Deep within the inner treasury of Spirit Hall, a quiet exchange had just concluded.
The chamber itself was rarely opened. Only the highest-ranking elders were permitted to enter, and even then only when matters of exceptional value were involved.
Today was one of those occasions.
At the center of the chamber stood a stone pedestal.
And on that pedestal rested a crimson crystal.
It was not large—barely the size of a clenched fist.
Yet its presence immediately drew every gaze in the room.
The crystal was deep red, almost like condensed blood. Within its translucent structure, faint threads of energy spiraled slowly toward its center, converging around a soft pulse.
A heartbeat.
Slow.
Steady.
The Fate Heart Crystal.
Spirit Hall had possessed the crystal for many years.
No one present could remember precisely where it had originally been discovered—only that it had been cataloged among Spirit Hall's rare relics long ago. Despite numerous attempts to study it, the crystal had never revealed its true purpose.
It reacted faintly to soul power.
Sometimes the currents inside shifted.
Sometimes nothing happened at all.
Even the most knowledgeable elders had eventually reached the same conclusion.
It was valuable.
But impractical.
Which was precisely why it had now become the center of a trade.
Lin Huang stepped forward and lifted the crystal calmly from the pedestal.
The faint pulse of the Fate Heart Crystal resonated lightly through his fingers.
For a brief moment, his eyes narrowed as he studied the internal structure of the crystal.
On his shoulder, Tushan Honghong flicked one of her crimson tails lazily.
"Well?" she asked.
"Was all that worth it?"
Lin Huang gave a small nod.
"Yes."
Across the chamber, several Spirit Hall elders exchanged glances.
The exchange that had just taken place was… unusual.
In return for the Fate Heart Crystal, Lin Huang had offered something Spirit Hall valued greatly.
Knowledge.
Not fragments.
Entire systems.
Several thick scrolls rested on a nearby stone table.
Manuals detailing auxiliary professions.
Advanced cultivation techniques.
Blueprints for specialized training chambers capable of refining movement, perception, and soul power control.
These were systems that could strengthen the foundation of Spirit Hall for generations.
But that was only one part of the exchange.
Because beside those scrolls stood dozens of jade bottles.
Each one carefully sealed.
Each one containing a pill refined by Lin Huang.
And these pills covered an extraordinary range.
Some enhanced cultivation talent.
Others cleansed impurities within the meridians.
Some restored damaged foundations.
Others healed hidden injuries that even powerful healers struggled to treat.
And several among them were so refined that they could heal long-standing injuries even in Titled Douluos.
The ranks of the pills ranged widely.
From Rank 1 all the way to Rank 9.
Even Spirit Hall's most experienced elders could not hide their surprise when examining them.
Because such variety was almost unheard of.
The pills alone would be enough to change the fate of many cultivators.
But those pills were not exchanged for the Fate Heart Crystal.
They were exchanged for something else.
Resources.
Stacked along the walls of the chamber were crates containing large quantities of medicinal herbs and rare minerals.
Spirit Hall had opened its reserves.
Some herbs were centuries old.
Some minerals were extremely rare materials normally used for forging powerful equipment or constructing high-grade formations.
These resources would allow Lin Huang to refine countless additional pills in the future.
And there was something else included in the exchange.
Something most sects would consider nearly worthless.
A collection of earth veins.
Not active veins.
The ones Spirit Hall had provided were mostly dead or nearly exhausted.
Long ago stripped of their natural spiritual energy.
Normally such veins were considered little more than geological remnants.
Useless for cultivation.
One of the elders finally spoke, unable to hide his confusion.
"You traded knowledge capable of strengthening an entire organization…"
His gaze moved toward the records describing the transferred resources.
"…for dying earth veins?"
Another elder frowned slightly.
"I also do not understand that choice."
Honghong snorted softly.
"He sees value where you don't."
Several elders looked toward the fox.
She stretched lazily, completely unconcerned by their attention.
"What?"
Across the chamber, Lin Huang calmly stored the Fate Heart Crystal within his spatial container.
His expression remained composed.
