Hu Liena was one of Spirit Hall's Golden Generation geniuses in the original story. Bibi Dong raised her as the next Supreme Pontiff, and Yue Guan secretly protected her for a long time. After training in Slaughter City, Hu Liena's achievements surpassed Xie Yue's, making her the leader of the Golden Generation. She was then named Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden and first in line to succeed the Supreme Pontiff. After the Spirit Empire was founded, her status rose along with it. She became the Spirit Empire's Holy Maiden, second only to Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong in authority.
And then came the most important point. She was hopelessly love-brained.
When Wu Ling read that part in his previous life, his reaction had been pure disbelief. Bibi Dong had been love-brained over Ethan Drake, while Hu Liena became love-brained over Tang San. Teacher and teacher, disciple and disciple. Was this a cycle or what?
So Wu Ling honestly did not have a very good impression of her.
In Wu Ling's view, so-called love was nothing more than the effect of bodily hormones. If someone could not even control their own body and mind, then they were destined never to become a true powerhouse.
Although Wu Ling did not think much of Hu Liena, he still had to give Bibi Dong face. So he greeted her flatly. "Junior Sister."
Bibi Dong also noticed that Wu Ling had little interest in Hu Liena. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Ling'er, you must be tired after coming back. Go rest first. I will look for you in a few days."
"Yes, Teacher. I will take my leave."
Bibi Dong watched Wu Ling leave. After the doors closed again, she asked softly, "Nana, what do you think of your senior brother?"
Hu Liena, who had not yet fully recovered, steadied herself. Thinking of Wu Ling's gaze just now, she said, "Teacher, Senior Brother Wu gives me a very dangerous feeling. And the way he looked at me felt extremely indifferent, as if he were looking at a stranger."
Bibi Dong explained on Wu Ling's behalf, "Your senior brother just returned from Slaughter City. Changes in mood are normal. But this is only temporary. He is actually cold on the outside and warm on the inside. Build a good relationship with him, and you will understand."
"...Teacher, how old is Senior Brother Wu now?" Hu Liena was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked a question that seemed to come from nowhere.
After hearing Hu Liena's question, Bibi Dong answered without hesitation. "About fourteen this year."
"Fourteen. The same age as me?" Hu Liena murmured. Then she asked, "Teacher, what is his Spirit Power level?"
"His Spirit Power level..." Bibi Dong lightly tapped her fingers on the table. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Before he entered Slaughter City a year and a half ago, he was already level forty-five. It is not very convenient to cultivate inside Slaughter City, but with Rose and the others, he should still be able to reach level fifty."
"Fourteen years old! Level fifty!" Hu Liena stared in disbelief toward the direction Wu Ling had left. As someone who was only a Spirit Elite at fourteen, she understood exactly what that level meant.
"That is why I told you to build a good relationship with him. He has many good things in his hands, including cultivation pills and cultivation methods. He created those himself."
"Yes. I will, Teacher." As Hu Liena said this, a strange light appeared in her eyes.
After seeing Bibi Dong, Wu Ling went directly to his own residence. More than ten minutes later, he saw Old Li, the steward, waiting at the gate.
"Young Master, you have returned." Old Li bowed slightly to Wu Ling, as if the past year and a half had been only a day and a half. There was not the slightest awkwardness.
Seeing someone familiar, Wu Ling smiled faintly. "I'm back."
When he returned to the familiar courtyard, Rose and the other three had already been waiting for a long time.
Rose saluted in an exaggerated manner. "Reporting to Main Body! The four-member Wu Ling clone squad should have four members present, and all four are here!" By the end, she broke character and laughed first.
Wu Ling looked carefully at each of their faces. "No need for extra words. Let's do it."
For a main body and clones, the best way to remove any sense of distance was fusion.
As Wu Ling's voice fell, Rose and the other three shattered into countless particles. Every particle was wrapped in visible Spirit Power.
Those particles were continuously absorbed by Wu Ling, and his Spirit Power level began rising nonstop.
Forty-five. Forty-six. Forty-seven. Forty-eight. Forty-nine. Fifty.
In less than a minute, Wu Ling's Spirit Power level jumped directly from forty-five to fifty. Thanks to his solid foundation and the Spirit Power compression array, the impact on him was not severe. If someone else upgraded this way, by the late stages they would be all shine and no substance, the kind of disposable stepping stone a novel protagonist uses to fight above his level.
Wu Ling sat on the stone chair, rested one hand against his forehead, and closed his eyes. He was not sleeping. He was sorting through the memories transmitted by Ember and the others.
Wu Ling could have blocked them all, but if he did that, half of Ember and Azure's training over the past year and a half would be wasted. So he could only sort through them little by little.
It took nearly half an hour. With Wu Ling and the four people in his mind working together, the excess memories were finally thrown out.
Then Wu Ling summoned them again.
"Everyone worked hard. But your wages will not increase. In fact, I will not pay wages at all. Ember, Azure, Shade, the three of you continue as usual. Rose, stay behind."
Azure and Ember exchanged a glance, then dragged Shade away for their daily training. Rose sat down on another chair.
"Rose, how is the plan progressing?"
Rose tilted her head and answered, "The Spirit Power streetlights are already being installed. Once their usefulness becomes obvious, the Spirit Power grid plan can be put on the schedule."
"And what about the fifth Spirit Ring? Do you have a plan? A year and a half should have been enough time to search through the records. Ideally, I want something with divinity like the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger. If nothing else works, finding the Dark Demon Evil God Tiger is acceptable too."
As Wu Ling said this, he heard Rose chuckle. Looking up, he saw Rose lifting her face proudly.
"Main Body, as it happens, I really did find something. But there is still one small gap."
"What gap? Time, location, or some other condition?"
Although FGO players often joked that Divinity was a debuff, if placed in reality, divinity was absolutely not something to underestimate. Even Wu Ling planned to choose Soul Beasts with divinity for several of his later Spirit Rings.
"Main Body, with your current physical condition, you can probably absorb a ninety-thousand-year Soul Beast. Compared to an ordinary Spirit Master, that is already impressive. But it is still just a little short."
"Ninety thousand years is still short. You mean!" Wu Ling immediately understood what Rose meant.
"Mm. And I have already planned that part too, Main Body. The last little gap can be filled by taking some medicine. It is time to make a trip to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well."