A Frank Discussion: Different Paths, No Common Cause!

The sacred and solemn Pope Hall was filled with air that seemed like congealed liquid gold, heavy enough to press down upon every corner.

The light and shadows cast by the towering dome enveloped Lin Xia and the Bulbasaur at his feet, making them appear especially small.

Bibi Dong sat upright upon the throne beneath the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown. Her deep, abyss-like eyes, as though capable of seeing into one's soul, rested calmly upon Lin Xia. There was none of the sharpness of scrutiny in them, yet they carried an indifferent pressure that seemed to look down upon all living beings, enough to suffocate anyone.

Just as Lin Xia finished paying his respects and remained bowed, the air beside Bibi Dong rippled soundlessly like water. A figure shrouded entirely in shadow silently emerged—it was Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei.

His voice was like a ghostly whisper, not loud, yet it clearly reached every corner of the hall. Every word struck precisely against Lin Xia's heartstrings.

"Lin Xia, seven years old. Martial soul: Bulbasaur, a detached beast martial soul mutation with an unusual form. His first soul ring is a mutated Toxic soul ring of approximately five hundred years. Its abilities are strange and unpredictable. Innate Soul Power: level one."

Gui Mei's voice was utterly flat, as though he were reading from a cold file.

"He once attended the Notting City Junior Soul Master Academy. Less than a month after enrolling, he voluntarily withdrew. He later made his way to Plant Academy in the Heaven Dou Empire. After obtaining his first soul ring there, he disappeared."

"When he appeared again, he was already within the Star Luo Empire, carrying out awakening assignments as an externally dispatched deacon of Spirit Hall."

Gui Mei paused in his account. It seemed that even a titled Douluo of his standing, one accustomed to every kind of storm, felt a faint and nearly imperceptible stir at what came next.

"During a mission in Skyhorn Village of the Star Luo Empire, he encountered attacks by a three-hundred-year Earth Crystal Snake and a thousand-year Skyhorn Snake. It was later discovered that the entire village had been controlled by a five-thousand-year Illusion Demon Spider through a mental spiderweb."

"Lin Xia was unfortunately swallowed whole by the Illusion Demon Spider. Yet after a full day and night, he actually worked together with his soul beast, Bulbasaur, and killed it from within its body despite being only a one-ring soul master. He burst from its abdomen and saved an entire village from danger!"

"The battle was exceptionally brutal, and the evidence left behind was conclusive. It was confirmed on site by Carlson, the Soul Ancestor captain of the enforcement squad, and his subordinate team. Elder Salas guaranteed the authenticity of his achievement in the name of a Spirit Hall elder."

Gui Mei's report ended, and an even deeper silence descended over the hall.

Even Carlson, the guide envoy who already knew part of the story, was once again filled with undisguised astonishment and curiosity as he listened to this condensed, almost legendary account and looked at Lin Xia's back.

The other attendants before the hall, as well as Yue Guan, the other titled Douluo hidden in the shadows beside the throne, all instinctively focused their gazes on the thin seven-year-old boy.

Was this really a seven-year-old child?

Level-one Innate Soul Power?

A detached beast martial soul?

Chased down by an evil Soul Sage and escaping alive?

Single-handedly killing a five-thousand-year Illusion Demon Spider?

Put together, these descriptions formed an existence that defied all common sense and was shrouded in mystery.

Bibi Dong's flawless face remained calm and unruffled, but her deep violet eyes narrowed slightly. Her gaze settled almost tangibly upon Lin Xia's face as she finally spoke.

Her voice was cold and imposing, like ice jade striking together, devoid of emotion.

"Lin Xia, I naturally trust Elder Salas's reputation. Your experiences are certainly... unusual. However, there are two matters I do not understand."

Bibi Dong paused slightly.

"First, why did you leave Notting Junior Soul Master Academy less than a month after enrolling?"

Her gaze seemed to sweep casually across Lin Xia's calm face, as though capturing even the slightest change in expression.

"Second, Plant Academy helped you obtain your soul ring. Since you had already enrolled there, why did you leave again?"

These two questions sounded simple, but they struck directly at the unusual parts of Lin Xia's past. Especially in Notting City—that place... was connected to that Grandmaster.

Lin Xia took a deep breath as well. He raised his head and met the gaze of the noble yet icy figure above him without hesitation.

At that moment, Lin Xia's ingrained impression from the original story of a love-crazed woman had long since vanished.

The woman before him was a true ruler, commanding the immense power of the Spirit Hall Empire and overlooking the shifting tides of the continent!

The majesty and composure she displayed, along with the deep-rooted prestige of Spirit Hall among the people that he had witnessed during his journey, all clearly told Lin Xia just how absurd those one-sided, prejudiced portrayals had been.

How could someone like her be so easily blinded by personal feelings?

Moreover, before someone like this, concealment and deception were both foolish and dangerous.

There were countless strange varieties of martial souls. Who could guarantee that none possessed the ability to trace one's past?

Rather than let the truth be exposed later and leave behind a rift, it was better to face it openly.

Lin Xia's voice was steady, carrying a composure rare in one so young as it rang clearly through the silent hall.

"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope."

"The first question concerns Notting Junior Soul Master Academy."

Lin Xia's tone did not fluctuate, as though he were recounting an old event that had nothing to do with him.

"I left because my path was completely different from the theoretical path pursued by a Grandmaster at the academy named Yu Xiaogang."

The instant Yu Xiaogang's name left his lips, it was as though countless invisible strings within the hall had suddenly been pulled taut!

Though no one dared make the slightest movement, even their breathing seemed to halt for an instant.

In the shadows beside the throne, Yue Guan's fingers curled almost imperceptibly beneath his sleeve.

No expression could be seen on Gui Mei's insubstantial face, yet the shadows around him seemed to ripple.

Anyone with a bit of standing knew, more or less, of the taboo relationship between Yu Xiaogang and Her Holiness the Pope.

Lin Xia seemed not to notice the sudden stagnation. His gaze fell upon Bulbasaur at his feet, asleep yet instinctively guarding him, and his eyes carried a pure, resolute tenderness.

"My martial soul, Bulbasaur... is very special. It is not an ordinary beast martial soul. It is more like a living companion with independent intelligence."

"The Grandmaster's research focuses more on a soul master's own martial soul system and theories regarding soul ring combinations. But the relationship between Bulbasaur and me is more like a symbiotic bond between partners."

"Its growth, skills, and coordination with me cannot simply be forced into existing theoretical frameworks. There, I could not find a path that could truly understand and guide the special relationship between us."

Lin Xia paused, his tone carrying the stubbornness and helplessness unique to a youth.

"Different paths lead to no common cause. Since we could not fit together, staying would only create more trouble. It was better to leave early and seek soil more suitable for our survival and growth. That was why I refused to take a master and chose Plant Academy, which excels at nurturing plant martial souls."

This explanation neither belittled Yu Xiaogang's theories nor complained about the academy. It merely stemmed from the uniqueness of his own martial soul and his chosen path. It was neither servile nor overbearing, well reasoned, and avoided Bibi Dong's sensitive point.

Bibi Dong's expression did not change in the slightest, as though she were merely listening to an ordinary story.