Martial Soul Hall's Attention

Martial Soul City, Papal Hall.

The Papal Hall was brightly lit deep into the night. Dozens of luminous pearls embedded in the vast dome illuminated the entire hall as though it were daytime.

Beneath the dome, a slender figure sat upon a lofty throne, holding a report she had been reading for a long time.

Bibi Dong.

The youngest Pope in the history of the Martial Soul Hall, a peerless Rank 99 Titled Douluo, and the owner of twin martial souls. She wore a luxurious black robe, her long hair draped over her shoulders. Her features were exquisite yet cold, though an inescapable gloom lingered between her brows.

Her gaze rested on the final line of the report: "Innate soul power: Rank 30. Martial soul suspected to be an inheritance from an ancient deity. Triggered a heavenly phenomenon upon awakening. Suspected descent of God Kings from the Divine Realm."

This report had come from the Martial Soul Hall branch in Nuoding City. Su Yuntao had submitted it through multiple levels, and it had taken nearly two months to reach her hands.

Innate Rank 30.

Bibi Dong set down the report, lightly tapping her fingers against the armrest, producing faint sounds.

She had seen geniuses. She herself was one—a possessor of twin martial souls, born with full innate soul power, becoming a Titled Douluo at twenty and a peerless Douluo at forty.

She had seen too many so-called geniuses pale into insignificance before her.

But Innate Rank 30?

This was no longer something that could be summed up with the word genius.

Bibi Dong rose to her feet and slowly descended the steps. Her footsteps echoed through the empty hall, each step carrying a steady, oppressive rhythm.

She walked to the center of the hall and looked up at the mural on the dome. It depicted a battle among gods in ancient times: gods falling, heaven and earth shattering, blood staining the land red.

She had once thought it was only a legend.

Until the Rakshasa God found her.

That night, the Rakshasa God's voice had sounded in her mind, telling her of the Divine Realm's existence. The Goddess of Kindness, Evil God, Destruction God, Goddess of Life, and Asura God—the five God Kings jointly ruled the Divine Realm.

That was the first time Bibi Dong had learned that a realm higher than Titled Douluo existed.

But even the Rakshasa God knew only that much.

The secrets of the Divine Realm, the origins of the five God Kings, the legend of the Creator God—the Rakshasa God had never mentioned them. Perhaps even He did not know.

Bibi Dong never spoke of the Rakshasa God to outsiders. It was her greatest secret; even her most trusted disciple knew nothing of it.

And now, this report told her that the five God Kings had descended together upon the awakening ceremony of a human child.

Bibi Dong's gaze deepened.

Why had the five God Kings descended together? What was it about that child that was worthy of the Divine Realm's attention? The questions swirled through her mind, yet she could find no answers.

"Attend me."

A guard clad in silver armor entered from outside the hall and dropped to one knee. "Your Holiness, what are your orders?"

"Bring Hu Liena to me."

"Yes."

The guard withdrew. Before long, a girl of eleven or twelve entered the hall.

She wore a simple white combat outfit, and her short golden hair was neat and crisp. A hint of heroism had already appeared in her brows and eyes. Though still young, her steps were steady and her aura composed. One glance was enough to tell that her cultivation was far from ordinary.

Hu Liena, Bibi Dong's personal disciple. Eleven years old, a Rank 28 Soul Master.

"Teacher, you summoned me?" Hu Liena asked respectfully, dropping to one knee.

Bibi Dong handed her the report. "Read this."

Hu Liena accepted it and carefully read it through. Her brows gradually furrowed.

"Innate Rank 30? This..."

"It's true," Bibi Dong said. "Su Yuntao's report is extremely detailed, and it includes testimonies from other witnesses. This child called Lin Chen truly triggered a heavenly phenomenon during his awakening."

Hu Liena looked up. "The five God Kings... Teacher, does the Divine Realm really exist?"

