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"Your Majesty the Supreme Pontiff, that is the sum of Su Wen's theory."
In just two short days, Salas had already traveled day and night to Spirit City. He was currently in the Pope's Palace, reporting the news about Su Wen.
"A theory on absorbing spirit rings that exceed the limit?" Bibi Dong, clad in her pontifical robes, emanated a powerful aura, giving off an inexplicable sense of oppression.
"Why did you not bring Su Wen back?" she demanded.
Salas's heart tightened. "Su Wen expressed his intention to join Tian Dou Royal Academy. This subordinate also wished to report this intelligence as quickly as possible, so I did not bring him along."
"Is it possible that my Spirit Hall cannot provide him with the best environment for growth?" Chrysanthemum Douluo snorted coldly, his voice sharp and high-pitched. "Hmph, Salas, do you truly believe Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff cannot see through your petty little schemes?"
Regardless of the reason, keeping Su Wen in Tian Dou City meant he would remain under Salas's command. In the future, if Su Wen produced any more theories, Salas would get a share of the credit.
Salas hurriedly dropped to one knee, begging for pardon. "Your Majesty, please quell your anger! Su Wen possesses a Book Spirit, and he wishes to walk the path of a combat Spirit Master. The Spirit Master who has achieved the most with a Book Spirit, the 'Fire Demon' Xiao Zhan, is an instructor at Tian Dou Royal Academy. Su Wen's purpose for joining is precisely him. And besides, the Tian Dou Royal Academy is fundamentally the Crown Prince's—"
"Hmph."
A tyrannical surge of spirit power erupted from Bibi Dong, instantly suppressing Salas so intensely that he dared not speak another word.
"Salas, are you making decisions on my behalf?"
"I would not dare." Sweat began to form on Salas's forehead. He was inwardly a nervous wreck.
The hall fell silent for a long time.
"You have performed a service by discovering Su Wen. The benefit of his theory to my Spirit Hall is undeniable. Since he possesses a talent for theoretical research and also claims to be skilled at converting knowledge into power... then let him join Tian Dou Royal Academy." She hesitated for a moment, then continued, "There is no need to rush him into making contact with the Tian Dou Crown Prince."
"Yes!" Salas breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his brow as he replied.
"As for the other peculiarities of his Book Spirit, pay them no mind. It should merely be the latent aspects of a spirit mutation that are gradually manifesting through cultivation." Bibi Dong thus laid Su Wen's other anomalies to rest.
Neither Salas, Chrysanthemum Douluo, nor Ghost Douluo found any issue with this explanation.
Indeed, Su Wen's Book Spirit was registered as just an ordinary Book Spirit at the start, yet both his cultivation speed and other factors far exceeded the level his spirit should have displayed. However, his innate spirit power was a solid five levels, so it had to be a mutated Book Spirit; the mutation's characteristics were just well-hidden. As expected of Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff, her understanding of spirits is truly profound.
As for the coincidence of Su Wen delaying for a long time right before acquiring his spirit rings twice, Salas no longer intended to bring it up.
After all, the records themselves provided reasons. For the first spirit ring, he wanted a hundred-year one, so he waited a year. For the second spirit ring, he wanted a spiritual attribute and was making preparations, so he waited half a year. The facts proved that Su Wen had not truly wasted his time on either occasion and had successfully achieved his goals.
Su Wen stayed at the Tian Dou City Spirit Holy Temple for five days, by which time Salas had returned from Spirit City.
"Lord Hall Master," Bai Yuan said respectfully.
Salas nodded and inquired about Su Wen's activities over the past few days.
"He has been studying the materials in the Holy Temple's archives, and has now basically finished reading them all."
"Oh?" Salas was surprised.
Even if Spirit Hall's branch halls in the frontier cities had libraries that were fairly comprehensive, the gap when compared to the Holy Temple was still enormous. Finishing all the materials in the Spirit Holy Temple in just five days?
Bai Yuan revealed a smile. He was very optimistic about this junior who also possessed a Book Spirit. He had been particularly impressed during his conversations with Su Wen, won over by Su Wen's many unique insights regarding spirit cultivation.
"Lord Hall Master, this Su Wen's Book Spirit must have mutated; its enhancement to his learning is extremely large."
