Bibi Dong stroked Hu Liena's head and said:
"What's the hurry?"
Then Bibi Dong turned to Chen Ci and asked:
"Young man, do you know who I am?"
Neither servile nor arrogant, Chen Ci replied:
"Yes. I've seen your portrait in the city's Spirit Hall.
"You are Bibi Dong, the current Pope of Spirit Hall.
"Chen Ci pays his respects to Your Holiness."
Seeing Chen Ci's composure, a gleam of appreciation flashed through Bibi Dong's eyes.
Chen Ci was only a boy, yet he could face her, the reigning Pope, without either groveling or showing arrogance.
Even many high-ranking soul masters, princes, and nobles could not manage that. It was a rare quality indeed.
Bibi Dong nodded approvingly and continued:
"What is your name, what is your martial soul, and what level is your innate soul power?"
"My name is Chen Ci. I have twin martial souls, both Blue Silver Grass. One focuses on elemental power, the other on bloodline power. I have innate full soul power."
"What?!"
Hearing that he had twin martial souls, Bibi Dong lost her composure.
This was the first time she had discovered anyone on the Douluo Continent besides herself who possessed twin martial souls.
As for the first twin martial soul wielder recorded in the books, there was no need to mention that person.
Originally, Bibi Dong had intended to observe Chen Ci a little longer, then decide based on his overall performance whether to take him as her own disciple or have another elder take him instead.
But once she heard that he had twin martial souls, she knew she had to secure this disciple for herself.
Otherwise, she could only destroy him.
"Would you be willing to take me as your teacher?
"To become a disciple of Spirit Hall from this day forward and enjoy countless resources?"
Without hesitation, Chen Ci replied:
"Yes.
"But I have one condition."
"Oh?"
Bibi Dong narrowed her beautiful eyes and looked at Chen Ci without saying a word.
She simply kept staring, putting pressure on him. She wanted to see how long Chen Ci could hold out.
Chen Ci showed no weakness, looking straight into Bibi Dong's eyes in return.
A native of the Douluo Continent might have feared Bibi Dong, but he was an otherworldly demon who carried both the Golden Dragon King's bloodline and the Silver Dragon King bloodline. Why would he fear her?
Besides, Gu Yuena was right beside him. In an age when deities could not easily interfere in the mortal world, Gu Yuena was invincible.
Their staring contest lasted a long time. In the end, Bibi Dong conceded.
Bibi Dong suddenly smiled and said:
"Young man, your spirit truly is extraordinary.
"In all these years, you are the first person who has dared to set conditions for me.
"Go on. What is your condition?"
Chen Ci's condition was simple, and he was certain Bibi Dong would agree:
"No matter where Spirit Hall assigns me, I want my younger sister to remain by my side."
Hearing that Gu Yuena was merely Chen Ci's younger sister, Hu Liena felt relieved for some reason, her little face flushed pink.
At that, Bibi Dong looked at Gu Yuena and asked:
"Your sister... her name seems to be Gu Yuena. What is her martial soul?"
Chen Ci answered:
"The Silver Dragon Spear. She also has innate full soul power."
Bibi Dong nodded:
"Very well. I agree to your condition."
Gu Yuena had been wondering how she could continue staying beside Chen Ci.
For someone who had only just entered the human world, it was indeed a headache.
She had not expected Chen Ci to solve that problem for her outright.
So she gave Chen Ci a sweet smile:
"Thank you, big brother."
"Since you call me your brother, of course I'll take responsibility for you."
"Mm-hmm."
Looking at the boy flanked by two girls, Bibi Dong said:
"Hu Liena, bringing you on this soul hunt has already served its purpose in tempering you.
"Now, I'll take you to hunt for your second soul ring.
"Gu Yuena, have you obtained your first soul ring?"
Gu Yuena nodded and revealed a soul ring. Its color was unmistakably purple...
Seeing yet another thousand-year first soul ring, Bibi Dong and Hu Liena fell silent.
Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed that a first soul ring could exceed a thousand years-and that this was not even an isolated case.
Thinking of her own first soul ring, which was only a hundred-year soul ring, then looking at Gu Yuena's thousand-year first ring, Hu Liena felt a sense of defeat rise within her.
She quietly asked Bibi Dong:
"Teacher, is the limit for a second soul ring really seven hundred to eight hundred years?"
Before this incident, Bibi Dong would have told Hu Liena without hesitation that, according to Spirit Hall's research, the limit for a second soul ring was seven hundred to eight hundred years.
But now, she was no longer certain.
Still, Hu Liena was a student she held in exceptionally high regard, with innate soul power of nine and a half levels. Naturally, she would not let Hu Liena risk absorbing a thousand-year soul ring beyond her limits.
"Our research into martial souls is still superficial. To be safe, you should absorb a soul beast a little over seven hundred years old.
"However, I believe this.
"In the near future, someone will surely unravel all the mysteries of martial souls."
At this point, the image of a certain man she had not seen in years surfaced in Bibi Dong's mind.
Somewhat dejected, Hu Liena obediently replied:
"All right."
For some reason, seeing Hu Liena like that suddenly made Gu Yuena feel a little happy.
Gu Yuena took Chen Ci's hand and swung it cheerfully.
Seeing Gu Yuena and Chen Ci holding hands, Hu Liena felt deeply unsettled and could only console herself:
Hu Liena, Chen Ci and Gu Yuena are only brother and sister. Only brother and sister.
Bibi Dong saw through her student's thoughts, so she used her soul power to envelop everyone, brought Hu Liena to Chen Ci's side, and swiftly traveled through the Star Dou Great Forest in search of a suitable soul beast for her.
As her teacher, that was all she could do for Hu Liena.
As for how things would develop between the two in the future, that depended on their own efforts.
Several hours later, Bibi Dong successfully found a seven-hundred-and-sixty-year-old fox soul beast with a mental attribute in the Star Dou Great Forest.
It was just right for Hu Liena.
With a casual strike, Bibi Dong left the mental-attribute fox soul beast barely clinging to life.
"Hu Liena, that soul beast is gravely wounded and dying. Just kill it and absorb its ring."
"Yes, Teacher."
After speaking, Hu Liena went to kill the fox beast, then began absorbing its soul ring.
"Gu Yuena, go stand guard for Hu Liena.
"Chen Ci, come with me."
Chen Ci gave Gu Yuena a meaningful look, signaling her to stand guard for Hu Liena, then followed Bibi Dong a short distance away.
Gu Yuena readily agreed, because she could listen to Chen Ci and Bibi Dong's conversation if she wished.
A short distance away, Bibi Dong said to Chen Ci:
"You have twin martial souls. Do you know how to cultivate them?"
Chen Ci shook his head. He did know.
But in front of Bibi Dong, he could only pretend he did not.
Bibi Dong was not surprised by his answer:
"I also have twin martial souls. My method is to cultivate my primary martial soul, then wait until I become a Titled Douluo before cultivating the other, higher-quality martial soul.
"At that point, every soul ring of the second martial soul can be high-level.
"I am the second person on the Douluo Continent to possess twin martial souls. So far, cultivating according to the method I developed myself has caused no problems.
"My plan for you is to have you follow my path."
Chen Ci refused flatly:
"I don't agree!"
Before you continue