"Your Eminence, is Bing'er's condition very serious?"
Su Yan was silent for a moment, as if making a decision, and then looked up at Guang Ling.
Guang Ling glanced at her, smiled, and then spoke: "It's hard to say. Perhaps she'll gradually learn to control it on her own in the future. Hmm, it's been so many years, and nothing major has happened yet, right?"
Hearing Guang Ling's reassuring words, the few people present felt even more anxious.
"Your Eminence, does the offer you mentioned earlier about taking a disciple on behalf of your brother still stand?"
Su Yan knew the situation had changed, so she bit her lip and took the initiative to ask.
"Well..."
Guang Ling hesitated, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, without giving a direct answer.
"Skywater Academy is willing to follow the Spirit Hall from now on."
Just as Guang Ling was hesitating, Su Yan spoke again and decisively performed a salute with the three people beside her.
"What are you doing?"
Seeing them salute, Guang Ling's expression turned unhappy.
"We wouldn't dare. Su Yan sincerely wishes to join the Spirit Hall. Please forgive us, Your Eminence."
She adopted the lowest possible posture, fearing to anger Guang Ling.
"Sigh, I already said I didn't come here for this matter. You make it difficult for me."
Han Li, standing behind Guang Ling, almost couldn't keep a straight face listening to his master's classic villain lines.
'Master, stop acting. If you continue, it will be awkward when Uncle takes her as a disciple, and you have to interact with Shui Bing'er.'
A barely perceptible mental wave transmitted into Guang Ling's mind, causing his movements to pause. He turned to look at his disciple with dissatisfaction, seemingly annoyed that his act was interrupted.
However, with Han Li's reminder, he restrained himself a bit, looked at the people saluting before him, and said, "Alright, get up. I, Guang Ling, always keep my word. If I said I would take a disciple on behalf of my brother, I will not go back on it."
Seeing them rise, he breathed a sigh of relief and spoke again: "But since you mentioned joining the Spirit Hall, I will accept it, though I didn't plan for this. From today, Skywater Academy is an affiliated academy of the Spirit Hall."
Guang Ling glanced at the two and then spoke again as if giving them a big break: "However, although you are joining the Spirit Hall, to be honest, the Spirit Hall doesn't need another affiliated academy. So, rest assured, you will still have considerable autonomy and independence."
"The Spirit Hall will not interfere in any of your affairs. Everything will remain as it was. You just need to stand with the Spirit Hall when expressing your stance."
"Of course, I don't want to see a situation where an academy is greater than the Spirit Hall in a city again. Understand?"
When he said this, Guang Ling's tone involuntarily became a bit heavier.
Su Yan and the other beautiful woman exchanged glances and both noticed the surprise in each other's eyes. They hadn't expected such lenient conditions and immediately bowed in salute: "Understood, Your Eminence."
"Good, very good."
Guang Ling nodded with satisfaction.
"Also, since Shui Bing'er has become my brother's disciple, let me give you some insight. Once we return to Wuhun City and the apprenticeship is formally established, we will immediately address her martial soul issue."
"After solving her martial soul problem, I can guarantee you that her minimum future achievement will be that of a Super Douluo. Now, do you have any other questions?"
Guang Ling sat up straight, smiling, no longer as aggressive as before.
The two women exchanged a glance and shook their heads.
Just as Guang Ling was about to stand up, a weak voice suddenly came from the side: "Your Eminence, does Bing'er have to leave with you today? Can it be delayed for a few days?"
Following the voice, Guang Ling and Han Li saw that it was Shui Yue'er, who had always been rather inconspicuous, who asked the question.
Guang Ling was taken aback for a moment, then smiled:
"No need, since you have already agreed, it doesn't have to be today."
After speaking, he pondered for a moment and then added:
"I will give you a week. How about that? After a week, she can leave with us."
Unexpectedly, Shui Yue'er's request brought an unexpected benefit, and the family quickly expressed their thanks.
Seeing the mother and daughter quartet smiling again, Guang Ling and Han Li exchanged a glance and decisively chose to leave.
It wasn't until they were respectfully escorted out of the manor that Han Li looked at his master.
"Master, if her martial soul hadn't unexpectedly lost control and they had refused, what would you have done?"