Because unlike the elders present—
he understood exactly what those earth veins could become.
Dead veins could still serve as foundations.
With the correct formations and enough resources, they could be reshaped into something entirely new.
Something similar to the Soul Crystal Veins he had once created within his own territory.
To Spirit Hall, these veins were remnants.
To Lin Huang—
They were opportunity.
Honghong glanced sideways at him.
"You're already planning something."
Lin Huang did not respond.
Which was answer enough.
Across the chamber, one of the elders exhaled slowly as he examined the scrolls again.
"Even if only part of these manuals work as described…"
"…Spirit Hall's training system will change completely."
Another elder nodded.
"And those pills…"
He looked again at the jade bottles.
"…many cultivators will owe their future to them."
Silence settled briefly in the treasury chamber.
Finally, one of the elders turned toward Lin Huang.
"You have conducted a very unusual trade today."
Lin Huang met his gaze calmly.
"Perhaps."
The elder studied him for a moment.
"You are certain you want nothing more?"
Lin Huang shook his head.
"This is enough."
Honghong tilted her head.
"That crystal must be very special then."
Lin Huang's gaze shifted briefly toward the spatial container where the Fate Heart Crystal now rested.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Yes."
Because unlike the elders of Spirit Hall—
he knew exactly what the crystal would eventually become.
The training grounds of Spirit Hall were far larger than most academies on the continent.
Rows of stone platforms stretched across a wide courtyard, each one designed for combat practice or cultivation exercises. Several groups of disciples were already present, their training temporarily halted as a number of Spirit Hall elders gathered nearby.
Today's session was not ordinary.
The Golden Generation had been summoned.
Hu Liena.
Xie Yue.
Yan.
Along with several other elite disciples carefully selected from Spirit Hall's younger ranks.
Normally their training was overseen by instructors appointed by the elders.
But today—
they had a different teacher.
At the edge of the courtyard, a tall figure walked calmly across the stone ground.
Lin Huang.
For once, he was not wearing the mask he had used during earlier appearances.
His expression remained relaxed, almost indifferent, as if the attention around him meant nothing.
Unfortunately for him—
it did not go unnoticed.
Several disciples immediately froze when they saw his face clearly for the first time.
Even a few elders looked momentarily surprised.
Not because his appearance was extraordinary in a mystical sense.
But because the presence surrounding him made it difficult to ignore him.
The Sovereign Physique carried a natural authority.
An unconscious pressure.
And combined with his already striking appearance, the effect was… noticeable.
On his shoulder, Tushan Honghong observed the reactions with obvious amusement.
Her tails flicked lazily behind her.
"Oh."
She leaned slightly closer to Lin Huang's ear.
"So that's why."
Lin Huang glanced sideways.
"Why what?"
Honghong grinned.
"Your wives forcing you to wear a mask."
A few nearby disciples nearly choked.
Lin Huang closed his eyes for a moment.
"…That explanation is incorrect."
Honghong ignored him completely.
Her gaze had already shifted toward someone else.
Toward Hu Liena.
The fox spirit tilted her head slightly.
"Ah."
She spoke quietly, but loud enough for several people nearby to hear.
"That look…"
Hu Liena stiffened.
She had been trying very hard to appear composed.
Unfortunately, Honghong's observation had been accurate.
Her eyes had lingered on Lin Huang slightly longer than intended.
Honghong squinted thoughtfully.
"That reminds me of someone."
She tapped her chin with a tiny paw.
"…Meng Hongchen."
Then another pause.
"And Shui Yue'er."
Hu Liena blinked.
Yan, standing nearby, looked confused.
Xie Yue immediately rubbed his forehead.
Honghong's eyes narrowed further.
"…Are those little hearts in her eyes?"
Hu Liena's face turned red instantly.
"I—!"
She stopped herself before finishing the sentence.
Yan nearly lost his balance trying not to laugh.
Xie Yue sighed deeply.
Lin Huang exhaled slowly.
"You are creating unnecessary problems again."
Honghong simply shrugged.
"I'm making observations."
