Spirit City, the Pope Palace.
"Hm?"
Bibi Dong's brows furrowed slightly as she picked up a report from the desk. It stated that Lu Yuan, who possessed an external martial soul, had taken only a year to become a soul master, and that his first soul ring most likely exceeded the usual age limit.
"With Level 0.5 Innate Soul Power, he actually managed to reach rank 10 that quickly?"
Bibi Dong set down the report and gazed calmly ahead, recalling an old acquaintance who had also possessed Level 0.5 Innate Soul Power and awakened an external martial soul.
"Perhaps this boy stumbled upon the secret to cultivating an external martial soul." Bibi Dong's gaze grew deep, then she shook her head.
"What a pity. I was so heartless toward Xiao Gang back then, watching as that fine mentor of mine drove him out of Spirit City. By now, he's probably hiding somewhere under another name, nursing his hatred for me."
Bibi Dong recalled the scene in Spirit City several years ago, when Spirit Hall's previous Pontiff, Qian Xunji, had coerced her into rejecting Yu Xiaogang to his face. She had turned a blind eye as he left Spirit City in disgrace, and she sighed softly.
"Since this child broke through to soul master in only a year, his potential may be limited, but his determination and cultivation techniques are both excellent. He could still be admitted to Spirit Hall Academy."
His cultivation speed had truly startled Bibi Dong. After all, even a gifted young woman like her, who had awakened twin top-tier martial souls and possessed innate full soul power,
and who had been sent to Spirit Hall immediately upon awakening her martial souls, caught Qian Xunji's eye, become his disciple, and been named Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, had taken nearly three years to reach rank 20. No wonder Yu Xiaogang believed Lu Yuan's rapid advancement was due to absorbing a soul bone.
Bibi Dong silently added to herself, If I can learn his method for cultivating an external martial soul, perhaps I'll still have a chance to see Xiao Gang before becoming a god and tell him about it.
"Yue Guan, come see me!"
Bibi Dong suddenly raised her voice, summoning Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan.
A figure clad in yellow armor appeared in the Pope Palace, his movements and makeup alluring, his skin fair and delicate.
"Your Holiness, may I ask why you summoned me?"
He bowed gracefully to Bibi Dong. This titled Douluo, whom many would likely have mistaken for a woman unless told he was a man, was Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, one of Spirit Hall's three publicly known titled Douluo powerhouses.
"Yue Guan, go to Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy in Fasino Province and invite someone named Lu Yuan to join our Spirit Hall Academy. Do not hurt him."
With that, Bibi Dong tossed Yue Guan the report bearing Lu Yuan's likeness and information.
"Hm?"
Yue Guan was initially bewildered, until he saw Lu Yuan's information on the report.
"A genius with an external martial soul and Level 0.5 Innate Soul Power actually reached rank 10 and became a soul master in just one year? This...!"
What an astonishing cultivation speed. Lu Yuan's progress must have already caught up with some geniuses in his year whose innate soul power had been rank 7 or 8.
A soul master prodigy of this caliber naturally fell within Spirit Hall's recruitment targets. In fact, if certain other factions learned of him, they might not send an expert specifically to recruit him, but they would still abduct him in passing and force him to join their ranks.
And if he refused to submit? Hmph!
The major factions of the Douluo Continent all had, to varying degrees, a practice of eliminating talented commoner soul masters who lacked powerful backing and refused to obey them.
The most typical example was Bone Douluo Gu Rong, one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two guardian Douluo. In the original timeline, he had often spoken of "doing something to Tang San..."
Yue Guan's attention returned to the details of Lu Yuan's external martial soul and Level 0.5 Innate Soul Power, and his pupils trembled.
Back then, rumors that Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Bibi Dong, was involved with Yu Xiaogang, the son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's leader, had caused an uproar. Yu Xiaogang had likewise awakened an external martial soul and possessed Level 0.5 Innate Soul Power. Yue Guan, who had still been a red-robed bishop at the time, naturally knew about it.
The Pontiff is sending me to handle this personally and taking it so seriously. Could seeing this boy have reminded her of someone?
"Yue Guan, is there a problem?" Bibi Dong seemed to have noticed what Yue Guan was pondering, and her tone turned stern.
"N-no... none."
Yue Guan trembled with fear. While outsiders were still speculating that Spirit Hall's Pontiff might only recently have become a titled Douluo, with soul power likely no higher than rank 94, he knew full well that Bibi Dong was already a super Douluo whose soul power exceeded rank 95.
The previous Pontiff, Qian Xunji, had hunted the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor, Ah Yin, only to be hammered to his death by Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao. As Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, Bibi Dong had acted with ruthless decisiveness to swiftly seize the power he had left vacant.
One could only say that when Bibi Dong was not swooning over Yu Xiaogang, she was still a formidable, ruthless woman.
"I'll see to it at once." Yue Guan turned stiffly and hurried out of the Pope Palace. Only then did Bibi Dong's expression soften somewhat.
That night, at Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy, Dorm Seven.
Lu Yuan and Xiao Wu lay on a large bed made by pushing their beds together. It was not yet late, and both were awake.
Like a rabbit in human form, Xiao Wu was chewing the green leaves Lu Yuan had conjured not long ago, her face filled with satisfaction. They were delicious.
"Xiao Wu, Xiao Wu, can you hear me?"
Lu Yuan spoke softly, his voice so low that almost only he and Xiao Wu could hear it.
"Lu Yuan, what is it?"
Xiao Wu still wore an innocent expression.
"Xiao Wu, keep your voice down. What I'm about to tell you is very important. You absolutely must not tell anyone else."
"Oh..." Xiao Wu nodded sheepishly. Seeing how serious and solemn Lu Yuan looked, she obediently quieted down to listen.
Yet what Lu Yuan said next made Xiao Wu's jaw drop.
"Xiao Wu, are you a soul beast?"
Thump!
The instant those words left Lu Yuan's mouth, Xiao Wu's heart nearly stopped. Dumbstruck, she stared blankly at him.
Only after a long while did she stiffly manage to speak:
"Lu Yuan, what are you talking about? I'm so cute. How could I possibly be a soul beast?"
"Ah..." Lu Yuan sighed.
"Xiao Wu, stop hiding it from me. I've heard that hundred-thousand-year soul beasts can take human form. Not only do they have innate full soul power and talent comparable to humanity's greatest soul master geniuses, they can also condense their first few soul rings themselves."
"Xiao Wu, I checked. Not a single teacher at Nuoding Academy took you hunting for your first soul ring. So where did that yellow soul ring of yours come from-the one that seems to slightly exceed the usual age limit for a soul master's first soul ring?"
Lu Yuan pretended to explain the clues he had discovered to Xiao Wu. Although his reasoning had plenty of holes, this big, silly girl was just as easy to fool as she had been in the original timeline.
With just this gentle prod from Lu Yuan, her true nature was laid bare. Her eyes grew wet, and her voice choked up.
This immediately drew the attention of Tang San, who had been keeping constant watch on the two of them. His gaze darkened, filled with resentment as he looked at Lu Yuan.
Damn you, Lu Yuan. What did you do to Xiao Wu? I haven't even done anything, yet you've already made her cry. You really don't know how to cherish a delicate flower.