Visitors from Spirit Hall

Li Sen dared not dwell on it and hurriedly said, "Xiao San, these injuries would be fatal to anyone else, but your master can mostly recover in a day."

"The remaining hidden injuries will heal in a week."

Tang San said nothing. He stubbornly stood beside him and summoned his Blue Silver King.

"Master, hurry and heal yourself. I'll help!"

Li Sen smiled helplessly and began healing.

Fortunately, Zhu Zhuqing and the other two women had gone out. Otherwise, seeing this scene would have made them panic even more than Tang San.

A Soul Power Barrier spread out, and his Blue Silver Tree martial soul appeared. Vast amounts of Life Energy poured into Li Sen as he sat cross-legged on the floor.

Both his meridians and his internal organs healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Elsewhere, Ning Fengzhi entered a nearby hotel with Gu Rong.

Just as Li Sen had done, they erected a Soul Power Barrier. The moment it was in place, Gu Rong began vomiting repeatedly, blood pouring from his mouth.

Ning Fengzhi's expression shifted again and again, his voice trembling and losing its composure.

"Uncle Bone, how did you get hurt so badly?"

"I remember your Bone Dragon martial soul having powerful defenses, and you even have a teleportation soul skill!"

Gu Rong looked grim. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Fengzhi, we both underestimated Li Sen."

"His body is unbelievably powerful. He has twin martial souls, and although he's only a Six-Ring Soul Emperor, his sixth soul skill is a hundred-thousand-year one. He also has a pair of external soul bones!"

"The most terrifying thing is his body. It recovers quickly, and he can even take my soul skills head-on!"

Ning Fengzhi's expression grew grave, tinged with fear, as he asked in confusion.

"Even so, Uncle Bone, you're a Titled Douluo specializing in defense, and you can teleport through space. Surely you shouldn't have been hurt this badly."

"Li Sen is only a Soul Emperor. How could he keep up with you?"

Gu Rong fell silent for a moment.

At this point, he could no longer speak up for Ning Rongrong.

"Fengzhi, Li Sen seemed to be avenging Tang San. He took my attacks head-on and grabbed my hand, refusing to let go."

"He was too strong for me to break free. All I could do was trade blows with him."

"My soul power is severely depleted, and all my internal organs are damaged. I expect recovery to take half a year. If this hadn't been a sparring match, I would probably be dead."

Ning Fengzhi fell silent.

Battles that nearly ended in death rarely happened between hostile Soul Masters whose strength was closely matched.

Judging by Gu Rong's account, along with Li Sen's rosy complexion earlier, they would have lost even with his support.

With Sword Douluo as well, they could win, but there was no telling whether they could stop him from escaping.

Fortunately, Li Sen had already agreed to the deal.

Ning Fengzhi took several deep breaths to steady himself, then spoke in a low voice.

"Rest well, Uncle Bone. We aren't his enemies, and our interests don't conflict."

With that, Ning Fengzhi turned to leave.

Watching Ning Fengzhi reach the door, Gu Rong finally could not stop himself from speaking.

"Fengzhi, Rongrong..."

Ning Fengzhi cut him off sharply.

"Uncle Bone, enough!

My heart aches for Rongrong too, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's future matters more than any individual!"

That evening, a knock came at the door. Zhu Zhuqing and the other two women had returned.

Li Sen opened his eyes. His internal organs had recovered under the nourishment of Life Energy, his meridians had healed as the Origin Return Art regulated them, and fresh tissue had sprouted throughout the muscles of his body, which had been on the verge of collapse.

His newly healed wounds needed another day of nourishment, but they posed no hindrance. Only the hidden injuries required a longer period of recuperation.

Looking at Tang San, who was still keeping watch beside him, Li Sen spoke gently.

"Xiao San, can you relax now?"

"When nourished by Life Energy over a long period, our bodies' recovery speed improves too."

"Your master stopped fearing injuries like these three years ago."

Tang San examined him and let out a relieved breath, then said awkwardly.

"Master, I overstepped. Please get some rest. I'll leave now."

Zhu Zhuqing had barely returned and had not yet had time to feel happy at seeing Li Sen before she noticed the blood on his body and the floor.

One glance was enough for her to realize he had been injured. Her face instantly went pale.

This was the man she had staked everything on choosing!

He was her hope of becoming strong enough to escape the Star Luo Imperial Family!

"Teacher Li, are you all right?"

Zhu Zhuqing cried out and rushed over with the Li Xin Sisters, whose expressions had changed as well. Their hands moved over Li Sen's body, checking him.

Only after discovering that the blood was merely on the surface, with no wounds beneath it, did the three women relax and move to clean up.

Looking at Zhu Zhuqing, who had traded her leather outfit for a dress that showed off her devilishly alluring figure, Li Sen could not resist pulling her into his arms.

He murmured in her ear, "Your dress sense has improved a lot lately. Did you learn that for me?"