While the younger disciples struggled to maintain composure, the elders watching from the side of the courtyard had their own reactions.
Among them stood a woman dressed in elegant robes.
Her aura was sharp and controlled.
Ling Yuan.
The Kite Spirit Douluo.
Her gaze had been fixed on Lin Huang since he entered the courtyard.
Unlike the younger disciples, her attention focused less on appearance and more on presence.
She could feel it immediately.
His aura was perfectly restrained.
No wasted energy.
No fluctuations.
Yet even without releasing power, he stood in the center of the courtyard as though the space naturally belonged to him.
Only after observing that did her gaze linger briefly on his face.
Her expression remained calm.
But internally, a thought crossed her mind.
No wonder the younger generation is distracted.
She crossed her arms slightly.
Even the Supreme Pontiff looked at him twice.
Across the courtyard, Hu Liena had finally regained some control over her expression.
Though the faint redness on her cheeks had not completely faded.
She cleared her throat.
"You said you would demonstrate a training method."
Lin Huang nodded calmly.
"Yes."
He stepped forward.
The noise across the courtyard gradually faded as attention returned to him.
Even the elders leaned slightly forward.
After all—
this was the man who had exchanged knowledge capable of reshaping Spirit Hall's training systems.
And now he was about to demonstrate something personally.
Lin Huang looked across the group.
His voice was calm.
"Follow me."
Then he turned.
And walked directly toward the lake at the edge of the training grounds.
The lake beside the Spirit Hall training grounds was perfectly still.
Morning light reflected across the surface like polished glass, broken only by the occasional ripple from the breeze moving across the courtyard.
The disciples followed Lin Huang toward the water's edge, curiosity and confusion mixed in their expressions.
Hu Liena walked in front.
Xie Yue beside her.
Yan followed slightly behind, his heavy steps cracking small lines across the stone floor.
Several other elite disciples trailed after them.
Behind the group, a number of Spirit Hall elders watched carefully.
Ling Yuan stood among them, her gaze sharp and focused.
Lin Huang stopped at the edge of the lake.
He said only one word.
"Follow."
Then he stepped forward.
And walked onto the water.
Not flew.
Not jumped.
Walked.
Each step landed softly on the surface as if the lake itself had hardened beneath his feet.
A faint ripple spread outward with every movement.
The disciples froze.
Yan blinked.
"…What?"
Lin Huang continued walking several meters across the lake before stopping.
Then he turned calmly toward them.
"This is the foundation of soul power control."
Hu Liena narrowed her eyes.
She immediately understood.
Instead of questioning it, she stepped forward.
Her soul power circulated through her feet.
She stepped onto the water.
The surface trembled slightly.
But she did not sink.
A small wave spread outward beneath her step.
Honghong watched from Lin Huang's shoulder and nodded slightly.
"Not bad."
Hu Liena stabilized her balance and took another step.
Then another.
Xie Yue followed next.
His approach was different.
Instead of spreading the pressure evenly, he condensed soul power sharply beneath his feet.
His first step caused a small splash—
but he remained standing.
Lin Huang observed quietly.
"Acceptable."
Yan cracked his knuckles.
"That's it?"
He stepped forward confidently.
And immediately sank waist-deep into the lake.
A massive splash erupted across the surface.
Honghong burst into laughter.
"The brute struggles."
Yan surfaced a moment later, coughing.
"This is stupid!"
Lin Huang spoke calmly.
"You rely too much on force."
Yan scowled.
Lin Huang continued.
"Your control is crude."
Several disciples nearby suppressed their laughter.
Meanwhile, Hu Liena had already taken several stable steps across the surface.
Her expression grew more focused.
Soul power flowed steadily through her meridians.
Each step became smoother than the last.
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"She learns quickly."
Honghong flicked her tails lazily.
"Of course she does."
Xie Yue finally stabilized his movement as well.
Though his steps still caused occasional ripples across the lake.
Yan attempted again.
And sank again.
Another splash.
Honghong leaned forward slightly.
"You might want to start with standing first."
Behind them, several Spirit Hall elders watched the scene carefully.
