Meeting Bibi Dong Again

Qian Jun and Jiang Mo were now elders of the Enforcement Corps and Yue Guan and Gui Mei's superiors. Both had reached level ninety-five in Soul Power.

Ye Feng and Lang Ming, meanwhile, were Qian Xunji's trusted aides. They had recently attained the Titled rank and were around level ninety-one or ninety-two.

But neither of their names appeared in later generations. From the looks of it, the two of them had died on Sea God Island.

Just then, Yue Guan sighed. "Your father was lucky he advanced late. Otherwise, he would have had to go too. Me? I'm born to toil."

That was true enough. Jun Kuang had only recently made his breakthrough and was just about to go get a Soul Ring. He simply had no time to take part in this operation, so he had escaped a disaster.

Jun Yan naturally had nothing to say to Yue Guan's grumbling. He could only smile and scratch his head.

"All right, it's getting late. You should head back! We'll probably set out in another three days or so."

Jun Yan exclaimed, "That soon? The elites from the other regions haven't even arrived in Spirit City yet."

Yue Guan said, "It would be too much trouble for them to come to Spirit City from all corners of the continent. The Pope has already ordered them to make their own way to Vast Sea City, then take a ship to Sea God Island from there."

Spirit Hall's Elite Selection Tournament was open to Soul Masters under thirty-five from across the entire continent. Its purpose was to select elites for Spirit Hall and expand Spirit City.

Although there was nominally no restriction on Soul Power Level, it was a tournament to select elites. If you weren't at the Soul King level, you wouldn't dare take part.

Thus, in previous tournaments, Soul Masters who had not reached the Soul King level simply did not sign up. For that reason, the Elite Selection Tournament was regarded as the highest-level Martial Soul competition on the continent.

This tournament was somewhat different, however. Because of a change in format, victory would not be decided through Soul Fighting, which drew more Soul Masters into the competition.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Before Jun Kuang returned to Spirit City, Jun Yan set out with the Soul Master group from the city.

They were still on the continent, where there would be no danger, so Jun Yan did not go looking for Yue Guan and Gui Mei.

He did, however, run into a few acquaintances, including classmates from Spirit Hall Academy, as well as Yu Xiaogang and Bibi Dong.

Yu Xiaogang had been rather pleased with himself lately. He had published his Ten Great Martial Soul Core Competitiveness Theory in Spirit City, and some people with time on their hands had respectfully called him a Grandmaster of Martial Soul Theory.

In any case, when Jun Yan ran into Yu Xiaogang, the man had his head held high and could not see Jun Yan beside him at all.

It was Bibi Dong who greeted him first. "Jun Yan, it's been a long time."

It really had been a long time. A year had passed since the two last met on a street in Spirit City.

During that year, Jun Yan had kept to himself and trained hard, so Bibi Dong naturally had not seen him.

"Your Highness, Saintess!" Jun Kuang bowed to Bibi Dong, a trace of barely perceptible joy in his eyes.

Yu Xiaogang, who paid Jun Yan no mind, did not notice that subtle emotion, but Bibi Dong saw it clearly.

Bibi Dong felt an indescribable emotion in her heart. Then she smiled and said, "You've been so busy with the Enforcement Corps this past year that I haven't even caught a glimpse of you."

Jun Yan gave a wry laugh. "Why would you want a glimpse of me? You only need to look at Grandmaster Yu's shadow."

His tone carried a note of sourness, and for a moment Bibi Dong was at a loss for words.

Yu Xiaogang, on the other hand, keenly caught the word "Grandmaster." A trace of delight immediately appeared on his face, though he affected modesty as he said, "Brother Jun Yan, you flatter me. I merely published a few superficial Martial Soul theories. I can hardly be called a grandmaster."

That was what he said, but his mouth, which was nearly stretched into a grin from ear to ear, completely betrayed his feelings.

Jun Yan ignored Yu Xiaogang's words. He coughed lightly twice, then said gently, "Your Highness, you've misunderstood. I hardly went to the Enforcement Corps at all this past year. I was cultivating at home."

Bibi Dong covered her delicate mouth with her fair hand and said with some surprise, "Huh? But how did I hear that you completed a lot of enforcement missions?"

"I have some connections with Lords Gui Mei and Yue Guan of the Enforcement Corps, so they opened a back door for me."

Jun Yan's face reddened slightly, as though he felt a little embarrassed. After all, it really was nothing to be proud of.

But he didn't need to tell me about that at all! Bibi Dong thought. Was it because he didn't want to lie to me?

Yu Xiaogang, who was standing beside her, did not notice anything amiss with Bibi Dong. Instead, he said somewhat smugly, "A person should rely on himself. What kind of skill is it to use your parents' connections for your own benefit? Dong'er, don't you agree?"

Bibi Dong agreed almost instinctively. "Yes!"

But she quickly realized that saying so would displease Jun Yan, so she hurriedly changed the subject. "Then you must have made great progress this past year!"

Jun Yan said, "I've made a tiny bit of insignificant progress, but my talent was never as good as yours. I imagine you've left me behind by now!"

Bibi Dong hurried to reassure him. "Don't say that. Your talent isn't bad either."

Yu Xiaogang began holding forth again. "It's rare enough to recognize that your talent is inferior to someone else's. Some people clearly lack talent, yet insist on thinking highly of themselves. Dong'er, you were gifted to begin with, and with my guidance in Martial Soul Theory, you truly surpass others by far. Jun Yan, I recommend that you read my Ten Great Martial Soul Core Competitiveness Theory. I'm sure it will help with your cultivation."

Without so much as looking at Yu Xiaogang, Jun Yan said absently, "I'll take a look when I have time."

Yu Xiaogang refused to let it go. "Just taking a look won't do. You need to study it carefully. If there's anything you don't understand, you can come ask me. By the way, my sixth and seventh theories, when it comes to Martial Soul cultivation..."

Jun Yan asked impatiently, "Why do you talk so much?"

Yu Xiaogang's words came to an abrupt halt. For a moment, all three fell silent.

After several breaths of silence, Jun Yan saw Bibi Dong's brows knit and hurriedly said to Yu Xiaogang, "Sorry, I'm in a bad mood today. I offended you just now."

"Your Highness, Saintess, I'll take my leave. Until next time." He then said a few words to Bibi Dong before turning and walking straight away.

Yu Xiaogang watched Jun Yan walk away, his face livid. After a long while, he finally said, "What... what kind of person is that? I was kindly trying to teach him, and he actually found me annoying. Hmph!"

Bibi Dong comforted him. "Perhaps something happened to him. Besides, didn't he apologize to you?"

Yu Xiaogang was truly furious. He kept muttering, "Can't tell good from bad... guidance from a Grandmaster of Martial Soul Theory... has eyes but cannot see..."

This time, Bibi Dong said nothing, because she was thinking about something.

Jun Yan seems so different from before! Right, he never used to call me 'Your Highness, Saintess.' Why does he now...