**Chapter 68 Questioned**
"The fact that it can't be used in the Soul Master Competition has nothing to do with my development of soul skills," Gu Ziyi quickly responded to Yu Long's question. "As long as I can become stronger, it doesn't matter."
The prohibition on the use of props and similar items was only stipulated for the Soul Master Competition; there was no such rule in daily life. And how often would he actually fight in the Soul Master Competition?
Gu Ziyi would join the Martial Soul Hall Team, bypassing the preliminary and qualifying rounds to enter directly into the finals. The total number of matches his team would play was only a few rounds. Becoming stronger was a lifelong pursuit!
"Your Highness is right; my perspective was too narrow!" Upon hearing Gu Ziyi's explanation, Yu Long's expression brightened with understanding.
…
The next day, Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong joined the Martial Soul Hall Academy under Qian Xunji's arrangements, easily entering the academy's main team.
"Today, I would like to introduce you to two new teammates. You should already be familiar with them: both are personal disciples of our Martial Soul Hall's Pope, Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong!"
The two were led to the front of the team members by the academy team leader.
"They're really the Pope's disciples…"
"I've only heard about Your Highnesses before!"
The rest of the team members, upon hearing the leader's introduction, quickly greeted them respectfully. They then looked at Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong with curiosity.
Everyone in the Martial Soul Hall should know who the Pope's disciples were. But this was the first time seeing them in person, so they were secretly curious. Whether it was Bibi Dong, with her twin martial souls, or Gu Ziyi, who was favored by the Pope with his innate soul power of Level 1, they were extremely curious about both.
They're so beautiful! So clean and impressive!
Especially the clothes the two wore, pristine and spotless, giving off a comfortable and captivating look. Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong's first impression was overwhelmingly positive.
'So these are the Pope's disciples!'
'But didn't they hear that Gu Ziyi was only around Level 20?'
'And isn't Her Highness, the Saint, only 12 years old?'
After the initial amazement, team members were also filled with doubts. From what they knew, the Pope's two disciples shouldn't be joining the team just yet due to their youth or perceived weakness.
"Are you curious why Their Highnesses have joined our team now?" The team leader seemed to understand the team members' confusion and asked with a smile, "Guess what their current soul power levels are?"
"Her Highness the Saint should be around Level 34 now, right?" one team member quickly guessed, her tone full of admiration as she looked at Bibi Dong.
While her current soul power level was higher than Her Highness the Saint's, she still felt great admiration for Bibi Dong. After all, being around Level 34 at 12 years old was a remarkable achievement!
The other team members agreed, without offering further guesses.
Some wanted to guess Gu Ziyi's rank, but they refrained out of politeness, thinking it was too low to mention out loud.
"Your Highnesses, I am Lai Kun, captain of the Martial Soul Hall Team. Could you share your current soul power levels?" Lai Kun, a prestigious member of the team, asked Gu Ziyi and Bibi Dong directly, glancing primarily at Gu Ziyi with scrutiny.
"You can see if they are capable enough to join our team, right?"
"Gu Ziyi, Martial Soul – Talisman, auxiliary Soul Master, Level 30!"
Buzz—
Gu Ziyi introduced himself and summoned his Martial Soul, while yellow hundred-year-old Soul Rings materialized around him one after another.
"Level 30?"
"Your Highness really surpassed Level 30?"
"How is that possible…"
"…"
Seeing the three Soul Rings surrounding Gu Ziyi, the team members were astonished.
No Soul Master with an innate soul power of Level 1 had ever reached Level 30!
"It's impressive that Your Highness has reached Level 30 with an innate soul power of Level 1, but if this is the extent of Your Highness's strength, it may not be enough to qualify you for our team," Lai Kun remarked, though he was visibly shocked.
Of course, he was only questioning him—if the Pope insisted on arranging it this way, he had no choice but to comply.
"The captain is correct!"
"Your Highness's third Soul Ring is only a hundred-year-old ring; it's not the ideal configuration."
Two other team members echoed their captain's dissatisfaction.
"Hmph, what do you know?"
"My younger brother's Soul Ring is…" Bibi Dong, upset by their dismissal of Gu Ziyi, started to defend him, but Gu Ziyi quickly stopped her.
"My Soul Rings were arranged by my teacher to be most suitable for me!" Gu Ziyi stated, stopping Bibi Dong from revealing more. There was no need for the team to know yet about his self-condensing Soul Rings.
After being stopped, Bibi Dong realized what she had almost disclosed.
"As for whether I am qualified to join the team, you'll see soon enough!" Gu Ziyi chose not to elaborate further.
The auxiliary effects of his Martial Soul were best experienced firsthand.
"I have twin Martial Souls. My Martial Souls are the Death Spider Emperor and the Soul Devouring Spider Emperor. I am a Level 42 Soul Ancestor!"
After Gu Ziyi finished, Bibi Dong stood up and revealed her soul power level.
She wanted to show them her strength!
Buzz—
A powerful aura of soul power radiated from Bibi Dong.
"Level 42 Soul Ancestor?"
"How is that possible…"
"Her Highness the Saint is only 12, right?"
"Oh my god, a 12-year-old Soul Ancestor…"
"…"
Indeed, after seeing Bibi Dong's revealed soul power level, everyone on the Martial Soul Hall Team was stunned.
This was a truly shocking feat.
They thought the Saint's soul power might be slightly higher than they'd anticipated, but they hadn't expected it to be this much stronger.
They could never have imagined a 12-year-old Soul Ancestor.
Bibi Dong had not only reached the level of a Soul Ancestor but had also advanced to Level 42.
…
(End of chapter)
--