Gui Mei's Secret Sabotage

After entering Spirit City, Li Zha realized just how astonishingly numerous the soul masters were here.

Among the people casually passing along the streets, many had fluctuations of soul power.

Even the guards responsible for patrols generally possessed cultivation above level twenty.

Gui Mei did not stop and directly led Li Zha toward the Papal Hall.

The guards along the way immediately cleared a path when they saw Gui Mei.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Ghost Douluo!"

Greetings rang out one after another.

Quite a few people were also sizing up Li Zha, who followed behind Gui Mei.

Gui Mei was one of the Title Douluo most trusted by the Pope.

Any child personally brought back to Spirit City by him would naturally draw attention.

When they reached the entrance of the Papal Hall, more than ten guards in silver armor blocked their path.

The leader quickly stepped forward.

"Your Excellency Ghost Douluo, His Holiness the Pope has issued orders for you to enter the Papal Hall directly upon your return."

After speaking, he looked at Li Zha.

"Is this the twin martial soul bearer discovered in Nuoding City?"

Gui Mei gave a grunt of acknowledgment.

The surrounding guards immediately began examining Li Zha closely.

News of the twin martial souls had already reached the Papal Hall.

Yet many still found it hard to believe that Pope Bibi Dong would send Gui Mei personally for a six-year-old child.

"Let them through."

Gui Mei took the lead up the steps.

Li Zha followed behind him.

As soon as the two entered the front hall, they saw three young boys and girls emerge from the training grounds to the side.

The girl walking in the middle had short hair and a fluffy tail behind her.

She stopped.

"Grandpa Gui."

Gui Mei's attitude softened somewhat.

"Nana, have you finished training for the day?"

"Just finished."

Hu Liena looked at Li Zha.

"Teacher told me not to leave in a hurry after training. She said a newly arrived child would be taking a test today."

"Is it him?"

Gui Mei did not hide it.

"Li Zha, six years old, innately full soul power, twin martial souls."

Yan, who stood beside Hu Liena, immediately took several steps closer.

"He really has twin martial souls?"

"A six-year-old who needs Your Excellency Ghost Douluo to personally escort him—this treatment is way too extravagant."

Xie Yue raised a hand to stop Yan.

"Say less in front of Your Excellency Ghost Douluo."

Yan did not back away.

He stared at Li Zha for a while.

"I heard his second martial soul is a top-tier weapon martial soul?"

"Beyond top-tier," Gui Mei corrected.

Yan was left speechless.

Under the continent's current classification of martial souls, top-tier was already the highest standard.

There were simply no official records of something called beyond top-tier.

"A martial soul can surpass top-tier?"

Gui Mei gestured at Li Zha.

Understanding, Li Zha curled the fingers of his right hand.

The Flaming-tipped Spear immediately appeared.

The instant its butt touched the ground, several cracks spread across the stone slabs.

Scorching currents of air radiated from the red tassel.

Yan's martial soul itself possessed a fire attribute.

When the Flaming-tipped Spear appeared, the soul power within his body actually stirred slightly.

That fire attribute was extremely powerful.

Even with his current cultivation, he was affected by it.

Yan reached out, intending to touch the spear shaft.

Li Zha directly swung the spear sideways.

The spear tip stopped before Yan's palm.

"Don't touch it carelessly."

Yan's hand froze in midair.

He was far taller than Li Zha, and his cultivation had already surpassed level twenty.

A level-ten soul master who had just arrived in Spirit City dared to stop him?

Yan frowned. "I just wanted to try it."

"Try what?"

"See whether this martial soul is really as heavy as the rumors say."

With one hand behind his back, Gui Mei said blandly, "Li Zha, if Yan wants to try it, let him."

"Alright." Li Zha nodded.

He could not disrespect Gui Mei.

He released his grip.

The Flaming-tipped Spear dropped straight toward the ground.

Yan reacted quickly, swiftly grabbing the spear shaft with one hand.

However, in the next instant, his arm suddenly sank.

The Flaming-tipped Spear dragged his hand sharply downward!

Hm?!

This heavy?!

Yan's pupils shrank, and he hurriedly grabbed it with both hands!

Hu Liena was standing right beside him. How could he let himself make such a fool of himself!

However, he had never specifically trained to hold heavy objects, and he had not expected the Flaming-tipped Spear to be so heavy.

