Once the specific arrangements were settled, Bibi Dong called Hu Liena over and had her take Jiang Huai out to familiarize himself with Spirit City first.
As his teacher, she needed to plan out the choices for the White Tiger Martial Soul's first few Soul Rings.
Had the Pope's Tenderness trait not taken effect,
Dongzi would certainly have put the theories proposed by that crew-cut fellow years ago into practice.
The mental control path Hu Liena currently followed was one of the products of Gangzi's theories back then.
Now, however, with wisdom holding the upper hand, Bibi Dong saw the limitations of Gangzi's Martial Soul Theory at a glance.
What kind of filth was that? Get to the back of the line!
And the first four Soul Skills that the Star Luo Imperial Family almost invariably chose for the White Tiger Martial Soul-the White Tiger Protective Barrier, White Tiger Fierce Light Wave, White Tiger Vajra Transformation, and White Tiger Meteor Shower-
In the eyes of an expert like her, who stood at the pinnacle of the Soul Master World, they were pure crap.
As a Soul Master's level rose higher and higher, those early offensive skills became practically useless.
Not only did they burn mana, but their damage was low too.
It would be better to choose suitable enhancement Soul Skills from the very beginning, or utility Soul Skills with special uses.
That way, even after his cultivation rose in the future, those early Soul Rings would still be useful.
Later, I'll also have to seek out that old brute Golden Crocodile and get that body-tempering method from him.
With that thought, Bibi Dong hurried off to Spirit Hall's library.
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
As the Pope's second disciple, Jiang Huai had been assigned lodgings in another small courtyard beside Hu Liena's residence.
The courtyard was small, with a winding path leading into seclusion.
All manner of flowers and plants whose names he did not know grew on either side of the bluestone path.
Right in its center stood a two-story building, with upswept eaves and carved window lattices, elegance showing in every detail.
When he pushed open the door and entered, all the furnishings were there as well. The tables, chairs, and bed were all made from fine wood, and even the bedding had already been laid out for him.
Looking at everything before him, Jiang Huai felt momentarily as though it were unreal.
After living two lives, he had finally made it. He was finally living somewhere nice!
Wasn't this proof of just how much bringing his talents to Spirit Hall was worth?
"Junior brother, my place is right next door. If you need anything, don't stand on ceremony with your senior sister."
"Rest here tonight. Tomorrow, Teacher should teach you Spirit Hall's very best meditation method."
"Then you can officially embark on the path of Soul Master cultivation."
As Hu Liena spoke, she planted both hands on her hips, her face brimming with the pride of a senior sister.
Seeing her look as though she could arrange everything for him, Jiang Huai did not know whether to laugh or cry.
In all honesty, Jiang Huai had not expected option five to have such a great effect on Bibi Dong.
The God of Love's Place of Fall was truly terrifying!
Since that was the case, the concerns he had harbored on the way here no longer existed.
He could raise the age of his first Soul Ring a little.
At that thought, Jiang Huai slowly spoke.
"Senior sister, come out with me. I want to buy a few things to help with my cultivation in advance."
Hearing that, Hu Liena could not help leaning closer curiously, her almond-shaped eyes blinking.
"Xiao Huai, haven't you been dirt-poor since you were little? Could you actually know some cultivation secret that nobody else knows?"
A meaningful smile slowly appeared at the corners of Jiang Huai's mouth.
"Senior sister, Teacher should already have told you about my background."
"Although that wretched father of mine really did court death, I also learned some of the Star Luo Imperial Family's body-tempering secrets from my mother."
"According to what Mother said back then, once someone completes the body tempering, if they possess a top-grade Beast Martial Soul, the age of their first Soul Ring might reach six hundred years."
"Senior sister, I think you could improve yours too."
Hu Liena was stunned, unable to believe what she had heard.
Although she had already absorbed two Soul Rings, if she could increase the age of her third Soul Ring, she would still have a promising future ahead.
And she had never, ever expected this junior brother, who had only just become their teacher's disciple, to be willing to share such an opportunity with her!
This was just too great!
As though afraid Jiang Huai would change his mind, Hu Liena immediately grabbed him and hurriedly dragged him outside.
"Don't worry, Xiao Huai. Whatever catches your eye today, your senior sister will pay for it all!"
As a holy land for Soul Masters, Spirit City also had everything one could buy in the two great empires.
Large auction houses, supermarkets selling daily necessities, and fine pharmacies could practically all be found here.
Soon, Hu Liena brought Jiang Huai to the largest medicinal herb shop in Spirit City.
Before they had even stepped through the entrance, wafts of the delicate fragrance of top-grade medicinal herbs drifted out.
Seeing two lavishly dressed youngsters, one older and one younger, enter, the shopkeeper immediately greeted them with a smile.
"My young friends, are you looking to buy medicinal herbs? Or are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
At that, Hu Liena instinctively looked toward Jiang Huai.
She had brought him to the place, but she was still completely in the dark about what her junior brother actually needed.
"Junior brother, are you sure we haven't come to the wrong place?"
Jiang Huai merely smiled without answering.
He stepped forward and addressed the shopkeeper in a mysterious tone.
"Shopkeeper, might your shop have any top-grade whale rubber?"
Hmm? Top-grade whale rubber?
Were the second-generation rich kids in Spirit City really getting this outrageous these days?
The pharmacy's shopkeeper discreetly sized up Jiang Huai and Hu Liena.
Whoa-
A little pony was actually taking on such a difficult task!
And at such a tender age, he already needed a potent drug like whale rubber.
Truly terrifying!
"My young friend, you're still so young. You should take better care of your health."
"Whale rubber may be good, but don't overindulge."
Jiang Huai: ?
No, what kind of person did he take someone as pure as the driven snow as him for?
What BIG nerve!
"Sir, I believe you've probably misunderstood something. Careful, or I'll sue you for slander."
The pharmacy shopkeeper: Yes, yes, yes. We've all been there. This old man understands.
Although he said that, the smile on his face only grew wider.
"My young friend, I understand. There's no need to explain."
"But at your tender age... sigh."
Seriously?
You wicked pharmacy shopkeeper, what on earth are you sighing about?
Jiang Huai declared that, as the Pope's second disciple, he was going to make this fellow pay.
The older man and the younger boy looked into each other's eyes, as though everything went without saying.