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**
"A gift?"
Hu Liena looked at Ling Xiao suspiciously, finding it a bit strange.
"You, giving me a gift? That doesn't sound like you at all! Is there something you want me to help you with?" Hu Liena said teasingly.
"Absolutely not, I promise," Ling Xiao said with an air of solemn conviction.
"Really?"
Seeing Hu Liena's relentless scrutiny, Ling Xiao had no choice but to change the subject.
"Of course it's real! Come on, look at what this is."
As he spoke, Ling Xiao unwrapped the red cloth from the brocade box and opened the lid.
In an instant, a rich aroma wafted out.
Smelling the somewhat familiar scent, Hu Liena was immediately drawn in. After seeing clearly what was inside the box, Hu Liena cried out in surprise, "Eh? It's Braised Rabbit!"
"That's right. And it's from a Soft-Boned Rabbit with thousand-year cultivation. Thousand-year Soft-Boned Rabbits aren't common, and I know it's your favorite. So? Is this a good gift or what?"
Seeing Hu Liena's reaction, Ling Xiao felt a secret surge of joy.
Looks like things are steady now. It was worth overdrawing several months' worth of Gold Soul Coins to buy this.
A smile blossomed on her face, and her eyes sparkled with delight.
Hu Liena said happily, "Wow, Ling Xiao, I'm so happy you gave me this."
"But are you really sure you aren't giving me this because you need help with something?" Hu Liena asked once more.
Ling Xiao shook his head in denial.
A flash of mischief crossed Hu Liena's eyes as she said intentionally, "Then once I start eating, you aren't allowed to bring up any requests. It would ruin my enjoyment of the food."
Ling Xiao froze.
What? No way!
"Ahem, actually, I just remembered there is one thing I need your help with. Just a small matter," Ling Xiao forced out.
"I knew it." Hu Liena tilted her head slightly.
"Tell me then, what can I help you with?"
Turning to this important matter, Ling Xiao's expression turned serious.
"It's like this, such and such, so on and so forth..."
Ling Xiao explained to Hu Liena the phenomenon he had discussed with Xie Yue—the issue of his Profound Sky Axe being too heavy. He hoped she could ask Bibi Dong if there was a solution.
"So that's how it is!" Hu Liena nodded after listening to him.
"Fine, I'll help you ask Teacher."
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. I can't exactly eat this for nothing," Hu Liena said, pointing at the rabbit meat on the table.
"By the way, where did you get the money for this? The stipends you've collected over the past few months definitely wouldn't be enough," Hu Liena asked curiously.
"That? Well, since my own money wasn't enough, I borrowed some."
"Borrowed? From Yan?"
"Uh, and your brother," Ling Xiao said, rubbing his nose awkwardly.
"..." Hu Liena stared at Ling Xiao in silence.
Ahem. Ling Xiao couldn't help but look away.
Although it was to get Hu Liena's help, he did feel it was a bit weird and perhaps inappropriate to borrow Xie Yue's money to buy a gift for Xie Yue's sister.
"Well, enjoy your meal. I'm heading out first." Ling Xiao couldn't stand the awkward atmosphere and planned to make a run for it, backing away step by step with his hands raised.
"Hehe!" Hu Liena shook her head and laughed into her hand, finding Ling Xiao's actions hilarious—trying to ask for a solution from her teacher while catering to her interests with her favorite food.
Tossing her head back slightly, Hu Liena said softly, "What, you're not staying to have some?"
Ling Xiao turned back. Looking at the smiling Hu Liena, the tension in his heart dissipated and he calmed down. Thinking about how all his money for the coming months would go toward debt, and smelling the fragrant aroma, Ling Xiao couldn't resist.
"Then I won't be polite."
...
Fifteen minutes later: "So delicious!"
That evening, inside the Pope's Pavilion at the center of Spirit City.
In a room in the rear palace, Hu Liena was half-reclined on a sofa, drinking a glass of juice.
