After they returned to Spirit City, Bibi Dong gave Jiang Huai a little extended holiday so he could properly relax.
As she put it, ever since the boy had arrived in Spirit City, he had never properly experienced its local customs and culture.
Now that he had returned from Soul Hunting, and his Soul Power had leaped straight to the upper ranks of Soul Master,
what Jiang Huai needed to do in the short term was stop meditating and properly consolidate this sudden surge in power. Blindly raising his Soul Power Level would only backfire.
Besides, there were some things she needed to set out and do.
Among the girls of suitable age in the Nether Zhu Family, only one named Zhu Zhuqing possessed level-seven Innate Soul Power.
But would a six-year-old girl understand how to cultivate a Martial Soul Fusion Skill?
She kept feeling that the girl still needed to endure hardships in the Star Luo Empire for a while.
In that case...
Bibi Dong turned her attention toward Zhu Zhuyun.
She likewise had level-seven or eight Innate Soul Power, was now twelve or thirteen, around Hu Liena's age, and had reached roughly level twenty-seven in cultivation.
Moreover, there were currently no signs of her achieving Martial Soul Fusion with Dai Weisi, so Bibi Dong could abduct her to help her beloved disciple Jiang Huai cultivate.
Once that girl named Zhu Zhuqing reached a similar age in the future, she could abduct her too, so they could assist Jiang Huai's cultivation together.
Bibi Dong felt she was simply a genyus!
Add to that Jiang Huai's Ultra Slash and the oppressive might of his high-grade Martial Soul.
She refused to believe that the two Zhu Family girls she abducted would dare harbor any other thoughts then.
Jiang Huai: Keep two cats? Interesting!
"Gui Mei, Yue Guan will bring Dugu Bo's granddaughter back later. Remember to coordinate with him."
"I have business in Star Luo City. The Papal Hall's administrative work will be left to you for the next few days."
With that, Bibi Dong vanished in a flash.
Staring at the heaps of administrative work, Gui Mei felt his temples throb.
So a worker's life doesn't count as a life, huh?
Immediately, Gui Mei waved a hand, summoned a group of red-robed bishops, and distributed all the administrative work on his hands among them.
Then, with an utterly matter-of-fact expression, he said,
"This is a test His Holiness the Pope has bestowed upon you. You must apply yourselves!"
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
While strolling through Spirit City with Hu Liena, Jiang Huai finally encountered that shamate man with the bizarre red hairstyle.
Jealousy could rob people of their reason, even on the Douluo Continent.
Seeing his goddess being so attentive to a brat of merely six, Yan would probably have gone red-eyed on the spot if Xie Yue had not been holding him back.
Immediately, to show Hu Liena his manly side, Yan challenged Jiang Huai to a wagered duel between men!
"Yan, you're so rude! And you actually have the gall to bully little brother Jiang Huai. I'm never speaking to you again!"
"Also, stop calling me Nana!"
Yan froze where he stood, feeling that silence was tonight's Cambridge.
All he could hear was the sound of something inside his heart shattering like glass.
Even Jiang Huai, who had lived two lives, failed to keep a straight face for a moment.
Too classic!
Two-Faced Turtle, Boiling Goat, and now Yan here.
He shouldn't be on the Douluo Continent. He should go back to Gotham.
"It's fine, senior sister. I wanted to see just how strong I've become after obtaining my first Soul Ring anyway."
"According to Teacher, Senior Yan is only a Two-Ring Soul Grandmaster. He poses no threat to me."
Hearing this, Hu Liena nodded thoughtfully.
"All right, Xiao Huai. Since you say so, teach this annoying fellow a good lesson for your senior sister."
Soon, the four of them arrived at the training ground where the Golden Generation usually cultivated.
Jiang Huai and Yan stood on opposite sides, though the latter's eyes were already visibly bloodshot.
"Boy, so what if you're His Holiness the Pope's disciple?"
"Today, I'll show you why a mighty Soul Grandmaster must not be insulted!"
"Flame Lord, possess me!"
The instant those words fell, two bright yellow Soul Rings appeared beneath Yan's feet, making him look even more arrogant.
Yan's first Soul Skill was Hell Magma Surge, which resembled Brand's W, shooting a pillar of magma out of the ground.
His second Soul Skill, Granite Rock, was a defensive Soul Skill.
Thus, as Yan saw it, the advantage was his no matter what.
Jiang Huai thoughtfully sized up Yan, who had already completed Martial Soul Possession. In that case, he had no need to hold back.
As his White Tiger Martial Soul possessed him, his purple, thousand-year first Soul Ring slowly rose beneath his feet, shocking Xie Yue and Yan on the spot.
"A thousand-year first Soul Ring? How is that possible?"
But before the two could react,
dazzling golden light slowly gathered in Jiang Huai's hand amid a piercing whine, finally taking the shape of an Ultra Slash.
"Senior Yan, remember to activate your defensive Soul Skill. Otherwise, getting hit by this move will really hurt."
Fucking hell, shit!
What the hell kind of Soul Skill was this?
After all, they were being groomed by Bibi Dong as the Golden Generation.
Although their theoretical knowledge was not as solid as Hu Liena's, the two still ranked among the best of their peers.
Since when could a White Tiger Martial Soul possess such might?
Seeing that dazzling light draw ever closer, Yan hastily blasted his first Soul Skill at Jiang Huai, yet still failed to harm him in the slightest.
Holy Radiance Protection. You deserve to have it!
"A certain lord told me that Soul Beasts feel no pain. I wonder if you feel no pain either, Senior Yan?"
Holding the light disc, Jiang Huai found the smile at the corners of his mouth increasingly impossible to suppress.
Amid a string of strange "keh keh keh" cackles, before he could actually slash Yan's body, the latter's legs were already shaking like chaff in a sieve.
"Ah!!!"
"No!!!"
Gui Mei, who had been watching in secret, abruptly flashed out and stopped this rather absurd match.
Heavens! Just what sort of Soul Beast did His Holiness the Pope choose for this little fellow?
That sound was far too evil!
Only then did Yan finally heave a tremendous sigh of relief, collapsing to the ground as though he had fully come back to life.
"Ahem, Jiang Huai, this move is far too dangerous. Remember not to use it against your companions in the future."
"And next time you want to spar, remember to go to the Soul Fighting Arena, or have another senior present before you begin fighting."
Gui Mei spoke with lingering fear.
Naturally, Jiang Huai had no objections.
Yan's defensive strength ranked among the best at his level. It seemed his Ultra Slash truly had a promising future.