"Don't hide, come out."
"The Pope is so generous, revealing the secret of the Twin Martial Souls so casually."
Upon hearing Bibi Dong's words, Qian Renxue gracefully emerged from the shadows outside the door.
"Your courage seems to be growing."
Bibi Dong's expression was slightly solemn as she spoke lightly.
Although her demeanor was calm, she did not show any anger.
She had become accustomed to his behavior and couldn't be bothered to argue with her anymore.
No one would bother with a lunatic.
Especially when the lunatic was her own daughter.
"Don't misunderstand, I didn't eavesdrop on purpose. I just happened to pass by and heard about a soul master with low cultivation levels flaunting Elder's badge, claiming to have received a personal audience with the Pope, so I came to take a look out of curiosity."
Qian Renxue chuckled lightly.
She didn't harbor much animosity towards Bibi Dong now either.
Hatred often stems from caring.
The more you care, the easier it is to brew various emotions.
Now that the main personality was asleep, she didn't really feel much towards Bibi Dong.
Of course, in her eyes, Bibi Dong was also quite ill.
"I didn't expect the one holding the Elder's badge to be this 'master'. Who do you think this Pope's badge belongs to?" Qian Renxue teased.
"That's none of my concern."
Qian Renxue only casually mentioned it, seeing that Bibi Dong wasn't interested, she changed the subject.
"It seems like you've also received information about that soul master from the Tian Dou Royal Academy's team?"
She didn't know that Bibi Dong also had some memories from another world.
When she went to Tian Dou City last time, she exchanged some information with Su Cheng. Judging from Bibi Dong's behavior over the years, there was nothing unusual.
Neither of them had done anything like promoting the secret method of adding extra soul rings to the main branch of the Martial Soul Temple or investigating Su Cheng's information.
Combining the performance of Dugu Bo, Chen Xin, and others, they concluded that Bibi Dong should be in a similar situation.
There might be some subconscious impressions, but nothing specific.
Having a few vague impressions was normal; even ordinary people would have residual memories in their dreams, and occasionally encountering certain scenes would evoke a sense of déjà vu, which was not a big deal.
"It seems that you have some opinions about Su Cheng because of me. Did you tell Yu Xiaogang how to cultivate the Twin Martial Souls to help Tang San challenge Su Cheng?"
Bibi Dong glanced at her lightly, neither admitting nor denying it.
In fact, this statement was only half correct.
Bibi Dong did reveal the method of cultivating the Twin Martial Souls with the intention of letting Yu Xiaogang's disciple challenge Su Cheng, but not to target Qian Renxue.
She just didn't agree.
Over the years, Su Cheng's words in her dreams had always lingered in her heart.
Even today, Bibi Dong still held some fantasies, hoping to see Yu Xiaogang's disciple prove himself.
She knew that Su Cheng didn't value Yu Xiaogang's disciple.
She didn't know what mentality she had, wanting to give Yu Xiaogang's disciple another chance.
Perhaps, it was also giving herself a chance.
"Pope, dare to make a bet with me?"
Bibi Dong's eyebrows raised at the proposition but didn't respond immediately.
"After Yu Xiaogang returns, he will definitely cultivate his disciple during this time. With his disciple's cultivation, he should be able to reach level forty before the finals.
"If his second martial soul is equipped with four soul rings, even if his cultivation doesn't reach the level of a Soul King, it won't be far off.
"Let's see how he and Su Cheng perform in the finals. If Su Cheng loses, whether your disciple wants to become a Saintess or inherit the Pope's hall in the future, I won't stop her. Instead, I'll do my best to help her.
"But if Su Cheng wins, you'll hand over the power of the Elder Hall."
Upon hearing this bet, Bibi Dong didn't immediately respond, but instead asked with a hint of meaning, "Do you really trust him like that?"
Qian Renxue felt that the other party's expression at this moment was somewhat strange, but she didn't care, just pretending not to understand the relationship between Su Cheng and herself.
Making this bet was also to lower her vigilance, making it more convenient to deal with that hundred-thousand-year soul beast later.
She asked in return, "Why, don't you trust the 'master's' judgment and ability?"
There was a hint of mockery in her tone.
Bibi Dong scrutinized Qian Renxue for a moment before saying, "I can bet with you, but not in the finals. Even if Yu Xiaogang's disciple really achieves something, it won't be effective so quickly."
Qian Renxue was startled, "This doesn't sound like something you would say."
"People change."
...
"How old are you this year?"
In the resting area of the Tian Dou Royal Academy team, Su Cheng looked at Feng Qingyu beside him and asked.
"Two months shy of thirteen."
