Bibi Dong's serene expression softened into a smile as she observed her beloved disciple, Hu Liena, anxiously trying to gather her thoughts. As her teacher, Bibi Dong knew Hu Liena too well. Whatever had distracted her so much must be significant, and with nothing pressing on her schedule today, she decided to indulge her disciple.
"Speak, I'm curious. What has you so concerned?"
She gestured for Hu Liena to sit down, and the two began their conversation, teacher and student seated face-to-face.
Hu Liena hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Teacher, do you think it's possible for a soul master to have their second soul ring as a millennium ring?"
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow. "Why the sudden interest in this?"
"Just curious." Hu Liena smiled faintly, trying to sound casual.
Bibi Dong leaned forward slightly, her tone turning serious. "It is possible, but such cases are extremely rare. Based on the Spirit Hall's archives, every soul master has a limit to the age of the soul rings they can absorb at each stage. Breaking that limit is not just dangerous—it's often fatal."
She paused before continuing. "For someone like me, a twin martial soul wielder with the Death Spider Emperor and Soul-Devouring Spider Emperor, the rules are slightly different. Once I've completed the rings for one martial soul, the second soul can absorb rings of any age without issue. Even a 100,000-year soul ring would be relatively easy for me."
With a knowing glance, she added teasingly, "Have you forgotten all this already, Saintess? Or have you returned all your knowledge to your teacher since taking on your title?"
Hu Liena blushed, a hint of embarrassment creeping into her voice. "Of course not, Teacher. I still remember. It's just…"
She hesitated briefly before saying, "Today, I came across someone—a soul master with a soul ring configuration of one hundred-year ring and two millennium rings."
Hearing this, Bibi Dong's expression sharpened, her fingers lightly brushing her chin.
"A hundred-year ring and two millennium rings? And this soul master's age?"
Hu Liena thought for a moment. "Definitely younger than me. He looked very youthful—almost like a child. And he was a complete stranger. I tried to follow him, but he slipped away. I even checked the archives for his name but…"
Bibi Dong's eyes lit up with curiosity. "You found something?"
Hu Liena sighed, shaking her head. "No."
Bibi Dong's smile faltered. The soul ring configuration alone made this individual exceptional. If there were no records in the Spirit Hall archives, then the soul master was likely an independent cultivator.
"What's his name?"
"Ye Ritian."
Bibi Dong repeated the name, her lips forming the words slowly. "Ye Ritian?"
The name sounded grandiose, almost audacious. "And his martial soul?"
Hu Liena's face brightened with excitement. "Teacher, his martial soul is the same as yours—the Death Spider Emperor!"
Bibi Dong froze for a moment, her usually composed expression giving way to mild astonishment. "The Death Spider Emperor? Are you certain? You didn't mistake it for something similar?"
Hu Liena nodded with unwavering conviction. "I'm certain, Teacher. His martial soul is the Death Spider Emperor."
She proceeded to recount the events. "While I was on my way to complete the task you assigned me, Yan decided to tag along despite my protests. We came across a crowd gathered around a street vendor. I wanted to avoid the commotion, but Yan insisted on investigating. And then, Yan—being Yan—kicked over Ye Ritian's table just as he was eating."
Bibi Dong leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "And then?"
Hu Liena's voice carried a mixture of awe and amusement. "Then Yan got beaten up. Badly. Ye Ritian didn't even use much effort—he completely dominated Yan."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed, her tone frosty. "Send Yan to the Death Canyon for a year of training. He isn't allowed back in the Spirit Hall until he's completed it."
Outside the chamber, a knight hurried off to relay the command. Hu Liena couldn't help but pity Yan for his misfortune.
Bibi Dong sighed. "So you lost track of him after that?"
Hu Liena lowered her head in embarrassment, nodding. "I did. I don't know how he disappeared so quickly."
After a brief pause, Hu Liena added, "There's something else, Teacher. The moment I saw Ye Ritian, I couldn't help but think of you."
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow. "Think of me? What do you mean?"
Hu Liena hesitated before explaining. "Teacher, do you believe it's possible for two unrelated people to look almost identical?"
Bibi Dong's heart skipped a beat. "Are you saying… Ye Ritian looks like me?"
Hu Liena nodded firmly. "Not just a little—he looks exactly like you. If the two of you stood side by side, I'm certain the elders of the Spirit Hall would think you were twins. His demeanor, his aura, even the way he carries himself—it's as if he were molded in your image."
She added with a chuckle, "Yan was so spooked that he froze up, which is why Ye Ritian had such an easy time defeating him."
Bibi Dong's mind raced. A young soul master with the Death Spider Emperor martial soul, an unconventional soul ring configuration, and a striking resemblance to herself?
"Interesting," she murmured, her lips curling into a sly smile.
After a moment of thought, Bibi Dong stood and issued her decree. "From this moment forward, Spirit Hall is on lockdown. No one enters or leaves without my explicit permission. Search the city. Bring Ye Ritian to me—alive and unharmed."
Hu Liena bowed in acknowledgment and relayed the orders. The Spirit Hall's machinery roared to life as knights and soul masters mobilized.
Meanwhile, Outside the City
Ye Hao stood panting on a hill, gazing back at Spirit City, now sealed off by guards.
"What the hell? I was just sightseeing! Why'd they close the city?"
His heart raced as a terrifying thought crossed his mind. "Could it be… that guy I beat up was someone important?"
Goosebumps crawled over his skin. "Nope, not staying to find out."
Without a second thought, Ye Hao turned and fled into the wilderness, vowing never to return. "Survival first!"