7: First Battle

“Bishop Coste, the Ten Core Competencies of Spirits that I proposed can absolutely overturn existing theories, and they hold very significant meaning for aspects such as Spirit Fusion Skills, twin spirits, and the limit ratio of spirit rings.”

“Could you please allow me to meet with the Supreme Pontiff? I would like to personally explain my theory to him.”

“Mr. Yu Xiaogang, it’s not that I’m unwilling to accommodate you, it’s just that His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff is truly busy with countless affairs and simply has no time to see you.”

Coste was merely a Purple-Robed Bishop; how could he directly contact the Supreme Pontiff Qian Xunji?

Moreover, he scoffed at Yu Xiaogang’s theory, or rather, most people shared the same attitude towards his theory.

“Then could you please help me contact Her Holiness the Saintess? I heard someone say that she seems to be interested in my theory.”

Yu Xiaogang persisted, unwilling to give up.

He had learned this news from the Library Pavilion of Spirit Hall.

The guards there said that Her Holiness the Saintess used to frequent the Library Pavilion, but ever since she adopted Mo Yuhan a year ago, she hardly had any time or interest to personally consult ancient texts in the Library Pavilion anymore.

Therefore, Yu Xiaogang speculated that Bibi Dong might also be interested in his theory.

When the Saintess was mentioned, Coste was clearly hesitant.

What if Her Holiness the Saintess was truly interested in this good-for-nothing’s theory? Wouldn’t he be punished by Her Holiness the Saintess if he obstructed it?

Just as Coste was in a dilemma, a tender voice came to his rescue: “My aunt has long studied this theory, and even I understand it more thoroughly than you. How could she possibly need you to show off?”

“Young Master Mo!”

Coste breathed a sigh of relief, fawningly stepping forward to greet Mo Yuhan: “Why are you here today, Young Master? Did Her Holiness the Saintess have something to instruct your subordinate?”

“I just saw Mr. Yu Xiaogang passing by the training grounds and found it interesting, so I came.”

Mo Yuhan casually sat on a reclining chair, not even looking at Yu Xiaogang.

This made Yu Xiaogang feel like he was losing face.

He had left the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan precisely to prove himself.

But now, a mere child, still wet behind the ears, ignored him like this and even spoke to negate his painstakingly developed theory.

How could he endure this?

“Little fellow, though I, Yu Xiaogang, may not have been born as nobly as you, do not speak too grandly. You have only studied in Spirit Hall for a few years; how could you possibly understand a theory I’ve immersed myself in for several years more thoroughly than I do?”

Mo Yuhan was waiting for precisely that sentence.

During his years in Spirit Hall, to prevent Yu Xiaogang from using his theory to lead Bibi Dong astray again, he had delved quite deeply into the theory.

He could use Bibi Dong’s authority to read many forbidden books in the Library Pavilion, and thus his understanding could be more complete than Yu Xiaogang’s theory.

The two of them thus engaged in a heated debate in the Purple-Robed Bishop’s reception hall.

However, very quickly, Yu Xiaogang gradually fell into a disadvantage, and in the end, he was left speechless by Mo Yuhan’s retorts.

“You, how could you possibly understand these things better than me?! I haven’t even fully published these theories yet!”

Yu Xiaogang felt utterly despairing.

A tender child, no more than seven or eight years old, actually understood his own theories better than him.

This despair made his heart turn cold for a moment.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Bishop Coste. I intend to resign from my position as an external consultant at the research institute. Please help me notify them. I will now travel across the continent to gather materials, and I will prove myself!”

Yu Xiaogang left his last words in Spirit Hall and silently departed from the Purple-Robed Bishop’s reception hall.

Coste didn’t kick him while he was down; he just pursed his lips as he watched Yu Xiaogang’s retreating figure.

A good-for-nothing expelled from his clan; if Spirit Hall hadn't been in a period of rapid development, extensively recruiting talent, how could he have been taken in with his resume?

With the hidden danger of Yu Xiaogang completely resolved, Mo Yuhan finally felt at ease.

