The apprenticeship ceremony was held at Chrysanthemum Douluo's residence.
The process went smoothly. After Xu Huxiao changed how he addressed Bibi Dong and called her "Teacher," the apprenticeship rites were officially complete.
Throughout the entire process, Xu Huxiao adhered to the principle of saying little and observing more. He did not overly display how extraordinary he was, and under Xu Bayan's guidance, everything proceeded step by step.
The Spirit Hall Saintess taking on a disciple was neither a major nor minor matter, since the disciple was a child whose Martial Soul had only awakened at the age of six.
But it was not insignificant either, because such a formal apprenticeship usually meant the disciple would be raised as a successor.
If Spirit Hall's situation had been peaceful, there would at least have been a ceremony announced throughout Spirit City.
But now, undercurrents churned beneath the surface. The Pope was gravely ill and had little time left. The storm was coming, and every Soul Master in Spirit Hall was watching for the moment the winds changed.
Although Saintess Bibi Dong stood at the center of this storm.
Taking on a disciple—especially the son of Demon Bear Douluo, whose cultivation had fallen to Soul Douluo and who had completely withdrawn from the center of power—had no impact whatsoever on the situation and was therefore not worth attention.
Thus, news of Saintess Bibi Dong taking a disciple spread only among the higher ranks and was not widely publicized.
Douluo Hall.
Before this sacred hall, known as the graveyard of Titled Douluo, stood a gray-clothed man who appeared to be only thirty or forty years old, with his hands clasped behind his back.
Simply standing there, he seemed like the ruler of heaven and earth.
Behind him, a Platinum Bishop in crimson robes knelt on the ground, respectfully reporting the recent affairs within the hall.
It was difficult to imagine that Huo Qi, the Platinum Bishop who normally stood on equal footing with the sect masters of the Upper Three Sects, did not even dare breathe loudly behind this gray-clothed man, like an utterly obedient lapdog.
Because the gray-clothed man before Huo Qi was a man standing at the pinnacle of power in this world, an Extreme Douluo with Rank 99 cultivation.
He was also the master of Douluo Hall and the chief among the six great offerings.
Qian Daoliu!
After hearing the report, Qian Daoliu lightly waved his hand. Huo Qi carefully withdrew in silence.
Qian Daoliu stood there like a statue, gazing at the horizon until the sun set and dusk passed.
When a cold moon rose.
A mournful cry from an Angel came from the Papal Palace.
This was a resonance on the level of Martial Souls, signifying that an Angel Martial Soul wielder had fallen at this moment.
Upon hearing that mournful cry, Qian Daoliu's gaze fluctuated for the first time. Yet as though he had known beforehand, he made no move and merely murmured to himself.
"Taking a disciple? It truly is of no importance."
"Bibi Dong, even with Xiao Xue, even after all these years, you still cannot let go of the hatred in your heart?"
"It seems my decision to send Xiao Xue away was correct. Now that you have devoured Xunji's Angel Bloodline, Xiao Xue is the only Angel Bloodline left. Nothing can be allowed to happen to her."
"What a pity. I discovered it too late and still gave you the chance to devour it."
"The Rakshasa God chose you. As a servant of the Angel God, I truly cannot make a move against you."
"Alas, God is both a crown and a shackle."
"What use is the power of an Extreme Douluo? Without becoming a God, one is ultimately nothing more than an ant."
"All I can do now is protect Xiao Xue. As for everything else, I cannot manage it. Xunji, do not blame your father..."
Qian Daoliu turned around and walked down the mountain step by step. Under the cold moonlight, his body seemed slightly hunched, his divine power concealed.
He was like a decrepit old man walking toward his grave.
The very next day after Xu Huxiao became a disciple, his teacher Bibi Dong had already completed the act of slaying her own master.
On the third day, Spirit Hall announced that the former Pope, Qian Xunji, had succumbed to his severe injuries the previous night. Saintess Bibi Dong had become the new Pope.
The Pope's coronation ceremony would officially take place one month later.
Xu Huxiao was not surprised by this news, because he had long known this would happen. He had also obtained Bibi Dong's information during the apprenticeship ceremony.
[Human]: Bibi Dong [Age]: Forty [Martial Soul]: Death Spider Emperor, Soul-Eating Spider Emperor [Level]: Ninety-three [Death Spider Emperor—Soul Skills]: First yellow—Shadow-Killing Spider Blade; second yellow—Spider Spear Thrust; third purple—Death Spider Web; fourth purple—Thorn Spider Armor; fifth black—Death Illusion Dance... [Soul-Eating Spider Emperor—Soul Skills]: First black—Half Moon [Inner Monologue]: Bloodlust is life's purest instinct. So what if it is evil? I will ascend step by step to the divine throne of the Rakshasa God, king of all evil. I will make the world feel pain!!
Judging from her Inner Monologue, his teacher Bibi Dong was an extremely insane person deep down.
It was perfectly normal for her to do such a thing.
Only the timing of it left Xu Huxiao somewhat speechless.
He had become her disciple on the first day, yet on the second day, his teacher had accomplished the grand feat of slaying her own master.
No matter how he looked at it, it seemed rather inauspicious.
He could only silently recite in his heart, Wait?
In terms of seniority, what was he supposed to call Qian Xunji again? Grandmaster? But in practical terms, calling him Master's husband also seemed acceptable.
Forget it. Whether he was Grandmaster or Master's husband, may he rest in peace.
When a person died, it was like a lamp going out. Everything would vanish into smoke.
"So, all enjoyment and love are false. They will eventually perish. Only becoming stronger without end is the sole eternal truth."
"Only one's own strength is worthy of trust and reliance."
Xu Huxiao clenched his fist. The solid sense of power made his heart incomparably calm and satisfied.
