Chapter 43: Leaving the Spirit Hall

Bibi Dong frowned, her gaze fixed on Xu Sheng. "Xu Sheng? Do you have any questions?"

Yan subconsciously assumed that Xu Sheng was dissatisfied with the task of slaying a ten-thousand-year soul beast to aid his cultivation.

He thought anxiously in his heart, "Why is Xu Sheng contradicting His Holiness the Pope right now? Isn't it just a ten-thousand-year soul beast? Can't the four of us take it down together? Besides, don't Xie Yue and Hu Lienas martial soul fusion skill still exist?"

Meanwhile, Xie Yue and Hu Liena stared intently at Xu Sheng, waiting for what he would say next.

The latter knew very well that with Xu Sheng's strength as a Titled Douluo, even as a support-type spirit master, dealing with a ten-thousand-year soul beast would be effortless...

Furthermore, she had learned from her teacher that the reason why he hadn't trained with them during the middle of the day or afternoon in the past was actually because he was participating in soul duels and hunting down ten-thousand-year soul beasts!

In Hu Liena's view, Xu Sheng must have had some important matter to interrupt Bibi Dong's words at such an inopportune time...

Xu Sheng met Bibi Dong's gaze directly and said softly, "Teacher, I wish to leave the Spirit Hall for a period of time. It might take a year, or perhaps several years..."

As these words were spoken, the entire Pope's Palace fell into an eerie silence...

The next moment, surprise flashed across the eyes of Xie Yue and Hu Liena. The former perplexed, asked, "Xu Sheng, what are you doing? If it's because of this ten-thousand-year soul beast task, the four of us can definitely hunt it down."

Hu Liena stared at Xu Sheng, bit her thin lips slightly, and murmured, "Xu Sheng..."

Yan quietly glanced at Bibi Dong's gradually darkening expression, knowing that Xu Sheng's words must have angered Her Holiness the Pope.

He hurriedly walked over, slapped Xu Sheng on the shoulder, and reminded him, "Xu Sheng, don't talk nonsense! Leaving for a year or even many years?"

Xu Sheng merely gave Yan an expressionless glance and remained silent...

There were actually many reasons for his temporary departure. He wanted to go and see this gathering of monsters at Shrek Academy, and by the way, visit the bloody City of Slaughter...

"Please calm your anger, Your Holiness the Pope. Xu Sheng must have been momentarily confused."

"That's right, that's right. Xu Sheng, why don't you hurry up and explain to Your Holiness the Pope?" After Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo offered a few words of explanation for Xu Sheng, they kept blinking signals at him...

Sitting on the papal throne with an extremely gloomy face, Bibi Dong's mood was immensely complicated. She looked at Xu Sheng, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Xu Sheng said in a calm tone, "Teacher, when you accepted me as your disciple, I once said that if the day came when I needed to leave temporarily, you would not stop me."

He believed that given Bibi Dong's character, she would certainly not break her promise, and he simply needed to return to the Spirit Hall before the Elite Soul Master Tournament...

After hearing Xu Sheng's words, Bibi Dong remained silent for a long while before letting out a slight, helpless sigh. She swept her gaze closely across his face, as if trying to discern something...

"Xu Sheng, can you tell me why you want to leave?"

If her disciple was leaving to increase his soul power, that was clearly impossible.

Xu Sheng's soul power rank had already reached a terrifying ninety-third level, a speed as monstrous as a freak of nature. That was why Bibi Dong was so curious about what Xu Sheng actually wanted to do!

A flash of contemplation crossed Xu Sheng's eyes as he replied, "Teacher, my departure this time is to seek an opportunity to suppress the side effects of my martial soul: the Nine Heart Blood Begonia."

In truth, he simply didn't have much interest in staying in the Spirit Hall all the time. Even if he wanted to be a salted fish, he wanted to be the laziest salted fish of all.