Bai Yuan placed special emphasis on the word "extremely."
This enhancement was more pronounced, more unnatural, than that of any Book Spirit Bai Yuan had ever seen.
Salas pondered for a moment before getting to the main business. "Bai Yuan, your relationship with Xiao Zhan at Tian Dou Royal Academy is quite good. Su Wen wishes to join the academy, so I'll leave it to you to handle the relevant procedures for him."
The so-called 'noble status' didn't necessarily mean Su Wen himself had to be a noble; it could also be obtained through connections.
Having connections with one of the academy's own instructors, in itself, spoke to one's status.
"Yes." Bai Yuan had already learned of this during his conversations with Su Wen. He had no problem accepting the task Salas now gave him.
As fellow Spirit Masters with Book Spirits, his relationship with Xiao Zhan was quite good—one was a theorist, the other a combatant. Xiao Zhan's ability to grow to where he was today was due in no small part to Bai Yuan's advice on his spirit ring configuration.
"You should be aware of Su Wen's theory on exceeding-limit spirit ring absorption, right?"
Bai Yuan's heart skipped a beat. Looking at Salas's expression, he wondered, Could it be wrong for me to know this theory?
Su Wen told me himself.
"Do not leak it for the time being. This is the will of Her Majesty the Supreme Pontiff."
"Yes, Lord Hall Master, rest assured. My lips are sealed."
"Su Wen, Bai Yuan will arrange the procedures for you to join Tian Dou Royal Academy."
"Yes, thank you, Lord Hall Master." Su Wen breathed a sigh of relief.
The plan is working.
Salas and the Pope thought he had just stumbled into a situation where he could be conveniently placed under Qian Renxue's command. But Su Wen had known this all along, which was precisely why he chose this path. However, Bibi Dong's instability was notorious, so Su Wen couldn't be certain his plan would actually succeed. Only now, hearing Salas's directive, did he finally let out his breath. "So, the next step is to make contact with Dugu Bo via Dugu Yan."
"Uncle Bai, I'll have to trouble you."
"Haha, it's no trouble at all. You want to walk the path of a combat Spirit Master with a Book Spirit, and you clearly have the talent for it. Old Xiao himself probably won't mind teaching you."
Bai Yuan brought Su Wen to the front of a residence in Tian Dou City.
Fire Demon Xiao Zhan. Spirit: Fire Demon Book. Rank: Spirit Saint. Position: Tian Dou Royal Academy, Tian Dou-level Instructor.
"Old Bai, this must be the Su Wen you mentioned?"
"That's right." Bai Yuan turned to Su Wen. "Little Wen, this is Xiao Zhan, the man who used a Book Spirit to become a power-attack type Spirit Master and earned the title 'Fire Demon'."
"Haha, just call me Uncle Zhan."
"Uncle Zhan."
It was clear that Xiao Zhan's personality was very direct and incredibly enthusiastic. He was also clearly very curious about Su Wen.
"An eleven-year-old Grand Spirit Master! Haha, I never dared to imagine that we Spirit Masters with Book Spirits could have such a fast cultivation speed." Xiao Zhan clapped Su Wen on the shoulder, his face full of admiration.
"Leave the matter of you joining Tian Dou Royal Academy to me. As a Tian Dou-level instructor, I have that qualification, and your talent is more than sufficient."
Xiao Zhan's face turned serious, and he instructed Su Wen: "Little Wen, you were introduced by Old Bai, and your talent is extraordinary. I have high hopes for you. You must not become arrogant or complacent. After joining the academy, you must cultivate diligently."
"Uncle Zhan, you can rest assured. I will cultivate properly."
"Mm." Xiao Zhan nodded, and said: "You have already absorbed two spirit rings. What are their spirit skills, and what are their effects? If a Book Spirit wants to walk the path of a combat Spirit Master, every single spirit ring is crucial."
Only if they were suitable would he consider taking Su Wen under his wing.
What he had promised before was merely to help Su Wen enroll in the academy.
He deeply understood the hardships of walking the combat Spirit Master path with a Book Spirit. If Su Wen's first two spirit rings weren't configured well, he would rather persuade him to abandon this path entirely.
(End of this chapter)