There were still several days before school began. Now that his Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms had entered the Essence Intent Realm and he had obtained his first Soul Ring, officially becoming a Soul Master.
He planned to adjust his training schedule.
In palm technique cultivation, the Martial Dao Essence Realm placed greater emphasis on accumulating qi and blood, with less focus on comprehending moves. As long as his qi and blood grew vigorous enough to condense the Three Qi-Blood Flowers in his palm and at his navel, he could enter the next Martial Dao realm at any time: the Qi Intent Realm.
At present, he mainly accumulated qi and blood through high-energy food. Through exercise and consumption, he slowly converted the food's energy into his own qi and blood. This process was very slow. Even now, among the six petals of the qi-blood plum blossom in his right palm, he had only traced the outline of one petal. Completely filling it would require a great deal more accumulation.
But Xu Huxiao was not worried about this accumulation, because he had two body-tempering abilities that could be put to use.
One was cultivating the Indestructible Diamond Divine Skill to accelerate the body-tempering process.
However, the Indestructible Diamond Divine Skill was extremely intense. Even its first stage, Copper Body, was not something he could cultivate yet. He planned to begin Copper Body Tempering after obtaining his second Soul Ring.
The second was Yang Origin Soul Power's ability to refine poison into nourishment.
But at this stage, excessively potent poisons would likely affect his developing body.
And if he used mild poisons, honestly, their effects would not even compare to eating a Devil Rabbit.
Therefore, there was no need to rush the accumulation of qi and blood. Once he developed to a certain stage, there would naturally be a way to resolve it.
For now, he would focus on ordinary body tempering and consume more high-energy food.
In cultivating his Body Arms Martial Soul, the main focus was accumulating Soul Power and becoming proficient with his Soul Skills.
He possessed the Nine Yang Divine Skill, giving him an innate advantage in Soul Power cultivation. Therefore, he needed to expand that advantage into an even greater one, reach Level 20 as quickly as possible, and then obtain his second Soul Ring.
Xu Huxiao compared Bao Jingjing's Soul Power fluctuations with his own. Although she was only two levels behind him, there was an enormous difference in their total Soul Power.
It was a gap of more than double!
Similar to Soul Ring age, this was related to Xu Huxiao having used the Nine Yang Divine Skill to nurture his body from birth. Not only did his Soul Power cultivate quickly, but his total Soul Power was also twice that of others at the same level.
In other words, he could now face a Level 20 Soul Master without any problem. Their Soul Power was nearly identical, and a Level 20 Soul Grandmaster only had the advantage of one additional Soul Skill.
As for Soul Skills, he also had the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms cultivated to the Essence Intent Realm.
Therefore, as long as his opponent was below Level 30, he was confident he could defeat them.
This was the advantage he had accumulated through constant effort since birth.
"Now I need to spend more time cultivating the Nine Yang Divine Skill and reach Level 20 as quickly as possible. Only then will my strength truly begin to surge."
As for cultivating the Double Arm Enlargement Soul Skill, Xu Huxiao tried controlling the degree of Size Multiplication and found it exceptionally simple.
Perhaps because his Martial Soul was part of his body, it was easier to control.
The limit of the Size Multiplication Soul Skill was fivefold body volume and triple strength and defense. After only two days of practice, he could already use only Triple Amplification Gluttonous Grip. Its corresponding strength and defense were comparatively weakened, at around one and a half times.
If the fivefold Gluttonous Grip produced a fist large enough to fill an iron wok, with an arm length limit of around two and a half meters.
Then the triple-amplified fist was roughly the size of an ordinary watermelon, and the arm could reach one and a half meters long.
Xu Huxiao planned to use Triple Amplification normally. He would reserve the fivefold limit as a surprise killing move. After all, only Bao Jingjing, Bao Dexian, and his father knew the effects of his Soul Skill.
It was almost impossible for it to leak, so using it as a killing move would not be a problem.
"From now on, the fifteen hours in a day will be divided into three parts. Soul Power cultivation will take up forty percent: two hours each in the morning, noon, and evening, for a total of six hours. Four hours in the morning will be for ordinary body tempering, while four hours in the afternoon will be for Soul Skill cultivation."
"My body is still developing, so nine hours of sleep are still necessary."
The schedule was perfect.
"It would be best if I could cultivate the Size Multiplication Soul Skill down to the onefold level. The Nine Yang Divine Skill also contains the Bone Shrinking Skill, Tortoise Breath Skill, and Gecko Wall-Crawling. Perhaps the Size Multiplication Soul Skill and Bone Shrinking Skill can produce some marvelous reaction."
Xu Huxiao looked forward to the changes that would result from perfectly fusing Soul Skills and martial arts. Would they be what he hoped for?
For example, Size Manipulation and Heavenly Law, Earthly Form!
Because his Platinum Dragon-Patterned Arms Martial Soul could evolve!
The Platinum Dragon-Patterned Arms Martial Soul originated from the Essence Intent Realm Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms. Its evolution condition was the advancement of his Martial Dao Intent. Once he advanced to the Qi Intent Realm, his Twin Arms Martial Soul would evolve once. If he reached the Divine Intent Realm, his Martial Soul would evolve again.
And the evolution had only one effect: Martial Soul growth.
Only once his Twin Arms Martial Soul grew into his own body, transforming from Platinum Dragon-Patterned Arms into a Platinum Dragon-Patterned Body, would this Martial Soul reach its limit.
Therefore, if Xu Huxiao's Twin Arms Martial Soul could truly grow to the level of a Platinum Dragon-Patterned Body, that would mean his first Soul Skill would multiply more than just his arms.
It would multiply his entire body!
At that time, with his overall strength amplified threefold, his strikes would undoubtedly be far more terrifying than merely amplifying both arms.
He truly looked forward to it.