If They Will Not Serve Spirit Hall, They Can Only Die

Four years later.

The blazing sun scorched the earth, its searing heat cracking the ground open.

On a broad street, two figures stood side by side. They looked to be twelve or thirteen years old. The boy wore a neat set of fitted black clothes.

The girl beside him had a scorpion braid that hung down to her calves. She was a little shorter than the boy, dressed in a small pink top. Her curved brows seemed naturally shaped, and her large, watery eyes paired with her delicate features constantly drew the attention of passersby.

Those passersby who were tempted by her beauty and prepared to approach and strike up a conversation immediately gave up the thought when they saw the boy whose arm she held in both hands.

They were merely ordinary people. If they dared provoke a Soul Master, they probably would not even know how they died.

Xiao Wu raised a hand and lightly wiped the slight moisture from her forehead, complaining, "What is with this weather? Why is it so hot? I feel like I'm about to be roasted alive."

Cheng Xiao smiled faintly. "You agreed to this. After graduating, you would return to the Star Dou Great Forest and cultivate diligently. You can only return to human society once your Soul Power reaches Rank Sixty. Otherwise, if you run into a high-level Soul Master, you'll become their soul ring and soul bone."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at Cheng Xiao. "How could high-level Soul Masters be so easy to encounter? Do you think Titled Douluo are cabbages that you can find everywhere?"

"Isn't it for your own safety? Or do you want Da Ming and Er Ming to lose you, their big sister?" Cheng Xiao said with a helpless laugh.

"That won't happen. Don't talk nonsense." Xiao Wu pouted. "When we left Nuoding Academy, Tang San invited me to a city called Suotuo City. He said Master recommended it to him. There's supposedly a place called Shrek Academy there that only accepts monsters and not ordinary people. I don't know whether it's true or not."

"So you want to go?" Cheng Xiao asked with a light laugh.

Xiao Wu hesitated slightly at his words, then shook her head. "No. Tang San and I are just ordinary classmates. If you go, I'll go with you. If you aren't going, then I'm not going either."

After thinking for a moment, Cheng Xiao said, "I heard that academy does not even have any ranking. It's probably some third-rate academy using the slogan of only accepting monsters, not ordinary people, to scam tuition fees."

Xiao Wu nodded. "Exactly. I have no idea what Master is thinking, insisting that Tang San go to that academy. Before we graduated, several intermediate Soul Master Academies said they would accept us unconditionally."

Cheng Xiao laughed. "Then let them do as they please. I was planning to train in the Star Dou Great Forest anyway, and I can practice using the skill granted by my third soul ring."

Xiao Wu's eyes lit up at that. "Then let's hurry and go."

Cheng Xiao nodded slightly. Looking at the sun hanging in the sky, he estimated that it would set in a few hours. By then, he and Xiao Wu would likely reach a small town near the Star Dou Great Forest.

Spirit City, Papal Palace.

Bibi Dong wore the Nine-Curve Purple Gold Crown and a brilliant golden ceremonial robe as she reclined against her throne, reviewing Spirit Hall's memorials.

Ever since her last visit to Douluo Hall, the matters Bibi Dong needed to handle each day had only grown more numerous. In order to keep Spirit Hall firmly in her grasp, she needed to personally handle everything that happened throughout Spirit Hall. Only then could she hold its true power in her hands.

"His Holiness the Pope, according to news sent back from the Nuoding City branch hall, aside from Tang San, the other two Innate Full Soul Power geniuses did not go to Suotuo City with him. They headed for the Star Dou Great Forest instead."

Suddenly, a streak of golden light appeared in the hall. Countless golden petals drifted down as Chrysanthemum Douluo silently appeared before Bibi Dong, kneeling on one knee as he reported.

"Mm, I understand." Bibi Dong supported her slightly weary face and said indifferently, "Elder Ju, leave this matter to you. Follow the previous plan. If they cannot join Spirit Hall, then send them to their deaths."

"If Innate Full Soul Power geniuses cannot be used by Spirit Hall, then no other force should dream of obtaining them either. Do you understand?"

"I understand, His Holiness the Pope." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded slightly, then asked, "His Holiness the Pope, should I head to the Star Dou Great Forest now?"

"Go. Use every method you can think of and do your best to make them join Spirit Hall. After all, they are Innate Full Soul Power geniuses. Letting them die so easily would be rather regrettable." Bibi Dong's gaze narrowed slightly as she continued reviewing the memorials.

After Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan respectfully acknowledged the order, he left the Papal Palace.

"Hehe, Innate Full Soul Power geniuses. If they can be held in my hands, they will surely become a considerable force. But if they cannot be controlled, then they can only be destroyed."

A faint smile appeared on Bibi Dong's face, though there was nothing in it but bone-chilling coldness.

As the Pope of Spirit Hall, she knew very clearly what could and could not be done. Tang San had Master and Tang Hao protecting him, so she had no way to act against him for now. But as for the other two, she had far fewer concerns.

Meanwhile, Suotuo City.

A boy entered the city through its western gate. He wore plain clothes, and around his waist was a belt inlaid with twenty-four gemstones. Though he could not be called handsome, he gave off a rather approachable impression.

Arriving in Suotuo City alone, Tang San could not help feeling somewhat downcast. He had originally planned to invite Xiao Wu to Shrek Academy with him, but she had mercilessly refused.

Although Tang San did not understand why Master had told him to get closer to Xiao Wu and preferably bring her to Shrek Academy as well, no matter how much he tried to persuade her, Xiao Wu gave him only one answer.

"I'm not going. If Cheng Xiao doesn't go, I won't go. If he goes, I'll go with him."

Tang San was helpless about this. His relationship with Cheng Xiao was not particularly good, but it had not reached the point of tearing their faces apart either. Yet after sparring for so long, he had never won even once.

Thus, he felt instinctively resistant toward Cheng Xiao. Although he wanted Xiao Wu to accompany him to Shrek Academy, asking Cheng Xiao to come along too would not make Tang San seem far too humble?

So, Tang San embarked on a lonely journey. Fortunately, he had been solitary in his previous life, so he could accept having no one accompany him now.

"Sigh, the exam is the day after tomorrow. I'll look around first. I'm getting hungry too." Seeing the couples holding hands on the street, Tang San felt even more depressed. He had originally planned to attend an intermediate academy, but Master had insisted on sending him here. As a disciple who respected his teacher and valued the Dao, he could only comply.