The girl glanced at the other members of the Tian Dou Royal Academy team gathered in groups in the distance and casually replied.
Her silver hair shimmered in the sunlight, making her look even more pure and natural.
Su Cheng was somewhat surprised.
This child's talent is very high. A thirteen-year-old Soul Elder should be among the top in her age group.
"Are you born with full soul power?"
"Yes." The girl turned her head to look at Su Cheng. "Your aura is very special."
"Hmm? What do you mean?" Su Cheng was surprised.
"I can't describe it." Feng Qingyu's eyes were filled with doubt. "You seem different from other soul masters, more pure and natural."
Su Cheng was taken aback.
So perceptive?
He understood what Feng Qingyu meant.
Su Cheng is indeed very different from ordinary soul masters now.
The purification effect of the evolved Nirvana Scripture on bloodline martial souls has gone further, affecting the soul deeply.
Moreover, since comprehending the method of condensing soul rings in the Blue Silver Grass Forest, the impurities in the soul related to soul beasts on those soul rings have been removed.
Coupled with the perfection of the Five Elements, his soul power has fundamentally changed from traditional soul masters.
Su Cheng didn't continue discussing this topic and asked, "I've watched several matches of your Godwind Academy. I never saw you play."
"Yeah, I'm just a substitute, so I don't need to play in matches. This time, I volunteered."
Feng Qingyu's tone was light.
"Feng Xiaotian is such a fool. He doesn't understand anything and still thinks there's a chance of winning.
"I've watched the matches of your academy. As long as you play, whether I play or not, it's a definite loss. Whether I participate or not, I can still win, so it doesn't matter.
"I just wanted to experience the sword technique you used before, in case you participate."
At this point, she sighed, "Who knew you would participate but not use that sword technique, letting Feng Xiaotian play acrobatics there, making me tired to death."
"Acrobatics?"
"His self-created soul skill looks stupid. The teachers in the academy all told him to stop practicing those things, but he wouldn't listen."
"..." Su Cheng was speechless at her words.
"Hey, your sister is interested in you."
At this moment, Feng Qingyu suddenly spoke up, gesturing towards Ning Rongrong's direction with her eyes.
Su Cheng's expression didn't change much at the mention, just staring at Feng Qingyu with a somewhat strange look, "You're so young, why are you thinking about such messy things."
"Oh, mainly because she looks at me strangely." Feng Qingyu picked up some fruit from the table and started eating, speaking in a vague tone, "And obviously, it's because of you."
"Your senses are really sharp."
Su Cheng smiled, not caring about what she said, just admiring her extraordinary talent.
"It's amazing that you can perceive so much information just from a first encounter without fully understanding the situation. This potential is far more valuable than external factors like martial souls and innate soul power levels.
This seems more like an innate trait, similar to talents like "medical genius" or "sword genius."
"No wonder you chose to follow the path of an auxiliary-type soul master," Su Cheng couldn't help but marvel.
Originally, he was a bit puzzled. This shadow martial soul should have other, more diverse development paths.
Actually, the development path of a soul master's martial soul is generally not fixed; it depends on suitability.
Take Blue Silver Grass, for example. It can be developed into either a strong offensive soul master or an auxiliary-type soul master, but the subsequent effects are hard to predict.
Ultimately, the choice depends on the soul master's personal understanding of their own martial soul.
There are few auxiliary-type soul masters in the world mainly because most soul masters prefer to pursue strength.
Usually, only special martial souls like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda or food-type martial souls like Oscar's are not easily changed in their future development direction, or the cost-effectiveness of taking the auxiliary route is exceptionally high, leading them to develop towards being auxiliary-type soul masters.
"You got it wrong," Feng Qingyu swallowed the fruit in her mouth and chuckled, covering her lips, "Being an auxiliary-type soul master is because this type of soul master has it easiest."
"Easiest?" Su Cheng's expression paused slightly, "What do you mean by 'easiest'?"
It couldn't be what he was thinking, right...?
"Of course, I mean living an easy life," Feng Qingyu rolled her eyes.
"My grandfather is so annoying, always making me practice this and that. If I were to become a control-type soul master, wouldn't I have to use both my hands and my brain? Being an auxiliary-type soul master is completely different..."
As she spoke, Feng Qingyu excitedly sat up straight, her delicate fingers counting the advantages of being an auxiliary-type soul master.
"First of all, in team battles, if we lose, it's definitely not my fault. After all, I did my best; it's the fault of those who are supposed to be in charge of attacking. Look at today's Feng Xiaotian, for example.
"And there's no danger. Everyone has to prioritize protecting me. It's only when they've all been knocked down that it's my turn.
