the age of three and had done everything he could to prepare for this day. However, unable to afford the extravagant "Herbal Bath," he could only reach this point without harming his body.

Otherwise, he would have become an exercise fanatic long ago.

Next, Bibi Dong began teaching Wang Zhao the basic Soul Master Meditation Method.

It was not particularly difficult. With someone guiding him one-on-one, Wang Zhao easily followed his teacher in learning the posture and guiding the Soul Power within his body, slowly increasing it.

"By the way, Sister Dong'er, since there are basic, intermediate, and advanced Soul Master Meditation Methods, are there any top-tier ones?"

During the process, Wang Zhao asked casually.

"There are."

Though Bibi Dong was still somewhat unaccustomed to that form of address, she nodded and explained:

"However, those require several generations of verification and development, and are usually only held by major families. For example, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects, has the True Dragon Meditation Method, while the Angel Lineage of Spirit Hall has the Angel Meditation Method."

"And because none of them suit my attributes, even I am still cultivating with an advanced meditation method. So don't think too much about it."

"Right, summon your martial spirit and let your teacher take a look."

Seeing Bibi Dong suddenly seem to recall something, Wang Zhao did not hesitate. He raised his hand and summoned Golden Scale before him.

"Sister Dong'er, this is my martial spirit. I named him Golden Scale."

"Golden Scale... It looks so much like him, so much."

Bibi Dong studied the small purple beast with a complicated expression, unable to stop herself from murmuring.

"Like what? Sister Dong'er, have you seen someone with the same martial spirit as mine?"

Wang Zhao knowingly asked.

"Mhm."

Bibi Dong did not suspect anything and nodded, telling Wang Zhao about Yu Xiaogang.

"He is an... old acquaintance of mine. His martial spirit is... similar to yours, but he named it Luo Sanpao."

"Is he very powerful now?"

Wang Zhao asked again, looking like an innocent child hoping his own martial spirit was powerful.

At that, Bibi Dong's expression darkened slightly. She shook her head, then quickly explained:

"No. He is only a level 29 Soul Grandmaster now, but he is very strong in theoretical knowledge."

"Is that so..."

For the time being, Wang Zhao did not argue with Bibi Dong further over a certain Great Master. Instead, he looked somewhat upset and asked:

"Then will I only be able to become a level 29 Soul Grandmaster in the future too?"

"This..."

Bibi Dong was momentarily speechless.

What could she say? Was she supposed to comfort Wang Zhao, her nominal student, by saying that even Xiaogang, who in her mind was capable of anything except possessing strength, had failed to defy fate and change his destiny, so how could a six-year-old child like him possibly achieve it in the future?

"No, I believe knowledge can change everything."

Suddenly, Wang Zhao cast off his earlier dejection, his face filled with determination as he said:

"I'll read more books, as many books as I can. One day, I'll definitely become a Titled Douluo!"

Child, becoming a Titled Douluo isn't something you can achieve just by reading books...

Bibi Dong sighed inwardly, but an unusual glint flashed through her eyes.

Why had she suddenly wanted to take Wang Zhao as her student yesterday?

A large part of it was because she wanted to use Wang Zhao, an unpolished piece of jade with the same type of martial spirit as Yu Xiaogang, to figure out a way for a martial spirit like Luo Sanpao to improve.

Then Xiaogang should be able to... Ahem.

Since Wang Zhao was so motivated, that saved her a great deal of trouble.

Bibi Dong parted her red lips, smiling as she looked at Wang Zhao and said:

"Good. Since you have such aspirations, your teacher promises you this: you will have the resources enjoyed by the children of top noble families, and you may browse through the largest Library in Spirit City as you please. Once I have taught you all the basic knowledge, I will arrange for you to enter Spirit Academy in no more than a month."

"Sister Dong'er, are you arranging for me to go to school?"

Wang Zhao blinked, letting just the right trace of reluctance show in his eyes, while inwardly thinking:

It's here, it's here. Is the new map of academy life about to open?

But then...

"Of course not."

Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at Wang Zhao and explained irritably:

"Not to mention that Spirit Academy is an advanced Soul Master Academy, even if I wanted to pull strings and arrange for you to enter as a student, your aptitude and age are far from sufficient."

"I'm arranging for you to work in Spirit Academy's Library as a librarian."

In truth, with her authority, it was not impossible to force the matter through. But that would inevitably draw the attention of a certain Pope. Once Wang Zhao's martial spirit was exposed, all her efforts would be for nothing.

A librarian's job, on the other hand, was very safe. Wang Zhao would have no chance to expose his martial spirit at all. He could even pretend to be an ordinary person without Soul Power, because the teachers and students at Spirit Academy were all much older than him, and no one would care.

Besides, deep down, she actually wanted to see Wang Zhao spending all day immersed in the Library. She did not know what sort of feeling that came from.

Bibi Dong would not mention that.

"Next, I'll teach you..."

A month passed in the blink of an eye.

During that time, Bibi Dong did not teach Wang Zhao every day. Sometimes, when she had to go out and attend to matters, she would have the maid Die take over.

It was worth mentioning that Bibi Dong often brought Wang Zhao a medicine called Dragon Blood Grass to temper his physique through Herbal Baths. Combined with the meditation method she taught him, Wang Zhao could clearly feel his cultivation speed soaring over the past month. His Soul Power had already risen from 0.5 to level 2.

At the same time, Golden Scale's body had grown a little sturdier. As for his appearance, there was not much change, aside from the bump on his head protruding slightly more.

Finally, that afternoon, Bibi Dong brought Wang Zhao some good news—

Starting tomorrow, he would work part-time as a librarian in Spirit Academy's Library every evening.

Having lived two lives, Wang Zhao had never been so willing to go to work.