As a result, even though he exerted strength with both hands, it was already too late.

Bang!

The Flaming-tipped Spear smashed heavily into the stone slabs.

The slabs shattered on the spot.

Yan crouched halfway to the ground, gripping the spear shaft with both hands until his face flushed red.

Only then did he barely manage to lift it.

Xie Yue, standing nearby, also changed expression.

Yan's martial soul leaned toward strength.

Among soul masters of the same age, few could suppress him in a direct contest of power.

Yet now, he could not even hold Li Zha's martial soul steady.

"Need help?"

Xie Yue stepped forward.

"No!"

Yan gritted his teeth and exerted himself again.

The moment he raised the Flaming-tipped Spear upright, he intended to imitate Li Zha and strike a balancing pose.

But as soon as he released one hand—

The Flaming-tipped Spear's weight suddenly increased.

Bang!

The spear shaft crashed back down.

Caught off guard, Yan dropped directly to one knee.

Hu Liena could not help laughing.

"Didn't you want to try it just now?"

"Why are you kneeling to someone else's martial soul now?"

"I'm not kneeling!"

Yan's face burned red. He released the spear and quickly stood up.

"There's something wrong with this thing's weight!"

He glared viciously at Li Zha. "Did you add some soul skill to it?"

A soul skill?

I don't even have a soul ring yet.

Li Zha ignored him and raised a hand in summons.

The Flaming-tipped Spear left the ground and flew steadily back into his hand.

He turned to Gui Mei. "Senior Ghost Douluo, may I put it away now?"

Gui Mei nodded slightly. "Mm, let's go."

Li Zha put away the Flaming-tipped Spear and turned to follow Gui Mei toward the Papal Hall.

Just then, the martial soul's weight had clearly increased suddenly.

But Li Zha had not done it.

Gui Mei had.

As for why Gui Mei had done so, Li Zha did not know for certain, but he could guess part of it.

Gui Mei and Hu Liena had a relationship like that of a grandfather and granddaughter.

There could only be one explanation for why he had secretly made Yan, who liked Hu Liena, embarrass himself.

Gui Mei did not like Yan, nor did he want Hu Liena to like Yan.

Li Zha did not particularly care about Yan.

It was simply that Gui Mei's actions might cause Yan to hold a grudge against him.

"Don't worry. I'll compensate you."

Gui Mei suddenly spoke.

Li Zha looked up, thought for a moment, and thanked him directly. "Thank you, Senior."

"What are you thanking me for? I, Gui Mei, can't possibly make a junior like you suffer a loss for nothing.

That Yan, just as you thought, I truly don't like him."

Li Zha nodded. "Mm."

"Because he..."

"?"

The words Gui Mei had been about to use to complain about Yan caught in his throat at Li Zha's indifferent reaction.

"No, shouldn't you ask why I don't like Yan?"

Li Zha blinked. "Knowing that doesn't seem to help me much."

"You... forget it!"

Gui Mei flicked his sleeve and quickened his pace.

Unlike when he had heard Li Zha say he wanted to choose a ten-thousand-year soul ring—

That time, he had only feigned anger. This time, however, he was genuinely a little annoyed.

"You're not curious at all. Your temperament is far too dull. The road of cultivation is long, so you have to know how to find some enjoyment. You'll understand later!"

Li Zha's mouth twitched slightly.

Dull? I don't think I count as dull.

Was it just because I didn't listen to him complain about Yan?

Sigh, as expected, Master Su Yuntao was right.

Title Douluo have strange and unpredictable tempers.

Behind them, Yan's face burned.

Li Zha could casually wield a martial soul that Yan could not lift even with both hands.

And Yan himself had insisted on trying it.

Right in front of Hu Liena, no less!

It was impossible for him not to resent Li Zha.

Because he was certain that Li Zha had deliberately caused the sudden increase in weight.

Xie Yue patted Yan on the shoulder. "Enough, let's go. My sister has already followed them inside."

"Nana?"

Yan abruptly looked up and saw that Hu Liena had already followed them toward Papal Hall.

Yan immediately moved to follow.

Xie Yue crossed his arms and said, "His Holiness the Pope didn't invite us. If you barge in like that, you might die."

Yan stiffened. In the end, watching Hu Liena's retreating figure, he gave up.

"Got it!"