Guang Ling rolled his eyes at him: "We would just leave directly. What else could we do? They are a neutral force, not an enemy force. This isn't a direct war. Do you think I would massacre the manor? Only an idiot would do that."
"As long as they know that two Super Douluo are watching them, even if we do nothing, they will eventually agree. Don't be fooled by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's slow attempt to annex them; as long as they aren't stupid, they wouldn't dare to make a move now."
"Bibi Dong, that fool, ignored this point and got dragged into the mire, playing childish power games with them, lowering her status for no reason. Ha, the Upper Three Sects, no matter how grandly you put it, their existence is something we deliberately created to make the sects fight among themselves. And she took it seriously. Isn't that foolish?"
"Do you believe that if she just sent Chrysanthemum Douluo to each of the elemental academies occasionally, without doing anything else, they would submit to the Martial Soul Hall within six months? If that doesn't happen, I'll write my name backward."
Han Li couldn't help but laugh at Guang Ling's blunt words, even though they weren't pleasant to hear. What Guang Ling said made sense.
Previously, Han Li's thoughts were similar to Bibi Dong's, both constrained by the apparent state of affairs. He was among the fools Guang Ling mentioned. Fortunately, his master's teachings enlightened him in time.
As for when Bibi Dong might come to her senses, that was up to her.
After the events, the master and disciple duo moved into the Spirit Hall.
Han Li went off to train, while Guang Ling dealt with the reforms needed in the Spirit Hall following the integration of Skywater Academy.
This time, the Worship Hall genuinely intervened in the matters of the Pope's Hall.
The seven days passed swiftly.
With the active cooperation of Skywater Academy, Spirit Hall regained control of the city, even incorporating this semi-independent city directly under its jurisdiction.
Rumors spread wildly, but upon learning that a Titled Douluo from the Martial Soul Hall was involved, all factions fell silent. Even the former ruler, the Heaven Dou Empire, didn't dare to question it and pretended nothing had happened.
On the contrary, Wuhun City kept sending urgent messages, inquiring about the situation.
Guang Ling ignored them all, tossing the messages into the trash, not bothering to engage with fools.
On the morning of the eighth day, a luxurious carriage slowly departed from the Martial Soul Hall.
After a visit to the Shui family's estate, the carriage, under the watchful eyes of spies from various factions, boldly left the city and headed straight for Wuhun City. The carriage sped along, its interior lavishly furnished.
The negative effects of Guang Ling's previous actions became evident.
The master and disciple duo sat facing a young girl, who stared back at them, creating a slightly awkward atmosphere.
Especially when Shui Bing'er saw Guang Ling, she shrank back, clearly not having a favorable impression of him.
"Hmm, Xiao Li, why don't you chat with her? I'll step out for some fresh air."
Guang Ling gave his disciple a look, lifted the carriage curtain, and stepped out. He then quietly climbed to the top of the carriage, pressing his ear against the roof to eavesdrop.
After Guang Ling left, Han Li didn't speak immediately. He just stared at Shui Bing'er until she felt uncomfortable and was about to look away. Then, he suddenly spoke.
"I apologize for meeting you in such a manner."
"You don't need to apologize. Master and disciple may be considered one entity by others, but I can distinguish between the two. Thank you for helping me suppress the signs of my Martial Soul's loss of control that day," Shui Bing'er said, uttering her first words since boarding the carriage.
"Yes, but my apology is specifically for what happened that day," Han Li replied candidly. "Speaking of which, the initial cause of what you experienced stems from me."
Hearing his response, Shui Bing'er looked at him with some confusion. Her eyes seemed to ask why he would say such a thing.
"The reason Master became curious about you was because of me. I had reviewed your records multiple times and was very curious about your Martial Soul's state."
"So? You just barged into my home and forcibly took me as a disciple?" Shui Bing'er suppressed the anger in her voice.
"Yes, although there were many complicated issues that I can't explain to you, the result is as you said," Han Li said helplessly, spreading his hands. What Guang Ling initially told him was quite different; it was supposed to be a negotiation. However, upon arriving here, the involvement of the local Spirit Hall made things uncontrollable.
"Is it because my mother and the others suppressed the Spirit Hall in Skywater City?"
