Chapter 18: The Secret Chamber

Chapter 18: The Secret Chamber

“Nar, you go ahead. You two, step back as well.”

“Yes!” The two Douluo disciples bowed and withdrew.

“All right, Teacher.” Before leaving, Hu Liena cast a long, curious glance at the astonishing young junior brother. Her eyes were full of intrigue.

Curiosity often marks the beginning of a path with no return. (Don’t ask me why. You’ve come to Douluo, yet you haven’t picked up a couple more girlfriends? Aren’t beast-eared girls delightful? But I’ll do my best to craft the romance well—after all, I’ve been reading novels for over ten years!)

After seeing Hu Liena off, Bibi Dong turned to Zhong Yan beside her and said calmly, “Follow me.” With that, she turned and walked away.

“Yes, Teacher.” Zhong Yan quickened his pace to follow behind her.

After passing through several corridors, they arrived at her study. Zhong Yan looked around curiously at the books. There were many—though it was just a study, the number of books here rivaled that of the Notting Academy’s library.

“You originally studied in Notting City, which is just a small town. I imagine your theoretical foundation is not very strong. You’ll have plenty of time to read these books later. For now, come with me,” Bibi Dong’s voice came from beside him. Zhong Yan turned to see that she had opened a small door. He distinctly remembered that when they entered, that spot was just a bookshelf.

Could it be a secret chamber?

Zhong Yan shook his head to clear his thoughts. Seeing Bibi Dong’s figure nearly disappear, he hurried to catch up.

After descending an unknown number of steps, they reached a small door. Bibi Dong placed her hand on it, channeling a soul power; the door immediately opened.

Inside, the secret chamber contained only a table and two chairs. There might have been other things, but clearly, they were not visible to Zhong Yan at this moment.

With a wave of her hand, Bibi Dong summoned a cabinet, placing the scepter that symbolized the Pope’s authority inside. Another wave made the cabinet vanish.

Witnessing this, Zhong Yan thought silently, Some things are beyond my sight. Perhaps there’s a bed here, and maybe the teacher often trains or rests here.

Bibi Dong walked over to the table, pulled out a chair, and sat down. She said to Zhong Yan, “Come, sit here too. This secret chamber has a special barrier that isolates sound. Some things are inconvenient to say outside, but here you can speak freely without fear of others overhearing. You’re my disciple now; whatever troubles you have, I will help you resolve them.”

“Yes.” Zhong Yan pulled out a chair and sat across from Bibi Dong.

“First, release your Martial Soul for me to see, along with your soul rings.”

A golden light flashed, and the Spear of Piercing Rainbow appeared in Zhong Yan’s hand. One yellow soul ring and another yellow-purple one manifested on his body.

Bibi Dong looked at the spear and then at the soul rings. “How many years is your second soul ring?”

“Nine hundred ninety-nine years.” Zhong Yan, now like a good student, was attentive before Bibi Dong. Compared to a grandmaster’s knowledge, his own was insignificant. Now was the time to listen well and learn well.

“Do you know the maximum limit for the second soul ring worn outside?”

“Seven hundred sixty-four years.”

“Since your second soul ring exceeds that limit, I suppose you’ve already guessed why.”

“Yes. The stronger one’s physical constitution, the longer the soul ring they can withstand.”

“Hmm, not bad. In fact, the limit for the second soul ring is indeed 764 years, myself included. This limit is the maximum most soul masters can reach. To strengthen the body, a soul master can either train themselves or rely on soul bones. The former takes time to be effective, and the second soul ring comes too early. The latter is too rare; even if available, no soul master at the first ring’s level can absorb a soul bone’s power.” Bibi Dong looked deeply at Zhong Yan and continued, “But you’re different. Do you know why?”

Zhong Yan smiled faintly. “I know, Teacher. It’s because of a god.”

Bibi Dong was somewhat surprised by his words. “I thought you didn’t know. After all, your strength is still weak. I only assumed a god favored you. Any divine trials should wait until you reach the Soul Emperor level.”

Actually, Zhong Yan had no choice but to say so; otherwise, he couldn’t convince this captivating teacher to allow him a third soul ring for ten thousand years.

“Teacher, when I was young, before awakening my Martial Soul, one night I dreamed of a god covered in golden light. He said, ‘Child, go do what you wish, and overthrow this world.’” Zhong Yan told Bibi Dong this small lie, as he couldn’t explain the existence of the God’s Heart, nor did he understand its origin. (This is a foreshadowing that I will slowly develop—perhaps after finishing Douluo, I might write about traveling across different worlds.)

Bibi Dong felt a twinge of complexity and envy in her heart—so easily favored by a god. But as the Pope, she quickly composed herself.

“Have you taken the divine trials?”

“Yes, and I’ve completed the second trial, which greatly enhanced my physical constitution.”

“Hmm? Come here, let me see how much your body has been strengthened.” Bibi Dong didn’t ask about the contents of the trials—that was improper, as it concerned a god.

Zhong Yan stood and approached Bibi Dong. She grabbed one of his hands, held his wrist firmly, and infused soul power into it. “Don’t resist.”

As the soul power flowed gradually, Bibi Dong grew increasingly astonished. This child truly has a blessed fate.

(End of chapter)