The Pontifex's Gaze, Personal Instruction!

Spirit City.

The towering city walls gleamed with a cold, silvery white beneath the morning light, while Spirit Masters streamed continuously through the city gates.

As the sacred land in the hearts of Spirit Masters across the continent, this place was forever solemn and majestic, forever filled with an oppressive air.

Under Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's escort, Gu Changsheng and the others returned to Spirit City without incident.

Compared to when he had left, Gu Changsheng's aura was clearly much steadier.

Three Soul Rings, Two Yellows and One Purple.

That deep-purple Third Soul Ring in particular made quite a few passing Spirit Hall Deacons unable to resist casting sidelong glances his way.

"Isn't that His Holiness the Pope's newly accepted disciple?"

"His Third Soul Ring is already purple?"

"Judging by the color, its age is probably not low..."

The hushed discussions reached his ears, and Yan could not help but grin.

"See that, junior brother? You're famous now too."

Xie Yue said indifferently:

"Being famous in Spirit City isn't necessarily a good thing."

Yan curled his lip.

"You're no fun at all."

Hu Liena walked beside Gu Changsheng and reminded him softly:

"Junior brother, don't be too nervous when you see Teacher later. Teacher is strict, but you performed very well this time."

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"I understand."

Of course, he knew Bibi Dong would not be displeased simply because he had successfully obtained his Third Soul Ring.

What he truly needed to consider was how to explain the abilities of the Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm, as well as his encounter with Xiao Wu in the Star Dou Great Forest.

However, Gu Changsheng was not worried.

He had already thought of an explanation for Xiao Wu during the journey back.

An ordinary young girl drawn in by the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider's Spiritual Mist.

That explanation was enough to deal with any superficial inquiries.

As for whether Yue Guan truly believed it completely, that was not important.

So long as there was no evidence, even a Titled Douluo would not relentlessly investigate an "ordinary little girl" for no reason.

Before long, they arrived before Pope Palace.

The grand palace gates slowly opened.

Gu Changsheng looked up and saw Bibi Dong seated upon the Pope Throne at the far end of the hall.

She wore magnificent papal robes, a Nine-Curve Purple Gold Crown upon her head, and held a Scepter in her hand. Her expression was calm yet imposing.

Merely sitting there gave off an oppressive presence that was difficult to meet head-on.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan stepped forward first and bowed slightly.

"His Holiness the Pope, they have been brought back."

Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan bowed at the same time.

"Greetings, Teacher."

"Greetings, His Holiness the Pope."

Gu Changsheng also stepped forward and bowed.

"Disciple Gu Changsheng greets Teacher."

Bibi Dong's gaze fell upon him.

A moment later, she spoke calmly:

"Rise."

Gu Changsheng straightened.

Bibi Dong's gaze swept over the faint Soul Power fluctuations around him, though he had not released it, and a trace of satisfaction flashed through her eyes.

"Three rings now?"

Gu Changsheng nodded.

"Yes."

"The age of the Soul Ring?"

"Around Five Thousand Three Hundred Years. A Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Even Bibi Dong's expression shifted slightly.

She naturally knew what kind of Spirit Beast the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider was.

Mental Attribute Spirit Beasts were already troublesome enough, and a Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider more than five thousand years old was practically a nightmare for an ordinary Soul Elder.

What was more, before absorbing this Soul Ring, Gu Changsheng had only been a two-ring Great Spirit Master.

Bibi Dong slowly spoke:

"The process."

Gu Changsheng did not conceal the main course of events. He briefly described searching for the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider, encountering the Spiritual Mist, breaking the illusion, countering its lingering soul, and finally absorbing the Soul Ring.

Naturally, he omitted everything related to Xiao Wu's true identity.

He only said that they had encountered a girl who had wandered into the mist and had been used by the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider to disrupt their judgment.

After listening, Bibi Dong looked toward Yue Guan.

"Is what he said true?"

Yue Guan chuckled lightly.

"Basically true. Changsheng's judgment and mental resistance truly surpass those of his peers. If he hadn't seen through the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider's illusion, this Spirit Beast hunt would not have gone so smoothly."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

Then, she looked at Gu Changsheng.

"Release your third Soul Skill."

Gu Changsheng had long been prepared.

"Yes."

He stepped forward and raised his right hand.

The Myriad Heaven Book appeared.

Three Soul Rings, Two Yellows and One Purple, rose beneath his feet. The instant the Third Soul Ring lit up, a wave of mental ripples interwoven with pale gold and deep purple spread outward.

The air in the hall seemed to freeze slightly.

The next moment, the surrounding scene began to change.

The cold, solemn Pope Palace did not vanish, yet overlapping images appeared within everyone's vision.

Illusory pages floated through the air, each reflecting a different image.

There were human figures, mist, false bodies, and blurred distortions of direction.

Though Hu Liena had already seen it once, she still could not help but study it carefully.

Yan stood to the side and muttered quietly:

"This Soul Skill still feels ridiculous."

Xie Yue said nothing, but his gaze grew more serious.

Bibi Dong sat high above them, her eyes narrowing slightly.

She could clearly sense that this was not a simple illusion.

Gu Changsheng's third Soul Skill did not forcibly drag opponents into a mental world. Rather, it created deviations in their perception of reality.

