Taking Qian Xunji as Master

Yu Xiaogang was good at reading people and quickly saw that Bibi Dong seemed to think highly of the boy before her. He immediately offered his congratulations, hoping to salvage his image.

Although Bibi Dong would not turn cold toward him over this single matter, he did not want their relationship to regress instead of progressing further.

"Of course."

Bibi Dong rose to her feet, the smile on her face gradually fading.

Ling Jing's Soul Power Level was still very low. At most, it could make Bibi Dong feel close to him; it had not yet reached the point of mutual understanding, emotional resonance, and the like. But... his dislike of Yu Xiaogang seemed to have influenced Bibi Dong to some extent as well.

At the very least, Bibi Dong's attitude toward Yu Xiaogang was now quite subtle.

Yu Xiaogang noticed Bibi Dong's change as well. He was filled with regret. Why had he been so certain that Ling Jing's Martial Soul was an Ice-Pattern Mirror Beast? Even if he had honestly admitted that he did not know, that his research into Martial Soul theory was not yet complete, the situation would have been far better than this!

Perhaps he might even have gained access to Spirit Hall's library and browsed its collection, further refining his theoretical research!

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret.

Yu Xiaogang could only watch helplessly as Bibi Dong took Ling Jing's hand, trailing behind them in impotent rage.

He had not even held Bibi Dong's hand yet! When he had tried to hold it just now, Bibi Dong had even refused him!

It was fine... Ling Jing was only a child. She was just holding a child's hand. It did not matter.

Yu Xiaogang could only console himself like this until he saw Ling Jing turn slightly and cast him a meaningful look.

???

That look... why would a child have such a look in his eyes?

And what did that look mean?

Looking at Bibi Dong's departing figure, Yu Xiaogang instinctively wanted to call out. However, Bibi Dong simply led Ling Jing straight into Pope's Hall—at this point, he had not officially become Bibi Dong's lover and had no right to enter Pope's Hall.

He could only watch as their figures gradually disappeared from sight.

"Dong'er, you're back."

Qian Xunji, who was handling Spirit Hall's affairs, saw Bibi Dong enter with a child beside her. His eyes narrowed slightly, and a vague guess arose in his heart.

He knew what Bibi Dong had gone to do today, so...

Could this child have awakened some powerful Martial Soul? Was he a genius?

"Dong'er, who is this child?"

Though he felt a trace of anticipation, Qian Xunji did not reveal it. He still wore a warm smile, every bit the kind and benevolent teacher.

"Teacher, I went to the orphanage to oversee the awakening ceremony today and unexpectedly found an outstanding prospect in Ling Jing. I specially brought him here to meet you, hoping that you might accept him as your disciple!"

Hm?

Qian Xunji's expression shifted slightly. In his original estimation, this child was probably only born with ninth-rank Soul Power. Yet Bibi Dong's first words were asking him to take the child as a disciple?

Could it be... that this child was also a genius with Twin Martial Souls and Innate Full Soul Power?

The thought had barely surfaced when Qian Xunji laughed at himself.

Twin Martial Souls were one in ten thousand. Having one Twin Martial Souls genius like Bibi Dong was already heaven's blessing upon Spirit Hall. How could another appear so soon?

If not Twin Martial Souls, then he must have Innate Full Soul Power with a top-tier Martial Soul?

Qian Xunji exhaled and revealed a look of surprise. "Oh? Ling Jing, step forward and release your Martial Soul. Let me have a look."

Hearing this, Ling Jing did not hesitate in the slightest. He took two steps forward and released his Mirror Beast Martial Soul.

In an instant, Ling Jing's body underwent a tremendous transformation. Layer upon layer of mirror-like scales covered him, while his figure seemed to grow much more slender. Several enormous mirror wings spread from his back. Whether the mirror scales on his body or the massive wings behind him, they seemed capable of reflecting the light and shadows of all things.

Bibi Dong spoke at just the right moment. "Teacher, Ling Jing's Martial Soul is the rare Mirror Beast. He has Innate Full Soul Power."

A Mirror Beast?

No, this was no ordinary Mirror Beast.

As the Pope of Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji knew of Mirror Beasts. It was not because he was more knowledgeable than those two cardinals, but because he had personally seen one before.

The Mirror Beast he had seen did not have mirror wings like Ling Jing's Martial Soul.

He had been deeply interested in that peculiar soul beast at the time. Although it had not suited him, he had still consulted a great deal of information after returning to Spirit Hall.

Qian Xunji frowned in thought for a moment before speaking in a low voice. "No, this Martial Soul is not an ordinary Mirror Beast, but a Mirror Beast Emperor! Ordinary Mirror Beasts do not grow mirror wings. Only the emperor of the Mirror Beast race, a Mirror Beast with one hundred thousand years of cultivation, would have mirror wings on its back!"

"The rare Mirror Beast is already a top-tier beast Martial Soul, let alone a Mirror Beast Emperor!"

