Wu Ling's shadow boiled again, and this time it churned even more violently than the previous two times.
With the surging shadow, two people slowly rose from within it, one with blue hair and one with red hair.
They were two boys whose faces resembled Wu Ling's, but they looked several years older than him, around eighteen years old.
The dark red-haired Wu Ling clone was nearly 2 meters tall. He wore a tight black outfit, and every line of muscle on his body was displayed clearly.
The dark blue-haired one was only 1.8 meters tall. Compared with the red-haired clone, he looked somewhat thin. But those eyes, as if they had seen through everything, and that indifferent aura made Bibi Dong and Ghost pay even more attention to him.
Red said, "Hello, Teacher! Hello, Grandpa Ghost!"
The red-haired Wu Ling showed a brilliant smile and greeted Bibi Dong and Ghost first. His voice was extremely loud, giving others the impression of someone rough, bold, and overflowing with energy.
Only after the red-haired Wu Ling finished speaking and a long while had passed did the blue-haired Wu Ling slowly say, "...Hello."
The blue-haired Wu Ling gave off the exact opposite feeling from the red-haired one. He seemed to have seen through everything in the world, to care about nothing, and to possess no passion at all.
Wu Ling looked his two clones up and down before explaining to Bibi Dong.
"Teacher, this red-haired clone was created from my hot-blooded spirit. He has abundant energy. His code name is Hot-Blooded. You can call him Ember. From now on, he will be responsible for my physical training.
"The blue-haired one was created from my calm spirit. In most situations, he will maintain a still-water state similar to Vitrification. You can treat him as someone without desire or demand. His code name is the Calm. You can call him Azure. From now on, he will be responsible for my sword skill.
"At the same time, I will study theory myself. My plan is that the three of us will spend half of each day on training and study, then use the remaining half to refine spirit power."
Bibi Dong looked thoughtfully at Azure and Ember. After a brief silence, she said, "Calm and hot-blooded. Abundant energy and desireless emptiness. Two completely opposite spirits have been separated independently without affecting you.
"Ling'er, I must admit that you have refreshed my understanding again. But with your spirit power, you should not be able to sustain them for an entire day."
"Teacher, there is something you may not know. The two of them consume spirit power only when they separate from me. After that, they can absorb and recover spirit power on their own.
"After all, they count as mature clones. They should have learned to refill their own mana by now.
"Also, every time I obtain a Spirit Ring in the future, I will gain another slot for condensing a clone."
Bibi Dong tapped a fingertip lightly against the armrest. She keenly noticed the term in Wu Ling's words that did not fit this era.
"Ling'er, since you obtained your second Spirit Ring, you must have received more information."
"Of course."
Ghost did not understand the riddle-like exchange between Wu Ling and Bibi Dong, but he keenly remembered what had happened when Wu Ling first became Bibi Dong's disciple.
Remembering Bibi Dong's reaction back then, Ghost was about to seal his five senses like last time, but Bibi Dong stopped him.
"There is no need. You should have noticed some things in ordinary times as well. Listen with us this time."
Wu Ling moved his thoughts. Ember, who had been curiously looking around, and Azure, who had been muttering something about the universe, the world, and humanity, both vanished back into his shadow.
Wu Ling cleared his throat and slowly began to speak.
"Teacher, because of the person I summoned this time, the information I received is a different story from the same age.
"It is said that, countless years after the war between humanity and the gods began, an Order of Assassins led by the Old Man of the Mountain, Hassan, quietly rose to power..."
Wu Ling let out a long breath, ending this round of deception... no, this historical story.
Bibi Dong and Ghost used silence to settle their emotions. After hearing such a grand human epic, they felt as if they had drunk a large cup of cold water in one breath under 40 °C heat. Their entire bodies felt clear.
After savoring the lingering echo of the story, Bibi Dong asked, "A human whose own strength alone could rival a god, even granting the concept of death to an undying supreme god. Are there truly people that powerful in this world?"
Wu Ling nodded with certainty. "Teacher, the potential of humans is endless. Think about my first Spirit Skill. Even a level-ninety-nine Titled Sage, relying on technique alone, could not necessarily cut out a sword strike that transcends time and space."
Bibi Dong did not need to think long to reach the answer she wanted.
She had been about to say something else, but the setting sun outside the window made her change her words.
"Ling'er, it is getting late. Go eat and rest. Familiarize yourself with your clones while you are at it.
"Also, you have been in Spirit Hall for two years now. If you miss your family, take these next few days and go home for a visit. If you wish, you may bring them here as well."
Wu Ling froze, then remembered Uncle Kiritsugu, whom he had not seen for two years and had not even exchanged letters with.
"It really has been a long time since I went back," Wu Ling murmured. Then he bowed to Bibi Dong.
"Wu Ling thanks Teacher."
Bibi Dong only nodded. To put it nicely, this matter was meant to bring her closer to Wu Ling emotionally. It was not worth making a major production over.
"Good. Go back and rest first. Elder Ghost, stay behind for a while."
"Yes, Teacher. Goodbye."
Bibi Dong and Ghost watched Wu Ling leave without moving. Only after Wu Ling had left the Pope's Palace did Bibi Dong speak.
"What do you think, Elder Ghost?"
"If this had not come from Wu Ling, I would probably have taken it as only a story. But Your Holiness's words made me..."
"I am asking about Ling'er." As Bibi Dong said this, her face was expressionless, as if the story just now had been nothing more than an ordinary tale.
"Wu Ling? Originally, I was worried he was learning too many scattered things and that his spirit power would fall behind. But now, it seems all-around development may become his advantage."
The difference between Ghost's earlier and later words showed that his recognition of Wu Ling had deepened another step.
"Mm. Taking him as my disciple was truly a pleasant surprise. Also, I will trouble you to accompany him back to his hometown."
"Of course. I am also very satisfied with that boy. Tomorrow or the day after, I will go back with him."
"Good. One more thing. Later, notify Elder Chrysanthemum. Tell him that after you and Wu Ling return, we will begin Plan Three."
Hearing the words Plan Three, Ghost froze for a moment. He asked quietly, "Could it be, Your Holiness, that you..."
Bibi Dong answered Ghost's question directly.
"Correct. I have already reached level ninety. It is time to put my ninth Spirit Ring on the agenda."
"Understood!"
While Bibi Dong and Ghost were planning, an uninvited guest suddenly appeared before Wu Ling.
An old man with crane-white hair and a youthful face blocked the road Wu Ling had to take. The surroundings, which had still held faint noise, fell quiet upon his arrival.
"You are Wu Ling, correct?"