Shui Bing'er, undoubtedly smart, connected this to what Guang Ling had said to Su Rou back then.
"Skywater City? When did the city change its name?" Han Li asked, looking at Shui Bing'er with curiosity.
"Well, I've called it that since I can remember," Shui Bing'er replied somewhat vaguely.
"So, you understand now?"
"I understand."
"Very good. Talking to smart people is always more comfortable. If you can't get over this mental hurdle yourself, it will be difficult."
"Yes."
"Very well, let's reintroduce ourselves. I'm Han Li."
"Shui Bing'er."
They shook hands politely and then quickly let go.
"Alright, since there's no problem, do you have any other questions? You can ask them now," Han Li said, looking at the girl who no longer seemed as timid as before.
"My future master," Shui Bing'er pondered for a moment and then simply said.
"Martial Soul Hall's Third Worship, Titled Douluo Azure Luan Douluo, Martial Soul, White Armored Dragon(Azure Luan), wind attribute. Currently undergoing a breakthrough; by the time we return, he should have reached level 97."
Han Li introduced casually.
"Wind attribute? Then why did he choose me as his disciple? Wouldn't it be better to take on a disciple with the same attribute? For example, Guang Ling Douluo," Shui Bing'er asked, frowning slightly as she looked at Han Li.
"If you want to know why, it might be because my master and I chose you for him. He doesn't even know he has a new disciple yet," Han Li replied awkwardly but pressed on.
"Hmm?"
Shui Bing'er's eyes widened, not expecting that her master didn't even know about her.
"Yes, it's quite absurd, but it's the truth. Now you should have a new understanding of my master," Han Li quickly shifted the blame to Guang Ling.
"Probably."
Shui Bing'er felt a headache coming on and pressed her temples, then looked at Han Li with a complex expression. "So, if he doesn't accept me, will you send me back?"
"Obviously not. At worst, you'll go from being a junior disciple to a direct disciple," Han Li responded decisively.
"You don't need to worry about this issue. You were chosen by me, and neither my master nor my Martial Uncle will likely refuse you. Even if it doesn't work out, finding you a Titled Douluo master won't be difficult."
"You chose me. Do you have a high status in the Spirit Hall?"
"I'm just a nobody. Have you ever heard of me before?"
"No, I haven't."
"See? I just know about a dozen Titled Douluos, and I have good relations with barely more than a handful."
"Isn't that still a high status?"
"That's just them being kind."
"I can't tell when you're telling the truth."
"I'm always honest."
"Yeah, right."
...
When Guang Ling re-entered the carriage from the roof, he saw that the two were already chatting comfortably.
Seeing him come in, Shui Bing'er no longer felt the initial fear and nodded as a greeting.
Guang Ling returned the nod with a smile but gave Han Li a peculiar look.
He knew this kid had always been a social butterfly, but resolving past grievances and chatting happily in less than half an hour was still impressive to witness.
If they sent him to Xiaoxue, would the Heaven Dou Empire soon bear the Qian surname?
This thought suddenly flashed through Guang Ling's mind, but he quickly dismissed it. Given this kid's character, he wouldn't get involved in such a messy situation, even if beaten to death.
After resolving the issue with Shui Bing'er, the rest of the journey became pleasant.
Guang Ling, with his playful nature, quickly mingled with the two, eliminating the initial awkwardness.
Han Li soon established a database for Shui Bing'er:
Shui Bing'er, eight years old, innate spirit power, level nine, Martial Soul: Ice Phoenix, level nineteen.
Guang Ling and Han Li were quite surprised upon learning about Shui Bing'er's situation. Her cultivation speed was unusually fast. Even though Skywater Academy provided the most suitable mimetic environment for her, it was still quite remarkable—only slightly slower than Bibi Dong at the same age.
Upon further inquiry, they discovered that although Shui Bing'er's Martial Soul had only lost control twice, it frequently experienced violent outbursts.
Each time her Martial Soul went berserk, she couldn't use her soul skills, and at her current stage, it was even difficult for her to control her soul power normally. These outbursts also affected the surrounding environment.
However, these outbursts inadvertently accelerated her cultivation speed. Each time her Martial Soul went berserk, it equaled a month's worth of normal cultivation, which explained her rapid soul power advancement.