Hit Me, Scold Me, Just Don't Abandon Me

When Bibi Dong absorbed the fifty-thousand-year Cave Demon Spider, her brows furrowed slightly and her expression showed a trace of pain, but no danger arose.

After she finished absorbing the Soul Ring, she stood up and reported to Lu Xuan:

"Teacher! My soul power has risen by two levels!"

Lu Xuan nodded faintly.

Bibi Dong added excitedly:

"My sixth soul skill is called Vampiric Spider Thorn. It can summon sharp spider thorns from the ground to pierce enemies! It inflicts bleeding, poisoning, and paralysis, and it can continuously drain the enemy's life force to maintain my stamina and heal my injuries!"

Because the Soul Ring was as old as fifty thousand years, the effects of the soul skill had also increased significantly.

Lu Xuan nodded.

"Not bad. It works best when you stick it into a crowd."

Lu Xuan pointed at the three ten-thousand-year Cave Demon Spiders nearby and said casually:

"Devour them."

Although Saintess Bibi Dong had long prepared herself, she could not help feeling nervous and uneasy when it came time to devour souls for the first time.

Standing behind Bibi Dong, Lu Xuan's sharp gaze made her feel as if needles were pricking her back.

Bibi Dong could only force herself to summon the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor Martial Soul. The vicious Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor bared its fangs and claws, forming a stark contrast to Bibi Dong's timid and frail appearance.

The girl seemed not to like her Martial Soul. Whenever her eyes fell upon the savage Spider Emperor, she would unconsciously look away, not daring to meet its gaze.

Lu Xuan noticed this, and his brows knitted together.

Saintess Bibi Dong took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor's spider spears viciously pierced the ten-thousand-year Cave Demon Spider's body, tearing out a transparent phantom from within—it was the Cave Demon Spider's soul.

The Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor opened its hideous maw and, ignoring the Cave Demon Spider's struggles, devoured it completely in an incredibly violent manner. It looked utterly brutal!

Outside the Sky Screen, all was silent.

Someone had just said, "His Holiness the Pope's Martial Soul is too vicious. It looks so evil..."

Someone beside him immediately covered his mouth and whispered:

"Idiot, do you have a death wish?!"

They were only watching the Sky Screen. There was no need to act like they were gods.

After all, as the current Pope, Bibi Dong stood at the very peak of the continent in both prestige and power. Ordinary jokes were harmless enough.

But saying something that undermined unity in a situation like this...

He should be careful not to be branded as disrespectful toward the Pope.

That could get him killed!

Papal Palace.

Pope Bibi Dong watched the Sky Screen. When her eyes touched the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor's hideous phantom, disgust rose in her heart as well. She rarely displayed her Martial Soul in public, also because she felt it was too embarrassing to show.

—Even if it was immensely powerful.

Pope Bibi Dong instinctively looked to see Lu Xuan's reaction. She had always worried that her Martial Soul would disgust others, and when she saw Lu Xuan's frown, her heart immediately sank to the bottom.

As expected, everyone cares about appearances. Even Teacher is no exception. Seeing such an ugly Martial Soul of mine, he must despise it to the extreme.

Sky Screen timeline—

Watching their companion get brutally devoured right before their eyes, while sensing the bloodline suppression emanating from the Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor Martial Soul, awakened the fear buried deep within the remaining two Cave Demon Spiders' genes.

The two Cave Demon Spiders trembled violently and let out despairing cries.

Saintess Bibi Dong clenched her fists. She could feel her body and soul power growing after devouring the soul, but she did not enjoy the process at all. Instead, it was unbearably torturous.

She quickly dealt with the remaining two Cave Demon Spiders, only wishing for this devouring—which felt like severe torture to her—to end as soon as possible.

One incense stick later.

The devouring was finally complete.

Bibi Dong's devouring ability had just reached its limit.

Lu Xuan asked calmly:

"Bibi Dong, you seem to be afraid of something?"

"Clearly, you are the predator at the top of the food chain, yet you displayed the same fear as prey while feeding. I finally know what feels so off about you."

"As a soul master, you actually reject your own Martial Soul! What a... disgrace. I feel sorry for your Martial Soul."

Lu Xuan seemed to have found the reason why Bibi Dong possessed two heaven-defying Martial Souls, yet would later be confronted and provoked by the crippled Tang Hao, with no way to deal with him.

This idiot was afraid to reveal her Martial Soul in public simply because it looked hideous rather than beautiful. She refused to use her Martial Soul's abilities because she considered them evil. What utter stupidity!

If this was not corrected, Lu Xuan felt that his lifelong reputation would be ruined by this troublesome disciple.

My disciple's strength poses no threat to me in the soul master world, but she will utterly destroy my reputation in the education world!

Saintess Dong stared blankly at Lu Xuan.

It was the first time she had seen such a stern look in Lu Xuan's eyes.

"Answer every question I ask next truthfully."

"Tell me, what do you think of your Martial Soul's appearance?"

"Ugly. Hideous."

"What do you think of your Martial Soul's abilities?"

"Very evil."

"Do you like your Martial Soul?"

"No."

"Then what kind of Martial Soul do you wish to possess?"

"A Martial Soul as sacred as an angel."

Though Bibi Dong's voice was timid, at least she was honest. Every answer was true.

Lu Xuan snorted.

"Your Martial Soul has suffered eight lifetimes of bad luck by ending up with you. This is what it means to be born at the wrong time—what it means for talent to go unrecognized!"

"A child does not despise an ugly mother, and a dog does not despise a poor home. If a soul master even despises their own Martial Soul, how can they possibly uncover its potential?"

"I cannot be bothered to say much more to you."

"Remember this: my Martial Soul is the best in the world. This is not ugliness; it is dominance. This is not evil; it is strength. You must believe that a Martial Soul's potential is limitless."

"What the hell is an Angel Martial Soul? Is it even worthy of carrying your Martial Soul's shoes?"

"Good and evil have never belonged to Martial Souls, but to the people who wield them! Some people may possess a glorious Angel Martial Soul, yet still be beasts in human skin behind the scenes!"

"I'll give you time to change, but if you still haven't improved after a while, I'll hang you up and whip your ass!"

After Lu Xuan finished speaking, Bibi Dong still stood there in a daze.

He barked:

"Did you hear me?"

Bibi Dong nodded, then suddenly asked a rather abrupt question.

"Then, Teacher, do you think my Martial Soul is ugly?"

"Ugly, my ass! A Martial Soul so savage and imposing, radiating the aura of an emperor, is freaking awesome! What kind of taste do you have?"

"If someone says it is ugly, won't you beat them?"

The young Bibi Dong lowered her head, seemingly lost in thought. Then she suddenly raised it, looked straight at Lu Xuan, and spoke in an extremely serious tone:

"Teacher, I understand. I will change."

"If I disappoint you, you won't need to do it yourself. I'll hang myself up, and you can whip me however you want."

"But I know I'm stupid. You can despise me, hit me, scold me... but can you please not abandon me..."

Lu Xuan:?

Is this disciple sick or something?

Could she have some kind of masochistic tendency?

Yet Bibi Dong's candid words stirred up an enormous uproar in another time and space...

One stone had set off a thousand waves!