Soto City Black Bishop

"I will be heading to Spirit Hall first," Ye Xuan said, making no attempt to hide his plans.

"Spirit Hall? Then if I want to find you in the future, Brother Ye, can I go there?" Ning Rongrong asked.

"You can." Ye Xuan was indifferent to the matter.

"Spirit Hall? If Young Master Ye goes to Spirit Hall, won't you reveal our situation here?" Yu Xiaogang interjected with a sinister tone.

As soon as those words left his mouth, Zhao Wuji felt a primal shiver of fear.

After all, during his years of wandering, he had killed quite a few members of Spirit Hall.

If their identities and location were truly exposed, Spirit Hall would certainly not let him off.

Seeing Zhao Wuji's reaction, Ye Xuan retorted directly, "Immovable Wisdom King, do you think that if I wanted to harm you, I would need to resort to such underhanded methods? If I wanted you dead, I could kill every one of you myself."

After saying this, Ye Xuan swept his gaze toward Yu Xiaogang and sneered, "Grandmaster, if you are so worried that I might reveal the presence of this place to Spirit Hall, shouldn't the people here be even more worried about you—the Pope's former lover?"

"You..." Yu Xiaogang was furious. He gritted his teeth and said, "You are truly no ordinary person. How did you come to know these secrets?"

"Why would I tell you how I know?" Ye Xuan said with disdain.

At this moment, Zhao Wuji and the others looked at Yu Xiaogang with strange, unsettled expressions.

The words Ye Xuan had just tossed out so casually were truly earth-shattering.

The fact that the Pope had a lover was the kind of thing that, if spoken aloud in public, could get one captured and beheaded by Spirit Hall.

Moreover, who could have imagined that the Pope's lover was actually the Grandmaster standing before them—a man known as a disgrace to the world of Spirit Masters.

Flender was now completely certain that the reason Ye Xuan wanted to leave was because he did not get along with Yu Xiaogang.

He immediately turned to Ye Xuan and said, "Young Master Ye, Xiaogang spoke out of turn just now; I hope you can forgive him. Xiaogang, don't meddle in matters here."

He was terrified that Yu Xiaogang would continue to court death; if he truly provoked Ye Xuan, Shrek Academy would be in no position to handle the consequences.

"I am going back first." Having lost all face, Yu Xiaogang had no desire to remain there any longer.

After Yu Xiaogang left, a short while later, Zhu Zhuqing returned with her luggage.

Ye Xuan took her with him, and the two departed together.

Watching Zhu Zhuqing and the others leave, Ning Rongrong felt a twinge of envy, yet she could not be as carefree as Zhu Zhuqing.

After entering Shrek Academy, she had already communicated with her father to inform him of her situation; naturally, she could not just leave as she pleased.

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu was lost in thought over what Ye Xuan had said.

That Yu Xiaogang was actually the Pope's former lover was something she found impossible to fathom.

For years, Spirit Hall had been hunting soul beasts everywhere, searching for hundred-thousand-year soul beasts. As a soul beast herself, she held a deep-seated hatred for Spirit Hall. If Yu Xiaogang's relationship with them was truly that deep, she would need to be exceptionally cautious of him from now on.

Not long after they left Shrek Academy, Zhu Zhuqing asked with curiosity, "Brother Ye, why are you going to Spirit Hall?"

"Where do you think the deepest research on spirits is conducted in this world?" Ye Xuan asked in return.

"Spirit Hall? So, Brother Ye, you want to go to Spirit Hall to read their books on spirit research?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

"Exactly!" Ye Xuan nodded.

It was only after his conversation with Yu Xiaogang that Ye Xuan had remembered something.

When Yu Xiaogang was teaching Tang San, he had once claimed that in the past, plant-type spirit masters could only absorb plant-type soul beasts, and animal-type masters could only absorb animal-type beasts.

He had claimed that after his own research, he concluded that plant-type spirit masters could also absorb animal-type spirits.

But was that really the case?

Ye Xuan suddenly recalled that back then, Qian Xunji had been hunting Ah Yin and her companions to seize her spirit ring.

Qian Xunji's Angel Spirit was certainly not a plant-type spirit.

This made Ye Xuan wonder if the things Yu Xiaogang had "researched" might have already been discovered by Spirit Hall decades ago.

Perhaps Yu Xiaogang's research was merely inspired by what he had learned from Bibi Dong back when they were together.

"Then, is Brother Ye planning to join Spirit Hall?" Zhu Zhuqing asked.

Zhu Zhuqing held no particular animosity toward Spirit Hall.

Although Spirit Hall had been expanding its influence over the years and clearly posed a threat to the two great empires, for the current Zhu Zhuqing, that had nothing to do with her.

"I'll go and see first," Ye Xuan said.

Soto City, Spirit Hall Main Branch.

Ye Xuan had been here once before to turn in a mission, so he was quite familiar with the route.

He entered the hall and approached the deacon's station. When the white-robed deacon saw Ye Xuan, he couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

The deacon had a deep memory of Ye Xuan.

After all, someone so young who could drag a Spirit Emperor in to claim a bounty was not a person one easily forgot.

"Young Master, I wonder what mission reward you are here to claim this time?" the white-robed deacon asked politely.

"I would like to see the bishop here; please inform him," Ye Xuan said.

"The young master wishes to see the bishop?"

"Why? Is that not allowed?"

"No, not at all. Please wait a moment, young master; I will go and report it immediately."

The white-robed deacon dared not refuse; the look Ye Xuan had given him last time was still fresh in his memory.

After the white-robed deacon left, Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously, "Brother Ye, this deacon seems very afraid of you. Did he cross paths with you before?"

"No, I just came here once before," Ye Xuan replied.

"Oh!" Zhu Zhuqing guessed that even if they hadn't fought, this man must have witnessed Ye Xuan's strength.

Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to be so inexplicably awestruck.

They did not wait long before the white-robed deacon returned and said to Ye Xuan, "Young Master Ye, the bishop invites you in."

"Please, lead the way," Ye Xuan said.

The white-robed deacon led Ye Xuan and his companion away from the area, heading toward the back of the main hall.

Before long, they arrived at a secluded courtyard.

In the center of this courtyard sat a man of about fifty years of age.

The man was dressed in black bishop's robes, and on the stone table beside him sat a pot of freshly brewed tea, steam rising from it.

Ye Xuan sensed the man's spirit power; it was only at level 68.

In Soto City, that could be considered quite formidable.

His strength was second only to those few individuals at Shrek Academy.

"Young Master Ye is truly a talented youth. I had heard of your prowess before, though I didn't quite believe it at the time. But seeing you today, you are indeed extraordinary."

The black-robed bishop stood up and cupped his hands to welcome Ye Xuan.

"Ye Xuan greets the bishop. This is my friend, Zhu Zhuqing," Ye Xuan said, returning the gesture with a bow.

"I am Sading. May I ask what brings Young Master Ye and Miss Zhu here?" the black-robed bishop asked.

"I am aware that Spirit Hall is the place with the deepest research into spirits in the world, so I would like to borrow some related books," Ye Xuan said.

"You wish to borrow books from Spirit Hall?" Sading's brows furrowed, his expression turning exceptionally grave.

"Bishop Sading, is that not possible?" Ye Xuan asked.

"It is not that it is impossible. Spirit Hall welcomes heroes from all over the world; as long as you come to Spirit Hall, these books are naturally available for reading. However, young master, you must also do something for Spirit Hall," Sading said.

"What is it that the bishop requires me to do?" Ye Xuan asked.