Chapter 5: Opportunist Salas and Bibi Dong’s Move

Chapter 5: Opportunist Salas and Bibi Dong's Move

Heaven Dou City, Spirit Hall, Salas' Office.

"Report, Your Grace! A top priority encrypted file has arrived from the Balak Kingdom."

A messenger entered the room swiftly, delivering a brief summary before handing over the document. His job was only to receive and transmit information deciphering its contents was beyond his clearance.

"Hmm? A top priority encrypted file?" Salas frowned. It had been nearly six years since he last handled such a high level document, and it was coming from such a remote location. He could only hope it wasn't an overreaction from his subordinates. Otherwise, whoever sent it would soon learn the true meaning of Platinum Bishop.

Opening the file, he glanced at The Angelic Codex beside him before focusing on decrypting the document.

At first, his expression was indifferent, but as he read further, his demeanor turned serious. He had seen many extraordinary things, but the details in this report were entirely new to him.

"A unique martial soul structure… A prodigy with full innate soul power, potentially rivaling twin martial souls… Hmm, at least they're not complete fools, though this still seems like an overreaction."

Muttering to himself, Salas continued reading until he reached the final sentence.

"Hm? Has prior ties to Lord Guang Ling?"

His eyes flicked back to the previous pages, and he quickly found the section detailing Han Li's parents.

He vividly recalled that a few years ago, Lord Guang Ling, while passing through out of sheer boredom, had taken charge of the situation. He had said, "I happened to be passing by, so I'll handle this."

And now, that seemingly random event had resurfaced.

"Notting City Spirit Hall… Well done. They deserve a commendation. That city lord isn't bad either perhaps it's time to consider relocating him to a better position."

Salas' eyes flickered.

He was aligned with the Pope's Palace, but that didn't mean he had no interest in forging ties with the Worship Hall. Just because His Highness Qian Renxue had no use for him didn't mean others would feel the same.

This intelligence report… might be his chance.

After a long moment of contemplation, Salas summoned the waiting intelligence officer. His tone was solemn:

"Make two copies. Send one to Spirit City, addressed to the Pope's Palace, and the other to the Worship Hall both at the highest level of encryption."

Once the officer departed, Salas paced the room. He had originally planned to summon someone, but after considering his own stagnating cultivation and the dimming hope of ever achieving a Titled Douluo rank, he made up his mind.

Instead of waiting, he would personally visit the intelligence bureau.

If Spirit City's response was favorable, he wouldn't mind making the trip himself.

After all, raising children… was something he considered himself quite skilled at.

In small towns, news spread like wildfire.

Barely an hour after Xiao Zhan had dropped Han Li and Xiu'er back home promising to return at noon for his birthday neighbors began arriving with gifts. After enduring an onslaught of flattery and small talk, Han Li's face nearly cramped from smiling before the visits finally ended.

He instructed Xiu'er to inform the chefs to prepare the meal, then returned to his room.

After reviewing his diary to reinforce his memory, he tossed it into the brazier, watching as the pages turned to ash.

He was no longer a nobody he had to eliminate all risks.

While Su Yuntao was preparing his martial soul certificate, Han Li had noticed Xiao Wu's registration details.

Hailing from a nearby village, martial soul: Rabbit, innate soul power: Level 7.

With just a little misdirection, it made sense for her to cultivate at a fast pace. After all, compared to a full soul power Blue Silver Grass beside her, no one would find it unusual.

This revelation finally resolved a long standing question that had puzzled him why had Spirit Hall never taken an interest in two full soul power prodigies attending Notting Academy?

Ignoring Blue Silver Grass was understandable, especially if Bibi Dong had suspicions about it. But overlooking a full soul power Rabbit martial soul? That shouldn't have been possible.

However, he had no intention of interfering just yet.

Forget soul rings he wanted that soul bone.

Invincibility and Instant Teleportation abilities so powerful that, aside from the Angelic Set, anyone would trade their existing soul bones for them.

If he acted now, not only would it be risky, but he'd gain nothing.

For all he knew, Tang Hao was lurking nearby at this very moment. That was precisely why he had chosen not to approach Tang San and Xiao Wu earlier.

Summoning his martial soul once more, Han Li manipulated its transformations, his excitement no longer concealed.

Being the father of a world was certainly more comfortable than being the child of one.

Unlike Huo Yuhao, he hadn't been thrown into endless suffering.

If he had to endure the same hellish struggle, he wasn't sure he'd have survived to reach his rise.

He raised the bow, took a symbolic aim, then swiftly separated it into twin sabers, slashing forward with a force that cut through the air with a sharp whoosh. Satisfied, he sheathed them.

"A marksman who doesn't know close combat isn't a real warrior."

With this thought, he fully embraced his Archer turned Swordsman combat style.

This was why he had registered his martial soul as a bow.

Though his deception wouldn't remain a secret forever, he would take advantage of it for as long as possible.

Just imagining future opponents painstakingly countering his long range attacks only to get cut down up close made the corners of his lips curl upward.

"Too bad… I'll have to adjust my swordplay."

Han Li sighed.

After learning about his parents' martial souls, he had spent the past two years training with swords nothing advanced, just basic slashes and strikes. But now, his entire combat style needed to be reworked.

At least his physical training hadn't been for nothing.

"I wonder if my gamble will pay off. I hope it does."

Sitting back down, he absentmindedly tapped his fingers against the table, lost in thought.

Over the past two years, he had planned for many different possibilities… but he never expected his martial soul to mutate into a bow.

The old jokes from his elders about "what if Guang Ling takes an interest in you" had always been treated as nothing more than playful teasing.

A Super Douluo from the Worship Hall was someone far beyond his reach.

But now?

Now… he had a chance.

This possibility far surpassed any of his previous plans.

Suddenly, his fingers stilled.

His mind drifted toward the still dormant planetary consciousness.

"Maybe… this is the privilege of being the Father of a World? Even if it's just a weakened version?"

"Perhaps I've been thinking too small. Luck and destiny might be far more powerful than I realized."

A silent laugh escaped him, his handsome face twisting with glee.

Eventually, he couldn't hold back he dove onto his bed, buried his face in the blankets, and burst into laughter.

He didn't notice that, as he rolled around, the door quietly opened.

Xiu'er peeked inside, saw his state, and quietly closed the door again, smiling to herself.

"As expected, Xiao Li is still just a child."

After waiting a while, ensuring the room had fallen silent, Xiu'er knocked again.

"Young Master, the City Lord and Spirit Hall Deacon have arrived. You should come greet them."

After a brief pause, Han Li composed himself.

With the same gentle smile as always, he opened the door and walked toward the dining hall with Xiu'er by his side.

Meanwhile, in Spirit City, two urgent intelligence reports were simultaneously delivered to both the Pope's Palace and the Worship Hall.

Five minutes later, Pope Bibi Dong, for the first time in ages, entered the detestable Worship Hall, accompanied by Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo.

She wasn't here for some so called innate full soul power prodigy or his unusual martial soul.

Besides that sister, no one in this world had greater talent than she did.

And this so called genius?

A boy.

She had no interest in him.

Even if he grew strong, he would be no more than a slightly stronger Xie Yue insignificant.

No.

She was here to settle a score.

This was a rare chance to weaken the Qian family's influence over Spirit Hall even further.

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