Bibi Dong stood quietly near the edge of the grand banquet hall, holding a delicate snack in one hand while the other hovered lightly over her lips. Her expression was slightly dazed, her eyes unfocused—as though her thoughts had drifted far away from the lively scene around her.
As the future Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall, and a once-in-a-generation genius blessed with twin spirits, Bibi Dong was already a figure of immense attention. Even at such a young age, her talent was so extraordinary that it could almost be "seen" by others. It radiated from her presence—an invisible aura that made people instinctively recognize her potential.
Because of this, her popularity at the banquet rivaled, and in some ways even surpassed, that of a Titled Douluo.
After all, Titled Douluos were already powerful figures who had long established their positions in the world. They had their own circles, their own alliances, and deep-rooted bonds forged through life-and-death battles. For an outsider to insert themselves into such a circle was nearly impossible.
Trying to befriend a Titled Douluo was, in many ways, as difficult as becoming one.
But Bibi Dong was different.
She was not yet a Titled Douluo—but everyone knew she would become one in the future.
And more importantly, she was still young.
That youth made all the difference.
If one could leave a favorable impression on her now, offer assistance at the right moment, or even arrange for their children to befriend her, the returns in the future would be unimaginable.
Because of this, many of the banquet guests, after exchanging a few polite words with Qian Xunji, would gradually steer the conversation toward Bibi Dong.
Every word, every smile, every glance carried hidden intentions.
Bibi Dong, however, handled it all with remarkable composure.
Her upbringing and training ensured that her etiquette was flawless. She responded gracefully, spoke politely, and never allowed her emotions to slip in front of others.
To an outsider, she seemed perfectly at ease.
But in truth—
She was exhausted.
No matter how talented she was, she was still just a teenage girl. Maintaining such poise for a short period was manageable, but sustaining it endlessly was another matter entirely.
Soon, the irritation she had been suppressing began to surface.
Taking advantage of a brief moment when no one was paying attention, Bibi Dong quietly slipped away from her teacher's side.
Her movements were subtle and careful, like a small animal escaping a crowded space.
To avoid being discovered, she made her way to the balcony and tucked herself into a small corner along the side, partially hidden from view.
The moment she stepped outside, the noise from the banquet faded, replaced by the soft whispers of the evening breeze.
Finally—
Peace.
Letting out a small sigh of relief, Bibi Dong sat down and retrieved several delicacies she had discreetly taken earlier while passing the dining table. One by one, she placed them neatly in front of her.
Then, she pulled out a storybook she had picked up from a street vendor earlier that day.
For a moment, everything felt perfect.
She nibbled on her food, flipped through the pages of her book, and allowed herself to relax in the quiet solitude.
No expectations.
No watching eyes.
No need to pretend.
Just her.
And the gentle night air.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"This is wonderful…" she thought.
However, that peaceful moment did not last long.
Creak—
The balcony door suddenly opened.
Bibi Dong froze.
Almost instinctively, she held her breath, as though doing so would render her invisible.
It was a childish reaction—but in that moment, it felt entirely reasonable.
Through the narrow gap of her hiding spot, she peeked toward the door.
The person who stepped out was Yu Xiaogang.
She recognized him immediately.
Earlier, he had been standing beside His Excellency Thunder, which made him stand out in her memory.
Yu Xiaogang stepped onto the balcony and gently closed the door behind him. Then, he walked forward, stretching slightly as he felt the cool evening breeze brush against his face.
He inhaled deeply.
And then exhaled.
A long, relieved breath.
"It seems he feels the same way I do…" Bibi Dong thought, watching him quietly.
Then—
Yu Xiaogang suddenly stretched his body in an exaggerated manner, rolling his shoulders and arching his back as if trying to shake off all the stiffness from earlier.
"Ahh—refreshing!" he exclaimed softly, yet clearly enough for her to hear.
"Pfft—!"
