...
Looking at the stubborn child in front of her, as headstrong as a calf, and hearing the words "What if you don't want me anymore?"
Bibi Dong felt her anger extinguished as if doused with a bucket of ice water, turning into a complex and extremely bitter feeling.
This is hardly greed.
This is clearly a form of self-protection stemming from an extreme lack of security.
Like a young animal that was once abandoned, even if it is brought into a warm nest, it will still instinctively hide food for the winter in a corner, always ready to wander again.
Because he dared not gamble.
He feared that if he lost the gamble, he would be doomed.
In this dog-eat-dog world, having such an extreme sense of crisis and self-preservation is not a bad thing for an orphan.
In fact, it could be said that this sense of crisis is what will allow him to go further in the future.
But that doesn't mean she can tolerate him creating a chaotic atmosphere in the academy.
"Never mind."
Bibi Dong sighed softly, regaining her aloof papal demeanor.
"Since you have your own philosophy of survival, I'm too lazy to force you to change your mind. But remember one thing."
She extended her finger and lightly tapped Xuan Hao's forehead, her tone serious:
"I can turn a blind eye to what happens at the academy and not interfere.
But you better behave yourself!
That's the Martial Soul Academy, a place to train elites, not your den of bandits!"
"Collecting protection money is fine, but don't make it too blatant.
If anyone complains to me again, saying you've turned the academy into a mess and even disrupted the normal teaching order..."
Bibi Dong's eyes flashed with a sharp light.
"When the time comes, don't blame me for confiscating all your savings and throwing you into the Lost Canyon to compete with those real soul beasts for food!"
"You are my disciple, and your every word and action represents my reputation.
If you ruin your reputation and are ultimately criticized behind your back for failing to teach your disciple well, it will be me, as your teacher, who will be blamed!"
Xuan Hao shrank his neck. Although he had been scolded, he was overjoyed when he heard the words "turn a blind eye".
Isn't that tacit approval?
As long as it's not excessive, this protection money business can continue!
"I understand, sister! I promise I'll always be humble in my personal life but ambitious in my work! I'll strive for sustainable development and never let you down!"
"...Shut up."
Bibi Dong rolled her eyes at him, then stood up. "Come with me."
She led Xuanhao through several long corridors to a side hall located on the flank of the Papal Palace.
Although this side hall is not as luxurious as the main hall, it is still very spacious and even has a small simulated training ground, which is obviously prepared specifically for cultivation.
"For the next three days, you will stay here obediently and are not allowed to go anywhere."
Bibi Dong pointed to the empty hall, "Consider this your punishment. Reflect on your actions and calm your mind."
"Huh?
Solitary confinement?"
Xuan Hao asked with a bitter face.
"What? You think it's too lenient?
How about we go to the punishment hall and get a few more strokes?"
"No, no, no! This place is quite nice, quiet! Perfect for contemplating life!" Xuan Hao quickly waved his hand and slipped into the side hall.
Before leaving, Bibi Dong seemed to suddenly remember something, stopped, turned around, and asked:
"By the way, how's your practice of that Soul Power Meditation Technique book I gave you going?"
"It's great," Xuan Hao said. "I feel that my soul power is circulating much more smoothly than before, and that... that feeling of the two martial souls fighting each other is also much lighter."
Bibi Dong raised an eyebrow slightly.
This meditation method was specially modified by her for the characteristics of twin martial souls, and it was extremely difficult, especially in terms of the requirements for mental strength.
This kid has only been practicing for less than a month, and he can already feel the effects?
Bibi Dong walked into the side hall and closed the door. "Now, right here, perform the Martial Soul Possession, and then show me how you circulate the meditation technique."
"oh."
Xuan Hao didn't hesitate either, sitting cross-legged on the futon and taking a deep breath.
With a deep dragon roar, a brilliant golden light instantly enveloped his entire body, fine dragon scales appeared, and a domineering sense of power filled the hall.
Immediately afterwards, he closed his eyes and began to guide the flow of soul power within his body, following the special route taught by Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong stood aside, her powerful spiritual energy instantly enveloping Xuan Hao, carefully sensing the direction of every strand of soul power within his body.