One of them spoke quietly.
"This is basic soul power control."
Another elder nodded.
"And yet…"
"…none of our disciples train it directly."
Ling Yuan's gaze remained fixed on Lin Huang.
She understood the purpose of the exercise immediately.
Running across water required perfect distribution of soul power.
Too much force and the surface would break.
Too little and the body would sink.
It was a training method that forced precise control over every movement.
A simple exercise.
Yet incredibly effective.
Meanwhile, Lin Huang stepped back onto the shore.
The disciples continued their attempts on the lake.
Some improved quickly.
Others failed repeatedly.
Yan produced the loudest splashes.
Lin Huang looked toward the nearby forest.
"Next."
He walked toward a tall tree standing near the edge of the training grounds.
Without slowing down—
he stepped onto the trunk.
And ran upward.
Straight up the tree.
His body moved vertically as if gravity had simply stopped applying to him.
Several disciples stared.
Hu Liena's eyes widened slightly.
"Adhesion…"
Lin Huang reached a branch nearly fifteen meters above the ground before lightly jumping down again.
He landed silently.
"This is the second foundation."
He looked at the group.
"You rely too much on techniques."
A pause.
"You do not train movement."
His gaze swept across the disciples.
"In combat…"
"…movement decides survival."
Hu Liena stepped forward first.
She placed her foot against the tree trunk.
Soul power gathered.
She pushed upward.
Her first attempt failed halfway.
But she did not fall completely.
Lin Huang nodded.
"Better."
Xie Yue attempted next.
His control over precise energy distribution allowed him to climb several meters before losing balance.
Yan tried again.
The tree bark shattered slightly under his step.
Honghong covered her mouth.
"Brute force again."
Yan growled.
Across the training grounds, several elders had grown visibly interested.
One of them muttered quietly.
"Why did we never train them like this?"
Another elder replied softly.
"Because we focused on techniques instead of foundations."
Ling Yuan watched silently.
Her gaze never left Lin Huang.
She could already see the results.
This training method did not rely on secret techniques.
It relied on mastery of the basics.
And basics—
were the hardest thing to perfect.
Back near the tree, Hu Liena tried again.
This time her steps were smoother.
Her body rose higher.
Ten meters.
Then twelve.
She reached the branch Lin Huang had stood on earlier.
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"Oh."
"She might actually manage it."
Hu Liena stabilized herself on the branch.
Then carefully jumped back down.
When she landed, Lin Huang nodded once.
"Good."
Hu Liena exhaled slowly.
Her breathing had become perfectly steady.
The training field had grown completely silent.
Even the elders were now watching closely.
Because they had begun to realize something important.
The man standing in the center of the courtyard—
was not simply demonstrating a training method.
He was rebuilding the foundation of Spirit Hall's cultivation system.
By the time the training session ended, the courtyard had grown far quieter.
The younger disciples were exhausted.
Running across water and climbing trees using nothing but precise soul power control had drained far more energy than most of them expected.
Yan, still soaked from several unfortunate attempts in the lake, looked as though he had fought an entire battle.
Hu Liena, however, remained composed.
Her breathing had stabilized quickly, and though her clothes were damp from the earlier training, her movements had already regained their usual elegance.
Across the courtyard, several elders were still discussing what they had witnessed.
Ling Yuan spoke quietly to one of them.
"Simple methods."
"But extremely effective."
The other elder nodded slowly.
"We focused too much on soul skills."
"And neglected the fundamentals."
Meanwhile, Lin Huang stood near the edge of the training grounds, watching the disciples disperse.
Honghong flicked her tails lazily.
"You've already caused trouble in two major forces in less than twenty days."
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"I shared methods."
Honghong snorted.
"Your version of sharing usually changes entire systems."
Before Lin Huang could respond, a calm voice spoke behind him.
"You train them differently."
Lin Huang turned.
Bibi Dong stood several steps away.
Her presence was quiet but impossible to ignore.
Even the elders nearby instinctively stepped back slightly.
Her gaze moved briefly toward the disciples still recovering from the training.
"Most instructors focus on techniques."