Before she could stop herself, Bibi Dong let out a small laugh.
The moment the sound escaped her lips, her eyes widened in alarm.
She quickly covered her mouth with both hands.
Too late.
Yu Xiaogang had already noticed.
Their eyes met.
And then—
Silence.
An awkward, suffocating silence.
Yu Xiaogang stood frozen in place.
Inside his shoes, his toes curled involuntarily.
At that moment, he was certain that if given enough time, he could dig a hole straight through the ground and bury himself in it.
"What was I thinking…?" he groaned inwardly.
"If only I had checked first…"
He mentally berated himself.
Why hadn't he looked around before acting so freely?
Why had he assumed he was alone?
But after a brief moment of panic, he tried to comfort himself.
"Well… at least she laughed. That means I know she's here."
"That's better than her hiding the entire time while I continue embarrassing myself…"
Taking a deep breath, Yu Xiaogang forced himself to speak.
"Hello… are you here to enjoy the breeze as well?"
Bibi Dong lowered her hands slowly, though her shoulders still trembled slightly from suppressed laughter. To regain control, she discreetly pinched her own waist.
The sharp sting helped her calm down.
"Yes," she replied, her voice steady once more. "It seems you don't enjoy staying inside and talking to those people either."
Her tone carried a hint of understanding.
That simple exchange eased the tension between them.
The awkwardness began to fade.
After a brief pause, Bibi Dong took the initiative to continue the conversation.
"From what His Excellency Thunder mentioned earlier… your spirit has a light attribute?"
On the Douluo Continent, discussing spirits was always the easiest way to start a conversation.
Yu Xiaogang nodded.
"That's right. It mutated from my family's thunder attribute into a light attribute."
As he spoke, he couldn't help but glance at her.
She was about the same age as him.
Yet her reputation far exceeded his.
Aside from her, the most well-known young geniuses of this generation included the two sons of the Clear Sky Sect's current sect master.
There were also children of other powerful figures—but compared to these individuals, they fell short.
It was almost certain that in the future, these people would become the central figures of the Douluo Continent.
Of course—
Yu Xiaogang himself was also a subject of attention.
His situation was unique.
He possessed a rare spirit, yet his innate soul power was only Rank 1.
And still—
He had managed to absorb a thousand-year spirit ring as his first ring.
This contradiction made him both fascinating and controversial.
People were curious.
How far could someone like him go?
Some even placed bets on his future.
Would he become a Spirit Saint?
A Spirit Douluo?
At what age would he reach each rank?
There were countless speculations.
Some hoped to witness his rise.
Others were eager to see him fail.
Lost in thought, Yu Xiaogang barely noticed when Bibi Dong spoke again.
"Light attribute…" she murmured softly.
"My teacher and the Grand Priest both use light attributes. I wonder… if they might be willing to guide you."
She hesitated for a moment before asking:
"May I see it? Your first spirit ring?"
Ever since she had heard about it earlier, her curiosity had only grown stronger.
Now, finally—
She had the opportunity.
Yu Xiaogang nodded without hesitation.
"Of course."
There was no reason to hide it.
As his soul power circulated, a faint glow appeared before him.
In the next instant—
A small dragon materialized.
"Awoo—!"
The creature let out a soft roar, its voice still carrying a childish, almost milky tone.
After appearing, the little dragon instinctively moved closer to Yu Xiaogang before turning its curious gaze toward Bibi Dong.
She stared at it in amazement.
The dragon was about the same height as her.
Its presence was both majestic and adorable.
Unable to contain her excitement, Bibi Dong stepped forward.
"Is this your spirit?" she asked, her eyes shining. "It's incredible!"
The little dragon puffed up proudly under her gaze, lifting its head with obvious satisfaction.
Its cute behavior made Bibi Dong even more delighted.
She turned to Yu Xiaogang, her expression filled with anticipation—and just a hint of pleading.
"Can I… pet it?"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)