Su Yu dodged her attacks, unable to hide the amusement in his eyes as he watched her puff up with anger. "That's because your own training wasn't solid enough. You can't blame anyone else."
Despite his words, he held back his strength and slowed his movements, clearly going easy on her.
The time it took an incense stick to burn passed in a flash, yet the figures on the arena platform were still darting past each other.
Su Yu effortlessly evaded every attack Hu Liena launched.
His steps seemed slow, yet they always carried him beyond the reach of her attacks.
Hu Liena braced her hands on her knees and panted heavily. Sweat soaked the loose strands of hair on her forehead, plastering them to her flushed cheeks.
She looked at the perfectly composed Su Yu opposite her, both angry and helpless-after fighting for so long, she hadn't even caught his shadow, let alone touched the corner of his clothes. Instead, she had exhausted herself until she could barely stand.
"Hmph, I'm done fighting!"
Hu Liena stamped her foot, her voice slightly nasal, as though she were pouting for attention!
"I admit defeat!"
Before her words had faded, she turned and ran toward the edge of the platform without waiting for the referee's announcement. She leaped off in one fluid motion and landed firmly on the ground.
The instant she landed, she still remembered to turn and glare at Su Yu, a trace of temper lurking in her eyes.
Watching her storm off the platform, Su Yu's smile deepened. He jumped down as well and hurried after her.
"Why are you running so fast?" He handed her a clean handkerchief. "Wipe off your sweat. Be careful not to catch a chill."
Hu Liena turned her face away, but still reached out to take the handkerchief and wiped her face haphazardly a couple of times. "It's your fault for always dodging me! It's no fun at all!"
"Yes, yes, it's my fault."
Su Yu went along with her words, taking a bottle of water from his Storage Soul Tool and handing it to her.
"Have some water and rest first."
The referee also stepped forward to announce the result. "Su Yu wins! First place in this Freshman Competition also goes to Su Yu!"
"Now, let us welcome Her Holiness the Pope to present Su Yu with his award!"
The referee's voice echoed above the arena, proclaiming the final result.
The crowd below instantly erupted. Cheers and applause surged like a tide, and countless gazes focused on Su Yu, filled with respect and admiration.
On the raised dais, Bibi Dong slowly rose, her magnificent papal robes gleaming dark gold in the setting sun.
Though she deliberately released no pressure, she possessed an imposing dignity that made others afraid to look directly at her.
She walked slowly down from the dais, holding an exquisite brocade box.
Su Yu stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Greetings, Your Holiness."
Bibi Dong raised a hand, signaling for him to straighten. Her gaze lingered on him briefly, carrying a barely perceptible hint of approval. "Xiao Yu, you performed very well in this Freshman Competition. You haven't disappointed me."
She opened the brocade box. Inside lay a medal.
The medal's main design was Spirit Hall's Six-Winged Angel emblem, bordered by a ring of delicate golden patterns and radiating a soft, lustrous glow.
"This is the Rising Star Medal. It symbolizes Spirit Hall's recognition of powerful new students."
Bibi Dong took out the medal and personally pinned it to Su Yu's chest.
"Remember, honor is a starting point, not the finish line. On the road ahead, you must keep your feet firmly on the ground and never stop improving."
"Yes. I will keep your teachings firmly in mind, Teacher."
Standing beside him, Hu Liena looked at the medal on Su Yu's chest, her eyes brimming with a sincere smile. She gave his arm a hearty pat. "Brother Su Yu, congratulations!"
Bibi Dong looked at Hu Liena, her tone softening a little. "Nana, your performance was also commendable. Although you placed second, everyone has witnessed your rapid progress."
Hu Liena hurriedly bowed. "Thank you for your praise, Teacher. I will keep working hard!"
At that moment, the cheers below grew even louder. Countless new students gazed at the three people on the platform, their eyes full of yearning.
The referee called out, "Let us once again congratulate Su Yu on winning the Freshman Competition! May every new student achieve success in their studies at Spirit Hall and reach new heights of glory!"
After the Freshman Competition ended, three years soon passed.
Su Yu had broken through to rank twenty a year earlier, and his second Soul Ring was a three-thousand-year Soul Ring.
After absorbing that Soul Ring, his Sharingan had also evolved to two tomoe.
The regenerative power of his Wood Release was simply too strong. After testing him, Bibi Dong determined that Su Yu's current strength was no weaker than that of an ordinary Soul Ancestor.
Su Yu's Soul Power had now reached rank twenty-six. Hu Liena had also broken through to rank twenty a few days earlier and was now a Soul Grandmaster!
Inside Pope Hall, flickering candlelight illuminated Bibi Dong's figure as she sat upright on her throne.
She raised her eyes toward Su Yu as he strode in. With a glance, she sensed that the Soul Power around him had become more condensed and steady than when he left.
"Teacher, I'm back!"
"Xiao Yu, I imagine you gained quite a lot from this training journey!"
"Yes, Teacher. I feel that my Soul Power has become more condensed!"
"Good. Xiao Yu, do you have any thoughts about Spirit Hall's future development?"
Su Yu looked at Bibi Dong and pondered for a while before speaking. "Teacher, Spirit Hall's strength is still steadily rising. If we want to unify the continent, we must recruit every capable person we can use!"
"Then tell me, whom can we recruit?"
"Teacher, the Upper Three Sects are branches of the same tree. Even though the Clear Sky Sect has sealed itself away, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan won't submit to Spirit Hall."
"We can start with the Lower Four Sects. First, we must win over the Nine Heart Begonia Sect. The Nine Heart Begonia's powerful healing ability is a formidable weapon in war!"
"Next, the Elephant Armor Sect has long been interested in submitting to Spirit Hall. We can recruit them as well!"
"Of course, I think the person we should be recruiting most urgently right now is Dugu Bo!"
At those words, Bibi Dong's fingertips paused slightly in their tapping on the armrest. A flicker of surprise crossed her deep eyes. "Dugu Bo? The Poison Douluo who just broke through to Titled Douluo?"
"Yes, Teacher!"
"Spirit Hall has eighty percent of the continent's Titled Douluo. We don't need to recruit any more!"
"Teacher, Dugu Bo is different from other Titled Douluo. Although he only just broke through to Titled Douluo, his strength absolutely cannot be underestimated!"
"Hmm?"
"Teacher, if we want to unify the continent in the future, war with Heaven Dou and the Star Luo Empire will be unavoidable!"
"Although Dugu Bo isn't particularly strong among Titled Douluo, his poison arts are absolutely a formidable weapon in war!"
Bibi Dong sat upright on her throne, her fingertips lightly rubbing the armrest. A sharp gleam flashed through her eyes at his words. "You have a point. Dugu Bo's poison arts would indeed be an unexpected weapon on the battlefield."
"But that old monster is ill-tempered and extremely reclusive. He won't be easy to recruit."
"I understand, Teacher. Dugu Bo's Residence is in Heaven Dou City. Please allow me to go to Heaven Dou City!"
"I'm eighty percent confident that I can recruit Dugu Bo into Spirit Hall!"
Bibi Dong nodded slightly, her fingertips pausing on the armrest. "Very well. Who do you plan to take with you?"
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