"So that's how it is. I didn't think it through enough," Ling Yuan said, bowing slightly.
"No need to worry," Qian Daoliu replied calmly.
Lin Feng, however, was lost in thought.Why delay publishing the theory until after I reach Soul Elder rank?
Unless… he's doing it just to slap Yu Xiaogang in the face. That'd make more sense.
Qian Renxue tilted her head in confusion."Grandpa, who's this 'Grandmaster' you mentioned? I've never heard of him."
Qian Daoliu waved his hand dismissively."Just a clown. No need to concern yourself, Xiao Xue."
"Since that's settled, you're both dismissed. Xiao Xue, stay—I have something for you."
Qian Renxue shot Lin Feng an apologetic glance before following her grandfather deeper into the great hall.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng and Ling Yuan returned to their residence.
Inside the inner sanctum of the Douluo Hall, Qian Renxue noticed that Qian Daoliu's expression had grown unusually solemn.
"Xiao Xue, do you know the true foundation that lets Spirit Hall stand strong across the continent?"
"Our strength as the largest soul master force?"
Qian Daoliu shook his head."No—that's the result, not the cause. The real reason is our Martial Souls.
"Our Spirit Hall was founded by the ancestor Angel God. She cut down all darkness and disease in the land and ascended to godhood. Because of her, our Hall became the sacred dream of all soul masters. The Douluo Hall—the highest sanctuary of the soul master world—stands here as her legacy.
"And our Qian family, inheritors of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, carry the sacred duty of protecting the continent.
"The six inherited soul bones bestowed by our ancestor are part of why our clan's strength stands above all others."
As he finished speaking, Qian Daoliu raised a hand and released a burst of golden soul power toward the Angel God statue.
The statue, bearing a striking resemblance to Qian Renxue, glowed with radiant golden light. A brilliant point of light appeared at its brow and slowly floated down before her.
The soul bone didn't pulse with overwhelming power, but its divine energy made Qian Renxue's entire body feel like it was rejoicing.
Deep inside, she instinctively felt—this soul bone belongs to me.
This was one of the components of the Angel God's divine equipment.
"Xiao Xue, it's yours. Absorb it here. It will be of great use in your upcoming mission."
Qian Renxue nodded, her gaze never leaving the soul bone. For some reason, it felt oddly familiar.
"Okay, Grandpa."
The fusion process went incredibly smoothly.
The soul bone was called Cloud Mirage, a 99,999-year piece that granted the skill Angel Light Wave.
Combined with the mask Qian Daoliu had already given her, Qian Renxue could now disguise her appearance, aura—even her Martial Soul itself.
Despite its ancient age, the soul bone only raised her level by one—but at just nine years old, Qian Renxue's soul power had already reached Level 36.
If she stayed in Spirit Hall to cultivate, she could become a Soul Saint in her early twenties, pass the God Trials shortly after, and perhaps become a god within three to five years.
Later that day...
"Xiao Feng, I'll be stepping out for a bit. I won't be back until tonight," Ling Yuan said calmly—and then vanished without a trace.
Lin Feng gave a small nod. That worked out well; he had planned to visit the Scripture Pavilion anyway.
It was almost noon. The pavilion was already a quiet place, but today it seemed even emptier than usual.
(Hmm? When did the guards at the Scripture Pavilion change?)
He took out the rarely-used token and greeted the new guards before walking in.
Something felt... off.
The guards didn't react with the usual surprise or recognition. Had the previous ones informed them already? Or was there another reason?
When he opened the familiar door to his private study, a sweet fragrance greeted him.
A window had been cracked open, letting in a light breeze that made the room feel unusually fresh and pleasant.
And at the desk—where no one should have been—sat a stunning woman, completely absorbed in reading a book.
She had a tall, elegant figure and wore a light purple gauze dress. Her long hair was pinned up into a graceful cloud-like bun. Her skin was snow-pale, her features exquisite, her posture graceful—her clothes did nothing to conceal her beauty.
There was a noble, commanding air about her that radiated without effort.
Lin Feng stopped in his tracks. His eyes lit up in awe. For a long moment, the entire scene seemed to heal his soul.
Then he came to his senses.
This woman... was Bibi Dong.
She should've been around twenty-eight or twenty-nine by now, but looking at her now, she didn't appear a day over seventeen or eighteen.
Time had favored her—leaving no marks at all.
"Had your fill of staring?"
Bibi Dong's lips curved into a gentle smile. For reasons she couldn't explain, seeing this boy—someone her daughter might care about—looking at her like that made her feel oddly proud.
Lin Feng didn't answer. He silently walked to the seat opposite her.
"May I ask who you are, and why you're here?"
Bibi Dong narrowed her eyes slightly."You truly don't know?"
Lin Feng shook his head. No way was he handing her the lead in this conversation.
"I really don't."
She put down her book and looked at him with interest.
"I'm the new Pope. You're in Spirit Hall, and you don't recognize me?"
"Greetings, Your Holiness," Lin Feng said calmly. "I've been focused on Martial Soul theory and rarely concern myself with outside affairs. Please forgive the offense."
"Oh?"
His clear, sincere gaze didn't seem like he was lying. Bibi Dong's curiosity deepened.
This boy… had started from a similar place, yet had already overcome his flaws and created brand new theories.
And he was only nine years old. He had solved his Martial Soul's issues and developed cultivation methods all within just three years.
Even though Bibi Dong didn't want to admit it—Lin Feng's comprehension and talent far surpassed that person.
She remembered first seeing him on the Martial Soul Awakening Platform three years ago—calm and composed beyond his age—but hadn't thought much of it at the time.
Now, revisiting him, she realized his work could shake the entire soul master world.
Looking into the eyes of this handsome young scholar across the table, the breeze drifting in, Bibi Dong suddenly felt transported back to her own youth. A flicker of nostalgia appeared in her eyes.
But it faded quickly. Her expression turned cold again.
"You remind me of someone."
"Who?"
Bibi Dong exhaled, oddly expecting something from his response.
"Yu Xiaogang. They call him the Grandmaster."
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed slightly."I've read his name in a few books."
Her eyes lit up."And? What do you think of his theories?"
Something felt off about her question, but Lin Feng still answered firmly:
"Forgive me, Your Holiness, but in my view, Yu Xiaogang's theories are just a compilation of past knowledge. Many lack practical proof.
"If you truly believe he deserves the title of Grandmaster, then I must say—with respect—that's a mistake."
Before his words had even finished echoing, Bibi Dong's smile vanished.
She rose abruptly, eyes flashing with anger.
"You don't understand him! He's the genius who proposed the Ten Core Competencies of Martial Souls!"
Lin Feng's expression didn't waver. The angrier she got, the more it confirmed his suspicions.
He picked up the teacup in front of him.
CRACK!
A burst of soul power shattered it in his hand.
Shaking the tea off his fingers, Lin Feng said softly:
"I am a scholar. My duty is to the truth.
"Your Holiness, if truth brings pain, then lies only make it worse."