Soul Land: Bibi Dong Is My Martial Soul

"I'll wait until I break through to Rank 30 and become a Spirit Elder!"

"Once I reach Spirit Elder level, my strength will improve significantly. With your help to scout the map and avoid ten-thousand-year spirit beasts, I can sneak into Poison Douluo's lair as long as we confirm he's not inside."

Su Mo smiled as he spoke.

For this, he would need Bibi Dong's assistance.

Whether it was navigating the Sunset Forest, locating the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, or ensuring Poison Douluo's absence before sneaking in, he would need Bibi Dong's help.

As for the poisonous barrier Poison Douluo had set around the perimeter, Su Mo wasn't concerned.

After all, he possessed the Eight Spider Lances external spirit bone, which could absorb all external toxins, allowing him to strengthen the Eight Spider Lances while preventing poisoning.

"Breaking through to Spirit Elder…"

Hearing Su Mo's plan, Bibi Dong paused in contemplation.

Reaching Spirit Elder level and venturing alone into Sunset Forest would be dangerous, given the numerous ten-thousand-year spirit beasts lurking there.

At his current level, Su Mo would face significant danger if he encountered such a beast.

However, with her scouting, she could minimize the risk of Su Mo running into a ten-thousand-year spirit beast.

Plus, knowing Su Mo had the Eight Spider Lances, he would likely escape even if he encountered a persistent beast, thanks to his strong physical constitution and the added boost from the Lances.

"In that case, you should hurry up with your cultivation. Knowing about such treasures means the sooner you find them, the better!"

Agreeing with Su Mo's plan, Bibi Dong reminded him to focus on his cultivation.

"I know!"

"By the way, since my Eight Spider Lances can absorb spirit beast energy to increase my spirit power, can I use them for training?"

Su Mo nodded, then asked Bibi Dong if he could leverage the Eight Spider Lances' absorption ability to speed up his cultivation.

He remembered that in the original story, Tang San had used the Eight Spider Lances to absorb certain spirit beasts, but mostly to enhance the Lances.

Those were primarily spider-type beasts, with the exception of the Deep Sea Demon Whale King.

Tang San also used it in battles to replenish his energy, but Su Mo's focus now was leveling up his spirit power, so he asked if Bibi Dong thought it was a viable shortcut.

From his studies, he knew using absorption abilities for faster cultivation was generally unwise.

"Using the Eight Spider Lances' absorption to speed up training?"

Bibi Dong frowned at the suggestion, her initial response being a firm no.

Although she had once absorbed large amounts of spirit power from others to pass her Rakshasa God trials, she didn't advocate taking shortcuts in cultivation.

"Relying on absorption to boost cultivation speed is a path often taken by fallen or evil spirit masters," she explained.

"These are usually spirit masters with poor martial talent who resort to such methods. Those with real talent avoid shortcuts!"

"Doing so risks mental instability and can easily lead to madness. Even if it doesn't, it still corrupts one's mind."

"But if it's just for getting to Rank 30, I suppose it's fine for you."

"Your mental strength is exceptional, so it's unlikely to affect you too much. Just avoid absorbing anything from ten-thousand-year beasts."

"Still, after Rank 30, I recommend against continuing this method. Taking shortcuts isn't ideal."

"You have twin martial souls, and you've trained your physique. Once you reach Rank 90 and become a Titled Douluo, you'll be able to rapidly advance by adding spirit rings to your second martial soul. That's the safest approach."

Bibi Dong carefully analyzed the pros and cons, ultimately giving her conditional approval.

"Being able to use it until Rank 30 is more than enough!"

Su Mo grinned.

He knew shortcuts weren't ideal, but given the importance of reaching Poison Douluo's lair early, he felt it was worth it.

Initially worried, Su Mo felt reassured after hearing Bibi Dong's assessment.

…

After their match against Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, the Shrek team earned their silver badges.

Everyone on the team received individual silver badges, advancing to Silver Spirit Fighters.

Besides Su Mo, who had already earned a gold badge, Tang San also received a gold badge for maintaining an undefeated record in both solo and duo matches, just like Su Mo.

Xiao Wu fell just short of the required points since she had lost to Su Mo in the solo matches.

In the original story, Xiao Wu and Tang San's records were identical, yet only Tang San received the gold badge, while Xiao Wu didn't. Su Mo wondered how her points were calculated.

With Shrek's members earning silver badges, Yu Xiaogang's second phase of special training was completed ahead of schedule.

Yu Xiaogang had initially estimated three months, but they had finished in just one.

"I believe you all know by now that Shrek Academy will be joining Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."

"The second phase of your training was planned for three months, but you've completed it ahead of schedule!"

"This is excellent work; even I didn't expect you to do so well!"

"For the next two months, rest and focus on cultivating your spirit power. The third phase of training will resume once you're at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."

After gathering Su Mo and the others, Yu Xiaogang laid out the new arrangements.

"Really, Master?"

