"Yu Xiaogang, you should recognize the gap between us now!"
"A self-created Soul Skill, possession by an external beast Martial Soul-this is only one manifestation of the gap between us, but it was already enough for me to bridge the gap between rank nine and rank twenty-nine and defeat you."
Yu Xiaochuan looked at Yu Xiaogang kneeling before him and shook his head, no longer interested in saying more.
He glanced at the students, teachers, and even the dean of Nuoding Academy who had gathered around at some point.
"Let's go."
"Ah, yes, let's go!"
Though he was facing only a six-year-old child, Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo appeared exceedingly respectful.
The battle just now, in which a rank nine had defeated a rank twenty-nine, had clearly won Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo over completely.
He was only a Soul Grandmaster himself, not even a match for Yu Xiaochuan.
Thus, he unwittingly fell into step behind Yu Xiaochuan like an elderly servant.
"Boss Yu, will we ever meet again?"
Xiao Chenyu shouted. The boss he had only just acknowledged was leaving already, making him very sad.
"Have a smooth journey, Boss Yu!"
"Take care, Boss!"
"Come back and visit us if you get the chance!"
Yu Xiaochuan heard the voices of quite a few of his followers.
In a daze, he realized that he had already forged friendships with quite a few people.
He looked back and saw Xiao Chenyu and the faces of many of his followers.
Yu Xiaochuan said nothing and merely waved.
Perhaps he would return, or perhaps he would not. He could not promise too much.
He only hoped for a day, looked forward to a day, when he could return laden with honors.
When that time came.
Naturally, when one man attained the Dao, even his chickens and dogs would ascend to heaven.
The sun sank into dusk, its evening glow lingering.
Light spilled over the shoulders of the old man and the young boy, outlining their bodies and stretching their shadows long.
"A golden-scaled dragon lying dormant fares worse than a worm; ten thousand hardships temper it into a dragon."
"Should winds and clouds rise one day, it will soar aloft and astound the nine heavens."
Those spirited words emerged from the young boy's tender lips, revealing astonishing ambition.
A trash Martial Soul, innate half-rank Soul Power, a Caterpie Martial Soul.
Faced with such hardships, he showed no dejection and was instead brimming with confidence.
Confidence that he would one day transform into a dragon.
Was such a person, such a six-year-old child, not worthy of admiration?
Moreover, he had already proven himself: six years old against forty, rank nine against rank twenty-nine.
A resounding victory!
The young dragon had already bared its fangs and sharp claws, beginning to show its mettle!
"Old friend, there's no shame in your defeat."
The dean of Nuoding Academy placed a hand on Yu Xiaogang's shoulder, comforting his old friend.
"Yu Xiaochuan is undoubtedly a genius. You can't hold him back. He should head into a bigger, broader world."
"Once he encounters the right winds and clouds, he might truly transform into a dragon!"
"Transform into a dragon... what lofty ambition."
Yu Xiaogang struggled to his feet, shame and astonishment on his pale face, his emotions extraordinarily complicated.
Especially after hearing the words Yu Xiaochuan had left behind as he departed, he felt an overwhelming melancholy and finally revealed a bitter smile.
"But how could it be that easy?"
"Young people always have to venture out into the world. Perhaps he'll succeed!"
At that, the dean of Nuoding Academy smiled freely. "We're already old. If we meddle too much, we'll only be resented. The world belongs to the young now. Xiaogang, would you be interested in becoming a teacher at my Nuoding Academy?"
"No. As I've said before, I don't teach mediocrities."
Watching Yu Xiaochuan leave, Yu Xiaogang felt heartache so profound that it hurt even more than his physical injuries.
If only such a child, such a genius, could become his stepson. Even becoming his disciple would have been good.
"Spirit City-we're here!"
After several days of traveling by carriage, Yu Xiaochuan and Grandmaster Ma Xiunuo finally arrived at Spirit City.
Spirit City stood on the border between the two great empires and belonged almost entirely to Spirit Hall. It could be called Spirit Hall's headquarters.
Nuoding City was close to the border between the two great empires, so the journey from Nuoding City to Spirit City was not very long.
After being inspected by the Soul Masters guarding the gates, Yu Xiaochuan and Ma Xiunuo entered the city.
"You must be Yu Xiaochuan. His Holiness the Pope wishes to see you."
As soon as he entered the city, Yu Xiaochuan was escorted away by a maid to a designated place to wash and change into clean clothes.
Soon, Yu Xiaochuan received the Pope's summons and arrived at Spirit Hall.
As for Ma Xiunuo?
The Pope had no time to meet a minor deacon.
Inside the council chamber of the Supreme Pontiff Palace, Yu Xiaochuan sat all alone.
He was the only person in the resplendent hall, though some snacks such as preserved fruit had been placed on the table.
Yu Xiaochuan finished the snacks and waited for a long time afterward, until he was getting sleepy, before he finally heard a voice from the doorway.
"Stand guard outside. No one, whoever they are, is allowed to disturb me."
"Yes."
The doors to the council chamber opened.
A woman who appeared to be around thirty walked in, wearing the Nine-Curved Purple Gold Crown and a luxurious black robe patterned with gold, holding a scepter studded with gemstones.
The instant she entered, her nearly flawless face seemed to brighten the entire hall.
Her skin, as fair as jade, shone more brilliantly than the gilded splendor of the hall.
The moment he saw Bibi Dong, even Yu Xiaochuan froze, feeling that all the time he had spent waiting had not been wasted.
For the first time, he so thoroughly approved of the Martial Soul Theory he had merely made up.
So twin Martial Souls and innate full Soul Power could create such a beautiful woman.
The nobility and sanctity she inadvertently exuded made one unconsciously feel the urge to prostrate oneself in worship.
Her every movement carried an indescribable charm.
"Your Holiness."
Yu Xiaochuan rose and bowed.
The maid had taught him the etiquette for meeting the Pope, though he had actually learned those courtesies back in the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
"There's no need for such formalities. Rise."
"Don't be nervous. Sit down and have a chat with me."
Bibi Dong's gentle voice made one feel bathed in a spring breeze, as approachable as an older sister next door.
"What would Your Holiness like to talk about?"
Yu Xiaochuan's heart immediately settled, and his previous unease about meeting this madwoman, Bibi Dong, vanished completely.
Qian Xunji, he deserved to die!
Bibi Dong did well to kill him!
"We can just chat about anything..."
Bibi Dong chatted casually with Yu Xiaochuan about everyday matters.
They discussed some theoretical knowledge of Martial Souls, and she tested Yu Xiaochuan's learning.
She also looked at Yu Xiaochuan's external beast Martial Soul, Caterpie.
She was very satisfied with Yu Xiaochuan.
Finally, Bibi Dong voiced the thought she had kept in her heart all along: "Xiaochuan, I have no son. Would you be willing to become my child?"