Absent

The final selection of the Spirit Hall Academy's seeded teams was held exactly six months after the preliminary rounds ended.

The selection took place at the training ground north of Spirit City, the same venue used for the preliminary rounds six months prior. The number of participants was far greater than in the preliminary rounds, including not only those who had passed the preliminary selections but also core disciples directly recommended by various branch halls. The entire selection process lasted three days, ultimately selecting nine individuals, two of whom were substitutes, to represent Spirit Hall in the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament six months later.

Ning Buhui's name is not on any list.

He left Spirit City the day after the preliminary rounds, saying he was going to train in the Star Dou Great Forest and would return in two or three months. But three months passed, and he didn't return, only sending one letter. The fourth month, the fifth month, still nothing. The elder in charge of selection at the Spirit Hall Academy consulted Bibi Dong, and finally, unable to wait any longer, had to proceed with the selection as usual. The one who was finally selected was a support Soul Master whose Martial Soul was the Jade Ruyi. His Soul Skill were more defensive and had a small amount of amplification. His strength wasn't bad, but compared to the support abilities that Ning Buhui had shown in the preliminary rounds, he was far inferior.

"Where did Ning Buhui go?" some people whispered after the selection. "The Pope's personal disciple, a nine-year-old Soul Ancestor, just disappeared like that?"

"I heard they went to the Star Dou Great Forest for training, and then I heard nothing more about them."

"Could something have happened?"

"Who knows? His Holiness the Pope didn't say anything, so he's probably still alive."

These words reached Yan's ears just as he came down from the training ground, still drenched in sweat. He grabbed the gossiping young Soul Master by the collar and lifted him up. "Say that again?"

The Soul Master turned pale with fright and waved his hands frantically. Yan threw him to the ground, cursed, and turned to leave. Xie Yue leaned against the wall, remaining motionless the entire time, only saying calmly after Yan had gone some distance, "Don't say things like that in front of so many people next time."

The man slunk away.

Yan went to find Hu Liena, and as soon as he entered, he asked, "Is there any news from His Holiness the Pope?"

Hu Liena was sitting at the table flipping through a mission file when she heard this. She looked up and shook her head. "No. I asked again a couple of days ago, and the teacher said the last letter he sent was three months ago. Since then, the intelligence network in all its branches in the Star Dou Great Forest hasn't received any more messages from him."

"Where did that kid go?" Yan plopped down in a chair, stretched out his long legs, and rubbed his face in frustration. "He said he'd be back in two or three months, but it's been more than half a year. Could something really have happened to him?"

"Don't jinx it, don't talk nonsense," Hu Liena said irritably. "He's more afraid of death than anyone else. If he really encounters someone he can't beat, he'll run faster than anyone else. And don't forget, his External Soul Bone can teleport. He's probably in some kind of trouble and can't get away."

What could possibly make him not even send a message?

Hu Lina didn't respond. She Ning Buhui understand it either. Although Ning Buhui was young, he was very sensible. Last time he went out to train for more than half a year, he sent at least two letters in between. This time there was only one letter, which was indeed unusual.

Xie Yue stood by the window, remaining silent. Only after Yan and Hu Liena had both fallen silent did he speak, "Her His Holiness the Pope isn't in a hurry, which means she knows what she's doing."

"How do you know His Holiness the Pope isn't in a hurry?" Yan asked.

"If His Holiness the Pope were truly in a hurry, he would have already sent people to search the Star Dou Great Forest." Xie Yue turned around. "The fact that she didn't send anyone means she judged Ning Buhui to be alright."

Hu Liena nodded. Xie Yue was right. Bibi Dong understood Ning Buhui Bibi Dong than anyone else. If she believed something had happened to the child, the entire Spirit Hall's intelligence network would be mobilized. The fact that nothing had been done could only mean that she was confident.

Another half month passed, and the Spirit Hall Academy's seed team was officially formed and began intensive training. That Martial Soul was a support with the Jade Ruyi, and after a month of integration with the team, he could barely keep up with the pace. The team's overall strength was not weak, but the support position was mediocre and unremarkable. The terrifying amplification effect that Ning Buhui showed in the preliminaries was something that the Jade Ruyi Soul Master simply could not achieve.

During the third week of training, the team played a Simulation match against a squad of deacons from the Spirit Hall. It was a seven-on-seven game, and halfway through, Zhao Yan, in the front row, charged too far and became separated from the back row. He was then controlled and unable to move. His teammates tried to help, but were powerless due to the separation. Finally, Zhao Yan was caught in a pincer attack by two Power Attack System, his shield shattered instantly, and he was killed. After the coach called a timeout, Zhao Yan sat on the sidelines, catching his breath, and suddenly said, "If Ning Buhui were here, that would be great. With his invincible body, I wouldn't be afraid of being controlled at all."

No one responded, but everyone knew he was telling the truth.

That night, Hu Liena went to see Bibi Dong again. In the side hall, Bibi Dong sat behind her desk, with a piece of intelligence from the northern part of the Star Dou Great Forest spread out in front of her. When Hu Liena entered, she was staring at the intelligence.

"Teacher, is there any news?"

Bibi Dong looked up and handed her the intelligence report. Hu Liena took it and read it. The report said that the Soul Hunting Team had sensed extremely strong Soul Power fluctuations near a valley deep in the northern part of the Star Dou region, but when they arrived there, they found nothing.

"The person should still be alive," Bibi Dong said.

Hu Liena put down the intelligence report, feeling a slight Shitou lifted from her heart. But she still asked, "What exactly is he doing?"

Bibi Dong did not answer. She leaned back in her chair, her gaze falling on the corner of the intelligence report on the table. There was a line of very small print, a note from the Soul Hunting Team: An ancient forbidden ruin has been discovered deep in the valley. It is protected by a powerful barrier, and the entrance is sealed, making it impossible to force entry.

Bibi Dong looked at the words and made a judgment in her mind. That child had probably gone into some ancient secret realm. Time inside the secret realm was not necessarily synchronized with the outside world, so if he couldn't come out, he couldn't send a message. But since it was a trial ground left behind by an ancient sect, there were probably many opportunities inside. With Ning Buhui's personality, he wouldn't give up until he got his hands on the opportunity.

"Just wait," Bibi Dong said, "He will come back."

Hu Liena nodded and didn't ask any more questions. She turned and left the side hall, stepping into the night. The summer evening breeze carried Sisi coolness, scattering Hu Liena's long hair. She walked towards the martial arts training ground, and could see the lights still on in the distance. Yan and Xie Yue were probably still practicing. She quickened her pace.

The competition is still a few months away. Whether Ning Buhui returns or not, life goes on. But she has a vague premonition that when her junior brother reappears, it will be a huge surprise.