Second Martial Soul Awakens

"What?"

She Long looked at Golden Crocodile in utter disbelief.

"Second Worship, I did this for the future of our Worship Hall. How could I be wrong?"

"Do you know that you are destroying Spirit Hall's future?"

Boom!

A powerful Soul Power pressure descended upon She Long, forcing him to his knees.

Anger smoldered between Golden Crocodile Douluo's brows.

"Tell me, were the two assassins tonight from Spirit Hall?"

"No."

"And you still have the nerve to claim credit here!"

Pfft!

Golden Crocodile Douluo's pressure intensified once more, and She Long uncontrollably spat out a mouthful of clotted blood.

"Second Worship... I know... I was wrong..."

"Normally, it would not matter if you fought among yourselves. But the enemy has already come knocking at our door, and you are still fighting for your own interests. If this had happened on a battlefield, I should have killed you with my own hands!"

Golden Crocodile was not furious over She Long's disloyalty. He was furious because She Long knew they were invaders of Spirit Hall, yet still insisted on killing those two children.

How was that any different from being a traitor!?

"The First Worship is also deeply displeased with what happened tonight. Considering that you have hope of breaking through to the Titled rank, you will be spared this time. If you make the same mistake again, this old man will kill you personally. Do you understand?"

"Yes, She Long understands."

Golden Crocodile Douluo eased the anger that had built up in his chest. As an old-generation Douluo, he clearly understood the significance of Spirit Hall's existence on the continent.

This was the sacred hall for all Soul Masters of Douluo Continent, a sanctuary that struck fear into countless evil Soul Masters.

More than once, he had followed Qian Daoliu in slaughtering evil Soul Masters across the continent, and he deeply understood the cruelty of war.

If he ignored She Long's actions today, who knew what kind of atmosphere Spirit Hall would foster in the future? When war eventually arrived, it would become the most dangerous sign of Spirit Hall's collapse.

Warning She Long was what truly saved Spirit Hall's future.

Perhaps Golden Crocodile and Qian Daoliu were not powerhouses from Bibi Dong's faction, but there was no denying that they wished more than anyone for Spirit Hall to become powerful—so powerful that no one could shake it again.

The matter of She Long's punishment came to an end.

When Meng Xuanji opened his eyes again, Bibi Dong and Hu Liena were both reflected in them.

With the two women's fairy-like faces suddenly appearing before him, Meng Xuanji initially thought he was dreaming.

"Am I dead? Why am I suddenly seeing the two people I most want to see?" Meng Xuanji murmured.

"Meng Xuanji, you're finally awake. Do you know how worried I was about you?" Hu Liena could not help throwing herself onto Meng Xuanji's chest and bursting into tears, her eyes already brimming with tears.

"Cough, cough, Hu Liena, I... I can barely breathe."

"Ah, oh, oh, sorry. I... I didn't mean to." Hearing this, Hu Liena hurriedly moved away from Meng Xuanji's chest and gently wiped her tears with her fingers.

"I was just too worried about you. I'm really sorry."

"It's... it's fine. I understand."

By then, Meng Xuanji had gradually adapted to his body and slowly sat up from the bed.

"Hiss... It hurts so much. It feels like all my bones are falling apart."

"Falling apart is still better than losing your life. Do you know that explosion was enough to kill any Soul Ancestor below level 45? When I brought you back, I had even prepared myself to collect your corpse," Bibi Dong said.

"Really? Then I guess I really am lucky, haha." Meng Xuanji scratched his head awkwardly and laughed.

Bibi Dong's jade-like hand reached toward Meng Xuanji and gently caressed his face, a trace of tenderness appearing in her gaze.

"This time, I failed to protect the two of you. As your teacher, I have been terribly negligent. I hope you can forgive me."

"How could I blame you, Teacher? Look, Hu Liena and I are both alive and well, aren't we? What's past is past. Besides, I believe that next time, Teacher will definitely protect us."

Meng Xuanji's simple, innocent smile was like a beam of light shining into Bibi Dong's heart, melting away all the darkness and frost within.

"Mm."

Bibi Dong softly acknowledged him.

"Spirit Hall is still investigating the assassins' identities. For your safety, the two of you will live with me for a while. Move in with me. It will make this huge palace a little livelier, and when I am bored, I will have someone to talk to."

Bibi Dong was someone who liked peace and quiet, yet when facing Meng Xuanji, she instead wished to spend more time with him. From this child, she could always obtain something she had once constantly sought after yet found elusive.

A joy and love born from the heart.

"Um, Meng Xuanji, my room is right next to yours. If you get scared when it thunders someday, you can come find me." Hu Liena shyly poked her fingers together and lowered her flushed face. "I... I can protect you."

Seeing Hu Liena's adorable and bashful appearance, Meng Xuanji broke into a bright smile.

"Haha, then thank you, Hu Liena. Don't worry, I'll come find you."

Meng Xuanji thought to himself, When it actually thunders, who knows who will be protecting whom.

"Since you are awake, recover properly here. The matter of your first soul ring can be postponed for a while. If necessary, I will personally hunt your first soul ring for you."

Having a powerhouse at the level of a quasi-Titled Douluo help hunt a first soul ring! This had never happened anywhere on Douluo Continent!

Even Tang San had never received such treatment back then.

"Then Xuanji thanks Teacher in advance."

Meng Xuanji propped himself up and clasped his fists in salute to Bibi Dong.

"Mm. Rest well, then. Hu Liena and I will not disturb you any longer."

The two tidied up and quietly left Meng Xuanji's room. The spacious chamber immediately became silent.

Meng Xuanji looked around the imposing, luxurious room that resembled a royal palace and let out a long breath.

"Whew! At least things did not develop in the worst possible direction."

Meng Xuanji flopped onto the soft mattress and stared blankly at the white ceiling.

"Surviving that explosion really was a stroke of great fortune. It seems I truly am someone favored by fate."

"However, according to the current timeline, Bibi Dong does not seem to have taken Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo to Star Dou Great Forest to hunt Xiao Wu's mother yet. Maybe I can try changing the worldline."

Meng Xuanji always carried a sense of crisis in his heart. As the protagonist of the original story, Tang San was like a Sword of Damocles hanging above his head, ready to fall at any moment.

If he wanted to maintain this lofty life, he would inevitably have to battle Tang San in the future.

And preventing Xiao Wu from forming a connection with Tang San was undoubtedly the best way to weaken him.

It was no exaggeration to say that without Xiao Wu, Tang San could never have become a god, nor would Da Ming and Er Ming have sacrificed themselves to him. Without those three hundred-thousand-year soul rings, Tang San likely could not even have passed the Sea God's Nine Trials.

"It is just a pity that the book never stated the exact time Bibi Dong went to Star Dou Great Forest. If only I could learn when she would depart, then I could make some arrangements in advance."

Just as Meng Xuanji was thinking about this, it was as though heaven had heard his call. The black scroll on his chest actually reacted faintly.

"Hm? Has my second Martial Soul awakened?"