…

Another year passed. Mo Yuhan had just celebrated his eighth birthday, and on this day, his Soul Power finally broke through to level twenty, and his Dou Qi also reached the peak of the tenth stage.

As long as he obtains a spirit ring, he can become a qualified Dou Zhe (Spirit Grandmaster)!

“Aunt, are you actually accompanying me personally to hunt for a spirit ring today? I’m so happy!”

Mo Yuhan hugged Bibi Dong’s waist. His height was just at Bibi Dong’s waist, and with a slight lift of his head, he could touch the lower curve of her chest.

Bibi Dong had gradually matured, and her temperament had become increasingly graceful, noble, and composed.

Gently stroking Mo Yuhan’s cheek, she said, “When you’re tired from cultivation, occasionally going out for a change of scenery helps improve your state of mind.”

“Hehe… Xiao Han, Her Holiness the Saintess actually pushed aside a mountain of affairs specifically for you.”

Chrysanthemum Douluo chuckled.

This earned him a calm look from Bibi Dong.

Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately covered his mouth and pleaded, “Your Holiness, I spoke out of turn…”

Mo Yuhan shook the small hand held by Bibi Dong, blinking: “Aunt is so good!”

“Aunt, squat down.”

“Hmm?”

Bibi Dong squatted down, and her fair, cool cheek was kissed with a smack. Her aloof eyes helplessly softened into a trace of tenderness.

“Your Holiness, we have arrived.”

This time, only Bibi Dong and the Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo were still helping Mo Yuhan hunt for a spirit ring.

Such a personnel configuration, just to help Mo Yuhan obtain a second spirit ring, would surely drop countless jaws if word got out.

“Thank you, two Elders.”

The Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately dispersed to help Mo Yuhan search for a suitable spirit ring.

Because Mo Yuhan only wanted a thousand-year spirit ring, they did not go deep into the Star Dou Great Forest.

So it wasn't particularly dangerous.

Mo Yuhan decided to explore the vicinity alone.

Bibi Dong also had the idea of testing Mo Yuhan’s practical combat skills on this trip, so she let him leave alone.

Anyway, within a hundred li radius, the Ghost and Chrysanthemum Douluo could arrive to support him at any time.

As Mo Yuhan walked through the Star Dou Great Forest, ancient trees, thousands of years old, were everywhere, blocking out the sun. The damp, cold air emanating from the humus layer, mixed with the musky scent of plants, felt like a heavy lead ball pressing down on his chest.

Every step Mo Yuhan took landed on the thick, soft fallen leaves, making a faint “crunch” sound.

It had to be said that the ecology here was indeed very good, but precisely because it was too primitive, it also meant it was full of dangers.

Roar—

A roar. The vigilant Mo Yuhan had already sensed it.

His small body tensed, his level twenty Soul Power, like a thin veil, seemed exceptionally fragile on the edge of this perilous mixed zone.

Suddenly, the dense fern thicket on his left shook violently without warning!

“Roar—!”

Another low, brutal roar completely tore through the forest’s silence, and a huge black shadow, reeking of blood, lunged out like an arrow from a bowstring!

Mo Yuhan turned and retreated at extreme speed, clearly seeing the true culprit of the ambush—it was a Ghost-Patterned Tiger. Its body was close to that of an adult elephant, and its pitch-black fur was covered with twisted, pale white patterns, like the claw marks of a malevolent Spirit.

Its tiger eyes were blood-red like a setting sun, flickering with cruel and hungry light, and its gaze lingered on Mo Yuhan’s vulnerable neck.

This Spirit Beast, with such a physique, had at least sixteen hundred years of cultivation. It was already an outstanding thousand-year Spirit Beast. For an ordinary level twenty Spirit Master, encountering such a fierce beast would likely mean certain death.

Whoosh—

The sound of wind swept past his ears, astonishingly fast!

Mo Yuhan could even see the drooling, pale fangs.

However, there was not the slightest panic in Mo Yuhan’s dark eyes, only a kind of almost ruthless focus.