The time it takes for an incense stick to burn quickly passed.
The look of surprise in Bibi Dong's eyes grew stronger.
Although he still seems somewhat immature, this child's talent for using mental power is frighteningly high. He seems to have been born knowing how to find a balance between rage and calm.
"That's fine."
Bibi Dong interrupted Xuan Hao's cultivation.
Xuan Hao slowly opened his eyes, let out a long breath, the dragon scales on his body receded, and looked at Bibi Dong with some anticipation:
"How was it?"
"It's barely passable."
Although Bibi Dong was amazed, she remained calm and even somewhat critical, saying, "You've adapted quite well, and you've basically followed the right path for circulating your soul power."
"However, your control over your mental power is still too rough, even unstable.
Just now, there were several times when, if you hadn't been lucky, that soul power would have caused you to lose your balance."
"The cultivation of twin martial souls allows no room for luck."
Bibi Dong reprimanded with a stern face, "During these three days of confinement, besides reflecting on your actions, you should focus all your energy on honing your mental strength.
Only when you can multitask will you be considered to have barely entered the field."
"Alright, I'm leaving. Someone will be bringing you meals for the next few days, so don't even think about sneaking out."
...
Two weeks later.
The gates of the Martial Soul Academy came into view once again.
What was originally just a three-day makeshift confinement was dragged out into a two-week grueling training session by Bibi Dong.
For the past two weeks, Bibi Dong has been acting like she has obsessive-compulsive disorder. If Xuan Hao's meditation deviates even slightly or his mental energy fluctuates a little too much, she will pull him out for extra practice.
Fortunately, this hellish torment is finally over.
Xuan Hao took a deep breath of the free air, but instead of rushing back to his dormitory or to his classroom, his eyes gleaming with a green light, he headed straight for the third-year teaching building like a wolf that hadn't eaten for half a month.
He only has one thing on his mind right now—money!
That day in the square, Bibi Dong carried him away like a chick. She left in such a hurry that the big iron box containing the money was still there!
The Martial Soul Academy's primary and intermediate departments together have approximately one thousand students.
According to previous investigations, about a quarter of them, or around 250 people, are Great Soul Masters of level 20 or above.
Ten gold soul coins per person, that's two thousand five hundred gold soul coins!
There are 750 lesser chickens left, one for each of them, that's 750 gold soul coins!
That adds up to 3,250 gold soul coins!
What does this mean?
He almost fought to the death with the restaurant owner over three gold soul coins.
Now I can earn more than three thousand a month!
That's 36,000 a year!
Ten years is 360,000!
This is just the current scale. Once he reaches the Great Soul Master level and develops those two hundred-plus senior students from the advanced department into "members," the monthly revenue will double!
Filled with anticipation for a bright future, Xuan Hao rushed to Hu Liena's classroom door.
It was during the break between classes.
Ignoring the teachers who hadn't yet come out, Xuan Hao clung to the doorframe, poked half his head in, and shouted at the short-haired, blond figure sitting in the first row:
"Senior Sister!!"
Hu Liena, who was organizing her notes, was so startled by the shout that her hand trembled and she dropped her pen.
She turned around abruptly and saw that familiar face with a bright smile. She was stunned for a moment, and then a look of surprise welled up in her eyes.
"Xuan Hao?!"
Hu Liena, not even bothering to pick up her pen, hurriedly got up and ran out, pulling Xuan Hao up and down and looking him over with concern in her eyes, "You're finally back! Why were you gone for so long?
Didn't you say you were only locked up for three days?"
"You've lost weight... Did the teacher punish you severely? Did they hit you?"
Seeing Hu Liena's genuine concern, Xuan Hao felt a warmth in his heart.
But the next second, this warm feeling was dissipated by the stench of money.
He grabbed Hu Liena's wrist with his other hand, his eyes gleaming, and asked urgently:
"Senior sister, none of this matters!"
"Where's my suitcase?!"
"Where's my money?!"
Hu Liena: "..."
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