Su Yu snapped back to reality and immediately spotted Hu Liena watching him beside him. Without hesitation, he scooped her up and spun around twice on the spot.
"Nana! I'm so happy!"
His voice brimmed with exhilaration, his arms trembling slightly as he held her.
The Elementary Sage Body, the Wood Release Ninjutsu Compendium, and the yet-to-be-absorbed Sharingan!
With these three treasures, he felt he could wake up laughing from his dreams tonight!
Hu Liena's skirt fluttered as he spun her. At first, she was stunned, but soon she giggled, lightly patting his arm with her small hands:
"Brother Su Yu! Put me down now! I'm getting dizzy!"
Her laughter rang like a string of silver bells, clear and bright, dispelling the solemn atmosphere in the grand hall.
Xie Yue stood to the side watching, his brow furrowed as he muttered "Childish," though the corners of his mouth curled up subtly.
Wait! This guy was holding his sister!
"Su Yu, that's my sister! Put my sister down!!!"
Only then did Su Yu come to his senses, smiling as he set Hu Liena down:
"Sorry! I got too excited and forgot!"
Xie Yue pulled Hu Liena behind him, glaring at Su Yu:
"Next time, just talk—no need to get handsy!"
Hu Liena promptly nudged Xie Yue aside and looked at Su Yu:
"Brother Su Yu, what happened just now? You suddenly went silent—I thought something was wrong!"
"I'm fine. I just realized what my Martial Soul is!"
Hearing Su Yu's words, Xie Yue stepped forward as well.
"Hey, Su Yu, you said you figured out your Martial Soul. So, what is it exactly?"
Just as Su Yu was about to speak, a crisp sound of high heels tapping against the floor echoed from outside the hall.
"Tap, tap, tap"—the rhythm was steady, carrying an intangible pressure that grew louder as it approached.
The three exchanged glances and quickly straightened up, standing at attention with their backs rigid.
In barely three breaths, the heavy hall doors slowly creaked open from the outside, revealing three figures at the entrance.
On the left and right stood Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei, who had brought them in earlier.
Yue Guan's golden armor remained striking, while Gui Mei was still shrouded in his black robe, his aura elusive.
Standing between them was a woman.
She appeared to be around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, dressed in an elegant purple gown.
The hem of her dress was embroidered with intricate golden patterns that swayed gently with her movements.
Her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, with only a few strands loosely pinned by a ruby-studded hairpin.
Her features were exquisitely beautiful—eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes as cold as stars, a high nose bridge, and lips of a natural pale pink.
Yet, a faint trace of aloofness and authority lingered between her brows, making it hard to meet her gaze directly.
Though she looked young, her mere presence seemed to freeze the air around her.
Even Yue Guan and Gui Mei instinctively stayed half a step behind her, clearly indicating her esteemed status.
This must be the current Pope of Spirit Hall—Bi Bidong!
The woman strode directly to the gilded chair at the center of the hall and sat down, her sleeves brushing over the smooth steps.
Yue Guan and Gui Mei bowed their heads, standing respectfully on the steps below her chair.
"Your Holiness, these three are the most talented children from today's awakening," Yue Guan reported with a steady voice, bending slightly at the waist.
Bi Bidong gave a slight nod, her gaze sweeping indifferently over the three in the hall as her red lips parted:
"I understand." Her gaze fell upon Xie Yue.
"Take that child with Innate Soul Power of level eight away. Yue Guan, Gui Mei, escort him to the Martial Soul Academy."
"Yes, Your Eminence!" The two acknowledged the order and signaled for Xie Yue to follow.
Though reluctant, Xie Yue knew this wasn't the time for objections. Before leaving, he glanced back at Su Yu and Hu Liena before following the two out of the palace.
The heavy palace doors slowly closed, leaving only Su Yu, Hu Liena, and Bi Bidong in the hall.
A subtle silence filled the air, broken only by the faint crackling of candle flames.
Bi Bidong slightly raised her eyes, her gaze settling on Hu Liena as she spoke in a tone devoid of emotion, seemingly casual:
"What is your name?"
Hu Liena felt her heart tighten under that gaze. She quickly stepped forward, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes, her voice trembling noticeably:
"Y-Your Eminence! My name is Hu Liena!"
Her cheeks flushed bright red, and her breathing became noticeably heavier for a moment.
"Hu Liena." Bi Bidong repeated the name, her fingertips lightly tapping the armrest.
"It's a good name." She paused, then slowly revealed Hu Liena's Martial Soul and Soul Power.
"Martial Soul: Demon Fox, Innate Soul Power: level nine."
Hu Liena looked up in surprise—how did Her Eminence even know these details?
Noticing the astonishment in her eyes, Bi Bidong's lips curved into a faint, almost imperceptible smile, her tone carrying a hint of subtle warmth:
"Among the younger generation of Spirit Hall, you are already outstanding."
She then shifted her tone, her gaze deepening, "Would you be willing to become my disciple?"
These words struck Hu Liena like a thunderclap.
She stared blankly at Bi Bidong seated high above, momentarily forgetting how to react.
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, almost leaping out.
She looked at Bi Bidong's nearly perfect face, then instinctively glanced at Su Yu beside her.
Her small hands clenched tightly, her lips moved, but she momentarily forgot how to respond.
Her Eminence... wanted to take her as a disciple? This felt like a dream!
"What? Are you unwilling?"
Hu Liena finally snapped back to reality, quickly bowing deeply, her voice filled with uncontrollable excitement and reverence:
"I-I am willing! Disciple Hu Liena pays respects to her teacher!"
Seeing her like this, Bi Bidong's lips curved into an almost imperceptible faint smile that vanished in an instant:
"Good, from now on you shall cultivate by my side. Do not waste this talent."
"Yes! This disciple will definitely work hard!"
Hu Liena's voice choked with emotion, clearly overwhelmed with excitement.
Bi Bidong shifted her gaze to Su Yu standing nearby, her amber eyes gleaming with scrutiny:
"As for you... Innate Full Soul Power, yet your Martial Soul is an unremarkable sapling. How interesting."
Su Yu looked up to meet her gaze: "Your Eminence, my Martial Soul is not a sapling!"
Bi Bidong lightly tapped the armrest with her fingertips, her glass-like nails shimmering with a cold luster in the candlelight.
She didn't respond immediately, instead slowly narrowing her eyes, her gaze enveloping Su Yu from head to toe like a fine net.
"Oh? Interesting. Then tell me, what exactly is your Martial Soul?"
"Your Eminence, my Martial Soul is an Elemental Martial Soul!"
"Elemental Martial Soul?" Bi Bidong's eyebrows rose slightly, her tone carrying a note of inquiry.
"Are you certain your Martial Soul is an Elemental Martial Soul?"
"Absolutely true, Your Holiness," Su Yu stated with conviction. "My Martial Soul is a Wood Elemental Martial Soul, and I also call it 'Wood Release'!"