A Titled Douluo Becomes a Grand Soul Master

"However, I don't think I'm qualified to receive your personal guidance yet."

Li Zha raised his head.

Some of Bibi Dong's anger subsided.

"Continue."

"I come from a commoner background and have only just arrived in Spirit City. I don't even have my first soul ring."

"If I relied solely on my talent to surpass everyone in the academy and become the Pope's disciple directly, it would definitely provoke the dissatisfaction of many students who are equally talented."

Hu Liena could not help but interject at this point.

"You're afraid of them?"

Li Zha glanced at her.

"I'm afraid of trouble."

"After becoming the Pope's disciple, everyone will want to step on me to prove themselves."

"If I have to deal with challenges every day, where will I find time to research materials, cultivate, and search for soul beasts?"

Hu Liena opened her mouth, yet she could not find anything to say in rebuttal.

When she had first become the Pope's disciple, people had indeed challenged her every day.

Some wanted to prove that she was unworthy.

Others wanted to use her as a stepping stone to gain Bibi Dong's attention.

If her strength had not truly been sufficient, and if Xie Yue had not often helped shield her from trouble, she would never have been able to cultivate in peace.

Li Zha continued.

"Spirit Hall Academy gathers geniuses from all over the continent."

"Their talent may not match mine, but they have also put in a great deal of effort."

"I want to earn recognition through my own abilities before coming before Your Holiness to receive guidance."

"During this time, I can also get to know some people my own age."

"I don't want to look back years from now and find that I have not a single friend."

The invisible pressure in the hall dissipated.

Gui Mei secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This answer made the rejection perfectly clear.

It also gave Bibi Dong plenty of face.

Li Zha acknowledged his own talent.

At the same time, he elevated the other students of Spirit Hall Academy.

He had not acted humble.

Nor had he been arrogant enough to think he needed no guidance.

Most importantly, he had not completely shut the door on becoming her disciple.

Gui Mei considered himself to have lived for decades.

Even he would have found it difficult to give a more suitable answer on the spot.

Just how had this six-year-old child's mind grown?

Hu Liena also fell silent.

The awkwardness she had felt over someone stealing her teacher quickly faded by more than half.

"Years from now, I don't want to look back and find that I have not a single friend..."

Bibi Dong repeated the sentence.

She returned to her throne.

The anger on her face had vanished.

"Good."

"I look forward to seeing you stand here again, in your own way."

Li Zha bowed.

"Thank you, Your Holiness."

Bibi Dong looked down the steps.

"Hu Liena."

Hu Liena immediately stepped forward.

"Your disciple is here."

"Li Zha has just entered Spirit City and is unfamiliar with this place."

"You will take him to handle his academy registration, living arrangements, and course selection."

Hu Liena froze.

"Teacher, you want me to look after him?"

"Is there a problem?"

"No."

Hu Liena glanced at Li Zha.

"Your disciple accepts."

Bibi Dong set down her scepter.

"Li Zha, if there is anything you do not understand, you may ask Hu Liena."

"I will not arrange a formal teacher for you for now. She will look after and guide you in the meantime."

"As for how you address her... call her Sister for now."

Li Zha: ...?

Who?

Hu Liena?

His teacher had suddenly dropped from a Titled Douluo to a Grand Soul Master??

Even if she was only teaching him temporarily, wasn't this a fall from heaven into hell?

Sure enough, Bibi Dong really was not quite right in the head.

"Your Holiness."

Li Zha considered his words.

"I got along quite well with Senior Ghost Douluo on the journey here."

"If there is no formal teacher for now, Senior Ghost Douluo would actually be quite suitable."

Gui Mei's expression shifted slightly.

He turned to look at Li Zha.

This boy had refused to become the Pope's disciple. Did he want to take him as his teacher instead?

The Flaming-tipped Spear did not follow the same path as his martial soul.

But he was still a Titled Douluo. Teaching a level-ten soul master would be more than easy.

Besides, Li Zha's other martial soul possessed recovery and poison resistance abilities. His fighting style might not necessarily be limited to direct offense.

Hu Liena, meanwhile, was somewhat displeased.

What did he mean? What did he mean!

Did he think I'm not qualified to teach him?

Just a mere soul master!

I, Hu Liena, refuse to believe I can't teach him!

Well... at the very least, before level twenty, I can teach him however I want!

Having thought it through, Gui Mei nodded and was just about to speak.

But Hu Liena had already stepped forward first and bowed.

"Teacher, rest assured."

"Your disciple will definitely take good care of little brother Li Zha."

