Chapter 54: Preparing to Leave
"Tell me, what exactly is that soul skill of yours?" Bibi Dong's gaze turned sharp as she looked at Luo Ling.
This disciple of hers was growing bolder by the day, keeping more and more secrets from his teacher.
He clearly needed a proper lesson.
Luo Ling's two fourth spirit rings had been acquired with the help of Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo, but Bibi Dong hadn't gone herself, so she didn't know the details.
With a helpless sigh, and under Bibi Dong's icy stare that warned him of consequences if he stayed silent, Luo Ling began explaining.
…
"So, your fourth soul skill can detonate the spirit thread, turning the target into a living corpse?"
"And after fusion, it adds a contagious madness plague?"
Bibi Dong's voice trembled slightly in surprise. Qian Daoliu, beside her, looked grim.
"Pretty much," Luo Ling said with a shrug.
Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu exchanged glances. The ability was undeniably evil.
They both understood what this meant.
The spirit thread represented the essence of a person's soul — everyone had one.
If Luo Ling released that plague in an ordinary city, couldn't it easily drive an entire population insane and destroy everything?
And once it spread beyond the city, it could engulf an entire nation — even the continent.
Sure, powerful Soul Masters might resist it, but the majority of the world was made up of ordinary people.
This was even more terrifying than the poison arts of Dugu Bo, the Poison Titled Douluo. And yet, Luo Ling was just a Soul Sect!
Both Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu grasped the true magnitude of the threat.
Staring at him intently, Bibi Dong spoke in a stern voice, "Xiao Ling, you must never use that ability unless absolutely necessary."
Luo Ling nodded. He understood perfectly well.
"Teacher doesn't need to worry too much," he said calmly. "The madness plague does have its limits. It consumes the target's spiritual power. Once their spiritual power runs out, the plague ends."
He explained further, and both Bibi Dong and Qian Daoliu nodded. That limitation capped the skill's potential — though even its lower limits were terrifying enough.
After that, Luo Ling no longer appeared at the Great Spirit Arena.
The Strange Magician disappeared completely, but his legend continued to echo throughout Spirit City.
…
One month later.
In the Pope's Hall, within the council chamber.
"Rongrong, you've been with Spirit Hall for three years now, haven't you?"
Bibi Dong sat upon the Papal throne, her voice calm as she looked at Ning Rongrong below.
"Yes, it's been three years," Ning Rongrong answered softly.
She knew what Bibi Dong meant. Three years had passed, and it was time for her to return to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
Her gaze drifted toward Luo Ling, Hu Liena, and the others beside them.
Those three years had made them close friends — and parting now filled her with reluctance.
Her eyes lingered on Luo Ling for a long time. The person who had once forced her from her home didn't seem so bad anymore.
Spirit Hall wasn't as tyrannical as the rumors claimed. She had been genuinely happy there.
Meeting her eyes, Luo Ling smiled.
Over those years, he had quietly worked his way into her thoughts. Ning Rongrong might not yet be wholly devoted to Spirit Hall — but at least half her heart belonged to it now.
"As agreed," Bibi Dong continued, "in a few days, I'll have Elder Ghost escort you back to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan."
Ning Rongrong lowered her head slightly, disappointment clouding her face. She glanced at Luo Ling, wanting to say something, but hesitating into silence.
Just as her hopes dimmed, Luo Ling stepped forward.
"Teacher, let me accompany her," he said.
The room fell silent.
Bibi Dong frowned. Ning Rongrong's eyes brightened with joy, while Hu Liena's lips puffed up in protest.
"Xiao Ling, Elder Ghost can escort her. Why do you need to go?" Bibi Dong asked, studying him carefully.
Was her disciple perhaps interested in the little girl from the Seven Treasures Clan? The thought unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
Their social statuses matched well enough — yet something about it irritated her.
"Teacher, I actually want to go train for a while," Luo Ling explained.
Tang San and Yu Xiaogang were going to Shrek soon, and the next Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament was in two years. After staying low-profile for so long, it was time to take action — and he couldn't let Yu Xiaogang live comfortably.
"Training?" Bibi Dong frowned slightly.
"Yes. My strength is already enough to contend with a Soul Sage or two. Even if I encounter a Contra or Titled Douluo, I can at least escape unharmed," Luo Ling said calmly.
It wasn't an exaggeration.
When using Martial Soul Fusion, he could easily fight a Soul Sage without their true form; and if needed, he could vanish entirely with his Ghost Concealment — unseen, untouchable.
"And," he added, "I did promise Teacher that I'd avenge you. The next tournament is in two years, and that man's already taken a disciple with innate full soul power."
Only then did Bibi Dong recall that name she'd long since forgotten.
Thinking of Yu Xiaogang stirred no emotion in her now. She had seen through him years ago — to her, he was nothing more than a waste.
If her disciple wanted to use that waste for a bit of amusement, she'd allow it.
"Very well," she said finally. "But take care of yourself."
Ning Rongrong's face lit up with joy. She didn't understand most of what had been said, but one thing was clear — Luo Ling would be joining her.
Hu Liena, however, couldn't stay silent. "Teacher! I want to go with Xiao Ling too!" she cried.
"Senior Nana, it's better if you stay in Spirit City," Luo Ling said before Bibi Dong could reply.
He couldn't drag her along while scheming against Yu Xiaogang and Tang San.
Hu Liena's eyes reddened instantly, tears welling in them. "Xiao Ling, don't you want your senior sister anymore?"
Luo Ling sighed, stepping forward to pull her into his arms.
"How could I not? Senior Sister Nana, I just have important matters to handle. I promise — after the next Spirit Master Tournament, I'll come back."
"But that's two whole years!" Hu Liena said through tears.
Luo Ling didn't know what to say. After six years together in Spirit Hall, he understood her feelings for him clearly.
Once this little fox fell in love, she would never let go — like in the original story, where she had even defied Spirit Hall for Tang San.
A woman in love could be blind. Yet, how could he coldly reject someone who loved him so deeply?
After a long silence, under everyone's astonished eyes, Luo Ling cupped Hu Liena's face and gently kissed her.
It lasted about a minute before they finally parted.
Hu Liena stood frozen in place, staring blankly at him.
"This is my mark on you," Luo Ling said softly. "From now on, you belong to me. I promise — I'll come back."
Ning Rongrong watched with a shadowed look in her eyes.
Bibi Dong's expression remained calm, but her hand tightened unconsciously around her scepter.
Xie Yue sighed helplessly, seeing his little sister claimed before his eyes, while Yan looked down, eyes filled with quiet disappointment.
"…Then it's a promise," Hu Liena whispered at last, throwing herself back into Luo Ling's arms.
(END CHAPTER)
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