Chapter 41 – Fame Spreads, Trouble Follows
Muttering complaints in his heart, Lin Beiya followed the maid to the residence Bibi Dong had arranged for him.
Compared to the Douluo Hall, the Pope Hall's architecture was much more luxurious. The decorations and furnishings had been recently refurbished—probably the handiwork of Qian Xunji.
His own quarters were quite a distance from Bibi Dong's residence, separated by an entire garden. According to the maid, that was where the current Pope had lived when she was still the Saintess.
Thinking about it, the mysterious secret chamber also seemed to be located in that area.
Looking at the lavishly decorated room and the large, soft bed, Lin Beiya knew this would be his home for quite a while.
Not that he minded. Having grown up in an orphanage, he wasn't picky about where he lived. A place to rest was good enough.
Still, once Bibi Dong publicly announced him as her disciple, he'd be thrust into the spotlight.
Not only the Spirit Hall's people but also the top factions across the continent would start paying attention to him. Fame came with attention—and attention brought trouble. There was no way he could continue developing quietly as he had before.
His only path now was to crush his peers with absolute strength, maintaining his value in Bibi Dong's eyes. And whenever trouble came knocking, he needed to hit hard enough that others would think twice before targeting him again.
The desire in his heart to reach the Soul Elder realm burned even stronger. After all, the Aries Gold Cloth was still in the hands of that little angel far away. Unless necessary, he didn't want to summon it back.
As for the Taurus Gold Cloth—its power and defense were excellent, but its lack of agility remained a flaw. Acquiring more Gold Cloths to enhance his combat power had become a top priority.
Just like that, Lin Beiya spent his first night in the Pope's Palace cultivating in silence.
Meanwhile, Bibi Dong's movements were much swifter than he expected. Perhaps she truly trusted in his abilities… or maybe she simply didn't care whether he lived or died.
Before the reception hall's damaged east wall was even repaired, Bibi Dong publicly announced her acceptance of Lin Beiya as her disciple the very next day.
The news spread like wildfire, with the Pope's Hall at its epicenter. Within hours, Lin Beiya's name was on everyone's lips throughout Spirit City.
Through various sources, details about his soul power and martial soul began to surface. Though Lin Beiya rarely showed his hand at the academy, some of his feats were well known—innate full soul power, a Gold Cloth martial soul, defeating senior students on his first day, and remaining undefeated in the elite class duels.
At the same time, rumors that he had shattered the east wall of the reception hall with a single test strike were also spreading among the guards.
Before long, tales of "the invincible Lin Beiya among his peers" swept across the academy, skyrocketing his reputation. Bibi Dong, in turn, gained the flattering title of "the Pope with an eye for hidden gems."
But as fame rose, so did trouble—just as Lin Beiya had predicted.
That very day, when Lin Beiya arrived at the academy, a burly youth with the build of a bear blocked his path.
"Lin Beiya, right? Heard you're good at fighting. How about a spar?"
"I'm Xiong Chumo, grandson of the Devil Bear Douluo—Rank 32 Battle Soul Elder. I challenge you!"
The man's large, square face was full of defiance. Clearly, this so-called grandson of the Devil Bear Douluo had been drawn here by Lin Beiya's growing fame.
Crowds quickly gathered, filled with curious students from various grades eager to see if the so-called "undefeated Lin Beiya" could live up to his reputation.
Shi Nuo, who had just stepped out of the dorms, noticed the commotion at the gate and hurried over. When he saw his good brother being confronted, he immediately pushed through the crowd to Lin Beiya's side.
"Xiong Chumo, have you no shame? You graduated two years ago! You're already in the Advanced Spirit Academy, and now you're picking on Beiya?"
Shi Nuo's words hit the mark. Somehow, he had already learned about Xiong Chumo's background.
"Cut the crap! Isn't he supposed to be 'invincible' in the academy? An advanced academy is still an academy. So, does he dare accept my challenge or not? I'll help His Holiness test how good her new disciple really is."
"You—!"
Shi Nuo wanted to retort, but Lin Beiya calmly placed a hand on his shoulder.
To Lin Beiya, this kind of guy—the type who couldn't open his mouth without mentioning his powerful backer—wasn't even worth his attention.
From the fearful looks the surrounding students gave Xiong Chumo, Lin Beiya could tell that this bully had been quite arrogant and domineering in his day in the Junior Spirit Academy.
"Sure," Lin Beiya said calmly, "see you at the training grounds."
"Good," Xiong Chumo sneered.
Seeing Lin Beiya actually accept his challenge, a cruel grin crept across his brutish face. He wasn't talentless, and being five years older than Lin Beiya, he was convinced there was no way he could lose.
Once he defeated Lin Beiya, he would snatch away all the glory surrounding him and ride that fame to stardom. That, after all, was his true goal in issuing this challenge.
Shi Nuo cast a worried glance at Lin Beiya. If this had been just another academy duel, he wouldn't be concerned—but Xiong Chumo was a graduate who'd joined an advanced academy two and a half years ago! Even though he trusted his brother's strength, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Relax," Lin Beiya said lightly. "When have you ever seen me pick a fight I wasn't sure I could win?"
Shi Nuo grinned. "Then give him a good beating for me."
"Of course," Lin Beiya replied, smirking faintly. "If one punch can settle things, why wait for a hundred? If we want to scare off the monkeys, it's best to kill the chicken first."
"Pfft—"
Shi Nuo burst into laughter, the tension melting away. Lin Beiya's casual confidence was contagious, and his metaphor—calling Xiong Chumo a little chick—was just too perfect. For the first time, Shi Nuo felt a surge of excitement; he was finally going to see his brother fight seriously.
If Lin Beiya knew what Shi Nuo was thinking, he'd definitely scoff. Fight seriously? With this clown? Please.
Closing his eyes, Lin Beiya followed the crowd toward the training arena.
Word of the duel spread quickly. By the time they arrived, the stands were already packed with onlookers. Even several instructors had shown up, eager to witness the showdown.
The principal of the Junior Spirit Academy stood above with a troubled expression. On one side was the grandson of a Titled Douluo; on the other, the newly appointed Pope's disciple and a potential Holy Son candidate. If either of them got seriously injured, he'd be the one to suffer for it.
"Stay sharp," the principal ordered the nearby staff. "If things go wrong, step in immediately."
"Yes, Headmaster."
On the platform, Xiong Chumo glared at Lin Beiya, who stood opposite him with his eyes still closed. His brows furrowed in confusion.
"What, you're giving up already?"
Lin Beiya's lips curled faintly. "For you? I won't even need to open my eyes."
Then, as if remembering something, he added lazily, "By the way—if I hurt you, you're not going to run home crying to grandpa, are you?"
The corners of Xiong Chumo's mouth twitched violently. Did this brat just—
"Relax," he snorted coldly. "If I lose, it's because I'm weak. I won't have my grandfather avenge me."
"Good," Lin Beiya replied with a disarming smile. "Then it's settled. And if you get hurt, don't go whining to the Pope either."
The moment those words left his mouth, Xiong Chumo's expression stiffened. He'd seen cocky opponents before—but this level of arrogance was something else.
Fine, he thought darkly, murderous intent flashing in his eyes. 'If I don't make you lie in bed for two or three months, my name isn't Xiong Chumo.'
He clenched his fists, soul power flaring as the air around him rippled with pressure.
And Lin Beiya… merely smiled wider.
End of Chapter