Hu Liena

But after walking a few steps, Lu Chen couldn't help asking, "Grandpa Ghost, can I go back to the orphanage for a visit?"

Ghost Douluo glanced sideways at him.

Lu Chen continued, "Isn't Dean Grandma still waiting?"

His tone was very earnest as he said this.

Lu Chen truly wanted to go back to the orphanage for a visit.

Ghost Douluo had taken him straight from the Awakening Temple, so Dean Grandma surely still didn't know what had happened afterward. The people from Spirit Hall would probably tell her something, but Lu Chen still wanted to go back himself and let her know.

After all, Dean Grandma had cared for him as he grew up all these years.

He had become Bibi Dong's disciple, and his status had changed, but that didn't mean he would forget the orphanage.

Gui Mei understood what Lu Chen meant.

Looking at the child, he felt a little more satisfied with him.

He had awakened a god-level Martial Soul and had just been accepted as the Pope's disciple. His future was already limitless. If it were any other child, they would probably have been swept up in excitement and pride, without thinking of the orphanage first.

But Lu Chen still remembered Dean Grandma.

He was a filial child.

Gui Mei's tone softened slightly.

"Don't worry about the orphanage."

Lu Chen looked at him.

Gui Mei continued, "His Holiness the Pope has taken you as a disciple, and your potential is limitless. Spirit Hall will take good care of the orphanage."

These weren't words meant to comfort him.

They were simply the truth.

From the moment Lu Chen awakened a god-level Martial Soul and became Bibi Dong's disciple, everything connected to him would receive Spirit Hall's attention. The orphanage had raised him, and Dean Grandma had cared for him for three years. It naturally wouldn't be overlooked.

Gui Mei added, "You can go back and visit after you've absorbed your Soul Rings."

Hearing this, Lu Chen felt a little more at ease.

"Okay."

He didn't insist.

Gui Mei was right.

The most important thing now was to obtain his Soul Rings.

He already had Innate Soul Power at level twenty. Once he absorbed two Soul Rings, he would officially become a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. For Lu Chen, Soul Rings were the key to unlocking Leugocyte's abilities.

Still, before then, he hoped Dean Grandma could be at ease.

Since Gui Mei said Spirit Hall would take good care of the orphanage, there was no need to worry for the time being.

The two continued walking.

There were many buildings in Spirit Hall, and the roads were rather complicated. Lu Chen followed beside Gui Mei, memorizing the general directions as they went.

After an unknown amount of time, they arrived in front of a building.

Lu Chen stopped and looked up.

The building was naturally far more imposing than the orphanage. Though it wasn't as lofty as the Pope Hall, it still seemed dignified and luxurious.

On the plaque above the building, three characters were clearly written.

Saintess Hall.

Lu Chen stared at the plaque, momentarily stunned.

Saintess Hall?

The place Gui Mei had brought him to was actually here.

Inside Saintess Hall, Hu Liena had been resting in the main hall. Today was a holiday from Spirit Hall Academy.

As Bibi Dong's disciple, her daily life and training were arranged with great regularity.

Though Saintess Hall sounded extremely prestigious, to Hu Liena it was, more often than not, simply the place where she lived.

Just then, she sensed a familiar presence approaching.

Hu Liena looked through the window and soon saw Gui Mei enter with an unfamiliar little boy.

The boy looked young, probably only about six. His clothes were quite ordinary, clearly unlike the attire of the noble children in Spirit City.

But there was something unusual about his bearing. Even standing quietly beside Gui Mei, he seemed different from an ordinary child.

Hu Liena was a little surprised.

Why had Grandpa Ghost brought an unfamiliar child to Saintess Hall?

She didn't dwell on it and immediately rose to greet them.

"Grandpa Ghost."

Hu Liena came before Gui Mei and greeted him respectfully.

Though Gui Mei usually seemed cold and taciturn, Hu Liena knew very well that he was an important figure at His Holiness the Pope's side, and that he had always treated her with great care.

So she had always been quite warm toward him.

Gui Mei gave a slight nod.

Hu Liena's gaze soon fell on Lu Chen, curiosity plain in her eyes.

"Grandpa Ghost, who is he?"

Lu Chen looked up at Hu Liena too.

The girl before him was considerably older than he was. She had a captivating air with a hint of brightness, and she was exceptionally beautiful.

Though she hadn't fully grown into her looks yet, one could already see the grace she would possess in the future.

Lu Chen quickly guessed her identity.

Hu Liena.

Bibi Dong's former disciple, and Spirit Hall's Saintess.

Gui Mei didn't keep her guessing. He said directly, "His name is Lu Chen. He's the new disciple His Holiness the Pope has taken."

Hu Liena visibly froze.

"Teacher's new disciple?"

There was undisguised shock in her voice.

His Holiness the Pope had actually taken a new disciple.

She hadn't heard a word about it before.

Gui Mei continued, "From now on, he'll be your junior brother. His Holiness the Pope asked me to bring him here to change his clothes and get him cleaned up."

Hu Liena looked at Lu Chen again.

She had been curious before, but now she studied him in earnest.

His face still had a child's innocence, but his features were very handsome.

After awakening his Martial Soul, his appearance had been influenced by Leugocyte, giving him a faint air of holiness and authority.

But because he was so young, that bearing wasn't oppressive. Instead, it made him seem all the more special.

As Hu Liena looked at him, her shock was quickly replaced by another emotion.

This junior brother was so cute.

She was almost instantly charmed.

A smile appeared on Hu Liena's face, and her voice turned gentle.

"Grandpa Ghost, leave him to me. I'll make sure my junior brother looks his best."

Gui Mei glanced at her, then at Lu Chen, and nodded.

"Mm."

He wasn't worried that Hu Liena wouldn't take good care of Lu Chen.

Now that Lu Chen had become His Holiness the Pope's disciple, he and Hu Liena would surely spend a lot of time together.

It was only fitting to have Hu Liena show him around Saintess Hall.

Hu Liena walked over to Lu Chen and took his hand.

Lu Chen was slightly startled, but didn't pull away.

Hu Liena's hand was warm, and her gesture came naturally, as though she were holding the hand of a younger brother who had just arrived somewhere unfamiliar.

"Come on, junior brother."

Lu Chen nodded.

"Okay, senior sister."

At the sound of that, Hu Liena's smile grew even brighter.

She led Lu Chen into Saintess Hall, asking as they walked, "Your name is Lu Chen, right?"

Lu Chen answered, "That's right."

"How old are you this year?"

"Six."

Hu Liena nodded, then asked, "Where did you live before? Why did Teacher suddenly take you as her disciple today?"

Lu Chen didn't hide much. He answered simply, "I used to live in the orphanage in Spirit City. Today I went to the Awakening Temple to awaken my Martial Soul, and then Teacher took me as her disciple."

When Hu Liena heard the words "orphanage," she paused.

She looked down at Lu Chen, her eyes suddenly softening.

"Are you an orphan?"