She deliberately stressed the words "little brother."

Li Zha looked at her.

What did that mean?

She had looked utterly unwilling just now. Why had she suddenly agreed so quickly?

Bibi Dong nodded.

"Then it is settled."

"Li Zha, what were you about to say?"

Li Zha opened his mouth, about to speak.

Then he saw Hu Liena secretly signal him with her eyes.

Her proud gaze seemed to say, I'll teach you. I'm going to teach you!

Helplessly, he gave a slight shake of his head.

Forget it. Whatever happens, happens.

Getting his first soul ring came first.

Without a soul ring,

innate full soul power was, in the end, merely a level-ten soul master.

"Thank you, Your Holiness, and Hu Liena..."

He really could not bring himself to call her Sister.

Hu Liena snorted softly.

"Mm." Bibi Dong pressed her hand down. "Gui Mei, take them away."

"Yes, I take my leave."

The three of them left Papal Hall.

Only Bibi Dong remained.

She loosened her grip on the scepter and picked up Li Zha's file to look at it again.

Her gaze gradually grew unfocused.

"Xiaogang, why did you pass over the twin martial souls and choose Blue Silver Grass instead...

Could it be... you had foreseen all this and deliberately left a peerless genius like Li Zha for me..."

A hazy look appeared in her eyes, and her lashes trembled.

If Li Zha had still been there, he would have been able to draw a conclusion with absolute certainty this time.

This woman had truly gone mad.

Outside the hall, Hu Liena quickened her pace and caught up to Li Zha.

The corners of her lips lifted slightly.

"Junior Brother Li Zha, didn't you leave out something when speaking to me just now?"

Li Zha naturally knew what she meant.

Wasn't it just the word Sister?

Was it really that serious?

In any case, he would not say it.

Li Zha walked around her and looked at Gui Mei beside him.

"Senior Gui, where is the academy archives?"

"It's right..."

"Hmph."

Gui Mei had just raised his hand and was about to answer.

Then he heard Hu Liena deliberately drag out a nasal hum beside him.

Gui Mei immediately stopped.

He lowered his hand and looked elsewhere.

"This old man is getting on in years. The academy archives... I truly don't know where they are."

"Why don't you ask Nana?"

Hu Liena slightly raised her fair neck, a faint smile on her lips.

This is my Grandpa Gui!

He's on my side!

Just as she waited for Li Zha to ask,

Li Zha glanced at Hu Liena.

So this woman was a little-brother fanatic.

No wonder Yan's long pursuit had gotten nowhere, yet she had inexplicably fallen for Tang San at first sight.

Calling her Sister was impossible!

"Oh, you don't know either? Then forget it."

Hu Liena:?

What did he mean, forget it!

She immediately put on a combative expression, though she still tried to look at Li Zha calmly.

"Little Brother Li Zha, why don't you ask Sister? Teacher told Sister to take care of you for now."

"Hu Liena, do you know where the aca..."

Hu Liena puffed out her cheeks.

"Not that! I want you to call me that!"

Li Zha decisively refused. "I'm not calling you that, Senior Gui..."

Li Zha had barely turned his head when all that remained before him was a wisp of black shadow falling to the ground.

It turned into a puddle of black ink and quickly dissipated.

Gui Mei had run away.

Li Zha: ...

Seeing Gui Mei flee, Hu Liena giggled and crouched halfway in front of Li Zha, her hands braced on her knees.

"Grandpa Gui has already left. It's just me here now. Call me that, and I'll tell you where the database is."

Li Zha froze the moment he turned his head.

Right in his face were Hu Liena's white, ample breasts beneath her collar.

"Just two words! Only two words! Little Brother Li Zha!"

Hu Liena blinked.

She secretly activated her soul power.

First Soul Skill: Fox Charm.

Pink hearts gradually appeared in her eyes.

Li Zha instantly felt his head grow a little hot, and a faint sense of dizziness washed over him.

Yet the next second, clarity swiftly returned to his gaze.

Li Zha hurriedly shook his head and looked away.

Hu Liena's seductive abilities really were comparable to Daji's.

He considered his mental strength quite formidable, yet he had still fallen for it in an instant.

Fortunately, the Undying Lotus Root was constantly cleansing his body.

His immunity to poison was not actually because Li Zha's martial soul possessed poison resistance or anything.

Rather, the Undying Lotus Root was continuously cleansing his physical state at all times.

As long as it was a negative buff, its effects would gradually weaken every second.

Until they reached zero!

Meanwhile, Hu Liena was already shocked.

"Y-you... how did you break my First Soul Skill?!"