"It does." Bibi Dong nodded. "But we know very little about it. I only know that the five God Kings are the highest rulers of the Divine Realm. For them to descend together at a child's awakening ceremony, this matter is anything but simple."

"Is there something special about that child?"

"Su Yuntao said his martial soul was a gray mark with no distinct form." Bibi Dong paused. "I suspect it may be an inheritance from an ancient deity."

Hu Liena sucked in a sharp breath.

An inheritance from an ancient deity—that was something out of legend.

"Teacher, what should we do?"

Bibi Dong fell silent for a moment.

Of course, she had considered simply sending someone to bring the child back. With the Martial Soul Hall's strength, taking a six-year-old child from the tiny Nuoding Academy would be effortless.

But she did not dare act rashly.

Since the five God Kings had personally descended, it meant that child had already caught the attention of the Divine Realm. If she acted recklessly and somehow angered the Divine Realm, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Moreover, the five God Kings had not taken the child away, which meant they would not interfere in mortal affairs for the time being.

That meant the child belonged to no one for now.

Whoever won him over first would gain this power.

"Send someone to make contact with him." Bibi Dong made her decision. "But don't make too much of a show of it. You will personally go to Nuoding City as a Martial Soul Hall inspector and meet that child."

Hu Liena froze. "Me?"

"You're only a few years older than him, so he won't be as wary of you," Bibi Dong said. "Once you reach Nuoding City, do not reveal the Martial Soul Hall's intentions right away. Say it is a routine inspection and that you are also checking on this year's new students. If there is an opportunity, get to know him and see what kind of person he is."

"What if he asks why the Martial Soul Hall has come?"

"Then tell him the truth: the Martial Soul Hall values talent and wishes to invite him to join."

Bibi Dong's voice was calm yet firm. "There is no need to hide it, and no need to force him. Let him choose for himself."

Hu Liena nodded. "I understand."

"Go." Bibi Dong waved her hand. "Set out tomorrow morning. Be careful on the road."

"Yes, Teacher."

Hu Liena rose and left the hall.

The hall fell silent once more.

Bibi Dong stood alone beneath the dome, gazing up at the ancient mural. Her eyes were deep and conflicted, as though she were contemplating something far away.

"Innate Rank 30... the five God Kings..."

She murmured to herself.

"What kind of child are you?"

No one answered her.

The night wind passed through the hall. The candle flames swayed once before returning to stillness.

Meanwhile, in Nuoding City a thousand miles away, Lin Chen lay on his dormitory bed with his arms beneath his head, staring blankly at the moon outside the window.

Xiao Wu had already fallen asleep. Her breathing was even and long, and she occasionally turned over, mumbling indistinct dream talk.

Lin Chen was not sleepy.

He was thinking about what had happened that day. Tang San had absorbed the ten-year Lone Bamboo soul ring and gained the soul skill Blue Silver Pole Vault.

That brat had not said anything on the surface, but Lin Chen could tell that a fire was burning inside him.

Sooner or later, that fire would blaze.

But before that, Lin Chen had more important things to do.

He raised his right hand, and a gray mark emerged in his palm. Three nine-colored soul rings slowly rose, emitting a faint glow in the darkness.

First soul ring: Law of the Five Elements.

He had already gained a preliminary grasp of gold, wood, water, fire, and earth, but it was still far from enough.

The true power of the Law of the Five Elements lay in mutual generation and restraint, an endless cycle. What he could use now was merely the surface of it.

Second soul ring: Law of Yin and Yang.

This law was even more profound. He could vaguely sense the balance of yin and yang in all things, but truly controlling it would require deeper comprehension and stronger cultivation.

As for the third soul ring, the Law of Destruction...

Lin Chen did not dare try it recklessly. The Goddess of Kindness had warned him that although the power of laws was formidable, it would backlash if his body could not withstand it.

He was only Rank 30 now. Controlling three soul rings was already his limit. If he rashly used the Law of Destruction, he might destroy himself first.

"Take it slowly," he muttered to himself.