"No wonder Dong'er asked me to accept you as my disciple."

"I am very curious. If a Mirror Beast Emperor capable of replicating other soul beasts became a human's Martial Soul, what would it be like?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Jing immediately cupped his hands. "Just as Your Holiness the Pope suspects, I can replicate other people's Martial Souls."

After speaking, Ling Jing paused briefly before adding, "At the very least, replicating Sister Bibi Dong's Martial Souls should not be a problem."

"Oh?"

Qian Xunji had only just uttered a soft sound of surprise when Ling Jing directly used the contract's effect to replicate Bibi Dong's Martial Soul.

In an instant, Ling Jing's body transformed once more. Purple-black carapace covered his upper body, and four vertical eyes appeared on his face. His lower body turned into a massive round abdomen, with eight spider legs covered in venomous hairs.

A yellow Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath Ling Jing.

Then, the yellow Soul Ring flickered slightly. Strands of thick purple-black spider silk burst from Ling Jing's palms, moving as though alive. This was unmistakably the first soul skill of Bibi Dong's Death Spider Emperor Martial Soul—Death Entanglement!

Immediately afterward, Ling Jing's body changed again. Dark green spiderweb markings appeared on his forehead, and three pairs of spider spears emerged from his back. Only his upper body retained its human form.

However, when this Martial Soul appeared, no Soul Rings rose beneath Ling Jing's feet.

That was because Bibi Dong's Soul Devouring Spider Emperor Martial Soul had no Soul Rings attached to it yet. After replicating it, he likewise had no Soul Rings attached.

"It's simply... unbelievable!"

Qian Xunji was so shocked that he could hardly contain himself. His eyes were fixed tightly on Ling Jing, and even his voice trembled slightly.

He could truly replicate another person's Martial Soul, even their soul skills!

Though the power of the soul skill had yet to be determined, merely being able to perfectly replicate Bibi Dong's two Martial Souls was enough to leave him astonished!

How was this any different from Spirit Hall having another Bibi Dong with Twin Martial Souls!?

Even if Ling Jing could only wield half of Bibi Dong's strength after replicating her Martial Souls, this Martial Soul was absurdly powerful!

One had to know that Ling Jing did not even have a single Soul Ring yet!

After watching Ling Jing's entire replication process, Bibi Dong also showed a trace of surprise. Her eyes softened completely—within Ling Jing, she found a feeling akin to meeting one of her own kind.

Once Qian Xunji realized the strength of Ling Jing's Martial Soul, he spoke almost without hesitation. "Ling Jing, are you willing to become my, Qian Xunji's, disciple?"

Ling Jing still did not hesitate. He immediately performed a proper disciple's salute. "This disciple, Ling Jing, greets Teacher and Senior Sister."

Although Qian Xunji's actions later on had been utterly baffling, even earning him the mocking title of the Chamber Douluo, Ling Jing felt that if one truly compared who was more outrageous, Qian Xunji and Bibi Dong were about evenly matched.

One had a mind so bizarre that he came up with shameless tricks like the chamber incident; the other was so hopelessly lovestruck that there was no cure for her.

But now... things did not need to develop that way at all.

Qian Xunji could continue being a kind and amiable teacher, wait for Bibi Dong to inherit his position, then retire to Worship Hall.

What mattered most was finding a wife soon and quickly having Qian Renxue with someone else!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Qian Xunji said "good" several times in a row and directly reached out to help Ling Jing straighten up from his slight bow. "From today onward, you are the second disciple of me, Qian Xunji!"

"Thank you, Teacher."

Only then did Bibi Dong let out a sigh of relief.

From a corner of Pope's Hall, two voices rang out in unison. "Congratulations, Your Holiness the Pope, on gaining another fine disciple!"

The sudden voices startled Ling Jing. Following the sound and looking carefully, he finally saw two figures concealed in a dim corner. One was tall and upright, with delicate skin and an effeminate, dazzlingly beautiful appearance. Judging by his face alone, he was almost indistinguishable from a woman. The other was much smaller, wrapped entirely in a loose black hooded cloak, with most of his face hidden in shadow. A faint black mist and aura of death lingered around him.

All right, the two easiest Titled Douluo to recognize had arrived.

Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, the two brothers.

Noticing Ling Jing's gaze, Yue Guan gave him a somewhat effeminate smile in greeting, while Ghost Douluo slightly raised his head as though giving a light nod.

"These two are Spirit Hall's Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. You will get used to them."

Qian Xunji chuckled, then rose and beckoned. "Come. Your teacher will show you where you will be staying."

Ling Jing immediately followed him. Bibi Dong paused briefly, but she still followed behind Qian Xunji.

After passing through the lavish Pope's Hall, Ling Jing followed Qian Xunji to another palace behind it. Although its decorations were not as extravagant as Pope's Hall, it still exuded an air of luxury.

At least, to Ling Jing, who had lived in an orphanage for five years, suddenly seeing such a palace naturally inspired such feelings.