Taking a Disciple

Yue Guan held the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber in one hand, the expression on his face shifting unpredictably.

As a level ninety-five Titled Douluo, his strength naturally far surpassed that of ordinary people. Yet even so, the heavy sensation when he took hold of the saber still caught him by surprise.

"Fine saber."

Yue Guan ran his fingers along the blade, feeling its chilling sharpness, and could not help praising it.

He tried swinging it twice, and sharp whistles tore through the air. Where the blade passed, a faint silver-white afterimage lingered.

"Old Ghost, you try it too."

Yue Guan handed the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber to Gui Mei beside him.

Gui Mei reached out and took it. His expression could not be seen beneath the shroud of black mist, but his movements clearly paused for a moment. He had evidently felt the saber's weight as well.

"Over thirteen hundred jin."

Gui Mei gave an exact figure, his tone carrying a rare trace of emotion. "And this saber's endurance limit is extremely high. I secretly tested it with soul power just now, yet it did not budge in the slightest."

"What that means, I need not say, do I?"

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a look, and both saw shock in the other's eyes.

One of the criteria for judging a top-tier tool spirit was its endurance limit.

Ordinary tool spirits, such as sickles and hoes, would tremble or even shatter with only a little soul power applied to them.

The reason the Clear Sky Hammer had firmly held the throne as the number one tool spirit in the world was precisely because its endurance limit far surpassed that of other martial souls.

And now, this Three-Point Double-Edged Saber had remained completely unmoved under Gui Mei's soul power test...

"Your Holiness."

Yue Guan turned to Bibi Dong on the throne and cupped his hands. "The quality of this child's martial soul may well surpass every tool spirit this old man has seen in his life. In terms of potential, it far exceeds ordinary top-tier tool spirits."

At those words, a gleam flashed through Bibi Dong's violet eyes.

She said nothing. Instead, she rose from the throne, descended the steps slowly with her scepter in hand, and came before Yang Jian.

"Let me see."

Bibi Dong extended her jade-like right hand.

Yang Jian obediently passed the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber to her.

The instant Bibi Dong received it, a trace of surprise flickered through her eyes as well.

But unlike Yue Guan and Gui Mei, she did not show it. She merely closed her eyes, her slender fingers gently stroking the blade as a wisp of pure soul power seeped into the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber through her fingertips.

A moment later, she opened her eyes.

"Not bad."

Bibi Dong's red lips parted. Her voice was calm, but if one listened closely, one could detect a trace of suppressed excitement. "I probed this saber's endurance limit to a considerable depth just now, yet I still did not reach its bottom."

"If I am not mistaken, the Clear Sky Hammer's endurance limit should be around this level as well."

She paused, then delivered her final judgment. "The Three-Point Double-Edged Saber is no weaker than the Clear Sky Hammer."

The moment those words were spoken, Yue Guan and Gui Mei both sucked in a breath.

No weaker than the Clear Sky Hammer!

The Clear Sky Hammer was known as the number one tool spirit in the world. It had been passed down by the Clear Sky Sect and stood firm for tens of thousands of years.

For Bibi Dong to personally utter the words "no weaker than" was already the highest possible praise.

But Bibi Dong's next words left the two of them completely stunned.

"Strictly speaking, in terms of potential, this saber may even surpass the Clear Sky Hammer."

Bibi Dong returned the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber to Yang Jian, then turned and walked back to the throne. Her tone was certain. "If I am not mistaken, this saber's weight should increase as soul rings are added. And its wielder can handle it with ease, unaffected by its weight. Is that correct?"

Her gaze settled on Yang Jian.

Yang Jian nodded. As expected of the Rakshasa God's inheritor. She even saw through that.

Bibi Dong continued, "If so, that means the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber's growth potential may far exceed that of the Clear Sky Hammer."

"If this child grows up in the future, the title of number one tool spirit in the world may have to change hands."

Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged glances in understanding. No wonder Yang Jian looked so frail, yet could lift the Three-Point Double-Edged Saber.

They cupped their hands at the same time in congratulations. "Congratulations, Your Holiness! Congratulations, Your Holiness!"