Lin Huang nodded faintly.
"Techniques are only tools."
Bibi Dong folded her arms.
"Yet you chose to train their movement first."
"Movement determines survival," Lin Huang replied.
She studied him silently for a moment.
Only then did her gaze shift slightly toward the training field where the Golden Generation was gathering again.
Hu Liena.
Xie Yue.
Yan.
The three stood naturally at the center of the group.
The other disciples remained around them.
Lin Huang observed the scene quietly.
Then he spoke.
"Your Golden Generation has talent."
Bibi Dong answered without hesitation.
"They are the future of Spirit Hall."
Lin Huang nodded.
"That is true."
He paused briefly.
"But your system has a problem."
The air between them grew slightly heavier.
Several elders nearby instinctively grew quiet.
Even Honghong tilted her head with interest.
Bibi Dong's expression remained calm.
"What problem?"
Lin Huang's gaze remained on the group of disciples.
"You focus too much on three of them."
Hu Liena.
Xie Yue.
Yan.
"They receive the majority of the resources."
"Training."
"Attention."
"Opportunities."
His voice remained steady.
"The others are neglected."
One of the nearby elders frowned slightly.
But Bibi Dong remained silent.
Lin Huang continued.
"There is also another issue."
Now his gaze shifted toward the elders.
"Several of the Titled Douluos under your command do not possess soul bones."
That statement immediately drew attention.
Because it was true.
Even within Spirit Hall, soul bones were rare treasures.
Yet the resources spent cultivating the Golden Generation had been immense.
Lin Huang's voice remained calm.
"That is favoritism."
For a moment—
the entire courtyard fell silent.
Honghong watched the exchange with open amusement.
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Strength deserves investment."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
He did not disagree.
But he continued calmly.
"However…"
He looked toward the disciples again.
"You are not building a team."
"You are building three individuals."
Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan stood slightly apart from the others even now.
A natural hierarchy had formed.
The others followed them.
But they did not stand beside them.
Lin Huang spoke quietly.
"A leader should strengthen those who follow them."
"Otherwise they remain followers."
Another pause.
"Not allies."
Bibi Dong's gaze remained steady.
"And your method is different?"
Lin Huang answered simply.
"Yes."
Honghong muttered under her breath.
"Understatement."
Lin Huang continued.
"Favoritism creates distance."
"Distance weakens loyalty."
Bibi Dong's expression did not change.
But the silence between them deepened.
Because the problem he described—
was not unfamiliar.
Spirit Hall had grown rapidly in recent decades.
But growth had also created imbalance.
Resources.
Authority.
Ambition.
All concentrated in certain places.
Lin Huang looked at her calmly.
"If following you does not improve their future…"
"If it does not strengthen them…"
"Why would they remain loyal?"
Bibi Dong's voice became slightly colder.
"They serve Spirit Hall."
Lin Huang shook his head.
"No."
A small pause.
"They serve power."
His eyes met hers directly.
"And power alone does not create loyalty."
Honghong flicked one of her tails.
The courtyard remained silent.
Even the elders had stopped speaking.
Because the conversation had shifted from training—
to something far more dangerous.
Leadership.
The courtyard had grown unnaturally quiet.
Even the disciples who had remained nearby instinctively moved farther away. Conversations faded. Footsteps slowed.
No one wished to interrupt what was now clearly a private exchange between the Supreme Pontiff of Spirit Hall and the strange man who had appeared only days earlier.
Lin Huang stood calmly.
Bibi Dong faced him.
Neither raised their voice.
Yet the weight of the conversation pressed heavily across the training grounds.
Bibi Dong spoke first.
"Strength deserves resources."
Her tone was calm, almost cold.
"Those with the greatest potential receive the greatest investment."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"That principle is not wrong."
His gaze moved briefly toward the disciples standing across the courtyard.
Hu Liena.
Xie Yue.
Yan.
The three stood naturally together, the other disciples slightly behind them.
A natural hierarchy had already formed.
Lin Huang continued quietly.
"But there is a difference between investment…"
"…and imbalance."
