Illiterate

[Vast Sea City · Spirit Hall Main Hall · deacon's room]

Ever since Yan Bohan had brought Mu Tian'en back from Anlan Village, he had worn a faint smile.

By the time he had handed over his awakening assignment, registered his contribution points with the Main Hall's bishop, and returned to his house, his smile had grown even wider.

After all, Mu Tian'en had put his usually somewhat untidy house in perfect order.

When Yan Bohan returned, Mu Tian'en, who had been standing on tiptoe and laboriously wiping dust off the tabletop with a rag, put the rag down and trotted over to him.

"Grandpa Yan, I saw there were some things in your house that needed tidying, so I cleaned up a little."

"And I didn't go into your bedroom. I only cleaned the living room and kitchen."

"Mm~" Yan Bohan nodded at Mu Tian'en, his face blooming with delight as he looked at the room, clean inside and out.

He had been away from the Main Hall these past few days.

Without his permission, the hired attendants naturally would not enter the house to clean it.

Yan Bohan had originally intended to order the attendants under him to clean the house and prepare some lodging supplies while they were at it.

But now, all those attendants might need to do was fetch the necessary daily supplies from the storeroom.

The little fellow~

After smiling with feeling, Deacon Yan Bohan raised a hand, his brows curving slightly, and placed his palm on Mu Tian'en's head. The smile on his face softened.

There were plenty of children these days who knew when to advance and retreat and understood their bounds, but just how much hardship had one suffered to be this sensible?

"Tian'en, I've already reported to the bishop. You'll stay here with me for the next few days."

As he spoke, Yan Bohan led Mu Tian'en to a room and opened the door.

Although it was a little old, it was still fairly complete overall.

A bed, a table, and a bathroom-everything Mu Tian'en could think of was here.

"No one has lived here for a long time, but fortunately, the servants cleaned it often when I was here."

As he spoke, Yan Bohan took a pass from inside his clothes and hung it around Mu Tian'en's neck.

"This is a member's pass for our Vast Sea City Main Hall. You can use it to eat in the dining hall, with no limit on how much you eat."

"Also, when you have time, you can visit the training grounds and see how the others train."

"And remember to read the books I gave you on the road. Until you've fully obtained your first Soul Ring, your cultivation will depend on how well you understand the 'Basic Soul Power Cultivation Method.'"

Mu Tian'en had no problem with the first few things Deacon Yan Bohan asked of him.

He had come to Spirit Hall in the first place to eat his fill and then grow stronger.

But as for the part about reading books~

Mu Tian'en could do nothing about that.

Yan Bohan also noticed the troubled look on Mu Tian'en's face, and his expression turned serious. "Tian'en, don't underestimate this book. Many important figures comprehended their Soul Power cultivation methods from this very 'Basic Soul Power Cultivation Method.'"

Mu Tian'en looked at Deacon Yan Bohan's serious face and nodded.

Just as Yan Bohan felt he had used his authority to correct Mu Tian'en's disregard for knowledge, a single sentence from Mu Tian'en made him laugh.

"But, Grandpa Yan, I can't read very well."

Mu Tian'en's voice was a little quiet.

His eyes flickered, and a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.

"Grandpa Beita taught me some characters too, but later we both had to stay busy looking for food, so I didn't keep learning."

As he spoke, Mu Tian'en's voice grew quieter and quieter.

His head drooped as well.

At that moment, Yan Bohan came to his senses and blinked.

Looking at Mu Tian'en with his head hanging low, he broke into a hearty laugh. "So that's how it is."

"I overlooked that. It's Grandpa's fault."

"Don't worry. Our Vast Sea City Spirit Hall Main Hall can solve this problem too."

As the corners of his mouth lifted, Yan Bohan discovered a little pleasure in teasing Mu Tian'en.

At least the present Mu Tian'en looked a little more like a child should, instead of wearing that deeply aggrieved expression.

He was much easier on the eyes.

With that, Deacon Yan Bohan raised his hand.

As Soul Power surged, a breeze sprang up, sweeping the surrounding dust into the trash bin.

That display of exquisite Soul Power control truly showed Mu Tian'en a thing or two.

But after doing so, Deacon Yan Bohan didn't wait for Mu Tian'en to ask questions. He reached out and picked him up.

"I originally wanted to have you clean your own room, but since you say you can't read, Grandpa Yan will help you clean up first."

"Come on, you're going to the general studies class with Grandpa Yan now."

"By my reckoning, it's just time for the class that teaches four-year-olds to read to start."

And while Mu Tian'en was still enjoying the pain of learning to read all over again, information about him had already been sent from the Vast Sea City Main Hall to Spirit Hall headquarters.

"Has Innate Full Soul Power become so cheap these days?"

Bibi Dong glanced at the letter in her hand and thought of her daughter, whose mere sight could remind her of her former despair. The purple light rising in her eyes grew fiercer.

Fortunately, however, Bibi Dong had not yet fallen completely into madness. After venting the frustration and madness in her heart, she returned to her usual elegance.

Only the rising and falling waves proclaimed the surging billows in her heart that had yet to settle.

For that reason, Bibi Dong had little interest in the child who reminded her of those sorrowful years, even if he had Innate Full Soul Power.

Besides, she had already chosen her disciple.

In that case, she would hand this rare possessor of Innate Full Soul Power over to the Worship Hall.

With that thought, she casually flicked her hand. Using a thread of Soul Power spider silk extending from it, she deftly delivered the letter to the messenger who had been waiting at the door for a long time.

At the same time, she parted her lovely lips and gave the messenger an order. "Sorry for the trouble, messenger, but please deliver this letter to the enshrined of the Worship Hall."

"Tell them that the resources of our Pope Hall are limited, and that a talent like this should be entrusted to the enshrined of the Worship Hall to nurture."

As the messenger departed and the doors of Pope Hall closed, the woman who had cast off the robes of a holy maiden and donned papal vestments after the previous Pope's death finally returned to the main seat of Pope Hall. She quietly looked at the two elders who had appeared before her at some unknown time.

"Ghost Douluo, Chrysanthemum Douluo, do you have any objections to my decision?"

"Your Holiness, this is a promising talent destined to become a Titled Douluo as long as he doesn't fall. Are you really going to give him to the Worship Hall?"

The two Douluo, Ghost and Chrysanthemum, who had brought some of the Elder Hall's elders under Bibi Dong's command when she first came to power, also looked somewhat troubled.

Although their Elder Hall and Pope Hall kept the Worship Hall's power in check to a certain extent~

On the Douluo Continent, strength was ultimately supreme.

The seven great enshrined in the Worship Hall were all Super Douluo!

These days, life had not been easy for the elders, or even for Pope Bibi Dong.

Even though the Great Enshrined never spoke out, the others were enough to give them plenty to contend with, especially the rather hot-tempered Mighty Lion Douluo.