Slapping Yu Xiaogang's Face, Contracting Bibi Dong

"Xiao Gang, your research into martial soul theory is the most extensive. Can you tell what martial soul he awakened?"

The moment she heard Red-robed Bishop's voice, Bibi Dong instinctively asked Yu Xiaogang beside her.

After all, Yu Xiaogang was reputed to be deeply versed in martial soul theory. Whenever they encountered an unknown martial soul, asking him could never be wrong. Back then, it was precisely his knowledge that had attracted Bibi Dong, leading her to gradually interact with him until she developed a few unusual feelings for him.

At her words, Yu Xiaogang's expression suddenly froze.

This martial soul... he had never seen it either.

Yu Xiaogang might indeed have been skilled in martial soul theory, but Red-robed Bishop had overseen Martial Soul Awakening ceremonies for years and had Spirit Hall's vast library behind him. Even Red-robed Bishop could not identify Ling Jing's martial soul, so how could Yu Xiaogang possibly recognize it?

Yu Xiaogang hemmed and hawed for a long while without being able to say what Ling Jing's martial soul was. Watching Bibi Dong's expression shift from curiosity to anticipation, then disappointment and suspicion, he could only force himself to speak.

"Although the martial soul's phantom is not very clear, judging from the waves of cold it emits and its mirror-like scales... this child's martial soul should be the rather rare Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast that lives in the Icebound Forest."

As he spoke, Yu Xiaogang's tone gradually became more certain, and he even began boasting about himself. "I was able to recognize his martial soul as an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast because I happened to see a book that recorded this soul Ferocious Beast. Since this soul Ferocious Beast's scales are exceptionally beautiful, humans once organized large-scale hunts for them. Gradually, their numbers dwindled. It is truly rare for such a soul Ferocious Beast to become someone's martial soul."

"Xiao Gang, you know so much."

Seeing how certain Yu Xiaogang sounded, a trace of astonishment appeared on Bibi Dong's face. But in the next moment, another Red-robed Bishop who was not in charge of the Martial Soul Awakening ceremony refuted him. "Holy Maiden, this martial soul absolutely cannot be an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast."

"Although this child's martial soul resembles an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast somewhat, the Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast's most distinctive feature is the striking ice pattern on its body. That ice pattern is also the primary basis for judging its cultivation age. I saw no ice pattern on the child's martial soul, so it absolutely cannot be an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast."

As soon as those words fell, Yu Xiaogang's face instantly flushed red.

Seemingly noticing Bibi Dong's slightly furrowed brows, Yu Xiaogang instinctively retorted, "Then tell us, what is his martial soul?"

"This..."

A trace of hesitation flashed across Red-robed Bishop's face, but he quickly recovered and sneered. "Although I cannot determine what this martial soul is either, at the very least, it definitely is not an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast!"

"You..."

Yu Xiaogang still wanted to say something, but Bibi Dong stepped forward and chuckled lightly. "Why don't we simply go ask the child what his martial soul is?"

What could a child who had just awakened his martial soul possibly know?

Could he understand more than a "master" like him who had immersed himself in martial soul theory for years?

Yu Xiaogang grumbled inwardly, but a faint smile appeared on his face. "Dong'er is right. Let us ask this child exactly what his martial soul is."

Ling Jing naturally heard the argument between Yu Xiaogang and Red-robed Bishop.

He could not help sneering inwardly.

His martial soul was no Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast. It was a Mirror Beast!

That's right, the Mirror Beast from the original story—Oscar's sixth Soul Ring, the one that gave Oscar combat ability.

He did not know whether the future Master Yu Xiaogang knew of the Mirror Beast's existence. But at least the current Yu Xiaogang knew absolutely nothing!

He clearly did not know, yet he still had the nerve to prattle on... Ling Jing truly admired Yu Xiaogang's shamelessness.

"Child, what is your name?"

Bibi Dong stepped forward a few paces. Her voice was gentle, like a spring breeze. At this moment, she did not resemble the lofty and unreachable Holy Maiden of Spirit Hall at all. Instead, she seemed more like the kind older sister next door.

"Replying to the Holy Maiden, my name is Ling Jing."

"Ling Jing..."

Bibi Dong nodded thoughtfully, her smile unchanged. "Do you know what martial soul you awakened?"

Ling Jing did not hesitate in the slightest and nodded directly. "I do. The martial soul I awakened is called the Mirror Beast."

"What? It's actually a Mirror Beast!?"

The Red-robed Bishop who had argued with Yu Xiaogang earlier cried out in shock, his face filled with disbelief. "It really is a Mirror Beast?"

"Holy Maiden, the Mirror Beast is a special soul Ferocious Beast that lives in the Icebound Forest. It possesses the ability to replicate other soul Ferocious Beasts. Because of this unique ability, many soul Ferocious Beasts are hostile toward Mirror Ferocious Beasts and even gang up on them. Therefore, Mirror Ferocious Beasts are even fewer in number than the Ice-Pattern Mirror Ferocious Beasts Yu Xiaogang mentioned earlier!"

