Chapter 15: Hu Liena, the Saintess of Spirit Hall
Bibi Dong observed Yuki closely after Su Chen left, her sharp eyes locked on his summoned martial spirit, the Demon God Double Guns. She raised her scepter slightly and said in a calm, commanding tone, "Use your strongest attack on me right now. Don't hold back."
Yuki was momentarily stunned by her words but quickly collected himself. With a deep breath, he activated his martial spirit, summoning his soul ring. "Enchantment – Explosion!" he whispered.
The next moment, Yuki raised his dual pistols and aimed directly at Bibi Dong. The air vibrated as he pulled the trigger.
"Boom!" The bullet fired exploded upon impact with Bibi Dong's scepter. A translucent blue energy shield materialized in front of her, absorbing the force of the blast with ease. Flames from the explosion dissipated quickly, leaving only faint scorch marks on the floor.
Bibi Dong stood unfazed, lowering her scepter and observing Yuki. "Your attack is powerful—fast, precise. It's hard to defend against if caught off-guard," she began, her tone critical yet measured. "But it's too loud. If you're in a covert situation, you'll reveal your position instantly. You must learn to control this flaw."
Her words carried weight, making Yuki feel a mix of pressure and pride. The critique only reinforced the immense gap between them.
"However," she continued, "your martial spirit has immense potential. Combined with your innate full soul power, it's clear you belong here. Stay in Spirit Hall and cultivate your abilities. Whether you can reach greater heights depends solely on your effort."
As her voice echoed in the grand hall, Bibi Dong suddenly turned toward one of the stone pillars. Her expression darkened slightly. "Hu Liena, stop hiding and come out. You're the Saintess of Spirit Hall; this kind of behavior is unbecoming."
Startled, Yuki's gaze followed Bibi Dong's. A young girl stepped out from behind the pillar, her mischievous smile accompanied by a soft laugh. She appeared to be two or three years older than Yuki. Her silver hair shimmered as she approached, her amber eyes gleaming with playfulness.
"Master, you always catch me!" she said, sticking out her tongue before bowing respectfully.
"Is this… Hu Liena?" Yuki thought as he glanced at her.
Bibi Dong sighed, shaking her head. "You're always like this. Take Yuki to his dormitory. Make sure he knows where to go."
With a flick of her wrist, Bibi Dong summoned a golden badge. She tossed it to Yuki. "This is your new badge. Discard your old one—it's of no use now."
As Yuki caught the badge, Bibi Dong added, "You're dismissed. Go."
Yuki bowed respectfully before following Hu Liena out of the hall. As they walked, Hu Liena suddenly snatched the badge from Yuki's hand, examining it closely. Her eyes widened in shock.
"This is the Reserve Divine Son Badge!" she exclaimed. "Do you know what this means? Right now, you're the only one in Spirit Hall with this status. As long as you don't mess up, you're guaranteed to rise to the rank of Divine Son—the future leader of Spirit Hall."
Hu Liena returned the badge, a sly smile playing on her lips. "My name is Hu Liena, Spirit Hall's Saintess. Unlike you, though, I earned my title officially. Also, my master is Bibi Dong, our supreme leader."
Yuki nodded politely. "My name is Yuki. I look forward to learning from you."
Hu Liena extended her hand, which Yuki shook firmly. Her hand was soft and warm, and for a moment, Yuki unconsciously tightened his grip.
"Hey!" Hu Liena puffed her cheeks and shot him an annoyed look. "That hurts!"
Yuki quickly released her hand, apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry, Hu Liena! I didn't mean to hurt you."
"Hmph! Be careful next time," she said, turning her back to him with a small huff. Despite her annoyance, a faint smile lingered on her lips.
They continued walking until they reached the dormitory area. "Use your soul power on the badge to see which room you've been assigned," Hu Liena instructed.
Yuki did as told, infusing the badge with a small amount of his soul power. The number 507 appeared in glowing red characters.
"507, huh?" Hu Liena murmured, tapping her chin thoughtfully. She grabbed Yuki's arm and pulled him along. "Follow me! I know where it is."
As they walked, Hu Liena began explaining. "In Spirit Hall, your cultivation is mostly self-driven. If you need guidance, you can visit the library or ask the administrators there. Also, when it's time to hunt for a spirit ring, you'll need to apply for assistance. But approval is rare, so most of us form teams and go together."
After a few minutes, they stopped in front of a door labeled 507. "Here it is!" Hu Liena said, gesturing toward the door. "Just hold your badge to the handle for three seconds, and it'll unlock. Oh, and don't forget—tomorrow there's an event for Spirit Hall members. Don't be late! I'll come to fetch you in the morning to make sure you don't get lost."
She paused and pointed to a distant building. "If you're hungry, the cafeteria is straight ahead. Turn left at the first fork, then right at the next two forks. Got it? Also, my dorm is Room 555. Come find me if you need anything!" With a cheerful wave, Hu Liena skipped away.
Yuki stood there for a moment, watching her disappear into the distance. Shaking his head with a small smile, he placed his badge against the door handle. The door unlocked with a soft click, and he stepped inside.
The room was spacious and well-furnished, with a large bed, a built-in wardrobe, and two closed doors that likely led to a bathroom and storage space. Yuki dropped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling.
"I can't believe I'm here," he muttered. "From dying in my old world to joining the most powerful force in this one… it all feels like a dream."
After a moment, he sighed and smiled faintly. "One step at a time. As long as I don't lose sight of myself, I'll find my way forward."
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