After pondering his answer for a moment, Bibi Dong agreed, "I see. Since that is the case, Xu Sheng, I permit you to leave the Spirit Hall, but you must return before the Elite Tournament in a few years!"

Xu Sheng was a trump card for the Spirit Hall that would be enough to subvert the entire continent in the future! He was supremely important!

Seeing that Bibi Dong had agreed to such an absurd request from Xu Sheng, Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances, and only a single thought echoed in their hearts:

My lord, the times have changed!

A faint, casual smile curved the corners of Xu Sheng's lips as he respectfully said, "Thank you, Teacher."

...

After leaving the Pope's Palace, Xu Sheng was immediately surrounded by Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Yan...

Yan asked doubtfully, "Xu Sheng, you're not actually going to leave for a few years, are you?"

He strongly suspected that this guy was taking advantage of his handsome appearance to go find other pretty young maidens all by himself!

Xu Sheng, with his poker face, forced a smile. "Mm, for the next few years, the reputation and presence of the Spirit Hall will have to rely on you guys to uphold."

Xie Yue frowned and said unhappily, "We're a team. What does it mean for one person to leave for several years?"

The four of them had finally achieved tacit teamwork, yet before they even encountered opponents worthy of comparison, one person was leaving.

Thinking about it made him feel extremely uncomfortable!

The corners of Xu Sheng's twitching mouth tightened as he silently rolled his eyes inwardly. He was only doing this because he was afraid of crushing their self-esteem...

The light in Hu Liena's eyes dimmed considerably, and she looked at Xu Sheng with a sense of loss as she asked, "Xu Sheng, are you really leaving?"

Xu Sheng gently reached out and stroked her cheek, speaking as gently as possible, "Mm, it's not like I'm not coming back. Don't make such a disappointed face."

The corners of Hu Liena's eyes grew red at the thought of parting with Xu Sheng for several years...

A lingering ache spontaneously welled up in her heart...

After glancing at the three of them, Xu Sheng said, "Xie Yue, Liena, and... whoever else... if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving first."

Yan resolutely retorted, "Hey, hey, Xu Sheng, who are you calling 'whoever else'? My name is Yan, Yan!"

This Xu Sheng was truly something else. He still had to provoke him right before leaving, rendering all his previous sadness completely wasted.

Thinking about it that way, all those emotional feelings went down the drain!

Just as Xu Sheng turned around, Hu Liena wiped her eyes and called out to stop him, "Xu Sheng, wait for me for a moment. I'm going to get something..."

With that, Hu Liena trotted away...

The three of them were left completely baffled...

A few minutes later, Hu Liena trotted back, slightly out of breath. In her hands, she was holding a pitch-black veiled hat and a cloak!

Hu Liena walked up to Xu Sheng, her face blushing as she handed the two items over. "Xu Sheng, I'm giving these to you. Without something to cover up, it's easy to attract... other people..."

Hu Liena had actually intended to say 'attract members of the opposite sex', but perhaps because Xie Yue and Yan were present, she abruptly changed her phrasing.

When Yan saw the two items, he burst out laughing without reservation. "Hahaha, I'm dying of laughter! Liena, the gift you're giving matches Xu Sheng's temperament perfectly!"

Beside him, Xie Yue also managed to suppress his laughter, turning his head away with a feigned expression of indifference...

Xu Sheng looked at the items handed over by Hu Liena and accepted them with trembling hands...

If these items were normal, it would be fine, but...

This was clearly a battered, thread-frayed veiled hat and a tattered, bizarrely-styled cloak resembling a rag...

Was she trying to make him go out and become a beggar??

Although Xu Sheng's heart twitched continuously, he had to force a grateful expression on his face and said, "Thank you... Liena, I... I really like this thing..."

With reddened eye rims, Hu Liena said no more, suddenly pulling Xu Sheng into her arms and weeping softly...

Xu Sheng was momentarily stunned by her wild action. He wanted to speak, but closed his mouth instead, silently raising a hand to gently pat Hu Liena's back...