....
Time passed second by second.
From midnight to dawn.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the tree canopy and fell on Xuan Hao, the restless energy around him finally calmed down completely.
The deep yellow spirit ring was firmly placed on the golden dragon phantom, exuding a heavy and domineering aura.
Xuan Hao slowly opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashing within them, his originally sky-blue pupils instantly transforming into crimson-gold vertical pupils. He abruptly stood up, his bones cracking like popping beans, a powerful sense of strength filling his entire body.
"How about it?"
Bibi Dong and Hu Liena, who had been standing guard nearby, immediately looked over.
Xuan Hao clenched his fist, feeling the surging soul power within his body, and a bright smile appeared on his face.
"Is this what it feels like to be a Soul Master...?"
Bibi Dong nodded in satisfaction, stepped forward, placed her hand on his shoulder, sensed it briefly, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes.
"Soul power... Level thirteen."
"Absorbing a soul ring that is over 800 years old, I directly jumped three levels of soul power."
Although it's a bit exaggerated, considering that he was born with full soul power and had accumulated it for a long time, coupled with the enormous energy of this transcendent soul ring, it all seems to make sense.
"Congratulations, you have officially become a Soul Master."
Bibi Dong withdrew her hand, looked at Xuan Hao's vibrant face, and smiled as she tossed out the question she had already prepared:
"Now that you've become a Soul Master, what are your plans for the future?"
Xuan Hao looked at Bibi Dong, who was full of anticipation, and then glanced at Hu Liena, who was standing next to him without saying a word but whose eyes were also full of hints. He knew exactly what was going on.
This isn't some "future plan," it's clearly a multiple-choice question.
A. Come back to the Spirit Hall with us and enjoy a life of luxury.
B. We knocked him unconscious and carried him back to the Spirit Hall to live a life of luxury.
If he dared to say, "I want to go to Tiandou City to seek refuge with Xue Qinghe," Bibi Dong would probably break his legs with a smile the next second, and then gently tell him, "Be good, don't go anywhere, I'll take care of you."
But the play still has to be performed completely.
Since he had previously established a tragic persona of "both his parents died because of the Spirit Hall," wouldn't it seem very fake if he readily agreed to join before the other party even offered to recruit him?
Xuan Hao lowered his head, his eyes darting around, his fingers unconsciously stroking the short sword in his hand, remaining silent.
Upon seeing this, Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with understanding.
This child was indeed still concerned about those old matters.
I know you still have something on your mind.
Bibi Dong stepped forward, squatted down, and looked Xuan Hao in the eye. Her voice was unusually gentle.
"I am very sorry about your parents. As a large organization, the Spirit Hall does have many shortcomings."
"But that's precisely why I want you to come back with me. Only when you have enough status and power will you be qualified to change the things you don't like."
She reached out and gently grasped Xuan Hao's slightly cold hand, her tone sincere:
"I am willing to take you as my personal disciple, just like Nana. In the Spirit Hall, you are the Pope's disciple, no one will dare to bully you, and you will receive the best resources and the best teaching."
"I will not treat you as an ordinary subordinate or tool, but as... a real family member."
Xuan Hao raised his head, his eyes seeming somewhat wavering, but he still pursed his lips tightly, showing a hint of stubbornness.
Seeing this, Bibi Dong sighed inwardly and threw out even bigger chips and concessions:
"It's okay if you don't want to call me teacher."
She smiled, a hint of affection in her smile. "You can call me 'sister' for now.
But I will still teach you the same way I taught Nana."
"Once you arrive at the Spirit Hall, you won't need to follow those formalities or bow to those elders and bishops. In this world, you only need to listen to me."
"This is the only thing you need to remember, and the only thing you need to follow."
"You'll only listen to me?"
Xuan Hao finally spoke, tilting his head and staring intently at Bibi Dong with his crimson-gold vertical pupils, asking a very sharp question, "What if you asked me to die? Would I die too?"
"I know you're all very good to me now. But I don't like owing people favors.
It's hard to pay back those favors, and it's a lot of trouble."
"If one day you ask me to die to repay this favor, wouldn't I be at a huge loss?"
Bibi Dong paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh out loud.