Bibi Dong's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You speak as though you understand the structure of Spirit Hall."
Lin Huang answered simply.
"I observe patterns."
Honghong flicked one of her tails.
"That's how he usually finds problems."
Lin Huang ignored her.
His gaze returned to Bibi Dong.
"You invest heavily in three."
"But the others stagnate."
He gestured slightly toward the training field.
"They follow."
"They do not grow beside them."
Another pause.
"And that weakness will appear during real battles."
Bibi Dong remained silent.
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"There is another consequence."
His gaze shifted briefly toward the elders observing from a distance.
"Your titled Douluos."
The elders stiffened slightly.
"Several of them lack soul bones."
The statement was direct.
But it was also accurate.
Soul bones were the most valuable combat resources on the continent.
And yet many high-ranking Spirit Hall elders possessed none.
Meanwhile enormous resources were poured into cultivating the Golden Generation.
Lin Huang spoke quietly.
"That is not simply resource allocation."
"It is favoritism."
The word lingered in the air.
Bibi Dong's expression remained controlled.
But the faint pressure around her presence increased slightly.
"Favoritism creates results."
Lin Huang shook his head slowly.
"No."
Another pause.
"It creates dependence."
Honghong leaned forward slightly, clearly enjoying the conversation.
Lin Huang continued.
"You maintain authority through power."
"That is expected."
His gaze met hers.
"But power alone keeps people beneath you."
A moment of silence followed.
Then he finished the thought.
"Not loyal to you."
Bibi Dong's voice grew colder.
"Spirit Hall does not rely on loyalty."
Lin Huang's eyes remained steady.
"Yes."
He nodded once.
"That is exactly the problem."
The wind moved gently across the courtyard.
No one else spoke.
Lin Huang continued calmly.
"If loyalty could be forced…"
He paused.
Then finished the sentence.
"…you would not hate him."
The words landed like a blade.
Several elders nearby froze.
Because everyone present understood the reference.
Qian Xunji.
Bibi Dong's former teacher.
The man she despised most.
For a brief moment—
her eyes flickered.
The faintest crack in her otherwise perfect composure.
Lin Huang did not look away.
"This may sound like I am attacking you."
His voice remained calm.
"But I am not."
Another pause.
"Just because someone wronged you…"
"…does not mean you should become the same person you once hated."
The silence that followed was heavier than anything spoken before.
Even Honghong stopped smiling.
Bibi Dong did not respond immediately.
Her gaze shifted slightly toward the distant training field where the disciples were still recovering from the exercises.
Hu Liena.
Xie Yue.
Yan.
The others behind them.
The imbalance Lin Huang described was visible even from afar.
Finally she spoke.
"…You speak boldly."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"I speak honestly."
Another long silence followed.
Then Bibi Dong turned away.
The conversation had ended.
But the words remained.
And the ripples they created would not fade quickly.
Three days passed.
During those three days, Lin Huang remained within Spirit Hall, though he rarely appeared in public.
Most of his time was spent refining pills using the herbs Spirit Hall had exchanged with him, or quietly observing the training fields as the new methods began to spread among instructors.
The changes had already started.
Some instructors attempted the water-walking exercises.
Others experimented with the tree adhesion training.
Even several elders privately tested the techniques.
The results were… promising.
But while the outer training grounds slowly adapted to these new methods—
another change was happening elsewhere.
Deep inside the central palace of Spirit Hall, in a private cultivation chamber, Bibi Dong sat in silence.
The room was dark except for a faint glow of spiritual light surrounding her body.
Her breathing was slow.
Measured.
For the first time in many years—
her mind was quiet.
Normally, whenever she entered meditation, certain memories always surfaced.
Painful ones.
The past she could never forget.
Yu Xiaogang.
The man she once loved.
The man she lost.
For years, that memory had remained like a thorn buried deep within her heart.
It fueled her anger.
Her ambition.
Her hatred toward Spirit Hall.
Yet now—
that thorn had begun to loosen.
Lin Huang's words had forced her to confront something she had avoided for many years.
Not the pain itself.