"Most importantly, it doesn't require much effort on my part. If it's just me left, I can just concede. You can't expect a soul master like me without any attack capabilities to turn the tide, right?
"Even so, they still have to thank me. It's so comfortable."
Su Cheng looked at her dumbfoundedly, momentarily unsure of what to say.
From the perspective of an ordinary soul master, it seemed to make sense, and being the granddaughter of the dean of the God Wind Academy, she wouldn't lack bodyguards as an auxiliary-type soul master.
"You're quite a genius..." Su Cheng murmured, "So, is that how you convinced your elders?"
For a soul master with a shadow martial soul and full innate soul power, choosing to enhance auxiliary abilities would generally not be approved by their parents, right?
"I'm not stupid. I didn't tell them that," Feng Qingyu gave Su Cheng a strange look.
"But since no one else in my family has awakened their shadow martial soul, they can't guide me either, so it wasn't difficult to convince them.
"Plus, being an auxiliary-type soul master doesn't mean I can't switch careers later on. When my level increases, won't the early auxiliary-type soul skills be beneficial to me? Anyway, low-level soul skills are just transitional.
"I'm not like that idiot Feng Xiaotian, who's been tirelessly practicing his self-created soul skill since before reaching level forty. He's just idle."
Su Cheng silently nodded without speaking.
"Captain, I'll stick with you from now on. You have to protect me well, and if necessary, I can call you brother!"
"... Don't say those useless things," Su Cheng pinched his forehead with his fingers, feeling like he had misjudged initially.
This child looked innocent and beautiful, seemingly harmless.
But in reality, her personality wasn't so restrained, and she was quite intelligent.
"What do you mean by 'stick with me'?"
At this point, Feng Qingyu was serious, "I can feel that you're very strong, and you don't harbor any ill intentions towards me. You're not planning to disappear after this Soul Master Grand Competition, are you? You won't be returning to the academy?"
"Well..."
Su Cheng hesitated for a moment.
This child's talent was indeed extraordinary, and her thought process was very clear. It was evident that her understanding of soul masters far exceeded that of ordinary people.
Most importantly, her martial soul's uniqueness and her keen senses could provide significant help in his research.
But the problem was her identity was extraordinary.
After he finished this competition, he would be going to the Martial Soul Hall, so Feng Qingyu couldn't possibly join him there, right?
Even if she had the idea herself, the Divine Wind Academy wouldn't allow it.
"You're not willing?"
Seeing his hesitation, Feng Qingyu furrowed her brows.
"Well, it makes sense. I can see that you're the kind of person who likes to be independent. You're probably not willing to carry a tagalong. Now, I do have some use to you, but it's hard to say how long that will last."
"You don't have to be so straightforward," Su Cheng sighed.
He wasn't angry; on the contrary, he found her direct style quite to his liking.
In all aspects, Feng Qingyu was weaker than him, so there was no threat. Her straightforwardness made communication easier.
"I can't allow it."
"..."
"But I can find a way to sneak out on my own. Hmm, but you'll have to support me. As such a weak auxiliary-type soul master, I don't want to wander outside and get myself killed."
"..."
"You don't mind, do you? Just look at me; you obviously think I'm quite useful. So, how about it? It's just a small matter of leaving the Godwind Academy, and I'll cooperate with you. It's not difficult."
"Sss... Aren't you afraid I'll deceive you? And why do you think I can protect you? We've never even met before?"
Su Cheng looked at her as she made plans seemingly without considering him, feeling somewhat bewildered.
"It's intuition. My feelings are usually accurate; most people can't fool me."
"You're quite something. I'll think about it."
"Okay, but you'd better make up your mind soon. There's not much time left for the competition, and I'll stick with you to win the championship first."
Feng Qingyu's words were not just casual.
Her martial soul was unique, and her senses were exceptionally sharp.
In her eyes, Su Cheng's strength might not even match that of her grandfather, who was a Soul Douluo, but it wouldn't be too far off, at least comparable to a Soul Saint.
Yet Su Cheng was still young.
In her view, this was the best time to attach herself to a powerful figure.
Moreover, Su Cheng exuded a natural aura, which was quite special.
She had a very clear intuition, and even if she couldn't learn anything from him, spending time with Su Cheng would undoubtedly be beneficial for her future growth.
"Who else do you plan to recruit? By the way, is the Martial Soul Hall's team really that strong? Aren't you enough on your own?" Talking about the competition again, Feng Qingyu asked thoughtfully.
"They're very strong," Su Cheng sighed, recalling the figure of Qian Renxue.
"I can handle a one-on-one fight, but if it's one against seven, I might not be able to manage. As for who to recruit, I'll decide after finishing the remaining matches in the competition."