She appeared relaxed, but her heart was filled with a touch of melancholy and longing. She had returned to the Pope's Pavilion in the afternoon, but Bibi Dong hadn't seen her immediately, merely sending someone to tell her to stay in her room until the Pope finished handling her affairs.
"Teacher, Nana misses you so much!" she murmured unconsciously.
The next moment, a soft, warm voice suddenly rang out, "Is that so? Does Nana really miss Teacher that much?"
"Teacher?" Hu Liena sat up abruptly.
The door opened, and an incredibly beautiful woman walked in.
It was Pope Bibi Dong.
She seemed to have just finished handling government affairs.
As there was a hint of weariness in her eyes, but it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest; rather, it added a touch of softness. She wore pale purple Pope's robes and the Pope's crown, looking perhaps slightly less ethereal but far more majestic.
Seeing Bibi Dong, Hu Liena's eyes reddened slightly. Her longing overflowed as she ran over and hugged Bibi Dong, pressing her small face against Bibi Dong's waist.
"Teacher, I really missed you."
Reaching out to stroke Hu Liena's head, Bibi Dong said softly, "Teacher missed you too. Nana, have you been doing well at the Academy?"
Hu Liena looked up at Bibi Dong.
"Mhm, I've been doing very well. At the Academy, there's my brother, the teachers, my classmates, and friends. I'm very happy."
"While Teacher wasn't by your side, did you cultivate diligently?"
"Of course." Hu Liena took a few steps back and released her Charming Fox Martial Soul.
"Teacher, look."
Hu Liena channeled her Soul Power.
Behind her, the Demon Fox emitted a faint silver light, and her purple eyes grew brighter. Her aura and Soul Power fluctuations were far stronger than when she first went to the Academy. After this period of training, Hu Liena's cultivation had progressed significantly, reaching Rank 16.
Bibi Dong sat on the sofa and removed her crown.
With her long purple hair fully visible, she appeared even more gentle and beautiful—no longer like a Pope, but like a mother reunited with her daughter after a long absence. Hu Liena leaned against her, resting her head on Bibi Dong's lap and enjoying the gentle stroking while she shared interesting stories from the Academy.
...
After a long time, as the night grew deeper and Hu Liena had finished sharing most of her stories, she remembered Ling Xiao's request. Hu Liena looked up, sat up properly, and began to ask Bibi Dong on Ling Xiao's behalf.
After listening to Hu Liena, Bibi Dong gave a faint smile.
"Ling Xiao asked you to inquire for him, didn't he?"
"Mhm." Hu Liena nodded and continued, "Teacher, do you have a solution?"
"If I were to solve this problem, a massive increase in physical strength can only be permanently settled in the later stages by absorbing Soul Bones. In the early stages without Soul Bones, one can use certain body-tempering pills, special medicinal baths, and targeted strength training."
"These are the traditional methods in our Soul Master world for strengthening the physical body, aside from absorbing Soul Rings. The difficulty of this method lies in two points. First, Soul Bones are hard to find."
"Even though Spirit Hall possesses some, Ling Xiao has not yet performed any service; I cannot bestow a Soul Bone based purely on talent. We must see his future actions. If Ling Xiao can perform great deeds for Spirit Hall in the future, I will not be stingy with a few Soul Bones."
"Of course, there is no rush for now; even though the absorption requirements for Soul Bones are more lenient than those for Soul Rings of the same age, he cannot currently absorb a Soul Bone that is too powerful."
"Second, this method requires the assistance of specialized talent. After all, refining pills and preparing medicinal baths requires an Alchemist. Of course, for Spirit Hall, this isn't a problem. The Medicine King Valley lineage has been part of Spirit Hall for many years."
"As the sect most skilled in alchemy within the Soul Master world, aside from the Divine Fire Pill Sect of old, no one can rival the Medicine King Valley in the Dao of Alchemy."
**
Enjoying the story? Support the translation and get early access to future chapters here: www.patr eon.com/c/FanficTranslator
Thanks for reading!
I have 60 advanced chapter now on Patreon. I will post 5 advanced chapter on Patreon everyday except Sunday