"Your Holiness, that man named Gu Shengge seemed to appear in our Spirit City out of thin air."
"And his strength is probably above the Soul Emperor level."
"An eighteen-year-old Soul Emperor has never appeared on the Douluo Continent."
"Moreover, he wasn't at all surprised by my appearance. I suspect he had already discovered my presence."
After escorting Bibi Dong back to her residence, Gui Mei appeared before Qian Xunji to report.
"An eighteen-year-old Soul Emperor?"
"Interesting. Truly interesting."
"Tomorrow, we'll go with Bibi Dong to take a look at this fellow."
"An eighteen-year-old Soul Emperor... if he joins our Spirit Hall, we'll have another Titled Douluo within the next twenty years."
After hearing Gui Mei's report, Qian Xunji sat on the papal throne, his fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.
He was very interested in Gu Shengge's appearance.
"Brother Gu, Brother Gu, I'm here!"
Early the next morning, Bibi Dong's voice rang out beyond the door.
"Morning~"
Last night, he had spent most of the night cultivating with Snow Empress, Ice Empress, and Sea Witch again, and had even found time to return to Sea God Island to help Bo Saixi consolidate her cultivation.
He had only slept for a little while before Bibi Dong arrived.
Opening the door, Gu Shengge yawned as he looked at Bibi Dong, who stood at the entrance with anticipation and excitement written all over her face.
Gu Shengge wasn't particularly surprised to see Qian Xunji, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan standing behind Bibi Dong.
Even putting aside the fact that they had nowhere to hide from his divine sense, Gui Mei's appearance and Yue Guan's disappearance yesterday had already led Gu Shengge to expect Qian Xunji's visit today.
"Your Holiness, this is our young friend, Gu Shengge."
As Gu Shengge stretched, Yue Guan introduced him with a smile.
Looking at the relaxed, casual Gu Shengge before him, Qian Xunji smiled. "Which family are you from?"
"My parents have both passed away. I travel the continent alone."
Hearing Gu Shengge's answer, Qian Xunji grew even more interested in him. "In that case, would you be interested in joining our Spirit Hall?"
Gui Mei had reported that he hadn't sensed any soul power fluctuations from Gu Shengge, as though he were an ordinary person who had never awakened his martial soul.
But he was already eighteen, and considering Gu Shengge's bearing and his composure upon seeing him appear, Gui Mei had guessed that he was a Soul Emperor-level expert.
Yet now that he had come before Gu Shengge and was sensing his cultivation...
He still couldn't sense any soul power fluctuations from Gu Shengge, just as Gui Mei had said.
He was either an ordinary person or a very powerful Soul Master.
But if he were a Soul Emperor or Soul Saint-level expert, Qian Xunji would have been able to sense it.
Even if he were a Soul Douluo-level expert like himself, Qian Xunji would have been able to sense the soul power fluctuations coming from him.
Unless Gu Shengge's cultivation surpassed that of a Titled Douluo, there was no way he wouldn't be able to sense it.
An eighteen-year-old Soul Emperor was already enough to shock the world, but an eighteen-year-old Titled Douluo was absolutely impossible.
Then there was only one truth: he was an ordinary person who hadn't awakened his martial soul.
Being eighteen without having awakened a martial soul was certainly rare.
Coupled with Gu Shengge's peculiar bearing, this made Qian Xunji increasingly interested in him, and he directly invited Gu Shengge to join Spirit Hall.
"That's right, Brother Gu! Why don't you join our Spirit Hall?"
"You're all alone now. Stay in Spirit City, and this place will be your home from now on."
As soon as Qian Xunji finished speaking, Bibi Dong, who stood before Gu Shengge, eagerly spoke up.
After all, if Gu Shengge joined Spirit Hall, he wouldn't leave Spirit City.
That way, she could spend every day with him.
Affection would blossom with time. When that time came, Brother Gu would surely fall in love with her.
If Gu Shengge left Spirit City, she didn't even know whether she would ever see Brother Gu again.
With Brother Gu's charm and good looks, perhaps by the time she saw him again, he would already have other women by his side and wouldn't want her anymore.
So she had to fight for it and get Gu Shengge to stay in Spirit City.
Looking at Bibi Dong gazing at him with eyes full of anticipation, Gu Shengge placed his hand on top of her head and smiled. "Sure."
"Since little Dong'er has said so, I'll stay in Spirit City from now on."
"And thank you for taking me in, Your Holiness."
Hearing this, Qian Xunji smiled. "Good, good, good! Young Gu, what's your martial soul? And what level is your soul power?"
"I haven't awakened my martial soul yet."
!!!
Hearing Gu Shengge's words, everyone except Qian Xunji, who had asked the question-Bibi Dong, Gui Mei, and Yue Guan alike-stared at Gu Shengge with wide eyes of disbelief.
Qian Xunji, meanwhile, showed a look of understanding upon hearing his words.
Sure enough, this lad hadn't awakened his martial soul. That was why there were no soul power fluctuations coming from him.
"H-how is that possible?"
After recovering his wits, Gui Mei looked at Gu Shengge, his eyes still filled with disbelief.
"There's nothing impossible about it."
"I didn't have the means to awaken my martial soul before. My village was far too remote and distant, and no Soul Masters went there to help people awaken their martial souls."
"Later, when I grew up and went out traveling, I gradually grew used to having no martial soul or soul power, so I never awakened it."
"So that's how it was."
Hearing Gu Shengge's explanation, everyone looked enlightened as realization dawned on them.
"Young Gu, since you've joined Spirit City and Spirit Hall..."
"Let's help you awaken your martial soul today and see what martial soul you can awaken."
"What do you think?"
Qian Xunji looked at Gu Shengge and asked.
"Of course."
"In that case, let's return to the Pope's Palace and help you awaken your martial soul."
As soon as Qian Xunji finished speaking, Bibi Dong eagerly took Gu Shengge's hand and led him toward the Pope's Palace.
Hehe, I got to hold Brother Gu's hand! I'm such a clever little thing.
Brother Gu's hand is so big and warm. I wish I could keep holding it like this.
After everyone returned to the Pope's Palace, Yue Guan set up the martial soul awakening array.
Looking at the crude, rudimentary martial soul awakening array, the corners of Gu Shengge's mouth twitched slightly.
The bottom of the fantasy barrel really is the bottom of the fantasy barrel. That couldn't be more true.
Looking at the martial soul awakening array before him, Gu Shengge was also a little curious.
With his cultivation surpassing a million years, and having relied on a Dragon Clan divine ability to take human form rather than transforming into a human, could he actually awaken a martial soul?
With that thought, Gu Shengge stepped into the martial soul awakening array, and his consciousness suddenly appeared within his own mind.
At that moment, earth-shattering changes took place in Gu Shengge's sea of consciousness.
Beneath Gu Shengge's feet lay billions upon billions of starry rivers, with countless stars circling around him.
He felt as though he stood at the center of the universe.
And he was that center.
Before you continue