Suspicion

"Is this what the outside air feels like? The taste of freedom! Haha, I've finally left that damned place!"

The shadow behind Meng Xuanji flickered wildly. It was the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow, overcome with excitement.

"If I remember correctly, someone just said whoever signed would be a dog. I really wonder whose face is so thick."

The Symbiotic Blood Lotus lay lazily on Meng Xuanji's shoulder, leisurely making snide remarks.

The next moment, the sunlight on the Symbiotic Blood Lotus's face was swallowed by a shadow, and a chilling aura lightly brushed against its lotus leaves.

"Are you getting a little carried away, Blood Lotus? Don't forget, I'm not in a sacrificial state right now. Though the contract binds me from killing you, I can still beat you into a dog-headed mess with one hand and make you kneel on the ground begging me. Believe it or not?"

Whoosh!

The Symbiotic Blood Lotus immediately returned to Meng Xuanji's spiritual sea.

"Come in here first, then talk. I'm going to sleep. Farewell."

After saying that, the Symbiotic Blood Lotus ignored the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow outside.

"Damn it!"

"Alright, that's enough." Meng Xuanji pulled the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow back into the "shadow" behind him with one hand.

Bound by the contract, the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow did not even have room to resist.

"Now that you're out, behave yourself. You should know the terms of the contract perfectly well. Without my orders, you are not allowed to kill people at will. I don't like teammates who disobey my commands."

"Fine, whatever you say."

To the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow, every extra second spent breathing the outside air was a wonderful pleasure. As long as Meng Xuanji did not send him back to that gloomy hellhole, he would do anything Meng Xuanji asked.

Buzz.

The identity card in Meng Xuanji's pocket gave off a signal.

"Hm? Who's looking for me?"

Meng Xuanji took out the card and interpreted it with his spiritual power.

Bibi Dong's voice suddenly rang out in Meng Xuanji's mind.

"Meng Xuanji, come to the council hall."

Bibi Dong was summoning him.

"Her? Why did she suddenly call for me? Because of my first soul ring? To take me to collect spiritual herbs? Or had she noticed something about what I did in the library?"

In Meng Xuanji's impression, Bibi Dong was not someone who liked to joke around.

For her to summon him so urgently, something important must have happened.

"Ice Soul Ghost Shadow."

"Here."

"At present, up to what level of spiritual-type Soul Master can you conceal yourself from?"

"Level 94. If I recovered to my peak strength, I should be able to reach level 97."

The Ice Soul Ghost Shadow was not lying. Back then, he had been the only existence capable of competing with the Ice Empress for the position of the Far North's Second Heavenly King. Even the Snow Empress had been deeply wary of his methods.

Then, those two women had set him up... and sent him straight out of his home territory.

Behind Meng Xuanji now stood a genuine Title Douluo-level enforcer. Below level 90, Meng Xuanji could walk sideways without fear.

"Level 94? That should be enough."

Meng Xuanji did not know how far Bibi Dong had cultivated her spiritual power, but she had yet to obtain her ninth soul ring, so she should not exceed his expectations.

"Disguise yourself properly behind me. If I don't tell you to move, you absolutely cannot move recklessly. Understand?"

"Yes!"

In order to show his worth, the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow was doing everything he could to please Meng Xuanji.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

Meng Xuanji's steady, forceful steps entered the council hall. Bibi Dong still sat high upon her papal throne, crossing her jade-like legs as she looked down from above, her purple crystal high heels bobbing gently in the air.

"Teacher, I'm here."

Meng Xuanji quietly glanced at Hu Liena behind Bibi Dong. She had changed into a new outfit: little white Western-style leather boots paired with a pure and adorable white dress, radiating the unique charm and grace of a young girl.

"Tsk, these two women really have flavor. One loli, one mature beauty. Even I've never seen two such captivating beauties before."

The Ice Soul Ghost Shadow's voice sounded in Meng Xuanji's mind.

"Calm down. If you're discovered, I'll throw you back in there."

Under Meng Xuanji's threat, the Ice Soul Ghost Shadow immediately shut up and could only silently appraise the two beauties before him.

The moment Hu Liena noticed Meng Xuanji's gaze, she turned her head away, seemingly still unable to get over her jealousy.

"Meng Xuanji, I heard that you accompanied Hu Liena in hunting a thousand-year soul beast. I have already heard all the details. I never expected you to possess such methods."

Bibi Dong's cold, queenly voice slowly echoed through the hall.

"I would not dare. It was all merely luck. I hope Teacher will not mock me."

"Hehe, why would I? To have taught such an outstanding student, I'm happy beyond words. Why would I mock you?"

"To be honest, I called you here for two matters. The first is to confirm the age of your soul ring. Can you show it to me?"

Not only Hu Liena, but even Bibi Dong did not believe that Meng Xuanji's first soul ring was a white, ten-year soul ring.

The age of a soul ring would greatly affect a Soul Master's future achievements. As Meng Xuanji's teacher, Bibi Dong had to take this matter seriously.

"Yes, I obey."

The Blue Silver Emperor beneath Meng Xuanji's feet slowly emerged from the floor.

The surrounding temperature immediately plummeted. Even the sunlight streaming in through the dome was gradually devoured by the Blue Silver Emperor's dark aura.

As Meng Xuanji's soul power circulated, a blood-red, eerie soul ring slowly appeared before Bibi Dong.

Whoosh!

Before Meng Xuanji could react, Bibi Dong suddenly rose and appeared before him, grabbing his shoulders and suppressing his first soul ring.

"Where did your first soul ring come from?"

Bibi Dong's pupils transformed into spider eyes, as though they possessed some kind of magic that could see directly into Meng Xuanji's heart.

Bibi Dong's fingernails kept digging in, unknowingly piercing into the flesh of Meng Xuanji's shoulders. The pain nearly made him cry out.

"Teacher... it hurts."

Meng Xuanji gritted his teeth and forced out those words. Only then did Bibi Dong realize that, in her momentary agitation, she had nearly crippled Meng Xuanji's arm.

"My apologies. I lost my composure."

The spider pupils faded from Bibi Dong's eyes, and her bearing returned to that of the lofty Pope.

In her pursuit of an ideal ninth soul ring, Bibi Dong had practically dreamed of hundred-thousand-year soul rings every night. And now, the soul ring she had dreamed of was on her own student—how could her heart not be stirred!?

That was precisely why Meng Xuanji had chosen not to conceal it. It was better for him to admit it himself than for Bibi Dong to discover the clues on her own.

Otherwise, he would definitely have had to bid farewell to his arm.

"Now, can you tell me where your hundred-thousand-year soul ring came from?"

Meng Xuanji looked toward the utterly stunned Hu Liena behind Bibi Dong, using his gaze to hint at Bibi Dong.

"Don't worry. You and Hu Liena are both my students. Say it, and I won't make things difficult for either of you. By then, it will be a secret shared by the three of us."

Bibi Dong looked down at Meng Xuanji, her queenly and arrogant aura spreading outward, as though silently voicing the thoughts deep within her heart.

Tell me your secret. Otherwise, you know what will happen.