But what she had done because of it.
Her obsession with Yu Xiaogang had become more than memory.
It had become attachment.
An emotional chain that shaped her decisions.
And the moment she realized that—
something inside her mind shifted.
Her breathing deepened.
The spiritual energy within her Spiritual Sea began to stabilize.
For the first time in years, the chaotic emotions within her consciousness began to settle.
The effect was immediate.
Her spiritual power condensed inward.
Layers of mental barriers she had unconsciously built over the years slowly dissolved.
And with their disappearance—
her spiritual cultivation advanced.
The aura around her body suddenly deepened.
The change was subtle.
But undeniable.
Her spiritual realm had risen.
Bibi Dong slowly opened her eyes.
For several seconds she simply sat there.
Feeling the difference.
Her thoughts were clearer.
Lighter.
Not free of pain.
But no longer chained by it.
Her gaze lowered slightly.
And another memory surfaced.
Not Yu Xiaogang.
But someone else.
A young girl.
Golden hair.
Cold eyes.
Qian Renxue.
Her daughter.
For years, Bibi Dong had treated her existence as nothing more than a reminder of the past she hated.
A reminder of Qian Xunji.
The man who had destroyed her life.
But now—
another thought appeared.
She had nothing to do with it.
Qian Renxue had been innocent.
Everything that happened… had happened before she was even born.
Bibi Dong closed her eyes again briefly.
For the first time in years—
she considered something she had never allowed herself to think before.
Perhaps…
I should speak with her.
Not as enemies.
Not as strangers forced into the same bloodline.
But simply—
as mother and daughter.
The thought felt unfamiliar.
But not unpleasant.
Outside the chamber, the faint light of dawn began to rise over Spirit City.
Elsewhere within Spirit Hall, another meeting was taking place.
Several elders had gathered in a council chamber.
Among them were Qian Daoliu, Ling Yuan, and several other high-ranking Spirit Hall figures.
Scrolls and manuals lay spread across the table.
The knowledge Lin Huang had exchanged only days earlier.
Ling Yuan tapped one of the scrolls thoughtfully.
"These training chambers…"
Her gaze moved across the diagrams.
"…if implemented properly, they will strengthen our younger generation significantly."
Another elder nodded.
"And the pill formulas."
He gestured toward several sealed jade bottles.
"We have already verified some of them."
"Even the lower-rank pills show remarkable stability."
Qian Daoliu remained silent for a moment.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Knowledge is the foundation of power."
His gaze shifted toward the others.
"We gained much from this exchange."
Another elder frowned slightly.
"But he also pointed out our weaknesses."
The room fell quiet.
Because everyone present knew exactly what that meant.
The corruption among certain regional bishops.
Positions that had become permanent.
Families controlling local branches of Spirit Hall for generations.
And the most dangerous consequence—
the slow decay of authority.
Ling Yuan leaned back slightly.
"We should address it."
Another elder nodded.
"The problem has existed for too long."
Qian Daoliu's expression remained calm.
"Then we will deal with it."
He looked across the chamber.
"Summon a general assembly."
Several elders raised their eyebrows.
That was a serious move.
Qian Daoliu continued.
"All bishops will be summoned."
Some of them exchanged glances.
"That will expose them."
Ling Yuan shook her head slightly.
"No."
Her eyes sharpened.
"It will hide them."
Understanding dawned across the room.
A smoke screen.
A large assembly would create confusion.
Investigations could proceed quietly while everyone believed the meeting itself was the focus.
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly.
"We will remove them one by one."
Another elder asked quietly.
"And the worst offenders?"
Ling Yuan's voice was cold.
"They will serve as examples."
Silence followed.
Spirit Hall had tolerated corruption for too long.
But once the cleansing began—
it would not stop easily.
Later that same day, near the outer gates of Spirit City, Lin Huang prepared to depart.
Honghong sat comfortably on his shoulder.
"So."
She glanced back toward the massive white city behind them.
"Did you enjoy your visit to Spirit Hall?"
Lin Huang looked toward the distant horizon.
"It has potential."