"I truly never expected such a special and rare soul Ferocious Beast to actually become someone's martial soul!"

This Red-robed Bishop... had quite the eye!

Ling Jing had thought he would need to spend a great deal of effort explaining or demonstrate his abilities to prove it. He had not expected this Red-robed Bishop to reveal everything about the Mirror Beast himself.

"Hah, I told you this child's martial soul could never be an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast! I really don't know how you had the nerve to so brazenly declare that this child's martial soul was an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast."

Today's Martial Soul Awakening at the orphanage had originally been a fine opportunity for the Holy Maiden to win people's hearts and display her grace. Yet Yu Xiaogang had shamelessly requested to accompany the Holy Maiden and forcibly tagged along.

Red-robed Bishop, who had long found Yu Xiaogang unpleasant, had finally found an opportunity to mock him properly.

Listening to Red-robed Bishop's ridicule, Yu Xiaogang's face turned green, then white.

What Yu Xiaogang found even more unbearable was that Bibi Dong merely frowned at Red-robed Bishop's mockery and stopped him from saying anything further, without showing any intention of reprimanding him at all!

Previously, whenever others mocked him, Bibi Dong would boldly stand in front of him and angrily rebuke them!

Such a contrast was truly difficult for Yu Xiaogang to accept.

If this child had not awakened such a rare martial soul, how could he have lost face before Bibi Dong? How could he have given Red-robed Bishop an opportunity to mock him?

Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth and clenched his fists slightly. The way he looked at Ling Jing also gained a hint of malice.

Seriously, you lack knowledge yourself and still love pretending to be something you're not. You got exposed and mocked, and somehow that's my fault?

Then this young master really had to show you what he could do.

Did you know what a Soul Contract was?

My first contract target would be you!

Become my Pokémon, Bibi Dong!

Ling Jing directly chose to form a contract with Bibi Dong in his mind—this was the most domineering aspect of the Mirror Contract System.

Forming a contract with another Soul Master did not require their blood, nor did it require their consent.

He only needed to decide in his mind to contract with them, and the contract would automatically be formed.

In an instant, a strange sensation surged into Ling Jing's heart. It felt... as though he already understood Bibi Dong's martial souls perfectly, as if he could display Bibi Dong's strength from when she was six years old in the very next second.

Moreover, if he wished, he could immediately release the toxins of the Death Spider Emperor and Soul Devouring Spider Emperor.

He had already acquired the highly poisonous traits of Bibi Dong's two great martial souls.

"Holy Maiden."

The Red-robed Bishop presiding over the martial soul ceremony stepped forward and lowered his voice. "This Martial Soul Awakening has actually produced Innate Full Soul Power. The other children with Soul Power are easy enough to handle; we can simply send them to Spirit Hall Junior Academy. But this child with Innate Full Soul Power..."

Bibi Dong did not answer immediately. She merely looked at Ling Jing with a smile, even crouching halfway down to meet his silver-white eyes directly.

For some reason, she felt a sense of closeness from Ling Jing, as though she were seeing herself from years ago, just before her teacher brought her back to Spirit Hall.

Bibi Dong's voice became even gentler. "Child, are you willing to join Spirit Hall? If you are, I will report to my teacher—the current Pope—and ask him to take you as his disciple."

At those words, Yu Xiaogang's expression shifted slightly.

Was this the treatment for someone talented?

With Innate Full Soul Power, even Dong'er had to personally report to the Pope and ask him to accept the boy as a disciple!

Damn it!

Yu Xiaogang once again hated his own talent in his heart.

Why couldn't his Innate Soul Power have been a little higher?

Even if he did not have Innate Full Soul Power, if he had only possessed level-five Innate Soul Power, he would not still be merely a Soul Grandmaster now!

Noticing the subtle change that had already taken place in Bibi Dong's attitude, Ling Jing was filled with emotion.

Well, this Soul Contract really was useful!

As for whether he wanted to join Spirit Hall...

Even if he had not formed a contract with Bibi Dong, and even if the Pope could not take him as a disciple, he would still have been willing to join Spirit Hall.

After all, the only reason he had been able to live securely without worrying about food or clothing until now was entirely due to the subsidies provided by Spirit Hall.

He would not think that because his parents had died during Spirit Hall's law enforcement, it was only natural for Spirit Hall to raise him.

"I am willing."

Ling Jing paused slightly, then immediately added, "Junior Brother Ling Jing greets Senior Sister."

Senior Sister?

A strange feeling instantly arose in Bibi Dong's heart, and a smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of her lips. "You little rascal, you are quite clever. I only said I would report to my teacher and ask him to take you as a disciple. I never said he would definitely accept you."

Though she said that, it was not difficult to hear the affection in Bibi Dong's tone.

Damn it!

Damn it all!

Ever since he had identified this child's martial soul incorrectly, Dong'er had not even looked at him!

This would not do!

Realizing that his status in Bibi Dong's heart had slipped, Yu Xiaogang immediately spoke up. "With His Holiness the Pope's guidance, this child will surely have limitless prospects in the future!"