This child's way of thinking was always so straightforward and realistic, yet inexplicably endearing.
Don't worry.
Bibi Dong's smile faded, and her expression became extremely solemn.
"In the future, I may send you to kill, to face powerful enemies, and to do extremely dangerous things. After all, the path of the strong is never smooth."
"But I assure you, I will never send you to your death."
"You are my disciple, and also my... younger brother."
Bibi Dong reached out and gently touched Xuan Hao's short silver hair.
"How could your sister bear to let her brother die?"
Hu Liena: "..."
She glanced at Bibi Dong, then at Xuan Hao, her expression turning somewhat strange.
If the teacher takes on a junior disciple as a younger brother, wouldn't she, as the disciple, suddenly be a generation lower?
Would she have to call him "Junior Uncle" every time they meet?
This is such a mess!
Seemingly sensing Hu Liena's hesitation, Bibi Dong turned her head and added casually, "Each to their own opinion."
"You are my disciple, and he is also my disciple. In private, I am his older sister, but in terms of seniority in the Spirit Hall, he is still your junior brother."
Hu Liena breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest.
Thankfully, the senior sister's dignity was preserved.
Having said all that, Xuanhao knew it was time to stop while he was ahead.
He took a deep breath, as if making a firm decision, and nodded heavily: "Okay, I promise you, sister."
Upon hearing the word "sister," Bibi Dong finally felt relieved, and a genuine smile appeared on her face.
Thankfully, the child agreed.
If she continued to be stubborn, she was prepared to send a telepathic message to the ghost to arrange a few "hero saves the beauty" or "life and death together" scenes on the way back to improve her favorability.
After all, with such talent and a personality that suits her perfectly, there's absolutely no way she could let go.
"By the way, junior brother."
At this moment, Hu Liena came over and looked at Xuan Hao curiously.
"What is your first soul skill?
The first soul ring in over eight hundred years, I've never heard of it before. Tell me about its effects."
Xuan Hao perked up at the mention of soul skills.
"My first soul skill is called the Golden Dragon Body."
Xuan Hao clenched his fist, feeling the surging power within his body.
"It's a status-type soul skill that amplifies all attributes. But its core effect is strength and defense, which can be increased by up to 100%. However, the greater the increase, the greater the soul power consumption."
"Double?!"
Bibi Dong and Hu Liena both exclaimed in surprise.
"A single attribute boost of 100% is already rare, but a boost to all attributes can reach this level?"
Bibi Dong exclaimed in surprise.
But then she thought about it again and felt relieved.
"The Vajra Tiger's innate skill is Vajra Transformation, which is a life-or-death technique that can greatly enhance strength and defense in a short period of time.
It seems that your Golden Dragon Martial Soul has perfectly absorbed and optimized this characteristic."
"This is a divine skill tailor-made for you."
Upon hearing this, Hu Liena's eyes lit up, and she beckoned with her finger, somewhat eager to try, "Junior brother, why don't you demonstrate for your senior sister?
It'll also be a good opportunity for me to see how your combat skills are now."
"A friendly spar?"
Xuan Hao raised an eyebrow.
"That's right, let's stop here."
Hu Liena raised her chin, revealing a hint of senior sister's arrogance.
"Let me show you how powerful your senior sister is, so you won't think that a Great Soul Master is easy to bully."
Xuan Hao glanced at Bibi Dong, and seeing her smile and nod in acquiescence, he grinned and said, "Alright, Senior Sister, you'd better be careful."
The two distanced themselves from each other.
"The first soul skill, golden dragon body!"
With a low shout from Xuan Hao, the deep yellow soul ring suddenly lit up.
"hold head high--"
Amidst the resounding roar of the dragon, Xuan Hao's already somewhat tattered clothes were instantly burst open by his bulging muscles.
A layer of fine golden dragon scales quickly covered his entire body, especially his arms, which became even thicker and more powerful.
His hands transformed into sharp dragon claws, and he seemed to have become a humanoid Tyrannosaurus Rex, exuding a terrifying aura.
On the other side, Hu Liena also stopped laughing and joking.
Her martial spirit manifested, and a fluffy fox tail grew from her back, making her even more charming and alluring.
"start!"