Hu Liena: By Seniority, You Still Have to Call Me Senior Sister

After leaving the small courtyard, the calm on Yang Jian's face gradually faded.

He rubbed his still-numb shoulder and silently assessed the battle from earlier.

He had only cultivated the Eight-Nine Mysteries for a few days, yet he had already beaten a level thirty-two Soul Master into that state. The power of this technique was evident.

But the gap was also obvious.

His physical foundation was too weak, and his endurance was severely lacking. After an explosive burst, he became weak as a kitten.

"I need to find some books to read."

Yang Jian made up his mind to visit Spirit Hall's library and find books related to soul beasts, so he could decide on his first soul ring.

With the boost from his first soul ring, things would surely improve considerably.

Not long after he left, Yue Guan's figure slowly emerged from a shadow outside the courtyard.

He stared in the direction Yang Jian had gone, undisguised surprise on his face.

"This kid..." Yue Guan muttered, "His physical strength has improved by another level since yesterday. It's only been one night. How is that possible?"

He recalled how Yang Jian had looked when he first arrived at Spirit Hall yesterday—sallow and skinny, as though a gust of wind could knock him over.

Yet in that battle just now, the physical capabilities Yang Jian had displayed were nothing like those of a six-year-old child who had only just awakened his martial soul.

"I need to report this to Her Holiness the Pope."

Yue Guan flashed away and vanished from the spot.

Papal Hall.

Bibi Dong sat upon a gilded throne, idly playing with an exquisite jade thumb ring. Gui Mei stood before her, reporting something.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has been making frequent moves lately. Ning Fengzhi appears to be secretly drawing several affiliated sects to his side." Gui Mei's voice was as cold and sinister as ever. "Furthermore, Sword Douluo Chen Xin has left the sect several times recently, and his destination is unknown."

Bibi Dong frowned slightly. "That old fox Ning Fengzhi never does anything pointless. Keep a close watch on them, but do not alert them."

"Yes."

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the hall.

Yue Guan strode in quickly, his expression somewhat strange.

"Your Holiness."

Bibi Dong raised her eyes to look at him. "What is it?"

Yue Guan stepped closer and carefully chose his words. "Just now, Yang Jian got into a fight with Yan."

"Oh?" Bibi Dong showed some interest. "Yan went looking for trouble with him?"

She understood Yan's temperament well. He was competitive and eager to prove himself. Having heard that she had taken on a nominal disciple, it would have been strange if he had not gone to provoke him.

Still, a level thirty-two Soul Master going to trouble a child who had only just awakened his martial soul—he could actually do such a thing. He truly was incapable of bearing great responsibility.

"They fought, and the result..." Yue Guan's expression grew even stranger. "Yang Jian beat Yan up quite badly."

At those words, the jade thumb ring in Bibi Dong's hand stopped moving.

Even Gui Mei's black mist paused slightly.

"What did you say?" Bibi Dong thought she had misheard.

"Yang Jian beat Yan up." Yue Guan repeated himself. "Although Yang Jian conceded in the end, Yan was beaten black and blue."

Bibi Dong fell silent for two seconds. "A level thirty-two Soul Master was beaten by a child who does not even have his first soul ring?"

"Yes." Yue Guan nodded. "Although Yan did not use his martial soul or soul power, even so, with a body tempered by soul power for thirteen years, crushing a six-year-old child should have been effortless."

"But the reality was the exact opposite."

He paused, then added, "Yang Jian caught Yan off guard from the very beginning and suppressed him throughout the fight. He only conceded after running out of stamina. And..."

"And what?" Gui Mei rarely took the initiative to speak.

"That kid's physical strength is off." Yue Guan frowned slightly. "When I took him to the small courtyard yesterday, even his steps were unsteady. But after the fight today, I observed him in secret. His physical abilities had improved by a huge margin compared to yesterday."

"And only one night has passed."

The hall fell silent.

Bibi Dong leaned back against her throne, her fingers rhythmically tapping the armrest as she sank into thought.

A child who had only just awakened his martial soul had experienced a massive increase in physical strength overnight. That was clearly abnormal.

Twin martial souls, innate full soul power, and this bizarre rate of physical growth—this Yang Jian was far more extraordinary than she had imagined.

Perhaps she should find a time to question Yang Jian properly.

It might even be possible to take him as a direct disciple.

After all, with talent like his, no one in all of Spirit Hall besides Qian Renxue could compare.

But the instant that thought emerged—

Another figure surfaced in Bibi Dong's mind at the most inopportune time.

Yu Xiaogang.

More precisely, Luo Sanpao, the pitiful creature constantly wagging its tail beside Yu Xiaogang.

She recalled the feeling she had when she saw Yang Jian's second martial soul yesterday.

That short-haired white dog was so similar to Luo Sanpao.

Both were beast martial souls that could leave the body, and both had the same tail-wagging manner.

Bibi Dong's gaze gradually turned complicated.

Every time she saw Yang Jian, she could not help but think of Yu Xiaogang, of that past she was least willing to remember.

That association instinctively made her want to distance herself from the child.

"Observe him for a while longer."

Bibi Dong ultimately made her decision.

Yang Jian's talent was beyond doubt, but the knot in her heart was not something that could be untied overnight.

"Your Holiness," Yue Guan suddenly asked, "since Yang Jian's physical strength has improved considerably, should we take him to obtain his first soul ring now?"

Bibi Dong shook her head. "There is no rush. An outstanding soul master should have a mind of his own. We can take him when he brings it up himself."

"Yes."

Meanwhile, on a bluestone path somewhere in Spirit Hall—

Yang Jian stood there with a blank look on his face.

He had already wandered around Spirit Hall for half an hour.

Spirit Hall was far too large, its buildings packed close together and its covered corridors crisscrossing everywhere. Every few steps led to another fork in the road.

How could a six-year-old child who had only just arrived possibly tell east from west?

"Where exactly is the library...?"

Yang Jian raised his head and looked at the imposing building before him. The plaque above it read "Spirit Hall Council Chamber," so it was obviously not the place he was looking for.

He looked back at the path he had taken, but he could no longer remember it at all.

"Forget it. I'll walk farther ahead and see."

Yang Jian sighed. Just as he was about to continue forward, a crisp voice suddenly sounded behind him.

"Hey, kid."

He turned around and saw a young girl walking toward him.

Hu Liena had changed into a different outfit. Her chestnut hair was casually tied back with a ribbon, revealing an exquisite face.

Her features carried a natural charm. Her eyes seemed capable of stealing one's soul with a single glance, yet they also possessed a young girl's purity.

Her fitted training clothes outlined her already budding figure, with its delicate curves. Her slender waist seemed too thin to grasp, while her long, straight legs gleamed with healthy radiance under the sunlight.

Even Yang Jian, who had lived two lives, was momentarily stunned when he saw Hu Liena.

Beauty of this caliber had only existed on screens in his previous life.

"What are you doing here?" Hu Liena walked up to him and studied him curiously.

"I wanted to go to the library to read some books, but..." Yang Jian spread his hands. "I got lost."

Hu Liena burst into laughter, her eyes curving into crescents. "Spirit Hall is indeed huge. I got lost several times when I first came here too."

"Can you tell me where it is?" Yang Jian asked.

Hu Liena shook her head. "I'll take you there. I do not have anything to do right now anyway."

"No need to trouble yourself..."

"It's no trouble." Hu Liena cut him off, her tone light. "My name is Hu Liena, and I am Teacher's direct disciple. You are Teacher's nominal disciple, so that makes us fellow disciples. By seniority, you still have to call me Senior Sister. Isn't it only right for Senior Sister to show Junior Brother around?"