The news that the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall had been betrothed to Ye Chen spread like wildfire. In just a few short hours, more than a hundred suitors arrived at the academy, each eager to challenge Ye Chen.
However, when they were informed that the official "wedding battle" would begin in three days, they simply camped out on the grass in front of the West Building, waiting patiently.
Ye Chen's current cultivation level was only that of a Soul Exalt (Rank 40), which was far from rare in the Spirit Hall Academy. Many believed they could defeat him and claim the Holy Maiden for themselves—a shortcut to glory.
As night fell over the West Building, Ye Chen lay in his dormitory for a while before quietly making his way to the Pope's Palace. He didn't know what Bibi Dong was thinking, but he was sure of one thing—she wouldn't hurt him.
"Creak…"
The tall, imposing doors opened with a heavy groan as Ye Chen stepped into the vast and empty palace hall. There was no one else around. Only Bibi Dong sat alone upon the grand throne, as majestic and distant as ever.
She was still breathtakingly beautiful, her eyes crystal clear and devoid of emotion. Ye Chen couldn't help but feel disheartened. He'd hoped his efforts would earn her favor, but her cold demeanor remained unchanged.
They faced each other like strangers.
"Go to the East Hall," she said emotionlessly, pointing toward the inner section of the palace. "I've prepared a gift for you there. And Ye Chen… you must win the wedding battle. If you lose…"
Her voice trailed off with a chill.
"Or what? Will you kill me?" Ye Chen asked, stepping toward her throne.
But as he climbed the first step, Bibi Dong suddenly swung her scepter, conjuring a barrier of soul energy that blocked his advance.
She turned away, her figure graceful yet distant.
"If you lose… I'll destroy your martial spirit and exile you from the Spirit Hall. You'll never set foot in the soul master world again."
Ye Chen paused.
Why is she like this?
He looked at Bibi Dong, who stood rigid and cold. Something was off. She had never treated him like this before.
After a moment of silence, he took a step back and said, "I'll win. I won't let my master down."
The word "master" made Bibi Dong's shoulders tremble ever so slightly. But she quickly returned to her usual composure.
Shaking his head, Ye Chen turned toward the East Hall. The closer he got to the entrance, the more uneasy he felt—an instinctive fear, as if something dangerous lay beyond those doors.
Once he was gone, Bibi Dong turned to gaze at the closed doors of the East Hall, her thoughts in turmoil.
"Why… Why do I feel this way about him? Why am I his master? Why do I… feel so conflicted?"
She looked up at the starry sky beyond the window, her expression softening as a single tear slid down her flawless cheek.
She was in love, and it terrified her.
She longed to get close to him—but dared not. Her past was a wall between them, impossible to scale. She was trapped inside; he, outside. Always separated.
"Creak…"
The sudden sound of a door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned and saw Ye Chen had returned, standing quietly, watching her.
"You really are troubled… you didn't even notice I came back," he said softly.
Ye Chen hadn't gone into the East Hall yet. His concern for Bibi Dong outweighed his curiosity about the "gift." He had seen the pain in her eyes and couldn't bear to leave her alone.
She was a woman who had suffered greatly—her talent made her a pawn, her love life shattered by the betrayal of Yu Xiaogang, who had left her without even understanding her situation.
Ye Chen wanted to protect her. To never let her get hurt again.
"You should go. My problems… they have nothing to do with you."
She didn't turn around this time. She just stood there, cold and distant.
Ye Chen clenched his fists. Even now, she pushed people away, hiding her pain behind a mask of strength.
A soul force barrier once again blocked his path, but this time, he didn't back down.
"I may be weak now, but one day I'll be stronger than anyone else. And when that day comes, I'll stand by your side—always."
For the first time, Bibi Dong's eyes softened. Her heart stirred, the chaos inside settling just a bit. She looked at this bold, stubborn young man—and felt, strangely, at peace.
"Go on… the gift awaits."
Ye Chen turned once more and entered the East Hall. What he saw made his breath hitch.
A massive soul beast lay dying on the ground. Blood soaked the marble floor, and its body was covered in wounds.
"This is… a 50,000-year Sky Dragon Fox? An incredibly rare species… even a thousand-year one could fight toe-to-toe with a ten-thousand-year beast."
"This… is the gift?"
Ye Chen's heart pounded with excitement. Such a powerful soul ring would be the perfect fourth ring for him. The abilities it granted would no doubt be extraordinary.
But he hadn't prepared properly. To absorb a soul ring of this level, he should have spent time gathering and refining his soul power to suppress the backlash.
But he had no time. The wedding battle was in three days.
"No turning back now."
Ye Chen summoned the Seven-Star Demon Abyss Sword and plunged it into the beast's skull, ending its suffering. A ghostly blue spirit emerged from the body—its form that of a fox, but with dragon scales along its belly and long tendrils like whiskers hanging from its snout.
It roared, and the sheer spiritual pressure made Ye Chen stagger, nearly blacking out.
"Such intense spiritual force… this won't be easy."
He placed his hand over the soul spirit and began the fusion process. The soul spirit surged into his body—then exploded with mental energy, rampaging through his mind.
Ye Chen coughed up blood. His vision blurred. But he gritted his teeth and endured.
Thankfully, his soul had been tempered over years by system-enhanced cultivation. Otherwise, the shock might have killed him instantly.
To be continued...