Vision, hearing, Soul Power fluctuations, sense of direction.

So long as one's Mental Power was not strong enough, one would unknowingly make the wrong judgment.

In battle, a single mistaken judgment could be fatal.

Gu Changsheng spoke:

"Third Soul Skill, Minor Thousand-Faced Phantom Realm."

"Its effect is to construct a Mental Illusion within a certain range, create false bodies, interfere with direction, and distort perception."

"If the target's Mental Power is lower than mine, they will be briefly trapped within the illusion."

"If the target's Mental Power is stronger than mine, the effect will weaken, but it can still cause a momentary lapse in perception."

After hearing this, a clear trace of satisfaction finally appeared in Bibi Dong's eyes.

"Not bad."

Just two words, yet they brought a smile to Hu Liena's face.

To receive even a verbal "not bad" from Teacher was already extremely high praise.

Bibi Dong continued:

"Your Martial Soul already leans toward analysis and mental control. This Soul Skill is exceptionally compatible with you."

"But remember this: Mental Attribute Soul Skills may be powerful, but their weaknesses are equally obvious."

Gu Changsheng withdrew his Soul Skill and said respectfully:

"Please instruct me, Teacher."

Bibi Dong said calmly:

"First, Soul Power consumption."

"The wider the illusion's range and the longer it is maintained, the greater the drain on your Soul Power and Mental Power."

"Second, backlash."

"If you encounter an opponent whose Mental Power far exceeds yours, forcibly using an illusion may allow them to counterattack through the mental fluctuations."

"Third, do not become dependent on it."

"An illusion can only create opportunities. It cannot decide victory or defeat for you."

Gu Changsheng nodded seriously.

"This disciple will remember."

Bibi Dong looked at him, her tone softening slightly.

"You did very well this time."

"From today onward, you will enter Spirit Hall Academy's Core Training together with Nana, Xie Yue, and Yan."

Yan's eyes lit up.

"Teacher, does that mean junior brother will be training with us from now on?"

Bibi Dong cast him a calm glance.

Yan immediately shut his mouth.

Hu Liena, however, could not hide her smile.

"Junior brother, things won't be so easy for you from now on."

Gu Changsheng smiled.

"I never intended for them to be easy."

Bibi Dong continued:

"Three years from now, the Entire Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament will begin."

"Spirit Hall Academy will send its strongest generation to compete."

As she spoke, her gaze swept over Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan in turn before finally settling on Gu Changsheng.

"You four will be Spirit Hall's future core."

"I do not merely want you to win the championship."

"I want you to crush every opponent with absolute superiority."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly turned solemn.

Hu Liena was the first to bow.

"This disciple understands."

Xie Yue and Yan also lowered their heads at the same time.

"Understood."

Gu Changsheng bowed as well.

"This disciple understands."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

"Changsheng, remain. The rest of you may leave first."

Hu Liena glanced at Gu Changsheng, confusion in her eyes, but she did not ask any questions.

After the others left, only Bibi Dong, Gu Changsheng, and Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, who stood to one side, remained in the hall.

Bibi Dong silently watched Gu Changsheng.

"In the Star Dou Great Forest, what do you think of that girl?"

Gu Changsheng's heart stirred, but his expression did not change.

Here it came.

He had long known Bibi Dong would not completely overlook this matter.

Gu Changsheng replied:

"Her movement technique was good, and she was bold, but her Soul Power fluctuations were not strong. She should only have been a Spirit Master training nearby who accidentally wandered into the Thousand-Faced Phantom Demon Spider's Spiritual Mist."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"Only that?"

Gu Changsheng nodded calmly.

"That is this disciple's judgment."

The great hall fell silent for a moment.

Yue Guan stood to one side without speaking, a smile lingering at the corner of his mouth.

In the end, Bibi Dong did not press further.

"Your judgment has always been sound, but remember: the more inconspicuous a person is, the more likely they are to bring unexpected changes."

Gu Changsheng bowed.

"This disciple will remember."

Bibi Dong withdrew her gaze.

"Go."

"Starting tomorrow, you will officially enter Core Training."

"In three years, I want to see a Gu Changsheng who can truly control the course of battle."

Gu Changsheng raised his head and said earnestly,

"This disciple will not disappoint Teacher."

He turned and walked out of Pope Palace.

Outside the hall doors, sunlight streamed down.

Hu Liena was waiting for him at the foot of the steps.

When she saw him emerge, she asked with a smile,

"Teacher didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"

Gu Changsheng shook his head.

"No."

Yan poked his head out from the side.

"Junior brother, we'll be teammates from now on. Let's agree on this beforehand—during training, don't keep throwing that illusion of yours at me."

Xie Yue said flatly,

"Scared?"

Yan immediately glared.

"Who's scared? I'm making a reasonable suggestion!"

Hu Liena could not help laughing.

Looking at the three of them, Gu Changsheng felt somewhat more at ease as well.

Three years later.

The Entire Continent High-Level Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament.

He knew that would be the stage where destinies truly converged.

Tang San, Xiao Wu, the Shrek Seven Monsters.

And Spirit Hall's Golden Generation.

This time, he would not merely be a bystander.

He would personally change the outcome of that tournament.

Gu Changsheng looked into the distance.

Above Spirit City, the clouds slowly parted.

A new phase of cultivation had begun...