"Awesome…"

"Finally, some time to relax…"

Hearing Yu Xiaogang's words, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and the others were thrilled, both because of Yu Xiaogang's praise and the prospect of a two-month break.

Swoosh~

As soon as Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, Bibi Dong suddenly appeared beside Su Mo.

"Shameless!"

"Acting all noble when the truth is, Shrek can't find any worthy opponents at the Great Spirit Arena in Suotuo City. Continued team battles wouldn't yield much training benefit!"

Bibi Dong had appeared just to criticize Yu Xiaogang after hearing his words.

"Shameless, useless!"

After muttering a couple of insults, Bibi Dong returned to Su Mo.

Su Mo couldn't help but laugh at the situation—Bibi Dong seized every chance to mock or curse Yu Xiaogang, and she seemed uncomfortable if she didn't.

He wasn't bothered by Yu Xiaogang's arrangements. In fact, it allowed him to take advantage of the two-month break to go out and use the Eight Spider Lances to speed up his training.

After everyone dispersed, Su Mo and Ning Rongrong went to their familiar spot on the mountainside rock to enjoy some alone time.

"I didn't expect Shrek Academy to disband!" Ning Rongrong said. "Su Mo, can we leave Shrek now?"

"It's a bit embarrassing to join Heaven Dou Imperial Academy as part of Shrek. It makes it look like Shrek isn't good enough and needs to join another academy."

Ning Rongrong brought up leaving Shrek. Initially, she hadn't cared, but now that they had decided to leave eventually, she didn't want to suffer any extra embarrassment.

"You have a point."

Hearing her, Su Mo paused what he was doing to "help" Ning Rongrong's development.

He hadn't considered this issue, especially since they'd likely face mistreatment at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. He didn't mind it, but he didn't want Ning Rongrong to endure it unnecessarily.

"How about this: I have something I need to confirm at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy with Tang San, so I'll leave afterward."

"You don't need to go. Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan is in Seven Treasures City, near Heaven Dou City."

"When we arrive, you can excuse yourself to return home and write a letter to formally leave the Shrek team. Then, I'll quickly leave too and find you at the clan."

To spare her any trouble, Su Mo quickly devised a solution.

"You're still going to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy first?"

"It's a good plan, but I don't want it. I want to leave together with you!"

Ning Rongrong shook her head. The plan made sense, but she didn't want it.

To leave with Su Mo, she'd put up with any embarrassment.

"You silly girl!"

Su Mo smiled, flipping over to pin Ning Rongrong beneath him, gazing into her eyes.

And what followed needed no further explanation.

…

The next day, after saying goodbye to Ning Rongrong, Su Mo set out alone.

Shrek Academy didn't restrict student outings during free periods as long as they continued training.

For the next two months, Shrek was left to a free-range teaching style.

Since Su Mo hadn't reached Rank 30, he didn't need a spirit ring, so Spirit Hall wouldn't allow him into their controlled spirit beast forest.

Instead, he ventured to the nearest wild spirit beast forest to avoid exposing his Eight Spider Lances' abilities to anyone, which might make him look like an evil spirit master.

Splat—

In the forest, Su Mo quickly hunted down an eight-hundred-year Ironclaw Raccoon.

With Bibi Dong keeping watch from above, Su Mo summoned his Eight Spider Lances, piercing the raccoon's body with all eight legs.

Gurgle… gurgle…

As he activated the Lances' absorption ability, an energy visibly flowed from the raccoon into him, absorbing its spirit power and life force.

Boom—

A surge of energy flooded Su Mo, akin to absorbing a spirit ring.

Sitting cross-legged, he focused on refining the energy to integrate it into his own spirit power.

An hour later, he finished the refinement.

"Whew…"

"Good thing I didn't absorb a thousand-year beast, or it would've been overwhelming!"

"Not all the absorbed energy converts to spirit power, but even the small portion that does is equivalent to half a month of training!"

"No wonder so many take the evil spirit master path—shortcuts are quick."

Su Mo assessed his progress, then left the forest.

To manage the absorbed energy, he would take a few days to adapt before continuing.

And so, he trained at Shrek while periodically going out to use the Eight Spider Lances for extra cultivation.

Originally expecting four to five months to level up, he reached Rank 27 in one month, finally catching up to Ning Rongrong.

Before their departure from Shrek, he advanced again to Rank 28, surpassing her.

No one noticed his progress, as he followed Bibi Dong's advice and kept his spirit power in a half-saturated state when he returned, preventing others from sensing his advancement.

When they finally set out for Heaven Dou Imperial Academy, Su Mo revealed his recent progress, saying he'd advanced from Rank 24 to Rank 25.

In just over two months, while others hadn't advanced, Su Mo had leveled up again, leaving everyone stunned.

He explained it as a breakthrough in his spear practice, which, though rare, occasionally happened in the spirit master world.

Ma Hongjun and the others could only envy his luck.

"Luck doesn't work for everyone," Yu Xiaogang concluded. "It's rare across the spirit master world, so Su Mo is just fortunate!"

"Alright, let's head to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy!"

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