"Now that this child has joined Spirit Hall, the world's number one tool spirit will belong to our Spirit Hall in the future. Those turtles hiding in their shells at the Clear Sky Sect will probably be furious."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly, a rare hint of a smile appearing on her face.

She returned to the gilded throne, her gaze falling on Yang Jian with a few more degrees of scrutiny and consideration in her eyes.

"Yang Jian, summon your second martial soul as well. Let me see it."

"Yes."

Yang Jian nodded. With a thought, white light surged from his left palm.

The next moment, a short-haired white dog appeared by his feet. Its ears were pointed, its tail long, and its posture agile. Wagging its tail, it rubbed against Yang Jian's calf.

"Woof!"

The Howling Celestial Dog barked, its voice crisp.

Yue Guan and Gui Mei turned their gazes toward the white dog. After observing it carefully for a moment, their expressions gradually became flat.

"A detached beast spirit?"

Yue Guan frowned slightly, disappointment impossible to conceal in his tone. "What a pity. If it were a possessing beast spirit, it could still be considered decent. But in this detached form..."

He did not finish the sentence, but the meaning was already clear.

Gui Mei said nothing either, merely shaking his head slightly.

The value of detached beast spirits had long been settled in the world of soul masters.

They could not possess their host and could not provide attribute boosts, causing their combat power to drop drastically.

At most, such martial souls could only be considered useless.

Bibi Dong's gaze fell upon the Howling Celestial Dog, and her expression suddenly became somewhat complicated.

A detached beast spirit...

She could not help thinking of someone.

That man who had once filled her thoughts and dreams, yet also made her hate him to the bone.

Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang's martial soul, Luo Sanpao, was precisely a detached beast spirit.

Because of this, the world called him trash. He had remained stuck at level twenty-nine for life, becoming the laughingstock of the entire soul master world.

Bibi Dong's gaze gradually grew distant.

She did not even intend to examine the strength of Yang Jian's second martial soul.

Looking at the white dog wagging its head and tail by Yang Jian's feet, the thought of taking him as a disciple that had just arisen in her heart quietly cooled by several degrees.

Twin martial souls, innate full soul power, and a first martial soul with potential exceeding even the Clear Sky Hammer.

If his second martial soul had been stronger, she would have accepted him as her personal disciple without hesitation.

But it had to be a detached beast spirit.

Every time she saw it, she would think of Yu Xiaogang and the past she did not wish to remember.

"Yang Jian."

Bibi Dong composed herself, her voice returning to its usual icy calm. "Your talent is indeed quite good, especially your first martial soul, which possesses enormous potential. I have decided to first accept you as a registered disciple and observe you for a few years."

"If your performance over the next few years satisfies me, I will formally accept you as my disciple then."

A registered disciple.

Yang Jian understood. He knew that the Howling Celestial Dog had been underestimated, and that Bibi Dong seemed to have recalled some past event because of the detached beast spirit. That was why she had not directly accepted him as her personal disciple.

But he did not mind.

In fact, this was exactly the outcome he wanted.

For now, he did not wish to reveal the Howling Celestial Dog's true abilities.

It was always good to keep a trump card close at hand.

As for the status of a registered disciple, it was already enough for him.

With Spirit Hall's resources and Bibi Dong's protection, he could grow quickly.

"This disciple, Yang Jian, pays respects to Teacher."

Yang Jian bent at the waist in a bow.

Since he was not a personal disciple, there was no need for a kneeling ceremony.

Bibi Dong did not mind. She nodded slightly, her expression easing somewhat. "Mm."

"Although you possess innate full soul power, your physical foundation is too poor. You are malnourished, and rashly obtaining a soul ring would be far too risky. For the next period of time, you will first temper your body and restore your health. Once I deem the time appropriate, I will have someone take you to obtain your first soul ring."

"During this time, Yue Guan will temporarily guide you in your foundational training."

Yang Jian bowed again. "Yes, this disciple understands."

Bibi Dong waved her hand, signaling for Yue Guan to take Yang Jian away and arrange a place for him to stay.