Honghong snorted softly.
"That sounds like your polite way of saying it needs a lot of work."
Lin Huang smiled faintly.
Then he stepped forward.
And left Spirit City behind.
Behind him—
the first ripples of change had already begun.
The road leading into Soto City was far more chaotic than the disciplined avenues of Spirit City.
Carriages rolled through the gates carrying merchants and adventurers. Groups of spirit masters walked openly through the streets, some discussing battles, others arguing loudly over wagers.
The city breathed with a rougher rhythm.
Here, strength was not political.
It was entertainment.
At the center of the city rose an enormous circular structure of stone and steel.
The Soto Great Soul Arena.
Even from several streets away, the distant roar of the crowd could already be heard.
Lin Huang walked calmly through the city streets, his pace unhurried as he observed the surroundings.
On his shoulder, Tushan Honghong lazily watched the bustling crowds.
"Well," she muttered, flicking one of her tails, "this place is a lot louder than Spirit City."
Lin Huang nodded slightly.
"Conflict attracts attention."
Honghong smirked.
"Honest conflict is at least entertaining."
They continued walking.
Spirit masters moved everywhere.
Some wore armor bearing academy emblems.
Others carried weapons openly.
Several young cultivators were already heading toward the arena entrances.
Large banners hung across the outer walls of the massive building.
Each one displayed a different emblem.
Iron.
Bronze.
Silver.
Gold.
Purple Gold.
Sapphire.
Diamond.
The ranking system of the Great Soul Arena.
For countless young spirit masters, climbing those ranks was the fastest way to gain fame and recognition.
Honghong tilted her head slightly as she looked up at the massive structure.
"So this is where those little monsters made their reputation."
Lin Huang did not answer immediately.
Instead, he glanced briefly toward the enormous arena gates ahead.
Then he continued walking.
It had been nineteen days since he arrived in this era.
Six days spent in Tianshui Academy.
Eight days traveling before reaching Spirit City.
Three days within Spirit Hall itself.
And two days traveling after leaving Spirit City.
Nineteen days.
Not a long time.
Yet in those nineteen days, Lin Huang had already left traces across several powerful forces of the continent.
Tianshui Academy had received new cultivation systems.
Spirit Hall had gained knowledge capable of reshaping its training structure.
Even the Fate Heart Crystal now rested within Lin Huang's possession.
Honghong stretched lazily.
"You've been busy for someone who claimed he was just curious about this era."
Lin Huang shrugged slightly.
"Curiosity leads to experimentation."
Honghong snorted.
"You're terrible at pretending to be subtle."
Lin Huang smiled faintly.
"That was never the goal."
They reached the wide plaza outside the Soto Great Soul Arena.
Hundreds of spectators gathered outside the entrances.
Some were registering for matches.
Others were placing bets.
The atmosphere was loud, competitive, and chaotic.
Honghong leaned slightly forward.
"So."
Her golden eyes glinted with interest.
"Are we fighting?"
Lin Huang shook his head.
"Not yet."
Honghong raised an eyebrow.
"Then why come here?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"To observe."
Inside this arena, several young spirit masters were slowly gaining fame.
A group that would eventually become known across the continent.
The Shrek Seven Devils.
Honghong watched the crowds entering the arena.
"So we observe them first."
Lin Huang nodded.
"Yes."
Then his gaze shifted toward the distant horizon beyond the city.
Far beyond the plains.
Far beyond the mountains.
Another destination waited.
A place where killing intent gathered like a storm.
The City of Slaughter.
Honghong noticed his gaze and grinned.
"Oh?"
"Already thinking about the next stop?"
Lin Huang began walking toward the arena entrance.
"Yes."
Honghong's tails flicked with interest.
"And after we watch these little monsters fight?"
Lin Huang answered calmly.
"Then we go there."
A small pause.
"To the City of Slaughter."
Honghong's grin widened.
"Now that sounds entertaining."
Ahead of them, the gates of the Soto Great Soul Arena slowly opened as another wave of participants entered.
And somewhere inside that massive structure—
the threads of destiny were about to cross.