Zhu Zhuqing's little face flushed instantly, and she stammered as she changed the subject.

"Teacher Li, what are you going to do with Ning Rongrong?"

Only then did Li Sen remember that Ning Rongrong was still in his hands. A mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Rongrong is a little princess, after all. She just has a bit of a temper, which is understandable.

But she belongs to me now. I'll leave her with you for the next few days so you can teach her some manners. After that, she can work as a maid to temper her character."

Having said that, Li Sen held Zhu Zhuqing close and closed his eyes to rest, breathing in her delicate fragrance as his mind worked through everything he had learned that day.

He realized that he had been far too arrogant.

His combat strength rivaled a Titled Douluo's, but his flight speed could not keep up.

His flight speed depended entirely on his dragon wings, enhanced by soul power, and was only on par with a Soul Douluo's.

If a Titled Douluo refused to land, catching up would be difficult.

The Blue Silver Tree was somewhat fragile. It could entangle a gravely wounded, dying hundred-thousand-year soul beast, but it could not withstand a Titled Douluo's soul skills.

Xiao Zi's degree of evolution was too low, and there were too few soul rings. Even after charging an attack with half his soul power, it could at most deliver a full-strength blow equivalent to a newly advanced Titled Douluo's.

When he tallied everything up, only his body was truly strong.

Today, Gu Rong had been careless and let him grab hold.

Otherwise, although Li Sen would not have lost, dealing meaningful damage and winning the battle would have been difficult.

At that thought, Li Sen narrowed his eyes.

Suddenly, a call came from outside.

"Excuse me, is His Excellency Li Sen here?"

Li Sen paused, stilling the hand that had been caressing Zhu Zhuqing.

When he stepped outside, he discovered that the visitor was from Spirit Hall, dressed in its distinctive robes.

Li Sen's eyes narrowed slightly. He had long expected Spirit Hall to send someone after the martial soul evolution theory appeared and Tang San displayed his talent.

He simply had not expected them to arrive so late.

Li Sen said politely, "I'm Li Sen. Hello!"

The visitor smiled faintly and introduced himself first. "I am Salas, the Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall's Heaven Dou City Branch Hall, a level eighty-nine Soul Douluo."

Then he continued, "We heard that a talented young man had appeared in Suotuo City, and that his master could fight a Soul Saint with his physical body alone. The Pope specifically sent me to invite you to join Spirit Hall."

"Would you be willing, Your Excellency Li Sen?"

After speaking, Salas watched Li Sen without the slightest air of overbearing superiority.

He was the complete opposite of his arrogant portrayal in the original story.

Spirit Hall was quite sincere when recruiting talent. It estimated the recruit's strength and sent a member of roughly equal standing as a sign of respect.

The information from several days earlier had estimated Li Sen's strength at that of a level eighty-nine Soul Douluo.

When Salas first set out, he had been brimming with confidence and inwardly proud, expecting a casual invitation to be enough.

After all, Spirit Hall was the continent's foremost power.

He had never imagined that upon reaching Suotuo City, he would hear that Bone Douluo of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had fought a fierce battle with the young man before him.

Recruiting a Soul Douluo?

This was a fucking Titled Douluo!

Salas's arrogance vanished instantly. He only hoped his words would not cross the line and provoke Li Sen into killing him.

Li Sen smiled.

Never mind that the Pope was Bibi Dong, who wanted to destroy the world—even if someone else held the position, he had no intention of joining a major power.

As the saying went, one's body was not always one's own to command.

No matter which faction he joined, there would inevitably be cliques and disputes over interests.

Then he would be trapped in a den of thieves, no longer free to act as he pleased.

Li Sen said mildly, "Thank you for the invitation, Bishop Salas, but I'll pass on joining. I'm used to a carefree life."

Hearing this, Salas pretended not to mind. "No trouble. Everyone has their own aspirations. I'll take my leave, then."

After leaving the hotel, his expression darkened.

Li Sen really didn't know what was good for him.

Spirit Hall was the continent's foremost power, yet he still refused to join, leaving Salas to return empty-handed!

Next time, he would find an excuse to poison others against Li Sen and have them put some heavy pressure on him.

Li Sen returned to the hotel with a growing sense of urgency.

Spirit Hall would keep inviting talented people as long as they had no clear allegiance.

This concerned Bibi Dong's mad ambition to unify the continent, become a god, and destroy the world.

His outstanding performance would surely draw Bibi Dong's attention.

He had to grow stronger as quickly as possible before he could establish an academy and set his plans for godhood in motion.

Dugu Yan had yet to arrive. After handing the Martial Soul Evolution Theory to Ning Fengzhi tomorrow evening, he would have to take the initiative and create an opportunity to discuss matters with Dugu Bo.

After considering his course of action, Li Sen closed his eyes and enjoyed the Li Xin Sisters' attentions.

Zhu Zhuqing watched and learned from beside them, her face flushed.